Matthew Broderick may be returning to classic 1986 role, but this time behind the wheel of a CR-V. By Kevin P. Sullivan Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in a Super Bowl tease A 10-second preview of a Super Bowl ad took the internet by storm on Thursday. The clip featured actor Matthew Broderick throwing open the curtains of a window, looking into the camera and asking, “How can I handle work on a day like today?” That’s before the classic “bow-bow-chicka-chicka” from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” plays, ending the preview with just the date of the Super Bowl left to tease us. It seems clear that Broderick reprises the role of Ferris Bueller, but the preview told us nothing else. The YouTube video listed no company and didn’t suggest the product that the ad would ultimately feature. MTV News reached out to both Broderick and one of the producers of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Tom Jacobson, for comment, but neither responded to our requests. Then Friday (January 27), the automotive blog Jalopnik reported that a source “familiar with Honda’s operations” revealed that Ferris will appear in a commercial for the car company during the Super Bowl. “The source also added that the spot was going to mimic much of the original film, except this time prominently featuring Hondas,” Jalopnik reported. “The big jump the two valets do in Cameron’s dad’s Ferrari? We hear this time it’s going to be a Honda CR-V.” Jalopnik’s source also said Honda apparently put a lot of money behind the ad, even going as far as to hire “The Hangover” director Todd Phillips to create the spot. Although the Honda story sounds likely, we will have to wait until February 5 to find out exactly what Ferris has been up to.
Stars of the film talk to MTV News about the thriller surrounding ‘a desperate man in a desperate situation.’ By Kara Warner Sam Worthington and Jamie Bell in “Man on a Ledge” Photo: Summit Entertainment While some filmmakers go the mysterious or fanciful route with their titles, there are just as many who tell their prospective audiences exactly what they’re going to see. “Man on a Ledge,” which opened Friday (January 27), is about as literal a film title as you can get. When MTV News caught up with the cast recently, we asked them to explain the inherent intrigue in the title, as well as why the film has so much more going for it than just a man and a ledge. “[The film is about] a desperate man in a desperate situation,” star Sam Worthington said of his character and the man on a ledge himself, Nick Cassidy. “As the movie goes on, we get to see why he’s there and how’s he’s going to get out of it.” Worthington went on to say that “Man on a Ledge” takes a few cues from action films like “The Negotiator” and “Phone Booth.” “I like those movies. I’ve always said I like doing movies that I would go and see and this is in the same vein as those movies,” Worthington said. “It’s exciting, thrilling and interesting for the audience because they’ve got a lead character who they’re wondering, ‘What’s going to happen next?’ ” “The basic premise of the movie is that there is a man on a ledge, and the great thing is that there is so much more behind that basic premise,” added co-star Elizabeth Banks, who plays determined hostage negotiator Lydia Mercer. “Why is he there? What is he there for? What’s really happening? Those are all the questions that my character has and I get to sort of be the surrogate for the audience. “The whole time we’re watching the movie we’re learning more about what’s going on. I’m the truth-seeker of the movie, I’m really interested in understanding why he’s there in the first place,” she explained. “Sam’s character says to me at one point, ‘You need to listen, I’m prepared to die’ and what he’s really saying is ‘Even if I die, I need you to carry on and tell everyone what happened,’ and that’s the great mystery of the movie. The action that drives the movie is, ‘What the heck is going on here?’ ” Jamie Bell, who plays the man on the ledge’s younger brother, conceded that the title basically sells the film. “It’s quite literal,” he said. “I think that’s what throws people off,” offered Genesis Rodriguez, who plays the girlfriend of Bell’s character. “They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a movie about a man on a ledge.’ It really isn’t. There’s more to it.’ You should check it out because you don’t know it all.” Are you planning on seeing “Man on a Ledge” this weekend? Leave your comment below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Man on a Ledge.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
