Marvel Echoes Fan Demand..Benedict Cumberbatch In Final Talks For DOCTOR STRANGE

It's looks like Marvel's exhausting search is over. Variety is confirming that Benedict Cumberbatch is in final talks for the role of Doctor Strange. While his commitments to the next series of Sherlock and a play in London seemingly put him out of the running. The studio apparently is trying to work something out with him. Benedict had always been in the running, ever since the first group of candidates was reported on by trades. Having connections to both Star Trek and Hobbit franchises greatly helped his chances with awareness to international audiences. Not to mention the current awards buzz for his performance in The Intimidation Game, as legendary computer pioneer/code breaker Alan Turing. Fans have been asking for Cumberbatch to be consider way before the casting process even started. So, I'm sure that had some impact on who Marvel went after.

Production was expected to begin in the spring, around the same time as Captain America 3. However, since Cap 3 is shooting stateside Strange would be heading to the UK. The official date for Strange hasn't been announced, but it's expected to be July 2016. Marvel is setting up some sort of event for Tuesday, it's possible this will be the announcement made there. Scott Derrickson is directing with a new script from Jon Spaihts (Prometheus).

Strange is expected to be a huge role for the Marvel universe, chatter suggests that Stephen Strange will eventually replace Tony Stark as the face of the franchise.

SOURCE: VARIETY 

Evangeline Lilly In Talks For Role In ANT-MAN

Variety reports that Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly (Lost, Real Steel) is currently in talks for a lead role in Edgar Wright's Ant-Man. The role is unnamed, but is expected to be Pym's (Michael Douglas) daughter and love-interest to Lang (Paul Rudd). It's also possible this could also be Janet van Dyne, who becomes The Wasp. Lilly recently took on a action-based role in Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy, which would make her an excellent candidate for Wasp.

Ladies previously linked for the role included Rashida Jones, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain. Clifton Collins Jr. is also attached for an unknown role in the film. Production begins in April, with the release date set for July, 2015.





SOURCE: VARIETY

Second Trailer For THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Reveals Benedict Cumberbatch's Voice For Smaug The Dragon

RUMOR: Orlando Bloom Possible Front-Runner To Play New BATMAN?

TheDailyExpress (via ThinkMcFlyThink) reports that sources close to Warner Bros. are revealing that Lord of The Rings and Pirates of The Caribbean actor Orlando Bloom is the front-runner to play Batman. Bloom seems to have a strong relationship with the studio after reprising the role of Legolas in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug later this year. Considering his previous success with billion dollar franchises he could be a strong candidate to take over the Bat Cave. They also state that Ryan Gosling, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (hinted to in Rises he would become the new Batman) and Armie Hammer are still in the mix. Nothing is for sure, as there was talk of Christian Bale being offered $50 million to reprise the role.

It's starting to sound like Bruce Wayne will be played by an older actor with the torch being passed to a younger hero (John Blake?). Yet, I assume Wayne will have to come out of retirement to help his protege. Superman Vs. Batman is likely a way for Warner Bros. to give Snyder his Man of Steel sequel while setting up a new Batman for Justice League (and future Batman films). There had been rumblings of a Batman Beyond-type storyline for a purposed Batman follow-up to The Dark Knight Rises. Having John Blake and Terry McGinnis take over the mantle would allow future directors to keep Batman within the Gotham that Nolan created.

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First Teaser Poster For THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

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Luke Evans Will Be Our Eric Draven In THE CROW Remake

Deadline reports that British actor Luke Evans is looking like the final name being attached to The Crow remake. A steady stream of others had been linked previously which included Bradley Cooper, Mark Wahlberg, James McAvoy and Tom Hiddleston. Evans' profile will be raised this year as the villain in Fast And Furious 6 and Bard The Bowman in the second Hobbit installment.

Luke Evans Will Star In Universal's DRACULA: YEAR ZERO

THR reports that Luke Evans will star in Universal's Dracula origin horror film Dracula: Year Zero. Evans has an interesting resume of projects which includes Bard The Bowman in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Three Musketeers, Fast And Furious 6 and Immortals. The film will be directed by Gary Shore which will be his feature debut.

"A young prince who, when the lives of his wife and child are put in danger by a bloodthirsty sultan, risks his soul to save them, and in the process becomes the first vampire."

Peter Jackson Also In The Running For STAR WARS EPISODE VIII?

During a recent Hobbit video FirstShowing spotted a possible script or outline for Star Wars: Episode VIII in Peter Jackson's desk with his name scrolled across it. It could have been a bit of joke since the video was released yesterday on April Fools. Disney/LucasFilm might be actually looking at Peter to tackle the second film. Previously, Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men, Gravity) had been rumored for talks to make Episode VIII. There is a bit of speculation LucasFilm could be aiming to have different directors handle the new trilogies. Similar to how the original three films worked as Lucas (Abrams now) directed the first one and godfathered the other two productions. Considering that Paramount is talking about Star Trek 3 possibly coming out in 2016, it's unlikely that Abrams will be able to make both Trek 3 and Ep. VIII.

Jackson is currently doing post-production on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug with some added Battle of The Five Armies scenes to be shot for There And Back Again this Summer. It's possible that LucasFilm could be aiming for a 2017-2018 release date for Episode VIII which could allow Jackson to clear his other projects including the upcoming sequel to Tintin which begins production sometime this year. Peter has personal and work relationships with Steven Spielberg which might have led to at least talk of him considering the project. Jackson hasn't exactly made a straight up science fiction film yet but was at one point producing the Halo movie. Not to mention producing Neill Blompkamp's stunning sci-fi sociological thriller District 9. Jackson did briefly talk about the new Star Wars films with MTV back in December. You never know making a Star Wars film could be on Peter's bucket-list or just a clever April Fools joke. Considering Jackson has always worked with both Weta Workshop and Weta Digital for his films. While ILM has provided the special effects for basically all of the LucasFilm projects. I don't think Jackson would direct but could help write/produce the film.

"Obviously if he (Lucas) had interest in doing himself, then that's what we would all like to see," he said. "But it's better to have more 'Star Wars' films than no 'Star Wars' films."

"The one thing that Tolkien said is that the wonderful thing with mythology — and George Lucas has created a mythology of his own — is that it keeps getting handed from one person to the next, and each person embellishes it and expands it," Jackson added. "It actually keeps mythology alive, because it should be a living, breathing organic thing where it expands over time. It doesn't just stay stagnant. So I think what George is doing with 'Star Wars' is terrific."

First In Camera Look At Evangeline Lily As Tauriel, Plus Other Behind The Scenes Images From THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG

Evangeline Lilly's Stunt-Double Shows Off Tauriel's Costume On HOBBIT Set

FIRST LOOK: Bilbo In THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG