Marvel Confirms That Paul Rudd Will Be Their Leading Man In Edgar Wright's Upcoming 'Ant-Man' Film

Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor are usually the first names that come to mind when you think of the current line-up of Marvel heroes on the big screen. But one that isn't very well known to general audiences is original Avengers member Ant-Man, who will be getting his own solo-movie in 2015 directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World)  While Joss Whedon has already confirmed the character won't be making an appearance in the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron, that hasn't stopped the momentum the film's been getting since the first piece of footage leaked, and of course, once casting rumors started making the rounds.

While we went months with no word on who Edgar Wright would be selecting to tackle the lead role of Ant-Man himself, just a few months back many sites were reporting that Paul Rudd (This Is 40) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Don Jon) were the top choices Wright and Marvel were considering. Levitt has since gone agreed to direct, write, and star in DC's upcoming film adaption of the character Sandman, so that basically took him out of the running. Although Rudd himself played dumb when asked whether he was up for the role in and interview for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Which isn't exactly uncommon behavior from an actor up for a big role), Marvel themselves has now confirmed through a press release (Which you can read in full here) that Rudd has landed the part.

Wright's Ant-Man film, which is written by Joe Cornish (Attack the Block), has been in development at Marvel since way back in 2006, even before Jon Favreau's first Iron Man film entered production. While the film now finally has a set release date on July 31, 2015, there's been very scarce details revealed about the film and it's plot. Wright once described that the film would move back and forth between the original Ant-Man; Hank Pym, and current Ant-Man; Scott Lang. But Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has said that film film has undergone rewrites to fit in the current Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it's unknown how much has been changed from Wright and Cornish's original script.

Rudd isn't exactly the first person to come to mind when you think of the Hank Pym version of Ant-Man, especially in comparison to fan favorites such as Adrien Brody (King Kong), Ewan McGregor (Star Wars: Episode III), and Joss Whedon alumni Nathan Fillion (Firefly). Many assumed Rudd would be playing one of the two more comedic version of the Ant-Man character, Scott Lang or Eric O'Grady, as he's much more well known for his comedic roles as seen in the Anchorman films, I Love You Man, This Is 40, and Our Idiot Brother. Personally I think Rudd will be able to bring a good balance between the brainier side of Pym, and the more light hearted side, which are traits perfect for a character that will soon be joining the ranks of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, and Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner.

With the lead character now cast, there's still many roles that need to be filled out, specifically that of Pym's love interest Janet Van Dyne, the future 'Wasp'. Although it's still unknown whether the character will be transforming into Wasp in the film, it'll likely be an origin story for both characters. The most recent casting rumor in relation to Janet is that Rudd's I Love You Man costar Rashida Jones (The Muppets) is being eyed for the role. There's still likely many more roles to fill such as the film's villain, which many fans have speculated could be played by Wright's frequent collaborator Simon Pegg (Despite the actors denial when asked about it). There's also the casting of Scott Lang, who at this point may or may not be included in the film, but the most recent rumor has been that Jamie Bell (Snowpiercer) may be up for that part.

So are you happy with Rudd playing Ant-Man? Would you be fine with Rashida Jones playing Wasp and Jamie Bell playing Scott Lang? Sound off below.

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First Teaser Trailer For 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' Hits; Caesar And The Apes Take The Humans To War

Back in 2011, Rupert Wyatt's reboot of the classic Planet of the Apes franchise 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes', proved to be a success and revived the series, and now we have it's successor 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'. Taking place ten years post the release of the viral ALZ-113, the human world is at it's knees. Apparently majority of the population began to die off, while the others fought one another and the apes for survival. With Wyatt now being replaced by director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), and none of the first film's cast returning (With the exception of Andy Serkis), there's been a lot anticipation as the sequel nears it's release. Now we finally get our first look at the film, and the return of Caesar himself. 

Here's the teaser trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes:

This trailer basically shows us very little of any actual footage; a forest destroyed, Commissioner Gordon getting grumpy,  people running from a tank. But the most interesting part of the trailer is actually seeing the apes themselves, Caesar most of all. No longer that happy joyful monkey we once saw playing with James Franco, but now more of a torn war like figure, wearing war paint and leading an army of apes once again into battle. But the question is, battle against who? The humans are at an all time low, and the way the apes are looking, it could possibly be a massive blow out, so could the humans possibly be getting some help from ape allies?

