New Names Linked For SUICIDE SQUAD; Karl Urban And Jason Clarke In The Mix For Flagg And Deathstroke

A new crop of names are being linked for roles in David Ayer's Suicide Squad via JoBlo.

It looks like there is a fifth actor being looked at for the role of Rick Flagg, and it's Dredd himself Karl Urban. You might remember it was only a couple of days ago that Karl was being linked for the villain role in Aquaman. I'm sure we could be hearing even more actors but Karl is an interesting addition to the mix of names.

I have my own thoughts why so many actors are passing on this part.

The role of Flagg was originally alluring to Tom Hardy before the part was scaled back in Ayer's rewrites and the role could be a lot more minor than people are expecting it to be. Basically, they're looking at big names but the part doesn't seem to have enough bite to attract the level of actors they want for it.

Flagg could also be off-putting to a lot of these candidates mostly because it could kill their shot at a leading superhero franchise. Marvel usually avoids casting actors who have been apart of DC films and taking the role could nix franchise potential in the DC side as well.

Again, from what I've been hearing Flagg might not even be in sequels, the role is pretty minor compared to the comics and this could be a tough sell to rising actors like Jake Gyllenhaal (already passed), Jon Bernthal and even Joel Edgerton.

Tom, Jake and Joel had been linked for Marvel Studios franchise leads, so it's unlikely we'd see them taking DC scraps which Flagg is starting to look like.

JoBlo is affirming talk that Deathstroke is indeed in the film but won't be on the actual team.

Joe Manganiello is said to the Ayer's first choice as he previously worked with Ayer on Sabotage.

Aussie Jason Clarke is also being considered for the role.

It's not hard to see why the studio would want to have Clarke play the role having a huge breakout hit with Dawn of the Planet of The Apes last summer. He's also playing the new John Connor this year in Terminator: Genisys opposite Captain Boomerang's Jai Courtney. 

The role itself could end-up becoming one of the more important characters moving forward into the DCCU, as there is crossover potential with the Batman films along with a solo film which had been developed and produced by David Goyer (Blade, Batman Begins).

Other actors such as Ed Harris (The Rock, A History of Violence, Enemy At The Gates), Gary Sinise (Forest Gump) and Max Martini (Sabotage, Pacific Rim, The Unit) are linked for roles but those are considered spoilers, feel free to check out the link to have some of the film's plot ruined.

Production is expected to begin in April at Pinewood Studios, Toronto with a release date of August 5th, 2016.

SOURCE: JOBLO

Paramount Sets Dates To Wrap-Up Their New TERMINATOR Trilogy, Sequels Coming 2017 And 2018

Paramount has lined-up the next two installments for their Terminator trilogy, and are planing to put them into production very soon. Terminator 6 will be released on May 19th, 2017 and Terminator 7 will drop on June 29th, 2018. These dates are just markers for the studio, we've seen dates change all the time. However, this proves how serious Paramount is about finishing-up this trilogy.

The film rights to the Terminator franchise actually will expire in a couple of years. Once that time has been reached, they revert back to creator James Cameron. He's said once the rights return to him, he'll be axing the whole thing. I don't doubt this considering Cameron has zero plans currently to pursue more films, and is said to be focusing all his energy on multiple Avatar sequels (perhaps Battle Angel: Alita too). Paramount have a bit of a ticking-clock and have to grind-out these films before they can't make them anymore. Not the best situation for creativity, but let's see how Terminator: Genesys turns-out first.

Previous rumblings included that John Connor and the machines would actually have entire armies time travel, and have an epic battle across time. I assume these battles would be explored in the two sequels. We have no idea if Paramount is going to pursue this original intent for the trilogy, but the studio has seemingly gone-through with committing to three films, in a very short period of time.

It's assumed that Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke and Arnold Schwarzenegger will be returning for the sequels. The fate of director Alan Taylor is a little less known, since he could move-on to other projects or asked to return for Thor 3 (very unlikely).

SOURCE: DEADLINE

TERMINATOR: GENESIS Set Images With Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney And Jason Clarke

Production has been underway for a few weeks on Alan Taylor's Terminator: Genesis. A few set photos have been making their way online thanks to outlets like JustJared and DailyMail. We get our first glimpses of Arnold Schwarzenegger as an aged T-800 model terminator. Along with Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney and Jason Clarke. There is also a photo from a shootout scene with Emilia and Jai's stunt-doubles.

