Mirrors
 

This film is so bad I don't know what to say. Graet idea for a story; great performance from Sutherland and EVERYTHING else is pure shit. I almost walked out.

Umm...what has Mirrors got to do with Cap America? :confused:

October 28, 2008


As part of his four picture deal with Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr. is appearing as Tony Stark in The Avengers motion picture, as well as reprising his starring role as the larger-than-life leading character in Iron Man 2.

Jon Favreau will return to direct the sequel to the blockbuster Iron Man, which to date has grossed over $578 million worldwide, as well as executive produce The Avengers.

Marvel Studios is pleased today to confirm that an agreement has been finalized with award-winning actor Don Cheadle to take on the role of Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes in Marvel's Iron Man 2 due in theaters on May 7, 2010.

In casting Cheadle, Marvel replaces Terrence Howard who appeared in the role of Rhodey in Iron Man.

Cheadle is also signed on to perform the same role in The Avengers and subsequent installments of the Iron Man franchise.

"We are very excited about working with the extraordinarily talented Don Cheadle as we expand the role of Rhodey in Iron Man 2. It has already become apparent as we prep the movie for production, that the dynamic between Robert and Don will take Iron Man 2 to new heights," said Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios.

Cheadle is best known for his Oscar nominated lead performance in Hotel Rwanda as well as his role as Basher Tarr in the Ocean's franchise, Crash and Swordfish.

Based on Marvel's iconic super hero, Iron Man 2 continues the story of this summer's box office blockbuster Iron Man, the first feature film produced independently by Marvel Studios. Iron Man 2 will be produced by Marvel Studios' President, Kevin Feige, and executive produced by Louis D'Esposito, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Denis Stewart.

In a movie event, The Avengers will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they've ever faced.

The highly anticipated sequel to Iron Man will be released in theatres on May 7, 2010 and The Avengers will be released July 15, 2011. Both films will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.


Director Jon Favreau, who is preparing to helm Iron Man 2 for Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures, recently gave an interview in which he discussed the challenges facing Marvel's live-action film version of The Avengers, which the Web-friendly filmmaker will exec produce.

"I'm going to get a little more involved now with what goes on with the other movies. I'm very excited about Kenneth Branagh, I can't wait to see his take on Thor and we're really looking at the (Captain America) stuff, very closely," Favreau told Ain't it Cool News. "For one because we put the shield in there and Tony's legacy… Howard Stark's legacy somehow is related to… there's some relationship between Tony's father and what was going on in World War II, in the Marvel Universe, and Shield, so we're trying to lay some pipe here so that when it all happens it feels somewhat inevitable."

The greatest challenge facing the filmmakers, Favreau says, is achieving a tonal balance for all the upcoming Marvel movies, and he cites Thor in particular as "the most difficult one to integrate into this reality. And if it can be properly done then you get a great version of Avengers. If not, Avengers is going to seem like Roger Rabbit with different cartoon characters from different worlds, you have Betty Boop next to Daffy Duck next to Donald Duck you know."

The director believes Marvel's decision to shoot Iron Man 2, The First Avenger: Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers at L.A.'s Raleigh Studios will help accomplish that. "I think a really good step in that direction is them getting this facility down at Manhattan Beach so that all the films will be working out of the same studio and shooting on the same stages and they'll be prepping and posting and we'll all be in that one area so we can bounce back and forth and hopefully they'll be a generosity of creative input between all of the filmmakers and writers and producers so that we could come up with something that's much more synergistic than anything that has been seen before. But it's a tall order."

November 03, 2008


Fans have been wondering why Terrence Howard was replaced by Don Cheadle in the role of Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes in Iron Man 2. A new report claims to shed light on what happened behind the scenes that led to the casting switch.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Howard was reportedly "difficult" on the set of Iron Man and, as the first actor officially signed for the film, reportedly got paid the most, even more than star Robert Downey Jr. Furthermore, EW claims, director Jon Favreau "and his producers were ultimately unhappy with Howard's performance, and spent a lot of time cutting and reshooting his scenes."

