Channing Tatum tells MTV News the sequel is 'wildly different.' By Christina Garibaldi
Channing Tatum Photo: MTV News
Super Bowl Sunday: A time for an intense football matchup, million-dollar commercials and for movie studios to show off what blockbuster flicks they have in store for the rest of the year. Paramount Pictures was banking on fans being ready for the next installment of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" when it presented the trailer to the more than 111 million people expected to tune into the game Sunday night (February 5).
Yet, there was one thing noticeably missing: Channing Tatum. Tatum, who plays Duke, only appeared in the first trailer a handful of times, and with no appearances in the short Super Bowl clip, speculation is growing that he might be making an early exit from the Jon Chu-directed flick.
MTV News caught up with Tatum at the set of "Saturday Night Live" as he geared up to host the show for the very first time, and he revealed he has yet to see the new "Retaliation" trailer, but hopes fans are ready for an action-packed sequel.
"I hope they like it better than the first one. I think it's wildly different," Tatum said. "Jon Chu: I really do think he's got his finger on the pulse of the hip younger generation. He did the 'Step Up's and what not, so I've got to work with him before. I think he's got a really hip vibe to him."
So now that Tatum has probably recovered from his stint as host on "SNL," we imagine he tuned in Sunday to catch the "Retaliation" trailer. Which team will he be rooting for during the game: the New York Giants or the New England Patriots?
"I just really want it to be a good game. Neither one of them are my teams, but I don't really have a pro team," he admitted. "It's always a bummer when the last game of the season is a landslide, so I want it to go into overtime and be the craziest game ever, but I don't know how you can compete with the last three games; I don't know how you keep going. The law of averages will probably say it's not going to be as good of a game."
What did you think of the "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" trailer? Let us know in the comments!
So go right ahead with the help of MTV News' pop-culture cheat sheet:
Sick phone call: In the movie, it was Ferris' buddy, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), who picked up Ferris' call to plead that he was too sick to leave his bed. In the ad, Ferris receives the call.
Walter Linder: His agent's name in the commercial is the name written right above the name of Abe Froman — the sausage king of Chicago — at the restaurant Ferris and his pals crash.
Pencils and Wite-Out: Bored secretary Grace (Edie McClurg) spent much of the film sniffing Wite-Out and picking pencils out of her hair, so note the pencils and Wite-Out prominently displayed on Linder's desk.
Baseball: The ball Broderick's agent tosses in the air calls to mind both the ball Ferris caught at the Chicago Cubs game and the one he flung at his stereo to kill the fake snores at the film's end as his parents approached his room.
Roeman, Peterson & Frye: The name of Linder's agency, etched in glass on his door, is a reference not only to Froman, but to Cameron Frye and Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara).
"He bought it": After Ferris successfully fools his parents, the first line he utters to camera, much like in the ad, is, "They bought it." Later, he pops off another classic line referenced in the ad: "Incredible. One of the worst performances of my career, and they never doubted it for a second."
Opening curtains: After Ferris successfully fools his parents, he thrusts open the curtains in his bedroom and wonders how he can be expected to go to school on such a gorgeous day.
Yello's "Oh Yeah": Though the song plays in the commercial as Ferris opens the curtains, it doesn't play in the film until the first time we see the Frye family Ferrari.
Twisty towel: Both Ferris and Matthew's preferred post-shower getup includes a robe and a twisty towel on the head.
"Broderick, Broderick": A callback to one of the film's most famous lines, in which Ferris' dry-as-toast teacher (Ben Stein) takes attendance and, in a ridiculous monotone, says, "Bueller? Bueller?"
Rottweiler: The dog sitting by another Honda outside the hotel is a Rottweiler, the same breed of dog the Buellers own and which terrorized Principal Edward R. Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) as he attempts to bust Ferris.
Detroit Red Wings jersey: On the roller coaster, the man behind Ferris is wearing a Red Wings jersey, the same one worn by Cameron in the movie.
Grace: The woman who calls Broderick while in the Honda is named Grace, another reference to Ferris' school secretary.
Exaggerated coughing: When Broderick coughs loudly while on the car phone, we thought back to the call Ferris made to some high school freshmen, during which he used a keyboard sound effect to make it seem like he was literally coughing up a lung.
Who's in the driver's seat?: As Broderick pulls up to a stop in his car, he discovers he is right next to Linder. He quickly hides behind a stuffed panda. In the film, Ferris finds himself stuck in traffic right next to his dad and switches places with Sloane.
Trench coat and clarinet: Look closely during this scene and you'll see a man playing the instrument, a nifty callback to Ferris' activities early in the movie.
SOCHOIC: Broderick's license plate refers to the way Ferris describes the Ferrari: "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."
Natural History Museum: Instead of attending the Art Institute of Chicago as in the movie, Broderick checks out the history museum. Instead of walking hand in hand with kids, he chases them.
The walrus: Two references in one. First off, Ferris shouts out John Lennon early in the film, saying, "He was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off people." Secondly, the staring contest with the animal riffs on Cameron's deep gaze into "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," Georges Seurat's pointillist masterpiece.
Horse race: In the film, Ferris checked out a Cubs game. In the ad, Broderick opts for a horse race.
Chinese parade: Whereas Ferris rocked a parade in downtown Chicago, belting out "Twist and Shout" and "Danke Schoen," this time around, he crashes a Chinese parade.
The valet: Call us crazy, but the way that valet shadily looked at Broderick, we were thinking back to the garage attendant who told Ferris to relax, because he was a professional, yet took the Ferrari on a joy ride. In the ad, the valet soon peels away from the curb and is seen racing the car off a jump.
"Life moves pretty fast": Indeed, Broderick will say it again, as he did twice during the film itself: "If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
What "Ferris Bueller" references did we miss? Let us know in the comments!
Marvel Studios debuts second full-length trailer during the game, as extended version appears on the flick's official Facebook page. By Ryan J. Downey
Chris Evans in "The Avengers" Super Bowl spot Photo: Marvel
Captain America is from Brooklyn, New York, so he's probably a Giants fan, right?
Well, if the new trailer for "The Avengers" is any indication, Cap will have bigger things to think about than the Super Bowl this summer. The game was a big deal and all, but comic book movie fans also assembled in front of televisions and computers on Sunday (February 5) to watch a different group of uniformed supermen (and women) go to battle in ways we've never seen before.
Marvel Studios debuted the second full-length trailer for the summer's "Avengers," and boy, did it deliver, true believers! An extended version appeared on the flick's official Facebook page moments after the commercial aired during the game.
Aliens, aliens, aliens! (Are those Skrulls? Kree? Asgardian something-or-others?) A Hulk-tastic climax, a bunch of alien craft getting smashed and the most action fans have seen yet from the Avengers: Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the man who brought them together in post-credits sequences across several movies, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).