Byung-Hun Lee And Others Roundout The TERMINATOR: GENESIS Cast

THR reports the rest of the Terminator: Genesis cast has been hired. They include Korean actor Byung-Hun Lee (G.I. Joe 1-2, I Saw The Devil, Red 2), J.K. Simmons (Juno, Thank You For Smoking, Oz, Spider-Man 1-3), Sandrine Holt (House of Cards) and Michael Galdis (Mad Men). Most of their roles aren't being revealed, but Simmons will play a cop.

Production is about to begin with Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Jason Clarke (Dawn of The Planet of The Apes, Zero Dark Thirty), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dayo Okeniyi (Hunger Games) and Jai Courtney (A Good Day To Die Hard, Jack Reacher) in lead roles. It's release date is set for July 1st, 2015.


SOURCE: THR

HUNGER GAMES Actor Dayo Okeniyi Takes Final TERMINATOR: GENESIS Lead Role

Variety reports that Hunger Games actor Dayo Okeniyi has landed a lead role in Terminator: Genesis. He'll play Danny Dyson, the son of Skynet key-creator Miles Dyson (last seen in Terminator 2). As a boy Danny was exposed to The Connors and the terminator, when Sarah went rogue and tried to assassinate his father. Miles went-on to help destroy his work and sacrificed his life. I assume that Danny's role will be action-focused.

Dayo apparently was up against John Boyega (Attack The Block) for the part. It's unknown if John's rumored participation with Star Wars: Episode VII casting had anything to do with not landing the role.


SOURCE: VARIETY

Paramount Hires Jai Courtney Over Rising-Star Boyd Holbrook For Kyle Reese In TERMINATOR: GENESIS

Paramount has finally chosen it's Kyle Reese for Alan Taylor's Terminator: Genesis, and it's not the person we wanted or expected. They've decided on Jai Courtney, the Aussie actor best known for tripe like A Good Day To Die Hard and I, Frankenstein. I get the impression Jai's casting in the film came down to the studio being cheap, or finding a "face" at least known to the general audience. I'm sure his previous work on Skydance/Paramount's Jack Reacher didn't hurt his chances.

Boyd Holbrook had been kicking around the project for ages, and seemingly looked like the front-runner for a couple of roles. Holbrook has an impressive acting background which includes an untitled Terrence Malick film (co-starring with Natalie Portman, Cate Blachett, Christian Bale, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender and Ryan Gosling), Milk, Out of The Furnace, Behind The Candelabra, The Skeleton Twins, Jane Got A Gun, David Fincher's Gone Girl and Little Accidents. His credits are more than you'd expect for someone trying to land a lead in a Terminator reboot, I'm actually very shocked Paramount went with Courtney. Holbrook is poised to become a big name, and Paramount really missed out on a opportunity here.

The more I hear about the "what-if" aspects of this project, it really upsets me. Producer Megan Ellison's company Annapurna Pictures exited the project (she's taking an executive producer credit instead). Her production company's involvement was a major reason a lot of people were interested in the reboot in the first place. Also, alarm bells should be ringing as Megan is responsible for a great deal of awards caliber films such as Her, The Master, True Grit, American Hustle, Zero Dark Thirty, Foxcatcher and Lawless. If she left, there must have been a quality issue and Megan wanted to distance herself from it. Odd, since she spent $20 million to secure the rights in the first place.

David Ellison's Skydance Productions will instead be handling 2/3 of the production costs instead, with Paramount shelling out the rest. The people responsible for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Jack Reacher and Star Trek/Star Trek Into Darkness. Last time I checked, the Terminator movies weren't a bunch of generic/forgettable action action films. At least the first two weren't, as the studio and director Alan Taylor are giving lip-service to honoring those movies with this new trilogy.

To add more fuel to the fire. Paramount has been hiring actors with "recognizable faces", rather than impressive bodies of work. Emilia Clark (Game of Thrones) and Jason Clarke (Dawn of The Planet of The Apes) are fine and all, but the studio had the chance to hire Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road, Inception, Dark Knight Rises, Locke,Warrior, The Drop, Child 44) and Brie Larson (Rampart, Don Jon, Short Term 12, The Spectacular Now) as the Connors. Having an actor like Hardy involved would have given the project a lot more attention and curiosity (something he did with Mad Max). Losing Boyd as well, is more than a little disappointing. Even as a fan, I'm not sure I see this going very well if the studio is turning away talent like this.

