Independent Research 8

Mark Wahlberg to join Transformers 4?

Michael Bay thanks the internet for giving him the idea

Nov 8th 2012By George Wales

Last month saw online message boards awash with talk of Mark Wahlberg being cast in Transformers 4. Michael Bay promptly came out and dismissed the speculation, but it sounds as though the whole affair has given the director an idea…

It seems as though after dismissing the speculation, Bay actually gave it some thought, and decided that it wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

"I squashed a rumour that was on the internet last week,” said Bay on his blog. “It was about Mark Wahlberg. Mark was rumoured to be starring inTransformers 4. We are working on another movie together, not T4.

“I had such a great time working with Mark on Pain And Gain, and he gave such a great performance,” continues Bay, “let's say that very internet chatter gave me some ideas. We are at the inception of our story process right now on T4. Let's say some ideas are gaining traction with me and my writer - so I'm here to say thanks to internet chatter.”

So does that mean we might see Marky-Mark going up against the Decepticons after all? It’s certainly not a confirmation, but it does at least sound as though Bay is giving it some thought. Bravo, geeks. Bravo…

Source: Michael Bay

Would you like to see Wahlberg involved? Tell us, below!

Independent Research 7

First full trailer for Iron Man 3: watch now

Robert Downey Jr. is back

Oct 23rd 2012By Matt Maytum

Iron Man 3 has finally released a full trailer - after a lot of teasing - and you can watch it here.

The Marvel threequel carries more weight than your average superhero installment, as it’s the first piece in Marvel’s Phase Two puzzle, following the stonking success of The Avengers.

This time around, Tony Stark is back at his lowest ebb, after riding high with the superteam. The official synopsis states that the genius billionaire playboy philanthropist “finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands” and has to rely on his ingenuity and instincts to fight back.

It’s fairly safe to say that it’s Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin who’s causing Stark all that grief.

Watch the Iron Man 3 trailer online now:

Needless to say, it looks like the destruction of the Malibu beach house will be one of 2013's most spectacular set pieces.

For the eagle-eyed, there are a couple of glimpses at Guy Pearce's Aldrich Killian (one of 100 people who want to kill Stark) and Rebecca Hall's Maya Hansen. And it looks like Iron Patriot will be wreaking a fair amount of destruction.

Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) takes over directorial duties for Part 3, though Jon Favreau’s staying on as Happy Hogan.

Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, James Badge Dale and Don Cheadle, Iron Man 3 opens in the UK on 26 April 2013 (before opening in the US on 3 May 2013).

Independent Research 6

Dark Knight Rises cinematographer Wally Pfister calls The Avengers ‘appalling’

“I was driven bonkers by that illogical form of storytelling”

Oct 17th 2012By Matt Maytum

The Avengers - Teaser TrailerWatch more videos like this01:55

The Dark Knight Rises’ Wally Pfister is one of the pre-eminent cinematographers working today, thanks in no small part to his work on Christopher Nolan’s films.

He’s currently working on his own directorial debut (details of which are very hush-hush), and he recently sat down for a chat with the Herald Tribune.

The most interesting thing that emerged from the conversation however, regarded TDKR’s superhero rival, The Avengers.

When asked, ‘What’s most important in shooting a film?’, Pfister responded, “What’s really important is storytelling. None of it matters if it doesn’t support the story.

“I thought The Avengers was an appalling film. They’d shoot from some odd angle and I’d think, why is the camera there? Oh, I see, because they spent half a million on the set and they have to show it off. It took me completely out of the movie. I was driven bonkers by that illogical form of storytelling.”

Not a fan then. Earlier in the interview, he even expressed hesitation at taking on Batman Begins:

“I’m not a big superhero fan. In terms of the movie-going experience for me, I love the realistic stuff because it’s just that much less formulaic. When I was first approached by Christopher [Nolan] for Batman Begins I was like, really? A guy in a rubber suit?”

The Dark Knight Rises hits DVD and Blu-ray on 3 December 2012.

Independent Research 5

Kristen Stewart talks about finishing The Twilight Saga

Exclusive: “It’s pretty easy to walk away.”

Oct 13th 2012By Total Film

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 - Final TrailerWatch more videos like this02:08

Kristen Stewart talks about the mixed feelings of finishing up The Twilight Saga with Breaking Dawn - Part 2 in the current issue ofTotal Film magazine.

It’s available for just £1.99 on your iPad, and also features contributions from Stewart’s co-stars Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, but here’s a sneak peak.

When we asked if it was sad or liberating to be finishing Twilight, Stewart responded, “Both. Fleetingly sad and maybe then once or twice after. Like when you suddenly smell something that reminds you of being on set. But it’s not sad in between those moments, because I feel like no stone was left unturned.

“Everyone thinks it’s hard to say goodbye, but it’s harder to say goodbye to crews and casts that I’ve only spent five weeks with. This was four years. I’m ready to say goodbye. I’m perfectly fine.

“Once the story has been told, you feel like you’ve done all you can do. It’s pretty easy to walk away. It’s not like it’s going anywhere. This one’s mine, forever.”

