Saoirse Ronan Interested in Playing the Scarlet Witch in “The Avengers 2″

May 23, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

saoirse-ronan By now we’ve all heard the rumblings that Joss Whedon sees Irish actress Saoirse Ronan as a “prototype” for casting Marvel superhero the Scarlet Witch, who is set to join the team in “The Avengers 2″, but does Ronan have any interest in taking the role herself? The Mary Sue recently caught up with the actress and the answer was a resounding “yes.”

Ronan recently heard about the rumors herself and answered enthusiastically when asked if she would like to join the Marvel family: “I have heard about it and yes, I would. Yeah, of course I would. I love Joss and I love those films, and I love his handle on them and how he portrayed these kinds of superheroes. I think it’s very different from what anyone else has done. So yeah, I’d love to be in it.”

Scarlet Witch, aka Wanda Maximoff, is one of the most prominent figures in the Marvel universe, and she and twin brother Pietro aka Quicksilver have taken both heroic and villainous turns within the comic canon throughout the decades. They are also the children of Magneto, who, of course, falls under X-Men canon and is being portrayed by Michael Fassbender in the currently filming Fox film “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”

It’s been speculated that Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver cannot legally be referred to as Magneto’s children or even as mutants, but we’ll let Marvel’s and Fox’s lawyers hammer that one out. The important thing is Whedon is (allegedly) interested, Ronan is definitely interested, how do we make this happen? Ronan should probably make sure her ever crowded schedule is clear for February 2014.

Marvel Eyeing “42″ Star Chadwick Boseman for “Black Panther”

May 1, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Perhaps this should come as no surprise since “42″ is overperforming like hell at the box office, but Latino Review reports its breakout star, Chadwick Boseman, is becoming a hot commodity and now Marvel has him in their sights for their long-gestating adaptation of “Black Panther”, rumored to make his debut in Phase 3 of the Marvel cinematic universe.

The first black superhero in mainstream comics, the Black Panther predates Anthony Mackie’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” onscreen alter-ego by several years, though Sam Wilson, aka Falcon, gets the distinction as the first African-American superhero. T’Challa, on the other hand, is from the fictional African nation of Wakanda. He got his superhuman superpowers after ingesting an herb, and subsequently became King of Wakanda, ultimately developing it into the most technologically advanced nation on earth. He eventually made friends with other Marvel superheroes and became an Avenger, so Latino Suggest a cameo for Black Panter in “The Avengers 2″ before headlining his own film seems likely.

Of course, this is all in the very early stages and not only is there no official offer on the table yet, Marvel is also taking general meetings with various actors for a wide range of roles, so it’s possible Boseman could end up in the Marvel family in a completely different project, but Black Panther is likely to be the among the highest of priorities and most coveted.

Boseman, an award-winning playwright, stuck almost entirely to television, appearing in guest spots on every show from “Third Watch” to “Lincoln Heights” to “Fringe” and “ER” before landing his breakthrough role as Jackie Robinson in “42″, which opened t the #1 spot atop the box office and is still playing like gangbusters. He’s now filming another sports-related drama, the NFL-sanctioned “Draft Day” starring Kevin Costner, which recently filmed at the actual NFL draft in New York.

Star-Lord Contender Lee Pace to Play “Guardians of the Galaxy” Villain Instead

April 23, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

lee-pace Marvel is clearly keen on British actor Lee Pace even though they chose Chris Pratt over him to lead Phase 2 blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy.” They’ve offered him, and he is now in final negotiations for, a different role in the James Gunn-directed film, that of the villain, according to The Wrap.

Pratt plays Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, the role Pace originally tested for, and he will be joined by Zoe Saldana as green-skinned warrior Gamora, David Bautista as the brawny Drax the Destroyer and Michael Rooker as Yondu on the side of the good guys. Most recently British actress Ophelia Lovibond joined the cast as an aide to a villainous character known as The Collector, which seems to hint this could be the role Pace is taking on. A June production start is scheduled, with “Guardians of the Galaxy” already set for an August 1, 2014 release.

