Author: Shawn Madden

Comic enthusiast. Lover of Mexican food. Movie watcher. Destroyer of worlds. Or...something like that.

John Cusack To Star In Big-Screen Adaptation Of Stephen King’s ‘The Cell’

by Shawn Madden

Back in 2006 it was revealed that Eli Roth would be helming Stephen King’s The Cell, but since then we haven’t heard much since then. While the project may have seemed dead it appears that John Cusack (Hot Tub Time Machine) has signed on, for what one would just assume is the lead role, for the big-screen adaptation of King’s unique take on the zombie genre.

“New York and LA-based Cargo Entertainment arranged financing on Cell and president of distribution Mark Lindsay will introduce what is expected to become one of the buzz titles of the AFM to international buyers.”

On numerous occasions fans have been disappointed with the adaptations of Kings works, so you me relieved to hear that he co-wrote the screenplay alongside Adam Alleca (The Last House On The Left).

“I’m thrilled to be working with Stephen and John again. Cell is an intelligent psychological thriller that delivers on both a visceral and emotional level.”

Source: Screen Daily

George Lucas Donating A Majority Of Disney’s $4 Billion To Worthy Causes

by Shawn Madden

Does George Lucas need the $4 billion that he is getting from this Disney deal? Definitely not. Well, it seems that George Lucas is planning to donate the majority of the $4 billion sum that Disney are paying him for LucasFilm to good causes. A spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that:

“George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors.”

They didn’t have any details as far as where the money will end up, but the writer and director is well known for his substantial donations to causes such as the Film Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Lucas made the following statement this Wednesday:

“For 41 years, the majority of my time and money has been put into the company. As I start a new chapter in my life, it is gratifying that I have the opportunity to devote more time and resources to philanthropy.”

Well played Mr. Lucas.

The Mark: ‘Arrow’ Season 01 Episode 04 “An Innocent Man”

by Shawn Madden

We pick up this week’s episode where we left off. Oliver has revealed the truth about how he spends his nights to Diggle and it’s not very welcomed knowledge. So, how was the fourth episode of Arrow? Is the show still “hitting the mark”? I can definitely say that it is. This series is becoming more interesting with each episode and this week the character development definitely went up a notch.

The main plot focuses on Peter Declan, whom the episode is named after, a man on death row convicted of killing his wife in his daughter’s bedroom. His execution is imminent. And just like in reality, executions these days get a lot of press. While watching television Oliver Queen hears that Peter’s wife Camille worked for a certain Jason Brodeur. Why is that significant? Well, Mr. Brodeur’s name is on the list of course.

But there’s plenty of sub-plots as well in this episode as well that’s really giving it that comic book feel. They do an excellent job this episode jumping between the numerous sub-plots without getting us lost or confused. This episode was quite possibly the best for the series. We saw it develop the romance sub-plot, develop some of the supporting characters, contain plenty of action as well as ending with one hell of a cliffhanger. We also got some of the best flashbacks to the island as we learned even more about what really happened on that island. Or do we have no idea at all yet? Guess we’re going to have wait until next week to find out.

Something I particularly enjoyed about “An Innocent Man” is that the episode had a feeling of the 1970’s Green Arrow where his stories often centered on social issues instead of supervillains. In this era we saw Oliver Queen fighting crime to aid the people who needed it. He would come to the aid of the poor, the disenfranchised, and ethnic minorities. I’m glad that the team behind this show is really looking to bring in elements from each era of Oliver Queen.

Another thing that I am glad is that we weren’t given another DC villain in this episode. Rather than over saturate us and constantly remind us that this is a DC Comics show we are allowed to focus on the central and core plot of the series, the list. This “case of the week” format fits just right for this episode and offers up plenty of plot twists along the way.

With the introduction, and no we still don’t know who he is, John Barrowman’s character (we’re all hoping it’s Maxwell Lord) as well as promo at the end showing Deathstroke…we should definitely expect next week to kick things up a notch.

The comic book references &  easter eggs that you may have missed:

– “The 10:15 to Blüdhaven.”: Blüdhaven is a fictional city that served as a backdrop for the first Nightwing series. The city is both south of and located close to or adjacent to Gotham City, home to Batman.