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes definitely has a lot going for it despite it's distance from it's successful predecessor, and it seems much more somber tone that suits the survivor and war focused plot well. While fans may be concerned that the film will suffer from the absence of the first film's impressive cast members such as Franco, Frieda Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Tom Felton (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2) David Oyelowo (Jack Reacher), and John Lithgow (Interstellar), rest assured that the new film has quite the ensemble of it's own. With veteran actor Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises) seemingly playing a key role, and Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) and Keri Russell (The Americans) as the film's leads, it should enough to keep fans at ease.

Director Matt Reeves has already described the film as a much more personal story for Caesar's character, who will apparently be leading the entire civilization of apes, and will reportedly even have a love interest (Played by Judy Greer) and family in the film. Given that the apes have now evolved into genetically enhanced beings, we can expect them to now have complete dialogue in the film, which is an endeavor that hasn't been attempted on screen since Tim Burton's 2001 film (And we all remember how that went). None the less, Reeves seems to have a good grip on what made the Apes franchise so successful in the first place, and will hopefully give us characters equally as in impressive on both the human and apes side of the spectrum. Below are the all new posters for the film which feature Caesar and other apes who's identities are still unknown:

So what do you think of the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes teaser trailer? Do you think it'll be better or worse than the first film? Sound off below.

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Redband And Greenband Trailers For '22 Jump Street' Debut; See Jenko And Schmidt Go Undercover In College

If you would've told me just two years ago that the upcoming 21 Jump Street reboot was going to be a major success, and one of my favorite comedy films of the past few years, I probably would've laughed in your face. But sure enough, it went onto to become a surprise hit among audiences, and proved that the unlikely pairing of Channing Tatum (Magic Mike) and Jonah Hill (This Is The End) was a recipe for success, so who can blame Sony for automatically green-lighting a sequel. Now Jenko and Schmidt are back, and this time they're going undercover in college. Check out the first Redband and Greenband trailers for the film below.

Here's the Redband trailer for 22 Jump Street:

And here's the Greenband trailer:

While the the trailers don't give off too much information about the film's plot, we do see a lot of familiar faces making a return from the first movie. Dave Franco (Now You See Me) and Rob Riggle (The Internship) who were both the antagonists of the last film make an appearance at the end of the trailer, although it's unknown whether this is just a cameo or if they'll actually play a large role. Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) once again returns in his smaller role as Deputy Chief Hardy, and of course Ice Cube (Ride Along) is back as the hilariously foul-mouthed Captain Dickson, and it seems he'll be getting more involved with the action this time around.

The film seems to be following a similar plot line to the first film, with the main difference of course being the setting, but this may leave some fans concerned. As we've seen through The Hangover series, one of the main problems with sequels to such successful comedies is the filmmakers playing it safe and making the follow-ups nearly identical story wise to their predecessors. While the old "don't fix it unless it's broken" saying may apply to many things, sequel in a comedy genre isn't necessarily one them. None the less, judge by the recent synopsis the studio released, it seems that this time around Tatum's Jenko may be the one finding love and getting in with the popular crowd, where as it worked vice versa in the previous film.

And here's the official synopsis for the film released by Sony: 'Officers Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college to crack a crime ring within a fraternity. But when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership. In addition to cracking the case, the two freshmen must figure out if they can have a mature relationship like real men.'

So what did you think of the trailers for 22 Jump Street? Are you worried that the sequel may be to similar to the first? Sound off below.

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Joaquin Phoenix Up For Villain Role In 'Batman Vs. Superman'; Chris Terrio Set To Help With Script Rewrites

If you've been keeping up with news on Zack Snyder's upcoming Man of Steel sequel Batman Vs. Superman, there's been a new rumor hitting the web just about every week. But just two weeks ago we got our first confirmed casting announcement since the news that Ben Affleck would be playing Batman, and that was that Fast and Furious star Gal Gadot would be portraying Wonder Woman in the film. Well now that we have most of the main heroes of the film sorted out, it still leaves the question of who will be playing the film's villain (Or villains). Well recent reports have suggested that Joaquin Phoenix (Her) may be up for that role, which is most likely that of Superman's arch-nemesis; Lex Luthor.

The report comes courtesy of Variety who indicates that Warner Bros. is eyeing Phoenix to play the primary antagonist in the film, although they do mention that he may not accept if offered. This doesn't come off as much of a surprise given that since his turn in Academy Award winning films such as Walk the Line and Gladiator, Phoenix has generally stuck to more indie based projects (Such as just this week in Spike Jonze's Her). While the possibility of Phoenix being cast is unlikely, the actor has proven in recent years that his career moves aren't exactly what most of us would expect (See I'm Still Here). Personally I think Phoenix would make an outstanding addition to the film's cast, and has already proven how menacing of a villain he can be in his role as Commodus in Gladiator.

