‘Doctor Who': Steven Moffat Teases Maisie Williams’ Role In Season 9

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There isn’t much that fans love more than a good crossover, where two of their favorite properties merge, resulting in something unexpected and awesome. Failing that, fans can also dig when an actor from one incredibly popular show turns up another hit genre show, as will be the case when Game of Thrones‘ Maisie Williams guest stars on next season of Doctor Who.

Williams will appear in two episodes of Doctor Who season 9 – “The Girl Who Died” and “The Woman Who Lived” – however, the details of her role remain a mystery. The first image shared of Williams on set was merely a publicity shot and didn’t hint much at her character. Then she showed up in the Doctor Who Season 9 trailerduring its post-logo stinger in a quick scene that implied the Doctor knows her character, and that he knows she’s trouble.

There has since been rabid speculation over just who Williams is playing, and given the hint of familiarity between her and the Doctor, many theories – including a few of our own – have suggested her character is perhaps a young Missy, the Doctor’s artificially progenerated daughter Jenny, or even his actual granddaughter, Susan Foreman. But during BBC America’s presentation at the TCAs, Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat put many of these theories to rest by insisting that Williams’ role is not a returning character.

The statement nixes a lot more than the Doctor’s daughter theory, though that possibility was probably the most appealing given how well liked Jenny’s character was and how many fans are interested in what happened after she took off in that rocket ship. But if Williams’ character is not a returning one, then there’s no way she can be Missy, Susan, River Song, or other Time Lords from the original series like The Rani or Romana. That is, of course, assuming Moffat isn’t lying – always a distinct possibility.

If we assume Moffat is being straight with us, then Williams’ character must be someone entirely new – at least for the audience. Their exchange in the trailer implies the Doctor knows Williams’ character, but there’s plenty the Doctor knows that we don’t. For instance, a pair of real evildoers from the Time War – characters the Tenth Doctor refers to as the Could’ve Been King and The Nightmare Child – have cropped up as real possibilities given that with Gallifrey’s time lock broken, there’s a chance they’ve escaped to reek havoc on the universe once again.

Moffat has also implied season 9 will find the Doctor and Clara “having absolutely the best time ever,” before everything goes terribly wrong. What better way to spoil all that fun than by introducing a really nasty villain – and having them played by the adorable Maisie Williams?

Hearing that Williams is not playing a returning character, what new theories do you have about the identity of her mystery role? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Doctor Who returns to BBC and BBC America on September 19th 2015.

Source: Yahoo TV

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‘The Crow’ Reboot Stalled Following Relativity Media Bankruptcy

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There are few current movie projects that have served a more troubled term in development hell than Relativity Media’s planned reboot of The Crow. James O’Barr, the creator of the comic book upon which the 1994 original was based, has said that approximately $20 million has already been spent trying to get the new adaptation off the ground, but despite plans to begin filming this fall The Crowstill doesn’t have a lead actor attached.

Relativity has bigger problems right now, however. The company is currently filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to owing hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, and this week confirmed that 75 people – a fifth of Relativity’s total staff – have been laid off. The studio’s financial woes have obviously had an impact on its current projects, and the latest reports indicate that The Crow has been hit hard.

According to THR, inside sources are claiming that pre-production on The Crow in the UK has stalled and an entire production team has left the project, along with several department heads. Sources also said that Relativity is currently preparing an official statement on the status of The Crow, though one insider said that Relativity “continue[s] to be excited” by the property.

Director Corin Hardy (The Hallow) is currently attached to The Crow, which was supposed to begin filming at Pinewood Studios’ new site in Cardiff this year. Actors who have been sought or attached to play the lead role include Mark Wahlberg, Bradley Cooper, Tom Hiddleston, Alexander Skarsgård, Luke Evans and Jack Huston. Huston dropped out of the project in mid-June, at which point Hardy said, “We look forward to unveiling our new lead and starting to film over the next several weeks.”

Jack Huston (The Longest Ride) dropped out of ‘The Crow’ earlier this summer.

Huston has since said that a scheduling conflict was the reason behind his decision to drop out of The Crow, but the scheduling conflict likely came into play due to the film’s seemingly endless production delays. If The Crow had begun filming this spring, as was planned, then the scheduling clash might have been avoided. Evans, who officially exited The Crow at the start of 2015, explicitly said that he justcouldn’t keep waiting around for Relativity to get the cameras rolling.

The Crow‘s production delays make more sense in light of Relativity’s current financial troubles, which probably aren’t going to make it any easier to attract cast and production team members. In theory The Crow is still set to start filming this fall, but don’t be surprised if the new year rolls around and Relativity still hasn’t nothing to show for it.

