Movies News

Nikki Reed Compares Her Wedding To 'Breaking Dawn'

2011-11-17T16:01:00.001-08:00

For the legions of "Twilight" fans, the year's biggest wedding is only a few days away, with "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" hitting theaters Friday. But for Nikki Reed, who plays Rosalie in the films, her biggest wedding took place about a month ago when she married former "American Idol" contestant Paul McDonald on October 16. While promoting the film, Reed has had to field a number a questions about similarities between Bella's wedding in the film and her own real-life wedding. "People have been asking, just because I just got married, 'What's the difference between your wedding and Bella ...?' — the whole comparing thing," Reed told MTV News. It wasn't until Reed actually saw the finished film that she discovered a similarity between the two weddings. "I saw the movie last night for the first time, and what Bella says to Charlie is exactly what I said to my dad right when we were going to start walking down," she revealed. "She says, 'Don't let me fall,' and I was wearing these high shoes and walking down this cobblestone hill, not a smooth glide to the altar. I kept saying to my dad, 'Please, don't let me fall. I'll just take my shoes off. I don't need to walk in shoes.' He's like, 'It's going to be OK.' " With her wedding came the question of whether Reed will change her surname to "McDonald." Reed said she likes the idea for her personal name, but wasn't sure if she'll change her stage name. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I feel like there's something really nice about that, changing your name," Reed said. "I think it's sort of traditional, and I've never been a super-traditional gal, but I think it's nice." She did express some concern over the name and referenced her husband's own problems with it. "He told me that he didn't think anyone was going to marry him for that exact reason [of his last name]," Reed said. "I think it's kind of nice, though. 'McDonald' is a good name. It's strong. It feels strong and beefy." Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Ashley Greene, Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed in "Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

Iron Man's 'Avengers' Armor Needs To Hulk Out

2011-11-17T15:01:00.001-08:00

There's a wonderful Internet meme that touts "money" as the best superpower in the world, and though it's a crude stance, it's got some weight. At the very least, money fuels two of the most popular and successful comic book heroes of them all: Batman and Iron Man. Without a good chunk of cash at their disposal, neither Bruce Wayne nor Tony Stark would have the necessary resources to wage their elaborate, gadget-heavy wars on crime, would they? It's the latter hero — Iron Man — that we'll focus on in Marvel Mania, our new weekly MTV News column highlighting the various movies coming out from the House of Ideas. Already the most widely embraced hero in the Marvel Studios catalog, ol' Shellhead's about to make his third big-screen voyage with "The Avengers" next summer. With each subsequent appearance onscreen, Robert Downey Jr.'s billionaire playboy has found new and improved ways to upgrade his already impressive armor. (Suitcase suit, we're looking at you.) But will Tony's red-and-gold duds get another makeover when "Avengers" comes in for a landing — and, most importantly, will we finally see the hero's Hulkbuster armor? First revealed in 1994's "Iron Man" #318, Tony Stark's Hulkbuster armor is a massive, heavy-set version of his classic Iron Man suit that was created specifically to handle one-on-one combat against the Hulk. The Hulkbuster has made numerous appearances since then — including a brief stint in Greg Pak's 2007 "World War Hulk" story line — and with Stark finally coming face-to-face with Bruce Banner in "The Avengers," it's all but guaranteed that Marvel will finally bust out the fan-favorite armor. Or ... maybe not. Revered Marvel Comics illustrator Adi Granov spoke with Italian outlet Bad Taste about his upcoming concept art for "Avengers," revealing that it will likely be a while before Tony breaks out the Hulkbuster suit on the big screen: "In the first ['Iron Man'] movie we had the Iron Monger ... the idea for him came from the Hulkbuster. I did a cover with the Hulkbuster in it. Jon Favreau liked that design and asked me to draw something similar to it for the Iron Monger. So technically the Iron Monger is the Hulkbuster, and that I think is why for a while we won't see it in a movie. It would only be yet another Iron Man big type of armor." Granov's words shouldn't be taken as gospel — as someone involved with "The Avengers," it's in his best interest to talk around and guard the film's greatest secrets. Perhaps Hulkbuster is already a part of Joss Whedon's vision for Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but if it's not, it certainly should be. Hulkbuster is one of the flashiest weapons in Tony Stark's arsenal, and with the Stark Industries head finally meeting up with the Jade Giant in "The Avengers," it seems criminal to leave the armor on the bench. Think about the explosive fight sequences that could come from the incredible Hulk slugging it out with an equally massive Iron Man. Marvel's marketing guys have to know how many toys that would sell, right? Further, the fact that Iron Monger has its roots in the Hulkbuster design lays all the groundwork the Marvel team needs to bring the suit to the screen. "Iron Man," "Thor" and "Captain America" have all gone above and beyond the call of duty in planting the seeds for "The Avengers." Wouldn't it be nice for "Avengers" to return the favor, nodding back to the very first Marvel Studios movie by having Tony repurpose his old foe's evildoing armor for a nobler cause? That's a twice-cooked Easter Egg that fans would eat up with glee. Will the Hulkbuster smash its way onto the big screen next summer? Who knows. But I do know this: Tony Stark has a whole lot of money, and a whole lot of money can pay for a whole lot of insanely sophisticated anti-crime armor. If it's not the Hulkbuster, then Stark better have some kind of awesome Iron Man upgrade when "Avengers" assembles on May 4, 2012. Do you want to see the Hulkbuster armor in "Avengers"? Hit me up @roundhoward on Twitter and let me know what you think! Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 2" Photo: Paramount Pictures

'Breaking Dawn' Bridal Gown 'Moved' Kristen Stewart

2011-11-16T16:01:00.001-08:00

Of all the big reveals in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" that don't involve the words "sex" and "scene," fans are dying to see Bella's wedding dress. It's been one of the most closely guarded film secrets in recent memory, and rightly so, according to author Stephenie Meyer, who told us the key ingredient to the wedding scene was Kristen Stewart looking "gorgeous" and "unbelievable" in that dress. Thankfully, come Friday, the secret will officially be out. MTV News was lucky enough to get a few details about said dress from legendary fashion designer Carolina Herrera at the film's premiere Monday night, as she led us through the process for how she ended up with the coveted task. "I was called by Stephenie Meyer. We had to discuss a lot, but I was very inspired by her book and the description of the wedding," Herrera said. "I was very flattered I was asked to do it; it's a big scene for me." Herrera said she loves the romance and the idea of true love as depicted in the book and that she was happy to be a part of such a magical scene. She also spoke to the importance and delicacy in designing wedding dresses in general. "Wedding dresses are different, because you have to know that it's the most important day in the life of a woman," she said. "You have to please the bride first of all, and it has to be a secret. I cannot talk about the dress before the groom sees it. I treated [Kristen Stewart's Bella] like every other bride," she admitted. "I think [Stewart] was very moved when she tried it on. And that means a lot, because she felt that it was the right one." Given her pleasant experience with the film's wedding dress, might Herrera consider designing something for Stewart in real life? "Why not? If she asked me, absolutely," Herrera said with a smile, but added that Stewart doesn't need to by styled by anyone. "She knows exactly what she wants to wear. ... You can wear anything at21. You don't need any advice. When you are Kristen Stewart, you can wear whatever you want." Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit

'Harry Potter' Stars Suggest A Few 'Wizarding World' Attractions

2011-11-16T15:00:00.001-08:00

ORLANDO, Florida — The books are long finished, the movies are now over, but all it takes is one step inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, to know that "Potter" is forever. Still, despite the ever-flowing butterbeer and copious amounts of "Potter"-based roller-coaster rides, there's always room for improvement, even at the Wizarding World. After all, the "Potter" universe is just too grand to fit every single element into one theme park. With that in mind, when MTV News traveled down to Orlando to cover the red-carpet celebration of the "Deathly Hallows Part 2" DVD release, we asked the cast and crew to weigh in on which features of J.K. Rowling's imaginative world they'd like to see included in future park updates. Jessie Cave, who plays lovelorn Lavender Brown in "Half-Blood Prince," suggested a new means of transportation for the park: "I think instead of being allowed to walk here, everyone should have to arrive by Hogwarts Express. You wouldn't actually have to walk. It'd be just the most comfortable trip ever!" James and Oliver Phelps, better known as the mischievous Weasley twins, focused on a different mode of flying — via broomstick. "If it were actually possible, maybe [it'd be cool] for an actual Quidditch match to go on," Oliver said. "Something like that would be quite cool to watch if that were actually possible to do." Wishful thinking, perhaps — the technology probably isn't quite there to catch a real-life golden snitch just yet. But the rest of the "Potter" cast tried to think in more practical terms, offering their ideas on attractions that could be added to the park in the coming years. Several of the actors, including Warwick Davis and Rupert Grint, suggested the Gringotts breakout as an excellent possibility for a roller-coaster ride. "Wouldn't that be great? You could join Griphook on the cart," Davis, who plays the aforementioned goblin, said of his Wizarding World wish-list. "And it's already done!" "The Gringotts vault would be a really cool ride, I think," agreed Grint, who played courageous hero Ron Weasley over the course of eight "Potter" films. "Also, the flying car!" Some castmembers didn't need to look much further than their own reflections to find suggestions for Wizarding World improvements. "I've been thinking of a ride, a Luna ride," offered Evanna Lynch, speaking of her own character, the loopy Luna Lovegood. "You know all of the creatures she dreams up, all of the creatures that she mentions throughout the books, I like to think that there would be a roller coaster, and each cart would be a new creature. It'd be in the dark and there'd be all these projections of creatures flying around." "I don't know what it's like to be stoned," she added, "but I imagine it feels something like that!" And Jason Isaacs, who plays Voldemort loyalist Lucius, believed it was high time for the Malfoy clan to get some Wizarding World love. "There should be a Malfoy ride," he said. "I don't know why there isn't a Malfoy House of Horrors that you can enter as Lucius and leave as Lucius post-Azkaban." Of course, Isaacs wasn't the only one thinking of his own character. "We all want a ride based on us," he said. "It's a fantastic place here. The only thing that's missing is, obviously, me!"

Charlize Theron Praises Kristen Stewart's 'Lovely' Qualities

2011-11-15T15:02:00.001-08:00

Charlize Theron may be Kristen Stewart's archnemesis in the forthcoming "Snow White and the Huntsman," but in real life, her feelings about the "Breaking Dawn" star are far more warm and fuzzy. "She just turned 21," said Theron, who plays the Evil Queen in the film, about her young co-star in a Vogue interview. "She's a child. "When I think about myself at 21," the actress said, recalling her own early days in Hollywood, "I had just done 'The Devil's Advocate,' and [co-star] Keanu [Reeves] had paparazzi following him, and Al Pacino said this thing to me: 'If I knew that my life would be under this kind of scrutiny, I would have never become an actor.' And I thought, 'Wow.' I couldn't comprehend it." Theron went on to tell the magazine that Stewart is handling life in the public eye with grace. "Kristen is just living this to the max and still has a sense of humor about it. There's this really lovely quality about her that just doesn't give a f---," she said. "A lot of people say they don't, but then they go home and cry and pop a Xanax. Kristen actually doesn't give a f---. That's what's so refreshing about her." Of course, given her role as Snow White's foe in next year's "SWATH," Theron is enjoying how differently their onscreen relationship will play out. "I'm looking forward to killing her and taking her beauty," the actress joked. "That's what happens, right?" On Monday night at the red-carpet premiere in Los Angeles for "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," Snow White herself opened up to MTV News about her highly anticipated flick, in which she plays a sword-wielding version of the classic fairy tale heroine. "I'm so enigmatic. You'll [have to] see," Stewart told us, before teasing about doing a British accent, "It's not so easy! I would need to drop into character and I have no time to build!" Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." and "Snow White and the Huntsman." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Charlize Theron on the cover of Vogue Photo: Vogue

Jackson Rathbone Relives 'Breaking Dawn' Screening

2011-11-14T15:02:00.001-08:00

In addition to the whole fame-and-fortune package that comes with being a member of the "Twilight" cast, one of the additional benefits is that you get to see the finished film before anyone else. When MTV News caught up with "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" star Jackson Rathbone recently, we asked him to talk about his first-time viewing experience. "I got a nice little private screening," Rathbone said. "There were about six [castmembers] in the theater. I was saying, 'This is what it would be like watching "Twilight" if no one liked it,' " he joked. "If it had failed, that's exactly what it would have been like: six people in the theater." In all seriousness, however, Rathbone said he and his co-stars had a lot of fun watching the film together and interacting with the screen. "As soon as Taylor [Lautner] ripped off his shirt, we all tried to yell as much as possible to supplement the lack of little teenage girls [screaming]," he said. "It was fun. We had a good time with it. Nikki [Reed] and I were making fun of each other the whole movie. Any time one of us would come onscreen, we'd poke each other," he said with a laugh. In addition to those swoon-worthy shirtless moments, Lautner has promised us that we'll be shedding some tears. "You are going to face a lot of emotions, definitely," he teased. "You are going to be angry. I guarantee you [that] you will cry multiple times." Tonight, join MTV.com live from the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" red-carpet premiere as we talk to your favorite stars about all things "Twilight"! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Jackson Rathbone Photo: MTV News

Clint Eastwood Calls 'J. Edgar' An Intriguing 'Portrait'

2011-11-13T15:01:00.001-08:00

Long before its release, "J. Edgar" had movie fans excited for its opening on Friday (November 11). Why? Because it features the bona fide box-office draw of star Leonardo DiCaprio, rising star Armie Hammer and a living Hollywood legend in director Clint Eastwood. Not only that, but the film is based on the creation and formation of the FBI, which was founded by J. Edgar Hoover. That subject might not be as intriguing to a young audience as something like "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas," but the parties closest to the project want you to know that there is more to this story than drama and history. "A portrait of a very important man in American history," Eastwood told MTV News at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art "Art + Film" Gala when asked what younger audiences should expect from the film. "And [they can] get an idea of him if they don't know about him. Hopefully, they know something about that and the history that surrounded him because he reigned at a very important era, starting with the Bolshevik invasion from within the [1920s]," he said. Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black added that the idea of making the story relevant to younger generations was front of mind for him throughout the writing process. "I wanted to write it for this generation. There's a lot you can talk about with J. Edgar Hoover, but I chose the things I thought a young generation could identify with," Black explained. "We're not going to focus on McCarthy, we're going to focus on Martin Luther King. We're going to focus on things that [Hoover] did that were heinous, that these kids will probably be surprised by and also a lot of the great things he did that we've all forgotten about. "There's some gun-shooting and explosions and all that sort of stuff that I hope young people like," he continued. "But for the most part, it's a cautionary tale saying, 'Hey, young people, here was a man that made his life all about being famous and it turned him into a monster.' So fame is great, but if you don't put love first, you might be a problem." Check out everything we've got on "J. Edgar." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Watts in "J. Edgar" Photo: Warner Bros

'Breaking Dawn' Sex Scene Is 'All Close-Ups,' Kristen Stewart Says

2011-11-12T15:02:00.001-08:00

There is so much hype surrounding the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" sex scene between Edward Cullen and Bella Swan that we probably won't ever be able to stop writing about it. The fans demand it! Lucky for us, the stars in question keep talking about it as well, so we're all able to revel in the warm romantic (after?) glow for a little while longer. When MTV News caught up with Kristen Stewart recently, we asked what her reaction was when she finally saw the intense scene play out on the big screen. "I think, for me, it really reflects what I felt when I was reading the book," Stewart said. "It's funny, because it's not in the book. It's totally just what you imagine in between those chapters, but without it, because you imagine it, it leads you to — it picks up right after, and then sort of really indulges in memory. And so I think that's how you see it. It's not a beginning-to-end sex scene; it's memories, it's nice. So because of that, I never really got to shoot, we didn't shoot a sex scene; it was all close-ups and such." Stewart's steamy scene partner Robert Pattinson had a little more fun talking about the filming of their scene, in that he was happy to fulfill fans' sexual fantasies with his acting. "That's the one time where I have felt kind of like the coolest person," Pattinson said of filming the scene. "[I thought] this is easy! I can fulfill people's sexual fantasy expectations without even thinking about it, piece of cake. That isn't acting," he joked. "The only thing [that was difficult] is the vanity aspect," Pattinson continued. "Taylor [Lautner] just ruined the whole series for me. As soon as he buffed up, I went, 'Well, I'm throwing in the towel' on 'New Moon.' " Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Immortals,' 'Star Trek 2' And More In 'Talk Nerdy To Me'

2011-11-11T16:10:00.001-08:00

With Friday's (November 11) release of "Immortals," a swords-and-sandals fantasy epic directed by Tarsem Singh, you might find yourself tempted to shout the words "This. Is. Sparta!" as you parade toward your local movie theater. At least, that's what one of our panelists on this week's episode of "Talk Nerdy to Me" is feeling — a notion that doesn't sit right with him. The Henry Cavill-starring action-adventure flick is the main focus of the newest episode of MTV News' one-stop shop for all things movies, comics and television, but that's not the only topic we cover. Keep reading for a taste of what's in store on the latest edition of "Talk Nerdy," and make sure to watch the episode to see all the action yourself! "Immortals" Vs. "300" "Immortals" is now in theaters, infusing the fall movie season with the big shot of action and adrenaline it so desperately needs — or does it? The Nerdy crew is divided on whether or not to see "Immortals" this weekend, with fanboy Brian Phares expressing his concerns over the movie's apparent similarities to "300." The Wrath of BDT J.J. Abrams is officially onboard for the untitled "Star Trek 2," and it appears he's set his sights on a villain: Oscar-winner Benicio Del Toro. The actor's involvement remains unconfirmed, and his bad-guy role is still under wraps, but Team Nerdy tackles the nefarious possibilities all the same. "Chupacabra" This week's "Walking Dead," titled "Chupacabra," shines the spotlight on Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) as he encounters a familiar face — but not in a way you'd expect. We're teasing the episode in this week's "Talk Nerdy." Doctor Who? Staying in television, MTV Geek writer Alex Zalben weighs in on the possibility of during our Weekly Rant. See his #1 pick for a new possible Doctor in Nerd-out. See It, Stream It, Skip It Finally, with so many movies out in theaters this weekend, our team breaks down each new release — "Immortals," "Jack & Jill," and "J. Edgar" — and shares whether they're planning to see it, stream it or skip it. Tell us what you think of this week's "Talk Nerdy" in the comments below! Check out everything we've got on "Immortals" and "Star Trek 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Henry Cavill in "Immortals" Photo: Relativity Media

'Snow White And The Huntsman' Trailer: 5 Key Scenes

2011-11-11T15:01:00.001-08:00

With most of our Kristen Stewart focus zeroed in on a little movie called "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which opens next week, she has an equally intriguing film coming down the pike next summer — "Snow White and the Huntsman" — the trailer for which was unveiled Thursday (November 10). No matter what you might have been expecting, given Stewart's comments about the film or production photos that were released, this trailer is a doozy and completely delivers on the intense, warrior-esque elements that have been teased. Here are our five favorite scenes: 1. Charlize Theron Kills It as the Evil Queen From the second you hear her eerily intense and foreboding voice, to the shots of her mindless murders, to the last shot of the trailer — in which she swoops her exquisite black cloak about her and it turns into a flock of crows — Theron delivers in every sense of the word. It's going to be fun to watch her Queen and Stewart's Snow White go toe-to-toe! 2. The Mirror on the Wall Most of us are familiar with the classic fairy tale upon which this film is based, and while the Mirror is indeed an important part of the story, it can come off a bit campy, depending on the visual effects used to design it. This mirror is just so cool/creepy! When summoned by the Queen via that famous phrase — "Mirror mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" — the mirror seems to melt into a puddle of bronze liquid on the floor and then reshapes itself into a hooded, appropriately deep-voiced figure. 3. Stewart Looking Fierce and Kicking Butt We had a pretty good idea Stewart's version of the "fairest of them all" would be different, based on the photo of her in fancy armor and holding a sword, and now, we have even more proof that Stewart's Snow White is pretty badass. Never does she look innocent or weak, whether on the run, defending herself in armor or confronting a fearsome, growling beast. 4. Chris Hemsworth Is a Perfect Huntsman "Find me someone who doesn't fear the dark forest to hunt her down," the Queen commands, her voice heard over our first glimpse of Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman, wielding an ax and fighting in the forest, which is followed by several other shots of Hemsworth in action, getting down and dirty in battle. It's a perfect deviation from that pretty-boy Asgardian prince Thor, if we do say so ourselves. Check out other scenes from the the just-released "Snow White and the Huntsman" trailer! 5. Brief Glimpses of the Supporting Players Even though the title of the film is "Snow White and the Huntsman," there are plenty more players in the mix of this fractured fairy tale. Specifically our brief glimpses of Prince Charming, played by "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" star Sam Claflin, who we see both in battle and leaning down to kiss Snow White. Then there are the eight dwarves. Eight, not seven, according to what Stewart revealed to Jay Leno recently, whom we only see for extremely brief moments in the trailer, first walking together, single-file, on the top of a rolling hill, then following behind the Huntsman. Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart in "Snow White and The Huntsman" Photo: Universal

Madonna Delays 'W.E' Release To 2012

2011-11-10T16:01:00.001-08:00

It's been a big week for Madonna news. A version of her song "Give Me All Your Love," off her still-in-the-works next album, leaked, much to the Queen of Pop's dismay. And now comes word that her film "W.E." won't hit theaters until next year. Directed by Madonna, "W.E." was originally slated to open around the holiday season on December 9, but now it will have only a limited, one-week run beginning on that date before opening wide on February 3, the Weinstein Company confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. The short theatrical debut does, however, qualify the film for any awards-show consideration. The new February 3 release date would also coincide with a February 5 Super Bowl performance that Madge is rumored to be planning. In September, the singer screened the film at the Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews. "W.E." follows the love story between American divorcee Wallis Simpson and Britain's Prince Edward, as well as that of a modern-day woman (played by Abbie Cornish) obsessed with the couple. In addition to "W.E.," Madonna is set to release her album in the spring. Along with production assistance from Ray of Light producer William Orbit, rumor has it that both Nicki Minaj and rapper M.I.A. will make guest appearances. "Madonna has phenomenal understanding of both the minutiae of music and the big picture. Zooming in, zooming out. 4ever amazing. Plus VISION!!!" Orbit recently tweeted about the highly anticipated record. "Working with Madonna is a treat. Fantastic tracks and vibes. Going deep. She's ON IT !!! This is THE album!" For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Madonna Photo: Getty

Brian Grazer Steps In As Oscar Producer

2011-11-10T15:01:00.001-08:00

With all the Oscar news making the rounds this week, you would think that the 84th annual Academy Awards were just around the corner. Luckily, we still have more than three months until the live telecast on February 26, and more than a month until nominations are announced. The latest news coming straight from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is that Brett Ratner, who tendered his resignation on Tuesday, has been replaced with producer Brian Grazer, who will co-produce the telecast with industry veteran Don Mischer. "Brian Grazer is a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work," Academy president Tom Sherak said in a statement posted on Oscars.org. "He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars." "I am thrilled to welcome Brian Grazer as my partner and that we will be collaborating to produce an outstanding show," echoed Mischer in the statement. "It's very gratifying to be part of a show that honors excellence in the medium to which I have devoted so much of my career," said Grazer. "Don is a legend, and I am excited to work with him." Grazer's credentials seem a good fit for producing Hollywood's "biggest night." He's been nominated four times (for writing "Splash," and Best Picture nods for "Apollo 13" and "Frost/Nixon.") and won the Best Picture Oscar in 2001 for "A Beautiful Mind." Coincidentally, Grazer has worked with recently resigned host, Eddie Murphy, on "The Nutty Professor" and "Tower Heist." Rumor has it that the Academy and Grazer hope that Murphy will reconsider his decision not to be involved in the program. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brian Grazer Photo: MTV News

'Tower Heist': The Reviews Are In!

