Month: March 2012

Star Trek 2 Villain’s Role “Kicking In”

  Intensity is up to warp 9 on the set of Star Trek 2. Benedict Cumberbatch tells MTV News “it’s great fun” filming. Recently photos and video show the British actor fighting with Zachary Quinto (Spock.) 

  “My part of the film is really sorta kicking in now. It’s great fun, great, great fun,” he said. “But what I’m trying to say is it’s a great thing to come into something that everybody’s familiar with and knows each other very well. So it’s [in] a weird way a very easy thing to get up to speed with, because everybody is so welcoming and gets along with one another.”

 For the entire video and interview here’s the MTV News link.

  No word on who Cumberbatch is playing or what species. From the recent photo* it looks like the British actor could be Vulcan or Romulan – although the trademark pointed ears are covered. It looks like he’s wearing a Starfleet communicator badge. When Benicio Del Toro was cast rumors began that he would be playing Khan (played by the late Ricardo Montalban in the original series and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.)

  I’m still watching for updates on the earlier story that Cumberbatch may play the Time Lord villain, The Master, for the 50th anniversary of the Doctor Who series opposite Matt Smith.

*When the photos and video came out last week I didn’t want to post because it may be considered a spoiler but I feel they are everywhere now. It’s an interesting thing of when and what to share when it comes to blogging. I hope this didn’t spoil it for you.

‘The Hunger Games’ Expectations

  Hollywood is buzzing over The Hunger Games like the Capitol erupted over the fiery arrival of Katniss in the book. According to studies the movie is on track to open to $70 million + and that’s bigger than Twilight according to Deadline.

  Here in the Emerald City fans are buzzing over The Hunger Games tour bringing Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson to Seattle’s Microsoft Store at University Village on March 10th. I wanted to share the latest information  from U Village if you want to be part of this big opportunity.

Here’s the schedule:

7am – Fans will be permitted to line up outside the Microsoft store.

9am – Wristbands will be handed out to the first 100 people for private in-store signing and VIP access in the Q&A area (parking lot in front of the Microsoft Store).

10am – Fans will be permitted access to the Q&A area; Q&A is free and open to the public.

2pm – 3:30pm – Private signing at the Microsoft store with the stars of ‘The Hunger Games’. Please visit the Microsoft Store for details.

3:30pm – 4pm – Q&A with the stars

Good luck!

Astonishing X-Men’s New Writer, New Controversy

Astonishing X-Men #48 interior art courtesy Marvel.com

  One of the most anticipated X change is Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins taking on Astonishing X-Men with issue #48. The unique line-up includes Wolverine, Iceman, Gambit, Warbird, Karma and Northstar. The writer says she will show the characters lives away from the X-Men. Today Liu told Marvel.com how this cast of characters came together.

  “They’re all in the wrong place at the wrong time, basically, but being X-Men, they’re not the types to turn away from a dangerous situation. What none of them realize, of course, is that working together will lead them into some very unfamiliar—and uncomfortable—situations

  I’m excited Northstar found a home with the X-Men after Alpha Flight’s cancellation. Liu expanded on why she brought Jean-Paul back with the mutants:

Astonishing X-Men #49 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  “Northstar has so much to offer in terms of character; not just his personality, but where he is now, where he wants to be, who he might become under certain circumstances. All of which will be addressed in these first two arcs. Also, despite being a powerhouse of experience when it comes to this super hero gig, he’s also a bit unpredictable; his emotions get the better of him, sometimes, and that’s very interesting to play with when he’s under pressure.”

   Marvel said the arc will be the most controversial story of the year. Liu said one character will be changed forever but she has a long-term plan in mind.

 “There’s a long-term mystery playing out over the first two arcs that establishes these individual X-Men as a real team. We have fights, deaths [and] explosions, but in many ways it’s a very intimate story, and by that, I mean these characters will literally live and die based on the strength of their relationships to one another. There’s an enemy, of course, but the battle against this individual’s machinations will force the X-Men to look inward, and at each other, in ways that may be very uncomfortable, and illuminating.”

 For the entire interview and more of Mike Perkins preview art here’s the Marvel.com link.

John Carter Fights for Mars

  The new John Carter trailer ramps up action, reveals more of the enemy and how the Earth man (Taylor Kitsch) becomes a hero on Mars. When you see the trailer depicting the world Edgar Rice Burroughs created you realize what an imagination the legendary writer had and how he influenced so many other writers. Before Stars Wars and Avatar a man from Earth became a warrior hero on Mars. Mark Strong has played the villain many time and this looks like another great performance.

For more behind the scenes videos here’s the John Carter YouTube Channel link.