‘There’s explosions and there’s shooting! You’re gonna like it too,’ Katherine Heigl tells MTV News, selling her new movie to men. By Christina Garibaldi Katherine Heigl and Daniel Sunjata in “One For the Money” Photo: Lionsgate NEW YORK — Since parting ways with “Grey’s Anatomy,” Katherine Heigl has established herself as a queen of romantic comedies, starring in several “chick flicks” such as “27 Dresses,” “Life as We Know It” and “New Year’s Eve.” In her latest movie, “One for the Money,” based on the best-selling Janet Evanovich novel, Heigl takes on the role of Stephanie Plum, a tough Jersey girl who becomes a recovery agent sent to track down a murder suspect — who just so happens to be her ex-boyfriend. If it sounds like the perfect recipe for a ladies’ night out, not so fast. At the movie’s New York premiere, Heigl promised that “One for the Money” will keep women and men on the edge of their seats. “I wouldn’t qualify it as a romantic comedy. It’s got [romance] and it’s got comedy, but it’s mostly about this sort of murder-mystery undertone that keeps it moving and keeps the pace going,” Heigl told MTV News. “I always feel like I’m selling it to men, like, ‘There’s explosions and there’s shooting! You’re gonna like it too, I promise!’ ” Lending her comedic chops to the flick, “The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd agreed with Heigl’s assessment: “It’s a lot of action and it’s a lot of fun. It’s something that I think my husband, who is 6-6, 280 pounds, would love. So no, it’s not just a chick flick; it’s a fun film.” Now, if the ladies of the film haven’t convinced non-female moviegoers, they may want to take some advice from their male co-stars. “There’s action sequences,” Daniel Sunjata said. “There’s definitely a healthy enough dose of testosterone and really good storytelling that I think the guys will have a great time at this movie too.” Heigl’s love interest in the film, Jason O’Mara, added, “I think if the guys come and see it, there’s gonna be lots in it for them. This is not a frilly romantic comedy. With all due respect to Katie’s past work, this is not ’27 Dresses.’ There’s something kind of edgy, something kinda blue-collar about this that gives it a bit of a realism, and I think it’s cool. Whether you’re male or female, I think you’re gonna have a good time.” Check out everything we’ve got on “One for the Money.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Queen of Pop tells MTV News most of her upcoming album is more ‘high-energy’ than award-winning ‘Masterpiece.’ By Jocelyn Vena Madonna Photo: MTV News Madonna has teased fans not only inadvertently with a leaked demo of her first single for “Gimme All Your Luvin,” but also with “Masterpiece” (which also appears on the soundtrack for her film, “W.E.”) . So far it seems that the two very different tracks show the two very different sides that the Queen of Pop is pursuing on her next studio release, M.D.N.A. While “Gimme” plays up Madge’s playful, upbeat persona, “Masterpiece,” as she explained to MTV News, is a different story. ” ‘Masterpiece’ is one of the few kind of more down-tempo songs, more reflective,” she told MTV News at the New York City premiere of “W.E.” “I think the majority of the record is more action-packed,” she teased. “More high-energy.” It seems, then, that what fans have heard of “Gimme” is more of what they will hear on the album. The album will reportedly get a March release date. It features production from Martin Solveig on its lead single, which gets some presumably sassy assists from two fierce female MCs, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. Both ladies will reportedly take the stage with the pop icon to perform the track at the Super Bowl halftime show . Madonna also worked with longtime collaborator and Ray Of Light producer William Orbit , who produced the Golden Globe-winning “Masterpiece.” “We’ve worked on stuff for so many years that we kind of finish each other’s sentences. He knows my taste and what I like,” she explained at the premiere. “Magic happens when we get into a recording studio together.” At the Globes, Madonna recalled how “Masterpiece” came together. “[My manager Guy Oseary] harangued me for the entire time I was filming and editing my movie to write a song,” she said during her acceptance speech for Best Original Song. “And I said, ‘Please, Guy, I’m trying to focus on being a director and I want people to pay attention to the film and I don’t have time.’ So then I finished the film and I started making my record and somehow magically and miraculously the song emerged, ‘Masterpiece,’ so thank you, Guy Oseary, for being so irritating.” What are you looking forward to on Madonna’s next album? Let us know in the comments!
