TV, Movies & Home Theatre - Page 44

The movie industry is rife with a tremendous amount of talent,both on-screen and off-screen. Actors and actresses are challenged with having to get fully into their roles to convince us of whatever might be happening on screen. And surely they're the stars of the big-screen, but what about the people behind the scenes that make things go smoothly? The individuals who work diligently to make the experience a the experience truly cinematic, engaging and, ultimately, enjoyable.

And we had the opportunity to interview one of the industries most talented animators, turned pre-visualization artists, Mark Anthony Austin. Throughout his career he's worked on 20 hit blockbuster movies that include Star Trek Beyond, Goosebumps, The Jungle Book (2016), Avengers, Oblivion, War Horse, X-Men Days of Future Past and even Star Wars - A New Hope - Special Edition, where he had the honor of playing the legendary Boba Fett. The one character in Star Wars that has had the least amount of on-screen time, yet has become one of the most popular characters of all time.

We were able to ask questions about what it was like to don the helmet of and turn-into the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy. We also talk about life as an animator and pre-visualization artist and why pre-visualization is so important in the art of filmmaking. And of course, we ask the all too important questions about hardware too.

One of music's greatest producers Rick Rubin has a strange new project coming out: a Star Wars-themed electronic album featuring sound effect samples from the films. Named Star Wars Headspace, it includes tracks from Flying Lotus, Kaskade, A-Trak, Bonobo, Rubin himself, and many more. If you like, you can check out some samples here or listen to Zane Lowe's Beats 1 program throughout today to get a feel for it.

Headspace is releasing February 19 digitally (iTunes pre-orders are up here) and March 18 the old-fashioned way. The full track list is below.

The world's first Blu-ray player (in North America at least) is said to be available about a month ahead of time, starting as early as last Friday. The Samsung UBD-K8500 (which resembles a certain Sega console), according to some enthusiasts, can be found in some shops now, while Best Buy customers are being told it's shipping this Wednesday; others say a store in Santa Monica was advertising it and promptly sold out.

Funnily enough, the K8500 -- currently $399 -- can't actually play 4K Blu-rays at the moment, as they aren't currently available: Amazon is taking pre-orders for The Martian and Kingsmen: The Secret Service, but both don't ship until March 1. However, the device can stream 4K content from Netflix and other providers.

It seems that it's almost tradition for Marvel movies to include a post-credits reveal or sneak-peak into the next installment that they're working on. And Deadpool is definitely no exception in this regard. The co-creator of Deadpool, Rob Liefeld, wants everyone to know to stay until after the credits to enjoy something special.

To add a little excitement, the co-writer of the movie, Rhett Reese confirmed that this new after-credits bonanza was something that's been added just before it hits theaters, so not even the reviewers have seen what this is. Could this be a tie-in preview to a new Deadpool movie? Perhaps a jumping off point for the character Cable as well.

The mystery is intriguing and we're almost certain that staying for the teaser should be worth it, especially for fans of all things Marvel.

Disney recently announced it had delayed the release of Star Wars: Episode VIII until December 15, 2017 - which has now had a major affect on the sequel to Avatar, also due in Christmas 2017.

According to The Wrap, 20th Century Fox has now delayed Avatar 2 - even after James Cameron said they were targeting the holiday release window of 2017. But, the release of Avatar 2 has been up in the air for a while, rumored for 2014, 2015 and even 2016 - but now, who knows when James Cameron's next juggernaut will be released.

But, it makes sense that they wouldn't want to compete against Disney and the unstoppable Star Wars franchise, especially during the holidays. We're not just talking about the movie here either, but merchandise, and everything else that launches with Star Wars: Episode VIII, and Avatar 2. We should hopefully see Avatar 2 released in 2018, but at this rate it might be 2020 before Avatar 2 is released.

After the huge week that Warner Bros. has had, with new TV spots for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the official trailer to Suicide Squad, and our first look at the Wonder Woman movie for 2017, WB has provided a release date for Justice League: Part One.

Justice League: Part One will be released on November 17, 2017 - a few months after Wonder Woman hits screens on June 23, 2017. Just a few days ago, Warner Bros. released its first concept art for Justice League, where Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg all appear - beautifully, I might add.

The big start to the DCEU started with Man of Steel but kicks off in a far bigger way with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which premieres on March 25, 2016.

After the disappointing Terminator Genisys (even after James Cameron gave it his approval), it should come as no surprise that Paramount Pictures has removed the sequel promised for May 19, 2017 from its release schedule.

Paramount removed it without a reason, but considering it only made $89 million in the US (and around $440 million worldwide) - it's not a surprise. What will take Paramount's position for the May 19, 2017 window? Baywatch, the movie. Yes, it's happening. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson will be starring in the Baywatch adaption, based on the TV series from the 90s that David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson were made household names from.

