Robert Downey Jr.’s character warns the villain: ‘You’ve managed to piss off every single one of us.’ By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Tom Hiddleston in “The Avengers” Photo: Marvel/Disney For a guy going up against Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk, you wouldn’t think Loki would be so cavalier. In our exclusive clip from the highly anticipated ” The Avengers ,” Robert Downey Jr. , as Tony Stark, breaks down the teams for Loki ( Tom Hiddleston ), and the good guys have quite the lineup. “Your brother, the demigod. A super soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend. A man with breathtaking anger-management issues. A couple of master assassins. And you, big fella, you’ve managed to piss off every single one of us,” Tony Stark says. Audiences will finally be able to see which side prevails when the long-awaited “Avengers” finally hits theaters in a few weeks, on May 4. The fight has been years in the making, with the lead-up spread over five films thus far, from the first ” Iron Man ” to ” Captain America: The First Avenger .” We know from the trailers and the clip that the fight between Loki and the Avengers will be a little more even when the time comes, but the identity of the alien “army” remains a mystery. Tom Hiddleston stopped by MTV News last year to talk about his work on “The Avengers,” and he hinted that when the secret is revealed, it will definitely please fans. “Loki has help, obviously, because if Thor could beat Loki on his own at the end of ‘Thor,’ surely why, logically, does it take eight of them to beat him this time?” Hiddleston revealed. “Also, there is an evolution to Loki as well,” he explained. “He’s more self-possessed; he’s more menacing. If the Loki in ‘Thor’ was about a spiritual confusion — ‘Who am I? How do I belong in this world?’ — the Loki in ‘Avengers’ is ‘I know exactly who I am, and I’m going to make this world belong to me.’ ” Check out everything we’ve got on “Marvel’s The Avengers.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos Assemble Yourself For ‘Avengers’ Sneak Peeks Related Photos ‘Avengers’
Well, that was fast: Just hours after Josh Hutcherson gamely threw his support behind Hunger Games director Gary Ross , Ross has officially announced he’s not directing the franchise sequel, Catching Fire . “I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make,” wrote Ross in a statement. More after the jump. Whatever happened behind the scenes, Ross and Lionsgate’s joint statements make a point to emphasize that not directing Catching Fire was Ross’s decision, not the studio’s — a nicety that conveys good terms whether or not tough negotiations over salary and the like were had. Similar sentiments were expressed back in 2008 when, after opening the first Twilight film at number 1 on the way to a $392 million global take, director Catherine Hardwicke and Summit parted ways. Back then, the reason given was that Hardwicke’s desired amount of time to properly develop the sequel was longer than what the studio wanted to allot. “I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct New Moon ,” Hardwicke said in December 2008 . “Directing Twilight has been one of the great experiences of my life, and I am grateful to the fans for their passionate support of the film. I wish everyone at Summit the best with the sequel — it is a great story. Compare that with Ross’s statement and let the wild speculation roll as to why Ross is truly out — and, more importantly, who’ll step in to fill his director’s chair on the rapidly approaching Catching Fire , said to be slated to begin filming as early as this August. Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire . As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule. I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision. I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends. To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience. Statement from Lionsgate: We’re very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct Catching Fire . We were really looking forward to making the movie with him. He did an incredible job on the first film and we are grateful for his work. This will not be the end of our relationship, as we consider Ross to be part of the Lionsgate family and look forward to working with him in the future. [via Deadline ]
Katharina Friedrich is some model I’ve never heard of….but she’s some hard, angular, tall, thin, German who has been modeling a couple of years….and who is open to the idea of showing her nipples for her work, like a common hooker, stripper, or pornstar, with more luxurious ambition and dreams….She’s 5’10, her shoe size is 9.5, her eyes green, her hair brown, her hips 34, her dress 2, her bust 32….need anymore info to help your masturbation to her tits? Well I don’t have it…this is as far as my stalking goes and to get measurement of what really counts, her pussy distance from her asshole, I’ll need to be a little more friendly with her…. Here are her pics in some mag.