‘I feel like this was a matter of just proving them wrong,’ Ne-Yo tells MTV News of the George Lucas-produced flick. By Rob Markman Ne-Yo in “Red Tails” Photo: Lucasfilm Ltd. It wasn’t easy getting “Red Tails” into theaters, but singer/actor Ne-Yo believes that after opening at #2 at the box office , it was well worth the fight. “I feel like we definitely did what we set out to do, which was make sure these incredible men, the Tuskegee Airmen, got the recognition that they deserved for the incredible things that they did for this country,” Ne-Yo told MTV News of the George Lucas-produced film on Wednesday. “And [we] proved to Hollywood that an ensemble cast of black faces can put asses in the seats, basically,” he laughed. “So I feel like we served our purpose.” “Red Tails” tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American fighter pilots who battled deep-rooted racism, while fighting in World War II. Both Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. star in the flick, while Ne-Yo, Method Man and Tristan Wilds have supporting roles. The historical piece hit theaters January 20, the Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day and opened second behind “Underworld: Awakening.” Not bad for the singer/songwriter, who was also named senior vice president of A&R at Motown Records . Considering the movie wasn’t especially well-received by critics, “Red Tails” did well in its first weekend, surpassing initial expectations. Lucas appeared on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” earlier this month and claimed that major studios showed no interest in the film when he went to pitch it. “It’s because it’s an all-black movie,” he said. “There’s no major white roles in it at all. It’s one of the first all-black action pictures ever made.” “We’ve come a long way from when Martin was marching in the streets and getting rocks thrown at him. We’ve come a very, very long way,” Ne-Yo said. “However, even with that being said, we got a long way to go. As a black person, period, we’re kinda constantly in a state of proving, which is something that I came to wraps with a long time ago.” Despite the studios’ lack of interest in the film, Ne-Yo decided to let the success of “Red Tails” speak for itself. “At the end of the day, you complain about it, or you prove them wrong,” he said. “I feel like this was a matter of just proving them wrong.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Red Tails.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Red Tails Related Artists Ne-Yo
Wolves, like most animals, know a lot of things that humans don’t. When bad white men move onto their turf to do bad white-man stuff – like drilling for oil – they instinctively know something’s amiss in the balance of nature, and damned if they’re going to just sit back in their dens and fuhgeddaboutit. In The Grey, wolves unleash their fury at mankind in a bloody yet tasteful flurry of stamping paws and gnashing teeth; mankind fights back as best he can, which in this particular case, is not very well. What’s not surprising about the picture, considering it was directed by the guy behind movies like Smokin’ Aces and The A-Team, Joe Carnahan, is how absurdly macho some of the dialogue is. (My favorite line, uttered by a character after he’s witnessed one too many wolf-inflicted deaths: “This is fuck city, population 5 and dwindling.”) What is surprising is how poetic the movie is, partly thanks to its high-lonesome sound design and the desolate beauty of its visuals, but mostly because of its star, Liam Neeson. He knows what the wolves know, only he’s not telling. Neeson plays Ottway, a sharpshooter stationed at an Alaskan oil refinery, where hard men work even harder shifts, toiling for five weeks straight before being freed for two weeks of vacation. It’s Ottway’s job to pick off the bears and other assorted critters who might prey on the men as they work. He’s good with a gun for sure, but he also takes the killing part of his job seriously: In the movie’s early moments, he approaches a wolf he’s just shot — it lies in the snow, bloodied but hardly drained of its dignity — and places his hand on the animal’s flank as it draws its last breath. Ottway may be good at his job, but he doesn’t derive any pleasure from it. And we learn early on that something is deeply amiss in his personal life as well: We see him scratching out a desperate letter to a loved one — with a fountain pen, no less — even though he knows it can’t possibly bring her back. We also see him draw back from the brink of taking his own life: Ottway is one unhappy guy, but what happens shortly thereafter galvanizes him. He and a bunch of the oil workers board a plane bound for civilization. The craft goes down somewhere in sub-Arctic territory. A handful survive the crash — they’re played largely by a cache of actors you’ve vaguely heard of, people like Dallas Roberts, James Badge Dale and Frank Grillo; Dermot Mulroney, mildly disguised by thick glasses and unruly hair, is the one immediately familiar face. But it’s only after the group has managed to pull themselves from the wreckage and patch themselves up that they face the real threat: A group of wolves who stalk them with an almost mystical zeal, not for food but seemingly for sport. Or revenge. Ottway, being the guy who knows all about wolves, urges the men — whose numbers, predictably, dwindle as the story tramps through the snow to its half-rousing, half-bittersweet ending — to fight back, using home-made weapons like improvised bang sticks fashioned from sharpened sticks and bullet casings. (If you’re like me, you probably have no idea what