Last week Guillermo del Toro announced that Legendary Pictures would be moving forward with Pacific Rim 2 and that he's writing it with Zak Penn. He's been talking about this sequel since the first movie was released and has shared some ideas for it like a Jaeger and Kaiju mashup. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal the director revealed a few new bits of information on what he's planning, and it's going to be very different film than the first one was. Here's what he had to say:

"We are three years away, so to spoil anything would be fantastically silly of me. What I can tell you: [screenwriter Zak Penn] and I really went in, we started with [screenwriter Travis Beacham] about a year and a half ago, kicking ideas back and forth. And, admittedly, I said to Zak, let’s keep kicking ideas till we find one that really, really turns the first movie on its ear, so to speak. (…) It was hard to create a world that did not come from a comic book, that had its own mythology, so we had to sacrifice many aspects to be able to cram everything in the first movie. Namely, for example “the Drift” (editor’s note: the neural link between pilots of the giant robots, or jaegers), which was an interesting concept. [Then there was] this portal that ripped a hole into the fabric of our universe, what were the tools they were using? And we came up with a really, really interesting idea. I don’t want to spoil it, but I think at the end of the second movie, people will find out that the two movies stand on their own. They’re very different from each other, although hopefully bringing the same joyful giant spectacle. But the tenor of the two movies will be quite different."

All I know is that I loved the hell out of the first movie, and it doesn't bother me that the sequel is going to be "very different." As long as the movie is just as awesome, I'm going to be a happy man.  He goes on to talk about the animated series they are developing, saying:

We are talking about all the possibilities in terms of networks. We’re formulating ideas that are, again, interesting and not the usual route, but the series tackles the stories that happened to pilots working in the Shatterdome (editor’s note: a building where jaegers are built and maintained and pilots train), but also cadets learning how to become pilots. All of this happens prior to the first movie, and it gives you a little more depth into the background of certain characters that will appear in the second movie. So it’s really expanding the material. I was incredibly happy with the comic book series that came about from a graphic novel called “Tales From Year Zero,” and we are continuing the tales for the next three years. So by the time the second movie comes out, you will have probably one year of the animation airing, and you will have three years of the comic book series ongoing, so we are trying for all these things to be canon, to be in the same universe, to not wing anything, so that if anyone … a lot of kids, for example, have discovered “Pacific Rim” through the toys. They come in through the toys, and then they watch the movie, and then they learn this, they learn that through the movie or the comic book series, so we’re trying to make it canon so we can expand the universe. And by the time we come into the second movie, you have a good feel for the world, and we can dedicate ourselves to character and ideas and spectacle.

I'm really about all this Pacific Rim awesomeness that is happening. I knew the movie would eventually happen, but the animated series was such a great surprise. Hopefully they bring on a team of talented animators to bring it to life. 

Dimension Films has debuted a new clip from Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For. It features Jessica Alba going a little crazy and chopping her hair off. It looks like she undergoes a pretty intense transformation. 

Co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring Miller's visually stunning "Sin City" graphic novels back to the screen. Weaving together two of Miller's classic stories with new tales, the town's most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more notorious inhabitants.

The movie is set to be released on August 22nd.

Gaming Heads, the company behind the recent statues based on God of War and Mass Effect, have expanded their product line yet again with their inaugural series of Street Fighter plush toys. Series one will include the revered trinity of Chun-Li, Ryu, and Ken, and each fighter comes in at about 12' inches tall and also includes an internal skeleton that allows for posing. If you're like me, that means that you will undoubtably recreate a fight between Chun-Li and Ken at your work desk, complete with a printed out background so it feels authentic. Each one of these adorable little guys (and gal) will cost you around $19.99, and can be ordered from their official store.

Hopefully these will sell well, as I require a Plush Dan to be a part of my collection at some point. It simply must happen.

It has been confirmed that a 6-inch action figure of the legendary white Boba Fett prototype design is being released. According to Rebel Scum, it will be available exclusively through Walgreens stores this coming fall, and you will be able to start pre-ordering the figure during San Diego Comic-Con later this month. It looks like a must own for any hardcore Star Wars collector. 

To watch the original screen test footage of Boba Fett in his white costume, click here. 

IFC Films has released an interesting featurette for Richard Linklater's 12-year passion project, Boyhood. I had a chance to see this movie at Sundance earlier this year, and I absolutely loved it. This was an incredibly ambitious project, and it turned out great. It's a movie you need to go out of your way to watch. It's such a beautiful and unique coming of age story that is unlike anything you've ever seen before. 