Despite last week’s report to the contrary , it’s not especially surprising to hear that Gary Ross is not quite out as the director of the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire : Various sources have followed up initial word of Ross’s franchise departure with news of predictable-enough salary disputes over ridiculously large sums of money that would push any spin machine into overdrive. So buckle up — first for Deadline’s counterattack explaining why Ross has logical reason to leave the blockbuster series : The Seabiscuit director knows the benefit of riding in a winner and not switching horses midstream. Ross lobbied hard to get The Hunger Games and turned it into the biggest hit of his directing career. Before that, he developed several serious historical dramatic projects under his deal at Universal that didn’t get off the ground. Staying for a sure-fire hit and a sequel that audiences actually want to see makes a lot of sense for Ross, particularly given how active the filmmaker has been in the construction of Catching Fire . Hmm. OK? I mean, of course Ross reportedly backed out on creative and professional terms (whatever), which, if we were to take at face value, would imply that the Catching Fire upside isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But since we don’t take things at face value — particularly after a third consecutive number-one weekend at the box office — let David Poland walk you through the prospective, dizzying economics of it all: [F]or the director/co-writer of four films to be paid, at best, 2.5% of the NET revenues on a franchise like this does not seem excessive or abusively demanding. And if Gary Ross has to settle for 5 years of his professional life going for $20 million… $25 million… well… ya know… he’d have a legacy… he might improve as a director (he’s a decent director, but still a writer first)… he’d have the career lesson of a steady, defined gig, and the money doesn’t exactly suck. In an industry of few sure things, one thing is sure. We know that [Lionsgate] is NOT going to lose money on paying Gary Ross $40 million for the next 3 films. Step up. Stop being greedy pigs. Do it like the grown up studios. And get on with it already. Yeah! Like, now , because as you might have heard , Jennifer Lawrence has an X-Men sequel to shoot: [S]ources say the filmmaker is concerned about an ambitious production schedule that would require shooting to begin in August so that star Jennifer Lawrence can complete her work before she is due to start filming a sequel to Fox’s X-Men: First Class in January. Since Fox’s deal with Lawrence predates her contract for Hunger Games , X-Men is in a priority position. With the script for the second Hunger Games not yet locked, that means all preparations for a sequel would have to be done in four months — a tough schedule to meet. What ever will happen? (Hint: Ross will get paid, and happy fans will go on to push The Hunger Games franchise into a $3 billion juggernaut.) Stay tuned… [ Deadline , The Hot Blog , THR ] Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
‘She seems to lose confidence by the week,’ said ‘Idol’ blogger MJ Santilli about Hollie Cavanagh. By Gil Kaufman DeAndre Brackensick and judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez on “American Idol” on Thursday Photo: Fox In years past, booted contestants offered bland platitudes about the helpful judges and their “amazing journey” on “American Idol” and how they’ve grown and learned so much from the show. But this season the gloves appear to have come off, with some singers flat out accusing Randy, Steven and Jennifer of messing with their heads by offering head-spinning advice that sends them sprinting in one direction one week only to turn around and jet the other way the next. “They are hurting the contestants with confusing advice,” said MJ Santilli, founder of the popular “Idol’ blog MJsbigblog . “What makes it worse are the ‘battles’ between the panel and mentor Jimmy Iovine. The finalists are often hearing one thing in the studio with Jimmy and his guest mentors, and something entirely different from the judges.” Aside from the seemingly horrible sartorial advice they’re also getting from fashion mentor Tommy Hilfiger, MJ said the mixed career messages are impacting the singers in widely different ways. They don’t appear to be messing with the head of self-assured growly rocker Phil Phillips, who she said may actually be hurting his own chances by arrogantly ignoring every note he gets from the show’s experts. But they’ve definitely made for some up-and-down weeks for the likes of potential R&B star rocker Elise Testone, country belter Skylar Laine and they are clearly hurting the teenage girl contestants. “Hollie Cavanagh is obviously not growing from her ‘Idol’ experience,” Santilli said of the 18-year-old who has a powerful voice, but a shaky stage presence that appears to be on increasingly rockier ground after weeks of confusing notes. “She seems to lose confidence by the week. And [just eliminated contestant] DeAndre Brackensick had potential, but the advice he was getting wasn’t focused enough to really help him.” The contestants themselves have even said it. “I felt confused every week, I’ll be honest,” Erika Van Pelt told MTV News after she was booted two weeks ago. “I felt there was a lot of contradiction, and as an artist and someone who takes their singing very seriously, it’s hard for me to take critique of my work, period , and then when you feel like you sorta have people telling you one thing and then telling you something completely different the week after, it’s hard.” EVP had plenty of experience singing in front of audiences, but her frustration with the mixed messages