We’ll keep you updated on The Crow as development continues.

Source: THR

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‘Star Wars: Rogue One': Felicity Jones Playing Classic Villain’s Daughter?

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As we near the Galaxy Far, Far Away for a whole new generation of live-action Star Wars adventuring, plenty of Episode 7 (and beyond) secrets remain unspoiled. Lucasfilm has already made it clear Expanded Universe books, graphic novels, and video games now exist outside of the franchise canon – as “otherworld” stories that explore what could have been, rather than what actually happened outside of the “official” film (and cartoon series). The news came as a major blow for fans whoconnected to stories and characters depicted on printed pages and interactive platforms, among other mediums, especially given that many fan-favorite heroes as well as villains didn’t get as much screen time in the actual movies as their larger importance, and subsequent cult-followings, might indicate (examples: Darth Maul, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Mon Mothma).

Several principle cast members will be explored in solo prequel films, most notably a Han Solo spinoff from Chris Miller and Phil Lord in 2018, while others have been instrumental in the canonized Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and later Star Wars: Rebels, TV series. Now, a new rumor suggests that Gareth Edwards’ Star Wars: Rogue One prequel will shed light on one of the franchise’s most beloved evildoers – with a direct connection to the film’s lead (played by Felicity Jones).

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Potential SPOILERS for Star Wars: Rogue One

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According to controversial scooper El Mayimbe, reporting on Meet the Movie Press, Felicity Jones is set to play the daughter of Star Wars‘ most iconic bounty hunter, Boba Fett. As with most rumors sourced to Heroic Hollywood, it’s important to take this report with a major grain (bag) of salt, as Mayimbe has been off on several occasions of late – not to mention the scooper outright states he’s not running the “rumor” on his own site. Plus, with a full year before Rogue One hits theaters, it’s also possible Mayimbe’s source is working from old ideas – and that Lucasfilm has since tinkered with the script.

Here’s what the Heroic Hollywood head said:

As most readers already know, Rogue One will follow a Rebel team responsible for stealing the Death Star plans (as referenced at the end of Episode 4) – giving Luke Skywalker and the Red X-Wing squad a much-needed weakness to exploit. In addition to the main team of heroes, Rogue One is also expected to feature bounty hunters, along with other classic Star Wars villains, that intend to stop the heroes from accomplishing their goal.

Ultimately, including Felicity Jones as Boba Fett’s daughter would be an interesting move for Edwards – since, given the Episode 4 time frame of Rogue One, the bounty hunter would still be active in the Star Wars universe (which, subsequently, raises questions about how her age would align with the elder Fett). Nevertheless, the idea would aid in one of Lucasfilm’s biggest goals with the spinoff films: connecting established, and well-loved characters from the original series, to fresh heroes and villains for a whole new generation of moviegoers. To that end, instead of a full-on Boba Fett spinoff movie, introducing the character’s offspring in a spinoff would provide an opportunity to see a different side of the bounty hunter while injecting a new layer to his story – one that would be ripe with personal drama.

Assuming the rumor is true, it’s easy to see how Jones’ character could fit into the story – either as a Rebel or a bounty hunter. While a sellsword Ms. Fett would be fun to watch, it’s more likely that the character will, at least by the end of the film, stand in opposition of her father and aid in the Rebels’ Mission: Impossible – especially since Kathleen Kennedy has previously hinted that there wouldn’t be any Jedi fighting to save the day in Rogue One. A jet-packing, blaster-wielding, female Mandalorian could be a perfect addition in the film – to help spice up the action in the final act.

That said, some will argue that Boba Fett is better off left as a mysterious force of nature – after his younger years were explored in the prequel films and later The Clone Wars. While the idea of a Fett versus Fett battle in Rogue One is bound to get some fans excited – assuming that Boba makes a full appearance – others might be concerned that the Star Wars universe is big enough for entirely new characters and a Fett daughter might actually hurt, not help, the bounty hunter’s legacy.

Of course, Mayimbe’s source could have merely heard rumblings of Jones wearing Mandalorian armor – and assumed that meant she’d be playing Boba Fett’s daughter. Still, she wouldn’t be the first (or last) Mandalorian warrior woman to be depicted in the Star Wars canon (both official and Extended Universe) – as Bo-Katan Kryze (The Clone Wars), Vhonte Tervho (Republic Commando: True Colors) and Shae Vizla (The Old Republic), among others, all wore Mandalorian armor. As a result, it’s also possible that Jones is playing a new Mandalorian-style warrior in the film, either as help or hindrance to the Rebels, with some already speculating that instead of an entirely fresh character, the actress could be portraying the live-action version of Rebels hero Sabine Wren (Tiya Sircar). After all, Sabine formerly attended the Imperial Academy – who better to help the Rebels steal the Death Star plans than a Mandalorian who soured on the Empire’s cause?