The trailer opens with the familiar images of carnage on the city streets: cars overturned, explosions. The voice of Jackson as Fury says, "The world has changed." Evans, as Captain America, looks unimpressed as he untangles his hand wraps in what looks like a midcentury-style boxing gym. "At this point, I doubt anything would surprise me," he comments.
"We are hopelessly outgunned," Fury says, as the Marvel logo unspools and quinjets land on an aircraft carrier. As he finishes that sentence, we see that he's standing with Thor (and presumably the rest of the team). There are more explosions brought on by an alien craft, followed by Tony Stark (Iron Man) rising with a look of steadfast determination.
A close-up of Mjolnir flying into Thor's hand, followed by thunder and lightning. Iron Man's feet as they land on a rooftop. "Mr. Stark," Evans says. Downey answers: "Captain." "It's time," Jackson says. A close-up of Captain America's iconic shield. Iron Man in action.
As the montage continues, Thor helps Cap up off the street. Black Widow swings, then kicks, then peers over her shoulder while a car crashes between the shots. Thor lands on top of a quinjet! A large group of bad guys leap toward the city! Cap protects himself and his team from an explosion with his shield, Hawkeye shoots an arrow as he falls toward the street. Cap runs from a laser beam, Iron Man flies directly toward a small armada of alien craft. "I still believe in heroes," Fury says.
The camera then pans around all of the Avengers assembled around one another in the street. Hawkeye draws back his bow, Widow taps a clip into her pistol and Cap raises his shield. "The Avengers: That's what we call ourselves," Stark says casually, making a drink behind a bar as the film's primary villain approaches him ominously. " 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes'-type thing."
"I have an Army!" declares Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor's half-brother from Asgard.
"We have a Hulk," Stark answers, shortly before the extended trailer's money shot: the Hulk roaring, smashing through glass and leaping high into the air, destroying several alien craft at once. He didn't yell "Hulk smash!" — but he might as well have.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" writer/director Joss Whedon's flick will unite Marvel's Mightiest Heroes onscreen May 4.
Drew Barrymore, John Krasinksi and Kristen Bell discuss their new film, which follows the rescue of three gray whales in Alaska. By Kara Warner
John Krasinksi and Drew Barrymore in "Big Miracle" Photo: Universal Pictures
If you're looking for a feel-good film to see this weekend, look no further than "Big Miracle," the story of the real-life rescue of three gray whales trapped in ice near Point Barrow, Alaska, in 1988. Incredibly, the effort became an international issue that involved a rare collaboration between the United States and the Soviet Union and garnered worldwide media attention.
MTV News recently caught up with the three stars of the film, Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski and Kristen Bell, who explained the multi-generational appeal and importance of the story and the cause presented in the film.
"The whales have Twitter accounts," Krasinski joked when asked how the film might specifically appeal to MTV viewers. "So, streamlined information, done deal. Don't ask us, ask them. They'll talk all about it," he said with a smile. "It's a big movie that deals with participation, and with the election coming up and all these different things, and everybody is divided over this, that and the other, and everybody is angry about something. It's one of those moments where you get to say, 'I could just step in and lend my voice to something.' And it really helps, it makes you feel important and special that you're doing something. This movie sort of focuses on that completely, about how when you get a bunch of people together you can kind of do anything."
Barrymore added that the film's setting in the late '80s provides for a unique look back at our media and political cultures at the time.
"It's an interesting look back at how if things were a little different maybe we wouldn't exactly be where we are. But, it's not in a patronizing way, it's in a really interesting way," she said. "And it's amazing historically, like, you know, environmentally and politically. But, I think it's very true to what's going on now, that if people work together, whether it's protesting via Twitter for an important movement to change their country or to do something wonderful and important like saving whales. It's working together, so I think actually in 1987 when this takes place and what's going on right now today, they definitely have a connection."
Kristen Bell also focused on the warm, fuzzy aspects of the film, particularly how its positive message compares to the continually multiplying "train wreck" elements involved in other films and TV.
"I think it's a very positive story as opposed to many of the unendingly interesting train wrecks that are put on television or in films these days, which believe me, I'm not poo-pooing, but there's something very inspiring about a story where a bunch of different people come together for a common goal and actually accomplish it," Bell explained. "It's very, very inspiring, I think. And often times, news headlines or things that are written about in blogs, you know, reality television, it's not as inspiring as you want it to be, at least not for me. And it actually happened. It's historical, so you'll get smarter watching it. You'll also be inspired, so you'll be happier. What's the downfall? See the movie!"
Are you planning on seeing "Big Miracle"? Leave your comment below.
The magic of Madonna's parallel romantic storytelling appears to have been lost on critics. By Kara Warner
Madonna directing "W.E." Photo: The Weinstein Co.
In addition to her heavily hyped performance at Super Bowl XLVI this weekend, Madonna has been busy writing and directing her second movie, "W.E.," which follows the real-life love story of American divorcée Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII during the '30s, as well as a parallel story of a fictional American woman set in 1998 who became obsessed with Simpson's story.