Seth Gordon is directing, the guy behind Horrible Bosses and Identity Thief, while Johnson will be joined by Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario.

With the release of Deadpool set for next month, Fox's R-rated 'anti-superhero' movie won't be released in China. According to local media reports, Deadpool has been denied permission to screen in China over its "violence, nudity and graphic language", reports The Hollywood Reporter.

China's censorship authorities usually work with Hollywood studios to create more family-friendly versions of their R-rated counterparts, but sources close to Deadpool say it just wasn't to start cutting away at the movie, as it was not possible without causing plot problems. China also has no rating system, which makes it much harder to maintain strict lines for movies - with SAPPRFT (State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television - China's media regulator - has the final judgment on film imports.

But Marvel movies have done big business in China, so we're sure Deadpool will find its way into the country. Considering Avengers: Age of Ultron made $240 million in China, while Guardians of the Galaxy pulled in $96.4 million, and Ant-Man with $105.4 million, Chinese audiences will be begging to see Deadpool once the reviews start rolling in when it hits theaters on February 12.

Marvel's Jessica Jones was one of my favorite shows of 2015, but Netflix has now announced that it has been renewed for a second season.

The second season of Jessica Jones will include 13 new episodes, which will be aired sometime later this year, hopefully. The second season of Daredevil is right around the corner, with it dropping onto Netflix on March. Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg said: "She ends in a very different place than she started off. She's still going to be Jessica Jones — that is not going to change. She will continue to drink and make mistakes and accidentally drop people onto train tracks, but something has changed for her by the end of this season, and I'd just love to explore that in the second season".

The first season of Mr. Robot was incredible, with the second season of USA's show arriving in the summer. Series creator Sam Esmail has started teasing what we'll see with S2 with Entertainment Weekly. Esmail wouldn't talk details of the second season, but he did tease where Elliot's relationship with Mr. Robot was headed - so if you haven't watched the first season - SPOILERS AHEAD.

Esmail said that after revealing Mr. Robot as a figment of Elliot's deranged mind, and not Elliot's father like most wanted, the show will push into the complexity of that imaginary relationship, instead of typing up the loose ends on it. Esmail said: "There will be a lot more backstory that will be shown, the timeline will get a little clearer - not 100 percent clear, because where's the fun in that? But a little clearer. It really is about Elliot trying to reconcile what this means in seeing Mr. Robot".

During the first season, Elliot was dealing with trying to work out what was real, and what was a delusion of his own mind. In the second season, Elliot will be continuing this fight, working through his hyperactive imagination. Esmail said that S2 will have less "reveal" moments, adding that he said the biggest "gotcha" moments in S1 were part of the storyline before the director's yelled 'action', he wants to focus on the relationships of the characters, instead of surprising the audience constantly.

WarnerBros is going full steam ahead with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice clips, with the latest TV spot airing during a recent episode of Conan.

The TV spot doesn't show much new, but what it does show is Superman ripping open the doors to the Batmobile, and being a menace to Batman. Superman says "next time they shine your light in the sky, don't go to it. The Bat is dead. Bury it."

Batman seems pissed, responding with "tell me, do you bleed?" with Superman looking at him like he's nothing - and then flying away. Batman looks to the skies, adding "you will".

Two new photos have surfaced from the upcoming Assassin's Creed movie that seem to show both the more modern setting as well as quite the action packed historic backdrop.

Now we can sort of see that the larger plot elements are at least being taken into consideration. There's no explanation as to what kind of captivity Michael Fassbender's character is in, though at least it's in the modern age, or the near future. How they plan on working in the Animus will be interesting.

Now the second shot, below and after the break, is far more action packed and set in what should be 15th Century Spain, which is the era that Fassbender's character is from. But the clothing and other elements actually look like they could be from an earlier time. Regardless, for two hours in 2017, we'll get to watch someone be sneaky and skulk in the shadows while looking for secrets to save the world, instead of playing it ourselves.

Daredevil was one of the best Netflix shows from 2015, with season two rumored to drop on March 25, the same day that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice flies into theaters.

The rumor is coming from sources of ComicBook.com, but Netflix and Marvel haven't confirmed the news just yet. Daredevil's first season premiered on April 10, 2015 - so the second season would be arriving a little earlier. Most people seem to think this is a big problem for Warner Bros., as it will somehow stop people from going and seeing Batman v Superman, but I don't think that'll be an issue.

Netflix binges are enjoyed at home, on the train, or wherever you are - whereas Batman v Superman will be an event in itself, going to the theater to see something that has never happened before - Batman and Superman being featured in a movie together.

Batman v Superman is only three months away from its debut, with Entertainment Weekly getting its hands-on two new photos of the Batcave featured in the movie.

Ben Affleck is playing Bruce Wayne/Batman, with his new Batcave stocked to the walls with armor, weapons, cars, gadgets and more. This iteration of the Batcave is cemented in reality, with director Zack Snyder and his collaborators creating an entire line of next-gen technology and design choices that a billionaire would make.