Jones has also been rumored to play non-Mandalorian characters, including Rebelspilot Hera Syndulla; though, moviegoers will likely have to wait until Disney’s D23 event (August 14-16), at the earliest, for an official reveal.

MORE: BEST STAR WARS EASTER EGGS IN OTHER MOVIES

Star Wars: The Force Awakens releases in theaters December 18, 2015.

Star Wars: Rogue One releases in theaters December 16, 2016.

Source: Meet The Movie Press

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Should ‘Batman V Superman’ Take Cues From ‘Batman Beyond’?

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In the current landscape of Hollywood blockbusters cashing in in beloved comic book superheroes, being cast in a starring role can be a blessing and a curse. Audiences and hardcore fans are quick to forget the negativity and skepticism that preceded acclaimed – if unorthodox – performances, meaning that any casting decision truly worthy of note or discussion brings with it serious criticism and nay-saying. And such is the case with Ben Affleck’s casting as Bruce Wayne in Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Despite being the most well-known and award winning American actor to put in the cape and cowl, Affleck has seen a veritable torrent of doubt. Where Jared Leto is forced to compete with the version of The Joker famous in the comics AND Heath Ledger’s take in The Dark Knight, Affleck and Snyder are giving audiences an older, rougher, and angrier take on Batman than they’ve yet seen on film. But according to one seasoned Bat-actor, a greying, grizzled Batman isn’t entirely new.

While mainstream comic fans may believe that the mantle of Batman passes from one actor to another every few years, Kevin Conroy is one major exception. Having voiced the superhero in animated TV, film, and video games for over two decades, he offers a unique perspective on the role, and the public’s perception of superhero casting in general. When speaking with Conroy recently, we couldn’t pass up the chance to ask him about his view of Snyder’s upcoming take, and the fan investment in any changes to the usual mythology.

Unlike any other, you’ve had the chance to play Batman at the same time as several film actors. Did you ever feel like you or your projects were competing with others, or that there was some form of ‘stepping on toes’ as some fans tend to think? The notion that only one person can play him at once?

Kevin Conroy: No, not at all. I think that different actors bring different qualities to the character. It’s such a wonderful mantle to put on that I think it’s a lot of fun for different actors to see how they play it. I think it was kind of brilliant that Warner Brothers had different actors do the live action Batman for each version, because their take on the character was so different. That happens with all characters.

I thought Mark Hamill defined The Joker. He was just, to me, the ultimate Joker. And then I saw Heath Ledger’s Joker, which was absolutely inspired and brilliant in another way. And then there have been subsequent people doing the voice of the joker. Different actors just bring different qualities to a character. No one owns a character. So I like seeing what other people do with Batman. I think it’s fun.

So when Zack Snyder comes out and says, “We’re going to do an older, angrier, more no nonsense Batman than you’ve ever seen before,” are you sitting there thinking, “Oh, thank god!” just for the change of pace? 

Kevin Conroy: [laughs] Yep! You got that!

Is there any jealousy that another actor gets to take such a new take on Batman, playing an older, darker… 

Kevin Conroy: Well I’ve done that, because I did… remember, in Batman Beyond I did 80 year old Bruce Wayne. So I have done the older, and darker, and grittier Batman. I’ve done that. I did it for a few years. Zack Snyder should go and look at the Batman Beyond shows.

Although Zack Snyder and Ben Affleck may not be going for quite so grey and grizzled a take on Batman, fans of Batman Beyond know that any director taking some cues from the futuristic TV series would be good news. Although Conroy is clearly offering some lighthearted advice, it’s not the first time that the idea of a film based (at least in part) on Beyond has been brought up. And regardless of what Justice League plans Zack Snyder or Warner Bros. may have for Affleck and co., introducing a markedly older Batman opens doors that have never been close to open.

Assuming everything goes perfectly according to plan, and a decade from now the notion of a Batman aging out of active duty is commonly accepted… would Beyond be feasible? If movie audiences have gotten as used to Batman as animation fans were by 1999, could the idea of Affleck taking on a mentor role to a younger vigilante be more exciting than worrying? Only time will tell.

Would you be on board with the live-action Batman universe tackling the tale of Terry McGinnis? Or do you doubt that anyone other than Bruce Wayne will wear the cape and cowl on film? Sound off in the comments, and stay tuned for more from our interview with Kevin Conroy.