2011-11-09T16:00:00.001-08:00

The 99 percent finally have their own heist movie! In "Tower Heist," Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller team up to take back money from an evil executive who Ponzi-ed it away from the staff of his New York apartment building. The reviews certainly aren't glowing, and most paint it as a less entertaining "Ocean's Eleven" but admit there are some laughs to be had. We've rounded up some of the reviews to give you an idea of what the critics are saying. Take a look below to find out if you should join in on "Tower Heist." The Story "The employees at a gilded Manhattan apartment complex, led by manager Ben Stiller, decide to rob the ass of a Madoff-like billionaire in the penthouse (a supremely slimy Alan Alda). Why? He's bilked them out of their pensions. Stiller recruits a bankrupt resident (Matthew Broderick) and a bellhop (Michael Peña). But the friskiest conspirator is Slide (Eddie Murphy), a thief with his own agenda." — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Eddie Murphy "Here, though, Murphy's crow's-feet are showing, and while it should help promote his gig as next year's Academy Awards host, the casting makes 'Heist' a jumble of a film. As occasionally convincing as co-stars Ben Stiller and Casey Affleck can be as blue-collar workers bilked of their pensions, Murphy's role seems to be a criminal Yoda: a wisecracking ex-con with street smarts, staccato delivery and quick grin." — Scott Bowles, USA Today The Action "It runs a refreshingly unbloated 104 minutes, and the action scenes are less frequent and less destructive than we're used to in our late-Michael Bay era. Not that this movie skimps on the spectacular stunts — one pivotal scene involves a Ferrari being lowered from a skyscraper window by a winch while a man dangles from the front fender — but in comparison with, say, the last 'Fast Five' movie, this is a miniaturist character study." — Dana Stevens, Slate Gabourey Sidibe "And Gabourey Sidibe, the striking plus-size Oscar-nominated star of 'Precious,' makes her Hollywood leap as a feisty Jamaican chambermaid who gets in on the heist action. (The girl's got mad safecracking skills.) I don't know why Ratner and cinematographer Dante Spinotti felt compelled to push the camera in close, as if gawking at Sidibe's dramatic coloring and size. But then, I also don't know why she wasn't used more." — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly The Direction "Mr. Ratner goes for the safe bet and the easy score, which means that, for all his shows of solidarity with the working stiffs, he has more in common with the wealthy scam artist who took their hard-earned money." — A.O. Scott, New York Times The Final Word "This is a sadly common example of a filmmaker designing his production for inattentive, lazy audiences who don't really care about story coherence or consistency. It's a 'turn off the brain' movie." — James Berardinelli, Reelviews Check out everything we've got on "Tower Heist." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Ben Stiller and Gabourey Sidibe in "Tower Heist" Photo: Universal Pictures

Eddie Murphy Steps Down As Oscar Host

2011-11-09T15:01:00.001-08:00

Just one day after Brett Ratner announced his exit as producer, the 2012 Academy Awards have lost another key participant: host Eddie Murphy. According to a statement from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak, Murphy didn't want to continue with the gig after the loss of Ratner. "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well," Sherak said. The "Tower Heist" star didn't specifically address his reasons for resigning, but said he is sorry things didn't work out for everyone involved. "First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party's decision with regard to a change of producers for this year's Academy Awards ceremony," Murphy said in the statement. "I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job." Ratner submitted his resignation to the Academy on Tuesday after making headlines with his recent comments about a sexual relationship with actress Olivia Munn and, at a screening of "Heist," using a gay slur, claiming, "Rehearsal is for f--s." "Over the last few days, I've gotten a well-deserved earful from many of the people I admire most in this industry expressing their outrage and disappointment over the hurtful and stupid things I said in a number of recent media appearances," he wrote in a letter to the entertainment industry. "To them, and to everyone I've hurt and offended, I'd like to apologize publicly and unreservedly." No word yet on who is in talks to replace Ratner or Murphy. The 84th annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on February 26. Eddie Murphy Photo: Getty Images

'Twilight' Trio Talk Sex, Compare Abs On 'MTV First'

2011-11-08T16:01:00.001-08:00

Hey, "Twilight" fans, this one's for you: MTV News is very happy to announce the return of "Twilight" Tuesdays, a weekly column dedicated to anything and everything popping in the world of Bella, Edward and Jacob. Each week, we'll bring you something new about the films, whether it's via the stars themselves, photos, clips or, even better, something from you, the fans. The next few weeks will be almost entirely focused on the impending release of "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," but we'll hopefully break into new, exclusive, undiscovered territory very soon. First up is a highlight reel from "MTV First: Breaking Dawn," in which Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner let loose with us for a meaty Q&A. There were so many great moments between the three young actors that we decided to put together our favorites for your viewing pleasure. Kristen Squirms Reliving First MTV Interview MTV was one of the only outlets allowed access on the set of "Twilight," and we snagged one of the first-ever interviews with superstars-to-be Stewart and Pattinson. Upon hearing that we were going to show Stewart a clip from this interview, in which she and Pattinson joke about what impressed her about him, she had a mini-meltdown, complete with squeals and pacing in front of her chair. Rob and Kristen Talk Sex Scene As we book readers well know, there's a pretty intense sex scene in "Breaking Dawn," and everyone wants to know how they shot it for the big-screen adaptation. Well, we asked about it, and Pattinson's responses will likely go down in history as some of his best quotes: "I was sitting there in a little G-string," he said of the flesh-colored undergarment he wore during the filming of the scene, which Stewart confessed she "wasn't too into" and said it required a lot of acting on her part to pretend she was hot for the young man in the "little G-string." "It was like old ham," Pattinson then added, inexplicably. Like we said, history-making comments there Rob Scoffs At Taylor Ab Comparison Eventually, the conversation turned to a favorite subject among "Twilight" fans: Pattinson and Lautner's abs. The question was posed to Pattinson about whether he did any prep for his half-naked scenes in "Breaking Dawn," since in the past, we've heard plenty about Lautner's disciplined workouts and dieting. While Pattinson did admit to some working out and not eating candy for a two-week stretch during filming, he was immediately distracted when he saw we had put up a side-by-side photo comparison of the two leading men. "This is so unfair doing a comparison," Pattinson protested. "Everyone says I painted on my abs in ['New Moon'] — I did not! Taylor has his painted on too!" he accused with a laugh. "What?" Lautner responded. "What are you talking about? I don't understand this." Rob Has Borrowed Kristen's iPod? During a round of rapid-fire Twitter questions, the gang was asked to reveal the most-played song on his or her iPod. Stewart was slow to respond, so Pattinson said he'd be happy to answer for her, which Stewart didn't seem to think he'd be able to get right. After a bit of whispering and not-so-quiet mumbling, Pattinson announced that Stewart's go-to music is anything by songbird Jenny Lewis (who, for those who don't know, is a former child star whose film classics include "Troop Beverly Hills" and "The Wizard." Add them to your Netflix queue, stat). What do you think of our favorite "First" moments? What would you like to see on "Twilight" Tuesdays? Hit me up @KaraWarner on Twitter to make your voice heard! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Photo: Lester Cohen/ WireImage

'Breaking Dawn' Wedding 'Emotional' For Kristen Stewart

2011-11-08T15:01:00.001-08:00

Forget the fanfare surrounding the royal wedding or even Kim Kardashian's now-infamous nuptials: For "Twilight" fans, the wedding of the year (possibly the century) is undoubtedly that of Isabella Marie Swan and Edward Anthony Masen Cullen in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." Here at MTV News, we've been gearing up for the big day with a few very special exclusives. On Thursday, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner introduced a never-before-seen clip from the movie and stuck around for a lengthy Q&A after the clip's debut — the main action of which revolved around Bella's prep for her wedding. When asked to describe the mood on set during the filming of Bella and Edward's big day, Stewart admitted that she was surprised by how much it affected her. "It was very, very emotional for me," Stewart said. "I don't know about these guys." "You kind of realize what the groom's position in a wedding is," Pattinson jumped in. "Which, in reality, is basically a prop. You stand there in a suit, and then everyone is looking at the girl." Speaking of the girl, Pattinson has told us previously that his co-star stole the show during the filming of that particular scene, and the rest of the cast seemed to feel something special in the air as well. "[Kristen] looked amazing," Pattinson told us of seeing Stewart in Bella's wedding dress. "I really didn't do anything much but just stand there." "[The wedding scene was] beautiful and spectacular," Peter Facinelli has said. "It's funny, because whenever we have a big important scene on 'Twilight' [movies], it rains. I was doing the baseball sequence [from 'Twilight'], and it was raining. But you never see it on film," he said of the crew's movie magic. "With this wedding, it rained the whole time we shot the two scenes. But you'll never see it on film; they block out the rain. They put tarps up, and you'll never see it. But for us, it was very wet and muddy and cold." "When I see this onscreen, it is going to feel epic," Nikki Reed told us back in July. "There were really beautiful elements to it," Ashley Greene added. "Like, if you took out the fact that it was so cold and just looked at it like a picture, it was picture-perfect." Stick with MTV News for much more from our exclusive Q&A with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart Photo: MTV News

'Hunger Games' Is 'Staggering,' Woody Harrelson Says

2011-11-07T16:01:00.001-08:00

For all our fellow "Hunger Games" fans out there, the wait for the film's March 23 release date is both highly anticipated and a bit painful. Lucky for us, MTV News has encountered a few of the film's principal players over the course of the past few months, like Jennifer Lawrence and director Gary Ross, who have helped tease a few key details to make the wait for the film seem slightly shorter. Now, we are very happy to share another special cast encounter: our recent chat with Woody Harrelson, a.k.a. Haymitch Abernathy, who revealed the secrets of his character's 'do and a few teases about the look of the film, as well as how much fun he had with Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and his other co-stars. "The hair, when I was thinking about what to do for the character, I hung out with my brother Brett, and that is exactly the way his hair is," Harrelson explained of how the long, slightly shaggy hairdo came to be. "I was like, 'OK, let's get a wig. Let's do the Brett Harrelson hair.' It's kind of cool. I really liked the look. It's a fun character, and I think it's going to be a good movie." We asked Harrelson how closely he resembles the alcoholic, unkempt, out-of-shape former champion, as described by author Suzanne Collins in the books — like, for example, if he wore a fat suit or gained a bit of weight. "No, I didn't want to do the paunch," Harrelson revealed. "In many ways, I tried to go against this rough, old, typical concept of what he would be like. I don't know yet that I succeeded, but I think it turned out good," he said. "I loved working with Gary Ross. I think he is just a great director, an amazing guy." With regard to the look and feel of the big-screen adaptation, Harrelson called the visuals "staggering." "It's almost impossible to describe, it's so unusual. Even ice in the glass, even the glasses are not normal glasses. There's nothing that you've seen before. It's real original artistic vision," he said. "I think people are going to like it." One of the things Harrelson liked — in addition to Haymitch, of course — was working with his young co-stars, particularly Lawrence and Hutcherson. "I think they're just marvelous actors. I think they just knocked it out of the park," he gushed. "Just as people, [they are] about as fun as it gets. They really are fun folks. It's cool, because I've never even done a sequel, and I just signed on to four movies, so we're going to be spending a lot of time together between doing the movies and press and everything, so it's great to love these guys. "Having done this first one, I can say I do look forward to doing the next one," he added. "It wasn't a chore. It was actually the opposite; it was a lot of fun. They managed to mix business and pleasure really well, that whole group. I'd say we get after it again next year." Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Woody Harrelson Photo: MTV News

'Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas': The Reviews Are In!

2011-11-07T15:01:00.001-08:00

Maybe it was when the baby huffs cocaine and starts crawling on the ceiling like she's in some "Exorcist"-meets-"Trainspotting" mashup. Or when Santa Claus gets shot in the face. Or every single second Neil Patrick Harris is onscreen. Who knows? Eventually, though, and despite our lowered expectations headed into the theater with recollections of the clunker that was the franchise's 2008 sequel in our minds, we happily admitted that "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" doesn't just have its share of funny moments , but in fact is a funny movie. Not that everyone agrees. There are a lot of critics who weren't taken with these shenanigans, who found it tired and predictable. But such reviews are in the minority. The majority of critics maintain the stoney laughs are many, the 3-D effects are ridiculous (in a good way), and that the third "Harold & Kumar" deserves a place on every college kid's DVD shelf, right next to a copy of the original flick. The Story "This is indeed a Christmas movie, and when a mysterious package arrives addressed to Harold, Kumar knows he must deliver it in person. As for the package ... well, I'm spoiling nothing by telling you it contains a ginormous doobie, but what it really contains is a message of holiday love that will bring together the best-loved East Asian-meets-South Asian comedy duo of the 21st century. Also, it will burn down Harold's father-in-law's beloved Christmas tree and send Harold and Kumar out into the streets on Christmas Eve to negotiate with faux-ghetto tree salesmen (one of them the rapper RZA), introduce a baby to marijuana, cocaine and untold other illicit substances, interrupt a party of naked lesbian nuns and encounter a genuine, if distressingly gory, Christmas miracle." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon The 3-D "Rude things — bodily fluids, body parts — along with glass shards and smoke rings (of a particularly potent sort of smoke) fly from the screen in such profusion that you may want to carry an umbrella into the theater with you to deflect them all. The makers of the comedy fully understand that 3-D is a gimmick much overused these days. And understanding that, they overuse it themselves in such a way as to cannily comment on the clichéd nature of the gimmick while expertly exploiting it to hilarious effect." — Soren Andersen, The Seattle Times The Comparison "After serving up a sly fable of minority empowerment in 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' (2004) and gleefully lampooning George W. Bush's America in 'Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay' (2008), scribes Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg seem determined to avoid any hint of subversion here, content to serve up a crudely irreverent holiday laffer along the lines of 'Bad Santa,' if nowhere near as scathing. For a movie that sees fit to have jolly old St. Nick take a bullet to the face mid-sleigh ride, this vulgar romp is a generally harmless, heartwarming affair, a cinematic Christmas cookie almost sweet and flaky enough to cover the fact that it's laced with hash, cocaine and assorted bodily fluids, blood included." — Justin Chang, Variety The Laughs "[It] wobbles off the rails more often than it ought to. The first two 'Harold & Kumar' movies made no effort to stamp out racial stereotypes; instead, they reveled in them. But this third installment, as visually clever as it is, relies too much on dumb, crude jock humor: There seem to be more buxom, semi-naked girls clattering around in high heels than I recall from either of the earlier pictures. And a sequence in which Harris reveals that he's not really gay but just fakes it so he can get girls seems genuinely perverse, and not in the good way: Maybe watching Harris ogle the comely cuties in his chorus line is supposed to be funny, but it just comes off as crass and forced." — Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline The Final Word "All in all, it's a frequently funny return to form that embraces several universal truths: that Harold and Kumar are better off together than not (for our sake if not their own), that stoner comedies need not be lazy with their juvenile wares, and that the combination of waffles and robots is indeed an awesome one." — William Goss, Film.com Check out everything we've got on "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Kal Penn in "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" Photo: New Line Cinema

'Breaking Dawn' Exclusive Clip: Bella's Wedding Day

2011-11-06T16:01:00.001-08:00

For all the "Twilight" fans out there — and, more specifically, the prone-to-swoon hopeless romantics — one of the most anticipated moments in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" is the wedding of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). Fans have been buzzing about it for as long as we can remember, and on Thursday (November 3) — thanks to our exclusive "MTV First: Breaking Dawn" with Stewart, Pattinson and Taylor Lautner — we got another sneak peek at how sweet, emotional and beautiful those nuptials are going to be when we finally see them on the big screen, when the film opens November 18. Our clip opens with Bella's mother Renee (Sarah Clarke) entering the room in which Alice (Ashley Greene) and Rosalie (Nikki Reed) are helping Bella get ready for her wedding day. "Oh my gosh, you're so beautiful," Mom says when she sees Bella, who is still in casual clothes but has her hair and makeup finished. "Oh, honey — crap, my mascara!" Renee exclaims, at which point Alice hands her a tissue. "Thanks," she says, dabbing at her eyes. "Charlie, get in here!" she calls to Bella's father (played by Billy Burke). Charlie pops his head into the frame tentatively. "You sure?" he asks, then walks slowly into the room, at which point Bella — seeing her dad all dolled up in a tuxedo — is so surprised she stands up out of her chair. "I know," he says, seeing her reaction. "I look hot." "We thought you needed something blue," Renee says to Bella as Charlie opens a jewelry case to reveal a jewel-encrusted decorative hair comb. "And something old," Charlie adds. "Besides your mother," he jokes. "Thanks," Renee scoffs. "It was Grandma Swan's," Charlie tells Bella. "But we added the sapphires," Renee adds as Bella picks up the comb for a closer look. "It's beautiful, you guys," Bella says, handing the comb to Alice to put in her hair. "Wow. Thank you so much." "It's your first family heirloom," Renee says. "You can pass it on to your daughter and her daughter," she adds, tearing up and dabbing her eyes, and the scene fades to black. Stick with MTV News for more from our exclusive "MTV First" interview with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart in "Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'21 Jump Street' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

2011-11-06T15:01:00.001-08:00

The Twitter war between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum to see who'd get to tweet the "21 Jump Street" red-band trailer didn't exactly work out as planned. Hill won, yet for some reason didn't send out the link, so Tatum stepped in and executed the tweetage. But the new footage is nonetheless here. The action-comedy — based on Johnny Depp's '80s TV series, of course — stars Hill and Tatum as two young cops who join a resurrected undercover unit, pose as students and infiltrate a local high school to get to the bottom of a synthetic-drug ring. Depp's cameo, unsurprisingly, doesn't pop up in the new footage, but what else does? Let's go ahead and take a look at the trailer's five key moments. A Lifetime of Being Badass Mother$#@*&%s! Yes, that's basically the professional goal of Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) when they join the police force. Once in uniform, though, badassery is hardly in the job description. Just look at those poor dudes biking around a park, their helmets and shorts almost as lethal to their images as their guns would be to the bad guys. One botched drug bust later, however, and it's on to the Jump Street squad. Fitting In, Getting High The kids at the drug-filled high school are understandably skeptical of the two new students. As Dave Franco puts it, Tatum looks like he's 40. So the cops have to fit in, which involves them taking the synthetic drug that comes in a package with a logo that looks, well, like a red pile of dog poop with a halo above it. So what does the drug do? According to the trailer, it makes you run through hallways and be rude to teachers, plus it leaves your tongue feeling really, really weird. Do the Honors, Ron Swanson You knew it was coming, that moment when one character urges a few others to head on down to 21 Jump Street. In theory, there's something inherently nod-to-the-TV-show cheesy about it. Luckily, the honors are bestowed on Nick Offerman, otherwise known as Ron Swanson from "Parks and Recreation." In his hands, with that man's-man beard of his, the line comes out as both hokey and humorous. Well done, Mr. Swanson, or whatever your name in this movie is. The "Superbad" Callbacks The trailer doesn't just hearken back to Depp's TV show. It also includes two moments unmistakably linked to Hill's 2007 breakout comedy, "Superbad." In one, Hill and Tatum exit a liquor store that looks a whole heck of a lot like the one where McLovin' tried to score booze for a party. Later, Hill is hit by a car and flung backward, yet isn't so banged and bruised that he can't pop off a curse-filled one-liner. Remember how a similar car-crash-and-curse befell Hill outside McLovin's liquor store in "Superbad"? Guns, F-Bombs and Prom For years, Hill has been promising that his "21 Jump Street" wouldn't be a parody, some weak-sauce bastardization of the TV series. He wasn't kidding. This is a hard-R action-comedy filled with foul language, guns galore, a few explosions and the odd sight of Hill asking Tatum to go to prom with him, a date that requires both of them to suit up with enough firepower to take on the T-1000. Now that is a brawl we'd kill to see. Check out everything we've got on "21 Jump Street." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Jonah Hill in the "21 Jump Street" trailer Photo: Columbia Pictures

'Tower Heist' And 'Harold & Kumar' Battle For Social Media Buzz

2011-11-05T17:01:00.001-07:00

For the past few days, following an early Times Square screening, the MTV Newsroom has been buzzing about "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas." "Can you believe it was actually damn funny?" one movie nerd would say to another. "I mean, the last one stunk." That's the buzz in here. And out there too, a fact that our friends at NextMovie have made abundantly clear with their new MovieTracker, a cool application boasting a fancy-schmancy algorithm that measures what people are saying on Twitter and Facebook and lets us know which movies people are psyched about. Think of it like a Billboard music chart, but instead of tracking album sales, it tracks Internet movie buzz in real time. As of this writing, "Harold & Kumar" has risen to the #2 slot, with loads of positive tweets coming in. The public seems to be in agreement with star John Cho, who told MTV News recently of his onscreen partnership with Kal Penn, "We are without a doubt the best Korean-Indian stoner comedy duo in cinematic history." It's going to be a very comedy-centric weekend at the multiplex, which is honestly a bit confounding from a programming standpoint. Yes, the hard-R "Harold & Kumar" and the PG-13 "Tower Heist" are targeting different moviegoers, but there's undoubtedly some overlap between those two audiences. And "Tower Heist" is going to come out on top, even if it's currently trending one notch below "Harold & Kumar" on the MovieTracker. (Last week's big winner, "Paranormal Activity 3," was planted at #1 at press time.) Expect "Tower Heist," starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy, to reel in around $30 million this weekend. "Harold & Kumar" will probably fall shy of the $20 million mark. Will the MovieTracker adjust to reflect these box-office predictions? Keep checking back to see what's up and what's down, what's buzzing and what's bombing all weekend long. Check out everything we've got on "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" and "Tower Heist." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Ben Stiller and Gabourey Sidibe in "Tower Heist" Photo: Universal Pictures

'Harold And Kumar': Greatest Movie Bromance Ever?

2011-11-05T16:01:00.001-07:00

In the spirit of Hollywood's greatest cinematic duos — Butch and Sundance, Laurel and Hardy, Batman and Robin, Woody and Buzz — there is a solid argument that lovable stoners Harold and Kumar have a place among those greats. With a third film, "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas," opening this Friday, MTV News caught up with the men behind the duo in question, John Cho and Kal Penn, to find out where they think they rank in the canon of cinema's best bromances. "This is a very rich tradition that we are tapping into, so there is a long line of people in ahead of us," Cho said. "Cheech and Chong to start off, and Hope and Crosby and Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges. I mean there is such a long list of bro comedy [duos]." "Yeah, these are all people that we admire hugely," Penn agreed. "We obviously rank much lower than those dudes but we don't know how far below." "Who are we better than?" Cho asked Penn. "I don't know," Penn responded. "We are without a doubt the best Korean-Indian stoner comedy duo in cinematic history," Cho decided. Their equally amusing co-stars Neil Patrick Harris and Tom Lennon agree that Cho and Penn, as Harold and Kumar, definitely have a special place in film history. "I think that Harold and Kumar fit in sort of the 'Swingers' mentality," NPH offered. "I guess I'd put them up there with Hope and Crosby," Lennon said. "Like if Hope and Crosby had an adventure where penises were out all the time and everyone was super, super high, and then a bunch of nuns took a shower, and then Neil Patrick Harris had a weird sex scene with naked angels and stuff like that. And I don't mean the theater company Naked Angels, I mean actual angels with their boobs out. It's like the spirit of Hope and Crosby on a ton of drugs. You know, wandering around doing kind of perverted/creepy inappropriate stuff." Check out everything we've got on "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Kal Penn and John Cho in "A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas" Photo: New Line Cinema

'Twilight' Fan-Favorite Moment #1: The First Kiss

2011-11-04T16:02:00.001-07:00

The big day has finally arrived, and MTV has no shortage of everything "Breaking Dawn - Part 1." Tonight, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner will debut a previously unseen clip from the new "Twilight" movie live on MTV at 7:56 p.m. ET — followed by a Q&A on MTV.com — but first, we have the moment you've been waiting for. You voted for your favorite moments from the "Twilight Saga" so far, and all week, we've been counting them down. We've finally arrived at your #1 moment, and it takes us back to where it all began: Edward and Bella's first kiss. For a series that is all about longing and building up tension, when it finally does deliver, it really delivers. And if your voting proves anything, the wait must have been worth it. The kiss started off as an experiment for Edward, but it ended up sending Bella and fans around the world reeling. It was the first of many kisses for the happy interspecies couple and will always be remembered as the one that started it all. So there you have it: Your #1 favorite moment from the "Twilight Saga" so far. Now that we've looked back on the first three films, get ready for "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" with tonight's "MTV First" and the new clip introduced by the cast. The trio will appear live on MTV at 7:56 p.m. to premiere the clip, then head to MTV.com immediately after for an interview with MTV News' Josh Horowitz and questions from you. To get your questions answered, tweet them @MTVNews using the hashtags #MTVFirst and #AskTwilight. Be sure to tune in to "MTV First: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which kicks off tonight at 7:56 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by a Q&A with Kristen, Rob and Taylor on MTV.com! Edward and Bella's first kiss in "Twilight" Photo: Summit

'Twilight' Fan-Favorite Moment #5: 'Eclipse' Tent Scene

2011-11-03T17:02:00.001-07:00

With all the waiting and pining we've done for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," it's hard to believe that it's only three weeks away! Lucky for us — and our fellow "Twilight" fans — MTV News is making the wait a little less painful by celebrating the film's release month with tons of exciting exclusives, beginning with "MTV First: Breaking Dawn" Thursday at 7:56 p.m. ET, when Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner will bring us a clip from the movie and sit down for Q&A on MTV.com. In the meantime, we asked "Twilight" fans to vote for their top five favorite "Twilight Saga" moments, and we're happy to announce the fifth favorite clip: Edward and Jacob's tent scene from "Eclipse." In this delightfully entertaining scene, Edward (Pattinson) has to suck up his dislike for Jacob (Lautner) and let the werewolf snuggle with Bella (Stewart) in a sleeping bag in order to prevent her from freezing to death. It is a magical moment during which the two rivals share a few words of friendly banter and almost admiration, including the following quotes: "I'm hotter than you," "Can you at least attempt to control your thoughts?" and "If we weren't natural enemies, and you weren't trying to steal my reason for existing, I might actually like you." In addition to re-watching that scene, there's a great behind-the-scenes interview on the "Eclipse" DVD that features Pattinson and Stewart providing a hilarious bit of commentary about that scene. "God, he's so gross. So brazen!" Pattinson says in the clip. "I really don't like Jacob." "Aww," Stewart says. "Look at him and his tattoo and stuff. Ugh," Pattinson scoffs. "He's just young and overzealous," Stewart adds, in defense of the young wolf. "He's not!" Pattinson insists. "He does it on purpose. He's looking at me when he's saying this stuff." Be sure to tune in to "MTV First: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which kicks off Thursday, November 3, on MTV at 7:56 p.m, followed by a Q&A with Kristen, Rob and Taylor on MTV.com! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Jacob and Bella in the tent in "Eclipse" Photo: Summit

'21 Jump Street': A Pre-Trailer Cheat Sheet

2011-11-03T16:01:00.001-07:00

Once again, it's time to jump — jump! — down on Jump Street. A few hours from now, a full two decades since the classic television show completed its run, the red-band trailer for the big-screen adaptation of "21 Jump Street" will be hitting the Web. It's been a long time coming. News of the project broke back in the spring of 2008 when Jonah Hill, fresh off the success of "Superbad," began to solidify plans to pen the script and act as executive producer. Back then, as the old TV theme song might suggest, we never thought we'd find ourselves in a world where such a thing not only might be considered, but could actually happen. But it has, and we're psyched. As we wait for the Twitter war between Hill and co-star Channing Tatum to resolve itself — with the winner of a who-can-gain-the-most-new-followers battle gaining the right to tweet out a link to the trailer on Facebook — let's take a look back at how the whole thing came together. To begin, Hill had to face skeptics. What qualified this jokester to adapt a beloved '80s series, one that launched Johnny Depp to stardom? Would this be yet another case of Hollywood recycling, and possibly ruining, the pop-culture past? Hardly, Hill told MTV News in May of '08. "People on the Internet just get pissed off about everything, I realized," he said, laughing. "But it's not like slapstick or anything like that. I don't want to make some sh---y movie." Indeed, Hill later specified that his take would be " 'Bad-Boys'-meets-John Hughes-type movie." Sounds pretty good to us. Further proving that he was making all the right moves, Hill let us know that he was hoping Depp would not only endorse the project but take part in it: "We have an awesome thing for Depp, if he'll do it," he said. "I don't know if he will or not, [but] it's going to be rad!" Here is where MTV News entered the story. It turned out that Depp hadn't heard about any offer until we sat down with him during a press day for "Public Enemies" in June 2009. "If we find the right thing to do, it could be very funny," he said of a potential cameo. At the time, though, nothing came of it. By the next spring, Hill hadn't yet touched base with Depp about the gig. "We haven't had any direct contact before," Hill said. "I've just heard that he's interested, and I'm more than interested. We will make that happen." And then it did — partly because of MTV News. As Depp explained, while promoting the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie this May, "I was sort of invited into ['21 Jump Street'] indirectly," he said. "It was during an interview like a year and a half ago: Somebody mentioned it, and I hadn't heard anything about it, and I thought, 'Well, sure, if they asked me, I'd love to do it!' But nobody ever really approached me." Win! (Even if Hill still won't confirm that the cameo actually happened.) But before we could even get here, the rest of the "21 Jump Street" pieces had to come together. "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" helmers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller signed on to direct. Tatum came aboard to play Jenko, a young man who joins the top-secret Jump Street police unit and goes undercover, along with his partner Schmidt (Hill), in a local high school to investigate a violent drug ring. Brie Larson won the part of the film's female lead. Filming kicked off in the spring of this year, ahead of the film's March 16, 2012, release date. And Wednesday (November 2), we'll have the first clue to answer the question of whether Hill followed through on his hope — his promise — that he'd make a kick-ass big-screen version of "21 Jump Street." Like he told us over three years ago, "I wouldn't want to do it if it was gonna suck. I really think it's going to be sweet!" For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Johnny Depp Photo: Getty Images