The magazine goes on to say that "when Favreau and screenwriter Justin Theroux went to map out the sequel they found themselves minimizing Howard's story line. Once Marvel learned that Favreau was thinking of curtailing the role, the studio went to the actor's agents with a new and drastically reduced offer — a number that's similar to what supporting cast members were paid for the first movie."

Needless to say, neither side could agree on a deal at such a reduced rate and Cheadle was cast as Rhodey instead.

It bugs me when they switch actors like that...but I think Cheadle will be a million times better than Howard as War Machine.

November 10, 2008


Marvel Studios has tapped Joe Johnston to suit up and direct its superhero actioner “The First Avenger: Captain America.”

Johnston is readying a redo of “The Wolfman” at Universal Pictures, which bows in April.

Marvel is looking to launch a new franchise, starring Captain America to follow successful launches of Iron Man and a reboot of The Incredible Hulk. Pic bows May 6, 2011, with Paramount distribbing.

A thesp has yet to be cast as Captain America, who will also co-star in “The Avengers,” also hitting screens in 2011.

Pic will introduce Steve Rogers, who volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the patriotic super soldier known as Captain America.

Marvel Studios’ prexy Kevin Feige will produce, Louis D’Esposito, Stan Lee and Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel will exec produce.

Johnston, who previously helmed “The Rocketeer,” “October Sky” and “Jurassic Park III,” is also developing “The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.”

Jan 02, 2009


One of the big questions about how Marvel's God of Thunder would make his transition from the Thor movie to The Avengers has reportedly been answered.

According to IESB, rumor has it that "the character of Donald Blake has been added to the end of the script. Let me reiterate that he wasn't there before, the script was set entirely in the land of the Norse Gods. The introduction of the character is essential to how Marvel will tie Thor into the Avengers that is set in contemporary Tony Stark/Hulk timeframe. It explains how the actual Thor film will be set in the ancient time of the Norse Gods and how they will subsequently bring the character into a modern time with Donald Blake discovering the magical Norse hammer Mjolnir and turning into Thor."

Marvel reminds us of the comic book history of the character of Dr. Donald Blake: "Thor chased a monster into the land of the Frost Giants, a breech of protocol that nearly sparked a war in all of Asgard. Odin had to teach Thor a lesson. He created a mortal body for him, one with a lame leg, and sent Thor, stripped of his powers and memories, to Earth. Thor arrived on the campus of New York State College of Medicine as Donald Blake. Blake proved to be the humble and patient man Odin had hoped for. He eventually graduated with top honors, gained a reputation as a caring family doctor and a brilliant surgeon, and opened a private practice in New York City. His nurse, Jane Foster, was equally caring and competent, and the two began to fall in love."

IESB adds that, in addition to directing Thor, Kenneth Branagh will play an unspecified supporting role in the film as well. Branagh previously acted and directed in films such as Henry V, Hamlet, Dead Again, and Much Ado About Nothing.

Someone hurry up and goddamn cast him!

i still can't see thor working - it just is going to look silly. iron man - yes; hulk - yes; but the regular humans could look absolutely ridiculous. i'm not even convinced they can do cap well.

but i will wait patiently to see if this ever materializes

I'd bet damn good money that he'll cast himself as Loki - been saying that right from the day he signed on.

I can...as long as they don't over-do the uniform. I mean, in the "incredible hulk" the first fight he had with the early version of the "super solider" syrum dosed Emil Blonsky looked pretty good.

I like that they're taking Thor out of Asgard completely, a human side/weakness is something that needs to be there, IMO...I have never much liked the "thor only" stories.

An apparent casting notice for Marvel's Thor movie has appeared online, which suggests that the filmmakers envision the Norse god of thunder as younger than he's traditionally been portrayed.

Corona Coming Attractions has posted a casting notice it says "comes directly from the production." The notice says that director Kenneth Branagh and company are looking for a male in his mid-to-late 20s, 6' or taller.

The notice describes the character of Thor as "Physically powerful, very handsome, occasionally egotistical, petulant, and wild. A natural warrior with a quick charming wit who must be genuinely and severely humbled before becoming the compassionate, mature hero of our film."

CA adds that Thor will film from July through September.

It should be noted that just because the casting notice says the filmmakers are seeking a twenty-something actor for Thor, it doesn't mean they'll hire one. The James Bond producers were looking at twenty-something and early thirty-something actors to play 007 in Casino Royale before hiring Daniel Craig, who was 37 at the time.

still can't see thor working in the modern world. not really sure how cap will work. hulk and iron man had the advantage of being 'non-human' batman has the advantage of being 'very human' - cap and thor are kind of in-between

Samuel L. Jackson will reportedly be back in a big way as Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jackson, who made a cameo as Fury at the end of Iron Man, has finally sealed a deal with Marvel to play Fury in up to...not 1, or 2, or 3...but NINE Marvel movies!!

These films are said to include Iron Man 2, The Avengers, The First Avenger: Captain America, and Thor, as well as their respective sequels.

THR adds, "Also on the table is the possibility of toplining a S.H.I.E.L.D. movie, which is in development."

A publicist for Marvel, however, informed IGN, "The story is speculative and Marvel is not confirming the story."

According to Latino Review, Branagh recently had lunch with Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård, the 32 year-old, 6'4" son of Pirates of the Caribbean and Mamma Mia! star Stellan Skarsgård. The site confirmed that the two did indeed meet at the restaurant mentioned in the article, and that they share the same agency.

Alexander Skarsgård is best known to stateside audiences for his work on the HBO series Generation Kill and True Blood, where he plays Viking vampire Eric Northman.

A casting notice that appeared online recently said the filmmakers are looking for a male in his mid-to-late 20s, 6' or taller. The notice described the character of Thor as: "Physically powerful, very handsome, occasionally egotistical, petulant, and wild. A natural warrior with a quick charming wit who must be genuinely and severely humbled before becoming the compassionate, mature hero of our film."

If Alexander Skarsgård is cast as Thor, one wonders if his dad Stellan will follow suit and play Thor's father Odin.

UPDATE: IESB claims that 30 Days of Night star Josh Hartnett has met with Branagh and "is currently on a very short list" to play Loki, the villainous god of mischief and Thor's half-brother. "Word is Josh and his camp are really interested because he has never played a villain before and after Heath Ledger's Oscar win for the latest comic book villain, Hartnett is intrigued by the character."

In addition to Alexander Skarsgård, IESB reports that G.I. Joe star Channing Tatum is also in the running to play Thor, but that Branagh wants Skarsgård for the part.

Three Marvel Studios superhero pics will debut in summer 2011, including the May 6 bow of Sony's "Spider-Man 4."

That's to be followed by the June 17 release of "Thor," which was to have opened in summer 2010, and the July 22 opening of "The First Avenger: Captain America." Those two films are being fully financed and produced by Marvel; Paramount is distributing.

As a result of those moves, Marvel announced it's pushing back the release of multicharacter superhero tentpole "The Avengers" from July 15, 2011, to May 4, 2012.

Company said the clustering of "Captain America" and "Thor" will serve as the perfect run-up to "The Avengers," which will unite the Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Incredible Hulk characters.

"This new schedule strongly sequences Marvel's movie debut dates, bigscreen character introductions and momentum," Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel said.

The release date of "Iron Man 2" remains the same: May 7, 2010. Par is again distrib.

Right now, Marvel titles dominate the summer 2011 sked, though most studios have yet to announce their slate. "Avengers" is the first 2012 title to be dated.

So, shall we assume this means Edgar Wright's Ant-Man project is either dead or not related to the franchise?