a bang stick is; but if you watch The Grey, you will.) Carnahan has fashioned a movie that’s largely an endurance test. Some pretty awful things happen to some characters we come to care about, and the picture carries you along on a wave of vaguely sickening feelings: You keep watching, wondering what bad thing is going to happen next. But The Grey also offers plenty of moments of grace and beauty, moments that are less pure hokum than pure movie. Just before that plane goes down, as the sleepy travelers doze, we sense that the cabin has suddenly become very cold: The men’s breath hangs in the air, taking wispy forms that just might be — wolf ghosts? Later, after the men have trekked across a broad swath of blank, snowy terrain toward a stand of trees, they peer into the darkness of the forest only to see multiple sets of glowing pin-dot eyes staring back at them. The Grey is all about man vs. nature, and how. There’s also some man vs. man and a lot of man vs. himself mixed in there too. You can bet that the most obnoxious crash survivor — the one every other character not-so-secretly despises, and the one you really wish had died early on, played with cranky effectiveness by Grillo — will redeem himself spectacularly by the end. There are many instances, perhaps too many, of men speaking sentimentally of their families, or of their lack of family. But the picture — which was written by Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, from a short story by Jeffers — keeps working, almost in spite of itself, partly because of its despairing, gorgeous visuals. The picture was shot on location in damn-cold British Columbia. (The cinematographer is Masanobu Takayanagi, whose credits include the recent underground stealth hit Warrior. ) And the very quietness of the movie is a big selling point. There’s gore here, but it’s the artful sort, consisting of things like tableaus of half-glimpsed bloody carcasses nestled in sparkly-white snow. And Carnahan is smart enough to know what not to show. When those largely unseen wolves start hooting and moaning, the sound goes right through you: It’s a howl of existential pain from nature’s peanut gallery. No wonder Ottway feels that pain so keenly. And yet Neeson keeps him from becoming a caricature. Even though the role demands a significant amount of action and physical derring-do, most of Ottway’s struggle is happening inside, and Neeson reveals his character’s suffering gradually, in small bursts of light and shadow. I can’t imagine what it’s like for an actor who has only recently lost his wife to play a man who feels kinship, anger and exquisite loneliness in the company of wolves. Whatever Neeson’s private thoughts and feelings are, you can’t escape the suspicion that he’s channeling them here, placing them before us in muted, unspoken form. It doesn’t hurt that Neeson looks more handsome and noble than ever, particularly with that defiantly regal nose: The Romans, supposedly, never took up residence in Ireland. So how, then, did Neeson’s profile find its way onto their coins? You can take or leave most of the dialogue The Grey requires Neeson to utter, perfunctory stuff along the lines of “They weren’t eating him –- they were killing him” and “We’re a threat –- we don’t belong here.” But it’s hard to ignore the shifts of dusky feeling that play across his face. It’s as if those vaporous wolf ghosts have taken up residence there, in a place where macho posturing is only a small part of what the movies are about. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Joe Carnahan ’s thriller The Grey , currently receiving kudos for its blend of red-blooded action and considered existentialism, tells the fictional tale of a group of oilrig workers who survive a plane crash only to be hunted by wolves in the wild. Among the ragtag band of comrades facing off against nature under Liam Neeson ’s steady leadership is Dermot Mulroney’s Talget, who, like the others, learns to shed his protective layers and confront his own fears when forced to face off directly with Mother Nature. For Mulroney, The Grey represents a kind of muscular, male-driven pic that no longer gets made often enough. In a conversation ranging from the film’s throwback sense of masculinity to his reasons for joining Carnahan & Co. on the unusually brutal shoot (the cast and crew filmed in snowy, sub-zero conditions for months in Canada), Mulroney spoke candidly about how much the landscape has changed for him as an actor since he burst on the scene in the ‘80s, why he was happy to be in a film with no women, and how his first time on the other side of the camera (directing last year’s Love, Wedding, Marriage , which he describes as “a badly made movie”) turned him away from directing, at least for the time being. Liam Neeson aside, you’re probably the most recognizable cast member in The Grey even though you’ve been hidden under layers of clothing and those glasses. How much consideration went into the conception of how your character looks ? I can’t say that wasn’t deliberate but that wasn’t necessarily my idea. It was in conjunction discussing it with the director, Joe [Carnahan], who saw my character as someone who has kind of receded under his protective layers whether it’s the hat and the glasses and the beard and the scarf and all this, and then slowly as the movie progresses some of those layers come off. I hope that we pulled that off. That was his goal; he was so specific with character. What appealed to you about joining this ensemble pic and working with Joe Carnahan? But even from his screenplay, really, is what hooked me, and obviously the opportunity to