– Iron Heights: Iron Heights Penitentiary is a maximum-security prison which houses the many Flash rogues and superhuman criminals of Keystone City and Central City when captured. Iron Heights first appeared in Flash: Iron Heights (2001).

 

Frank Grillo Reprising His Role As Crossbones In ‘The Avengers’ Sequel!

by Shawn Madden

Before it was officially revealed that Frank Grillo (Warrior, The Grey) had landed the role of Brock Rumlow aka Crossbones in Marvel Studios highly-anticipated Captain America: The Winter Soldier, comedian and radio host Matthew Aaron actually had revealed a week prior that the actor was testing for the role.

During a recent episode of Aaron’s radio show, Aaron called Grillo to congratulate him on landing the role. Arron asked Grillo if he would be appearing more than once as the villain to which Grillo replied:

“Yeah, it’s a good run.”

But more interestingly is that after Grillo returned to work on Homeland, the film he is currently filming with Jason Statham, Aaron revealed that the same source who had leaked the information that Grillo was testing for the role had leaked a little more information. The information was that not only would Crossbones appear in Captain America: The Winter Soldier but be making an appearance in Joss Whedon’s sequel to The Avengers. Aaron also added that Grillo will apparently portray Crossbones in three films total. So, one can assume that a third Captain America film would be the likely third portrayal unless he is set to make a cameo in another of the “Phase Two” films.

Of course, Crossbones won’t be the main villain in the sequel but with rumors of Baron Zemo as well as Radioactive man, could the speculation I made a few months come true? Could Marvel Studios be heading down the Masters Of Evil route? Also, if Grillo is planned for a third solo outing for Steve Rogers, could Marvel also be going after another of Ed Brubaker’s great story arcs: “The Death Of Captain America”?

This is all speculation at the moment but if it turns out to be true…well played Marvel Studios.

Source: The Matthew Aaron Show

Jack In And Check Out The Teaser Poster For ‘Neuromancer’

by Shawn Madden

The teaser poster for the upcoming adaptation of William Gibson’s cyberpunk classic has made it’s way online. The film, which is set to be directed by Vincenzo Natali (Splice, Cube), is set to begin filming next year.

The Matrix: a world within a world, a graphic representation of the databanks of every computer in the human system; a consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions of legitimate users in the Sprawl alone. And by Case, computer cowboy, until his nervous system is grievously maimed by a client he double crossed. Japanese experts in nerve splicing and microbionics have left him broken and close to death. But at last Case has found a cure. He’s going back into the system. Not for the bliss of cyberspace but to steal again, this time from the big boys, the almighty megacorps. In return, should he survive, he will stay cured.

There is currently no release date set for Neuromancer.

Source: ComingSoon

Mark Millar Confirms Mark Hamill Will Appear In Big Screen Adaptation Of ‘The Secret Service’

by Shawn Madden

With the big screen adaptation of Mark Millar’s The Secret Service moving forward some have wondered if Mark Hamill, who agreed to allow Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons use his likeness in the comic book series, would appear in the film.

The first issue of the comic features the actor being kidnapped and…well, let’s not give away any spoilers here. Earlier today Mark Millar confirmed that before Hamill might go into Jedi hiding, we will indeed see the actor in the big screen adaptation!

 

Expect more news to come from this project very soon.

Christoph Waltz Enters Talks To Join The Cast Of ‘The Muppets’ Sequel

by Shawn Madden

Academy Award winning actor Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds, Django Unchained) has begun negotiations to join the cast of Disney’s sequel to The Muppets. If Waltz joins the cast he will play an Interpol inspector in the Europe set follow-up.

The studio is currently also on the hunt for “a Russian femme fatale and a male lead whose intentions are always in question”. The film is set to be helmed by James Bobin, who co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Stoller.

Source: THR

Andrew Dunbar Cast As ‘Firefly’ In The CW’s ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

A few weeks back, it was rumored that another classic DC villain would be visiting Starling City. While he is primarily a Batman villain, Firefly is set to appear in a future episode of The CW’s Arrow.