That being said the fact that Variety refers to the role Phoenix is being looked at as "the main villain"makes it likely this is referring to Superman's enemy Lex Luthor, who has already been teased by director Zack Snyder, as well as in several easter eggs seen throughout Man of Steel. While there were rumors months ago that Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Mark Strong (Kick-Ass) were the top candidates for the role, recent reports claimed that Warner Bros. was looking for an African American actor to take on the part, with Denzel Washington (Two Guns) and Idris Elba (Pacific Rim) being their top choices. Although Phoenix's involvement does debunk those rumors, it's possible that Elba and Washington are in fact being looked at for the part, but there's probably no particular race the studio has in mind for the Luthor.

The rumor of Phoenix's possible involvement comes just a week after Variety reported that Game of Throne's star Jason Momoa was being looked at for a villain role in the film as well. Now that site has sorted out that the role Momoa is in fact up for is that of a secondary antagonist in the film, which is the same role Callan Mulvey (Zero Dark Thirty) was rumored for back when the Wonder Woman casting announcement was made. Although there's a number of possibilities as to who this secondary villain may be, recent speculation has indicated that the role may be that of Vandal Savage, or Superman villains Doomsday or Metallo. 

Now to some Batman Vs. Superman news behind the camera, The Hollywood Reporter brings news that Argo screenwriter Chris Terrio has been brought on board to rewrite David S. Goyer's screenplay. Many fans who weren't exactly pleased with Goyer's script for Man of Steel will be very pleased to hear that the Oscar winner will be helping out, and the news also shows just how involved Ben Affleck is in the production aspects of the film. Goyer's better projects such as The Dark Knight trilogy were all collaborations, so Terrio's involvement should be a breath of fresh air for concerned fans. 

So what do you think of Phoenix playing Lex Luthor? What villain role do you think Momoa and Mulvey are are up for? And are you happy with Chris Terrio helping out with the script? Sound off below.

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Review: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues - You Stay Classy

About ten years ago we were right in the middle of the really weird comedy phase in movies. I’m talking about the insanely wacky ones, Zoolander, Dodgeball and of course 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. With a slew of gross-out comedies taking over a decade down the line, you might be a little concerned that Anchorman 2 boils down to little more than fart jokes, disgusting slapstick and body humour.

So with the 70s behind them and estranged from his wife and son after Harrison Ford fires him, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is hunted to take part in the first 24 hour news network. After roping in the old news gang Champ Kind (David Koechner), Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) and the rather slow but lovable Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), they head off to New York to once again make a name for themselves.

The main cast are all up to scratch thankfully, with Ferrell dishing up many of the brash, egotistical one-liners and gags we’ve all come to expect. Rudd and Koechner continue to be stellar as their horribly insensitive misogynists. Brick still manages to be as oddly hilarious and charming as before, even if he seems to be constrained by a sub-plot involving what seems to be a female version of him (Kristen Wiig) that adds up to pretty much nothing.

The same could be said about the movie itself in general. Although it was less obvious in the first one, it was clear that it had some pacing issues. The problem with Anchorman 2 is that because everything is louder, bigger, brasher the problems are more apparent. There are dips in the script, a few patches of confusion and pointless events in the plot. Most of them either don’t seem to add anything to the film or are stretched out until breaking point so that the laughs are few and far between. Not only that, but they contain a large amount of predictability.

That said, these are a few sole points. Mostly, the film works. It’s consistently funny, the jokes don’t seem to have worn thin and the novelty of the characters hasn’t worn off yet as many people speculated. The film manages to constantly entertain and evoke laughter, whether it’s small chuckles at the main cast reading the news or huge roaring set-pieces that have you doubled over for minutes at a time.

The film does a pretty good job of not recycling the exact same content as the first one. There’s no The Hangover Part 2 issue where it is just the exact same movie just louder and shoutier (although quite a lot of the jokes in Anchorman 2 are basically people shouting). No, Adam McKay (director of the original) manages to make everything fresh and insane enough for you not to wish you were watching the original. The film does hark lovingly back to the original, doing so in spectacular fashion, from news-room fights to anchorman battles and cameos in huge and fantastic supply. There’s a sense of fond remembrance that doesn’t linger too long.

While the movie definitely trips over it’s over insanity and general nonsensical nature, for the most part Anchorman 2 is a boisterous and funny ride. The characters haven’t soured after almost a decade and there are enough well-timed references for fans, just to let you know they’re not completely finished yet.