work with him and Liam. You know, I love to work – I still love to work – and I’d go anywhere for something good like this. It turns out I was going to northern British Colombia in sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions… It seems like it was an unusually extreme scenario for a film shoot! But your cast mates have described Joe as having picked a disparate group of actors who somehow shared a specific quality, a like-mindedness about the project, that made it all worthwhile . Very much so. I don’t know what it is that Joe has to be able to do that, but my understanding is that he’s done that with all of his films – he’s handpicked people that have something, as you say, other than the fact that they were right for the part. They’re also the right man that he wants to have on the experience. He wants to experience . What Joe Carnahan loves to do more than anything at all is shoot a movie, so he wants to do it with people that are also going to enjoy it and make it more enjoyable for him. So he’s not just picking actors, he’s kind of picking future friends. Were you acquainted before the film? I’d never met him before! I walk in to audition and I can tell he’s a helluva guy and that I would enjoy his company – but I think he’s actually casting for that as well. He’s casting not only for the film, but for the steak dinners after work, you know? In a way, he was. And really what I’m describing is his ability to intuitively “get” what people would have to offer, and the thing that he was determined to achieve was to get guys who were willing and able. You know, as actors we’re of course all willing, but I don’t think all of them would’ve been able to take on those extreme conditions. I couldn’t believe that you all went into those freezing climes to shoot; word is Joe got frostbite out there at one point. I know Dallas [Roberts] got frostbit on the nose, and I think Joe Anderson got some fingertips… this is, like, angry cold. This is all-the-way cold! But as an actor, your body – your fingertips, your nose – is your livelihood! That seems like a risk to take for a film. Oh, I hadn’t even thought of that! I didn’t suffer any ill effects from the cold. [Laughs] I have good circulation, so… and everybody else handled it great, too. It certainly was never life-threatening, but it never occurred to me that it might somehow affect my ability to make a living. So when you signed on to The Grey , you were signing on not only to a film but to having an extraordinary experience . We were signing on not only to an extraordinary experience but to risk, but a lot of guys would have. These were parts that a lot of people wanted, for the quality, for the personnel, for the content, but also the same as Joe – for the experience of getting to do something like this. I’ve done a lot of movies on stages, and sets, in a house, around a dining room table, sitting in a thing, going to the dance, all that – wonderful. But how often does somebody say, ‘Hey – do you want to go up further than you’ve ever been and stand around in the cold with me for a couple of months?’ For me, I had just come from a movie called Big Miracle which comes out next month where there, too, we were shooting in Anchorage, Alaska and it was cold and dark. I’m guessing Drew Barrymore did not get frostbite on her nose. She did not get frostbite, but she did get in freezing cold water! In a wetsuit, for real – she did it all. Nobody complained and nobody got hurt, and even Kristen Bell, who’s as big as this, pulled off standing around all day in zero degree temperatures. Looking at the themes in The Grey , we’re in an era where metrosexuality has become a thing and more masculine stories and themes are something of another generation. The characters, not just Liam’s but all of them, are different shades of… Grey? Yes, in many respects. But moreso these guys seem to represent a spectrum of what it means to be a man, or to come to terms with your own masculinity and mortality, when faced with this kind of life or death situation. I think that’s a wonderful diagram of the film. I hadn’t quite tapped into that myself. If I were to try to get to the bottom of what character I was playing, my idea for Talget was that he’s the mother of the group. He’s the little old lady with the babushka and the thing and ‘Come on,’ because they already have a natural leader or father type, they already have a hotheaded adolescent with Diaz, and they have a knowledgeable wise grandparent type with Henrik. Where’s the mother? So I kind of filled that slot. That doesn’t answer your masculinity question because I’d much rather be accused of being testosterone-fueled than being a little old lady, but by the same token if you’re looking at each of these characters as a facet of what manhood is, then part of what manhood is, is your mother. But that’s okay! It’s only when these guys strip away their machismo that they are able to be emotionally honest with each other. Right. [Pause] There a couple of scenes in Jaws when the shark goes out of the movie, and you don’t really get a great look at that shark anyhow, much like this movie. But then they’re sitting in that boat and they’re just talking, and Shaw goes into this whole thing about the Indianapolis and it’s this incredible moment, an historical moment in the history of our cinema. So you say this movie has some throwback qualities, or some old school manly-man qualities; that’s intentional. That’s the kind of movie Joe wants to make. Joe is one of those guys. So, guilty as charged on that; if that’s something that needs to be brought back, then let’s bring it back. It seems like