Entertainment Weekly has now confirmed that the villain will make his debut on the show on its tenth episode. The episode titled “Burned” is scheduled to air in early 2013. They’ve cast actor Andrew Dunbar (Battlestar Galactica: Razor) as Garfield Lyons aka Firefly. In the comics, Garfield Lynns becomes a villain after suffering severe burns as a firefighter. We can definitely expect an origin similar to that just with a little more grounded feel to it.

Source: EW

‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ Will NOT Be Based On Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy”

by Shawn Madden

Many die-hard Star Wars fans upon hearing the news of a new trilogy assumed that they would be based on Timothy Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy”. The trilogy is a series of novels that pick up five years after the events depicted in Return Of The Jedi. The books have been mostly embraced by the fans of the series and praised for their action and expansion of the universe.

The most popular character in this trilogy is Maya Jade. The very complex charcter initially tries kill Luke Skywalker in order to avenge the death of Palpatine at his hands. However, she eventually falls for Luke and becomes his wife and eventually the mother of his son, Ben. But according to E! Online, their source at Lucasfilm is telling them we shouldn’t expect this one at all:

So is that the basis for Episode 7 or not? I’ve heard directly from LucasFilm and other sources close to the picture, and they say: Definitely not.

“It’s an original story,” a LucasFilm source tells me.

In other words, forget the Star Wars novels. Forget the graphic novels. Forget everything you think you know about what happens to Luke Skywalker. According to my sources, Episode 7 will literally be nothing you’ve ever seen or read before from the Star Wars universe.

I also hear from several sources that, no matter what you may hear to the contrary, no director has been officially attached to the project.

I think the idea of a new fresh take on the trilogy is more exciting myself. However, I can see some of the die-hard fans being a bit let down by this one because of the amount of praise these books received. Could this mean that we would get an entirely new cast for the next film? It’s a definite possibility.

Two New TV Spots Released For ‘Skyfall’

by Shawn Madden

The twenty-third James Bond film, Sam Mendes’ Skyfall,  is already on it’s way to crossing $100 million across seas. As we get closer to the US release date for the film, two new television spots have been released. Not that it matters though. We’re all going to see this one.

The film, from Albert R. Broccoli’s Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as James Bond 007. The screenplay is written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan.

In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Skyfall is already out in the UK and will hit theaters in the US November 9th.

Five Directors Who Should Direct ‘Star Wars Episode VII’

by Shawn Madden

With the huge news that George Lucas had sold Lucasfilm to Walt Disney today also came the revelation that we would be getting another Star Wars trilogy starting with Episode VII in 2015. The big question is…who should direct the next chapter in the Star Wars saga? Well, let’s take a look at five choices who may just be the right pick to get behind the camera.

 

 

Brad Bird

 

Let’s just establish right off the bat that Brad Bird is definitely one of the best directors out there. Second, let’s recognize that the director has the ability to come into an existing franchise and give it a breath of new life. See: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. The director doesn’t so much work on making the material recognizeable as his own but rather emphasizes on the story over everything else with everything else just seeming to fall into place. A smart choice? Definitely.

 

 

Matthew Vaughn

 

Vaughn is another director who has the ability to breathe life into an established franchise that may have seemed long dead without forgetting to include what we loved about the franchise in the first place. Not only that but he is a very talented director who can shift between tones with ease. Look at the work he did on X-Men: First Class with the budget and time he had. Now, imagine what he could do on a larger scale.

 

 

J.J. Abrams

 

I know. This one is almost too obvious. He brought back another “Star” franchise and made it loved by new and old fans alike. The thing is though, Abrams is a talented director and can even make a strong film with a not-so-great script. Now, think about what he can accomplish with a strong script. If Abrams could mix what he did with Star Trek and Super 8, he could definitely make one of the best Star Wars films of all time.

 

 

Kenneth Branagh

 

Kennth Branagh is another director who has the ability to do a large scale film that focuses on the story and characters while not losing sight of just how big the film is as seen with his last film, Marvel Studios’ Thor. Branagh would definitely hit all the right marks when it comes to getting the Shakespearean and iconic elements into a Star Wars film. There’s plenty of archetypical story telling in the original trilogy that could be brought back by someone with Branagh’s sentiments.