Pace, who has something of a cult following thanks to roles in short-lived but beloved TV series “Pushing Daisies” and “Wonderfalls”, had a busy year last year on the big screen with roles in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”, “The Hobbit” and “Lincoln”. He’ll also be seen in the next two “Hobbit” installments, and recently filmed AMC pilot “Halt and Catch Fire” with fellow buzzy rising movie stars Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis and Kerry Bishe.

Watch: Chris Hemsworth Returns in First Trailer for “Thor: The Dark World”

April 23, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Videos Leave a comment

thortrailer

Sequels have to be bigger and badder than the original, as a rule, and Marvel has clearly been strictly enforcing it thus far for their Phase 2 films. The first trailer for “Thor: The Dark World” has arrived and indeed, it already feels grander, more epic and more dangerous than 2011′s “Thor.” Chris Hemsworth returns as the God of Thunder to battle the Dark Elves, whose Earth-destroying capabilities far surpasses that of the lone giant robot The Destroyer that Thor fought in the first film. More of the action will also take place off Earth this time around, with even Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster transported to Asgard and beyond with her intergalactic superhero boyfriend.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki is back for the third time but I for one am hoping he’ll have a limited role this time around. There are other villains in the Marvel universe, after all. “Thor: The Dark World”, directed by Alan Taylor, will be released on November 8th, following next month’s “Iron Man 3.” Marvel Phase 2 is well underway and we could not be more psyched. Watch the trailer below.

Ophelia Lovibond Joins Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana in “Guardians of the Galaxy”

April 22, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

ophelia-lovibond British actress Ophelia Lovibond has been cast in a supporting role in Marvel Phase 2 blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy”, according to THR.

She joins Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, David Bautista as Drax and the recently cast Michael Rooker as Yondu. They’re all aliens, so Lovibond will most certainly play one as well in the James Gunn-directed intergalactic actioner. Though her role is not specified, THR does report she will play an aide to a villainous, near immortal being called The Collector, though Thanos, that big blue guy we spied post-”Avengers” credits, is expected to be the Big Bad of the film. A June production start is scheduled, with “Guardians of the Galaxy” already set for an August 1, 2014 release.

Lovibond has done two British indie films opposite Aaron Johnson, “Nowhere Boy” and “Chatroom”, and has had supporting roles in Hollywood studio films, including “No Strings Attached” with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, and “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” with Jim Carrey.

Lightning Strikes for Chris Hemsworth on First Poster for “Thor: The Dark World”

April 19, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images Leave a comment

thor2sm It’s officially Marvel season! “Iron Man 3″ has been kicking off its worldwide promo tour – with screenings in London returning ecstatic results – and now “Thor: The Dark World” is prepping to begin its marketing push. Today USA Today has unveiled the first poster from the November release, featuring star Chris Hemsworth in some inclement weather.

Alan Taylor takes over the directing duties from original helmer Kenneth Branagh, and “The Dark World” will take Thor beyond Asgard and Earth to the Nine Realms, where dark elves, led by Christopher Eccleston, make up the villainous armies he must defeat. Tom Hiddleston is set to return as Loki but will have a smaller villainous presence than in “Thor” and “The Avengers”, while Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard and Kat Dennings as Thor’s human allies will return as well.

Marvel bigwig Kevin Feige also describes the unusual source for the original image on the poster. It didn’t come from a photoshoot, but from just another day on the set. “It’s rare that you have a poster that is just Chris Hemsworth shooting on the set,” says Feige. “But he just looks like Thor. We just put in some lightning, and he’s got his hammer and you’re there. It’s just an incredibly striking image.”

See the full poster below and prepare for “Thor: The Dark World” when it’s released on November 8th. The first trailer will be released next week.

First Image of Chris Evans in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” As Sequel Begins Production

April 8, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Images 1 Comment

wintersoldier001 One of our most anticipated sequels kicks off production today and to mark the occasion (and perhaps to lower the price tag for the first unofficial paparazzi photos from the set), the first official image of Chris Evans reprising his role as Steve Rogers in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” has been released via EW.

Nothing too exciting to see in the first photo, just reinforcing Rogers’ relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. but the film’s official tagline was also released, which proves a bit more interesting: “Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, to battle a powerful yet shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C.” That would make Scarlett Johansson front and center in this sequel, while that shadowy enemy, as comic fans are well aware, is taking the form of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Steve’s wartime buddy who’s been resurrected as the titular villain Winter Soldier.