people are responding to that about this movie and to my mind there haven’t been enough of them. The pendulum swung the other way since I started in this business and there were men’s movies like whatever those Tom Cruise movies… The meaty ‘80s, yes. Yeah. And then all of a sudden Sigourney Weaver comes in the Alien and we have strong women, we have Working Girl , we have all this, we have Best Friend’s Wedding , and before you know it, all the fucking movies are about the girls! Do you really think so? I do! I do. The ones that I was asked to be in, for certain. All of them. So that’s kind of what I did for a while, and every once in a while I’d get this sweet relief of being in a movie like [ The Grey ], where there are no girls in it, there are no women in it – Nobody vying for your affections… Nobody’s vying for anybody’s affections in this movie, that’s right. [Laughs] That’s one relief right there. Aren’t we kind of tired of the vying for affection in the American cinema? Well, let me ask you this — [Laughs] I know, it’s tough because “wry” doesn’t really come across in print, but you put that on the website and we’ll see how that flies. “Too many ladies in the movies for a while there.” No! I think it’s interesting you say this, given your directorial debut, Love, Wedding, Marriage . Yeah, and it couldn’t be a more womanly movie, right? Let’s skip it. Change the topic. I am interested in your directing impulses… I’m not, so much. Did you get it all out in that one film? No, it just didn’t go very well. If I ever tried again I’d do it alarmingly differently. Why so? I don’t even want to talk about that movie, to be honest with you. I don’t think it’s a very clean segue, either, from masculine guy in The Grey to director of a badly made movie. It’s only that the types of movies that they are, are interesting in juxtaposition. I like movies like The Grey to view and to act in a lot more than I like movies like that. The Grey is in theaters Friday. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
MTV News speculates on which Marvel Comics baddie will be joining forces with Loki when ‘Marvel’s The Avengers’ assembles this summer. By Josh Wigler Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth in “The Avengers” Photo: Paramount “Marvel’s The Avengers” promises to pit Earth’s Mightiest Heroes — Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, in case you’ve somehow forgotten — against the trickster god Loki, as well as another nemesis that remains unidentified. Popular theories have long pegged the Skrulls, Marvel’s shape-shifting alien menace, as the likeliest group to join forces with the disenfranchised Asgardian prince. Many fans are also expecting to see another possible foe, “Captain America” villain Red Skull, based on his inclusion in an upcoming “Avengers” action figure line . But leave it to Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, to bust both rumors. Speaking with Empire magazine last week, he revealed that the still-unknown secondary baddies are “not Skrulls.” Additionally, while it would be nice to see Hugo Weaving’s villainous visage at some point down the line, “he’s not in this one.” So, no Skrulls. No Red Skull. It’s Loki, and it’s … someone or something else. But who or what? Feige promised that while Marvel wants to hide the identity of “the alien race” that’s confronting our favorite superheroes, their identity is “not impactful,” even though they exist in the comic books. One imagines, then, that the Kree are out along with the Skrulls. Perhaps it’s as simple as a return of the Jotunheim, last seen in 2011’s “Thor.” Maybe it’s just arbitrary and the identity of these aliens truly does not matter. That doesn’t mean the mystery isn’t important. And that doesn’t mean the aliens are the mystery villain, either. The Latino Review once put forth a report — one that’s unverified by all accounts — stating that Thanos, the hulking purple-skinned alien that’s frequently dusted up with the Avengers and other Marvel heroes, is the secret villain we’ve all been wondering about. It’s a rumor to be sure, but it’s one I’m inclined to believe for a couple of reasons … and it all goes back to Comic-Con. In July 2010, the Marvel booth at Comic-Con featured a display case filled with items from the studio’s upcoming comic book movies. Among them: Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, Captain America’s mighty shield and the bejeweled Infinity Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is one of the more prominent items in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, one that’s virtually synonymous with Thanos. Indeed, its inclusion in the Marvel display case felt like an unspoken promise that Thanos would someday have a part to play in the company’s cinematic future. Cut to “Thor” almost a year later, and the Gauntlet appeared as a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter egg that came and went when Jotunheim thieves infiltrated Asgard to reclaim their long-lost prize, the Casket of Ancient Winters. Could it be that the Gauntlet only existed as a wink and nod to the fans back home? Entirely possible. But what if Loki, who clearly knows the history and value of the Casket, has information on the other items contained in Asgard — including what the Gauntlet is, and who would do anything to have it? For someone mightily pissed off at his brother and the Earth-dwellers he’s become so fond of, that’s very powerful information indeed. Consider also that Feige, the same man who kiboshed the Skrulls and Skull, has long said that the cosmic side of Marvel is a big priority for him. In fact, just a few