Remember that Batman is long established in this world, so with a near unlimited budget, this is what he would do - especially given the 10-year-plus timeframe that Batman has been in the world for. Ben Affleck talked with EW, where he said: "[Batman] represents human beings, mortal men. In a world of Flashes and Aquamen and Supermen, there needs to be that guy. It's interesting that
 he became the 
leader of the Justice League in the books - I'm not sure how that'll play out here - but his humanity is also an asset".

What was the most pirated movie of 2015? Interstellar. Christopher Nolan's space epic, according to the best estimates, was downloaded 46.7 million times.

Coming in second place was Furious 7 with 44.7 million downloads, and Avengers: Age of Ultron with 41.5 million. Excipio tracks BitTorrent downloads, noting that there were 36.8 million downloads of Jurassic World, and 36.4 million for Mad Max: Fury Road. Here's the full list and their exact downloads:

These numbers wouldn't include downloads through VPNs, Usenet and other underground sources - so I'd expect these numbers to be quite conservative. Considering how Hollywood loves to bang on the 'piracy kills profits' drum, we have hundreds of millions of collective downloads here, yet Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the fastest movie to reach $1 billion, and before it Jurassic World make a Titanic amount of money.

Christopher Nolan is known for The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception and Interstellar - fictional stories, and for the first time in his career, he will be directing a movie on something that actually happened - the miracle of Dunkirk during World War II.

Variety reports that Nolan's new project will be about the miracle of Dunkirk, where 195,000 British soldiers and 145,000 French and Belgium soldiers were saved after they were trapped by Germans. Nolan's movie will focus on Operation Dynamo, and at the gritty details of how one of the most notable evacuations in history happened.

Nolan will reportedly be securing Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance - with Dunkirk being show on 65mm large format, and 65mm IMAX format.

The first shot of Michael Fassbender in the upcoming Assassin's Creed movie has been released by Entertainment Weekly, with Fassbender playing Callum Lynch.

Lynch is a character who doesn't appear in any of the Assassin's Creed games, but he acts like a kind of "cypher for all the time-traveling, first-person action in the games", reports EW. Fassbender however, didn't play any of the Assassin's Creed games before taking the role, only playing the games after he signed the dotted line.

Fassbender is currently in Spain filming the movie, where he said to EW: "I've played it since [being offered the job] mainly to get an idea of the physicality of the character. We're striving to find something special. We believe the whole concept around it is special and want to service that the best we can. The fans are really passionate: very specific and they expect accuracy and historical detail. We're really trying to capitalize and feed on and enjoy the fun element. We're working hard to make this something special".

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens nearing $1 billion in worldwide box office revenue, we're hearing more about the making of Episode VII - more so, in November 2014 when it was dubbed 'The Force Awakens'.

The Force Awakens was actually called something completely different until that point, with Pablo Hidalgo, the Creative Executive for the Lucasfilm Story Group taking to Twitter to explain it. Hidalgo was tweeting with Jedi News editor Justin LaSalata, saying that The Force Awakens had an alternate title.

Hidalgo said that "for a while" Episode VII was referred to as "Shadow of the Empire". Shadow of the Empire is close to the written novel from Steve Perry titled "Shadows of the Empire", which took place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, featuring the iconic trilogy characters, including Darth Vader.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens might be taking in countless hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office right now, but 20th Century Fox just dropped its new trailer for Deadpool in two varieties - the green, and red band trailers. The red band trailer is obviously NSFW - so be careful there.

The new trailer shows a very different superhero to what we're used to in the MCU and DCEU, with classic moments from Deadpool. If you notice, he kicks off one guys head - which then smacks into another guys head. Awesome. Another part has Deadpool talking to Collusus, with Deadpool saying "I don't have time for your X-Men bull****, Collusus".

Although The Force Awakens has conquered the world of cinema, Episode VII director J.J. Abrams has even more faith in Episode VII. According to Abrams, Episode VII's script is "so good" that he regrets not directing it.

The Force is strong with J.J. Abrams. Star Wars: The Force Awakens has smashed through box office records and propelled the franchise to a new galaxy of wonder. Abrams has helped reinvigorate the franchise after George Lucas led us astray with the Prequels, and is very much responsible for making Star Wars feel like Star Wars again. Despite his efforts, Abrams made the decision to hand off Episode VIII's directing off to Rian Johnson--a move that he now regrets.

"He read [the script for Episode VIII] and said something he never, ever says. He said: 'It's so good, I wish I were making it.'" said Greg Grunberg, an actor who plays a Rebel pilot in The Force Awakens, in a recent interview with The Washington Post . "He may have said something one time on Lost with Damon (the co-creator) but I've never heard him express regret like that."