 

 

Joe Johnston

 

First off, let’s remember that he is quite familiar with material. And we’re not talking the prequels. Johnston worked as a concept artist and effects technician on all three of the original films. Additionally, Johnston has actually shown interest in directing a Star Wars film in the past. A few years back, Johnston talked about wanting to do a film that would focus on Boba Fett, so the interest and desire to do a Star Wars film is definitely there. As seen with his work on Captain America: The First Avenger, the director has the ability to deliver a good sense of a broad story with his films while still not losing site of it’s characters. The only problem Johnston may have with the film would be delivering the dark elements that are definitely needed.

 

With a 2015 release targeted for the film, it should be expected that sometime soon we will learn who Disney will be putting behind the camera for Episode VII. However, the most important thing here is getting the story for this film right. And we currently have no idea what the story is at all for the film. So, until then we have no idea whether any of these choices will actually be the right choice for the film. Are there any directors out there that you would like to see helm the next chapter in the Star Wars franchise?

Bryan Singer To Direct ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past’

by Shawn Madden

After work broke that Matthew Vaughn would no longer be directing the sequel to X-Men: First Class, many had begun to wonder who would direct the upcoming sequel. Some even speculated that we would see Bryan Singer, who directed the first two X-Men films, back in the directors chair once again.

Speculate no more because Bryan Singer is back! Well, he never technically left because he was the producer behind First Class. But this time around he’s back in the directors chair for the franchise that he started out with Vaughn producing the film. Singer will start filming the upcoming sequel this January.

The film will follow the 1980s’ comic storyline written by Chris Claremont that alternates between a present day battle against the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and a future timeline where an assassination of a government official has led to Sentinels roaming the land and mutants held prisoner in internment camps. The entire cast from First Class is expected to be returning with rumors of cast members from the original trilogy appearing as well.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past hits theaters July 18th, 2014.

Source: Deadline

Disney Buying Lucasfilm In $4 Billion Deal And Sets ‘Star Wars Episode 7’ For 2015

by Shawn Madden

So, remember those times when you said George Lucas needs to stop messing with Star Wars films? Well, now he won’t be able. The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. from George Lucas, who owns 100% of the company. In addition to this news it’s been revealed that Disney has targeted 2015 for a release date for Star Wars Episode VII. So, tired of George Lucas raping your beloved childhood? Don’t worry about it because he won’t have the chance anymore with the properties now in much better hands.

Disney has long had a close relationship with closely held Lucasfilm and founder George Lucas, including featured attractions at Disney theme parks such as Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.

The full press release:

BURBANK, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments.
“Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value.”

“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products.”

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and “evergreen” Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Warsfeature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future.
The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.

Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm’s legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world’s top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney’s strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.

The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney’s very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company’s unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application ofinnovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney’s portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company’s ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world’s highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Lucasfilm have approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, and other customary closing conditions. The agreement has been approved by the sole shareholder of Lucasfilm.

Just like the Marvel acquisition, this one caught everyone by surprise. According to Disney’s Robert Iger, there are plans to release a new Star Wars film every 2 – 3 years with Episodes 7 through 9 to be directed by three different directors.

This will be part of Disney’s target slate of 8-10 live action films it releases each year which also includes the Marvel Studios films. With a new Star Wars and The Avengers sequel both hitting theaters, it’s safe to say that Disney will dominate the 2015 box office.

‘Man Of Steel’ Title Animation Leaked Online?

by Shawn Madden

It appears so. While, this could totally be fan made…highly doubt that it is. Definitely looks much like what we’ve seen already. With a full-length trailer set to debut very soon it is highly likely that the opening animation for Zack Snyder’s Man Of Steel has made its way online. Either way…check it out.

Man Of Steel hits theaters June 14th, 2013.

NBC Passes On ‘The Office’ Spin-Off ‘The Farm’

by Shawn Madden

To many fans disappointment NBC’s long-running comedy series The Office is coming to an end after this season. There were plans for a spin-off that would center on Rainn Wilson’s Dwight in the works. This would mean you’d get more The Office-ish material with the chance of some of your favorites stopping by for a visit. Well, sorry for the bad news guys but it appears things are really coming to an end.

