As you may recall, I’m not a big Thor fan. It’s the costume. Still, I consider it my duty as a Marvel Comics fan to bring you this trailer from Thor: The Dark World , which hits U.S. theaters on Nov. 8. The action isn’t quite as exciting as the slam-bang stuff that happens in the Iron Man 3 trailers, but it sure does look like Thor’s Earth-bound lady love Jane Foster ( Natalie Portman ) ends up in a heap o’ danger when the superhero takes her on what looks like an impromptu journey to Asgard and, perhaps, doesn’t guard her ass enough. The scenes that begin at the 1:16 mark and use of the word “sacrifice” in the voiceover certainly hint that Foster’s life could be at stake. Take a look below: See Jane Menaced: By the way, did you see that Loki’s back and looking like the Edris Salon is doing his hair in that high-security prison where he’s cooling his heels? Fabulous. Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Ron Howard’s time across the pond looks like it has been good for him. With the exception of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby , I’ve never been a fan of racing movies. I realize that death lurks around every curve, but, from a spectator’s perspective, auto races are about as thrilling as Major League baseball games. There’s a lot of monotony in those laps (and innings). I feel the same about Howard’s stolid filmmaking style — have you seen The Da Vinci Code lately? — so when I learned he was the director of Rush , the story of the 1970s rivalry between Formula One race-car drivers Austrian Niki Lauda and Brit James Hunt , I didn’t exactly put it on my must-see list of 2013. But after watching this revved-up UK trailer for the movie, I’ve changed my mind. I’m now eager to see Rush, if only to determine whether Howard has shaken up his filmmaking style as much as this clip indicates. To use a punny driving term: he looks like he’s really released the clutch on his safe style. There’s real tension and unpredictable energy in this footage, which was shot in the UK and Germany, as well as a kind of feckless romance that is so Seventies. (As Hunt, the rakish Chris Hemsworth , says in voiceover: “The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel.” Oh yes, and Olivia Wilde plays 70s model Suzy Miller.) And pay special attention to Daniel Brühl , who may not be as handsome as Hemsworth, but is much more compelling as Lauder, the Austrian driver who was horribly burned in a crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix. Remarkably, he returned to the track six weeks later to keep Hunt from knocking him from his standing as the number-one ranked drive in the world. The actual outcome of that race is rather anticlimactic in movie terms — Lauda retired from the race — so it will be interesting to see whether Howard can make it pay off dramatically. That said, the film’s September release date — when the film industry is getting into the awards-season mindset in earnest, suggests that he’s found a solution. I’ll be watching. Ron Howard’s Shakes Up His Filmmaking Style With Rush Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
While Lincoln campaigns hard for Oscar gold (and still racks up box office cash), Steven Spielberg has decided not to shoot his sci-fi blockbuster Robopocalypse in the spring as planned, multiple outlets report. The question is, will Spielberg — who notoriously told 60 Minutes he could direct another action movie in his sleep, as evidenced by Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull , zing! — stay onboard in the director’s chair or take up another project in the meantime? Robopocalypse , based on Daniel H. Wilson’s 2011 bestseller about an artificial intelligence-sparked apocalypse, was set to star Anne Hathaway and Chris Hemsworth , with a script by Cabin in the Woods ‘ Drew Goddard. Fox and DreamWorks had already set a release date of April 15, 2014 for the $100 million-plus tentpole. It’s not great news for the adaptation, but is this the end for Robopocalypse ? Here’s Deadline ‘s Mike Fleming as the voice of reason: “All I’m told is that there was no reason to rush Robopocalypse , and if Spielberg waited 12 years to get Lincoln right, this one can wait a big longer.” The robot game’s kind of a crowded field right now, anyway; Guillermo del Toro’s kaiju vs. mecha Pacific Rim is heading for theaters this July 13, and Michael Bay just hired this guy to star opposite Mark Wahlberg in his secondary trilogy-starter Transformers 4 . [via Deadline ] Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
You’ve probably been wondering just how Thor (Chris Hemsworth) made his way back to Earth in The Avengers after being separated from his lady scientist girlfriend Jane Foster ( Natalie Portman ) at the end of 2011’s Thor . A newly released deleted scene from the ending to Thor reveals that Jane was at least trying to re-establish connection, sending a beacon skyward to help her man find his way back to her. ( And once he finds his way back, what, not even a phone call? Ugh, men. ) The deleted scene debut from Marvel teases the April 2, 2013 release of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe Box Set – “Phase One” which includes Blu-rays of Iron Man , Iron Man 2 , and The Incredible Hulk as well as 3-D Blu-rays of The Avengers , Captain America: The First Avenger , and Thor . Meanwhile, Portman’s running around the set of sequel Thor: The Dark World with mystery gadgets and Wellies, so we’ll see Thor and Jane reunite soon enough. [ Marvel ]
Actor jokes with MTV News that as his old films come out, he gets ‘younger and less experienced.’ By Josh Horowitz Chris Hemsworth in “Red Dawn” Photo: MGM