The Parallel Storytelling
"Madonna and co-screenwriter Alek Keshishian try to fuse the threads of two very different tales, set several eras apart, to provide elucidation on the nature of love. But there's not much illumination to be had. There is, however, plenty of pretentious folderol. Clothes, jewelry and expensive trinkets are fraught with superficial symbolism. The more intriguing of the two stories centers on the 1930s romance and marriage of chic American divorcée Wallis Simpson and Great Britain's King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to marry her. (The title stands for Wallis and Edward.) ... Jumping forward to 1998, the second story is about Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) and her fascination with Simpson. Married to a self-absorbed and abusive psychiatrist, Wally roams New York City in a state of gloomy reverie. She forges an unlikely bond with Evgeni (Oscar Isaac), a guard at Sotheby's, where she goes often to look at the royal paraphernalia about to be auctioned. The disparate strands of the two stories never make much sense the way they're braided together. Presumably, the more Wally learns about the sacrifices Wallis made, the more she is emboldened to follow her heart and leave her own unhappy marriage. Yet what she uncovers about the Duke and Duchess is not always pretty." — Claudia Puig, USA Today
Madonna as Writer/Director
"The upshot is that instead of a film about a love that conquered a king and nearly undid a kingdom, Madonna has come up with a female friendship movie, which would be fine if she weren't busy trying to prove her art-film bona fides. At her entertainer best, Madonna distilled ideas and emotions into solid pop gold, transmitting a worldview through songs, music videos and her shape-shifter persona. The movies, by contrast, have largely defeated her both as an actress and as a director. As a mystical female friendship movie, 'W.E.' has its pull, but it never coheres, shredded by its editing and its pretensions, like Mrs. Simpson dancing to the Sex Pistols with a woman in African tribal regalia because, I'm guessing, Madonna likes the way Sofia Coppola used New Order's music in 'Marie Antoinette.' " — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
The Chick-Flick Factor
" 'W.E.' (which interlocks with 'The King's Speech' — Bertie pops up in a couple of scenes here just as David appeared in that one) is very much a woman's picture. The men, except the Sotheby's security guard, mainly serve as obstacles or targets. That viewpoint is daring and kind of refreshing; a recent study noted that some two-thirds of the dialogue in Hollywood movies is spoken by men (in my experience, that is a reversal of reality). In the Wallis portions, Madonna presents a frank, unashamed defense of gold-digging, though she does unconvincing penance for this in the Wally story, in which the bride proves lonely and bored in her Upper East Side castle. After more than 40 years of feminism, the gold-digging subtext remains as central to female fantasy as it is in Jane Austen novels, and it's implicit in most of those rom-coms in which, just by sheer coincidence, true love happens with the owner of a chain of bookstores, or the millionaire a gal meets while working the streets. If the woman virtuously chooses love over money, she gets the lucre anyway." — Kyle Smith, The New York Post
The Final Word, Pro-Con Style
"If anyone, Madonna certainly understands the crazy pull of celebrity obsession, and it's an intriguingly romantic premise she presents, interweaving Wally's story with the Duchess', often triggered by the modern woman's handling of certain artifacts belonging to the late, almost-Queen of England, who even begins to appear to her in hallucinations, to offer world-weary advice and/or disapproval. The director tells the Duchess' story with surprising verve, historical accuracy and style, a huge improvement over the nastily cartoonish way the couple was represented in the overrated 'The King's Speech' last year. There are a few clichéd missteps, as when Edward's mother, Queen Mary (Judy Parfitt), clucks, 'This is a pretty kettle of fish!' over her son's scandal, but, for the most part, the historical sequences have a thrilling élan, aided by the crack photography, art direction and especially Arianne Phillips' superbly accurate costume design for this most chic of fashion eras. Taking a cue, perhaps, from Sofia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette,' Madonna has also effectively interpolated modern pop-rock music along with the usual Deco cocktail standards of the era." — David Noh, FilmJournal.com
"You can't call 'W.E.' a total disaster; it's too pretty, too nonsensical and finally too insignificant for that. Rather, it's a heavily decorated and overly complicated exercise in female narcissism, which in its plotless meandering fashion seeks to draw a mystical connection between an unhappy Manhattan wife and Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), the Baltimore socialite who married King Edward VIII. Riseborough gives a richly enjoyable performance as the prickly, strange and not especially beautiful American who pulled a king and emperor from his throne, and some of the 1930s scenes are pretty fun, after the fashion of outtakes from 'The King's Speech' turned into music videos or haute couture shoots. Madonna and co-writer Alek Keshishian (who directed 'Truth or Dare' way back in 1991) go right at the historical reputation of Wallis and Edward as Nazi sympathizers, and to the extent that 'W.E.' is an attempt to rehabilitate them at least it has a clear agenda." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
Critics agree that the supernatural movie brings new life to the found-footage technique. By Kevin P. Sullivan
Alex Russell in "Chronicle" Photo: 20th Century Fox
With "Chronicle," found footage comes to the superhero genre. It's a fun and exciting take on a story you've probably heard before, and the critics agree. You can check out MTV's review over at the Splash Page.
We've rounded up a mostly spoiler-free sampling of the reviews out there for your reading pleasure. Check out what the critics are saying about "Chronicle."
The Story
"Told mostly (we'll get to that in a bit) through the video-camera lens of a pasty Seattle high school loser named Andrew (Dane DeHaan), the film "documents'' the aftermath of his encounter with a mysteriously glowing space rock. Along with friends and fellow discoverers Matt (Alex Russell) and Steve (Michael B. Jordan), Andrew realizes he can levitate objects and possesses super-human strength." — Ty Burr, Boston Globe
The Leads
"From the start, there's an undertow of cruelty to the teenagers' high jinks as they learn what they can do, as when they levitate a stuffed animal to frighten a child. Mr. Trank brings a light touch to these self-discovery scenes — the three are flexing fast-evolving muscles — as well as a creeping sense of menace. In this respect, Mr. DeHaan, whose vulnerability and physical awkwardness here can evoke the young Leonardo DiCaprio in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' is invaluable. Mr. Russell and Mr. Jordan are as likable as their characters, but it's Mr. DeHaan who pulls you uneasily in." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
The Writer and Director
"Sometimes a movie arrives out of the blue that announces the arrival of considerable new talents. Josh Trank is 26, and this is his directing debut. Max Landis, also 26, has written a couple of shorts. His father is the director John Landis, but connections don't teach you how to write." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Found Footage
"One of the cleverest conceits is the way in which shots are framed so that it really does seem as if we're seeing everything through Andrew's lens. Helped by the keen eye of cinematographer Matthew Jensen, mirrors — really, any shiny surface — help fill in the settings." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
The Final Word
"Bolstered by the natural performances of a trio of little-known actors, the very watchable 'Chronicle' keeps us captive throughout." — Claudia Puig, USA Today
Critics praise Daniel Radcliffe for 'sturdy and self-sufficient' performance in his first post-Potter role. By Kevin P. Sullivan
Daniel Radcliffe in "Woman in Black" Photo: CBS Films
Daniel Radcliffe makes his post-Potter debut in the new adaptation of Susan Hill's ghost story, "The Woman in Black." It's an old-fashioned horror movie that has earned mild praise from the critics, but a warmer welcome for its star and his prospects of an adult acting character.
We've rounded up a sampling of what the critics are saying about Daniel Radcliffe and "The Woman in Black," which opened Friday (February 3). Check out it below.
The Story
"Anchoring the drama is Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), a sad-faced solicitor still grieving for his wife who died in childbirth four years earlier. Their son Joseph (Misha Handley) is wise beyond his few years and draws pictures of his dad looking mournful. The gloominess deepens when Kipps' boss threatens to fire him if he doesn't excel at an assignment. The job is to sort out the papers of a recently deceased old lady." — Claudia Puig, USA Today
The Star
"Radcliffe, for his part, carries off the role of Arthur with reasonable aplomb. If the 22-year-old actor seems a little young to be playing a solicitor and single father whose wife died in childbirth four years earlier, his performance is sturdy and self-sufficient enough, at least, to banish thoughts of Hermione and Hogwarts. He's all grown-up." — Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post
The Kids?