'Expendables 2' Stuntmen Involved In On-Set Accident ID'd

2011-11-02T17:00:00.001-07:00

Nu Image/Millennium Films has identified the stuntman who died on the Bulgarian set of "The Expendables 2" on October 27. Stuntman Kun Lieu was killed in an on-set explosion. The production company behind the all-star action sequel released a statement Tuesday (November 1) clarifying previous reports and updating the status of the second stuntman injured in the explosion. The second stuntman, Nuo Sun, was also injured in the explosion and was reportedly in critical condition when reports of the accident hit late last Thursday. A new statement released by Nu/Image Millennium Films updated his status, and Sun is now in stable condition in a hospital in Munich, where he was transported to undergo treatment by specialists. The statement also corrected claims made by Bulgarian newspapers that inaccurately identified the stuntmen as the doubles for Sylvester Stallone and Jet Li and asserted that the those stuntmen were nowhere near the set at the time of the incident. The production company also reconfirmed previous reports that neither the stars nor director Simon West were present for the accident. The full statement from Nu Image/Millennium Film follows: "Our deepest condolences go to the family of Kun Lieu. His passing is tragic. Our sympathies also go to Nuo Sun, who was seriously injured as a result of the same explosion. We have been informed his condition has stabilized. He has been transported to Munich, Germany, where he is receiving top medical care from the best specialists," the statement reads. "Regrettably, Bulgarian language newspapers have incorrectly reported that stunt doubles for Jet Li and Sylvester Stallone were involved in the accident. This is absolutely false and inaccurate. At the time of the accident neither Li's or Stallone's stuntmen were on or near the Second Unit set, nor were any of the film's main actors, director Simon West or any of the Main Unit crew. "Only Second Unit filming has been temporarily suspended and will resume shortly. The filmmakers continue to work with authorities investigating this accident. Main Unit production has not been interrupted and continues as scheduled." "Expendables 2" is scheduled to hit theaters next August and stars Stallone, Li, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Stay with MTV News for the latest updates on "Expendables 2." Check out everything we've got on "The Expendables 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Sylvester Stallone in "The Expendables" Photo: Lionsgate

'Breaking Dawn' Director Explains Revisiting 'Twilight' Ballad

2011-11-02T16:01:00.001-07:00

Fans of the original "Twilight" soundtrack got a pleasant surprise when the recently released track list for "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" revealed that Iron & Wine's melancholy ballad "Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)" was among the cuts. Twilighters — who are no doubt gearing up for Thursday's "MTV First" with Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner at 7:56 p.m. on MTV and MTV.com — will recall that the song made its "Saga" debut in the closing moments of "Twilight" as Bella and Edward shared their first dance. And according to "Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon, the retread of this memorable number was an important reference for him to make. "I always thought of this movie as the bookend to the first movie, and that was such a great powerful, romantic song for those characters," he told MTV News during a phone interview last week. "It just felt right to kind of refer back to it at this important, important moment," he added about "Breaking Dawn - Part 1," the first of the two-part finale. Of course, Condon wouldn't reveal exactly which important moment this song will accompany in the November 18 film, leaving fans to wonder whether its delicate strains will find their way into the wedding itself or perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Cullen's first dance as man and wife. Condon did divulge, however, that the song is just one of many callbacks to earlier "Twilight Saga" films. "[There are] quite a few," he confirmed. "Musically, I would say at the wedding there's a jazz quartet that plays a couple of tracks from 'Eclipse.' Carter Burwell has come back to do the score. He did the first movie, so 'Bella's Lullaby' features in this movie too." Moral of the story: Keep your eyes and ears peeled for touching tributes to "Breaking Dawn" predecessors. Be sure to tune in to "MTV First: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which kicks off Thursday, November 3, on MTV at 7:56 p.m. ET, followed by a Q&A with Kristen, Rob and Taylor on MTV.com! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Robert Pattinson in "Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Breaking Dawn' Experts Reveal 'MTV First' Wish List

2011-11-01T17:01:00.001-07:00

We can hardly contain our "Twilight"-obsessed excitement for Thursday, November 3, at 7:56 p.m. ET when we will premiere a never-before-released clip from the hugely anticipated "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" live on-air, to be introduced by megastars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. This extra-special event is "MTV First: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which is an opportunity for us to provide our fellow "Twilight" fans with some insider excitement surrounding the impending release of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 1," due November 18, and catch up with the three actors following the clip's debut on MTV.com. To get a feel for what members of the "Twilight" fandom hope to hear or see next week, MTV News sought out the expertise of Laura Byrne-Cristiano, who owns TwilightLexicon.com; Kara Hassell of TwilightersAnonymous.com; and Kallie Mathews from TwilightSeriesTheories.com. In the exclusive clip, Byrne-Cristiano and Mathews hope to see some reactions to Bella's pregnancy from the wolf pack, while Hassell hopes more humans are involved. "I love the Cullens and werewolves as much as the next 'Twilight' fan, but I'm dying to see a little snark from Charlie Swan (Billy Burke) or Jessica Stanley (Anna Kendrick)," Hassell said. The ladies are also eager to see the dynamic between Stewart, Pattinson and Lautner during the MTV.com Q&A following the premiere of the clip. "I hope and expect to see some great chemistry and a lot of comedy from the three," Hassell said. "We've seen them individually in interviews recently, but it's always a whole different ballgame when they are all together." "I would really love to hear them discuss acting together, i.e. when Jacob finds out that Bella is preggers," Mathews added. "And what it was like to play off of each other's emotions in such an intense scene." "[I would like to know] what scene are they the proudest of that they took part in," Byrne-Cristiano said. "In terms of end result on film." Continuing with the theme of patiently waiting and eager anticipation, how are our dedicated experts preparing for the film's opening day and making the wait less painful? "I'm so busy grabbing every interview and news story. It takes my mind off of it," Byrne-Cristiano said. "Plus, we are planning this big private movie showing for our fans in the Nashville area, so I've been really busy with that." "I have re-watched each of the first three films, and I have the soundtracks on repeat in my car!" Hassell admitted. "I am planning to be at the premiere with the rest of the fans!" Mathews said. "We are also giving away a ton of 'Twilight' merchandise at TwilightSeriesTheories.com leading up to the release. I will stay very busy!" Don't forget: Fans can get in on our interviews with Stewart, Pattinson and Lautner by submitting video or text questions via MTV.com or Twitter (using @MTVNews, plus the hashtags #AskTwilight and #MTVFirst). Be sure to tune in to "MTV First: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," which kicks off Thursday, November 3, on MTV at 7:56 p.m, followed by a Q&A with Kristen, Rob and Taylor on MTV.com! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Hobbit' Cast Is A 'Little Family,' Luke Evans Says

2011-11-01T16:01:00.001-07:00

The last time we caught up with "Hobbit" actor Luke Evans — who is playing dragon slayer Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson's two-part big-screen adaptation of the J. R. R. Tolkien classic — he had yet to descend on New Zealand and Jackson's Middle-earth, but he was excited to dig into his meaty new role. Now, almost three months later, Evans has finally begun work on the highly anticipated film, and when MTV News sat down with him as he promoted the upcoming sword-and-sandals flick "Immortals," he revealed he's become much better acquainted with a bow and arrow and that there's a lot of warm-fuzzy bonding happening between the cast and crew. "It's been fantastic, the training before we started shooting 'The Hobbit,' " Evans said when we asked how his archery skills were progressing. "I'm fully into it now, and it's great. I'm having a fantastic time. Living in New Zealand, it's like a different world — it is a different world. It's very, very cool." When asked if there might be any particularly cool scenes or scene partners he's been working with he could tease or talk about, Evans admitted that he's barely scratched the surface of what is scripted for his role. "The thing is, I've done about 10 percent of what I'm going to be doing, shoot-wise, so I can't really say, but the cast are fantastic. We're so far away from home. We have a little family," he said. "Peter [Jackson] and the team create a very warm atmosphere on set and off set. We all socialize, it's really special. I just feel very lucky to be a part of it." Does that off-set bonding include group activities like "Hobbit" game nights? "No!" Evans laughed. Check out everything we've got on "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Luke Evans Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

Jigsaw Tests Into MTV's Killer Halloween

2011-10-31T17:01:00.001-07:00

This week's horror-movie-themed bloodletting continues with Day 4 of MTV's Killer Halloween, an in-depth competition in which we ask you, the best and brightest fans, to vote on who is the boldest, baddest and scariest movie murderer. Which horror-movie baddie has the best personality? Make your pick in our MTV Movies Blog poll! Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, Chucky, Michael Myers and Ghostface all have received spotlight treatment, and now it's time to turn the focus toward a seriously scary mass-murderer: Jigsaw. Jigsaw Name: John "Jigsaw" Kramer, so nicknamed for his practice of cutting puzzle pieces out of the flesh of victims who didn't "pass" his deadly tests in the "Saw" movie franchise Occupation: Civil engineer turned sadistic self-appointed judge of others' life choices Weapons: Practical home-improvement items found at a local Home Depot or Lowe's, along with the aid of a few helping hands here and there Archenemy: People who waste or don't appreciate their lives, laziness Profile: Kramer is a former civil engineer who is dying from colon cancer. After an unsuccessful suicide attempt, he suddenly gains a new appreciation for life and sets out to make others appreciate what they have before it's too late. Unfortunately, and as is standard in all good horror flicks, his methods are a bit twisted. In an effort to test his victims' survival instincts, he crafts deadly and torturous traps that play upon his captives' character flaws. He doesn't really want his victims to die, but makes it nearly impossible for them to survive. Horror-movie expert Ryan Turek, managing editor of ShockTillYouDrop.com, explains Jigsaw's brilliance: "Behind the flayed flesh and exposed guts his messy traps leave behind, Jigsaw does have a pretty solid message to pass along: Live your life and live it right. It's up to the people he captures to survive the blades, gears and barbed wire of his contraptions," Turek told MTV News, adding that what separates Jigsaw from other horror-movie killers is the fact that he's basically a regular guy. "That's something that the audience can invest in and be terrified of: that lurking behind this amiable face is something incredibly deranged. That somber, withering older guy in the corner? He's quietly eyeballing you and probably has a trap waiting for you somewhere. It also helps that he's smart," Turek continued. "This is a man with an education, and to a degree, you can respect him, which is a scary thought. Jigsaw's vicious tests get the audience engaged in a discussion about right and wrong. He forces people to better themselves. I'm waiting for the day 'The Jigsaw Challenge' reality show hits television. We're not that far off, are we?" Check out everything we've got on "Saw." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. John Kramer, known as Jigsaw, in "Saw" Photo: Lions Gate Films

'Breaking Dawn' Director Talks Sex Scene 'Adjustment'

2011-10-31T16:01:00.001-07:00

Was the first cut of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" racy enough to be slapped with an R rating? In the December issue of Glamour UK, star Kristen Stewart revealed that Bella and Edward's feather-strewn sex scene was so saucy that it had to be recut. "It was so weird, it didn't even feel like we were doing a 'Twilight' film," she recalled to the British mag. "I was like, 'Bella! What are you doing? Wow! What is happening here?!' It was very surreal. We [originally] got rated R. They recut it." Though director Bill Condon couldn't confirm the R rating when MTV News recently spoke with him on the phone, he did reveal the approach necessary to earn a more teen-friendly PG-13 for the November 18 release. "It's almost clinical the kind of strict guidelines [the MPAA] have about anything that appears to be — how do I put it delicately? Can It Still Be Steamy With a PG-13? Predict On Facebook That appears to be, let's call it thrusting. In fact, you know, it was so much more about romance than it was about hot-and-heavy action, so it was a very kind of simple adjustment to make." If filming the infamous sex scene was one of the simplest items on Condon's honeymoon to-do list, one of the most difficult was scouting the location: the secluded Isle Esme owned by Carlisle Cullen. "We went to Brazil where it was at, that felt important to us," he said. "There are very few houses built on the water because it's against the law. So they're mostly built up, so it was hard to find a house that was like that. It took us — wow — we were five hours outside of Rio and then a boat trip of 40 minutes to get to this one island that had the house that we wanted." It was a good thing Condon was satisfied with the locale seeing as he and the crew spent several unexpected extra hours there. "We spent four days there and one night, when we had this incredible hurricane and couldn't get off the island," he said. "Eighty of us slept in the house on the floor and in bathtubs. It was incredible." Tweet your questions for Rob, Kristen, and Taylor to@MTVNews tagged #AskTwilight! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Expendables 2' Stuntman Dies In On-Set Accident

2011-10-30T17:01:00.001-07:00

Tragedy has struck the Bulgarian set of the star-studded action sequel "The Expendables 2." A stuntman was killed when an accident occurred involving a rubber boat and an explosion. Two stuntmen were involved in the scene, which was filming around 7 p.m. local time on Thursday night. The second man suffered serious injuries, but he is now said to be in stable condition. No information has been released yet as to the identities of the men involved in the incident. A representative from the production company behind the Sylvester Stallone-produced film, Nu Image/Millennium Films, released a statement, saying, "It is with great regret that we confirm this unfortunate accident. Our hearts go out to the families and those on the production affected by this tragedy. The filmmakers are working closely with the authorities in responding to and investigating this accident." The accident occurred while the second unit filmed at the Ognyanovo dam in Bulgaria. None of the film's stars were present during the incident, as the first unit was filming at a resort more than two hours away. "Expendables 2" is scheduled to hit theaters next August and stars Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. It is the sequel to the hit 2010 action film written and directed by Stallone. The sequel reunites most of the cast, while adding Simon West as director and adding Norris and Van Damme to the lineup. Check out everything we've got on "The Expendables 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Sylvester Stallone in "The Expendables" Photo: Lionsgate

'Dark Knight Rises' Prologue To Play Before IMAX 'Mission: Impossible'

2011-10-30T16:01:00.001-07:00

It is almost certain now that the Dark Knight will be rising sooner than expected. As MTV News reported last week, there was a rumor circulating that a six-minute prologue to the upcoming Christopher Nolan Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises," would play before IMAX showings of "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol." The presentation was, in theory, supposed to be similar to the Joker's reveal that played before IMAX screenings of "I Am Legend" in 2008. The rumor remained just that until theater chain AMC released a statement on their blog that reads: "The six-minute Dark Knight Rises prologue footage will only be shown on the higher resolution 70mm IMAX screens. Not the digital IMAX screens. Locations haven't been confirmed yet, so stay tuned for an update on AMC Theatre locations that will be showing the prologue Dark Knight Rises footage at a 70mm IMAX screen nearest you." AMC's statement aligned with the original rumor that had been posted on /Film, but news of the clip only showing on the "higher resolution 70mm IMAX screens" was an unexpected bit of information, though not entirely surprising. Nolan is known for his meticulous control over his films, so insisting on the higher res for the preview makes sense. This detail from the AMC post may spell trouble for some fans. If the report is accurate, the prologue will play on far fewer screens than initially expected. The digital IMAX screens tend to be more common than the 70mm format ones, so some fans may have to travel further than expected for their first glimpse at "The Dark Knight Rises." The post was the most solid confirmation yet about the footage, but it was soon removed. A new statement was issued by AMC, stating, "The information in this post has been retracted until further notice. Please refer to Warner Bros. for any information about The Dark Knight Rises." If AMC was confident enough to confirm the rumors, the prologue seems like more or less a certainty. The redaction by Warner Bros. could have to do with how they typically release Batman info. With "The Dark Knight," the "Why So Serious" marketing campaign involved highly complicated tasks that rewarded fans with content, like the Joker prologue. A straight news release for the "Dark Knight Rises" prologue would go against precedent. What do you want to see in the prologue for "The Dark Knight Rises"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter! Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Christian Bale and Tom Hardy film "The Dark Knight Rises" Photo: Jared Wickerham/ Getty Images

'Lone Ranger' Is 'Built Around Tonto,' Director Says

2011-10-29T16:05:00.001-07:00

Now that Disney, Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp have ironed out most of the budget kinks surrounding their production of "The Lone Ranger," we can all rest easy that the masked man and his trusty sidekick Tonto are headed to the big screen soon. When MTV News caught up with Verbinski at the Hollywood Awards Gala Monday night, where his quirky animated film "Rango" received the Hollywood Animation Award, we asked how he was feeling about the film and what his plans are for the adaptation. "I feel great. We're not shooting a Western in the middle of winter; the whole thing is pushed into a more reasonable time of year, so now we have to go make the movie," Verbinski said, speaking to the film's new May 31, 2013, release date. "There's been a lot of talk. Hopefully in a year and a half we'll have something we can talk about." Verbinski went on to say that he's been hard at work on the screenplay for two years and that the central character is not the Ranger. "It's all built around Tonto," he said. "You've heard the Lone Ranger's story; you just haven't heard it told from this guy, and he was there." Depp has already teased that their take on the beloved duo's Western adventures will be "interesting," to say the least. "I like the character. I think I have interesting plans for the character, and I think the film itself could be entertaining and very funny," he said. "But also I like the idea of having the opportunity to make fun of the idea of the Indian as a sidekick — which has always been [the case] throughout the history of Hollywood. The Native American has always been a second-class, third-class, fourth-class, fifth-class citizen, and I don't see Tonto that way at all. So it's an opportunity for me to salute Native Americans." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Gore Verbinski Photo: MTV News

'In Time': The Reviews Are In!

2011-10-29T15:01:00.001-07:00

What do you get when you mix a futuristic, time-as-money/life-or-death premise; a cast of pretty young things, including Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Matt Bomer and Cillian Murphy; plus the sound sci-fi sensibilities of writer/director Andrew Niccol ("Gattaca," "The Truman Show") and appropriately stylized cinematography by Roger Deakins ("True Grit," "The Reader")? "In Time" is what, a complex, visually appealing sci-fi thriller that has audiences and critics somewhat divided. (The critical collective over at Rotten Tomatoes is at 36 percent rotten, while its audience rating sits at 76 percent fresh.) Take a few moments to check out the film's ticking points, if you will, as we sift through the "In Time" reviews! The Story "The premise builds on the notion that time is money. In the movie's dystopian future, where today's cars have tomorrow's grilles, time has replaced money. People are born with genetic clocks that stop at the age of 25; after that they've got one year in which to beg, borrow, steal or even earn more time. If they don't, the digital clocks embedded in their forearms dwindle down to zero and they time out, i.e., die. That's clever, right? But then there are roving gangs called Minute Men (Teddy Boy types out of 'A Clockwork Orange') who steal time; the borderline-silly spectacle of almost everyone looking 25; the polemic element of social injustice (the richest of the rich can live forever because they've got eons socked away); and the action-adventure element, a clumsy amalgam of Robin Hood, 'Bonnie and Clyde,' 'The Avengers,' 'Les Misérables,' 'Dick Tracy' (for the color and graphics) and Mr. Niccol's earlier, and impressive, genetic-engineering opus 'Gattaca.' " — Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal The Sci-Fi Confusion/ High-Concept Factor "For a movie about the importance of maximizing every second, 'In Time' ultimately grows repetitive and wears out its welcome. It's fast-paced and hugely stylish, though, with its great-looking cast and a mix of gleaming, futuristic visuals and grimy, industrial chic. And it's a welcome return to the kind of slick sci-fi Niccol made his name on in the mid-'90s with 'Gattaca' and 'The Truman Show' (which he wrote). But his high-concept premise raises several nagging questions. Why do all the inhabitants of this dystopian world (which happens to look just like downtown Los Angeles and Century City) stop aging at 25, then find themselves with only a year left unless they can buy themselves more? When did this start — what is the purpose? And if Justin Timberlake is so busy working in a factory just so he can afford to live one day to the next, where does he find time to go to the gym?" — Christy Lemire, The Associated Press The Performances "There are moguls who are mean and have more time than God, which they bank in banks. Chief among them is a calculatingly evil Philippe Weis ('Mad Men's' Vincent Kartheiser, well-turned-out here too), with daughter Sylvia (Seyfried) the apple of Daddy's eye — although whether he loves her or time more will be tested. There are regular bad guys, time thieves called Minutemen, led by Alex Pettyfer, who seems to be getting a little too comfortable in bad-guy roles ('Beastly,' 'Tormented'), as Fortis. Meanwhile, inflation is rampant; the class divide is growing ever wider; the world is ripe for an action hero. Cue Timberlake. 'In Time' was supposed to turn Timberlake into a superhero, though given the way he manages a fairly massive pop career with an increasingly impressive acting portfolio ('Social Network' most recently), that may not be necessary. He brings an interesting sensibility to his characters, Will included, that suggest a complex interior that 'In Time' never quite reveals. The same goes for Seyfried ('Mamma Mia!,' 'Red Riding Hood'), who can do a lot more than use those big eyes and sleek lines." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times The Final Word, Pro-Con-Pro Style "There's plenty to enjoy about that genre standard, which, with the help of the cinematographer Roger Deakins (shooting in digital), Mr. Niccol transforms into a neonoir gaudily washed in green and gold. There's a memorable night scene when Will and Sylvia sprint across a succession of roofs pursued by Raymond, the camera racing parallel with the couple, the exuberance of their freedom and flight palpable. Here, as in other scenes where Mr. Niccol let his images do the talking, the movie works, despite its wavering tone and slow-and-go energy. But then the characters open their mouths and start going on about minutes and hours, clocks and watches, and their time running out and not having enough time and where's my time, don't waste my time, that time will get you killed, brother can you spare some time because, well, I'm all out." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times "One problem with 'In Time' is that it's more fun to describe than to sit through. Another is that Niccol's direction of his cast is spotty at best. Timberlake has the steely visage and stubbled cheeks for a rogue hero, but Seyfried, always a watchable presence, has trouble connecting with Sylvia's inner rebellious streak or, for that matter, lending urgency to her line readings. The film's crucial failing, though, is that Niccol's imagination is vigorously literary but not thrillingly cinematic. The movie exhausts its capital about halfway through — devolving, as the Timekeeper tracks the lovers on the run, into a series of car chases and foot races, none of them very spiffily executed. If you're like me, you will be captivated by the first hour and, after that, impatiently checking your watch." — Richard Corliss, Time "Even if 'In Time' descends from its gripping and thought-provoking premise into a mediocre chase thriller before it's over, it's still pretty damn satisfying to watch in the current climate. Of course the contradictions of capitalism are just as present in eras of widespread affluence as in eras of recession or stagnation, but we see them a hell of a lot more clearly at the moment. Niccol is dramatizing the human costs of the concentration of wealth, expressed by Philippe in the film with the formula that some must die so others can live forever. Somewhere Marx quips that capital is immortal even if its possessors are not; this movie's imaginative leap is to conflate the two and build a world where even death, the great leveler in human affairs, can be bought off." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com Check out everything we've got on "In Time." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in "In Time" Photo: 20th Century Fox

Beavis And Butt-Head 'Taking Shots' At Reality Shows, Mike Judge Promises

2011-10-28T16:02:00.001-07:00

It's been almost 14 years since the slackest slackers of a generation, Beavis and Butt-head, filled the airwaves with their shenanigans, but when the duo return to television with new episodes Thursday (October 27), the MTV they return to is quite a different one. Creator Mike Judge had to address the changes to the channel when deciding which direction to take the show in. Without music videos playing as regularly on MTV, there is less of an opportunity for Beavis and Butt-head to sit around and comment on them as they did during the show's original run. Reality shows like "Jersey Shore" and "16 and Pregnant" have replaced what were formerly blocks of music videos, and Judge said he wanted the new "Beavis and Butt-head" episodes to reflect that shift. According to Judge, MTV reality shows comprise 60 percent of the content Beavis and Butt-head sit and watch now. The transition from music videos to reality programming has been an easy one for Judge. "I think it is easier taking shots at the reality shows than music videos," Judge said. Missed it the first time around? MTV's Remote Control has a Beginner's Guide To "Beavis and Butt-head"! But Beavis and Butt-head didn't just make fun of the videos they watched. "In the beginning of the first run, I did a lot of what I would call taking shots at the videos," Judge said. "But then a lot of times I would just have them talk about whatever, and it didn't necessarily have that much to do about saying anything one way or another about the video." Reality TV, on the other hand, is a different story. Judge has found that with the new crop of shows, the material is too ripe for ridicule to ignore. "With the reality shows, it just feels like pay dirt to me," Judge said. "Those shows have just been really fun to have Beavis and Butt-head watch." Don't miss "Beavis and Butt-head" when it returns to TV Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Beavis and Butt-Head Photo: MTV

'Paranormal Activity 3': Seven Burning Questions Answered

2011-10-28T15:00:00.001-07:00

On Friday, after the directors of "Paranormal Activity 3" helped us reveal 10 secrets about their horror sequel, we promised that on Monday, once fans had actually been able to check out the movie, we'd deliver a slew of answers to burning questions. And check it out, fans most certainly did. "PA 3" reeled in $54 million at the box office over its first weekend. That's a lot of money for a lot of screams and, likely, a lot of sore throats today. So you guys deserve it: Read on for directors Henry Joost's and Ariel Schulman's answers to many of the eye-popping moments in the flick (needless to say, major spoilers exist below). How did they make everything fall in the kitchen? Henry Joost: "All summer, people were like, 'How do we top the cabinets blowing open [from the previous film]?' " Ariel Schulman: " 'The cabinet scare! The cabinet scare!' " Joost: "It was just so regular. We all have cabinets, but they've never done that before. It's the last thing you expect to happen. So we were brainstorming and brainstorming. I wanted Randy's dead body to drop from the ceiling. And [screenwriter] Chris Laden was like, 'What about all the stuff in the kitchen?' That was massive rigging for special-effects crew. It was so beautiful. It was like an art installation. It was all practical." Schulman: "We did one take. We rigged everything to a hinge and had one button. You say go and it just launches." Joost: "The release is staggered. The stuff gets closer to the camera, which is something you don't even register, but it is 100 times better than everything falling at once." Wait, you were going to kill Randy? Schulman: "We never killed Randy. We talked about it. The character who knows something is wrong and leaves and then meets his death somewhere else because the demon has followed him. But we never killed him." Where did the idea for Bloody Mary come from? Schulman: "Chris Laden had been wanting to bring back Bloody Mary, which was a great idea. And we'd been wanting to do a scene in total darkness." Joost: "We shot that scene three different ways. We shot the version that's in the trailer, where it's just the girls. And then we shot it with Dennis, Randy and Katie. The first two times were good, but we felt like we could take it to the next level. On set, we came up with the rattling door. We were like, 'Can you make something in the room fly out of the room?' " Schulman: "Not only is the acting improvised, but a lot of the writing is. That scene starts off with Randy and Katie playing Bloody Mary and Randy gets scratched. End of scene. But it felt like it could get scarier. So we huddled and said, 'What if the demon is right outside the door and just slamming on it?' And we just went from there." Where is Julie's husband? Will we ever see him? Schulman: "Maybe. Gotta leave some questions kind of unanswered!" What exactly happened at the end? Schulman: "The grandmother is the leader of a coven that is calling forth a demon. That demon is requesting a male host, a child. Someone has made a deal with the devil in return for a boy somewhere along this family lineage. That hasn't happened yet. It happens in 'Paranormal 2.' In 'Paranormal 2,' the grandma is forcing the issue. Once that boy is had, she will be there with her coven and the demon in order to deliver the baby." Joost: "Dennis is in the way, and ultimately Julie is too." So at the end, the creepy women are going to have a séance? Schulman: "Well, not exactly. It's not in the movie. I think a lot of this movie is left up to your imagination. So much had been done within the genre. People know a lot more about demonology than they realize. You actually don't need to show it. You just insinuate it and people are like, 'Oh yeah, that's going to be a séance later. I know how those work.' " Joost: "It's a huge thing in this movie that now, not only are you afraid of a demon, you're also afraid of a bunch of people in cahoots with the demon." Schulman: "The women in the coven are very sweet. But if you look at their IMDb credits, they each have played 'creepy lady' many times. Talk about being pigeonholed." Will you guys return for "Paranormal Activity 4"? Schulman: "I had a blast. I'd do it again." Joost [laughing]: "We have some ideas. It's going to be just drawings. Calligraphy and watercolors. And set in the 1800s." Schulman: "Found watercolors!" Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 3." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Lauren Bittner in "Paranormal Activity 3" Photo: Paramount Pictures