With Deadline reporting that Universal Pictures is denying a Hollywood Reporter story that Kristen Stewart has been deep-sixed from the sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman , and the Twitter-verse buzzing over the news, we here at Movieline figure it’s a good time to ask our readers to weigh in on this debate. As Deadline points out, SWATH ‘s near $400 million worldwide box-office gross makes it an eligible vehicle for a sequel, and, internally, Universal is discussing whether to focus the next movie on the Huntsman character played by Chris Hemsworth, who is fast proving himself to be leading-man material. According to our sister site, the Hollywood Reporter “used all this as a referendum to stamp out the participation of Stewart, because of recent events , which seemed a bit harsh and unfair, particularly since nary a word of the sequel or spinoff has yet been written.” (There’s also the bit of news that Universal has bought a crime drama called 90 Church: The True Story of the Narcotics Squad from Hell for Huntsman director Rupert Sanders.) So, now we’re dying to ask you: Would you see SWATH 2 without Kristen Stewart? Check out the poll below and vote. It’ll be good practice for November. Take Our Poll Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Her affair with Rupert Sanders has already taken a toll on her personal life, as Kristen Stewart finds herself reportedly single, unshowered and generally depressed. But a new report reveals a major professional consequence: the actress has been dropped from any subsequent Snow White and the Huntsman sequels. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a follow-up to this summer hit – if there is one – will now focus on Chris Hemsworth ‘s Huntsman instead of the beloved fairy tale character Stewart brought to life on the big screen. Though unconfirmed, it’s likely Sanders will return to direct the film. The original grossed nearly $400 million worldwide and Universal had strongly been considering plans for a sequel. In this same article, a spokesperson simply tells the trade that the “studio is currently exploring options to continue the franchise.” This move is likely to generate a great deal of controversy, especially if Sanders really is behind the camera for the sequel. Would an actor have been fired for having an affair? How can there be justification for letting Stewart go and not the married man who cheated on his wife? Sound off now, THGers: Is it fair to give Stewart the boot from Snow White?
The first, explosive, action-packed trailer for the notoriously delayed Red Dawn remake is a time capsule in more ways than one: Not only does it lay on nods to the gloriously cheesy 1984 original, it features three-years-ago Chris Hemsworth before he packed on all that Thor muscle AND cute little Josh Hutcherson before he made it to the big time with The Hunger Games gig. Kids with guns vs. evil Chinese North Koreans after the jump. Red Dawn was initially slated for a 2010 release, but MGM’s bankruptcy threw a kink into those plans. Last March producers opted to take even more time to digitally change the film’s already-shot invading villain force from China to North Korea in a bald, bold bid for more of that Chinese box office, which is just one of a few gambles we’ll see play out come release on November 21. Thanksgiving: a time for family, armed patriotism, and putting firearms in the hands of children! Because as much as Red Dawn promises to be the kind of ubercool explosion-y action pic you’d expect from a remake of an explosion-y ’80s action classic (It’s got rampant violence! It’s what audiences crave!), the kind of straight-faced militancy that made the original Red Dawn so damn heavy at its core doesn’t quite translate to the slick Expendables -esque fetishism of violence of today’s popcorn action flicks. And maybe it’s just me, but in the wake of the Aurora tragedy and last weekend’s Sikh temple attack I’m not too juiced to watch a bunch of kids with an arsenal of assault weapons righteously gun down their ethnic invaders in the name of freedom. The difference between watching Stallone and his beefy cohorts blast their way through nameless baddies and seeing Hemsworth lead his Wolverine pack into battle is that there’s zero seriousness underlying the mindless shenanigans of Sly & Co. (which entertain me to no end, incidentally). Red Dawn , on the other hand, toys with more concerning, actual issues — war, nationalism, geopolitics, self-defense, the Second Amendment, guns, violence in the media ( Red Dawn is rated PG-13). And, benefit of the doubt, maybe the remake is conscious of these things and will turn out to be more thoughtful and thought-provoking than a sexy, attention-grabbing 2 1/2 minute trailer. But you tell me. I’m still in it for the cast and the curiosity factor, and maybe a few months’ time will help me get over myself. Via Yahoo : Synopsis: In Red Dawn, a city in Washington state awakens to the surreal sight of foreign paratroopers dropping from the sky – shockingly, the U.S. has been invaded and their hometown is the initial target. Quickly and without warning, the citizens find themselves prisoners and their town under enemy occupation. Determined to fight back, a group of young patriots seek refuge in the surrounding woods, training and reorganizing themselves into a guerilla group of fighters. Taking inspiration from their high school mascot, they call themselves the Wolverines, banding together to protect one another, liberate their town from its captors, and take back their freedom. Red Dawn hits theaters November 21. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
‘I don’t think that there’s anybody who could give better critiques to people who are trying to be aspiring singers,’ Haley tells MTV News. By Christina Garibaldi Haley Reinhart Photo: MTV News