 

NBC has chosen to pass on the pilot for the spin-off, titled The Farm, which would see Dwight run a bed and breakfast inn. The new series was to star Wilson alongside Thomas Middleditch as Dwight’s brother and Majandra Delfino as his sister. However, the pilot will still air as an episode of The Office later this season, as originally intended.

Source: Vulture

Geekscape Comics: The Weekly Pull List For The Week of October 31st!

by Shawn Madden

Every week there’s plenty of titles that hit your local comic shop. Maybe you’re having a hard time deciding which issues to pick up this week? Or maybe you just want to check out something that you’re not reading yet? Well, have no fears long box junkies…I am here to help you out with The Weekly Pull List. Every week I will give you a heads up on what will be the five issues that should be on the top of your stacks and pull lists this coming Wednesday. So, let’s kick off The Weekly Pull List for the week of October 31st!

5. NEW MUTANTS #50 (MARVEL)

– FINAL ISSUE!

– It’s time to raise a glass to Dani Moonstar, Sunspot, Cipher, Warlock, Sunspot and X-Man in this series-ending issue!

4. HIGHER EARTH #6 (BOOM! STUDIOS)

– With no one to trust, not even each other, Rex and Heidi must find a way to work together as the agents of Higher Earth come ever closer…

3. SWAMP THING ANNUAL #1 (DC)

– As ‘Rotworld’ kicks into high gear in SWAMP THING and ANIMAL MAN, how the world fell to the Rot is revealed through the eyes of the event’s key players!

2. HAPPY # 2 (IMAGE)

– Trapped in a mob hospital at the mercy of the cold-eyed torture expert Smoothie and his team of dedicated sadists, the only hope for Nick Sax is Happy the Horse!

– With three days to Black Christmas, can our unlikely duo stay together long enough to stop Pedo-Santa’s rampage?

1. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #16.1 (MARVEL)

– The Daily Bugle is on the hunt to find out everything they can about the new Spider-Man. What they discover will surprise them, you and him!

Well, instead of a trade this week I am going to recommend that you pick up: SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 2

– The highly anticipated sequel to the #1 New York Times best-selling graphic novel SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE by acclaimed writer J. Michael Straczynski and superstar artist Shane Davis is here!

– Young Clark Kent continues his journey toward becoming the World’s Greatest Super Hero but finds dealing with humanity to be a bigger challenge than he ever imagined! From a ruthless dictator to a new love interest who’s NOT Lois Lane, things are never easy for this emerging Man of Steel.

– And the worst is yet to come, in the form of a man-monster with an insatiable appetite, the Parasite! The only thing that might appease his hunger is The Last Son of Krypton! But that will also mean he will have Superman’s powers without his conscience, and Kal-El learns to live without powers beyond those of mere mortals.

Watch The First Clip From Fox’s ‘Axe Cop’!

by Shawn Madden

Check out the first clip from the upcoming Fox shorts based on the webcomic from the mind of brothers Malachai Nicolle (who was five years old when the series began) and Ethan Nicolle. Nick Offerman, who you probably better known as Ron Swanson from NBC’s Parks And Recreation, will be voicing Axe Cop in the animated shorts that will be airing Saturday nights on Fox. There really is nobody better to play Axe Cop than Offerman.    Am I saying this due to the mustache? Mostly.

The animated series will premiere next summer on Fox.

Jamie Chung And Jaime King Join The Cast Of ‘Sin City: A Dame To Kill For’

by Shawn Madden

Actresses Jamie Chung (The Man With The Iron Fists) and Jaime King (The Spirit) have joined the cast of Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. The sequel from director Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, has just begun shooting this past Monday in Austin. They will be joining the returning cast members Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson.

Chung will be replacing Devon Aoki from the first film as the katana-wielding assassin, Miho. King actually appeared in the first Sin City film as the golden-haired prostitute Goldie and will be joining the sequel as her twin sister, Wendy.

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For will be released October 4, 2013.