The featurette includes interviews Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Patricia Arquette. They discuss the project, how it came about, the shooting process, and more. The movie is set to be released on July 11th! You can read my review for the film here, and watch our video review here.

Moviefone

Open Road Films has released the first batch of photos from their upcoming live action adaptation of Max Steel, and they give us our first look at Disney star Ben Winchell as the main character. That suit he's wearing in the photo above is pretty cool. It looks like he's about ready to go ballistic on someone. 

I was never really into Max Steel, but it does sound look and sound like it has potential to be a cool flick that fans of the animated series and toy line would enjoy. Here's a brief synopsis:

"The origins story chronicles the adventures of 16-year-old Max McGrath (Winchell) and alien companion Steel, who must harness and combine their tremendous new powers to evolve into the superhero Max Steel. As these two unlikely friends struggle to accept their oddly connected fates, they begin to uncover unimaginable secrets, working together to find the truth, and fighting the mysterious forces threatening their world."

The movie also co-stars Ana Villafane, Andy Garcia, and Maria Bello, and it was written by Christopher Yost (Thor: The Dark World). Everyone involved with the film will be at Comic-Con later this month, and I'm sure they'll premiere some footage. 

This fan made stop-motion animated Transformers short is awesome! The next five minutes you spend watching it is better and more entertaining than anything Michael Bay has done at this point with the Transformers franchise. It was created by YouTuber jarrisloureiro, and it features Optimus Prime taking on the Constructicons. I hope you enjoy the action-packed adventure! 

I don't know about you, but I'm a big fan of those reality ghost hunting shows. I find them extremely entertaining for some reason. Well, writer and director Andrew P. Jones took the basic concept of those shows and turned it into a movie, but with everything a little over-exaggerated. The movie is called Haunting of Cellblock 11. It may not look like the best movie to some of you, but sometimes I enjoy watching a ridiculous B horror movie. Here's a detailed synopsis:

In Haunting of Cellblock 11, a television ghost hunting show called "Ghost Sightings" is having trouble capturing compelling paranormal activity and faces possible cancellation by the TV network. As luck would have it, they are approached by an elderly man who is being tormented by entities and needs the team's help to rid him of his unrelenting demons. In a last ditch effort to capture apparitional evidence, the team follows the man's lead and heads to an abandoned prison in the middle of the country where they encounter skittish locals, leery of the prison and the secrets it holds.

Despite the warnings, the team sets up their cameras and investigates the infamous Freeling State Penitentiary in hopes of capturing enough evidence to keep their TV show on the air. However, it doesn't take long before the team is faced with malevolent spirits that put their lives in true danger. As the night wears on, it becomes a fight for their lives as the team struggles to survive against the ghost of an inmate who died in the prison and now is attempting to come back by inhabiting one of the team members, presenting a real, physical threat to the remaining ghost hunters.

The movie stars Jeffrey Johnson, Linara Washington, Charley Koontz, and Dee Wallace. It's actually currently available to watch on VOD from Gravitas Ventures.

Some people might shy away from having a Game of Thrones themed wedding. If you've seen the show or read the books, then you know that weddings aren't really a happy time. Kerry Ford and Darren Prew went against the odds though, entered a competition for Blinkbox and won a Game of Thrones themed wedding that included a castle, a horse, costumes, and over 50 hours of fitting, styling, and theatrical makeup. 

The bride and groom chose to dress up as Daenerys and Jon Snow on their wedding day, but the best man got the coolest makeover as a White Walker. 

Kerry is a professional baker so she chose to make her own wedding cake which you can see above. This is what she had to say about it:

"It's comprised of each of the Game of Thrones' houses, then there are the wedding vows from Game of Thrones, King Joffrey's crown made out of chocolate and topped with the famous iron throne. It was almost a shame to see it eaten. I changed my mind over the design of this cake so many times, it's the most important cake I'll ever make."

You can check out a bunch of other photos from the wedding below. Thankfully no blood was spilled and nobody died! Thanks to io9 for the tip!

I Origins is an amazing, thought provoking sci-fi film that is one of the must watch movies of the year. I saw it at Sundance and it completely blew me away. It's such a beautiful film. The story follows "a molecular biologist whose study of the human eye points to evidence with far reaching implications about our scientific and spiritual beliefs." 

The first clip is called "Disprove God," the second is "Crazy People," and the third is "Window to the Soul." All of them include philosophical discussions on what the story deals with. The movie is set to be released on July 18th, 2015. Make sure to go out and watch this movie, you won't be disappointed. It stars Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Bergés-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, and Archie Panjabi.