I give Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues 3.5 stars out of 5

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Sony Officially Announces 'Sinister Six' And 'Venom' Spin-Off Films For Expanded Amazing Spider-Man Universe

While it's been rumored and suggested for quite some time now that Sony has an interest in expanding their Amazing Spider-Man universe into spin-off films, today we have our first confirmation from the studio of what specific character these films will be centered on. And these two films are none other than a Sinister Six film based around the team-up of Spider-Man enemies, as well as a solo film focusing on the fan favorite villain/antihero Venom. Not only did the studio reveal what properties they are hoping to expand upon, but they've also revealed who will be writing and directing these films. 

You can read the studio's full press release here. So first to the less shocking news, yes, Sony is finally getting a Venom solo movie off the ground. The studio's been interested in the project since the character first appeared in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3, but as we all know, that didn't exactly go as planned. Since then the film has been through constant rewrites, and tossed along to numerous directors including Gary Ross (The Hunger Games), and more recently Josh Trank (Chronicle). Well in the press release the studio reveals that The Amazing Spider-Man 2 writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman will be writing the film, with Kurtzman taking on directing duties. Kurtzman made his directional debut just two years ago with the film People Like Us, which starred Chris Pine (Star Trek) and Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), and was relatively well received by critics.

Of course Sony has yet to reveal any details on what direction there going in with the film, but the main question is who will be Venom, and mean that in more ways than one. There's been three characters throughout the comics who have donned the symbiote, the most well known being Eddie Brock, who was previously played by Topher Grace in Spider-Man 3. Then there's Mac Gargan, previously known as Spider-Man's enemy Scorpion, who eventually took on the symbiote after Brock and became the new Venom. And then there's the most recent antihero version of the character, who's actually referred to as 'Agent Venom' and under the suit is Flash Thompson (Currently played by Chris Zylka in The Amazing Spider-Man series) who is given the symbiote after loosing both limbs while at war.

That being said it's likely that Sony is looking to introduce the Venom character as an antihero that can serve as an interesting contrast to Spider-Man, and could be used as an ally for the web slinger to have on his side in future films. While the Agent Venom version of the character seems slightly more likely than the other two, there's a lot of potential in the Eddie Brock character and his dynamic with Peter Parker, as in the Ultimate comics (Which the series has been following closely so far) both of the character's fathers create the symbiote together. If the short film Truth in Journalism (Starring True Blood's Ryan Kwanten as Brock) that debuted this summer is anything to go by, Brock's sure to  at least be a consideration for the protagonist in the film. I'd personally would love to see Kwanten in the part, or even Kurtzman's frequent collaborator Chris Pine.

But now for probably the more shocking half of Sony's announcement, the upcoming Sinister Six film which will be written by Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods). Goddard is a great talent for Sony to bring on board, especially if he does indeed take up the director's chair like the studio's hoping he will, but interestingly enough it was recently announced that he'd be working on Marvel Studio's upcoming Daredevil TV show for Netflix. While it's still unknown how his involvement with both projects will pan it, it's likely that we shouldn't expect Sony to get the ball rolling on the Sinister Six film till after the Daredevil series has made it's debut, and Goddard's schedule will presumably by clear.

There's a lot of potential for a solo Sinister Six film, which would be focused on the ensemble of Spider-Man's worst foes, which could work as something of a contrast to The Avengers team-up. It'll most likely follow a similar structure to The Avengers, with separate moments for each villain character to shine, and of course a common threat for all of them to wail on during the film's climatic battle (In this case Spider-Man himself). That being said, probably the most important question is what villains will be featured in the Sinister Six. Spider-Man has a wide selection of rogues to chose from, and the Sinister Six line-up has always been shifting throughout the comics, so Goddard can decide to go with just about anyone. But judging by recent easter eggs seen in the second film's trailer, we can likely expect Doctor Octopus and Vulture, and perhaps even villains that have already appeared in the series (Specifically Lizard, Electro, Green Goblin, and Rhino).

So what do you think of Sony making Sinister Six and Venom movies? Which Venom would you like to see in the film? What members of the Sinister Six do you hope will be featured? Sound off below.

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Paul Walker's Younger Brother Cody Rumored To Be Filling In For His Brother In Remaining 'Fast and Furious 7' Scenes

For Fast and Furious fans, now's as rough a time as ever given the recent tragic death of one of the series' leading stars; Paul Walker. But following the actor's death, Universal has announced that they will still be moving forward with the upcoming Fast and Furious 7, which was in the middle of production when the tragedy occurred. The film has since vacated it's original July 2014 release date, and is under going script rewrites, and now rumor has it that Walker's younger brother Cody may come on board to finish off the remaining scenes featuring the Brian O'Conner character, before he's given a proper send off. 