" 'No Country for Young Kids' would be just as suitable a title for 'The Woman in Black,' a hoot of an old-fashioned British horror film in which being under 10 years old is not a good thing." — Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter
The Scares
"Schooled in the art of the quiet boo, [Director James] Watkins fills the film with squeaking doors and floorboards, pools of black, long silences and an assortment of moldering toys. Less gore is more here, and what a relief. 'The Woman in Black' isn't especially scary, but it keeps you on edge, and without the usual vivisectionist imagery." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
The House
"The house is a masterpiece of production design, crumbling, forlorn, filled with the faded and jumbled Victorian possessions of doomed lifetimes. It has a unique feature audiences will not fail to remark upon: its own sound-effects crew. At every frightening moment, and there are many, the soundtrack paralyzes us with blasts of cacophonous noise. You wouldn't want to be in the theater next to this movie in a multiplex." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Final Word
"The work Radcliffe does here is primarily reactive. It's also quite good. I'd say he's on his way as a post-Potter entity, and 'The Woman in Black' deserves a stateside audience. I only wish Watkins had done without the 'WHUUNNNGGGG!!!!' sound effects whenever somebody or something suddenly appears in frame, further racking the nerves of our ectoplasmically beset hero." — Michael Phillips, The Chicago Tribune
Are you planning on seeing "The Woman in Black" this weekend? Let us know in the comments!
With Daniel Radcliffe's 'Woman in Black' hitting theaters, MTV News checks in on rest of the cast. By Kara Warner
Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson Photo: WireImage
For the chill-seekers and Daniel Radcliffe fans out there, "The Woman in Black" is likely the must-see movie this weekend. The story revolves around young lawyer Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), who stumbles upon a dark and mysterious phenomenon gripping a small town in England.
In celebration of the release of "Black," Radcliffe's first big post-"Harry Potter" movie (in which there isn't a wand or wizard in sight), we thought it would be a good time to check in with the rest of the Hogwarts alumni and look at their upcoming projects.
Daniel Radcliffe
Radcliffe's next film role is poet Allen Ginsberg in the independent
film "Kill Your Darlings,"
which is about how Ginsberg and fellow Beat Generation icons Jack
Kerouac and Lucien Carr first met. The likable superstar told MTV News
recently that he hopes his 2012 is all "about film, film, film," with a
possible return to the stage in a couple years.
Emma Watson
Watson has been a busy bee since wrapping "Deathly Hallows, Part 2."
She can currently be seen in awards-season darling "My Week With
Marilyn." Next up is her first turn as an American in the anticipated
big-screen adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's coming-of-age novel "The
Perks of Being a Wallflower." Earlier this week it was reported that
Watson is in talks to team up with "Potter" director David Yates for a new drama called "Your Voice in My Head."
Rupert Grint
Grint has managed to appear in a few films throughout his years with
"Potter," but his first role since the series ended is in the anti-war
film "Into the White," formerly known as "Comrade." After that you can
listen for his voice in the animated "Postman Pat: The Movie - You Know You're the One." Then he's hoping to star in the biopic "Eddie the Eagle," based on Eddie Edwards, the first British native to represent the country in Olympic ski jumping.
Tom Felton
Following his role in the 2011 blockbuster "Rise of the Planet of the
Apes," two-time Best Villain winner Tom Felton will appear in the ghostly thriller "Apparition," opposite Ashley Greene and "Captain America" star Sebastian Stan.
Felton just wrapped shooting on upcoming TV series "Labryinth," and he also has golf drama "From the Rough" with Taraji P. Henson in the can awaiting a release date.
Bonnie Wright
The lovely titian-tressed actress recently wrapped production on "The
Philosophers," a fantasy thriller set at an international school in
Jakarta that features fellow "Potter" castmate Freddie Stroma. Wright
will follow up "Philosophers" with a role in the "Sweat - London"
segment of the ensemble piece "Geography of the Hapless Heart."
Matthew Lewis
When he's not posing for smoldery photos, the suddenly grown-up and stylish Lewis is busy making careful choices for his post-"Potter" career. He just wrapped filming on a major BBC TV project called "The Syndicate" and will start work on a new film, "Wasteland," from writer-director Rowan Athale, at the end of February.
Freddie Stroma
Although he didn't have tons of screen time as wannabe Lothario Cormac McLaggen, Stroma has a lot cooking career-wise. In case you missed him in the made-for-TV movie "A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song" opposite Lucy Hale, don't fret: The onetime aspiring neurosurgeon will be on the big screen in "Pitch Perfect," the Elizabeth Banks-produced comedy about college a cappella competitions, and he'll follow that with "The Philosophers."
'Talk Nerdy' team debates the merits of more 'Watchmen' stories and breaks down this week's box-office competitors 'Chronicle' and 'Woman in Black.' By Josh Wigler
"Before Watchmen" comic Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures
After "Watchmen," comic book fans were left under the impression that there would be no more stories featuring Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Nite Owl and the rest of their morally ambiguous crime-fighting pals. But that was before "Before Watchmen."
The announcement of new "Watchmen" comic books rocked the fan community to its core, and we're dealing with the fallout in this week's round of "Talk Nerdy" madness. Watch the episode below, and keep reading for further nerdiness!
Who Watches "Before Watchmen"?
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' most popular characters are returning to the paneled page, but Moore and Gibbons are nowhere to be found. Instead, DC Comics has hired a crew consisting of Darwyn Cooke, Brian Azzarello, J. Michael Straczynski and others to spearhead "Before Watchmen," a series of seven different comic book titles (each containing no fewer than four issues) debuting later this year. It's a controversial decision to return to what many consider to be sacred material, sure, but in the eyes of the Nerds, it's also a no-brainer: How do you turn down buckets filled with million-dollar bills, after all? Get their take on the news, plus some insight from MTV Geek's very own Valerie Gallaher.
Spidey Misses "The Avengers"
Elsewhere in the superhero space, rumors involving a possible Spider-Man cameo in "The Avengers" were officially shot down this week during a Twitter Q&A with director Joss Whedon. "There is no Spider-Man cameo," he declared. "But the Avengers do turn off the dark." Even with a fork in the rumors, the Nerdy crew couldn't help but wonder about the possibilities of Spidey yukking it up with Earth's Mightiest Heroes. See if they were for or against a visit from your friendly neighborhood web-head in your weekly dose of Nerdy.
Potter Wears "Black," Heroes Get Chronicled
It continues to be an eventful year at the box office, with not one but two extremely geek-friendly movies hitting theaters this weekend. We're talking, of course, about the Daniel Radcliffe-starring "Woman in Black" and the found-footage superhero film "Chronicle" from young director Josh Trank. But there's another movie in the mix that one of our hosts wholeheartedly endorses, a decision so controversial, so outrageous, that his very Nerdy membership is now very much in jeopardy. Intrigued? Watch the episode to see more!
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Jennifer Lawrence tells MTV News she felt pressure 'at the beginning, and then when we showed up on set, it was just making a movie.' By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence Photo: MTV News
The influx of "Hunger Games" goods continues! Slowly but surely, as we approach the film's March 23 release date, we're seeing more teaser trailers and getting to know the talented castmembers.
Stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson recently revealed to MTV News the details surrounding their first meeting and that infamous "chemistry read." We're now following up with more from that interview, wherein Lawrence and Hutcherson address the magnitude of their roles and avoiding Internet gossip.
When asked if either star spent time reading the "Hunger Games" chatter online, both agreed that it's better to avoid it as much as possible.
"I got a Facebook, like, three days ago. I don't do the Internets," Hutcherson joked. "I had friends tell me what people were saying online; I just personally don't go on there that much."
The castmates-turned-real-life friends also discussed the pressure and hype surrounding the film and whether they carried that with them on set.
"I, for one, felt it at the beginning, and then when we showed up on set, it was just making a movie, putting it aside," Lawrence said.
"It was crazy. It had so much buildup for something I've done so many times before," Hutcherson added. "Every other time it's been, 'Oh, another movie.' This time, it had so much going on before the production even started. I felt it but don't feel like it affected me that much."
"I was excited for the cave scene the most, for me at least, because it's the most character-driven part of the story where you really saw Katniss and Peeta's relationship take a big turn and come to fruition, if you will," he said.
"Whoa. 'Fruition.' I didn't know what scenes we were doing until the day I showed up," Lawrence joked. "But there were a couple of scenes where I'd read the call sheet and go, 'Oh, that's going to be a fun scene.' "
Head to NextMovie for a chance to win a "Hunger Games" prize pack, including two tickets to the premiere!
Previews for 'G.I. Joe,' '21 Jump Street' and others will premiere during Sunday's big game, with some trailers already available online. By Kevin P. Sullivan
Dwayne Johnson in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" Photo: Paramount
In recent years, the Super Bowl has given movie fans an entirely different reason to look forward to the big game. Movie studios have been using the highly coveted ad space to spread the word about their high-profile releases set to the hit theaters in the coming months.
Super Bowl XLVI is guaranteed to be no different, with some of the summer's biggest blockbusters already lined up to have spots during the big game. Some of the ads have even hit the Web in the days leading up to the game.
Paramount unveiled both of its ads — for "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" and "The Dictator" — online prior to Sunday's big game. The second preview for "G.I. Joe" shows more of the same over-the-top action that made the first trailer a hit, while the clip from "The Dictator" comes with a special Super Bowl message from star Sacha Baron Cohen in character.
Super Bowl trailer for "The Hunger Games" early on Thursday (February 2) when Yahoo! posted the full-length video featuring new footage from the adaptation of the best-selling novel.
Fans of America's favorite sport will get a realistic glimpse into the lives of America's greatest heroes. "Act of Valor" is a fictional military film that stars real-life Navy SEALS in the roles of the onscreen soldiers. The ultra-realistic military action film will debut a new preview at some point during the game.
On top of all the film previews set for the Super Bowl's commercial breaks, a good number of other ads use some of the movies' most iconic characters to spice up their products. Volkswagen will continue their use of "Star Wars" characters in their car commercials, with two new spots featuring music and characters from the films.
Additionally, Honda's ad featuring Matthew Broderick in a Ferris Bueller-inspired day off from acting found a lot of traction online when a 10-second teaser and eventually the entire commercial hit the Web in advance of game day.
And for all the "Twilight" fans out there, unfortunately, Edward and Bella won't be making an appearance, but an Audi ad takes a lot of inspiration from the film series in its vampire parody ad.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Hough also tells MTV News she's 'super excited' to reunite with 'Rock of Ages' co-star Russell Brand on the still-untitled Diablo project. By Jocelyn Vena
Julianne Hough Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
add link: Julianne Hough is building quite the film résumé. In the big-screen adaptation of Broadway musical "Rock of Ages", the triple threat sings and dances alongside Tom Cruise. But for her next role, she'll get to show off a serious side as a religious woman who begins to question everything she believes in.
"I'm actually in pre-production right now and I go to New Orleans in about three weeks and start shooting," Hough told MTV News of the upcoming Diablo Cody film. "It's really cool. It's very different than anything I've done and anything that people [have] seen me do."
As the leading lady in Cody's still-untitled project (originally called "Lamb of God"), Hough's character suffers a crisis of faith after surviving a tragic accident. She begins to live a life of sin in, well, Sin City, before finding God again. Hough revealed a bit more about the kind of pain and strife she'll have to act out in the film.
"It's strictly acting — no singing or dancing," she said. "In fact, I'm way more restricted in physicality because I actually play a girl that's been burned over two-thirds of her body, so I don't have a lot of movement, which is very different for me. So I'm excited. [It's] a big challenge and I like that. I have all the expression from my physicality trapped up [and it's] going to really help my emotion, I think."
Another thing that may ease her acting challenges is reuniting with "Rock of Ages" co-star Russell Brand in Cody's flick. "I'm super excited because in 'Rock of Ages' ... we had scenes together, but we never actually spoke to each other in the scenes," she explained. "So it'll be a whole new thing."
"Ages," which also stars a pitch-perfect Tom Cruise, Catherina Zeta-Jones and Alec Baldwin, opens in June. Hough's dance flick "Footloose" hits DVD on March 6.
From VW's 'Star Wars' spots to Brad Pitt's Heineken run, advertisers have long used films in their Big Game commercials. By Eric Ditzian
Matthew Broderick in his Honda CR-V commercial Photo: Honda
Super Bowl kickoff is just days away, and while we couldn't be more psyched to watch the New York Giants dismantle the New England Patriots (because, folks, that's what will happen, end of story), we're nearly as pumped to check out the game's high-profile movie ads.
Every year, corporate America pours millions of dollars into movie-related spots — some starring Hollywood A-listers, others riffing on classic films — in an attempt to convince inebriated football fans to buy cars, beer, junk food, deodorant and whatever else we probably don't need but which might make our sad, empty lives have more meaning. At least that's how we think ad agencies approach the biggest sporting event of the year.
In preparation for the commercial excellence coming our way Sunday, we took a look at Super Bowls past — as well as this year's pigskin classic — to pick the 10 greatest movie-related ads of all time.
10. Honda's Riff on "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
This one sneaks onto the list neither because it's a great commercial (it's not) nor because it's hilarious to see Matthew Broderick once again telling us that life moves pretty fast (it's just depressing). No, this 2012 Honda ad makes the cut because there's never, ever going to be a "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" sequel, and if this is a close as we get, hey, we'll take it.
9. Nissan's "Top Gun" Pigeons
Imagine being inside an ad agency when some creative exec pitches an ad in which a bunch of flyboy pigeons take flight, to the tune of "Top Gun" hit song "Danger Zone," and attempt to poop all over a Nissan Maxima, but the car is too damn speedy and the birds — one of them voiced by "Cheers" mailman John Ratzenberger — can't unload on it. And the Nissan suits say, "Hell yes! Let's fork over a million dollars and air this baby during the Super Bowl." The late '90s were weird. And awesome.