Michael Myers: From 'Halloween' To MTV's Killer Halloween

2011-10-27T16:01:00.001-07:00

We're just about halfway through MTV's Killer Halloween, and the competition is just heating up in the battle to find out which movie murderer tops them all. So far, we've profiled Freddy, Jason, Leatherface, Chucky and Ghostface, but now we look at the man who ushered in the modern era of slashers. Which horror-movie baddie has the best personality? Make your pick in our MTV Movies Blog poll! Michael Myers Occupation: Homicidal boy, homicidal adult Weapons: Knife, inability to ever freaking die Archenemy: His family, his psychiatrist, anyone who gets in the way of him killing his family and his psychiatrist Profile: Michael Myers was a bit of a prodigy in the ways of serial killing, changing the game even as a young boy. Pre-teen Michael may have been the first to don a mask — a creepy clown one for his first murder — and go after the babysitter, his sister Judith. He spent the remainder of his youth in an institution for the mentally disturbed under the close observation of Dr. Sam Loomis. After Michael escaped, stealing a mask, jumpsuit and knife from a hardware store, movie serials have never been the same. The target of most of Michael's deadly attention has been his surviving sister, Laurie, the lead played by Jamie Lee Curtis in the first two films and "Halloween: H20" and Scout Taylor-Compton in the Rob Zombie remakes. The early films simply focused on Michael's obsession with finding his long-lost baby sister, but later in the series, the true origin of Michael as an embodiment of pure evil added a supernatural element to the villain. There has never been too much to Michael Myers' tactics. He stalks. He walks. He kills. His style of murder will be remembered for a number of reasons. His mask, an old William Shatner "Star Trek" mask painted white, has become a horror icon. His slow gait and silent disposition directly inspired dozens of imitators — Jason Voorhees, most famously. Modern slasher films owe a debt to Michael Myers and his creator John Carpenter, whose work has affected the genre for generations. Where do you think Michael Myers falls in the scope of horror-movie psychopaths? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Halloween." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Michael Myers in "Halloween" Photo: Dimension Films

Jason Voorhees Creeps Up On MTV's Killer Halloween

2011-10-27T15:01:00.001-07:00

MTV News kicked off our Killer Halloween with Freddy Krueger on Monday (October 24), but now it's time to take a look at one of his rivals: "Friday the 13th" terror Jason Voorhees. If you're just tuning in, each day we'll profile two of cinema's deadliest serial killers and ask you to help create the ultimate ranking. Each villain will be ranked from 1 to 5 on a number of deadly attributes, so check back all week for new profiles and new polls, and help decide on the deadliest of them all. Head over to our Movies Blog poll to determine which horror icon has style to die for! Jason Voorhees Occupation: Mongoloid Weapons: Machete, the teenage libido Arch-Enemies: Swimming, campers, Freddy Kruger Profile: You know the saying: Hell hath no fury like a mongoloid serial killer with mommy issues. Jason Voorhees has more than a few things he should discuss with a therapist. His mother, a cook at Camp Crystal Lake, lost her mind when Jason drowned and went on a murderous rampage, killing the canoodling counselors and Kevin Bacon in the process. But Mrs. Voorhees met a very headless end, when one of the counselors decapitated her with a machete, thus handing the camp reigns over to her recently resurrected son, Jason. Wearing a hood over his head to mask his disfigurements, he laid low for a while, hiding out in the woods and a cabin near Crystal Lake. Jason eventually proved more than any sociopathic mother could have ever asked for, killing counselors left and right. He took up that iconic hockey mask in the third installment. While Jason is known for his slow gait, Detroit Redwings mask and machete, he could just as well be known for his many, many resurrections. Campers at Crystal Lake need to learn a simple equation: dead Jason plus electricity equals alive and pissed-off Jason. After two official deaths, Jason earned supernatural powers of regeneration that made him virtually indestructible. His newfound powers allowed him to be frozen and, in turn, to travel 400 years into the future in "Jason X." Jason's most recent resurrection came at the razor-sharp hands of Freddy Kruger, who pretended to be Mrs. Voorhees in order to revive Jason. The two eventually faced off, but neither emerged as the clear winner. Check out everything we've got on "Friday the 13th." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Jason Voorhees from "Friday The 13th" Photo: Paramount Pictures

Eddie Murphy, Brett Ratner Can't Agree On 'Beverly Hills Cop 4'

2011-10-26T16:01:00.001-07:00

There seems to be two varying opinions on whether "Beverly Hill Cop 4" will ever happen. Ask the attached director, Brett Ratner, and he'll tell you he wants to make it happen with Eddie Murphy. But the response is ... rather different if you put the same question to the A-list actor. MTV News recently caught up with Ratner as he promoted "Tower Heist," out this Friday and starring yes, Murphy. The director sounded hopeful about another "Cop" sequel. "I think one day, I'm hoping, because it is one of the most iconic characters ever," Ratner told us. "Eddie does not go anywhere in the world where they're not like, 'Axel Foley, what's up?' more than 'Eddie Murphy.' It is something that our hope and desire is to get it made." Much like he did with MTV News, Ratner has spoken on several occasions about his hopes for a fourth movie featuring the legendary Axel Foley, a Detroit cop who finds himself solving crimes in the very posh Beverly Hills. In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, however, Eddie Murphy tells the magazine that the possibilities for a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" film are dead. "They're not doing it," Murphy told the magazine. According to the actor, the proposed screenplays didn't really support the making of a new film. "None of the movie scripts were right; it was trying to force the premise. If you have to force something, you shouldn't be doing it. It was always a rehash of the old thing. It was always wrong," Murphy says. But Murphy has other ideas for the beloved character. "What I'm trying to do now is produce a TV show starring Axel Foley's son, and Axel is the chief of police now in Detroit," Murphy revealed. "I'd do the pilot, show up here and there." Ratner himself acknowledged the challenges involved with revisiting the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise. "It's a hard nut to crack, especially since there are three that exist before that. It's a hard thing," Ratner admitted, before adding that the three films allow him to see what worked in the series and what didn't. Would you like to see a new "Beverly Hills Cop" movie? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter! Check out everything we've got on "Tower Heist." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Eddie Murphy Photo: Getty Images

'Breaking Dawn' Stars, Musicians Hit The Road

2011-10-26T15:01:00.001-07:00

Some of the stars of the upcoming "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" will be hitting the road next month for a barnstorming tour to jack Twilighters up even more about the penultimate film in the vamps-and-werewolves saga. Peter Facinelli, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz and Elizabeth Reaser will pile into the van (OK, probably a plane) for a five-city tour from November 7 to 11 that will hit Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Salt Lake City, just one week before the movie hits screens (November 18). They will be joined by singer and "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack contributor Christina Perri on the first three dates. Three other soundtrack contributors — Aqualung, Lucy Schwartz and Sleeping at Last — will be on hand for the final two shows. Tickets for the appearances are free and will be available beginning at 10 a.m. local time Saturday, November 5, at each location, with a two-ticket-per-person limit. Each event will feature a red-carpet arrival followed by the mini-concert. If you just can't wait that long, tune in to MTV at 7:54 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 26, to see the debut of the video for the first single from the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" soundtrack, "It Will Rain," from Bruno Mars. The "Rain" video will feature a never-before-seen clip from the film. Immediately following the video's premiere, the action switches over to MTV.com for a live stream featuring MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway's exclusive interview with Mars, plus "Twilight" music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who will discuss everything about the "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack. "After seeing the movie, I thought that it would be a perfect fit," Mars told Billboard last month about the lead single from the soundtrack. "The 'Twilight' movies for me [are] a love story. But it's a dark love story," he added. "And I think the best way to describe the song is: It's the darker side of love. I think that pretty much sums it up." Mars will also be answering your video and text questions, which you can submit starting today at MTV.com or via Twitter using the hashtag #AskBruno. The "Twilight" tour dates are: " 11/7 - Atlanta, GA @ The Buckhead Theatre (Greene, Reed, Facinelli, Rathbone and Perri) " 11/8 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues (Greene, Reed, Facinelli, Rathbone, Lutz, Reaser and Perri) " 11/9 - Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom at Gilley's Dallas (Greene, Reed, Facinelli, Rathbone and Perri) " 11/10 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore (Greene, Reed, Facinelli, Rathbone with Aqualung, Schwartz and Sleeping at Last) " 11/11 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Rail Event Center (Greene, Reed, Facinelli, Rathbone with Aqualung, Schwartz and Sleeping at Last) Will you check out the "Twilight" tour? Let us know in the comments! Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain" video premieres Wednesday, October 26, at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, with a live stream to follow on MTV.com. Fans can submit their questions for Bruno through MTV.com, or via Twitter, using the hashtag #AskBruno. Ashley Greene Photo: Didier Messens/ WireImage

Leatherface Makes The Cut For MTV's Killer Halloween

2011-10-25T16:01:00.001-07:00

MTV's Killer Halloween continues! We're on a mission to find out who the best and scariest movie murderer is based on your votes, and we're ranking these ghastly guys on their deadliest attributes. Freddy Krueger and Ghostface, Jason and Leatherface are just a few of the cinematic terrors on our list. Check out our latest killer profile, for "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" crazy man Leatherface, and be sure to visit us every day this week to see the latest matchups! Name: Leatherface Occupation: Taxidermist, cannibal, serial killer Weapons: Chainsaw, meat hooks, butcher's hammer, family baggage Archenemy: Sanity, vegetarians, syphilis (the reason Leatherface doesn't have a nose) Profile: What's not to love about a killer who wields a chainsaw and wears a mask made of human skin? Not to mention that bloody butcher's apron — it is a killer getup, pun intended. Leatherface made his terrifying debut in 1974's beloved slasher classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The backwoods cannibal's gruesome appeal is enhanced by the involvement of his totally twisted, psychotic, inbred family members, who own and operate the Last Chance gas station and use it to find new victims to torture, kill ... and barbecue. Horror movie expert Brian Collins of Horror Movie a Day attributes Leatherface's appeal to his simplicity and consistency. "They never really screwed him up like the other guys. Freddy [Krueger] turned into a cartoon, Michael [Myers] was ret-conned into a henchman for some druid cult, but Leatherface was always just a simple cannibal with a chainsaw and a mask made of human skin," Collins told MTV News. "He always had a group of other killers to play off of, making him a little more three-dimensional than the others who worked alone." Leatherface and his family, along with their creepy cannibalistic ways, were featured in several other films following the original: "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2," "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III," "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation," the 2003 Michael Bay-produced remake, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and a 2006 prequel, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning." Their appalling adventures also inspired several comic books: 1991's four-issue series, "Leatherface," 1995's three-issue "Jason vs. Leatherface," and one-off special issues like "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Special" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Cut!" "Leatherface is up there with Freddy, Jason and Michael as far as the die-hard horror fans are concerned," Collins said of the chainsaw wielder's place among favorite horror movie killers, adding that the hankering for human flesh and hacking through it is an unforgettable combo, even if he isn't as mainstream as the likes of Freddy and Jason. "I don't think he's as iconic to the casual moviegoer as the others, since there haven't been as many movies," he said. Check out everything we've got on "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Leatherface in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" Photo: Vortex

Eminem's 'Southpaw' Boxing Movie Back On Track

2011-10-25T15:01:00.001-07:00

Talk about an epic battle. Eminem has been circling the gritty boxing drama "Southpaw" for more than a year now. But it seemed like the rapper's second feature film was down for the count when its original distributor, DreamWorks, shelved it in August. According to the Hollywood Reporter , the scrappy tale of a welterweight boxer who becomes a champ despite being a lefty has gotten off the mat and is back in contention. Sony Pictures Entertainment has picked up the flick, which would be Marshall Mathers' first major movie role since his acclaimed debut in the semi-autobiographical 2002 drama "8 Mile." The movie is expected to start production early next year and will be directed by Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day"), from a script written by Em and "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter. Like "8 Mile," Eminem says the tale is a parallel to his own life: the story of a boxer who rises to the top only to see tragedy strike, forcing him to mount a personal and professional comeback. Em famously reached the pinnacle of rap fame in the early 2000s, only to fall into a nearly fatal spiral of drug addiction, which he later snapped, getting clean and releasing a triumphant comeback album, Recovery, in 2010. Eminem has done a few cameos since "8 Mile," including the Adam Sandler movie "Funny People" and HBO's "Entourage," but has not headlined a movie since his screen debut. He was recently named a "God of Rock' by GQ magazine, which put him on the cover alongside Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and Lil Wayne. "I've realized that the way I am helps with the music," he said about the natural personality quirks that fuel his music. "Sporadic thoughts will pop into my head, and I'll have to go write something down, and the next thing you know, I've written a whole song in an hour. But sometimes it sucks, and I wish I was wired like a regular person and could go have a f---in' drink. But that's the biggest thing about addiction: When you realize that you cannot — for f---'s sake, you cannot — f--- around with nothing ever again." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Eminem Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

'Paranormal Activity 3' Seizes Box-Office Record

2011-10-24T16:01:00.001-07:00

Moviegoers were feeling the Halloween "spirit" over the weekend. "Paranormal Activity 3" broke the box-office record for the biggest fall opening with an estimated $54 million debut, passing "Jackass 3D" to become the highest-grossing September/October opening ever. Meanwhile, "The Three Musketeers," "Johnny English Reborn" and "The Mighty Macs" all underperformed. Both "Real Steel" and the remake of "Footloose" held strong over the weekend. Hugh Jackman's robot action adventure was #2 with $11.3 million for a $67.2 million total, with "Footloose" right behind at #3 with $10.9 million for a $30.9 million total. Roughly 55 percent of "The Three Musketeers" $8.8 million debut, which landed the film at #4 at the box office, can be attributed to its more expensive 3-D screening ticket prices. Co-star Milla Jovovich made entertainment news headlines with a flurry of tweets questioning the promotion effort behind the flick on the part of distributor Summit Entertainment, which also handles the "Twilight" franchise. "I think 'summit' have swept '3 Musketeers', a grt family adventure film, under the rug in the US. Shame on them," the actress declared in one of several tweets unleashed on Friday. The film, directed by Jovovich's husband, Paul W.S. Anderson, was dismissed by most film critics. "An editorial mess, an atonal wreck, and a huge waste of cash from inception to release," Scott Weinberg at Twitch wrote. "The Ides of March" rounded out the top five with $4.9 million. The George Clooney-directed political feature has earned $29.2 million to date. While the comedy "Johnny English Reborn" has done respectable business internationally, it made just $3.8 million during its first weekend in North American theaters. "The Mighty Macs" made just over $1 million, although it played in less than a third of the locations as "Paranormal Activity 3." Elizabeth Olsen's "Martha Marcy May Marlene" got off to a strong start at just four locations in New York and Los Angeles, taking in a respectable per-theater average of $34,385. Elizabeth is the sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Next weekend's new releases include Johnny Depp's "The Rum Diary," "Shrek" spin-off "Puss in Boots," Justin Timberlake's "In Time" and director Roland Emmerich's "Anonymous." Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 3" and "Footloose." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Katie Featherston and Sprague Grayden in "Paranormal Activity 3" Photo: Paramount Pictures

'Amazing Spider-Man' Villain Debuts His Lizard Voice

2011-10-24T15:01:00.001-07:00

For Andrew Garfield, becoming your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is as simple as slipping on some red-and-blue tights. For Rhys Ifans, the process of becoming the Lizard -- the reptilian nemesis Peter Parker will face in next summer's "The Amazing Spider-Man" -- is considerably trickier. As is the case with so many superhero films these days, Ifans filmed his scenes as the Lizard while wearing a complicated motion-capture suit that will make way for the villain's scaly visage somewhere along the post-production process. But fans won't have to look too hard to see Ifans' performance shine through the presumably CGI-heavy Lizard's presence: His eyes, facial expressions and -- yes -- even his voice will be front and center when "Amazing Spider-Man" swings into theaters. "It's totally my voice," Ifans told MTV News when asked if we'd be hearing his Lizard voice when the movie arrives next year. "I'm sure the voice will be toyed with in the eventual edits, but when I was shooting the CGI moments, when I wasn't actually human, when I was Lizard, I looked like a crash-test dummy in a green leotard thing. There were many moments when I had to speak to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone as the Lizard." Not content with simply telling us that we'd be hearing his Lizard voice, Ifans one-upped us with one heck of a terrifying exclusive: his first public performance of the Lizard's voice! "Sooooo prettyyyyy," he hissed at MTV's Josh Horowitz, making our fearless reporter very, very uncomfortable. "Beauuuuutiful MTV ... " Perhaps not the most menacing words Ifans could have strung together, but let us assure you, witnessing the incredibly talented "Anonymous" actor's Lizard drawl firsthand is not an experience we'll soon forget. If his Lizard voice is even half as terrifying in the final edit of "Amazing Spider-Man" as it was in person, webheads everywhere are going to be very pleased next summer. What do you think of Ifans' "Spider-Man" voice? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies -- updated around the clock -- visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Rhys Ifans Photo: MTV News

'Paranormal Activity 3' Terrifies Fans At New York Screening

2011-10-23T16:01:00.001-07:00

It's not often that you see people standing for hours in a line that wraps around the block just for the chance to get scared out of their minds, but that's exactly what happened Tuesday night in New York at an advance fan screening of "Paranormal Activity 3." Fans tweeted for a chance to check out the third entry in the found-footage horror series and to learn how the haunting started. Some of the hopeful audience members showed up as early as the morning before the 10 p.m. screening. Once inside the theater, the lucky crowd competed for prizes like iPods, only heightening the excitement in the room. When it was finally time to screen the movie, directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost showed up, appropriately decked out for Halloween with fake knives and syringes lodged in each of their heads. Schulman warned people that they weren't ready for the scares in "Paranormal Activity 3," promising that nobody in the theater was going to sleep that night. Among chants of "P-A-3," the lights dimmed and the screams started, and they didn't stop for 84 minutes. As soon as the screening ended, the fan reaction was clear. "I thought 'Paranormal Activity' was tuck-your-feet-under-the-blanket horrifying," said Jeffrey Caban, who claimed his heart was still racing. Nelson Rosa said he understood "the saying 'my heart skipped a beat' [for the] first time ever." "It was intense. It had me screaming, jumping up and down, covering my eyes, everything," Maria Huighes said. Are you excited for "Paranormal Activity 3"? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter! Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 3." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Lauren Bittner in Paranormal Activity 3 Photo: Paramount Pictures

'Once Upon A Time' Preview: Fairy Tales Meet Reality

2011-10-23T15:01:00.001-07:00

The characters in the fairy tales you grew up listening to are people too. That's a big part of the story behind ABC's upcoming fantasy series "Once Upon a Time." From the minds of former "Lost" writers and producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, "Once Upon a Time" follows the lives of a number of storybook characters who find themselves trapped in the real world after a curse is placed on them. Jennifer Morrison ("Warrior") stars as Emma Swan, the woman tasked with saving the fairy-tale world and bringing back the happy endings. Morrison says that there's much more to the series than the familiar faces, like Snow White, and that the show is about something bigger and much more relatable. "It's relationship driven. There is this sort of underlying universal thing," Morrison said. "We're in a time in our lives where the economy's kind of tough and jobs are tough, a lot of struggles people are facing. In a sense, our show really represents that in the curse that is on the characters and the hope that there is a way out, that you can band together and find a way out." Taking such a fantastical premise and making it about something real is a trick Horowitz and Kitsis say they learned from their time working on another sweeping fantasy epic, "Lost." The creators cite the character-driven drama of "Lost" and that show's executive producers, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, for giving them the direction and recipe for a successful outlandish drama series. "I think that the important thing that Damon and Carlton always told us was that it's about character first, although the fairy tale is fun, and Storybrooke's fun," Kitsis says. "Like, oh my god, that's Grumpy in a scene with Little Red Riding Hood. If you don't care about the characters and you don't care about their struggles, for us it's important that they're not just animated characters." For any TV show with even the most tenuous connections to "Lost," there will be questions of whether there is an overall arch already planned. Horowitz and Kitsis say they know where they want to take it but are waiting to see how viewers react first. "You can really only take those big picture ideas and then look at what's right in front of you and try to tell the best story you can, and we'll see what the audience says," Horowitz explained. To clarify further, Kitsis offered up an analogy. "It's kind of like we're on a road trip. We know we want to get to New York eventually, but if we see a large potato in Idaho we have to go see, then we're going to veer off and see it," Kitsis says. "Once Upon a Time" premieres this Sunday on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT. "Once Upon a Time" cast Photo: ABC

'Hunger Games' Star Jennifer Lawrence A 'Powerful Person'

2011-10-22T16:01:00.001-07:00

We'd heard "Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence talk about the intensity of her workouts to prepare for the role of the arrow-slinging reluctant warrior Katniss Everdeen. And we'd heard director Gary Ross brag on his star's behalf, using phrases like "intensely physical," "physically demanding" and "very rigorous" to describe Lawrence's training program. But the Oscar-nominated actress' physical transformation into the District 12 tribute didn't really hit home until we checked out the "Hunger Games" teaser footage we debuted in August at the MTV Video Music Awards. We just didn't know what to expect. Her "Like Crazy" co-star Anton Yelchin, however, knew exactly what was coming. Months after their romantic drama premiered at Sundance (and walked away with the Grand Jury Prize), the duo ended up at the same gym, prepping for the next steps in their cinematic careers. "I was training for a film called 'Odd Thomas' that I was doing at the same gym Jen was training [at for] the bow stuff and all the running," Yelchin told MTV News recently. "I got to see her and talk to her. I think she's amazing, and she's a good friend of mine." And after checking out the "Hunger Games" teaser, Yelchin had firsthand knowledge of what it took for Lawrence to become Katniss. He was impressed, but not surprised. "When I saw Jen, it was different kinds of physical training she was going through, like running training," he said. "She's such a powerful person. She can do anything she puts her mind to. If she needs to transform for something, she'll transform. If she needs to learn how to kill you with the bow, she'll do that. She'll do anything she needs to do." Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Jennifer Lawrence in "The Hunger Games" Photo: Lionsgate

'Hunger Games' Cast Is 'Amazing,' Stanley Tucci Says

2011-10-22T15:01:00.001-07:00

"Wait till you see Stanley Tucci do Caesar Flickerman," teased "Hunger Games" director Gary Ross back in August as MTV News was getting set to debut first-look footage from the upcoming adaptation of the best-selling young-adult series. We had to wait then — the teaser only showcased Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen — and we continue to wait to finally peep Tucci as Flickerman, the flamboyantly attired interviewer who chats with each tribute before the start of the gladiatorial competition known as the Hunger Games. But whenever fans do get to check out Flickerman, they can be sure the character will stay true to the guy readers are familiar with from Suzanne Collins' novels. How do we know? Tucci told us himself. "Absolutely it [stays true]. Blue hair. Very bizarre," the actor said while promoting his upcoming drama about the mortgage crisis "Margin Call." Earlier this year, Tucci was in England shooting "Jack the Giant Killer" when he began to map out his Flickerman look. "We had wigs made there," he said. "I had some noses made, which we ended up not using and teeth and a whole bunch of different things. When I got to North Carolina [to shoot 'Hunger Games'], we played around for about seven hours and we started shooting the next day. I was only there for about a week, but it was fantastic." One of the scenes he shot was the pre-Games interviews with Lawrence's Katniss and Josh Hutcherson's Peeta Mellark, who confesses his love for Katniss during the chat. Both Lawrence and Hutcherson, Tucci said, pulled off the pivotal scene with an aplomb that defied their years. "She was amazing," he said. "They were all amazing. She's just so good and so mature at such a young age. It was really fun. Really fun. And Gary, he's great." Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Stanley Tucci Photo: MTV News

'Paranormal Activity 3': The Reviews Are In!

2011-10-21T16:01:00.001-07:00

This Halloween is the third in a row that the shaky-cam, faux-documentary series "Paranormal Activity" has released an entry into theaters, and critics agree that "Paranormal Activity 3" shares more than just a filming style with its predecessors. While the critical consensus is generally positive, most reviews note how similar the new "Paranormal" is to the two that came before it. This could be seen as a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about the first two films. There are new scares filling out a quiet, homespun frame, but not much else. Check out our roundup of the reviews, and be sure to read MTV News' five reasons to check out "Paranormal Activity 3." As a Sequel " 'Paranormal Activity 3' is a prequel, revealing that the characters in 'PA1' and 'PA2' had already been through the all-night video surveillance ordeal. At least in this film they are undergoing it for the first time, which is less than can be said for us. The formula for the films involves pallid characters, perfunctory dialogue and very long waits for something to happen." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times The Director "Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost have fun with the archetypal image of a white-sheeted costume ghost, but mostly what they're aces at is timing. They know just how to thread a handheld camera up the stairs, down a hallway, and into the scattered bric-a-brac of a middle-class children's bedroom, settling at just the right moment upon a talking teddy bear that plays as a joke, even as a part of you momentarily thinks: Is that bear possessed?" — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly The References "Having been handed the entirely uninspiring challenge of fattening up the 'Paranormal' origin story (pop culture mythology in the making, or not), directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (the doofuses behind the 2010 is-it-or-isn't-it-a-sham-doc-about-an-Internet-sham, 'Catfish') reach into their kit bag of plot elements from, and references to, a whole bunch of older horror movies that most of their target demographic likely hasn't seen. A bit of 'Rosemary's Baby' here, 'The Shining' there, 'Poltergeist' there, not to mention some Japanese stuff, and, of course, 'Blair Witch' itself, particularly at the end." — Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies The End "As usual, the climax, in which the family makes the mistake of retreating to the sweet grandmother's (Hallie Foote) house, replaces the air of mystery with an all too explicit explication for what's been going on. But it does effectively fulfill its requirement of setting things up for the inevitable next installment. One doesn't need a Ouija board to discern that it will probably arrive sometime around next Halloween." — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter Bottom Line "Like its predecessors, the movie is more clever than good, and if you feel as if you're being manipulated by the filmmakers, it's because you are. That's the fun of these movies, something you know going in. The point is to manipulate you in the scariest way possible, and 'Paranormal Activity 3' does a good job of that." — Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 3." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Paranormal Activity 3 Photo: Paramount

Angelina Jolie's 'Blood And Honey' Trailer Debuts

2011-10-21T15:01:00.001-07:00

We all know Angelina Jolie, Academy Award-winning actress, sex symbol, mother and philanthropist, but today for the first time, the new for "In the Land of Blood and Honey" introduces all of us to Angelina Jolie, writer and director. There's been talk about the project, a love story set during the Bosnian war in the early '90s, for a while now, but there was little actually known besides a rough description of the plot. Brad Pitt even refused to give his review of the film when he spoke with MTV News while promoting "Moneyball." The movie remained more or less a mystery with Jolie's name as the only recognizable feature. That is, until the trailer hit the Web on Friday (October 21). In it, we get a look at a sweeping romance buried deep within the horrors of the Bosnian war and filled with suspicion and betrayal. The film stars Zana Marjanovic and Goran Kostic as two lovers caught in the middle of the conflict. The scale is surprisingly big, attempting to portray a full-out war, and features lots of gunfire and several large explosions. The trailer also makes clear the emotional weight tied to both the romance and its wartime backdrop. Jolie pulled the cast from the area, choosing unknowns rather than A-listers with Eastern European accents. Two versions of the film exist, one in English, the other in the native Serbo-Croatian. The film opens December 23 and, from the looks of the trailer and its release date, "In the Land of Blood and Honey" could spell another trip to the Academy Awards for the first-time director. Check out everything we've got on "In the Land of Blood and Honey." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more -- updated around the clock -- visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Zana Marjanovic in "In the Land of Blood and Honey" Photo: GK Films

Kristen Stewart Hurt On 'Snow White' Set?