from the trio behind the judge’s table, not to mention often contradictory words of wisdom from mentor Jimmy Iovine, was unabashed. “Because constructive criticism to me is something I can go home, work on, fix and come back and say, ‘Here, I fixed it,'” she said. “I feel what happened to me in this competition was I would take all the advice, I’d work on things, I’d bring something different to the table, and they’d tell me the complete opposite. It’s been really hard for me, I can admit that.” Brackensick appeared to have solved that problem by taking Phillips’ path and ignoring all the competing voices. “I’m just following what I want to do, not listening to what someone’s telling me to do,” he told MTV News after his elimination about his up-and-down ride on the show. Hollywood Reporter music editor Shirley Halperin said she’s definitely noticed some mixed signals from the judges, but she doesn’t necessarily put the blame on them. “In a way, the judges are not as connected with developing an artist as Jimmy Iovine is,” she said of the legendary Interscope label head who has helped guide the careers of Eminem, Lady Gaga and 50 Cent and whose opinion she often finds herself agreeing with. “Maybe they [the judges] can’t be that critical because they’ve never been in that position of developing an artist. That’s what Jimmy does for a living.” The judges, she said, have to face the camera (and the in-studio audience), while Iovine doesn’t, which is why his rougher criticism rings more true. She pointed to Iovine’s harsh predictions about Brackensick’s fate on Thursday’s elimination show as an example of how Jimmy can smell the career potential and talent of an artist in a way Steven, Jennifer and Randy can’t, and then pull no punches in evaluating their chances. The advisory disconnect is clearest for those who might also be tuning in to NBC’s rival show, “The Voice.” Instead of bland platitudes, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton are busy giving their charges good, constructive, specific advice on how to be better, more effective singers. And you see it in their performances from week-to-week, as the singers take the building blocks and incorporate them into their routines. “Idol” has gotten plenty of flack this season for the everyone-gets-a-trophy comments from the judges and the B-list talent in the finals. But considering that so many of its contestants are less seasoned that those on shows such as “The Voice” and “X Factor,” if “Idol” wants to keep pace with the competition nipping at its heels it needs to up the mentoring and spend more time shaping its charges instead of spinning them around like a prime-time game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
It may be a few years before a new album emerges, but there will be new music from Adele in 2012. By Gil Kaufman Adele Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Could Adele be the next Bond girl? Not, like, in the movie, but on the soundtrack at least? The singer said in a recent interview that she will release a new single in 2012, which set off speculation that she might join the impressive likes of past Bond movie singers Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Shirley Bassey, Duran Duran, Madonna, Garbage and Jack White with Alicia keys as the sound of the upcoming 23rd 007 flick, “Skyfall.” Speaking to France’s NRJ radio, Adele said a “new song is coming out probably by the end of the year.” Though no news has been announced, British oddsmakers have been saying that Adele is the favorite to provide the all-important title tune to the next Bond adventure, which is due in theaters on November 9. In the meantime, the singer also revealed that she doesn’t expect to have a follow-up to her global smash 21 in stores for several years. “If I didn’t write my own songs, I’d be out next week with a new album,” she said. “I have to take time and live a little bit. There were a good two years between my first and second albums, so it’ll be the same this time.” With 21 still resting comfortably near the top of charts all around the world thanks to global sales in excess of 20 million, the singer said she’s not worried about capturing that same magic in a bottle the next time around. “I don’t think I’ll feel the pressure for the next album to be as big as the last one because I know that’s not really possible,” she said. “What’s happened with this album is very rare anyway.” Adele may have given a small preview of what the next album will sound like, though, when she revealed that her dream duet partner would be Beyonc
The wait is finally over! What did we learn from the return of ‘Mad Men’? By Eric Ditzian Aaron Stanton, Larisa Oleynik, Vincent Kartheiser and Alison Brie in “Mad Men” season five episode one Photo: Michael Yarish/AMC “Mad Men,” don’t ever leave us again, OK? Or at least not for a few more seasons. After a 500-day-plus hiatus, AMC’s hit show returned Sunday night with the epic two-hour season-five premiere, filled with civil-rights strife, relationships of the sure-to-blow-up-in-epically-entertaining-yet-profoundly-troubling-fashion variety, and innumerable tiny moments that make creator Matthew Weiner’s “Mad Men” arguably the finest show on TV . The debut also addressed a slew of lingering questions we’d amassed since the previous season came to a close in October 2010. Check out 11 of the most burning questions we’d been dying to have answered: When Does Season Five Take Place? How gangster would it be if Weiner opened season five with a slow push in toward Don Draper, his hair oddly gray, his deep wrinkles coming into view, his dapper postwar mojo caked in decades of booze, fatty foods and what-has-become-of-this-once-proud-country