NEXT: BATMAN V SUPERMAN & SUICIDE SQUADCONNECTIONS REVEALED

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25th, 2016; Suicide Squad on August 5th, 2016; Wonder Woman on June 23rd, 2017; Justice League on November 17th, 2017; The Flash on March 23rd, 2018; Aquaman on July 27th, 2018; Shazam on April 5th, 2019; Justice League 2 on June 14th, 2019; Cyborg on April 3rd, 2020; Green Lantern Corps on June 19th, 2020.

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Spider-Man ‘Civil War’ Cameo Done; Reboot Writers Talk John Hughes Approach

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In the early ’00s, Tobey Maguire portrayed Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s trilogy, followed by Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel. However, after The Amazing Spider-Man 2 failed to meet expectations, the studio struck a deal with Marvel Studios so that Peter Parker could appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe while Sony still produced a standalone Spider-Man film.

The new Peter Parker will first appear in next year’s Captain America: Civil War, played by Tom Holland (In the Heart of the Sea) before he headlines his own film in 2017. Though little is known about Marvel and Sony’s Spider-Man feature, Jon Watts(Cop Car) will direct from a script penned by Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Vacation). While promoting Vacation (read our review), Goldstein and Daley spoke about Spider-Man’s cameo in Civil War as well as the influence of John Hughes.

In an interview with Vulture, Goldstein said they would be meeting with Marvel to discuss the superhero’s role in the MCU and see footage of Holland’s cameo in Civil War: “We hear good things. We might even get to look at the Spidey suit, which is exciting.” Additionally, as for the rumored cast list that circulated earlier this week, Daley dismissed its validity: “We’ve discussed certain characters, but nothing is certain yet, for sure.”

While talking to ET Online, the screenwriters spoke more about how ’80s rat pack director John Hughes has inspired their take on Spider-Man:

John Francis Daley: (It’s a) John Hughes take [with] Peter in high school. I think we’re going to spend a lot more time on them in high school and deal with him being a real kid.
Jonathan M. Goldstein: They cast a real kid, so we’re going to write a real kid.

Daley and Goldstein’s comments on Peter Parker’s age in the upcoming Spider-Manstay true to what they’ve previously said about their take on the character while offering little else to go on. This shouldn’t surprise fans of Marvel films since the studio is notorious for keeping their plans close to the vest, and making sure cast and crew know to do so as well.

However, given their meeting with Marvel and the lack of certainty about what to expect in their Spider-Man film, it’s likely Goldstein and Daley are still working out the finer details, perhaps even some of the broad strokes. Plus, since Anthony and Joe Russo will be doing the honors of officially introducing Peter Parker to the MCU, Goldstein and Daley likely wish to wait to see the footage before building the character in their script.

Of course, with the Spider-Man film’s premiere still two years away, the final script won’t be finished for some time. That won’t stop us from wanting to know more about the new Peter Parker, but more information is sure to come as the release date for Captain America: Civil War approaches.

NEXT: SPIDER-MAN REBOOT WRITERS & DIRECTOR TALK TEENAGE PETER PARKER

Ant-Man is in theaters now; Captain America: Civil War releases on May 6, 2016;Doctor Strange – November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy 2 – May 5, 2017;Spider-Man reboot – July 28, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 – May 4, 2018; Black Panther – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel – November 2, 2018; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 – May 3, 2019;Inhumans – July 12, 2019.

Source: ET Online, Vulture [via MovieWeb

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‘Batman V Superman’ Rumor: Scoot McNairy Playing Jimmy Olsen

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As the film that’s set to really kick-start the so-called DC Expanded Universe, any piece of information about Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is going to become subject to much discussion and debate. Whether it’smajor story details or the possible character identity of a bit player like Jena Malone, the theories are always swirling around.

For a while, actor Scoot McNairy generated a lot of hypotheses when he was cast in the film, and many fans spent a considerable amount of time trying to deduct which character he was portraying. When set photos leaked of McNairy wearing green screen socks around his legs, the prevailing belief was he was going to be the Flash – but that was long before Ezra Miller came on board. Now, we may finally know McNairy’s mystery character.

In a new report from Heroic Hollywood, it is claimed that the thespian will portray Jimmy Olsen, who is a well-known figure from the comics (and the Christopher Reeve films). Olsen works at the Daily Planet as a photographer and investigative journalist, and is one of Superman’s best friends. He did not appear (or was even mentioned) in Man of Steel, meaning the door is very much open for him to make an appearance in the new movies.

According to Heroic Hollywood‘s sources, Snyder has an interesting twist for Olsen in Batman V Superman. The reasoning for the green screen socks is Olsen allegedly lost his legs during the destructive Battle of Metropolis, when they were crushed under building rubble. The report does not elaborate past that, but it certainly sounds logical, given what we know about the movie so far.