2011-10-20T16:01:00.001-07:00

Kristen Stewart was reportedly hurt on the set of "Snow White and the Huntsman," halting production until Friday. While details about her injury remain a mystery as of press time, her co-star Max Manganello, who plays one of the duke's soldiers in the film, announced it on Twitter. The tweet has since been taken down, but according to E! News, Manganello had this to say about the injury on Tuesday: "It's a wrap for today. Kristen has hurt herself ... nothing scary. We shoot on Friday." A rep for the movie studio had not responded to MTV News' request for comment by press time and little else is known about Stewart's condition. Stewart has been busy shooting the film abroad. In late September, she was spotted in Pembrokeshire, Wales, filming a battle scene, and days later she was photographed drenched and wearing a gown on the back of a white horse. The film is expected to open on June 1, 2012 and also features Charlize Theron (the Evil Queen), Chris Hemsworth (the Huntsman) and Sam Claflin (Prince Charming). The story centers on the struggle between Snow White and the Evil Queen, who, jealous of Snow White's beauty, wants to destroy her. The catch is that Snow White has been training with the Huntsman, who has also been ordered to kill her. And in true fairy-tale form, Prince Charming is enamored with Snow White. "It's not a little girl sitting by a well with little tweety birds telling her what to do and where to go," Stewart told MTV News of her character. "[The costume] makes you feel kind of strong occasionally, sometimes, but I kind of feel tiny, my pinhead sticks out of these enormous things." Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Kristen Stewart on the set of "Snow White and the Huntsman" (file) Photo: Splash News

'Sherlock Holmes 2' Trailer Reveals Rachel McAdams, Moriarty

2011-10-20T15:01:00.001-07:00

As far as sensational, buzzworthy trailers go, Robert Downey Jr. is on a roll. He's been a prominent fixture in two of the most talked-about teasers from two of the most anticipated films. The first trailer is for "The Avengers," which Marvel and Disney rolled out last week, and the second is for Guy Ritchie's bromantic "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," which hit the Interwebs on Wednesday (October 19). This second trailer is all about upping the action and mystery. It opens with the voice of new leading lady Sim, played by Noomi Rapace. "What do you see?" she asks Dr. Holmes (Downey Jr.), to which he replies "Everything," as we are then shown quick cuts of what are likely pieces of the second film's big mystery. There are dancing couples in a glamorous ballroom (including Sim and Holmes) at some grand party, a game of chess, a possible crime scene with a pile of wreckage in the center, bullet holes in the walls, cocked pistols and — gasp! A shot of Rachel McAdams' shifty lady thief Irene Adler walking somewhere with haste and some sort of precious parcel. The last shot in the opening montage is a glimpse at Jared Harris as evil-ish Moriarty looking out from behind super-secret spy glasses (not really, he's just holding a lorgnette — those fancy glasses people use at the opera). "That is my curse," Holmes says, a bookend to our introductory 20 seconds or so, before Ritchie kicks the action into high gear and packs the remaining two minutes and seven seconds with explosions, running, shooting, etc. — basically, Holmes and Watson (Jude Law) are up to their old tricks. "Oh, how I've missed you, Holmes," Watson says to his friend. "Have you? I've barely noticed your absence," Holmes answers back in a passive-aggressive tone, pretending not to have missed his best friend. This brief exchange is followed by more quick cuts of exotic locations and Watson's wedding and an introduction to bad guy Moriarty. "What are we up against here?" Watson asks Holmes. "The most formidable criminal mind in Europe," Holmes says. "Professor James Moriarty," Watson says, reading his name from Holmes' notes somewhere. "If we can stop him, we can prevent the collapse of Western civilization," Holmes adds dramatically, before an explosion erupts in the background. "No pressure." This is followed by more running, bullets flying, a slow-motion cat-and-mouse chase in the snow, banter with lady Sim, as well as a few Holmes and Watson moments, including one in which the former suddenly appears dressed in drag. "What?" Watson says when he encounters Holmes as a lady. "I agree it's not my best disguise," Holmes counters. Finally there are more quick cuts of action, much of which looks to be set on a moving train that later explodes, along with a brief but passionate kiss between former lovers Holmes and Adler. Check out everything we've got on "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Robert Downey Jr. in "Sherlock Holmes 2" Photo: Warner Bros

Johnny Depp Explains Bumpy Ride Of 'Lone Ranger'

2011-10-19T16:01:00.001-07:00

Much like the unforgivable and unpredictable nature of the American Old West, the plight of Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski's big-screen adaptation of "The Lone Ranger" has been quite a bumpy ride. The film got the green light earlier this year, with Depp settled into the role of Tonto and Armie Hammer selected to play the Ranger. Then in August, Disney put a halt on the production with claims that the budget was too big. Just this week, negotiations ended on a happy note, with the production back in full swing and a tentative start date scheduled for early next year. MTV News caught up with Depp as he promoted "The Rum Diary," which opens October 28, to find out why "Ranger" is so important to him and why the budget became such a big issue for the studio bigwigs. "I like the character. I think I have interesting plans for the character, and I think the film itself could be entertaining and very funny," he said. "But also I like the idea of having the opportunity to make fun of the idea of the Indian as a sidekick — which has always been [the case] throughout the history of Hollywood, the Native American has always been a second-class, third-class, fourth-class citizen, and I don't see Tonto that way at all. So it's an opportunity for me to salute Native Americans." With regard to the back-and-forth budget talks with the studio, Depp admitted that he and director Verbinski knew they'd be in for some negotiating from the get-go, but they also planned to be patient. "We knew that the budget was going to be huge initially, and we also knew that it was going to be shut down for a while, and it was kind of like we patiently wait — we shave a little bit here, we do a little bit there, [and] they fix it." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Johnny Depp Photo: WireImage

'Twilight' Time Capsule Launches Online

2011-10-19T15:01:00.001-07:00

Want one place where all your "Twilight" memories can live? Well, Summit Entertainment has launched the "Twilight" time capsule as the go-to destination for all things Bella, Edward and Jacob. The launch comes a month before "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" hits theaters on November 18. The time capsule is an interactive online community where fans can relive all the great moments from the Stephenie Meyer-penned franchise. According to a press release posted on The Hollywood Reporter, the site is a place where "fans can commemorate and share content with each other, and relive any moment in 'Twilight Saga' film history." Fans can generate their own user content for the site, as well as view a timeline that includes memories and trailers from the releases. "The 'Twilight' time capsule brings them all together in one place for all fans to enjoy together," "Twilight" star Nikki Reed said in a video about the site. "Now you can commemorate your personal memories forever and become a part of 'Twilight Saga' history." This isn't the only way to get caught up on all things "Twilight." There will also be "Twilight" re-release events kicking off in November. The re-releases begin November 1 with the first flick in the franchise, 2008's "Twilight." "Twilight Saga: New Moon" (2009) will open on November 8, and last year's "Eclipse" opens the following week on November 15. Ticket information and a complete list of theaters hosting the events can be found at the Fathom events website. It's not over just yet, however. The last "Twilight" flick, "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," directed by Bill Condon, hits theaters on November 16, 2012. Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit

'The Thing': The Reviews Are In!

2011-10-18T16:01:00.001-07:00

The subject of film remakes and reboots has become a sensitive one. With two variations on that theme opening at the box office this weekend, "Footloose" and "The Thing," respectively, there are very defined, conflicting opinions on Hollywood's continued obsession with churning out new takes on old classics. With regard to "The Thing," a prequel to John Carpenter's '82 film, the critical conversation is especially opinionated, given the fact that the horror community takes its films very seriously and that the original is so beloved by fans. Some critics were satisfied and entertained by Dutch filmmaker Matthijs van Heijningen's take on the film, along with the performances by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton and Ulrich Thomsen; some were not. Without further ado, let's dig into the fleshy meat of "The Thing" reviews! The Story "For this prequel, first time feature director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. puts a female (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) at the center of the fray, flanks her with several male members (pun intended) of a Norwegian scientific team, throws a phallic, mouthy monster into her path, adds and touch of paranoia, and presto! It's a scary movie set in a place where hell actually does freeze over. It's no secret that The Thing 2011 leaves off exactly where the 1982 version picks up and it's a nice touch that Ennio Morricone end credits song — Humanity (Part II) — is used to complement Marco Beltrami's score." — Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com The Performances "While this 'Thing' features a low-impact cast full of unknown Norwegians, Winstead (Kate) makes an appealing star, ably supported by Joel Edgerton in the pseudo-Kurt Russell role of a tough-guy helicopter pilot. (His ass-kicking sidekick is played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, otherwise known as 'the black guy who doesn't get killed first.') Thomsen is in fine form as the unctuous and untrustworthy scientist who may doom the entire world to being chewed up and eaten, and Jørgen Langhelle is terrific as a gruff Norse workman who sides with Kate although he speaks no English." — Andrew O'Hehir, Slate The Prequel Vs. the Original "This 'Thing,' shot largely in northern British Columbia, engaged me more than Carpenter's. That's not to say it can hold a candle to the superb 1951 'The Thing From Another World,' directed by Christian Nyby. That film is a marvel of indirection, of ensemble camaraderie in the face of the Cold War-era unknown. Compared with that picture, this new one's just an entertaining, well-acted oozefest. All three 'Things,' along with everything from 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' to 'Alien,' owe their central ideas to the Depression-era story 'Who Goes There?' by John W. Campbell Jr. There's a rock-solid notion in that tale, that of an alien being able to take over a human body and cause pure paranoia in the populace. Who's real and who isn't? Why does so-and-so seem a little off today? And why is my dog looking at me funny? While I wish van Heijningen's 'Thing' weren't quite so in lust with the '82 model, it works because it respects that basic premise. And it exhibits a little patience, doling out its ickiest, nastiest moments in ways that make them stick." — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune The Scream/FX Factor "Van Heijningen trades methodically established tensions for cheap, easy horror jolts, swapping the paranoia and distrust of Carpenter's version for simplistic rage and aggression. Where Carpenter carefully sliced into our deepest fears with the precision of a surgeon, Van Heijningen bluntly hacks away at our nervous systems like a maniac wielding a chain saw. Newcomers who rent Carpenter's film to see where Van Heijningen's story begins — or, continues — might be surprised by the reliance on organic horror makeup, stop-motion animation and creature compositions. Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Stan Winston ('Aliens,' 'Jurassic Park') reportedly worked on Carpenter's spectacularly gory dog creature, a triumph of horror wizardry. Alas, Van Heijningen replaces those tangible and imaginative alien inventions with shiny, empty digital effects — yet another miscalculation that undermines this 'Thing' prequel." - Sean O'Connell, Washington Post The Final Word, Pro-Con-Pro Style "It may not be as novel as the Carpenter original and ultimately, not as memorable, but Van Heijningen does a fine job recreating the look and tone of Carpenter's film, and there's enough alien-infested craziness to keep this prequel entertaining." — Edward Douglas, ShockTillYouDrop.com "Nothing can save The Thing from itself. Bigger and louder is not scarier nor better, it's just more annoying. The Thing is too big for its britches and bites off more than it can chew. Everything that was great about the 1982 version (it was a small, claustrophobic film with strong characters and awesome special effects) is ignored in this 2011 crap that's nothing more than a boring CGI promo-reel. Do not waste a second watching this; instead go pop Carpenter's version back into your VHS/DVD/Blu-ray player and revisit one of the greatest horror films of all-time." — Brad Miska, Bloody-Disgusting.com "This new take on THE THING is a gripping bit of horror entertainment that should excite audiences for its October release. In fact, it may inspire those who haven't seen the 1982 version to make it a double feature of sorts. Either way, this is a well cast, atmospheric piece that rates a hell of a lot better than some of the previous Carpenter remakes... I'm talking to you THE FOG. Stay for the end credits if you really want to get yourself in the mood for JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING afterward." — Jimmy O, JoBlo Check out everything we've got on "The Thing." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton in "The Thing" Photo: Universal Pictures

'Avengers' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

2011-10-18T15:01:00.001-07:00

The first full trailer for "The Avengers" is here, though at first glance, it seemed much more like the work of Michael Bay — a little citizens-ominously-watching-the-skyline "Armageddon" here, a bit of city-block-destroying "Transformers" there — than the handiwork of Marvel and writer/director Joss Whedon. But that voice-over you hear in the beginning (the one assuring us humans were made to be ruled) is none other than Loki, who makes his first appearance about 20 seconds into the new footage, kick-starting a furious visual procession of superheroes, superheroes and more superheroes. While the trailer didn't deliver everything we were hoping for — nor did it have the ineffable coolness we might have expected — it gave us a whole lot of Marvel goodness to unpack, which we did with another MTV News expert trailer analysis: Loki, Located We've known for a long time that Loki is the central villain in "Avengers," though whether other villains pop up to wreak havoc (like those persistent rumors about the alien Skrulls) remains to be seen. What we didn't know was how Loki would travel to Earth, considering the Rainbow Bridge — that mythic intergalactic transporter — was destroyed at the end of this summer's "Thor." Yet in that film, before tumbling into some kind of cosmic abyss, Loki announces there are other ways to get to Earth besides the Rainbow Bridge. In this early shot of Loki crouching in a warehouse, we see what just might be the bad guy's new mode of space transportation. What exactly this "Stargate"-esque contraption is remains to be seen. Turbulence When Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor and the rest of the Avengers assemble, they have to do so in style. In Marvel lore, when they take to the sky, they do so in a super-slick aircraft called the Quinjet, which flies overhead around the 55-second mark of the trailer. So that's cool. Except the sucker's on fire and looking like it's about to crash-land in Manhattan, perhaps as part of the epic urban battle the trailer teases again and again. We can't say for certain it's Quinjet — it could be a Skrullian craft — but we doubt it, based on visual comparisons to the comics and the fact that the jet just doesn't look alien. But do the Skrulls have a hand in the Quinjet's fiery situation? Or is that all thanks to Loki? Hmmm ... This Is Assembling? Who are we kidding? We wanted to see the Avengers assemble — not around the boardroom table, but in action. And the trailer, in this respect, just doesn't deliver. Alas, the shot (around one minute, 11 seconds in) of our heroes in a lab is the best look at the team together. Hawkeye isn't even there. Black Widow is mostly hidden. Captain America and Iron Man aren't even in their suits. Bruce Banner is just Bruce Banner, no hint of the hidden green beast within. We appreciate that Whedon is a writer who loves to pen a witty exchange between characters — we get a lot of that in the trailer, and we're not complaining — but we also maintain Marvel missed a chance in the trailer to show off the Avengers assembling for the first time in an unforgettable way. Thor vs. the Captain? At about the one-minute, 25-second mark, we have what looks like Thor battling Captain America. Now, the simple explanation is that these Avengers don't always get along and, hey, even superheroes might come to blows with one another from time to time. No harm, no foul. But here's a little conspiracy theory for ya: The Skrulls are notorious shape-shifters, and we just might be seeing one of them taking on the guise of an Avenger. So what we might — and we can't emphasize might enough — be seeing is actually a Skrull-vs.-Avenger throw-down. That kind of can-you-trust-your-buddy paranoia could be a lot of fun to play with in the film. Say Hello to Your Hulk We've seen Mark Ruffalo in character as Bruce Banner before. What we haven't seen — and what honestly makes the whole trailer worthwhile — is this first look at Banner transformed into the Hulk. Ruffalo has spoken often about how his Hulk will be a motion-capture creation modeled on the actor himself. So can we see the Oscar-nominated Ruffalo lurking somewhere inside the green beast? Hard to say in so brief a glimpse. We'll have to wait to see more "Avengers" footage, which we can't wait for and which is the clearest indication that for all our quibbles, the trailer is a superheroic success. Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Chris Hemsworth in the "Avengers" trailer Photo: Marvel

'Real Steel' Fends Off '80s Remakes At Box Office

2011-10-17T15:02:00.001-07:00

Hugh Jackman's latest movie proved to be more than a one-hit wonder. "Real Steel" retained the #1 spot at the box office for a second consecutive weekend, fending off competition from re-workings of '80s classics, "Footloose" and "The Thing" (a remake/prequel). Meanwhile, the combined star power of Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin didn't prevent "The Big Year" from bombing. "Real Steel" raked in another $16.3 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates, which is a 40 percent drop from its opening weekend. The futuristic robot-boxing flick has made $51.7 million to date, against an estimated production budget of $110 million. The remake of high-school-dancing flick "Footloose" was just behind with a $16.1 million debut. Critics were mostly kind to the film, with The Washington Post commenting, "[D]irector Craig Brewer has delivered a largely unobjectionable note-for-note facsimile of Herbert Ross's ode to teenage rebellion, young love and the unfettered joy of movement." The flick has a 72 percent Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. By contrast, roughly 77 percent of film critics trashed the weekend's #3 film, "The Thing," which was conceived as a straight remake but evolved instead into a prequel to director John Carpenter's sci-fi/ horror classic. It opened with just $8.7 million in box-office receipts. "Carpenter's film is scary. This film is just loud," wrote avowed "Thing" fanboy Drew McWeeny on Hitfix.com. Bloody Disgusting went a step further: "Everything that was great about the 1982 version is ignored," the site's Brad Miska wrote. "The Big Year" suffered the second-worst big studio picture opening of 2011 thus far, just behind "Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star." The story about three bird-watchers played by comedic actors Black, Martin and Wilson claimed just $3.3 million to land at #9. George Clooney's "The Ides of March" dipped just 28 percent with $7.5 million in its second weekend. Thanks to its smaller budget, the political drama's $22.2 million total is good news for Sony Pictures. "Dolphin Tale" rounded out the top five with $6.3 million for a $58.6 million total. Next weekend's new releases include "Paranormal Activity 3," "The Three Musketeers" and "Johnny English Reborn." Check out everything we've got on "Real Steel" and "Footloose." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Hugh Jackman and Evangeline Lilly in "Real Steel" Photo: DreamWorks

Robert Pattinson Eyed For Green Day's 'American Idiot'?

2011-10-16T15:02:00.001-07:00

With the end of the "Twilight" franchise in sight, will star Robert Pattinson follow the lead of "Harry Potter" actor Daniel Radcliffe and segue into the land of musical theater? Maybe, if Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has his way. The rumor that Pattinson could be eyed for the lead role in the big-screen adaptation of the Green Day album/Broadway musical "American Idiot" picked up some serious steam this week. The only problem is that the "news" is not exactly new, but rather based on speculation from Armstrong more than two years ago, before Pattinson was, well, mega. Asked who he would like to play Christian, the male lead, Armstrong told Spinner.com in an April 2009 interview, "I'm gonna say maybe that kid in 'Twilight,' [Pattinson]. He's a good actor. There's still more to come with that kid." So, why is the quote picking up steam now? You can thank VH1's rebooted "Pop Up Video," which recently recycled the rumor when it ran a version of GD's "21 Guns" with a series of bubbles that read, "Hollywood is trying to turn it into a movie ... Billie Joe has said that his first choice to play the main character: Robert Pattinson." The movie, being produced by Tom Hanks' Playtone in collaboration with Green Day, is currently in pre-production and no casting has been announced. At press time, MTV News could not reach Playtone or Green Day for comment on the rehashed Pattinson rumors or any other casting news. If true, the choice of Pattinson would not be that outrageous. In addition to being one of today's hottest young male stars, RPattz is still in search of a role that would help him break free of the "Twilight" orbit, and he has a musical background. In addition to playing guitar and piano, he composes his own songs, two of which appeared on the "Twilight" soundtrack. He also contributed three songs to the soundtrack of the little-seen "How to Be." Like the musical, the movie will be based on the band's 2004 album of the same name, which tells a story of love, loss and war. The Broadway production integrated songs from the original album as well as its follow-up, 21st Century Breakdown, and a previously unreleased tune called "When it's Time." The movie is tentatively slated to hit theaters in 2013. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

'X-Men' Writers Land 'Top Gun' Sequel Gig

2011-10-15T16:09:00.001-07:00

Just about one year ago, Tony Scott sent his "Top Gun" fans into a frenzy over the news that a sequel is not only planned, but Scott will take the directorial reins on the project. There has been little forward movement since then, but now we have word that "X-Men: First Class" writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz have been hired to helm the script. According to Variety, Miller and Stentz are in final negotiations to get to work on the screenplay, with Jerry Bruckheimer and David Ellison signed on to produce. The trade publication claimed that there are no plot details to reveal yet, but we're hoping the "First Class" writing duo sticks with the outline Scott shared with us last year. "It's not even a reinvention, it's not even a sequel. It's a re-thinking," Scott said of his plans for the sequel. "What inspired me is that the world today is great, it's so different from the world we touched originally. It's really run by guys sitting in Nevada on computers playing war games." Scott teased that the film will focus on the new generation of fighter pilots. "It's a mixture of that, and it's the end of the generation of fighter pilots. Not in a complete end to the generation, because these guys they go up in F-35s and they carry 10 drones with them. [But] it's a very different movie," he said. But the most pressing question on everyone's minds is: Will Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprise their iconic roles? "I'm gonna withhold that information," Scott told MTV News. "I can't say anything. I'm talking with Jerry [Bruckheimer], and I'm going to withhold [those other details]." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Tom Cruise in "Top Gun" Photo: Paramount Pictures

'Avengers' Trailer: Experts Weigh In

2011-10-15T15:01:00.001-07:00

The first trailer for "The Avengers" is finally here, offering our best look yet at what director Joss Whedon has in mind for when Earth's Mightiest Heroes gather together on the big screen in May. For many fans, the trailer delivered on all its promises: extensive looks at the team in action, creepy narration from Tom Hiddleston's Loki and even Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury stepping onto the battlefield with a bazooka in tow. For other fans — let's just say the sweet melodic stylings of Nine Inch Nails wasn't exactly what they had in mind for the trailer's soundtrack, among other grievances. To get a better sense at what fans are thinking regarding the "Avengers" trailer, MTV News reached out to film and comic book experts across the blogosphere to weigh in with their thoughts on the latest Marvel teaser. The overall verdict, with few exceptions, is that the trailer is a rollicking success. "I'm a guy who likes to deal in specifics, and what I can say specifically is I honestly liked all of it," said Jonah Weiland, executive producer at Comic Book Resources. "Sets an incredible tone and gives us a glimpse of the dynamic between the core members (I'm sure we'll find out more about Black Widow and Hawkeye in due time). The action looks intense, but most importantly the characters all look like they 'fit' together — frankly, that's one of the biggest challenges with this 'team movie' concept Marvel has been building to and it appears on first glance like they've succeeded in a major way." NextMovie's Kevin Polowy agreed that the "Avengers" trailer was the home run he was hoping for. "First off, I'm just relieved there's some meat to it," he said. "This is leaps and bounds beyond the unrevealing teaser trailer I think a lot of fans feared. Instead, we're treated to glimpses of all the Avengers as well as Nick Fury and Loki, not to mention plenty of other bells and whistles: Menacing narration, cars blowing up, rocket launchers, trademark Tony Stark snark, more cars blowing up ... lots of cars blow up in this trailer. Plus a look at that 'rage monster' the Hulk! I thought it rocked. This is really going to bring the house down at New York Comic Con." From the perspective of HitFix's Gregory Ellwood, Marvel hit the nail on the ol' Shellhead when it comes to the movie's big selling point. "It was fantastic to see Iron Man flying through the air again — Marvel knows how they are going to open this movie, and it's with him," he said. "The Downey Jr./Banner moment was cute (boy are those guys short, though), Hemsworth's charm is always infectious, Sam Jackson is kickin' ass like there are some snakes everywhere, Black Widow is in the house, we get our first glimpse of an Avengers Quinjet and a shot of Cap and Thor coming to blows." But there are some areas the "Avengers" trailer did not deliver on, according to the experts, like getting the chance to spend more time with Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, whose only previous Marvel credit is a brief cameo in "Thor." "It would've been nice to see a little bit more Hawkeye," said Caleb Goellner, senior editor at Comics Alliance. "I understand that the 'Big Three' and Black Widow are the established characters with the biggest draw, but what can I say? I like arrows." Ellwood agreed, adding a dearth of Black Widow to his list of critiques: "It would be fantastic if Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner actually had a chance to speak. Although, obviously, many fans of the Black Widow might not care." Another potential area of weakness: the movie's central threat. Though we know Loki is the big bad in charge during "The Avengers," we're still in the dark as to the power he possesses. As Newsarama's Lucas Siegel pointed out: "What's the big threat? We saw Loki, who Thor took down on his own, and ... exploding cars. It would've been nice to have a little bit more direct of a 'big threat' shown." Having said that, Siegel added: "Of course, that's what we all want to see, but it could also be a great thing to save for the movie itself." "All in due time," Weiland agreed regarding Marvel's decision to withhold certain bits of key information. "This certainly isn't the last trailer for this movie." It certainly isn't. Asked what they were most looking forward to seeing next from the Avengers, many of the experts agreed upon a certain shade of green. "Hulk, Hulk, Hulk!" Weiland said. "It's a safe bet that some — if not much — of the NYC destruction seen in the trailer is caused by the Hulk and, look, we all want to see Hulk rampage. Sure, we got some of that in those two films, but I'm pretty sure in Joss Whedon's hands, he'll make those previous Hulk movies look like an episode of 'My Little Pony.' " Another frequently cited item on the wish list: confirmation of Loki's allies, long rumored to be the Skrulls, an alien race of shape-shifters prominently featured in Marvel Comics. "I'd like the next trailer to further tease what kind of threat the Avengers will face in 2012," Goellner said. "Skrulls? Robots? Elves? Whatever it is, I want to know the team is up against more than Loki and some city streets exploding." "Of course everyone still wants to know who's helping Loki wreak havoc on Earth," Polowy agreed. "Clearly some sort of intergalactic posse's got his back. But I wouldn't be surprised if Whedon and company keep that under wraps for as long as they can." But if there's one thing the experts could all agree upon? "Just the whole darn movie," Siegel exclaimed. "Can't wait!" Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Samuel L. Jackson in "The Avengers" Photo: Marvel