 

The rumor comes courtesy of Daily Mail, who claims Cody will be used in unfinished scenes that featured Paul, and close ups may be completed using CGI rendering. Director James Wan (The Conjuring), who just recently came on board to replacement Justin Lin for the seventh installment, is likely looking to use Cody's likeness as a filler for the film's final scenes featuring Brian O'Conner. In past cases where a main actor has died during a film's production such has been done for Heath Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and Brandon Lee in The Crow, the stunt double strategy has been used, so it's likely that Cody won't really have any dialogue in the film.

Now while the inclusion of Walker's brother may help to give a proper send-off for the Brian O'Conner character, it still doesn't fill the void that will be left by his absence. That being said, with the loss of two characters; Sung Kang's "Han", and (Recently cast Wonder Woman) Gal Gadot's "Gisele", the franchise is potentially in trouble when it comes to creating new characters two join the team for upcoming installments. We've already learned that actor Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) and Kurt Russell (Miracle) will be joining the next film to some degree, and actor Lucas Black is looking to reprise his role from Tokyo Drift. But this still leaves an empty spot for a younger character to work off of Vin Diesel's Dominic Torreto.

The series needs a new character who could take on the action role, fast paced driving scenes, and also taking on Jason Statham's newly implemented antagonist Ian Shaw. A personal suggestion I have in mind is Chris Pine (Star Trek Into Darkness), who could provide a young risk taker type character that would work well along with the rest of the cast. Possibly in order to keep the franchise alive, the FF7 and assimilate a cast consisting of well developed actors in order to create a solid team. The original plan was to cap off the franchise at 8-10 films, which is the most likely option depending on the success of Fast and Furious 7. In response to the death of the beloved Paul Walker, we can be assured that the franchise will receive the upmost support from its fans, and we expect to see possibly one of the greatest films the franchise has to offer from director James Wan.

On a side note, we at Turbo-Exp would like to take this opportunity to pay our condolences to Walker's family and friends. Never do we understand the concept of death, when it will potentially call upon us, the day in which our actions prior reflect the lifestyle in which we have chosen to live. We'd like to pay tribute to Paul Walker by remembering what a young and talented man he was in his life time. Being that he died in such a tragic accident, we not only would like to send our blessings to his family, but also that of the other young man who died in the car crash.

How do you feel about Cody Walker helping finish Paul's scenes in Fast and Furious 7? What new actors would you like to see join the team for upcoming films? Sound off below.

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Trailer For Gareth Edward's Godzilla Reboot Drops Along With New Stills, Synopsis, And Poster; The King of the Monsters Is Back

In recent years, disaster films have taken the back seat to the likes of superhero movies and teen book adaptions as the major summer blockbusters Hollywood studios have taken interest in, specifically the sub-genre of monster films. While now and then we've seen a film with a monster at the heart of it's premise such as Cloverfield and Super 8, but only recently were the famed kaiju monsters brought back to the big screen brilliantly by director Guillermo del Toro in this year's Pacific Rim. Well now we'll finally get to see the most well known kaiju of all make his grand reemergence in the upcoming Godzilla reboot from director Gareth Edwards (Monsters), and we now have the first trailer, poster, and stills from the film.

Below is the official trailer for Gareth Edward's Godzilla reboot:

As we can see from the trailer, Edwards has definitely set up a much darker and serious tone than the last on screen incarnation we saw of the character back in Roland Emmerich's (White House Down) 1998 Godzilla film. Edwards has decided to move the focus to the military side of the battle against Godzilla, which is something we have yet to see before in previous incarnations. While we don't get any actual lines from the film's starring players, we do know that the film has a pretty impressive ensemble of talent on board including Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Elizabeth Olsen (Oldboy), David Strathairn (The Bourne Ultimatum), Ken Wantanabe (Inception), and lead Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass).

Expectation are pretty high as we approach the release of the Godzilla reboot, as Edward's has been attached to the project for a while, and Warner Bros. is hoping for it to hit bigger than Pacific Rim did in the American box office. While Pacific Rim was able to revive people's interest in the kaiju creatures, the pressure now lies on Godzilla to keep the trend going and bring an all out revival of the famed monster genre. It's worth noting that WB owns both the Pacific Rim and Godzilla properties, and del Toro has expressed his interest in having the two crossover in a future film, so it's always in the realm of possibility.