It’s worth pointing out that fans (perhaps unknowingly) have already gotten their first official look at McNairy in the film, as he appears in the recently released second trailer. During the scene where Superman is summoned to the senate hearing, McNairy’s character is visible in the far right of a shot (pictured above), sitting as he watches Kal-El enter the chambers. His legs are not visible in the footage, which seemingly lends credence to the report, but it could also just be the camera angle. Time will tell.

Should this prove true, it honestly would not be the most surprising development. Olsen is a big part of the Superman mythos, so it makes sense for the filmmakers to include him in the new DCEU. In particular, the proposed portrayal of the character would be very fascinating to watch. This version of Jimmy suffered a great physical injury as a result of Superman’s actions, but is also alive because of him. That’s an interesting dynamic worth exploring and would provide a healthy amount of substance for the anti-Superman narrative Snyder is pursuing.

Still, much like the “Jena Malone is Barbara Gordon” rumor before this, McNairy’s supposed role is merely hearsay at this juncture (keep those grains of salt handy). The two cases are very similar, as we’re unlikely to know official details about their characters until the film comes out. Neither one of them are expected to factor into the marketing much, so in the meantime we’ll just have to consider the latest rumblings of our old friend the rumor mill.

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25th, 2016; Suicide Squad on August 5th, 2016; Wonder Woman on June 23rd, 2017; Justice League on November 17th, 2017; The Flash on March 23rd, 2018; Aquaman on July 27th, 2018; Shazam on April 5th, 2019; Justice League 2 on June 14th, 2019; Cyborg on April 3rd, 2020; Green Lantern Corps on June 19th, 2020.

Source: Heroic Hollywood

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‘Naruto’ Live-Action Movie Being Developed By Lionsgate

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A handful of popular Japanese manga/anime series have been rumored to get live-action Hollywood movie adaptations in recent years, though the majority of them have yet to gain much traction (see Death Note) or they continue experiencing setbacks during pre-production (see Akira). However, the Scarlett Johansson-headlined Ghost in the Shell scheduled for Spring 2017 is currently poised to make its way beyond the early stages of development, unlike its peers.

Lionsgate has now joined that slow-going race by acquiring the live-action film right to the popular manga/anime franchise Naruto. The original manga (written/illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto) debuted in 1999 and ran until 2014; theNaruto anime adaption (as well as the anime sequel series Naruto: Shippuden) began thereafter in the 2000s. Story-wise, the franchise revolves around Naruto: a young and mischievous ninja-in-training, who had a powerful supernatural creature (a mystical fox known as the Nine-Tails) sealed inside his body, when he was a newborn (see the whisker marks on his face).

The Tracking Board (hat tip Variety) is reporting that Lionsgate has begun actively courting visual effects/animation artist Michael Gracey, with the intent of getting him to commit as director on the Naruto live-action movie. There’s no mention of a potential screenwriter for the project mentioned in the Tracking Board report, thoughGhost in the Shell and former Spider-Man franchise producer Avi Arad is also backing the Naurto adaptation. Presumably, if Gracey does become attached to direct, he will oversee script development on the project, too.

Gracey is loosely attached to direct a number of films that are currently making their way down the pipeline, though it would appear he will make his feature-length helming debut on The Greatest Showman on Earth: a musical about P.T. Barnum that Hugh Jackman is set to headline, for a December 2016 release date. (Trivia time: Gracey was once set to make his directing debut with the Snow White-inspired martial arts epic Order of the Seven starring Saoirse Ronan, before Walt Disney Pictures pulled the plug on the project around mid-2012.)

The Naruto property blends supernatural fantasy and martial arts genre elements, albeit in a generally kid-friendly package; hence, in the U.S., the anime show has aired on such channels as Disney XD and Nickelodeon, in addition to being part of Adult Swim’s Toonami block. However, a live-acton Naruto faces the same dilemma as other live-action manga/anime features: how to adapt the property without “westernizing” or “white-washing” it to the point where it becomes a bland imitation of the original series.

Indeed, the ‘code’ for a successful Japanese anime/manga live-action adaptation is one that (arguably) hasn’t been cracked by Hollywood yet, with the Wachowskis’Speed Racer coming the closest, relatively speaking (with the 2009 film Dragon: Evolution landing even further away). A special effects guru such as Gracey might be qualified enough to have a decent shot at bringing Naruto to life in live-action in a creative fashion, but best to wait until he actually directs a film before making the call in that regard.

We’ll bring you more information on the Naruto movie as it becomes available.

Source: The Tracking Board [via Variety]

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