Emily VanCamp is also on board and her long-rumored role as Agent 13, aka Sharon Carter, is finally officially confirmed, while Hayley Atwell, as the first Carter Steve loved, will make an appearance via flashback. Samuel L. Jackson is expected to have a large supporting role as Nick Fury, and Robert Redford recently signed on to play the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, under the direction of Joe and Anthony Russo, will be released on April 4, 2014. The first photo of Evans can be seen below.

Zoe Saldana to Play Gamora in “Guardians of the Galaxy”

April 3, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Zoe Saldana is in talks to take the female lead role of Gamora in Marvel’s Phase 2 blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy”, according to THR. Saldana’s green-skinned Gamora will join Chris Pratt as the half-alien Guardians leader Peter Quill, aka Star Lord, and WWE wrestler Dave Bautista as strongman Drax the Destroyer.

James Gunn is directing the intergalactic actioner which will probably feature more CGI than most films, seeing as the more human-like characters are also joined by a walking, talking, ass-kicking tree and the aptly named Rocket Raccoon. Saldana’s Gamora is a skilled assassin and the last of her species, Zen Whoberi, who were exterminated by the Badoon. Raised and trained by villain Thanos, she eventually turned against him and joined the good guys in defeating him. Filming on “Guardians” begins in June, with a release date already set for August 1, 2014.

Saldana seems like an obvious choice for such a role, already having proven herself in space-set blockbusters (“Star Trek” and next month’s “Star Trek Into Darkness”, “Avatar”) and as ass-kicking action heroes (“Colombiana”, “The Losers”). She recently completed filming on Christian Bale revenge thriller “Out of the Furnace” as well as the titular role in “Nina”, playing iconic singer Nina Simone.

Wrestler Dave Bautista to Play Drax in “Guardians of the Galaxy”

March 14, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

dave-bautista Sorry, Jason Momoa. Though the “game of Thrones” star had been pegged as the frontrunner to take the role of Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”, THR reports it’s actually WWE wrestler Dave Bautista who now officially as the role opposite Chris Pratt as Star-Lord.

Bautista’s name first surfaced in connection to this role late last year, where he was up against guys including Isaiah Mustafa and Brian Patrick Wade. The intergalactic superhero character Bautista will be portraying began life as an ordinary human being named Arthur Douglas whose family was murdered by the intergalactic villain Thanos (who we briefly glimpsed after the credits of “The Avengers” this summer). Douglas’ soul was then taken from his puny human and put into a superior and verdigrised body so he can join Star-Lord and the other Guardians to fight Thanos. James Gunn will bring this ambitious and risky franchise to the big screen, with filming set to begin soon for an anticipated August 1, 2014 release.

Pro WWE wrestler Batista is new to acting; most recently he appeared in “Man with the Iron Fists” and he has completed work on the “Riddick” sequel.

Jason Momoa to play Drax in “Guardians of the Galaxy” opposite Chris Pratt?

February 15, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

jason-momoa Has Marvel found their Drax the Destroyer? Despite earlier rumors of who had screen tested for the role, Latino Review reports it’s “Game of Thrones” actor Jason Momoa who has been offered and is now in negotiations for the role opposite Chris Pratt as Peter Quill.

Latino Review indicates Momoa flew to London on Wednesday and gave such a perfect audition he was offered the role on the spot. The intergalactic superhero character he will be portraying began life as an ordinary human being named Arthur Douglas whose family was murdered by the intergalactic villain Thanos (who we briefly glimpsed after the credits of “The Avengers” this summer). By some kind of space magic, Douglas’ soul was taken from his puny human and put into a superior and verdigrised body so he can join Star-Lord and the other Guardians to fight Thanos. James Gunn will bring this ambitious and risky franchise to the big screen, with filming set to begin soon for an anticipated August 1, 2014 release.

Momoa played the barbaric Khal Drogo on season 1 of HBO series “Game of Thrones” and also recently played the titular role in the “Conan the Barbarian” reboot. He was last seen opposite Sylvester Stallone in “Bullet to the Head” and recently wrapped up shooting on indie thriller “Wolves” opposite Lucas Till.

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