Source: THR

Cobie Smulders Returning As Maria Hill In Marvel’s ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’

by Shawn Madden

Alongside the confirmation that Frank Grillo will portray the villainous Crossbones, Variety has also revealed that we will see another addition to the growing cast of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Samuel Jackson and Scarlett Johansson will be both be reprising their roles in the sequel with S.H.I.E.L.D. playing a major role in the film. So, this should come as no surprise that Cobie Smulders will be back as Agent Maria Hill. Her role in the sequel will most likely be minor.

Source: Variety

Frank Grillo Officially Cast As Crossbones In Marvel’s ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’!

by Shawn Madden

Lat Frank Grillo, who you may know best from Warrior, The Grey and End Of Watch, tweeted about a meeting that the actor has with Marvel Studios for a role in the upcoming highly anticipated Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This led to speculation that the actor would be playing the role of the villain Crossbones in the upcoming sequel. Well, exciting news has just hit because that speculation has turned out to be true. Variety has confirmed that the actor will indeed be portraying Crossbones on the big screen.

This is definitely exciting news and Grillo is an awesome choice for the role. Our anticipation levels just went up a bit over here at Geekscape.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier hits theaters April 4, 2104.

Watch The New Red-Band Trailer For ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D’

by Shawn Madden

Check out a brand new Red-Band trailer for the upcoming Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D,  starring Jeremy Renner (The Avengers) and Gemma Arterton (Prince Of Persia).

Fifteen years after their traumatic gingerbread-house incident, siblings Hansel and Gretel have become a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D hits theaters January 25th, 2013.

Surprise! Watch The Live-Action Trailer For ‘Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2’ Directed By Guy Ritchie!

by Shawn Madden

Check out the live-action trailer for Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2, directed by Guy Ritchie, with some very special guests.

Pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record-setting entertainment franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops II propels players into a near future, 21st Century Cold War, where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare. Combining incredible high-dynamic range graphics and sensational new gameplay, Black Ops II sets you off on secret operations as Frank Woods – the protagonist from the original Black Ops game. The non-linear storyline will see you battling during a futuristic Cold War, as well as tackling flashbacks from historical missions and playing as various members of the Mason family. Every decision you make during this story will affect future consequences, giving you a different experience every time you play. With new futuristic weapons, the chance to master a number of different vehicles and modes of transport, and a mysterious villain – known simply as Raul Menendez – Black Ops II is set to be the ultimate Call of Duty game.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 hits shelves November 13th!

Joss Whedon Endorses Mitt Romney In This Election Video (But Not Really)

by Shawn Madden

The US Presidential election is just ten short days away and the director of Marvel’s The Avengers, Joss Whedon, has decided to weigh in tell you why Romney is the right candidate put this country back on the path to the zombie apocalypse.

In the end, while he may not be a candidate this year, we need someone who knows of the impending doom that is upon us and is willing to support government funded parkour programs. Whedon for president in 2016?

Tom Cruise Attached To Star In ‘Our Name Is Adam’

by Shawn Madden

Tom Cruise is a busy man these days. He’s got Jack Reacher and Oblivion making their way into theaters and the actor is currently shooting the adaptation of the manga, All You Need Is Kill and expected to soon shoot both the sequel to Top Gun as well as a new Mission Impossible.

Well, add one more onto his list for because Cruise has signed to star in Our Name Is Adam. With a script written by T.S. Nowlin, the film “will have Tom Cruise play an astronaut who travels back in time and works with his younger self.” The film has previously been described as Back to The Future-ish. After the success of Looper, should we expect a whole slew of new time travel movies to be hitting theaters?

Source: EW

Get A Look At The New Leatherface In This New ‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ Poster

by Shawn Madden

Take a gander at this new one-sheet for the upcoming sequel to Tobe Hooper’s horror classic featuring a good look at the new Leatherface.

Lionsgate’s TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D continues the legendary story of the homicidal Sawyer family, picking up where Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic left off in Newt, Texas, where for decades people went missing without a trace. The townspeople long suspected the Sawyer family, owners of a local barbeque pit, were somehow responsible. Their suspicions were finally confirmed one hot summer day when a young woman escaped the Sawyer house following the brutal murders of her four friends. Word around the small town quickly spread, and a vigilante mob of enraged locals surrounded the Sawyer stronghold, burning it to the ground and killing every last member of the family–or so they thought. Decades later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young woman named Heather learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars…

Texas Chainsaw 3D cuts into theaters January 4th, 2013.