Most details regarding the film have been shrouded in mystery since it's announcement, and we still have yet to see a full look of the design they've gone with, although the trailer does give us a much better look at what we can expect from the final product. Another key aspect that has been kept under wraps up until this point is whether Godzilla would solely be facing off against the American military in the film, or would there be other kaiju around for him to fight? Well it seems it'll be the later, as has been indicated by a new synopsis that's made it's way online, although it's still unknown what are the specific monsters we can expect to see.

So here's the all new poster for the film, which still doesn't show much of Godzilla, but does give us a better idea of his massive size in comparison to the city:

And the new synopsis and stills:

“An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence”

So what did you think of the new Godzilla trailer? Do you think it'll be an improvement over the last film? Sound off below.

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Fan-Cast: 'Crimson Wings'~The Story Of Batman's Second Robin; Jason Todd

In order to make your Fridays a little bit more awesome then they already were, Turbo-Exp is kicking off a new segment we call 'Fan-Cast Fridays'. Through this new segment, we'll be taking lovable comic book (Or former TV series) characters and be giving them the cast and story line they deserve for a film adaption. So to start things off, we have Crimson Wings; the story of Jason Todd, famously known as the Robin who becomes the notorious Red Hood. We lead off with an all star cast led by Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) as Jason Todd, and Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) as Bruce Wayne/Batman. We find ourselves caught in a story based upon trust, respect of life after death, and the moral decision between vengeance and forgiveness.

Director:

Ruben Fleischer (Gangster Squad, Zombieland )

Tony: It's pretty difficult when trying to select a director to take over the reigns of the Batman franchise, given that Christopher Nolan's trilogy has just recently come to a close, but I decided to go for a bit of a riskier choice with Fleischer. While all of his films haven't been as great as the could've been, the fault primarily has fallen on the screenwriter, and Fleischer has proven himself to be a very visual director, similar to Man of Steel's Zack Snyder. His visual style would be a great fit for the Batman character, and he gives an interesting tone to his films that keeps a good balance so that the film doesn't come off completely dull nor too upbeat. I think if given the chance, and the the right script, Fleischer could really work wonders for a new Batman film.

Composer:

Henry Jackman (X-Men: First Class)

Tony: Like with choosing the director, the composer for the films also has some pretty big shoes to fill. Almost all previous soundtracks for any form of Batman media are iconic today, ranging from the theme song from the original Adam West TV series, to Danny Elfman's score for Tim Burton's original film, and most recently Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's exhilarating scores for the Dark Knight films. So when deciding on someone to compose this film, I need someone with the real credentials and proper style to take on such an iconic character, and Henry Jackman fit the bill. With such successful scores for films like Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, as as his score for the upcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier, there's no denying he's currently one of the best in the biz. He's blend of exciting face paced and mysterious themes really just fits so perfectly for the character and specifically this film.

Story:

Aleek: The composition of Crimson Wings primarily focuses on developing Bruce Wayne as a character through the effects of a villain. Being that he once had a close relation to Jason Todd, we see how he can be a formidable foe both mentally and physically for Bruce Wayne. This film digs into the relations in which is built between Batman and Robin, the basis behind their relationship, what makes them compatible, what happens when this bond is broken, and potentially how will batman handle the death or having to put down a foe in which is uncontrollable and challenges his ability to make life or death decisions.

In the mist of Gotham lies the pain, the secrets, the dreams, and the hopes of a man once  known as Robin, but when he is killed and resurrected, he then discovers that the truth behind the title of Robin is more of a bluff than reality. Being that the caped crusader refuses to take the life of his murder, he wishes to make him pay, through damaging his image, developing the standards of a anti hero. Once he has acquired the newly developed Zenith Mach IX or as we know it the Red Hood's cowl from STAR Labs Gotham, he then begins to use it's vast array of information in order to take over the concrete jungle known as Gotham. The Zenith serves more than a mysterious mask, but more of a portable bat cave. Primarily relying on a apex in human technological advances, he can visualize human vitals, recover information from a crime scene, and hack into various forms of surveillance in order to gain a tactical advantage on his opponents.

Finding out about his previous partners resurrection, Bruce seeks out Jason Todd in fear that his mind may have been corrupted during the resurrection process. Yet darkness has begun to arise over Gotham, Crime  lord bosses being hunted and executed in the streets in search of Batman. Never has the Dark Knight encounter a figure in which purposely seeks him out. With intentions to destroy Batman's reputation and Bruce Wayne's personal life, we get our first movie depicting the life of not only Batman but also showing us the influence he has on the youth in which partake in some of his most deadly and vigilante like actions in order to protect the city. What happens when one of your greatest allies, becomes one of your most formidable foes.