Either that, or the guys at Marvel are assuming the project wont be ready until after summer 2012.

Maybe it could end up as a spinoff from the Avengers flick, who knows.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478970/

Star Wars veteran Natalie Portman is reportedly the front runner to play the female lead in Paramount-Marvel's Thor movie, to be directed by Kenneth Branagh.

Thor has shifted release dates again -- from June 16, 2011 to May 20, 2011 -- in order to make room for Paramount's newly announced Transformers 3.

Deadline Hollywood Daily doesn't state which female character from the Thor/Marvel universe she'd play.

The site also claims that Marvel is considering Josh Hartnett to play either Thor or his half-brother and archenemy Loki; earlier reports claimed that Hartnett was only in the running for the villain role.

DHD adds that there is a "powerful lobby" seeking to cast unknowns for the roles of Thor and Loki, claiming that "the following actors are being tested:-

• Charlie Hunnam (the British co-star of the F/X series Sons of Anarchy);
• Tom Hiddleston (award-winning British actor and RADA graduate who played Winston Churchill's son in HBO's The Gathering Storm),
• Alexander Skarsgård (Stellan's son who has appeared in the HBO Iraq War miniseries Generation Kill and vampire drama True Blood, and who's definitely visually right for the role),
• Liam Hemsworth (offered a significant role in The Expendables after Sly Stallone saw his tape), and
• Joel Kinnaman (some Danish dude)."

English actor Tom Hiddleston, 28, starred opposite Branagh in the Masterpiece Mystery! series Wallander and the HBO telepic Conspiracy, as well as on-stage in last fall's production of Chekhov's Ivanov. Hiddleston's bio at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art says he stands 6'2" and is certified in stage combat. He won the Laurence Olivier Award last year as Best Newcomer in a Play for his performance in Cymbeline.

In addition to his lead role as Jackson 'Jax' Teller in Sons of Anarchy, English actor Charlie Hunnam, 29, has appeared in Abandon, Nicholas Nickleby, Children of Men, Green Street Hooligans, and Cold Mountain.

Aussie actor Liam Hemsworth, soon to be seen opposite Nicolas Cage in Knowing, starred in the Aussie TV series Neighbours and The Elephant Princess. He's the younger brother of actor Chris Hemsworth, who plays James T. Kirk's dad in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie.

Danish actor Joel Kinnaman, 29, has starred in a number of films overseas (such as Storm and The Invisible), and shares the same agency as Stellan Skarsgård, who has been rumored for the role of Thor's father Odin. Based on his looks, Kinnaman seems far more appropriate for Loki than for Thor.

Unknowns for both? Bad idea.

Expect nods to Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and The First Avenger: Captain America in Thor, according to Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada.

He's been talking to MTV News about how happy they are with Thor director Kenneth Branagh, especially the Shakespearian actor's interest in the comic's universe.

In an interview with the site, Quesada said: "[Branagh] understood that there was this very, very big tapestry of the Marvel movies. There's continuity within the movies and he really wanted to play within that and wanted it to be part of the other movies."

He went on: "He was really, really loving the interconnectivity between all of these characters and even thinking ahead as to how does Thor interrelate with the Iron Man movies, how will he interrelate with the The Avengers movies, and how do we set these things up."

Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth, currently seen as James T. Kirk's dad George in the new Star Trek movie, has reportedly won the title role in Marvel's Thor.

Deadline Hollywood Daily reported today that Hemsworth had initially "read for the part of Thor but wasn't given a test because a casting director had nixed him early on. I'm told Chris' younger brother Liam (who's also a ROAR client) then tested for the role of Thor, but Marvel's Kevin Feige passed. Then, after a conversation with [Hemsworth's manager William] Ward ('You've got to reconsider Chris, he's your guy'), Feige decided to let Chris read again.

And once Marvel put him on tape, it was 'Oh my god'. [Thor director Kenneth] Branagh came to town last week and saw the Chris test and made the final casting decision today."