8. Budweiser's Alcoholic Dog
Would a dog's most traumatic memory be the time he tried to chase after a Bud truck? Would this be the recollection a dog, in the best tradition of a method actor, turns to on a movie set to cry on cue during a maudlin death scene? Do dogs drink beer? Listen, it's the Super Bowl. These things don't have to make sense.
7. Visa's Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon
Everyone's favorite movie-related drinking game made a very amusing appearance in the 2002 Super Bowl, as Kevin Bacon attempted to pull off what just might be a bit of credit-card fraud. Now drink!
6. Heineken's Brad Pitt Beer Run
We suppose there's a world in which Brad Pitt doesn't have an army of underlings to send out on a beer run and instead has to stroll, under cover of darkness and as a thousand rabid paparazzi converge on him, to the market to pick up a six-pack. In a far different world, Heineken spent roughly the GDP of a third-world country to hire Pitt, license the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" and produce a classic Super Bowl a classic Super Bowl ad in 2005.
5. FedEx's "Cast Away" Resolution
Who didn't want to ring Tom Hanks' neck in "Cast Away" and be like, "Dude, just open that FedEx box, 'cause there's totally a satellite phone, a GPS locator, a fishing rod and a water purifier in there"? This 2003 Super Bowl ad gave us the next best thing.
4. Noxema's Cream Ad with Farrah Fawcett and Joe Namath
This ad, starring the movie star and the New York Jets QB, might not make it by today's network censors. So it's simply amazing that it aired during the 1973 Bowl and had Namath cooing, ''I'm so excited, I'm going to get creamed!" as Fawcett slid into frame.
3. Pepsi's Michael J. Fox Apartment: "Apartment 10G" (1987)
In 1987, Michael J. Fox had it all — except some Diet Pepsi to offer his very new, totally bodacious next-door neighbor. So MJF does what anyone in his position would do: He jumps out his window in the rain to fetch her some calorie-free pop. Gentlemanly! Of course, when he returns with soda can in hand, he learns the new gal has an equally gorgeous roommate. Both of them love Diet Pepsi. And Michael J. Fox. City living is the best!
2. Volkswagen's Bark Side
Eleven dogs. One "Star Wars" theme song. Nothing more needs to be said. In fact, nothing is said the entire time (in the same, savvy style as Budweiser's 1995 frog spot). Just watch it before it airs during this year's game. Genius.
1. Volkswagen's Force
When a little boy clad as Darth Vader held up his hands, attempting to use the Force to start a Passat, he also jumpstarted the hearts of every Super Bowl viewer on the planet. Last year's classic ad was the perfect synthesis of everything a Big Game spot should aspire to be: cute but not too cute, funny without trying too hard, nostalgic yet utterly fresh. Though we somehow doubt parents raised on "Star Wars" rushed over to the local VW dealership seeking the sense of familial togetherness apparent in the commercial, that's not really the point (at least outside ad agencies and automobile manufacturers). Honestly, most of the people talking about the ad probably couldn't even name what kind of car the kid Force-ifies. What's key is people were talking — and still are talking a year later.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
MTV News takes a closer look at the latest sneak peek. By Kara Warner
Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games" Photo: Lionsgate
Anytime we see anything new from "The Hunger Games," it's like Christmas came early around here. On Thursday (February 2), we were gifted with a brand-new teaser trailer for the film, which is set to air on Super Bowl Sunday.
The one-minute spot features some familiar elements shown in the first full-length trailer, but there are also several juicy new items to look out for.
Here are the five key scenes in the new "Hunger Games" teaser:
Silver-Tongued Caesar Flickerman
Finally, we're starting to get sneak peeks at more key "Hunger Games" players. In this case, we get a good long look at (and listen to) Stanley Tucci as sweet-talking official "Games" interviewer Caesar Flickerman. Think of an over-caffeinated, duplicitous Matt Lauer, if you will. Flickerman's job is to get the tributes to open up to him and "perform" for the Capitol audience. There is a perfect example in the teaser, as Tucci-as-Flickerman asks Katniss a loaded, personal question: "What did you say to your sister when you volunteered at the reaping?"
"I told her I would try to win for her," Katniss answers sincerely.
"And try you will," Flickerman adds with dramatic intonation in his voice, before bending down and kissing Katniss' hand.
Katniss Gives Prim The Mockingjay Pin
For the book lovers out there, yes, this scene is different from how Suzanne Collins wrote it in the book, but it makes sense in the emotional context of the film. We see Katniss give her little sister a mockingjay pin and say, "As long as you have it, nothing bad will happen to you, I promise." This is significant because the mockingjay is seen as a rebellious symbol to the Capitol. It should also be familiar to fans who've read the books, as the symbol graces the cover of "The Hunger Games."
Cinna's Secret Gift
This one relates to the opening scene of the teaser. Just before Katniss is sent up to the arena for the start of the Games, her intuitive stylist Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) pulls out the mockingjay pin that she gave her sister back in District 12 and pins it underneath Katniss' jacket. It's a powerful moment, in that it shows how in tune Cinna is with his tribute and that he believes in her strength, along with the fact that Prim somehow sent it along, because Katniss promised her that "nothing bad will happen" to her if she wears it.
Katniss in Her Yellow Dress
Again, this one is for our fellow readers of the book, but holy cow, they show Katniss in her yellow dress! It's a very brief moment, but a loaded one. Without going into spoilers, because there are more than a few surrounding this particular look, the yellow dress Katniss wears is her most innocent-looking. Cinna designed it to showcase the softer side of the "girl on fire," and the color was to be more like candlelight than flames.
More President Snow And Effie Trinket
We'll take as many teases of the supporting players as possible, like the brief glimpse we get of Donald Sutherland's likely first scene in the movie as President Snow. "Welcome! And Happy Hunger Games!" he says via a big-screen monitor transmitting the opening of the games from the Capitol. His voice has the perfect amount of gravitas and disturbing excitement for the upcoming bloodbath. And the puffiness of his white hair only adds to his menacing-but-stately look. Plus, we get a little more from uppity type-A escort Effie Trinkett, who eats up anything and everything official from the Capitol. "I just love that!" she says breathily after President Snow kicks off the reapings.
Head to NextMovie for a chance to win a "Hunger Games" prize pack, including two tickets to the premiere!
Story focuses on a woman outcast from the English aristocrat and her 'incredible' romance with a Bedouin. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Madonna Photo: MTV News
Madonna has examined love a lot over the course of her career. She's written numerous songs on the subject. So, it comes as no surprise that when it comes to her work as a film director, the pop superstar enjoys breaking down complex, historical romances.