Cast:

Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) -Bruce Wayne/Batman

Aleek: Andrew Lincoln was not my initial choice to take on the role of the caped crusader, yet instead of going with the militant more physical Dark Knight, I decided primarily to go with Andrew Lincoln because he can display the intellectual and emotional aspect of this extremely diverse character. I also looked at the potential of having the actor  Based on his character Rick from AMC's The Walking Dead, I believe with a few months of training he could potentially build up the body mass in order to portray both Bruce Wayne and Batman.

Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) -Jason Todd/Red Hood

Tony: While we had originally been considering Wentworth Miller for the part of Red Hood, once Marshall-Green popped up to me he was the clear choice. With a role like Jason Todd you need someone that truly possesses the acting skill needed to show just how deranged and obsessed with revenge he's become since his younger years as Robin, and I felt Green would be the perfect actor to showcase this and would make for an interesting dynamic opposite Lincoln. He's showcased his talents in such films as Devil and Prometheus, and he has a young Tom Hardy vibe to him that can really work to his advantage in a role like this.

Nick Robinson (Kings of the Summer)-Young Jason Todd/Robin

Tony: Like with the older version of the character, when casting the younger incarnation of Todd we had originally been looking at Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road), but once we had cast Marshall-Green, and new name had come to mind. Nick Robinson was the clear choice for the character, as he's recently proven himself in the leading role of this summer's indie hit The Kings of Summer, as well as landing himself a part in the upcoming Jurassic World film. That being said, Robinson has shown his diverse acting range and just how perfect he'd be as the struggling youth who is already showing signs of what he will soon become, and he'd also make for a very believable younger version of Green.

Sharlto Copley (Elysium) -The Joker

Aleek: The main aspect that makes Joker the Joker is his insanity and his inability to distinguish the hysterical from the hostile. Being that the movie primarily the result of the actions of the Joker, it is beneficial we have an actor who can do the role justice, yet while not necessarily stealing the show in terms of trying to establish the Joker as a main antagonist (Which is the spot currently occupied by Red Hood). Sharlto Copely is a phenomenal actor and can display the character in a beneficial manner that would be unique from past incarnations of the character, while still serving the role well in the context of the film.

Jeremy Irons (The Burgias)-Alfred Pennyworth

Aleek: Jeremy Irons is perfect for the role of Alfred, clearly an important supporting player. This version of the character won't focus so much on the physical Alfred, but rather as the care taker of Bruce Wayne who aids him in his time of need. Jeremy Irons would be cool to have in this role supporting Lincoln's Bruce, helping him cope with then haunting return of Todd. This form of Alfred is more proactive, stepping out of the consistent "Hey Bruce, don't do this" type figure, and into the more "Here's how you should approach this Bruce" type.

Wes Bentley (The Hunger Games) -Dick Grayson/Nightwing 

Aleek: Wes Bentley is the best fit for this version of Nightwing, now a little later in his solo career as a vigilante. Being that Nightwing is stepping out and turning into an independent figure, he needs a more independent image. The younger the actor who portrays him, the quicker it's lead audiences to misjudge the Nightwing character and simply see him as a tall Robin, which is of course not the intention. Bentley is actor who can help show just how much Dick Grayson parallels Bruce Wayne when he was younger, and he'd make for a great contrast to Marshall-Green's Jason Todd.

Jason Isaacs (Awake)- Commissioner Jim Gordon

Aleek:  Jim Gordon is portrayed as a cop  that can't really carry his own weight, relying primarily on Batman to cover the dirty work, and he comes up on the scene after the deed has been done. In this adaption of Jason Todd's story, Jason Isaacs' Gordon will play a much more proactive role. Now instead of showing up after Batman wins, he may show up during a large fight, due to his fast ability to piece together information (Similar to but not as efficiently as Batman does). Also being the father figure to Barbara Gordon, Jason Isaacs would serve as a great actor in which to play a figure bound by the law but also intelligent enough to trust a vigilante when needed.

Amanda Peet (2012)-Barbara Kean-Gordon

Tony: We thought it'd be cool to include Jim Gordon's first wife, and mother of Barbara Gordon, in the film given that we're going with a younger version of the character. It'd be great to see a Gordon who's also struggling in his personal life with his wife and him deciding to get a divorce, and how this will effect him when he's on duty, as well as how it will affect their daughter. That being said, I think Amanda Peet would make for a very believable version of the character that would add depth to the small amount of screen time she'll be getting. I think she'd work well with Isaacs as Gordon and would be able to full off a good motherly vibe to her like she did in 2012.