According to the IMDB, Hemsworth is 25 years-old and stands 6'3". He'll next be seen in the Joss Whedon-scripted horror flick Cabin in the Woods.

DHD adds that Hemsworth also just won the lead role in MGM's remake of Red Dawn. Thor begins filming in January for a June 17, 2011 release.

I've yet to see the new Trek, but the guy looks the part. Here's hoping he'll pull it off.

Marvel has found their god of mischief to plague their god of thunder.

Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that Thor director Kenneth Branagh has cast his Wallander co-star Tom Hiddleston as the villainous Loki, over such bigger name contenders as Josh Hartnett.

DHD is the same outlet that broke the news that Chris Hemsworth had won the title role of Thor.

An exclusive chat with Branagh last month confirms that he called Hiddleston "a great actor" and confirmed the rumor that he was up for a part in Thor.

English actor Hiddleston, 28, starred opposite Branagh in the Masterpiece Mystery! series Wallander and the HBO telepic Conspiracy, as well as on-stage in last fall's production of Chekhov's Ivanov.

Hiddleston's bio at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art says he stands 6'2" and is certified in stage combat. He won the Laurence Olivier Award last year as Best Newcomer in a Play for his performance in Cymbeline.

Ashley Miller, who is rewriting Thor for Marvel Studios along with his Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles partner Zack Stentz, has spilled a few beans about the comic-to-film.

"Certainly, Walt Simonson's take on the character greatly informs what we brought to the script although I wouldn't say we went to a specific story from his tenure on the book," Miller told CineFools. "We saw part of our job as taking all the many approaches to the character over the years (including the myths) and distilling them down into a form that worked for a two-hour movie. There's a tremendous amount of ground to cover, so inspiration has to come from everywhere."

When asked about how to make the god of thunder approachable and realistic for a movie audience, Miller said that "at the end of the day, (Thor's) a man. In the comics, Odin sends him to Earth because he's not perfect. He's brash, arrogant. Even over-confident. We all know that guy -- some of us have even been that guy. Stan Lee's genius was to give Thor-as-hero an emotional throughline we could all relate to, and knock him down a couple of pegs." Miller added, "The challenge is to dramatize that and make the audience see what the fans have known and believed about the character all along."

Miller was coy about how much of Asgard will be in the film as opposed to Earth: "Marvel's official description gives you a pretty good idea of what the divide looks like."

Here's that official Thor film synopsis, courtesy of Marvel: "This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth."

Sounds like it may end up being a good movie I never been a big fan of thor but will watch it

Screenwriter Zak Penn has been talking about his difficulties in piecing together Marvel's Avengers movie, revealing that he's going to sit down and write the first draft of the script this summer.

Speaking on a panel at last week's Los Angeles film festival (as reported by SCI FI Wire), Penn said he was taking a meeting soon with producers from the Thor and Captain America movies. "We are all going to get together, and I will see what is going to happen. I'll see where they are leaving the characters; it's pretty complicated... There's a board that is tracking what is happening."

Apparently, Penn ran into trouble back when he was writing the last two X-Men movies because he wanted to introduce the Fantastic Four -- but was prevented by the studio. In contrast, he appears to be relishing the chance to cross-pollinate superheroes this time around now that Marvel themselves are producing.

"It is a world of difference; it is a lot easier to do things like that and they encourage it," he said. "Marvel is autonomous now. It is night and day. Everyone has read every comic. They know how to make a cool movie."

Depressingly, though, he did add, "It's hard to make a good movie. We all have the best intentions, and it still might suck."

i'm betting he's right. Thor will suck and it will suck the wind right out of an Avengers movie, which will NEVER happen.

mark my words ye foolish mortals

I don't know how bad Thor will be. I'm actually a bit more worried about Cap.

Agreed. I think Thor will be pretty solid, but Cap could turn out awful. The effects will be cool - Tim Roth in the new Hulk, anyone? - but I can see the script being really, really bad.