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 opens in the UK on 16 November 2012.

Independent Research 4

Monsters University gets a brilliant website

Enrol at MU!

Oct 9th 2012By Matt Maytum

Monsters University, Pixar’s eagerly-awaited prequel to Monsters, Inc., is quietly positioning itself as one of the most exciting filmic prospects of 2012.

A new tie-in website has been launched at monstersuniversity.com/edu, and rather than being a bland assortment of your usual promo material, it presents itself as an actual educational institution, with student testimonials, admissions info, alumni news and tons more.

Check it out, though be warned, you could easily end up losing your day to this incredibly detailed tie-in.

This approach is always a winner with us, favouring world-building detail over the hard sell, and increasing our anticipation without resorting to a deluge of spoilers.

We’re extremely tempted by an MU hoodie too (though it’s a shame the four-armed t-shirt is out of stock).

Monsters University takes a trip down memory lane to visit Mike and Sulley during their days in higher education, before they were Monstropolis’ top scare team.

It opens in the UK on 12 July 2013 (although those lucky US-based folk get it on 21 June).

Independent Research 3

Adele’s Skyfall single gets an official release date

Available from 5 October 2012

Oct 1st 2012 By Matt Maytum

Since it was confirmed that Adele would be singing the theme song for James Bond’s latest movie outing Skyfall, we’ve been desperate to hear a snippet of it.

We won’t have to wait much longer as the official release date of the single has been announced on Adele’s Facebook page, shortly after she tweeted an image of herself in the recording studio.

In a neat move, the single will be available in the UK from 0.07hrs BST (see what they did there?) on Friday 5 October. At least we know what we’ll be listening to at 0.08.

The cover art for the single (above) basically blends Adele’s face into the first Skyfall poster, and would seem to confirm that the song is also called Skyfall.

Skyfall, the 23rd official film in the James Bond series opens in the UK on 26 October 2012.

Independent Research Article 2

Rupert Wyatt to leave Apes sequel?

Director apparently unhappy with tight release schedule

Sep 18th 2012

By George Wales

Having revitalised the Planet Of The Apes series with the excellent Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, it was perhaps inevitable that Fox would want to hang on to director Rupert Wyatt for the sequel. 

Officially titled Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, the sequel is set to pick up where the last film left off, as the ape-carried virus begins to spread through humankind with disastrous effects, resulting in a global pandemic.

Wyatt had agreed to direct the follow-up, but according to Deadline, he’s having second thoughts due to the film’s extremely tight release date of 23 May 2014. Fox has declined to comment, but if rumours are to be believed, they’ll have to move quickly to find a replacement.

The situation is reminiscent of Gary Ross’s exit from the Hunger Games franchise, having declined the opportunity to direct the second film on account of Lionsgate’s ludicrously tight production schedule. Francis Lawrence, his replacement, also seems unlikely to return for round three for similar reasons.

Time is now very much of the essence for Fox, who are reportedly happy with the script submitted by writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. If Wyatt does jump ship, expect a replacement to be announced sooner rather than later.

Thoughts:

I chose this article as I found it interesting to see how Rupert Wyatt has the opportunity to direct such a fantastic film and just because of the close deadline he feels the need to get out of the situation. This will put more work to FOX as they if this is all true they have to find a replacement.

Independent Research Article

New Avengers easter egg revealed

By George Wales
Tony Stark has plans for Stark Tower         Sep 17th 2012

A previously unnoticed easter egg has been uncovered within The Avengers, with MTV noticing some exciting plans for Tony Stark’s latest upgrade to Stark tower.

Throughout the film, the tower is pictured with the word “Stark” written across it, with only the letter A remaining after the battle with the Chitauri. A nice reference to “Avengers” we thought, absent-mindedly, at the time.

Now it turns out that Stark might already have been thinking of changing the name, with a screenshot of some of his blueprints revealing the words “Avengers Tower”.

Does this mean that Stark is planning to convert Stark Tower into a new headquarters for the Avengers? Given that the Helicarrier went up in smoke, it’s not as if they couldn’t use one. And people think Stark is selfish...

Perhaps that’s where the new team will be based in The Avengers 2? We’ll find out for sure when the film opens in the UK on 1 May 2015.

Thoughts:

I found this article on Total Film (http://www.totalfilm.com/news/new-avengers-easter-egg-revealed) and instantly became engaged. I am a huge Avengers fan and watched the movie once it released in cinemas, i was one of those anxious fans waiting to watch the movie, counting down the days. Finally to hear there been an Easter egg giving us an insight to the sequel of "The Avengers" excites me! I find Easter eggs an interesting and fun way for the fans of the particular type of movie to pay attention to the little details in the movie, some fans would go to the extream and re watch the movie to find them (or just youtube them). I have also seen this on movies such as Toy Story. Easter eggs give us clues as to whats going to happen in the next movie.

Example of Easter Egg

Pixar is known for adding Easter eggs in their animated movies.