Her new film, "W.E.," which opens Friday, is all about one very famous, scandalous romance. It focuses on the tabloid romance between American divorcée Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII in the 1930s. In a parallel story, the film also follows Wally (played by Abbie Cornish), a modern-day woman who becomes obsessed with their headline-making fling.
Right now, Madge's plate is a bit full (with her new album, MDNA, dropping in March), but there's another great romance she wouldn't mind adapting for the big screen one day.
"There's a lot of stories that I'm interested in," she told MTV News. "I'm obviously always going to be drawn to stories about strong females 'cause we need, I need them, for inspiration. Well there's a story, but you won't even know about this person, Jane Digby."
She went on to give a lengthy history lesson on Jane Digby. And, it seems that her story veers into some similar territory as "W.E."
"She was in the English aristocrat in the [19]th century and she was excommunicated or outcast from society because she had an affair and she had a child," she said. Madge then went on to explain that after Digby's husband took her child from her, she began breeding horses in Greece. On her frequent trips across the Sahara to sell her horses, she had to dress like a man and be accompanied by Bedouin.
"One of her Bedouin guides became one of her closest friends and confidants," Madge continued. "And she ended up falling in love with him and he fell in love with her. But he did have several other wives and he wanted to marry her."
So Digby said she would marry him on two conditions: He leave his other wives and the couple live half of the year in the desert as Bedouin and the other half in the city.
So, does her story have a happy ending?
"He did agree to that and they lived together for the rest of their lives until she died. It's an incredible love story. Lady Jane Digby," she said, before joking, "It's a comedy."
Would you see a movie about Jane Digby's love story? Leave your comment below.
Well, sort of. 'Are you sure that's when we met?' Hutcherson asks as Lawrence recalls her version of events to MTV News. By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence Photo: MTV News
Here at MTV News, we are counting down the days until "The Hunger Games" arrives in theaters. If you've been spending any time with us recently, you know we've been keeping a close eye and ear on all the details about the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' dystopian best-seller.
Last week, we capped off a month of juicy interviews with stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, for which all the questions were supplied by you, the fans. We're going to keep our coverage rolling with another new chat with Lawrence and Hutcherson, in which they address the hot topics of their first meeting and that infamous "chemistry read."
When MTV News asked the two obvious real-life friends to recall their first meeting, we inadvertently started a playful debate.
"When was the first time we met? I remember it like it was yesterday," Hutcherson joked.
"When was that? You were at a dance-floor something, and I came up to you like, 'What's up?' " Lawrence recalled, making motions with her arms like she approached Hutcherson mid-dance. "I freaked you out, because I started telling you that thing ... "
"Are you sure that's when we met?" Hutcherson chimed in.
"Yeah, at the SAG Awards," Lawrence said. "You were on a dance floor."
"Yeah, the SAG Awards, but we weren't dancing at the SAG Awards," Hutcherson corrected.
The two clearly had differing opinions on the meeting. They went back-and-forth on a few blurry details and couldn't even remember what color dress Lawrence was wearing at the time.
"I met you in a hot-pink dress," Hutcherson said.
"No, I met you in a white dress!" Lawrence countered.
"Same thing!" Hutcherson said with a laugh.
Since that discussion was getting us nowhere, we asked the two about their "chemistry read," the point during the audition process when the two actors read their respective roles together for an audience of filmmakers and studio representatives.
"They had hired Jennifer, and they were trying to find Peeta. I had gone in for the first round of auditions, and a few weeks later, they brought me back," Hutcherson said. "We did a chemistry read and kind of hit it off right away, I felt, for the second time, third time," he joked, playing up the foggy memories of their first meeting. "So that's the first time we got to play the characters together."
"We had tons of chemistry," Lawrence insisted with a laugh. "He was Peeta," she added of her first impressions of Hutcherson as "the boy with the bread." "I had heard the director, I had heard Gary [Ross] say, 'He is the only one who is actually Peeta,' and then [Josh] came in, and he was. He's charming and nice and sweet, like a dog licking your face."
"A dog licking on your face?" Hutcherson asked, wondering if Lawrence was paying him a compliment or not.
"It is! That's what it's like hanging out with you, it's like, 'Eeeeee!' " Lawrence said of her excitement being around the 19-year-old.
So what does Hutcherson think of hanging out with Lawrence? "Like a dog licking your face, but 'Oh, God, get this away,' " he joked. "No, it's hard to get things done when we're together. I'm amazed this interview we've gotten as many questions in as we have. We just start going and end up talking about the most random things."
Watson is in talks to star in the Yates-directed 'Your Voice in My Head.' By Kara Warner
Emma Watson Photo: Getty Images
No, this is not about another "Harry Potter" movie, but a potential re-teaming of superstar Emma Watson and director David Yates for a new drama called "Your Voice in My Head."
According to Deadline New York, Watson is in discussions to play the role of a young woman who attempts suicide before being saved by a New York-based psychiatrist who's dying of cancer. The film is based on author Emma Forrest's memoir of the same name, the screenplay for which Forrest also wrote, and it is expected to be Yates' next project. He and Watson worked together on the final four "Potter" films, and Watson has always spoken very highly of Yates' abilities as a director and the environment he creates on set.
Warner Bros., the studio reportedly shopping the project for Watson and Yates, is said to be looking at heavy hitters like Tom Hanks and George Clooney for the role of the psychiatrist.
While we wait for the official details to be confirmed, Watson can currently be seen in Oscar hopeful "My Week With Marilyn" and will appear later this year in the much-buzzed-about adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's coming-of-age novel "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
"It's so funny because I never thought I'd make another sort of high school-esque movie," Watson told us of her role as Sam, the love interest of main character Charlie (played by Logan Lerman). "And here I am in this coming-of-age, American teen [movie]. But it's very witty, and it's very funny and it's very moving, so I'm excited."
In addition to being up for "Your Voice in My Head," Yates, who was also rumored to be in talks for taking on the big-screen version of "Dr. Who," will make "A Reliable Wife" for Sony.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
His 'grandparents or something were opera singers,' Julianne Hough tells MTV News of Cruise's singing voice. By Jocelyn Vena
Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages" Photo: Courtesy Tom Cruise
If you were wondering whether Tom Cruise can deliver in the singing department, his "Rock of Ages" co-star has the answer, and it appears to be a resounding "Yes." The film's leading lady, Julianne Hough, raved about Cruise to MTV News just this week.
"Oh, he's fantastic," Hough said. "If I remember correctly, I hear his ... grandparents or something were opera singers, so he has this tone and this pitch that is incredible."