SOURCE: THR

Kyle Reese Role In TERMINATOR: GENESIS Down To Jai Courtney And Boyd Holbrook

We have our Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and John Connor (Jason Clarke), along with the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger. There is still another major role to fill in Terminator: Genesis, and that would be John's baby daddy Kyle Reese. Deadline reports that the two actors still in the mix for the role are Aussie Jai Courtney (Jack Reacher, A Good Day To Die Hard) and Boyd Holbrook.

Boyd has been sticking around like glue to the project, he was one of the first names linked and has stuck around throughout the entire casting process. If I had to bet money, I'd say that Holbrook ends up landing the role. It's expected that all the actors will have to commit to a three picture deal, as Genesis is the first in a new trilogy. Courtney could be called up for Die Hard 6 or even Divergent sequels (I have no clue about that franchise or his character).


SOURCE: DEADLINE

Jai Courtney Among Five Candidates Testing For Kyle Reese In TERMINATOR: GENESIS

Variety is reporting that Terminator: Genesis is still looking for it's new Kyle Reese. Australian actor Jai Courtney (Jack Reacher, A Good Day To Die Hard, Spartacus) is leading a group of five candidates that have tested for Reese. The list of lesser known actors includes Boyd Holbrook, Tom Cocquerel, Wilson Bethel and Sam Reid. Boyd had been previously linked for the role of John Connor. The main roles are expected to be apart of a new Termintor trilogy, starting with Genesis. Courtney's previous working relationship with Skydance Pictures on Jack Reacher could make him the front-runner of the group.

The group apparently went in for screen tests on Monday, which could mean an announcement on the outcome might be released very soon. These new names could mean Taylor Kistch (Lone Survivor, Battleship, John Carter, Savages) and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max Fury Road, X-Men Days of Future Past) are now out of the running to play Reese.

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Jason Clarke (Lawless, Public Enemies, Zero Dark Thirty) and Arnold Schawarznegger have been confirmed for roles in the fifth installment. Emilia is the new Sarah Connor and Jason is the older John Connor. Arnold's role has yet to be revealed, but is rumored to be playing a new human character. Games of Thrones showrunner and director Alan Taylor will be helming the film. Genesis will be a follow up to Alan's massively successful feature directorial debut Thor: The Dark World, which has earned $632 million globally.

ActingAuditions has confirmed that production begins in April, and will shoot on location in New Orleans, Louisiana. The area has become a hot-spot for big action productions, which will also see Jurassic World shoot there as well. Terminator: Genesis has a release date set for July 1st, 2015.



SOURCE: VARIETY 

More Monkey Business For Matt Reeves, Will Direct And Co-Write PLANET OF THE APES 3

It's starting to sound like 20th Century Fox is thrilled with Matt Reeve's sequel to Rise of The Planet of The Apes. As Deadline reports that the studio is looking to bring him back to direct Planet of The Apes 3. The teaser trailer is beyond impressive and gives us a hint to the dystopian future depicted in the second film, after the outbreak. Which was setup at the end of Rise. Reeves will also co-write the film with screenwriter Mark Bomback. It's assumed that Andy Serkis will return, but it's unknown if human characters played by Jason Clarke and Gary Oldman could be back for the sequel.



Details have been scarce for Dawn of The Planet of The Apes but it seems like the human group led by Gary Oldman's character could somehow end up at-odds with the apes and Caesar, sparking an all out war between the groups. This war hasn't been revealed for Dawn, but in the teaser trailer the bleak reality of this group could lead to desperation and violence. Harking back to Battle For The Planet of The Apes which saw surviving humans militarized and attacking the ape/human colony on the outskirts of the city. The reboot has exchanged the nuclear threat with a more plausible (post-Cold War) viral outbreak which is immune to the apes, but almost wiped out the entire human race.

The Apes films are known for being serialized and we've come to assume that the studio will keep making more films until they're unsuccessful. I can't imagine how many films Andy Serkis has agreed to be involved with, as he's currently the Roddy McDowall of the reboot. This franchise as a whole is my second favorite science fiction series (first being the Alien saga), so I'm all for more films. Noticing the serious tone Reeves has brought to Dawn, I think his involvement is for the better.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Judy Greer Will Play Female Chimp Cornelia In DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Vulture reports that comedic actress Judy Greer (Arrested Development, The Descendants)  has joined the cast of Dawn of The Planet of The Apes. Judy will play female chimp Cornelia (a nudge to Cornelius obviously) via motion capture. Who might end up the love interest to Caesar (Andy Serkis), I assume both will be speaking in full sentences in the film.