'Avengers' Trailer, By The Numbers

2011-10-14T16:01:00.001-07:00

Now that the "Avengers" trailer has finally premiered, we can spend the next few hours, days and weeks overanalyzing it and trying to decipher the many messages director Joss Whedon chose to tease in that preview's action-packed one minute and 45 seconds. After multiple, careful viewings, here's a closer look at a few interesting things that stand out, by the numbers: 12+: Explosions in the first 25 seconds. The FX team did not discriminate here, as we see cars, a few city blocks, Grand Central Station, a plane, an unidentified Avengers hangout and buildings go up in smoke. 3: Gratuitous "suiting-up" shots, wherein we see Cap/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) checking out his new uniform and then trying out his new shield; Thor (Chris Hemsworth) getting ready with a grip on his trusty hammer Mjolnir; and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) checking into his fancy Iron Man suit. 13+: Number of "looking coolly off into the distance or deeply into someone's eyes" moments. Whether lost in thought or in someone else's gaze, the trailer is packed with meaningful looks. 6: Avengers-in-action moments. Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) shoots arrows! Cap runs and leaps over debris! Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) pulls off an impressive face-kick/flip maneuver! Iron Man flies during the day and at night! Thor wields his mighty hammer! Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) fires a rocket launcher! 1.5: The number of Loki leaps. The aspiring supervillain, who looks even more menacing/unseemly with the longer, scraggly black hair, executes an angry-but-impressive jump thrust at the beginning of the trailer, then a half-jump toward the end when he uses his staff to fire a powerful bolt to destroy more cars and cement. 2: The number of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents featured. "Iron Man" and "Thor" scene-stealer Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is shown giving his new recruits a tour, watching a crisis unfold and making plans with his boss, Nick Fury, who also gets a few scenes to himself. 0: Skrull sightings. The consensus among the Internet peanut gallery is that the God of Mischief can't be causing all this destruction by his lonesome and must therefore be getting help from someone or something. All signs have so far pointed to shape-changing aliens the Skrulls, but alas, Whedon hasn't offered confirmation yet. 2.5: The number of times Tony Stark says something sassy. First, to Captain America: "No offense, I don't play well with others." Cap to Stark: "Who are you without that iron suit?" Stark's response: "A genius billionaire playboy philanthropist." To Bruce Banner/ the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo): "Dr. Banner, your work is unparalleled and I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster." 2: The number of Avengers who get tossed out of glass windows and fall to the ground below. Captain America and Tony Stark get the honors here, both seemingly at the hand of Loki. 114: Seconds we have to wait until seeing the Hulk. Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. in "Avengers" Photo: Marvel

'Footloose' Stars Defend Their Remake

2011-10-14T15:01:00.001-07:00

For some film fans who have precious, emotional connections to Kevin Bacon and the original "Footloose," the release of the remake this week, starring relative acting newcomers Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald, has been met with some hesitation. Luckily, the stars of the Craig Brewer-directed retelling are fully aware of pressure to live up to the original, and they're happy to help alleviate any fears fans may have by addressing the misconceptions they've heard along the way. "I've seen on Twitter a lot that 'Patrick Swayze would be upset' that we're remaking it," Ziah Colon said of a fear that attached the "Dirty Dancing" actor to the role Bacon originated. "I'd like to tell everyone that he wasn't in the original, and if you are upset about that, you probably should not be upset that we are remaking it, because you know nothing about it. "I think that there is a lot of misinformation, and then there are people that are upset that it's too similar and there are people that are upset that it's not similar enough," Colon continued. "It's a fun movie," she promised. "Go watch it. Have fun!" "We're not gonna take your childhood dreams and just, like, wring them of any importance," co-star Miles Tiller said. "We understand that it's a very important film for people and that some of them saw it at an age where it really spoke to them. We're just trying to give a new generation of fans this story. So you should be OK with that." "Yeah, and wear comfy shoes, because after the movie, you're gonna wanna dance!" Colon promised. Hough, MTV's New Class Triple Threat, addressed a couple of other misconceptions she's heard about the film. "[People] think that it's going to be a dance movie, which it's really not — the original was a drama with dancing in it — but also that it's a remake that's going to suck, because a lot of remakes kind of, you know, butcher the original one," she said. "Those are the two misconceptions. One, it's not a dance movie, and two, I think we really did it justice and made it our own but kept what needed to be there." Check out everything we've got on "Footloose." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

'American Reunion' Trailer Offers New Slice Of 'Pie'

2011-10-13T16:01:00.001-07:00

Old habits die hard, and that's never been more apparent than in the brand-new red-band trailer for "American Reunion," the fourth "American Pie" movie centering on the original cast. It's been 12 years since the first "Pie," and Jim (Jason Biggs) may have gotten married in the last movie, but he's still the same awkward, horny kid at heart. And as you'll see in the trailer, the same goes for his wife, Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). The new movie follows the gang as they prepare for the East Great Falls class reunion. But what makes the get-together truly special is that this is the first time since "American Pie 2" that the entire cast is back together onscreen. When we say the entire cast, we mean the entire cast. The movie brings back many of the memorable smaller roles from the series, including the Shermanator, Stifler's mom and even John Cho as MILF Guy #2. The trailer doesn't show much in the way of the story, but it has one big surprise built in that should set off the good old "American Pie" cringe. No matter how much things have changed, it looks like for Jim, they're exactly the same. "American Reunion" hits theaters April 6 and stars Biggs, Hannigan, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas and Eddie Kaye Thomas. Video: 'American Reunion' movie trailer (mature) Check out everything we've got on "American Reunion." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Jason Biggs in "American Pie Reunion" Photo: Universal

Brad Pitt's 'World War Z' Set Raided By SWAT Team

2011-10-13T15:01:00.001-07:00

Onlookers may have thought that the intense police action was part of the plot, but when Hungarian police and a SWAT team descended on the set of Brad Pitt's film "World War Z" on Monday, it was not a scripted event. According to US Weekly, the SWAT team raided a Budapest warehouse where weapons were being stored for use in the epic zombie flick, with anti-terrorism officers seizing 85 guns. The firearms, which were supposed to be nonfunctional, were automatic, military-style assault rifles that were in good working order. The guns were confiscated at an airport near the film's set, where they were being stored. "This morning a private plane brought guns wrapped in a parcel from a company to an individual [in Budapest]," said the director of Hungary's anti-terrorism unit in a statement. "Guns like these are highly illegal to transport even if they were to [be] used as stage guns, which hopefully they weren't." A source told the magazine that Pitt — whose Plan B Entertainment is producing the movie set for a December 2012 release — isn't to blame for the prop snafu. "The movie company's employees must have made a mistake bringing the guns in without the Anti-Terrorism Unit's permission," said the unnamed source. The movie, which is being helmed by Oscar-nominated director Marc Forster ("Machine Gun Preacher," "Stranger Than Fiction") and is based on a beloved novel by Max Brooks, stars Pitt as a United Nations employee who is traveling the world in an effort to stop a zombie plague from wiping out humanity. Forster has promised that he is taking a different approach to how the zombies move in the film from how they lurch in the book. "In Max Brook's book they move in the George Romero ["Night of the Living Dead"] fashion. I feel like we have a little bit different approach," he revealed. "But it doesn't exclude that they might not eventually be fashioned [on] how George Romero's zombies move, it's just a little bit different approach. I think that will probably be the biggest discussions that there will be." Check out everything we've got on "World War Z." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brad Pitt on the set of "World War Z" on August 18, 2011, in Glasgow, Scotland Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/ Getty Images

Hugh Jackman Recalls Robert Pattinson Karaoke Night

2011-10-12T16:01:00.001-07:00

Back in 2009, there was a report that Hugh Jackman and Robert Pattinson hung out at a karaoke bar in Japan together. Now, more than two years later, MTV News heard the tale straight from Jackman himself, who stopped by our offices to chat about "Real Steel." "I actually did karaoke with Rob. That's random, isn't it?" he said. "We were on our way to Japan, and he was promoting ['Twilight'] and I didn't talk to him at all on the flight, because he's this really tall guy with a hood over his head literally, and every time I'd go to the bathroom, I'd be like, 'Man, that guy takes some serious sleeping pills,' because this was him [ slumps over ] the whole time." But the twosome quickly went from strangers on a plane to friends at a bar. "When he got out, I was like, 'Hey, man,' and Baz Luhrmann was also on the flight because we were promoting 'Australia.' So we went out to this Japanese karaoke bar, and we invited Rob, and he came," he said. "And it was so much fun. Man, he's got a voice. Really soulful." Jackman expanded a bit on the night's debauchery, revealing what really goes on at a Japanese karaoke bar, for the uninitiated. "The first thing you do is you get inside this room, the doors are closed, and there's, like, eight of you," Jackman explained. "So it feels a little weird. And then all of a sudden, they open, and they bring in these boxes, which are basically [full of] dress-up [clothes], and it's all girls' clothes. I was a schoolgirl, Baz got dressed up, and Rob did not. He was too cool for school." Check out everything we've got on "Real Steel." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Hugh Jackman Photo: MTV News

James Cameron Calls 3-D 'Titanic' A 'New Experience'

2011-10-12T15:01:00.001-07:00

In 2009, James Cameron announced to a crowd at San Diego Comic-Con that "Titanic," the iconic epic and king of the box office, would soon resurface in a theater near you, but this time in 3-D. Two years later, the conversion process is nearly complete and we're six months away from the April 6 release date. But on Tuesday (October 11), James Cameron showed off about 20 minutes of newly 3-D-ified scenes to a handful of journalists in New York to give them an idea of what the finished product will look like next year and to explain the process and his reasoning behind the re-release for the 100th anniversary of the boat's sinking. For Cameron, the re-release is about giving the audience a chance to relive an event that was more than just going to the movie theater. "I've always thought of watching this film in theaters as a social phenomenon, where parents will take their children or teenagers would go with their mom," Cameron said. "It would maybe be a woman going with a man she wanted to check out to make sure that his emotional plumbing was working before she made a big commitment." But the name "Titanic" doesn't carry the same weight across the age spectrum as it did in 1997, and Cameron said he understands the need to appeal to a new audience. "There are younger kids we're going to have to sell to who don't know the movie. There's going to be a teenage audience who knows the movie only from video. The question is, do they know that just from peer-to-peer socially or is it passed on from watching it with their parents?" Cameron said. Fans of the movie don't need to worry about any changes to the film they knew 14 years ago. Cameron explains that the only changes to the movie were the conversion to 3D. "We're not changing a frame. The ship still sinks. It ends the same way," Cameron said. Even some of the more dated special effects — "cringers," as Cameron referred to them — are there exactly as they were in 1997. The director said George Lucas and the ever-changing "Star Wars" trilogy helped him cope with that. "I see that as the example of what I don't want to do. I don't mean that as a slam," Cameron said. "[Lucas] considers his movies a perpetual work in progress. For me, the problem is, once you pull that thread, it all unravels. Where do you stop?' By the time the new version of the film is released this spring, the 3-D conversion will have taken over a year with work from 300 artists and a cost of $18 million, but Cameron said he is proud of the conversion. "I think the film holds up pretty darn well. In 3-D, it becomes kind of a new experience," Cameron said. "It's a much more intimate and involving experience both with the characters and with the physical space." From the look of the eight scenes shown Tuesday, it looks like "Titanic" could be one of the most successful post-conversions to date, and it might bode well for more potential 3-D conversions for Cameron's other films. "The question is whether the film would benefit from a re-release and would there be a big enough audience for it. 'Terminator 2,' maybe. I think that would be a good place to start," Cameron suggested. As we've seen with "Avatar," Cameron knows how to do 3-D well, and the clips shown Tuesday were no exception, especially the early scene of people boarding the ship. The effect does give a good sense of depth without gimmicky distraction. It was clear that care had gone into preserving the feel of "Titanic," while literally adding a new dimension. Only minutes after the clips began, the experience became more about seeing the film on the big screen again and less about the glasses on your face. That's the effect James Cameron hopes to achieve with audiences next spring. "I think the story can't be 'It's "Titanic" in 3-D,' " Cameron said. "I think the story should be 'It's "Titanic" coming back to the big screen and it's in 3-D.' " Check out everything we've got on "Titanic." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. James Cameron Photo: Getty Images

'Wolverine' R Rating Not 'Off The Table,' Hugh Jackman Says

2011-10-11T16:01:00.001-07:00

After months of delayed start dates and a change of directors, the best thing Wolverine fans have going for them is a star who is just as eager to get the man with the adamantium claws back on the screen. Hugh Jackman stopped by MTV News and gave an update on "The Wolverine," its potential R rating, whether any familiar faces from the Marvel Universe would show up and a new hint about the setting. As of now, the darker follow-up to 2009's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" has a director in James Mangold but no definite start date. So what should fans expect from "The Wolverine" once filming begins in Japan? First of all, there will be more locations. "Not all of it takes place in Japan. That's my other little tip for you," Jackman told MTV News' Josh Horowitz. Japan, up until now, had been a focal point for the concept of the film, which centers on Logan's encounters with samurai. How Wolverine's native Canada plays into the equation is yet to be seen. Any talk of taking the franchise "darker" is going to welcome the follow-up question, "Well, how dark?" In the case of "The Wolverine," many older fans have held on to the hope of a more realistic, R-rated sequel, as sharp objects like adamantium claws tend to result in blood. "There's such great temptation to make an R-rated 'Wolverine.' I've always felt that, and I know a lot of fans would like that," Jackman said. "If there's ever going to be a superhero that is going to be R-rated, it's going to be Wolverine." And while an R rating isn't "off the table," there are considerations to be made, specifically the character's younger fans. "You see it in their eyes. He's everything to them," said Jackman, who's concerned with alienating those fans with an R-rated film. "You need to have a really good reason to exclude those fans." In the meantime, Jackman and Mangold may have come up with one possible solution to their rating dilemma. "There is even talk about us doing two versions, as in finding a way to do both while you shoot it, which could be really cool." With Wolverine, there is always the unique question of the X-Men timeline and who might show up to the party, because the ageless mutant can more or less pop up in any era since the beginning of the 19th century. Jackson was less talkative on the subject of whether we'd see some familiar faces, but suggested that most of the cast would be filled with new characters, possibly leaving room for a cameo or two. Ever since "3:10 to Yuma" director James Mangold stepped in to replace Darren Aronofsky, the biggest obstacle has been Jackman's starring role opposite Russell Crowe in Tom Hooper's "Les Misérables." Jackman recently told reporters that "The Wolverine" would immediately follow "Les Misérables" as his next movie, so the waiting may soon be over. Check out everything we've got on "The Wolverine." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Hugh Jackman Photo: MTV News

'Twilight' Films To Hit Theaters Before 'Breaking Dawn' Drops

2011-10-11T15:01:00.001-07:00

It appears that "Twilight Tuesdays" are back. It was announced that Summit will re-release the first three "Twilight Saga" films on Tuesdays in November, leading up to the release of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" on November 18. The theater events will kick off on November 1 with the first flick in the franchise, 2008's "Twilight." "Twilight Saga: New Moon" (2009) will open on November 8, and last year's "Eclipse" opens the following week on November 15. Each showing will take place at 7:30 p.m. local time, and the films have been updated to include cast introductions and interviews as well as behind-the-scenes content. Ticket information and a complete list of theaters hosting the events can be found at the Fathom events website. Anticipation for the first of two "Breaking Dawn" films is at a fever pitch, with fans yearning to see Edward and Bella finally tie the knot. The newlyweds' honeymoon and all the drama surrounding Bella's pregnancy will also be addressed in part 1. "I've seen it a few times," Taylor Lautner told MTV News about the film. "I saw it for the first time while we were still filming, so it was a really rough cut, but I've seen several versions since then, and it's getting better and better." "You are going to face a lot of emotions, definitely," he further teased about the Bill Condon-directed flick. "You are going to be angry. I guarantee you [that] you will cry multiple times. There's a good mix. It's definitely different than any of the ones before." Of course, this is hardly the end for Twilighters. The second "Breaking Dawn" film opens on November 16, 2012. Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Photo: Summit

Taylor Kitsch Talks Prepping For 'John Carter'

2011-10-10T16:01:00.001-07:00

Not just anyone can be John Carter. Taylor Kitsch found that out the hard way while auditioning for the role, his first big movie as the lead. And even though he had been unfamiliar with the John Carter books before, the role was, according to Kitsch, something he was "willing to do anything for." In the upcoming adaption of Edgar Rice Burroughs' beloved "A Princess of Mars," Kitsch plays a Civil War veteran who finds himself transported to another planet. The Martians task Carter with saving the planet and rescuing the captive princess, played by Lynn Collins. The production finally came together recently after lingering in development for years and losing Jon Favreau, who was once attached to direct. The journey began by meeting with the director Andrew Stanton, best known for his work on Pixar films. "I knew of Stanton, of course, and I was a huge fan," Kitsch says. "He was a big fan of Riggins, my 'Friday Night Lights' character, so right away we kind of pushed each other because we were so excited about just meeting one another." After their initial meeting, Stanton took Kitsch through some of the preproduction work that the director and his team had already finished. "It's literally floor-to-ceiling in prep and pictures, storyboards, arc of John Carter, arc of the Tharks, Dejah," Kitsch said. "It's not overwhelming, but it's like, OK, this guy's not screwing around." That first meeting was just the beginning for Kitsch. The producers put him through "a lot," but he understood that it all needed to happen. "It's such a grand movie, and John is in every shot of this film, so of course it's a big gap. You go on film, and you read for him a couple times and then you get to the screen test and you're starting to battle through this," Kitsch said. But Stanton was there for his eventual star every step of the way, especially during the two-day screen test. "This really says a lot about who he is. He takes you the day before and does a walkthrough," Kitsch said. "He just puts everything level when you get there on the day. That just helped me settle in a lot." Check out everything we've got on "John Carter." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Taylor Kitsch in "John Carter" Photo: Disney

MTV's 'DISconnected' Is 'Important,' Pete Wentz Says

2011-10-10T15:01:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES — With the positive influence technology has had on our busy lives, there is a negative side, with those who abuse technology to hurt themselves and others. MTV has started to raise awareness and fight cyberbullying head-on with the creation of A Thin Lin and the new TV movie "DISconnected." "DISconnected" revolves around four technology-dependent characters who all endure different types of digital drama and suffer consequences because of it. The film held a screening Wednesday night, and MTV News was lucky enough to catch up with a few star supporters to find out how they deal with the topic of digital drama and cyberbullying in their own lives. "It's important to me, because having become an artist in the digital age, you get to see all the aspects of how being so connected works," Pete Wentz said. "It's such an amazing idea, but at the same time I think it allows people who are cowardly or anonymous, it gives them a lot of voice. Being a dad, knowing my son is going to grow up only knowing this [digital age], it's really important for him to see that people do stand up and not everybody is hiding behind a computer screen. I want him to know that." Actor Jordan Calloway, who plays one of the four main characters in the film, agreed with the importance of the film's serious subject matter. "To be a part of this movement was really important to me, because it drives home a strong message that kids in society need to hear," he said. "The fact that [director] Leslie [Libman] took it upon herself to get this message out to kids and all of us who use technology, it was really important for me, as a college student myself, to be a part of this, to be able to drive the point across. My character, Isaiah, is based on a true story, which is that of Abraham Biggs; he was a 19-year-old kid in Florida who actually did commit suicide." Be sure to tune in to "DISconnected" on Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, and check out the movie's Facebook page. Pete Wentz Photo: MTV News

'Hobbit' Is Yet Another 'Boys Club' For Evangeline Lilly

2011-10-09T16:02:00.001-07:00

Even though the big-screen adaptation of "The Hobbit" is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's beloved book, everyone knows the movie version won't be an exact replica and that there will be a few surprises in store when the first film hits theaters next year. One of those surprises director Peter Jackson already announced is the addition of actress Evangeline Lilly, playing the newly created role of Woodland Elf Tauriel. MTV News had a couple of minutes with the actress at the premiere of her new film "Real Steel" on Sunday night, and we snuck in a few "Hobbit" questions, asking for a progress update on the elf fight training she endured for the role. "Elf fighting, let me just say something, recovering from labor is like recovering from a full-body injury, and I didn't realize to what extent that was true until I started training for elf fighting," revealed Lilly, who gave birth to her first child in May. "My hips don't move like they used to move, my back doesn't move like it used to move, my shoulders are sore every day. But it's fun." The former "Lost" actress said she's also enjoying the "chilled out" atmosphere of filming in New Zealand, as well as being a part of yet another male-dominated cast. "It's kind of, like, my M.O.," Lilly said about being one of few women on set. " 'Lost' was a boys club, 'The Hurt Locker' was a boys club, ['Real Steel'] was a boys club, and now 'The Hobbit' is a boys club. So I'm used to it. ... It's really chilled out and relaxed, and everyone is really down to earth and supportive." Finally, we asked Lilly if she'd been able to glean any words of wisdom from Jackson's previous leading-lady elves, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel and Liv Tyler as Arwen in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. "I wish! I would love to talk to those women, and they're two women who I deeply admire," she said. "Cate Blanchett is in this film, and I missed her; we didn't cross paths. She was filming before I got there and was gone by the time I arrived. "But the good thing is, I tried not to copy their performances," she added. "I really wanted to have something original, so I intentionally didn't go back and watch 'Rings' for that reason. I just want to create something new." Check out everything we've got on "The Hobbit." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Evangeline Lilly Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Robert Pattinson Has 'An Edge' In 'Cosmopolis'

2011-10-09T15:00:00.001-07:00

Although most of Robert Pattinson's fans are totally focused on November 18 — a.k.a. the release date for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" — the heartthrob has another equally buzzworthy film headed into theaters in 2012: the dark, postmodern drama "Cosmopolis." The film, adapted by screenwriter and director David Cronenberg from Don DeLillo's novel, revolves around a day in the life of hotheaded asset manager Eric Packer (Pattinson) with most of the plot's action taking place in a limo. MTV News caught up with "Cosmopolis" co-star Kevin Durand at the premiere of "Real Steel" over the weekend, and he had nothing but rave reviews for both the film and its leading man. "It's awesome. We're just in postproduction right now. It's incredibly exciting," Durand said. "Robert is a very gracious, kind fella, and we had a great time [filming]. We had a really great time." When asked what new sides of Pattinson's acting abilities we'll see in the film, Durand said we'll see an edgier, more adult version of the "Twilight" star. "He's got an edge to him in this film," Durand said. "He did some really excellent work that I think he should be very proud of." The "Real Steel" and "I Am Number Four" actor went on to say that given the subject matter and action in the plot, the film will have a more adult rating and that fans should be very excited to see it. "[It takes place] in present day, but it's its own time and place," he explained. "Mr. Cronenberg has such an amazing voice. I myself am just as excited, probably more excited, than anyone else to see it, just to see what he's done with it." Check out everything we've got on "Cosmopolis." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in "Cosmopolis" Photo: David Cronenberg

'Ides Of March' Stars Vote George Clooney As Their VP

2011-10-08T16:01:00.001-07:00

"The Ides of March" has lots of people talking politics, so we thought we'd ask a political question of our own. When we hit the red carpet Wednesday night for the film's New York premiere, we asked the celebs who they would choose as their running mate. The political drama, which hits theaters Friday, follows Ryan Gosling as one of the main men behind the campaign of presidential hopeful Governor Mike Morris, played by George Clooney — so it shouldn't come as a surprise that Gosling and Clooney were among the early front-runners for vice president. Marisa Tomei, who plays a New York Times political reporter, gave the nod to Clooney because of his politic savvy and for a second, much more private reason. "He's astute on all the issues," Tomei says. "And he's got balls." Gosling may or may not be the right man for the job, according to Clooney, who jokingly sees a downward trend in his co-star's career. "I think he's going to go south pretty soon if you look at him. He seems to be on his last leg," said the ever-sarcastic Clooney. "I think he's almost, like, 30 years old." Judah Friedlander from "30 Rock" took his answer in an entirely different direction. "No vice president. You need a leader," Friedlander said. "If you're a really good president, you don't need a vice president." For her running mate, Evan Rachel Wood let her true colors as a hard-core Belieber show: "Ryan or George — or Justin Bieber!" she suggested, saying they "all know how to work a crowd." Check out everything we've got on "The Ides of March." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. George Clooney at the "Ides of March" premiere Photo: Theo Wargo/ Getty Images

Johnny Depp Signs On For Dr. Seuss Biopic

2011-10-08T15:01:00.001-07:00

In between stints as a pirate, a scissor-handed freak and a chocolate-factory wizard, Johnny Depp has played a real-life hopped-up writer, a cross-dressing director and a notorious bank robber. Now, the star has signed on to work on a film about one of the most-beloved authors of all time: Dr. Seuss. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Depp will produce and potentially star as Seuss (born Theodor Geisel), author of children's classics such as "Green Eggs and Ham," "The Cat in the Hat," "Horton Hears a Who!" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" In addition to being turned into a number of hit movies ("Grinch" and "Cat in the Hat"), Geisel's books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. The movie is unlikely to rely as heavily on CGI as Depp's $1 billion-grossing foray into "Alice in Wonderland" with director Tim Burton, but it's possible the Seuss film will include animated elements. Universal and production house Illumination Entertainment, currently joined in postproduction on an animated adaptation of Seuss' "The Lorax," and Infinitum Nihil also will work on the biopic. Seuss began his career in the late 1920s as a magazine illustrator, then shifted to drawing ads for companies including General Electric and NBC during the Great Depression, before shifting to political cartoons during World War II and, finally, turning his focus to children's books in the 1950s. Among his first efforts was "Horton," as well as 1957's "Cat in the Hat" and "Grinch." Geisel died of throat cancer in September 1991 at the age of 87. Depp already has a number of planes on the runway, including a turn as journalist Paul Kemp in "The Rum Diary," a reported cameo in Martin Scorsese's 3-D adaptation of "Hugo Cabret," another collabo with Burton on "Dark Shadows" and a possible starring role as Tonto in the stalled big-screen remake of "The Lone Ranger." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Johnny Depp Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images