months ago, he revealed that movies based on the “Inhumans” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” were on the docket at Marvel Studios. Fantastic reads both of them, no question, but obscure beyond belief to the non-comic book reader. If Feige is looking ahead at “phase two” of the Marvel plan, as he’s called it in the past, are “Inhumans” and “Guardians” really the best places to start? Perhaps they are … if someone huge, someone massive, someone like Thanos, makes his first appearance in “Avengers,” and lives on to stalk the stars (and the screen) another day. It’s not the meatiest theory out there. It’s based on a rumor, on a taste of what Marvel has given us both on and off the screen, and on a desire to see someone important occupy this oh-so-secretive role. For Feige to come out and say the movie’s second villainous force is not the Skrulls and not Red Skull, and that Loki’s alien army is “not impactful” in identity … either he’s not telling the full story on who or what this unseen enemy represents, or the big reveal is going to be a massive letdown. Given how Marvel has operated in recent years, and given the importance of “Avengers” to their brand and plans, I just don’t see it being the latter option. Here’s what I do see. Loki aside, “The Avengers” will have another deeply meaningful foe to fight come May 4, 2012. And my considerably sized gut tells me it’s going to be Thanos. Who do you think the secret “Avengers” villain will be? Tell us in the comments section. Check out everything we’ve got on “Marvel’s The Avengers.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos Key Scenes From The ‘Avengers’ Trailer ‘Avengers’ Take Manhattan: Five NYC Locations From The Trailer
Drake and Spike Lee among MTV News’ favorite sit-downs at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. By Josh Wigler, with additional reporting by Josh Horowitz and Sam Hendrick Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg Photo: MTV News The Sundance Film Festival is still raging on in Park City, Utah, but the MTV Movies team is back home safe and sound after a weeklong journey filled with movie screenings and high-profile interviews. If you’re interested in hearing about the films that caught the most buzz at Sundance this year, never fear: We’ve got you covered. But there’s more to enjoy at Sundance than just the movies themselves; there are also interviews with countless actors, filmmakers, musicians and other stars for you to chew on. From the absurdly hilarious to the cool and informative, here are our favorite interviews conducted by MTV News at Sundance this year: 5. AnnaLynne McCord It was the nip slip heard ’round the cyber-world. Weeks ago, “90210” actress AnnaLynne McCord inadvertently posted a photo of herself on Twitter that revealed more than she bargained for. But lest you think she’s embarrassed about the overexposure, think again. “The moral of the story is not to stop taking pictures of yourself naked,” she told MTV News. “We all like being naked. Just make sure that the little bit of your areola isn’t in the picture before you send it to a hundred billion people.” 4. Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones The stars of “Celeste and Jesse Forever” tackle uncomfortable but often funny subject matter in their Sundance indie. In real life, the situation isn’t so different. Samberg and Jones are both hilarious in their regular “SNL” and “Parks & Rec” gigs, and in person, the laughs are there as well — even when it comes to a topic as uncomfortable as Lana Del Ray’s “SNL” collapse . “People gave her a lot of crap. I saw it online. BriWi,” he said when we asked about the incident; BriWi, of course, refers to “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams’ critique of the performance. Try watching the veteran newsman without thinking of him as “BriWi” again. It’s just not possible. 3. Spike Lee The New York filmmaker brought Brooklyn to Park City with his new film “Red Hook Summer,” a spiritually charged drama that takes a dark and unexpected turn before the credits roll. The movie hasn’t been kindly received by all critics, but regardless of reception, Lee’s thought process behind the film was a revelation to hear. “We wanted to make a film about young black kids like ‘Stand by Me,’ ” he said. “I love that film. Where’s the people-of-color version of that film? I’m not saying this is it, but that’s the type of film. … I want to see that. [Writer] James [McBride] and I wanted to see this film in a theater. We wanted the world to see these characters in this isolated part of Brooklyn, Red Hook.” 2. Drake Battling tigers is not always easy. But when you’re Drake, it’s always awesome. The Toronto MC performed at Sundance and spoke with MTV News ahead of the gig, recounting his recent trip to Africa, during which he did battle with a true-blue tiger. We kid you not. “I went on a safari. I got tackled by a tiger. It was crazy,” Drake recounted for MTV’s Sam Hendrick, who mustered the only response humanly possible to such wild and crazy news: “That’s dope!” Co-signed, Sam. 1. Paul Giamatti MTV Movie Brawl 2012 came to a close during our time at Sundance. With hours to go before the polls closed, David Cronenberg’s “Cosmopolis” clinched the win with an absolutely insurmountable lead. One of the film’s many stars, Paul Giamatti, was on the ground in Park City and was happy to accept the top honor on the “Cosmopolis” cast’s behalf. “Holy cow, that’s astounding!” he said upon hearing the news. “The fact of that is amazing. … That’s a really cool thing that it brings that visibility to that movie.” Bonus: Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim Perhaps the greatest of all the interviews we enjoyed at Sundance is one we have yet to unveil: our conversation with the absurd duo behind “Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie.” We cannot verify the film’s actual budget, but our interview with Mr. Heidecker and Mr. Wareheim is worth at least a billion bucks. You’ll see it soon, but for now, some out-of-context teasers: Will Forte. “Filet of fish, no bun.” “Back to you.” If it doesn’t make sense yet, just wait — it’ll be even less clear when the insanity-fueled interview hits the Web. Stay tuned … Stick with the MTV Movies team as we roll out more coverage from the Sundance Film Festival ! Related Videos Sundance 2012: Interviews From Park City Related Photos Celebrities Hit The Ground At Sundance 2012 Film Fest Sundance 2012: Behind The Scenes Photos
Drake and Spike Lee among MTV News’ favorite sit-downs at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. By Josh Wigler, with additional reporting by Josh Horowitz and Sam Hendrick Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg Photo: MTV News The Sundance Film Festival is still raging on in Park City, Utah, but the MTV Movies team is back home safe and sound after a weeklong journey filled with movie screenings and high-profile interviews. If you’re interested in hearing about the films that caught the most buzz at Sundance this year, never fear: We’ve got you covered. But there’s more to enjoy at Sundance than just the movies themselves; there are also interviews with countless actors, filmmakers, musicians and other stars for you to chew on. From the absurdly hilarious to the cool and informative, here are our favorite interviews conducted by MTV News at Sundance this year: 5. AnnaLynne McCord It was the nip slip heard ’round the cyber-world. Weeks ago, “90210” actress AnnaLynne McCord inadvertently posted a photo of herself on Twitter that revealed more than she bargained for. But lest you think she’s embarrassed about the overexposure, think again. “The moral of the story is not to stop taking pictures of yourself naked,” she told MTV News. “We all like being naked. Just make sure that the little bit of your areola isn’t in the picture before you send it to a hundred billion people.” 4. Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones The stars of “Celeste and Jesse Forever” tackle uncomfortable but often funny subject matter in their Sundance indie. In real life, the situation isn’t so different. Samberg and Jones are both hilarious in their regular “SNL” and “Parks & Rec” gigs, and in person, the laughs are there as well — even when it comes to a topic as uncomfortable as Lana Del Ray’s “SNL” collapse . “People gave her a lot of crap. I saw it online. BriWi,” he said when we asked about the incident; BriWi, of course, refers to “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams’ critique of the performance. Try watching the veteran newsman without thinking of him as “BriWi” again. It’s just not possible. 3. Spike Lee The New York filmmaker brought Brooklyn to Park City with his new film “Red Hook Summer,” a spiritually charged drama that takes a dark and unexpected turn before the credits roll. The movie hasn’t been kindly received by all critics, but regardless of reception, Lee’s thought process behind the film was a revelation to hear. “We wanted to make a film about young black kids like ‘Stand by Me,’ ” he said. “I love that film. Where’s the people-of-color version of that film? I’m not saying this is it, but that’s the type of film. … I want to see that. [Writer] James [McBride] and I wanted to see this film in a theater. We wanted the world to see these characters in this isolated part of Brooklyn, Red Hook.” 2. Drake Battling tigers is not always easy. But when you’re Drake, it’s always awesome. The Toronto MC performed at Sundance and spoke with MTV News ahead of the gig, recounting his recent trip to Africa, during which he did battle with a true-blue tiger. We kid you not. “I went on a safari. I got tackled by a tiger. It was crazy,” Drake recounted for MTV’s Sam Hendrick, who mustered the only response humanly possible to such wild and crazy news: “That’s dope!” Co-signed, Sam. 1. Paul Giamatti MTV Movie Brawl 2012 came to a close during our time at Sundance. With hours to go before the polls closed, David Cronenberg’s “Cosmopolis” clinched the win with an absolutely insurmountable lead. One of the film’s many stars, Paul Giamatti, was on the ground in Park City and was happy to accept the top honor on the “Cosmopolis” cast’s behalf. “Holy cow, that’s astounding!” he said upon hearing the news. “The fact of that is amazing. … That’s a really cool thing that it brings that visibility to that movie.” Bonus: Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim Perhaps the greatest of all the interviews we enjoyed at Sundance is one we have yet to unveil: our conversation with the absurd duo behind “Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie.” We cannot verify the film’s actual budget, but our interview with Mr. Heidecker and Mr. Wareheim is worth at least a billion bucks. You’ll see it soon, but for now, some out-of-context teasers: Will Forte. “Filet of fish, no bun.” “Back to you.” If it doesn’t make sense yet, just wait — it’ll be even less clear when the insanity-fueled interview hits the Web. Stay tuned … Stick with the MTV Movies team as we roll out more coverage from the Sundance Film Festival ! Related Videos Sundance 2012: Interviews From Park City Related Photos Celebrities Hit The Ground At Sundance 2012 Film Fest Sundance 2012: Behind The Scenes Photos