Kerri Russell Joins DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Variety reports that Felicity actress Kerri Russell (MI3) has landed a role in Matt Reeve's Dawn of The Planet of The Apes. The rest of the growing cast includes Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Jason Clarke Joins Chris Hemsworth In CANDY STORE

MTV has word from Jason Clarke (Dawn of The Planet of The Apes, Zero Dark Thirty) that he's joined Stephen Gaghan's (Syriana) thriller Candy Store which already has Chris Hemsworth (Avengers, Rush) attached to star. A bunch of high profile actors had been originally linked to the project but it seems they are currently looking at rising talent for the film instead.


"An elite, deep-cover operative who loses everything, ultimately disappearing into Brooklyn, where he must start again. He winds up as a beat up cop, only to discover the global organization he was dedicated to fighting is operating in his new backyard."

Gary Oldman Joins The Cast Of DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

ComingSoon reports that Gary Oldman (Robocop, Dark Knight Rises) has joined the growing cast of Dawn of The Planet of The Apes. Oldman will play the leader of the human survivors. The rest of the cast includes Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke and Kodi Smit-McPee. Matt Reeves' sequel will be released on May 23rd 2014.

Kodi Smit-McPhee Joins DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Deadline reports another Australian actor has joined the cast of Dawn of The Planet of The Apes. As Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road, Let Me In, ParaNorman) will re-team with Let Me In director Matt Reeves, joining Andy Serkis and fellow Aussie Jason Clarke in the film.

Jason Clarke To Star In DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, Film Set 15 Years Later

THR reports that Australian actor Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, Lawless, Public Enemies) has been cast the lead in Dawn of The Planet of The Apes which will be directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In). The film continues the events of Rise where a viral outbreak is posed to wipe-out a majority of the human population on Earth. This is a giant upgrade from James Franco leading the last installment. No word on the actual plot or Clarke's character but the film is set 15 years after the events of the first film. Andy Serkis has been confirmed to be reprising the iconic role of Caesar.

Oscar Isaac And Jason Clarke Join William Monahan's MOJAVE

Variety reports that rising stars Oscar Isaac (Drive) and Jason Clarke (Lawless, Zero Dark Thirty) have joined William Monahan's next directorial effort titled Mojave. The original thriller also written by Monahan focuses on a man who escapes into the desert only to encounter a doppelganger-like antagonist and subsequently enter a vortex of criminality and violence. I'm sure the supporting cast will be equally as talented.

Monahan is best known as an Oscar winning screenwriter. Taking on all sorts of genres writing screenplays for films such as Kingdom of Heaven, The Departed and Sin City A Dame To Kill For. He went behind the camera in the messy British crime thriller London Boulevard which didn't do well with critics. It will be interesting if this second outing will be more successful for Monahan.

Second Trailer For ZERO DARK THIRTY

Brooding Teaser Trailer For ZERO DARK THIRTY

Thrilling New Trailer For Gangster Epic 'LAWLESS' Starring Tom Hardy

Fares Fares Joins Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty

Everyone involved with Safe House seems to be scoring some prime gigs recently. THR reports Fares Fares best known for roles in the previously mentioned film has landed a high profiled part in Kathryn Bigelow's (Hurt Locker) Zero Dark Thirty, formerly known as Kill Bin Laden. It's been stated while his role is unknown he'll be playing one of the "good guys". While he did play an excellent antagonist in Safe House he was definitely playing a military man.

The growing cast is littered with well known and soon to be well known actors. It includes Jason Clarke (Brotherhood, Public Enemies, Wettest County), Joel Edgerton (Warrior, Animal Kingdom), Jessica Chastain (The Help, The Debt), Mark Strong (RockNRolla), Edgar Ramirez (Domino, Carlos), Kyle Chandler (Argo, King Kong), Jennifer Ehle (Contagion), Harold Perrineau (28 Weeks Later), Chris Pratt (Moneyball), Nina Arianda (Win Win, Midnight In Paris) and Nash Edgerton (Attack of The Clones, Revenge of The Sith).