George Clooney's Directing Inspires Ryan Gosling

2011-10-07T16:01:00.001-07:00

The next step on Ryan Gosling's climb to the top might take him behind the camera. In a recent interview with MTV News, Gosling talked about his aspirations to eventually direct, like his "Ides of March" co-star and director George Clooney. "I'd like to do that," Gosling said. "That was one of the reasons I wanted to work with George, was to see how that's done." Even though Gosling may look up to Clooney as an actor/director, he isn't ready to wear both hats simultaneously just yet. "I don't think I could handle it as well as he does. He's pretty incredible to watch," Gosling said of Clooney directing himself in "Ides." "He's like Keanu Reeves in 'The Matrix.' Any problem that comes to him, he's just dodging those bullets." "The Ides of March" marks Clooney's fourth feature film as director and his first time working with Gosling. While Gosling hasn't directed yet, he does have some experience behind the scenes: He served as executive producer on last year's critical darling "Blue Valentine." Gosling recently found a new collaborator in Danish filmmaker and "Drive" director Nicolas Winding Refn. The duo are reuniting for Refn's next film, "Only God Forgives," and have two other films in development, including the much-delayed remake of "Logan's Run." Gosling's work with Refn developing the tone and screenplay for "Drive" was often talked about in the press and could hint at future directing gigs. Check out everything we've got on "The Ides of March." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Ryan Gosling Photo: MTV News

Robert Pattinson 'Great To Work With' In 'Cosmopolis'

2011-10-07T15:01:00.001-07:00

Robert Pattinson, who will marry Kristen Stewart in "Breaking Dawn" this November, is also set to wed Sarah Gadon in David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis." And, as Gadon revealed to MTV News, it's going be a very interesting journey for the newlyweds in the film. "I think it's a really interesting film, and I don't want to give away too much, but I think in a really kind of pared-down version of the film, it's about a young millionaire who loses everything in the course of a day," New Class-er Gadon said. "I play his new wife, so I'm one of the only characters that comes in and out of the story throughout the film. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and those are going to be some interesting meals." Having already worked with Cronenberg on the Freudian flick "A Dangerous Method," Gadon said she was fully aware what she was getting herself into, so watching Pattinson get into the director's dangerous method proved to be quite interesting. "For me, it was really interesting and great to work with Rob at this point in his career," she said. "And I think David Cronenberg is a fabulous director, and to see Rob meet with David at this point in his journey as an artist was really special for me to watch. "I think when you work with David Cronenberg, it's a really exciting and liberating and, at the same time, terrifying experience. And it was really great, having worked with David, to watch somebody new go through that ... I think it's really great for [Pattinson] to have chosen this role and be a part of our film." It's a great time to be Gadon: Her star is definitely on the rise, and having someone like Cronenberg on her side is certainly proving to be fruitful for the 24-year-old Canadian native. "I thought that going into the process with 'A Dangerous Method' was way more daunting," she admitted. "I had created an audition tape, sent it into David, had booked the role, flew to Germany knowing I would be playing Michael Fassbender's wife in a film with Keira Knightley and Viggo [Mortensen] and Vincent Cassel. And then, not having met David until the day I arrived in full period hair and makeup for our camera tests ... I didn't even sleep. "So, that whole experience really made me grow so much as an actor that by the time 'Cosmopolis' came around, not to brush it off, but I was ready for something like that. I felt prepared," she continued. "Also, David is such an intelligent and thoughtful director, but he's also a man of few words, so getting 'Cosmopolis,' when he asked me to be a part of that film, in a way, it was a validation." Check out everything we've got on "Cosmopolis." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon in "Cosmopolis" Photo: David Cronenberg

'Real Steel' Stars, Director Knock Out Misconceptions

2011-10-06T16:01:00.001-07:00

For those who've been following the comings and goings of "Real Steel," it's a pretty well-known fact that when the project was first announced back in late 2009, the Internets lit up with comments and rants against the studio for green-lighting a Rock 'Em Sock Em Robots movie. And while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the problem with that perception, according to the stars and director themselves, is that it's incorrect. "A lot people [say], 'What is it, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots?' But it's got a lot of heart," Hugh Jackman told MTV News at the film's premiere. "This movie is really about the relationships of everyone involved, and I think it's going to surprise people. I saw it with my mother-in-law, my wife and my kids at the same screening, and they all were crying at one point, laughing, and they really got into it." Director Shawn Levy admitted that he wasn't bothered so much by the quick critiques as he was amused, because they were analyzing elements of the film they hadn't seen and a script they obviously hadn't read. "It's more 'Rocky' than it is Rock 'Em Sock 'Em. It's all about the heart, it's all about the characters," Levy explained. "The action is great, and if you're a young guy and you just want to come and watch robots wail on each other, great, you're going to love it. But if you're looking for more of an emotional experience, the movie is very much that." Evangeline Lilly took the emotional aspect of the plot one step further and explained the film's overall message. "I think the moral message here is: Never give up on yourself. Never sell out. Selling out is such a big thing nowadays, because our culture is so materialistic and money is everything, and in this film, this beautiful little boy played by Dakota [Goyo] will not sell out, and his father wants to, because his father, Hugh Jackman, is kind of pathetic compared to his son," she explained. "His son is like, 'Dude, I'm not giving up on myself, I'm not giving up on my robot, I'm not giving up on you.' It's beautiful, because it's supposed to be the inverse; the father is supposed to say that to the son. So it kind of breaks your heart to see a son redeem his father." Check out everything we've got on "Real Steel." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Hugh Jackman in "Real Steel" Photo: DreamWorks

Steve Jobs And Movies: To Infinity And Beyond

2011-10-06T15:01:00.001-07:00

There would be no Buzz Lightyear without Woody, no WALL-E without EVE, no Mike without Sully — just as there would be no Pixar without Steve Jobs, who died at age 56 on Wednesday (October 5). The visionary Apple co-founder, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, will likely be best remembered for his inventive imagination that was the lifeblood of a technological revolution. But moviemakers, actors, critics, cinephiles and more across the globe will also remember Jobs for giving life to some of the most moving and breathtaking feats of filmmaking the industry has ever seen: the award-winning and unforgettable works of Pixar. Steve Jobs almost singlehandedly brought the music industry into the future — here's how. Originally founded in 1979 as a Lucasfilm computer arm called Graphic Group, the company was eventually acquired and renamed Pixar in 1986 by Jobs, freshly and famously ousted by Apple. Jobs, serving as the animation studio's chairman and chief executive officer, led Pixar to Disney, a collaboration that has gifted generations with countless unforgettable works, ranging from 1995's groundbreaking "Toy Story" all the way to 2011's admittedly unbalanced "Cars 2." Throughout its 25-year history, Pixar has filled our bellies with tales of comfort food, knocked our blocks off with incredible superheroics and broken our hearts with old people. The studio has been responsible for no less than 26 Academy Awards, including Best Animated Film wins for "Finding Nemo," "WALL-E," "Up" and "Toy Story 3," with the latter two also nominated in the all-encompassing Best Picture category. Indeed, whether you've been aware of it or not, Jobs has been responsible for some of the most powerful storytelling of ours or any generation. Remember Steve Jobs' many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. "Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined," Pixar's John Lasseter and Ed Catmull said in a joint statement about Jobs' passing. "Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. "He will forever be a part of Pixar's DNA," their statement continued. "Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time." President Obama, Nicki Minaj, Bill Gates and more remember Steve Jobs. It's not just in the heart and soul of Pixar where Jobs' contribution to film resides; from now on, whether you're catching up for Oscar season between work shifts on your iPad or watching the newest film releases from the comfort of your own home with nothing but a wireless connection and a functional iTunes account, the world will engage movies and media in ways that are only possible because of his work. Comedian and "Ratatouille" voice actor Patton Oswalt perfectly encapsulated the late inventor's legacy on Twitter. In an appropriately geek-friendly manner of speaking, Jobs truly was the "closest thing we had to Tony Stark." Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you? Tell us on Facebook. Steve Jobs Photo: Getty Images

'The Adventures of Tintin' U.K. Trailer: Five Key Scenes

2011-10-05T16:01:00.001-07:00

For those unfamiliar with the worldwide popularity of the Tintin comics, the news and hype surrounding "The Adventures of Tintin," the film adaptation out this December, could seem overblown. Yes, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson teaming up is always going to be big news, but the teaser trailer released a few months ago left a lot of people scratching their heads, wondering what all the fuss was about. Well, that should change with the latest trailer to hit the Web. MSN Movies posted a look at a brand-new U.K. trailer for the film, and let's just say it gives us everything that was missing from the teaser. We've broken down the five key scenes from the trailer so you'll know why Tintin should be on your radar this fall. "The Adventures of Tintin" Photo: Columbia Pictures

Kristen Stewart Discusses Her 'English' Boyfriend

2011-10-05T15:01:00.001-07:00

In her retro photos for British GQ, Kristen Stewart not only wore one very stylish bikini on the cover, she got a bit personal in her interview, without ever actually naming names. It was her statement that her "boyfriend is English" that certainly will have Twi-Hards getting all hot and bothered. You know who is English? Robert Pattinson. While Stewart reportedly never went into detail about who she was talking about, she did note that she likes to spend time in her boyfriend's home country. Vogue UK reported that she also discussed maintaining her public and private lives. "I'm like, 'That's mine,' " Stewart said, referring to her private life. "And I like to keep whatever is mine remaining that way. It's a funny little game to play and it's a slippery slope. I always say to myself I'm never going to give anything away because there's never any point or benefit for me ... I guarantee when I get married or have a baby, everyone is going to want to know my kid's name and I'm not going to say it for ages." It was in another magazine, Glamour , where Stewart offered her best romantic advice. "Hmm ... good relationship advice for me tends to be being honest and knowing yourself. Don't be an a--hole. That's my advice," she said, according to USA Today. "Don't be mean. Don't take sh--. Don't settle." Stewart doesn't settle, RPattz fans would agree: Her beau has been voted Sexiest Male by Glamour voters. EW.com reported that it's the third year he's nabbed the honor. Taylor Lautner placed second on the list, followed by Johnny Depp, David Beckham and Zac Efron. Kristen Stewart on the cover of GQ Photo: GQ

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Calls Lack Of '50/50' Kiss 'Horrible'

2011-10-04T16:01:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, audiences laughed (and cried) along with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen in the heartfelt comedy "50/50," loosely based on writer Will Reiser's real-life battle with cancer. (Spoilers ahead!) Gordon-Levitt's thoughtful portrayal of 27-year-old cancer patient Adam takes him on a journey from diagnosis to recovery, breaking up with girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) and sparking a new relationship with therapist-in-training Katherine (Anna Kendrick) along the way. The budding romance is only teased, however, as the two never seal the deal with a kiss. It was a purposeful omission, the film's writer and stars said at the "50/50" premiere last week in New York. "We very much resisted them kissing," Reiser told MTV News. "The movie is not a love story. It's about a guy's battle with cancer. If it turned into a love story at the end, we would be betraying what the movie is about. That kiss is the start of another movie." Kendrick, in fact, was relieved she didn't have to smooch Gordon-Levitt, as they'd become good friends after weeks of filming together. "The studio wanted to see us kiss at the end, actually. We were thinking about just trying it as an option," she explained. "Joe very wisely stood up and said, 'If we give it to them as an option, they will use it.' So we just decided not to do it, because it really just didn't feel right. And I was relieved, because I had known Joe for too long at that point. It's too weird once you think of someone as a friend to be like, 'OK, I guess we make out now?' " But Kendrick probably shouldn't share that sentiment with Gordon-Levitt, because as he told it, he was pretty bummed he didn't get to kiss his leading lady. "It's a travesty," he said with a big grin. "It's a horrible injustice, and I'm writing a letter." Check out everything we've got on "50/50." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Anna Kendrick and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "50/50" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Dolphin Tale' Slays 'Lion King' At Box Office

2011-10-04T15:01:00.001-07:00

A bunch of animals (and Brad Pitt) fended off competition from four new films over the weekend. "Dolphin Tale," "Moneyball" and "The Lion King" (in 3-D) took the top three spots at the weekend box office, respectively, with the Seth Rogen- and Joseph Gordon-Levitt-starring "50/50" achieving moderate business. "Courageous" did well considering its budget and range of release, while "Dream House" and Anna Faris' "What's Your Number?" tanked. "Dolphin Tale" and "Moneyball" were neck and neck for the spot behind reigning champ "The Lion King" when they first entered theaters. But over the weekend, the story of Winter the dolphin swam past both of those films to become the #1 movie in America. "Dolphin Tale" earned $14.2 million during its second weekend of release according to studio estimates, which brought its domestic total to $37.5 million. Pitt's "Moneyball" was right behind with $12.5 million for a $38.5 million total. The re-release of "The Lion King" dropped to #3 but still earned enough ($11.1 million, to be exact) to push it past "Spider Man" in the all-time box-office top 10. The Disney giant has made $408.2 million since it was first released in 1994. "50/50" was #4 with $8.9 million, which was the lowest opening for any Seth Rogen movie. However, the dramedy's overwhelmingly positive reviews (it sat at 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer at press time) and reportedly modest production budget make that a respectable, if underwhelming, debut. "50/50" co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "Hesher," by contrast, made just $382,946 domestically during its 12-week run in theaters earlier this year. Made for just $2 million, "Courageous" played on roughly 1,000 fewer screens than the other new releases and enjoyed the fifth-biggest opening for a Christian-based movie, behind "The Passion of the Christ" and the "Chronicles of Narnia." The film, which centers on a group of police officers affected by tragedy, opened at #5 with $8.8 million. "Dream House" cost a reported $50 million to produce and opened at #6 with just $8.2 million. The haunted-house thriller stars real-life married couple Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz. Only 8 percent of film critics reviewed the film favorably, according to Rotten Tomatoes. "What's Your Number?" fared the worst of the weekend's new releases. The Anna Faris comedy was #8 with $5.6 million, which is less than half of the opening number of Faris' 2008 movie "The House Bunny." Internationally, "The Smurfs" remained #1 for an eighth consecutive weekend. Next weekend's new releases include Hugh Jackman's "Real Steel," the Ryan Gosling/George Clooney political scandal flick "The Ides of March" and Clive Owen's "The Intruders," all three of which have been embraced by most critics thus far. Check out everything we've got on "Dolphin Tale" and "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. "Dolphin Tale" Photo: Warner Bros.

'Footloose,' 'Ides Of March' Lead October Movies

2011-10-03T16:01:00.001-07:00

As we while away the remaining days of September, there is a lot more than Halloween candy to look forward to in the month of October. We're talking about October movies, of course, when studios begin unveiling their heavy-hitting award contenders, as well as a few fun, fall-themed crowd-pleasers. In order of their release dates, here are a few of the films we're most looking forward to seeing on the big screen in October: October 7 "The Ides of March" : Really, what's not to like about this movie? You have George Clooney as director and star, alongside 2011 "it" guy Ryan Gosling in a film about corruption in politics. It's timely, smart and in addition to featuring two handsome leading men, boasts a very talented supporting cast in Philip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei. "Real Steel" : When this movie was announced, we were right there with all the naysayers, scratching our heads and wondering how a major studio would make a "robot boxing movie" worth watching. Much to our surprise, the early buzz on the film is really good, from some of the crankiest critics out there, and its selling point seems to be the father/son relationship between Hugh Jackman and newcomer Dakota Goyo. Consider us intrigued. October 14 "Footloose" : This is not a future Oscar-winner, naturally, but if you have any affection for movies with a lot of dancing and teenage angst or grew up with the Kevin Bacon-starring original, the remake of "Footloose" is a lot of fun. Lead actor Kenny Wormald has come a long way from his newbie actor days in "You Got Served" and "Center Stage: Turn It Up" to become a believable leading man. And his dancing is terrific. Serious triple-threat Julianne Hough is fun to watch as well, but pay special attention to charming scene-stealer Miles Teller as adorable country bumpkin Willard. October 21 "The Three Musketeers" : While Paul W.S. Anderson is not particularly well-known for the complexities in his storytelling, his films are always wonderfully visual and action-packed. With his retelling of Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers," Anderson is working with a classic story of good vs. evil, along with the added appeal of swordfights and swashbuckling. Add to that the appealing castmembers -- Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans, Matthew Macfadyen and Ray Stevenson -- and you have the makings of an entertaining popcorn flick. Honorable mention: "Paranormal Activity 3," because while this writer is a total scaredy cat and too afraid of this franchise to watch it, plenty of other filmgoers are psyched for this third installment, directed by "Catfish" helmers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. October 28 "In Time : Even though we would prefer this date to mark the release of a new album from Justin Timberlake, the premise of the futuristic society living with a fountain of youth is enough to get us into the theater. And in addition to seeing Timberlake in action -- he runs a lot in the film -- a bunch of easy-on-the-eyes actors are in the cast, including Amanda Seyfried, Olivia Wilde, Alex Pettyfer and Matt Bomer. "Like Crazy" : For those who love a weepy romance, "Like Crazy" has you covered. This year's Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner is about college sweethearts who are torn apart by deportation and features two buzz worthy performances by Anton Yelchin and newcomer Felicity Jones. Director Drake Doremus has promised a genuine, authentic love story that has the hopeless romantics among us ready to stuff our pockets with extra tissues for opening day. Honorable mention: "The Rum Diary," because it stars a relatively normal-looking Johnny Depp and Aaron Eckhart and is based on Hunter S. Thompson's "lost" novel written in the early '60s but not published until 1998. Which October movies are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald in "Footloose" Photo: Paramount Pictures

Kristen Stewart Dons 'Snow White' Armor In New Photos

2011-10-03T15:00:00.001-07:00

Kristen Stewart looks like she's ready for battle. Some photos of the "Twilight" star on the set of "Snow White and the Huntsman" have hit the Internet. In them, Stewart is wearing her previously teased armor as she films scenes at Marloes Sands Beach in Pembrokeshire Wales, U.K., this week. Photos on Screenrant.com show the actress riding a white horse alongside a group of extras dressed as medieval soldiers. They are riding through the water for what appears to be some sort of battle scene. In some on-set candids, the ponytail-sporting actress laughs and walks around the set of the Rupert Sanders-directed flick. Stewart recently debuted her longer locks for the film at London Fashion Week. No signs of co-stars Charlize Theron (the Evil Queen), Chris Hemsworth (the Huntsman) or Sam Claflin (Prince Charming) in the new photos. The film is expected to open June 1, 2012. "It's not a little girl sitting by a well with little tweety birds telling her what to do and where to go," Stewart told MTV News of her character. "[The costume] makes you feel kind of strong occasionally, sometimes, but I kind of feel tiny, my pinhead sticks out of these enormous things." Her tough look has even been approved by that other "Snow White" movie director, Tarsem, who recently gushed over her battle-ready look. "She's gorgeous," he told MTV News. "She's great." The film centers around the struggle between Snow White and the Evil Queen, who, jealous of Snow White's beauty, wants to destroy her. The catch is that Snow White has been training with the Huntsman, who has been ordered to kill her. And in true fairy-tale form, Prince Charming is enamored with Snow White. "This, as a fable, she sort of just starts off as a bad person, so it was important to understand [why she is the way she is]," Theron explained about her character. "A lot of her circumstances will kind of bleed into her actions. ... She's a serial killer; I'm pretty much preparing to play a serial killer." Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Kristen Stewart as "Snow White" Photo: Universal

Emma Watson, 'Perks' Co-Stars Do 'New Class' Boogie In Exclusive First Look

2011-10-02T16:01:00.001-07:00

The post-"Harry Potter" education of Emma Watson began, in a way, at Brown University. Searching for her first film after completing the boy-wizard franchise, the Ivy League actress found some unlikely career advisors in the form of her fellow college students, who told her that she simply had to sign up for "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," an adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's seminal novel. "Honestly, I had never read the book before, but a lot of my friends at Brown were hugely into it, and when I told them I had this script, they were crazy excited," Watson told MTV News. And just that like, through the pop-culture schooling of her peers, she'd found a flick to carry her away from Hogwarts and toward a Hollywood second act. It's fitting, then, that with "Perks" on her résumé, we've selected Watson as a member of MTV News' New Class — actors and actresses about to graduate toward greatness. The 21-year-old finds herself in good company on the movie, whose cast contains so many soon-to-break-big talents that we selected a bunch of her co-stars as her New Class cohorts. We've dubbed Watson "Most Likely to Win an Oscar." Nina Dobrev ("The Vampire Diaries") is our Next Style Icon. Logan Lerman ("Percy Jackson & the Olympians" and the upcoming "Three Musketeers") is Most Likely to Make You Swoon, and Ezra Miller (Sundance eye-opener "Another Happy Day" and Cannes selectee "We Need to Talk About Kevin") is Most Likely to Win an Independent Spirit Award. Together they're bringing a beloved teen novel to the screen. And when we visited the film's Pittsburgh set earlier this year, all four of them were well aware of the expectations surrounding the project and professed themselves lucky to be involved. "I feel incredible about it. I feel like I've been waiting for 'Perks,' " Watson said. "I was waiting for this story, for this script, for this moment, for these people to do it with me. I'm so glad I didn't do anything that I didn't care about." Watson plays Sam, a high school senior who, along with Miller's Patrick, introduces Lerman's freshman Charlie to a world of sex, drugs and awkward adolescence. "I definitely tapped into some awkward childhood memories for this movie," Lerman explained. "It's been a year and a half since I first signed on to the project, so to be out here making it is a pretty big deal for me. It's cool to be working with this great cast of young actors." Dobrev, on a break from "Vampire Diaries," echoed those sentiments. "Every hiatus, my goal is to try something different, and this is a small part in a great, fun indie that has a great script," she said of playing Charlie's sister. "It's been fun to meet such great new people. Everyone really gets along and is really friendly and fun." Their subject matter, it should be said, is not all fun or funny. When when we showed up on set the stars were filming a raucous school-dance sequence set to "Come on Eileen," but "Perks" takes on potentially controversial material about suicide, drug use and sexuality. These may be divisive topics to some, but ask any teen and he or she will say it's all part of their world. "I don't think there will be one teenager who will watch this and not have one story or one moment that they don't deeply feel they can relate to," Watson said. For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV's New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Emma Watson Photo: Nick Harvey/ WireImage

Jonah Hill 'Not Mad' At 'Lion King' Triumph Over 'Moneyball'

2011-10-02T15:01:00.001-07:00

Even though Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill's well-received "Moneyball" wasn't able to conquer Disney's re-release of "The Lion King" at the box office over its opening weekend, Hill isn't worried about the potential for continued success of the underdog- and baseball-themed flick. He's worried about what message that might send to studio executives. "I'm not mad at 'The Lion King,' " Hill said with sincerity and a smile. "I just think if everyone goes to see a movie that's 20 years old getting re-released, they're just going to re-release 20-year-old movies instead of making new original movies, and that would be a shame." But even more newsworthy than the film's box-office haul is all the early awards buzz it is getting, specifically the positive attention Hill's performance has received. When we asked the 27-year-old what it might mean to be recognized for his work with an Oscar or Golden Globe nomination, he wasn't sure how to react just yet. "I don't know, I don't know. I'm just really proud of the movie. Stuff like that is crazy when you hear someone ask you that question legitimately," he said. "It's really flattering and cool, but for me the whole experience has been wonderful and I'm already as proud as I would be would I get to be up for an award. I've never been up for any award in my life ... actually an MTV award [Best Comedic Performance and Best Newcomer noms for "Superbad"], so that was already exciting enough for me. "I don't know," he continued. "Basically it's just a crazy, insane question to be asked and you don't really know what to say when someone asks you that kind of question." No matter what happens over the course of the next few months, Hill is proud of his performance and excited that "Moneyball" is exposing him to new audiences outside of those who know him from his work in comedies. "What's interesting to me is that it's been completely different audiences [going to see "Moneyball"]. The audiences who would see "Superbad" or "Get Him to the Greek" or "The Sitter" hasn't been the audience that's seen "Moneyball" so far. The fortunate thing for me is that I'm getting a much older audience to understand me as an actor." Check out everything we've got on "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Jonah Hill Photo: MTV News

Sarah Gadon Is New Class' 'Most Likely To Wear A Corset'

2011-10-01T15:02:00.001-07:00

Sarah Gadon has been acting for more than a decade, but now is really her time to shine. This year alone, she appeared in David Cronenberg's Freudian flick "A Dangerous Method" and Mary Harron's "The Moth Diaries," and this week, she gets her scare on in "Dream House," alongside Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz. Up next, Gadon, 24, re-teams with Cronenberg on the Robert Pattinson-starring "Cosmopolis." Her work in period pieces and her ethereal, striking looks certainly make her the perfect candidate to stay trapped in a time when women wore more restrictive clothing. That's why she's MTV Movies New Class' "Most Likely to Wear a Corset ... A Lot." MTV: We're always looking for the next exciting talent, and it's not like you just started acting, so does it feel like a particularly exciting time where all that hard work is paying off? Gadon: You go through different arcs in your career. I think when I was younger, I was very into the performing side of the industry. I came to acting through that way, and then having gone to university and studied cinema studies and watching tons of films and understanding film theory and making a conscious choice of working with auteur director marks a new chapter in my development as an artist. MTV: You mentioned some of the directors, Mary and David, two geniuses, talented individuals; how do you build on that? Because that sets the bar high going forward. Gadon: I think when you work with really wonderful directors who have a really strong vision, it lets you as an artist set the tone for your own career. So for me, it's not necessarily having that kind of notoriety. I'm interested in great work and working with people that have a singular vision, and I think the work dictates that. MTV: Can you give me a sense of Elise [in "Cosmopolis"] and how she interacts with Rob's character? Gadon: I think it's a really interesting film, and I don't want to give away too much, but I think in a really kind of pared-down version of the film, it's about a young millionaire who loses everything in the course of a day. And I play his new wife, so I'm one of the only characters that really kind of comes in and out of the story throughout the film. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner together, and those are going to be some interesting meals. MTV: Is there someone to emulate? Gadon:Yeah, of course there is. I think there are so many great actresses out there. I think Tilda Swinton is terribly interesting. I think she's fascinating. I love her work. For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV's New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Sarah Gadon Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images

Seth Rogen Says '50/50' Head-Shaving Scene Was Improvised

2011-09-30T15:02:00.001-07:00

If the Summit Entertainment marketing machine has done its job, you've probably seen the eye-catching movie posters for the studio's latest release "50/50." The goofy one-sheet depicts a memorable scene from the film in which Joseph Gordon-Levitt's cancer-stricken Adam shaves his head, while a dubious Adam (played by Seth Rogen) looks on. It's one of the movie's many lighthearted moments, adding levity to what could otherwise be a downer drama. But according to the film's stars, the take wasn't as carefree as it may have looked. "My heart was beating hard, because we only had one take because you can't shave your head twice. It doesn't work," Gordon-Levitt said at the "50/50" premiere earlier this week in New York. "Normally, you can always do it over again when you're making movies. You get a take two. But we only got take one, and it worked." Apparently, Gordon-Levitt had another reason to be nervous about the scene — it wasn't scripted. According to producer and co-star Rogen, the two just played it by ear. "We only had one shot at it," Rogen recalled. "It was the first day of filming, and we improvised the whole thing, which is not wise when it's something you have one take for, but it turned out funny. It went exactly how you see it in the movie, which was pretty good, I think." You can judge Gordon-Levitt's razor skills for yourself: "50/50," co-starring Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston, opened Friday (September 30). Check out everything we've got on "50/50." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen in "50/50" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Twilight' Newcomers The Joy Formidable Surprised By Spot On Soundtrack