Source: STYD

Jessica Brown-Findlay May Be Frontrunner For Female Lead In ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’

by Shawn Madden

Not long ago a shortlist made it’s way online for the contenders for the female lead in Marvel Studios highly-anticipated Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The names on this list consisted of Emilia Clarke, Jessica Brown Findlay, Teresa Palmer, Imogen Poots, and Alison Brie. Well, according to the Daily Express, Brown-Findlay is the “front-runner” for the female lead in the sequel. Many believe this role will be that of Sharon Carter.

Weeks after that shortlist was revealed, sources reported that Marvel and duo-directors Joe and Anthony Russo had been considering Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Since then though the rumor has been debunked by the actress. With shooting set to begin in a few months…we should expect to finally get some details soon regarding this role as well as casting.

Geekscape Movie Reviews: ‘Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning’

by Shawn Madden

Let’s start this off by saying that we should not pretend that this movie is something other than what it is: a hardcore, balls the walls action film with some light science fiction elements thrown in. That’s what the Universal Soldier films have always been. And this latest film in the series knows perfectly well what it is and brings exactly what you expect… and it brings it hard.

With Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning and the previous installment, Universal Soldier: Regeneration, director John Hyams brings new life to a franchise that many would have considered to be long dead. And he brings it back to the top of the action genre. With a few exceptions here and there, franchises aren’t often known for increasing in quality as they continue but the Universal Soldier series is among the minority that does.

With Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, Hyams delivers a satisfying hybrid of action and thriller that is constantly pushing forward at a breakneck pace. It’s also hands down one of this year’s best action movies, making some of the competition seem laughable. The original stars of the series, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, return but are kept to mostly supporting roles this time around to allow Scott Adkins to truly shine and take center stage. It’s no secret that I am a longtime Adkins fanboy, and his work this year (including The Expendables 2) has helped him to really stand out. But don’t fret! There is enough Van Damme and Lundgren to keep longtime fans happy.

Pushing past the original concept of the series, rejuvenated dead soldiers enlisted by a covert military organization, this film finds the original “Soldiers” putting together an army of the UniSols outside of the government jurisdiction… and the government’s not liking this one bit. The film mostly follows John (Adkins) as he initially witnesses, during the opening of the movie, the murder of his wife and child at the hands of Luc Deveraux (VanDamme’s long term Universal Soldier character). And this sequence is definitely not for the faint of heart. John is put into a coma and awakens nine months later with memory lapses. He begins to follow Luc’s trail, intent on finding out the truth about who he really is and what actually happened that night. And even though everything seems set up for a simple revenge plot, John’s journey will take him on a pretty twisted and violent path.

Unlike some of the previous installments that relied heavily on big action sequences, this time around we get more of a well plotted thriller interspersed with action scenes. This is far from the mind-numbing “explosion fest” that Universal Soldier 2 (the low point in the series) ever was. And when the action does finally arrive, it’s well worth the wait. Everything builds up towards the final act and once the pieces start falling into place and the punches start being delivered you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat resisting the urge to yell “Fuck yeah!” throughout the finale. Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning is a fresh, intense and brutal chapter in the series and if you’re a fan of action flicks, this shouldn’t be overlooked.

Grade: 4/5

Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning is available now On Demand and will hit theaters on November 30th.

Watch A Brand New Trailer For ‘Bullet To The Head’ Starring Sylvester Stallone!

by Shawn Madden

A second domestic trailer has been released online for Walter Hill’s upcoming action-thriller Bullet To The Head. The film, which stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Sarah Shahi, and Sung Kang, is based on the graphic novel of the same name. Bullet To The Head tells the story of a New Orleans hitman and a New York City cop who form an alliance to bring down the killers of their respective partners. This is Walter Hill’s first directorial effort in 11 years and it definitely looks like a fun and action-packed flick.

Bullet To The Head hits theaters February 1st, 2013.