I mean - it's a dude wrapped in an American flag. HOW can that be successful anywhere outside the US South?

i'm sure they'll tone down the american jingoism - probably give him a chinese partner and a british sidekick (maybe even a frenchman for comic relief).

modern hollywood has to hit all the global box office targets to make those millions

Cap America meets The Green Hornet?

Jessica Biel is reportedly the frontrunner to play the god of thunder's love interest in Marvel's forthcoming Thor movie.

According to Nuke the Fridge, the Blade: Trinity and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry hottie is in talks to join the Kenneth Branagh-directed film.

The site claims "Biel will play the love interest of Thor. The most probable love interest for Thor would more than likely be Jane Foster, a nurse and girlfriend of Thor alter ego Donald Blake. But the problem is that our source was not sure of the character's name, but seemed to believe it was the same female character from the animated Hulk vs Thor."

The site continued, "If that is the case, since Jane Foster was not in the animated movie, Biel is more than likely playing either Amora, The Enchantress or Sif. Those characters did appear in Hulk vs Thor. The Enchantress is a powerful sorceress who seeks to make Thor fall in love with her. When Thor rejects her for Sif, an Asgardian warrior whom Thor falls in love with, The Enchantress helps Loki in his plot against Thor."

she's my love interest and i've got a big hammer for her


(ok, more like a small pair of pliers but still, i'll quote Odin if she'll just come over and get thundery with me!!)

Marvel Studios has found its love interest for "Thor," tapping Natalie Portman to star opposite Chris Hemsworth in the comicbook pic. Portman will play an updated version of the Jane Foster character, a nurse who becomes Thor's first love.

In the pic, the actions of Thor, an arrogant Norse warrior, reignites an ancient war, and as a result, he's cast down to Earth, where he is forced to live among humans as punishment. Once there, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Paramount will distrib the pic, helmed by Kenneth Branagh, on May 20, 2011. Production starts early next year. Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige is producing.

Portman's involvement in the pic had been rumored for months and she had long been the main contender for the female lead.

Portman, who is currently shooting Universal's comedy "Your Highness," under the helm of David Gordon Green, and will also star in Darren Aronofsky's supernatural thriller "Black Swan," will next be seen in Jim Sheridan's "Brothers," opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire.

She recently wrapped production on "Hesher," produced by her Handsomecharlie Films banner, and Don Roos' "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits," which she also executive produced.

Incredible Hulk helmer Louis Leterrier has been discussing his future plans, with the Frenchman apparently keen to work with Marvel on a summer of Avengers movies.

"I'll tell you my dream" Leterrier told the LA Times. "To work with [Captain America director] Joe Johnston, [Thor director] Kenneth Branagh and [Iron Man director] Jon Favreau and make a triptych. We do four movies. We release them one a month for the summer. Or even every two or three weeks. And the whole summer would be Avengers summer.

"We do it the way they make television shows" he continued. "One story arc but told in instalments by different directors. So all of the directors that touch part of the Avengers world would do a part; we could make the movies shorter, maybe less than an hour and a half, and we use the same sets and save Marvel money. I would love to sit around a table with all of them a kick around the story. That's my dream."

In related news, Leterrier also revealed that he has been impressed by the pre-production work on Captain America. "I have seen some of the design work they're doing for Captain America and it looks amazing. It's a period piece and it looks like Raiders of the Lost Ark and with more gadgets... It's Raiders meets Rocketeer and Saving Private Ryan. It's going to be so cool."

So it sounds like Captain America is on track.

Um... Doesn't Triptych mean 3 pieces?

No. It's a painting with four panels.

I really like this idea.

I'm actually looking forward to the Thor movie. Branagh is a great director and really seems excited about it. Should be really cool to see Asgard on the big screen.

Captain America should be okay. They can't do any worse than the previous Captain America movie.