2011-09-29T15:02:00.001-07:00

There are some bands prepared for the increased attention that a spot on a "Twilight" soundtrack brings. And then there are bands like voluminous rockers the Joy Formidable who, despite snagging the opening slot on the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack, remain blissfully unaware of everything to come. Or, really, everything about the "Twilight" series, for that matter. "I can't say I've ever read one. I haven't seen the films either, but I have heard the soundtracks, and I was familiar with some of the songs, you know, Metric and the Black Keys," frontwoman Ritzy Bryan told MTV News. "So I was more aware of the musical side of 'Twilight' than I was the books or the movies. Actually, I know very little [about the books]. I know they're about vampires, and I know they've connected very much with an audience ... so they're obviously much enjoyed by a lot of people." And yet, despite all that, their contribution to the "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack — a ringing, downright desperate song called "Endtapes" that will be the album's lead-off track — fits seamlessly; mostly because, as Bryan explained, it is very much about the themes that remain central to the "Twilight" series. "The song was written at the same time as our album, and because of that, it has a lot of the tone and the feel of the album. And those songs, there's a lot of turbulence going on, and it definitely chronicles a year that was very turbulent on one hand, but you know, it's me trying to push for that hope and that sense of optimism," she said. "It's a song that captures that spirit. It's a song about the frustration of not being able to have closure on a difficult situation." And given that, unlike fellow "Breaking Dawn" artist Christina Perri, she's basically oblivious to the entire "Twilight" phenomenon, Bryan has no idea where "Endtapes" will be used in the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" film ... shoot, she's not even sure she and her bandmates will get invited to the premiere. That doesn't mean they wouldn't go, of course. "I don't know anything about that! If we get an invite, I wouldn't mind going to the cinema. I haven't been to the cinema for such a long time," she laughed. "We've been perpetually on the road for about a year and a half, and we watch lots and lots of DVDs in our van, but a trip to the cinema would be wonderful. I would have to do some laundry, but that would be fine!" Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

'Breaking Dawn' Soundtrack Track List Revealed

2011-09-28T16:54:00.001-07:00

We already knew about Bruno Mars' involvement in the upcoming "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack. But now — officially — we know who will be joining him. Theophilus London, the Joy Formidable, Iron & Wine, Christina Perri and the Noisettes are just some of the acts confirmed for the "Dawn" soundtrack, which hits stores on November 8 (10 days before "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" bows in theaters). The full track list was unveiled Monday (September 26) afternoon on the official "Twilight" Twitter account, confirming speculations that sprung up over the weekend, when a listing of artists and songs began making the rounds on various fansites. Work by "Twilight"-series composer Carter Burwell and actress Mia Maestro (she plays Carmen of the Denali Cover in the "Breaking Dawn" films) also shows up on the soundtrack, as do songs by Angus and Julia Young, the Features, the Belle Brigade and Cider Sky. All in all, there are 15 tracks on the album, and all — aside from a "Wedding Version" of Iron & Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" (as any good Twilighter will tell you, the original version of the song appeared on the first "Twilight" soundtrack) and an updated take on Noisettes' "Sister Rosetta" — are new. The "Breaking Dawn" soundtrack follows in the footsteps of the ultra-successful 2008 "Twilight" 'track (which featured new songs from Paramore and Perry Farrell), '09's "New Moon" (which boasted a new track by Death Cab for Cutie and contributions from Thom Yorke and Lykke Li) and last year's "Eclipse," which packed in tunes from Muse, Florence and the Machine, Beck and Vampire Weekend. The full track list for 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' soundtrack: " The Joy Formidable, "Endtapes" " Angus & Julia Stone, "Love Will Take You" " Bruno Mars, "It Will Rain" " Sleeping at Last, "Turning Page" " The Features, "From Now On" " Christina Perri, "A Thousand Years" " Theophilus London, "Neighbors" " The Belle Brigade, "I Didn't Mean It" " Noisettes, "Sister Rosetta (2011 Version)" " Cider Sky, "Northern Lights" " Iron & Wine, "Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)" " Imperial Mammoth, "Requiem on Water" " Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz, "Cold" " Mia Maestro, "Llovera" " Carter Burwell, "Love Death Rebirth" Share your thoughts on the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" track list in the comments below! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Photo: Summit Entertainment

Josh Hutcherson Is 'Most Likely To Play A Superhero' In Our New Class

2011-09-28T15:02:00.001-07:00

If you're not yet familiar with Josh Hutcherson, you're about to be. The talented 18-year-old has been a working actor for half his life, quietly paying his dues with roles on television and in films, earning Hollywood street cred in films like "Kicking and Screaming," "Bridge to Terabithia" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Then last year, Hutcherson suddenly evolved from dependable sweet-faced child actor to formidable future leading man with his buzzed-about performance in the award-season darling "The Kids Are All Right." That career momentum kicked into future-superstar gear when Hutcherson landed the highly coveted role of Peeta Mellark in the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins' best-selling "Hunger Games." All things considered, it's a no-brainer that Hutcherson made our New Class list as the "Actor Most Likely to Play a Superhero." MTV News caught up with him recently to talk about the honor, his very busy year and, of course, "The Hunger Games." MTV News: You've experienced the whole award and recognition thing before, but how does it feel to be named to our New Class? Josh Hutcherson: It's very nice, especially to be considered with the group I'm in here with, all peers of mine I admire very much. I've been an actor for a long time, so to finally get some recognition from some people that I think are really cool is pretty nice. MTV: It seems like this past year has been a whirlwind. Take us through all the projects you're juggling at the moment. Hutcherson: It's been crazy. I shot "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" the end of last year and the beginning of this year, then I went into a little short film I shot in Cuba with Benicio Del Toro ["7 Dias en La Habana"], which was really fun, and then this summer the whole time I spent shooting "The Hunger Games," which was an amazing experience. Very exciting, and I can't wait for that to come out. MTV: Is there someone in the business whose career you'd like to emulate? Hutcherson: I have a few people. I've always been a big Jake Gyllenhaal fan. I like how he goes from doing a bigger studio movie to a more independent film. I am a huge Christian Bale fan; I think he's incredible and can play any role and kill it. And I'm also a die-hard Ryan Gosling fan, so those are my guys I'd like to be like. MTV: Do you make a conscious effort to go from smaller, independent films as well as big studio films? Hutcherson: Yeah. It's all about balance; everything in life is about balance, in my opinion. You have to do the big studio movies to keep people caring about you in a way, and also for me, I've been really fortunate. I haven't done any big studio movies that suck. They've all been good material and that's the most important thing for my career, to choose the right material and to choose the characters that I care about and stories I want to tell, so that's kind of how I've gone about my career since I was 9, more or less. MTV: So let's talk briefly about "The Hunger Games" and that crazy audition process. Hutcherson: For the audition process, I came in the first time and read a few scenes for [director] Gary Ross and [author] Suzanne Collins and some of the other producers involved. Then maybe about a week or so, maybe two weeks later, I came in and did a screen test with [co-star] Jennifer [Lawrence], where I actually read the scenes with her so they could see how the chemistry worked. Both of them felt really great, but as an actor, you just pick apart every single thing that you do, so for me, I was on pins and needles waiting to find out. And then when I finally found out, my jaw hit the floor. I was so excited. For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV's New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Josh Hutcherson Photo: Donato Sardella/ Getty Images

Lily Collins Is Our New Class' 'Ass-Kicking Girl Next Door'

2011-09-27T16:01:00.001-07:00

We called it way back in January: Lily Collins was an actress to watch in 2011. At that point, her career was just heating up following a turn as Sandra Bullock's daughter in "The Blind Side." An impressive series of castings in high-profile films followed: "Priest," "Abduction" opposite Taylor Lautner and an adaptation of the best-selling YA series "The Mortal Instruments." A few months later, she landed the role of Snow White in Relativity Media's Julia Roberts-starring take on the fairy tale. Collins is making good on our predictions, which is why we've selected her as part of our New Class — a collection of young talent about to rise to the top of Hollywood, including her "Mortal Instruments" co-star Jamie Campbell Bower. With her badass-yet-relatable roles, Collins is our New Class' "Ass-Kicking Girl Next Door." Though she's had all of 2011 to get used to the spotlight, the whole celebrity thing continues to feel odd. "It feels very surreal," she told us at the "Abduction" red carpet. "It's weird getting out of a car and people are saying my name. It's still a weird concept to me." Give her time. Collins told us she'd like to model her career after Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet or Meryl Streep. "I like that none of them have stuck themselves in a box," she said. "They've done all sorts of roles — comedic, dramatic, they've gone from indies to big motion pictures. I love their choices." And she's a fan of the New Class itself, which includes not only Bower, but Emma Watson, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev. "It's an honor to be placed in the New Class of actors," Collins said. "I'm doing what I love, and I'm having the best time." For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV's New Class, go to TheNewClass.MTV.com. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Lily Collins Photo: MTV News

Justin Timberlake Cast In Casablanca Records Biopic

2011-09-27T15:01:00.001-07:00

He once played Napster co-founder Sean Parker in "The Social Network," and now he's getting ready to play another real-life entrepreneur. Deadline Hollywood reports that Justin Timberlake will play '70s record producer and Casablanca Records co-founder Neil Bogart in a new biopic. "Spinning Gold" will take a close look at Bogart's career as a record executive who launched the careers of acts like KISS, Parliament, Donna Summer and the Village People. "This is saga about a young dreamer who started with nothing and came of age in the '60s and '70s, believing anything was possible and every risk was worth taking," said Tim Bogart, Neil's son and the film's writer. He said the film is "literally three decades in the making." Bogart died of cancer in 1982, at the age of 39. Bogart added, "We needed a young actor who can carry this picture. ... When Justin walked into the room, that was the moment I had been waiting for 29 years. He has the exact same energy as my father, the same glimmer in his eye." A director has yet to be attached to the project, which is set to shoot in 2012. Album plans are also under way. Fans hoping Timberlake will head back to the studio to record new music will be sad to see his film roster keeps getting filled with new projects. In November, his sci-fi flick, "In Time," hits theaters. "To be honest, my plan would have probably been to do another record, probably right about now. I never stop considering myself a musician. To me, it's my bread and butter," Timberlake said in a recent interview with Short List. "And I mean that in a personal way. I don't mean that it finances my 'acting hobbies.' I joke with my friends that I should have a business card saying, 'David Fincher put me in a movie,' because 'Bad Teacher' got a blessing due to 'The Social Network,' and then 'Friends With Benefits' came out of that. "All the movies I've done were just opportunities that came up, but now that they're all coming out back-to-back, people think, 'Oh, he's trying to make a statement by having an acting career,' " he continued. "But it's not like that for me. I don't ever want to stop doing music." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Justin Timberlake

'The Lion King' Maintains Box-Office Crown

2011-09-26T15:01:00.001-07:00

Simba and company partied like it was 1994 at the box office over the weekend as "The Lion King" remained #1 for the second weekend in a row. The 3-D re-release beat back competition from four wide releases while hauling in another $22.1 million, according to studio estimates. All four of the other movies in the weekend's top five were new releases, but none had the strength to topple the legendary Disney animated film, which has grossed $61.7 million domestically in its 3-D format alone. Brad Pitt's "Moneyball" and the kid-friendly "Dolphin Tale" were in close competition for the #2 spot, while Taylor Lautner's "Abduction" (which has been savaged by film critics) and the action-centric "Killer Elite" (also not a critical darling) both failed to generate much excitement. "Moneyball" was still just barely ahead of "Dolphin Tale" at press time. The baseball-centered flick has done well with critics, according to film review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, where it has a 94 percent critical average. The movie took in $20.6 million, just $340,000 more than "Dolphin Tale." Lautner's first post-"Twilight" vehicle mustered just $11.2 million to land at #4 on the box-office chart. "Abduction" is one of the most poorly reviewed films of 2011, barely beating the 0 percent Tomatometer rating of recently released "Bucky Larson" with a paltry 3 percent. "[Lautner's] not a terrible actor, but if he wants a career after the 'Twilight' fades, he'll pick better films," wrote Entertainment Weekly. The combined star power of Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro generated just $9.5 million for "Killer Elite." The film is based on the book of the same name and marked the feature film debut of Irish writer/director Gary McKendry, who has directed commercials for IKEA, Porsche and Heineken. There were a few limited releases of note over the weekend as well, including two that featured blockbuster marquee stars from comic book movies: "Machine Gun Preacher," with "300" hero Gerard Butler in the title role, and "Puncture," which features Captain America himself, Chris Evans. Next weekend's new releases include the dramedy "50/50," which stars Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen, who cowrote the picture partly based on his own close friendship with a cancer survivor. Check out everything we've got on "The Lion King" and "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. "Lion King 3-D" Photo: Disney

'Moneyball' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

2011-09-25T16:06:00.001-07:00

As far as baseball books go, Michael Lewis' "Moneyball" isn't exactly an obvious candidate for Hollywood's adaptation machine. It's filled with geeky tales about the importance of obscure stats like "wins above replacement," the founding of fantasy sports and the evolution of a guy named Bill James from factory worker to baseball deity. Yet at the center of the story is the quest of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane to turn his small-market, cash-poor ballclub into a perennial champion. And it's that story that forms the heart of Brad Pitt's "Moneyball," an underdog sports narrative quite at home among its Hollywood antecedents. It almost didn't happen. But like the 2002 A's, "Moneyball" beat the odds and landed in theaters on Friday (September 23). Here, in cheat-sheet form, is the story of how it all came to pass. Spring Training The adaptation came together in late 2008, with Pitt taking on the Beane role, Steve Zaillian ("Schindler's List," "Gangs of New York") signing on to pen the script and "Devil Wears Prada" helmer David Frankel attached to direct. Steven Soderbergh, though, soon stepped into the director's chair (or, at least, he planned to; there'd be more roster shakeups in "Moneyball" land before cameras rolled). "My clearly stated goal is to set a new standard for realism in that [sports] world," Soderbergh told MTV News in the spring of '09. "I hope it sets a new standard. Hopefully, anybody who makes a sports movie from now on is going to have to grapple with this." Struggling in the Big Leagues Production was slated to begin that summer, but Sony, concerned about the commercial viability of Soderbergh's take, called for a directorial pinch hitter only days before the cinematic first pitch was to be thrown. Pitt remained hopeful. "My gut says yes," Pitt told MTV News in August when asked whether "Moneyball" could see a ninth-inning rally. "[W]e're still trying to re-mount it. I hope we get to do it soon." It took a while, but Pitt's prediction proved correct. "Capote" director Bennett Miller boarded the project that December, reportedly beating out "(500) Days of Summer" helmer Marc Webb for the gig. Aaron Sorkin rewrote the script and Jonah Hill signed on to play Beane's assistant (a role loosely based on Paul DePodesta, now a player-development exec with the New York Mets). Hill was an unexpected pick for the dramatic role, but the actor laughed with us last year that he wouldn't ruin the film. "I earned the part," he said. "Every guy who is in their twenties and making movies was after that part, and it was a very tough thing. I'm really proud to have earned it, you know?" Play Ball Shooting began in the summer of '10. It'd be a full year before the first trailer for the film hit the Web. Gone was a great deal of the baseball nerdery, as well as Soderbergh's initial plan to present Bill James in the form of an animated narrator. Instead, Miller delivered a straightforward sports movie: Adversity! Triumph against the odds! More adversity! "These are guys that are working in an unfair game," Pitt explained to us recently. "They are a team with no money trying to fight — it's David vs. Goliath. How are they going to be competitive? How are they going to stand a chance? They can't fight the other guys' fight; they're going to lose every time. These guys had to rethink it and rethink what they were doing." Check out everything we've got on "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in "Moneyball" Photo: Columbia Pictures

Brad Pitt Explains Making 'Moneyball' Without Steven Soderbergh

2011-09-25T15:01:00.001-07:00

Steven Soderbergh had nothing if not grand ambitions for his take on "Moneyball." "I hope it sets a new standard," he told MTV News in the spring of 2009. "Hopefully, anybody who makes a sports movie from now on is going to have to grapple with this." Soderbergh's plan for the adaptation of Michael Lewis' best-selling book about the 2002 Oakland A's included re-creating the bowels of Oakland Coliseum and casting ballplayers and coaches to play their big-screen counterparts. The filmmaker also proposed, most ambitiously (and probably a bit bizarrely), the use of an Oracle-like persona, based on the legendary statistician Bill James, presented as an animated character and commissioned with narrating the action. Grand stuff, no doubt, but also perhaps not the stuff that would lead anyone beyond sports nuts and movie nerds to buy tickets to check it out. And so Sony pulled the plug on the production days before filming was to begin. "Moneyball" appeared to be dead. But at the suggestion of Catherine Keener, Sony tapped Bennett Miller, who had worked with Keener on "Capote," to helm the picture. Years later, with the movie set to hit theaters on Friday, star Brad Pitt has no doubt Miller was the perfect guy for the job. "I think it is the right way to do 'Moneyball.' Soderbergh was really heading in the same direction, in a sense," Pitt told MTV News. Sort of. Miller's version certainly doesn't have an animated Bill James. We have a feeling Pitt would have been keen to move forward with Soderbergh, with whom he's worked on the "Ocean's Eleven" films. But it wasn't Pitt's call, and he's no doubt correct that Miller delivered a top-notch sports flick. "That was a studio call," Pitt said of pushing Soderbergh out. "And, man, we want to get the thing going! We didn't have a choice but to remount it in some way. ... [We] sat down with Bennett and we were just talking the same language. Just love the '70s films. What you'll see about Bennett is he's a very, very bright and thoughtful man and deals with Socratic thought and was a documentarian and all these things that led nicely to the telling of these stories." Check out everything we've got on "Moneyball." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Brad Pitt in "Moneyball" Photo: Columbia TriStar

'Pearl Jam Twenty': The Reviews Are In

2011-09-24T16:01:00.001-07:00

In a neat bit of pop-culture convergence, the 20th-anniversary commemoration of Nirvana's Nevermind (which MTV News has been feting all week long) is coinciding with another grunge-centric, two-decade celebration: Cameron Crowe's documentary about the founding and globe-spanning success of Pearl Jam. "When I saw the early ... edits of it, I thought it was very interesting and kind of exciting and, like I said, it runs the gamut of all those emotions," guitarist Mike McCready told us in May. "And it actually put in some sort of musical perspective the past 20 years, like, 'Oh yeah, we did do that, we did do this': the Ticketmaster thing, there was Roskilde, there were all these issues, and there were these great highs and interesting beginnings. The story it tells is: Why did it work, and why does it still? It made more sense when I saw the movie." After debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, "Pearl Jam Twenty" is set for a one-night-only premiere at theaters across the country Tuesday (September 20). The early word from critics is that while the doc gives fans unique access to the band, especially in early footage hauled out from the achieves, it suffers from director Cameron Crowe's hagiographic treatment of his subject. But that might just be exactly what PJ devotees are looking for. The Comparison "Cameron Crowe's feature doc ... is among his most effective and deeply felt work. ... Every rock act possesses a mysterious alchemy that becomes a kind of mythology; as a portrait of one of the biggest bands in the world, 'Pearl Jam Twenty' doesn't so much capture that alchemy as describe it. But it does so with passion, and even the unconverted will find a convincing case for the band's longevity, popularity and influence." — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter The Focus "Crowe, who does a remarkable job of collecting archival footage from the band's earliest days (and even before that) focuses heavily on [the band's early days]. He narrates the beginning (before getting almost totally out of the way), setting the stage for the late '80s and early '90s, when Seattle was the rock music capital of the world. Soundgarden's Chris Cornell talks about how there was a wealth of bands, but unlike in New York or Los Angeles, the competition tended to be more friendly than cut throat. Even later, when the twin towers of the Seattle scene — Pearl Jam and Nirvana — seemed ready to face off after Kurt Cobain slagged Pearl Jam's music for being too mainstream, they resolved their differences before Cobain died." — Melinda Newman, HitFix The Fandom "The cinematic equivalent of a concert T-shirt, XXL biodocu 'Pearl Jam Twenty' gives another awesome souvenir to die-hard fans of the chart-topping Seattle scenesters-turned-cult faves while leaving others to wish there was a thesis in former rock-journo Cameron Crowe's two-hour puff piece. Finding a pulse only in the band's late-reel performance of 'Alive,' a lusty passage that would've begun a pic intent on making a case for the group's greatness, 'Twenty' simply counts the years from 1991 via sludgy backstage and onstage footage whose rarity can't forgive its inclusion. Crowe's critic mentor, the late Lester Bangs, would cringe." — Rob Nelson, Variety The Frontman "Before Vedder was vaguely mystical and a little inscrutable, he was boyish, smiley and uninhibited. Vedder doesn't come through any clearer after 'Pearl Jam Twenty,' but the band's journey remains a thoroughly entertaining one. Any enterprise like this is inherently self-congratulatory, but the film is best considered from Crowe's perspective: that of a fan." — Jake Coyle, The Associated Press The Final Word "[It] suffers from being an all-out fawnapalooza. Crowe, a former Rolling Stone reporter, wastes unprecedented access to one of modern rock's most private, compelling and enigmatic acts to create little more than a promotional video for Pearl Jam's non-stop tours. There's plenty to elicit fist pumps from steadfast fans, largely because of rare archival footage. (A silly slow dance between security guard-turned-rocker Eddie Vedder and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain is lump-in-the-throat poignant). Yet Crowe glosses over too many of Pearl Jam's darkest days — a drummer's mysterious firing, addiction battles, nine fans dying at a show — to keep non-Jammers from getting bored." — Joseph Rose, The Oregonian For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Eddie Vedder in "Pearl Jam Twenty" Photo: Vinyl Films

Ryan Gosling: What's Next After 'Drive'?

2011-09-24T15:01:00.001-07:00

Ryan Gosling's "Drive" didn't exactly zip away from the multiplex this weekend with a hefty box-office haul, grossing only $11 million. That's a respectable sum for a Cannes darling — less high-octane thriller than slow-burning, tension-filled drama — that was always going to have trouble finding a mainstream audience. But we certainly haven't heard the last of "Drive," which remains likely to be a player come awards season, with Gosling potentially nabbing actor nods and helmer Nicolas Winding Refn looking to pick up other wins on the heels of his Cannes directing award. Gosling, for his part, will have some serious competition ... from himself: The actor's "Ides of March" is also sure to be in the mix come the fall. Whatever happens, Gosling is going to be busy from now through awards season and far, far beyond. "Ides Of March" Hitting theaters in October after a festival run this month, "Ides" features Gosling as an idealistic press secretary to a charismatic Ohio governor played by George Clooney, who also wrote and directed the project. The talent in front of and behind the camera made for a buzzy debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, but a crowded field that includes the likes of Steven Spielberg, Stephen Daldry, Woody Allen and Tate Taylor (with his sleeper hit "The Help") leaves an uncertain awards-season path for "Ides." "The Place Beyond the Pines" Perhaps we've just got "Drive" on the mind, but this project sounds strangely similar to Gosling's latest. He stars as a motorcycle stunt driver who contemplates committing a crime to benefit his loved ones. At least he looks far different: We recently spotted Gosling on set rocking bleached blond hair and a tattoo under one eye. Co-starring Rose Byrne, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes, there's no word yet on a release date or festival debut. "The Gangster Squad" Production on Ruben Fleischer's ("Zombieland") third feature kicked off earlier this month with an all-star cast in place, including Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn and Josh Brolin. Set in post-World War II Los Angeles, the story focuses on the city's battles against the infiltration of the East Coast mob. Gosling plays a member of the LAPD — a suavely dressed one at that, as some early set photos made clear. "Only God Forgives" Gosling and Refn can't get enough of each other. Luke Evans was initially set to star in this flick about boxing and prostitution in Bangkok, but the actor had to drop out because of his commitment to the two "Hobbit" films. Gosling reportedly stepped in, with shooting expected to begin in November and an eye on a theatrical release in the second half of 2012, according to Variety. "Logan's Run" No, seriously: Gosling and Refn can't get enough of each other. They're planning on a remake of this 1976 sci-fi classic, with Gosling playing the starring role of a guy living in a dystopian world where no one is allowed to live past the age of 30. The project has long been in development, with directors like Bryan Singer coming and going. Fingers crossed that Gosling and Refn can succeed where others have fallen short. Untitled Romantic Comedy You know the drill by now: Gosling and Refn, together again. Possibly. We know precious little about this project, other than Refn wants to direct, Gosling could star and both men want "Drive" co-star Albert Brooks to pen the screenplay. Hey, we'll bite. "It's a romantic comedy set in New York, which seems like a great place to start," Refn told the Los Angeles Times. "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." This one is pure rumor at this point, but reports have suggested Warner Bros. is looking to pair director Steven Soderbergh with a young Hollywood star for this long-gestating adaptation of the '60s-era spy series. Gosling's name has come up alongside those of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Alexander Skarsgård. Reality? Wish list? Stay tuned. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Ryan Gosling Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

'Abduction' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

2011-09-23T16:02:00.001-07:00

All right, Taylor Lautner fans: Today is the day you've been waiting for! The actor's action-packed thriller "Abduction" has officially opened. Here at MTV News, we've been as excited as anyone for the 19-year-old's first post-"Twilight" lead role, and we've been following the film since it was announced. Take a look through our hand-crafted guide to the John Singleton-directed film, as we present everything you need to know about "Abduction": A New Action Star Is Born The buzz around the film began way back in February 2010, when Lionsgate Entertainment announced that Lautner would be starring in a film about a young man who sets out to learn who he really is after finding his baby picture posted on a missing-persons website. Shortly thereafter, a slew of name players were added to the cast, including Lily Collins, Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello and Alfred Molina. Just before production began in Pittsburgh, MTV News caught up with Lautner to learn about the intense training and prep work he was doing for the role, which included boxing, fight training, learning to ride a motorcycle and swimming. Selling His Strengths Once production wrapped, the promotion machine ramped up and we got our first look at photos of Lautner on set, in character and in action. One of our best pre-release moments came back in April when we were very lucky to snag an early look at the first official trailer, as well as an exclusive sit-down with Lautner during "MTV First: Taylor Lautner." We heard trailer commentary straight from the source, as well as the challenges he faced during filming, his kissing scenes with Collins and whether he got any bumps or bruises from all the stunt work. Skills to Pay the Bills It was not long before we caught up with Lautner again in San Diego, during our Comic-Con Takeover, where we learned which seasoned Hollywood pros Lautner looked to for inspiration during filming, why Lautner was so committed to the role and how the film is different from other action thrillers out there. With about a month left before opening day, we got our first look at Lautner's stunt work, and then we gleaned a few steamy details about a certain kissing scene from Lautner's leading lady in the film. Collins also revealed key details about her character, Karen, and how she gets pulled into the cat-and-mouse chase with Lautner's character, Nathan. When we caught up with the entire cast at the film's premiere, we learned that kissing scenes are as challenging as action scenes, the young actors carried their acting weight as much as the seasoned pros, and everyone had a blast making the film. Oh and that Lautner always makes time for his fans. Check out everything we've got on "Abduction." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Lily Collins and Taylor Lautner in "Abduction" Photo: Lionsgate