The actress, who hopped on the phone with us to dish about the March 6 DVD release of "Footloose," also gushed about the A-lister's work ethic. "Anybody who knows Tom knows that he literally is the most hardworking and intense and committed actor out there," she added. "He, literally, would do lessons every day for hours trying to perfect it and perfect it and he really did it. He was fantastic."
And Hough should know. As Sherrie Christian, she shares the screen with Cruise's fictional rock-star character, Stacee Jaxx.
"There's a lot of songs that I'm singing, and I know a lot of its being cut out because of time and everything," she explained. "I'm scared to say what my favorite one is because it might not even be in the movie now [laughs], but I loved singing [the Scorpions song] 'Rock You Like a Hurricane' with Tom. That was really unbelievable. I sing a lot with Mary J. Blige and, I mean, anything I sing with her, I'm like dying. She's incredible. A lot of songs are really fun."
"Rock of Ages" — based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name — is directed by Adam Shankman and follows Hough's Sherrie Christian, who falls in love while trying to navigate Los Angeles in the 1980s.
"It's an incredible film to be a part of," she said. "I think the musical was so fun, people had such a blast going and seeing the show, that it was kind of an obvious decision that they should make it into a film. And, I mean, these songs are so iconic. ... It's very cool to be a part of and the cast is incredible and my character is fun. I got to show a little bit more comedy in this one, which is really fun."
Alec Baldwin, Malin Akerman, Russell Brand and Catherina Zeta-Jones also star in the movie, set to hit theaters in June.
Do you think Tom Cruise can really sing? Tell us in the comments!
Joss Whedon and a trio of the movie's stars hit Twitter to reveal some of Earth's Mightiest secrets; Marvel Mania has the highlights! By Josh Wigler
The Hulk in "Marvel's The Avengers" Photo: Marvel Studios
Earth's mightiest heroes unleashed Earth's mightiest tweets as part of a special live "Avengers" Q&A session held on the micro-blogging site on Tuesday. Director Joss Whedon and stars Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson) rallied together to answer "Avengers" fan questions, covering topics like Easter eggs and cameos, characters who didn't make the final cut, and the differences between this movie and the previous Marvel flicks we've already seen.
Read on, Marvel Mania has five highlights from yesterday's chat!
Spider-Can't
One of the biggest "Avengers" rumors spinning across the Web in recent weeks involved a surprise Spider-Man cameo. In the alleged scene, Spidey would be seen swinging past Captain America, Iron Man and the others in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance. No one expected Whedon and company to flat-out deny the rumor, but if there's one thing fans should know by now, it's never to assume anything about the "Buffy" and "Angel" creator.
"There is no Spider-Man cameo," Whedon said matter-of-factly when asked about the rumor. "But the Avengers do turn off the dark."
Stings Like a Bee
Of course, even without a Spider-Man cameo, fans can't help but wonder about other Marvel characters who might sneak into "The Avengers." Whedon and his trio of stars wouldn't tip their hands regarding any secrets, though he did joke that any and all Easter eggs would be "actual dyed eggs. Try to find them all!" In all seriousness, Whedon did identify one "Avengers" character he wishes he could've included in the film: "I'm a fan of the Wasp. She's goofy and sting-y."
The Loki Dilemma
Being bad isn't always easy. Fun, sure, but not always easy. Hiddleston was asked numerous times how he's able to tap into a character as nasty as his displaced Asgardian villain, which he acknowledged as an occasionally serious obstacle.
"The biggest challenge was magnifying his menace without losing touch of his emotional truth. Keeping his chaos honest," Hiddleston said of playing Loki. "Sometimes you wake up feeling warm and sunny, but the scene requires hatefulness and spite. You have to reach deeper. And stay aware of the fact that the emotions are true, but they're not mine."
Coulson Unbound
One fan-favorite character expected to get a major makeover in "The Avengers" is Agent Coulson, the stoic S.H.I.E.L.D. operative first introduced in "Iron Man." Clark Gregg has long teased his upcoming turn as an action star in Whedon's superhero-studded flick, and he reiterated during the Twitter chat that "more layers to Coulson's world/powers [will be] revealed." Coulson is so beloved, in fact, that one fan dubbed the character the "Chuck Norris of 'The Avengers.' " The title prompted an amazing response from Gregg: "[All] due respect, but Coulson [would] crush walker tex ranger ... w/ a bag of flour." Co-signed, Clark!
Going in Blind
It's doubtful that many of the people walking into "The Avengers" this summer will walk in blindly. For the most part, the movie-going masses will be at least fleetingly familiar with the exploits of Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner and Thor. But if by some chance you haven't seen previous Marvel movies but still want to get in on "The Avengers," Whedon promised that you do not need to know a single thing about Earth's Mightiest Heroes or the House of Ideas at large going into the battle.
"You don't need to see any Marvel movies to enjoy Avengers," the director said. "But you need to see 'Steel Magnolias,' like, six times."
Did you enjoy the "Avengers" Twitter chat? Hit me up with your take @roundhoward!
'Woman in Black' star tells MTV News the giant spiders in 'Jumanji' used to keep him up at night. By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Daniel Radcliffe Photo: MTV News
For the star of an upcoming coming horror film, you might expect Daniel Radcliffe to know his way around the genre. But when it comes to movies that really scare the "Woman In Black" star, he doesn't exactly name the cream of the crop.
"'Jumanji,' funnily enough," Radcliffe admitted to MTV News' Josh Horowitz. "The giant spiders in 'Jumanji' freaked me out as a kid, because I used to wake up in the middle of the night thinking I was seeing them around me."
While the Robin Williams movie might not inspire nightmares for most people, it was enough to make an impression on the young Radcliffe. Not satisfied with his first answer, however, he vowed to give a more "proper horror film" that scared him as a child.
So naturally, Radcliffe moved onto the Jennifer Lopez classic, "Anaconda." "I remember the first kind of horror-thriller thing that I ever watched was also 'Anaconda,' " he said. "I've got some serious pedigree."
The actor shared a story about his first time watching the film, at a friend's birthday party, and his fondness for Ice Cube's character. "We all picked a character, and when our character died, we had to leave the room and weren't allowed to watch the film. I was in it until the end because Ice Cube survives."
Despite his less reputable horror-movie knowledge, Radcliffe insisted that he actually knew a thing or two about the classics growing up. "I never watched 'The Exorcist.' I never saw it when I was a kid. I've watched it since," he said. "When I was 12, all my friends were saying 'You should watch 'The Exorcist,' it's really funny. You'll just find it funny.' I watched it later, thinking I would not have found that funny at 12. I'm terrified now. I would have been scared then."
Still not satisfied with his defense of his own horror-movie knowledge, Radcliffe attempted to clear up any lingering questions about his cred. "I also like films like 'The Shining,' " he said. "I should mention just because I really should mention a good horror film at this point."
What horror films give you the chills? Let us know in the comments!