disillusionment? What if the year were 1986 and Don were a gut-bellied 60 years old? However unlikely such a crazy time jump was, an open question headed into the new season was exactly when in time Weiner would restart his story. After all, over a year passed between seasons one and two, while barely a month elapsed from the end of season three to the start of season four. Now we know the answer: Season five begins in the summer of 1966. Did Don Really Marry Megan? If you thought Don Draper would be content with an appropriately aged girlfriend, a quick trip to “Tomorrowland” (the title of the season-four finale) disabused viewers of such a notion. He ditched Dr. Faye Miller and took his young, seductive secretary Megan Calvet on a Disneyland trip with the kids. One sun-bleached California vacation later, Don had cruelly dumped Faye and asked Megan to marry him. Would it last? Could it last? Yes and yes. They’re now married and living together (though, obviously, not so happily). Is Faye Totally Out of the Picture? Poor Faye. She was smart and sexy and Don’s intellectual equal. Alas, she was also his age. As far as we can tell, Faye is totally dunzo as far as Don’s life is concerned. Could she come creeping back into the picture? There’s an argument to be made that she’s too self-possessed to slink back into his arms. But when on “Mad Men” has a woman ever been able to resist the charms of Don Draper? What Will Happen to Don When He Turns 40? If you guessed “have a birthday party at his Manhattan loft thrown by his secretary-turned-wife during which she saucily sings a French love song to Don and his friends, leading the ad man to verbally bitch-slap his wife and his wife to strip down to her undies, clean their apartment and eventually make love to her hubby on the filthy carpet” — then congrats, you win! Wither Bert Cooper? The firm’s elder statesman seemingly quit the firm at the end of season four, following Don’s public statement that he will no longer produce ads for tobacco companies. “It’s been a pleasure,” Bert announced on his way out the door. Turns out he didn’t quit, and as season five begins, Bert’s still puttering around the office with not much at all to do. Does Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Survive? Big Tobacco gave Don’s ad agency the big kiss of death at the end of season four. They lost the Lucky Strike account, the very big deal keeping their fledging operation afloat. Could Sterling Cooper survive? Would Don have to go back to selling fur coats? Hardly. Thanks to the hard work of account exec Pete Campbell, Sterling Cooper continues to chug forward. They’re still struggling, however, so expect the firm’s finances to play a significant role this season. Does Joan Have Her Baby? A back-alley hump session with a former flame left office manager Joan pregnant last season. She contemplated having an abortion, even traveling to a clinic, before deciding to keep the baby and pretend it’s actually her husband’s child. Did she go through with the ruse? Does her hubby still have no idea he’s been cuckolded? Yep, the guy hasn’t a clue. And Joan, the once-and-future sex kitten, is now spending most of her time applying cream to her baby’s diaper rash, rather than scheming and pouting in the offices of Sterling Cooper. What’s Up With Lane’s Marriage? The British finance whiz had a helluva rough time in season four. His wife left him, he went for a roll in the hay with a prostitute, then his father beat the piss out of him, sending him scurrying back across the pond to mend things with his wife. As season five begins, they’re back together, but all is not well. After he picks up a stranger’s wallet and calls up the guy’s mistress, we witness Lane awkwardly attempting to engage in the ’60s equivalent of phone sex. Nothing comes to pass, but we have a feeling Lane and his marriage are in for a ton of misery in the episodes to come. Is Sally Draper Still a Terror? Shockingly, if only temporarily, the answer to this burning question is no. Last season, heartbreakingly, Sally was a nightmare of a little girl as she struggled to adjust to a life lived under the shaky guidance of divorced parents. Who would have thought that as she approached her teenage years, she’d tamp down on the tantrums and start becoming a well-behaved adolescent girl? Two hours into the new season, that’s exactly what Sally is. Of course, we still haven’t seen her in the company of her mom, Betty. There’s plenty of time for the terror to return. Is Pete Campbell Still So Freaking Pete Campbell? He fathered a child with his co-worker. He got married and cheated on his wife too many times to count. He’s, generally speaking, a sniveling little turd viewers love to hate. But by the end of last season, Pete looked like he was turning things around, confessing his infidelities to his wife and turning into the agency’s rainmaker. Maybe, just maybe, Pete was becoming — less annoyingly Pete. It’s not going to last, it seems. Two hours into season five, he’s already complaining that his wife sits around all day like a frumpy lump, and he has started taking later trains back from the city to the suburbs, because, well, take one guess why he’s hanging around Manhattan after work. Pete Campbell, surprise surprise, will keep on being Pete Campbell. Can Peggy Olsen Sustain a Happy, Healthy Relationship? Remember beatnik journalist Abe Drexler, the guy copywriter Peggy hated and then loved and then kinda love-hated or hate-loved? Things appear to be going well between the two of them. She’s cranky as ever, but he’s supportive of her and her work life, even as he surely continues to believe her job is everything that’s wrong with ’60s America. How long they remain a joyful couple is anybody’s guess (ours is: not very long). For now, though, let’s just be happy for Peggy. After all, she’s the true hero at the heart of “Mad Men.” What did you think of the “Mad Men” season premiere? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Photos ‘Mad’ Hook Ups: The Relationships Of ‘Mad Men’