Emma Watson (Perks of Being a Wallflower)-Barbara Gordon

Aleek:  The reason behind Emma Watson being chosen for Barbara Gordon is her ability to potentially disobey her father, and step into the Batgirl role. She is showing her strides as a actress currently and can Barbara Gordon a aspect in which can be respected by fans and possibly become a fan favorite. No telling what the future of Crimson Wings has in store for her, but as an initial film, she will do it much good.

Peter Mensah (Spartacus: Blood and Sand)-Waylon Jones/Killer Croc

Tony: Killer Croc will be a pivotal character in the film as he'll be the one responsible for the deaths of Jason Todd's parents, which is something we'll see through a flash back sequence. Killer Croc has been a character who's often compared to The Amazing Spider-Man's Lizard, but for this version we'd like to separate the similarities between the two and portray Croc as a much more menacing threat. Mensah is the perfect fit for the human version of the character; Waylon Jones, and standing at 6 4" with and intimidating voice, he'd serve perfectly for this version of the character. I'd imagine Jones already would be involved with the gangs of Gotham prior to his transformation, and could have some ties to both Penguin and Black Mask.

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Hunger Games: Catching Fire) -Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin

Aleek: For this version of Penguin, I'm looking more towards the annoying and creepy political figure who has funding in places we can't imagine. Seeing himself as untouchable he becomes more of a figure of power in the city, and has his minions do the dirty work for him. Now I'll be honest, this is by no means the most creative choice, but I stand by it cause it's so damn perfect. Hoffman would embody the character perfectly, and has shown his skill in many films including The Master and Capote. Hoffman would definitely be able to make the character much more menacing and realistic than previous incarnations.

Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead)-Harvey Bullock

Tony: Okay, okay, I know it's annoying that I'm using another actor that's also from The Walking Dead, but the truth of the matter is that Bernthal is just too perfect for the role. While I considered going for the younger inexperienced Earth One version of the character, I finally settled on a younger more versatile version of the classic character.  Bernthal displays all the qualities needed to pull off the gritty and tough detective, and it's very similar to his upcoming role in TNT's Mob City. My version of Harvey Bullock is more of the figure who aims to get his paycheck day to day and at least put a few scumbags off the street while doing so.

Idris Elba (Thor: The Dark World)-Black Mask

Aleek: While he may not be the most orthodox choice out there, Idris Elba as Black Mask would serve perfectly. Being that his character is conflicted with that of Logan Marshall-Green, it would be interesting seeing the chemistry the two would have when trying two display between these two distinct characters, especially given that the two recently shared the screen in Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

Robert Patrick (Gangster Squad)-Slade Wilson/Deathstroke

Aleek: He showed how freakishly ferocious he could be in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, now he can be a deadly assassin in the role of Slade Wilson. Not only does Patrick look and act the part perfectly, but he's also recently worked with our director choice in Gangster Squad where he gave a great and memorable performance. Displaying a competitive figure with an apex in gymnastics and master of weaponry shouldn't really be a problem for him.

Joe Manganiello (True Blood)-Bane

Aleek: While the character of Bane won't be featured to prominently in Crimson Wings, he'll still serve a pretty substantial role in the film that'll need to leave a lasting impression. Manganiello, who's already been on DC's radar for the part of Superman and Batman, would make an excellent Bane for the version we're going with. While Tom Hardy's Bane was able to come off a bit more intelligent than the comic book version, he lacked the imposing stature that the character needs, and Manganiello has that plus the large build down pact. An actor with potential is what is needed for this role, and I'm positive that Joe Manganiello has it.

Olga Kurylenko (Oblivion)-Talia al Ghul

Aleek: Foreign, gorgeous, and a potential lover for Bruce Wayne were the major things I kept in mind while searching for an actress that could portray Talia al Ghul, and Olga Kurylenko instantly came to mind. To be honest, we actually had to do a last minute switch on this one, as our original choice for the role had been Fast and Furious star Gal Gadot (Who is now our new Wonder Woman), but we're quite happy with Kurylenko in the role as well. She's proven her acting chops recently in film's such as Oblivion, Quantum of Solace, and Seven Psychopaths, and she's also shown that she can be very physical in action scenes as well. While we would've loved to have seen Gadot in the role, Kurylenko is a close second.

We hope you guys in enjoyed our Crimson Fan-Cast and ideas, and stay tuned for many more upcoming 'Fan-Cast Friday' projects. Did you guys agree with our picks? Would you like us to post the full story for Crimson Wings? Sound off below.

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