Following her performance, she is presented with the blimp for Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie. By Katie Byrne Katy Perry performs at the 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic When Katy Perry debuted “Part of Me” at the Grammys last month, music fans couldn’t help but focus on the new song’s vicious lyrics obviously pointed at a no-good ex (was it ex-husband Russell Brand ? Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy?). But at Saturday’s (March 31) Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards , Perry’s young fans were only focused on the song’s pulsing beat and catchy chorus. Even when Katy is getting serious, there’s always fun to be had. Case in point, her entrance: Perry descended onto the stage by flying over the crowd from the ceiling, brandishing a sword. She was joined onstage by dancers in medieval garb, which included puffy shirts and dresses covered in armor. When the bridge kicked in, Perry lifted a gigantic shield in front of her with a glowing heart in the center. While the medieval theme and dancing could have turned dramatic, especially when a dancer had his head and arms locked in a torture device, Perry got her hands on a pie and smashed it in his face. Following the performance, host Will Smith presented Perry with the Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie award for her work as Smurfette in “The Smurfs.” “Thank you so very much!” Katy told the crowd. “Listen: The only reason why I’m still here today — and remember this — is because I’ve never grown up! Thank you so much for this. I love you, and I can’t wait to do ‘Smurfs 2.’ ” This wasn’t Katy’s first time at the Kids’ Choice Awards : Back in 2010, she was the unlucky target of a green slime shower. “I can’t see anything,” she exclaimed after emerging from a puddle of the slimy goo. “Why does it taste like boogers?” Perry recently debuted the combat-heavy clip for “Part of Me” on MTV. In the video, she gets down and dirty with Marines as she works out her anger against the aforementioned no-good ex. So why did Perry choose a military theme? “It’s an affirmation of strength, so I wanted to go the strongest route I ever could,” she said of the song. “Literally, I was like, ‘I’m gonna join the service. I’m gonna join the Marines.’ We used only Marines. … For three days, I was a wannabe Marine, which was so difficult.” What did you think of Katy Perry’s KCA performance? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Nickelodeon’s Kid Choice Awards 2012’s Orange Carpet Related Artists Katy Perry
Singer announces that he’s teamed up with Salaam Remi, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and Max Martin for his latest album. By Jocelyn Vena Usher Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images On his Diplo-produced slow jam, Usher took fans to the “Climax” and gave them and a sensually searing tease to his upcoming album, Looking for Myself. On Friday (March 30), Usher announced that along with Diplo, he also teamed up with Salaam Remi, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and Max Martin on the album, due June 11. He’s expected to release both a standard and deluxe version of the album. Looking for Myself is the follow-up to 2010’s Raymond v. Raymond , which launched mega-singles like the ubiquitous will.i.am-produced “OMG,” as well as “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” “Lil Freak,” “There Goes My Baby” and “More.” He also maintained radio presence thanks to his inescapable collaboration with David Guetta, “Without You,” in 2011. “He has very specific ideas of where he wants to go musically and sound-wise,” “Without You” collaborator Taio Cruz told MTV News about Usher’s next release. “He always wants there to be the soul in there. I’m kind of, not the opposite, but I’m always like, ‘Let’s get straight to the point and be really clear with the message and be simple.’ So we try to match those two worlds together: being soulful and, at the same time, catchy,” Given their work on “Without You,” that may give fans an idea of what the twosome have up their sleeves for Looking For Myself. “I think the world wanted a record like that. That [song] really spoke to the journey that I’ve actually been on in the last three years,” Usher said about that song and how it relates to his musical philosophy. “Traveling all around the world, music sounds different. There’s many different genres, and when you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that’s the reality of what music is.” What do you hope to hear on Looking for Myself. ? Leave your comment below! Related Artists Usher
It’s hard to think of two more contrasting crooners than the pair who took to the American Idol stage last night. We had Nicki Minaj, who gyrated about and delivered an energetic performance of ” Starships ,” scantily-clad outfit and all. And then we had the season 10 champion Scotty McCreery, a laid back country boy who lets his deep, mature voice do all the work, in this case standing behind a mic and belting out a version of his new single, “Water Tower Town.” McCreery was also presented, as seen here, with a framed, enlarged version of his platinum debut album, “Clear as Day.” Which season 11 contestant might duplicate this success? Our money still must be on Phillip Phillips . Watch Scotty perform his next hit below. Scotty McCreery – “Water Tower Town” (American Idol Results Show)