“Some of the most beautiful destinations on Earth look like shit compared to the rest of the galaxy.”

Marvel has launched a cool new website advertising Guardians of the Galaxy that is a fake galactic travel service called Galaxy Getaways. The service promises a dream vacation, and the company’s website allows you to use street view to explore a couple of locations from the Guardians universe. The site actually reveals a few fun details about the worlds that will be in the film. Those worlds include Xandar, which is the home of the Nova Corps; the desolate rock of Morag, and a place called Nowhere, which is the home of the Collector (Benicio del Toro). This is actually an entertaining site that's worth checking out. Below you'll find a great promo video advertising the service.  

The movie is set to be released on August 1st!

San Diego Comic-Con is fast approaching, so expect to see more and more news for the amazingly epic geek convention. Thanks to THR we have a look at the TV panels and screenings that will be taking place. This is all the information provided so far, but we'll have full panel schedules and additional information for you when the official schedule is released. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 (Preview Night)

• Pilot screenings: The Flash (CW), Constantine (NBC), iZombie (CW)

THURSDAY, JULY 24

• Batman animated TV series (Cartoon Network) 6-7 p.m., Hall H.

• Hannibal (NBC)

• Teen Wolf (MTV) Panel includes Tyler Posey, Dylan O’Brien, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, plus new cast members Shelley Hennig and Dylan Sprayberry, along with EP Jeff Davis.

• Childrens Hospital (Adult Swim) Panel includes Rob Corddry and cast. 6-7 p.m., Room 25ABC.

• Witches of East End (Lifetime) Panel with stars Jenna Dewan Tatum, Julia Ormond, Madchen Amick, Rachel Boston, Eric Winter and Daniel DiTomasso. 5:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 25

• Outlander (Starz) Cast and creators expected to be in attendance. 2:15 p.m., Room 6A.

• Bates Motel (A&E) 3:30 p.m.

• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) For the second year in a row, the writers will take center stage for a Q&A. 10-11 a.m., Ballroom 20.

• iZombie (CW) The midseason drama from Rob Thomas will screen the pilot, with a short Q&A to follow featuring cast Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Robert Buckley and EPs Thomas and Diane Ruggiero-Wright. 11:30-12:30 p.m., Room 6BCF.

• Mike Tyson Mysteries (Adult Swim) Mike Tyson will preview his new animated comedy series on a panel that also features Rachel Ramras, Jim Rash, and producer Hugh Davidson. 2:30-3:15 p.m., Indigo Ballroom.

• The 100 (CW) Video presentation and Q&A with the cast and EP Jason Rothenberg. 3:15-4:15, Room 6BCF.

• The Originals (CW) EP Julie Plec and co-EP Michael Narducci will be joined by stars Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, Phoebe Tonkin, Charles Michael Davis, Leah Pipes and Danielle Campbell for a video presentation followed by Q&A. 4:15-5:15 p.m., Ballroom 20.

• Arrow (CW) Stars Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Colton Haynes, Willa Holland, Paul Blackthorne and John Barrowman — with EPs Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg — will unspool a video presentation and panel discussion previewing season three. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Ballroom 20.

• @Midnight live show (Comedy Central) 10:30 p.m., Balboa Theatre. RSVP required.

SATURDAY, JULY 26

• The Vampire Diaries (CW) Stars Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder and Kat Graham join EP Julie Plec for a video screening and Q&A. 4-4:45 p.m., Ballroom 20.

• Constantine (NBC) Pilot screening followed by Q&A with stars Matt Ryan, Harold Perrineau and Charles Halford join EPs Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer. 5:15-6:15 p.m., Room 6BCF.

• Person of Interest (CBS) EP Greg Plageman joins series stars for a special video presentation and Q&A. 6:15-7 p.m., Room 6BCF.

• Warner Bros. Television & DC Entertainment Present: The Flash, Constantine, Arrow and the world premiere of Gotham (Fox) with appearances by casts and producers. The Flash pilot will also be screened, with video presentations of Arrow and Constantine. Cast and producers from all four shows will also appear throughout the night. 8-11 p.m., Hall H.

• Grimm (NBC) 3 p.m., Ballroom 20.

SUNDAY, JULY 27

• Supernatural (CW) Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins and Mark A. Sheppard, along with EP Jeremy Carver preview season 10. The panel will feature an exclusive video presentation with series highlights and special features from the season nine DVD set. 10-11 a.m., Hall H.

• The Following (Fox) Stars Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore, Sam Underwood and Jessica Stroup join EPs Kevin Williamson, Marcos Siega and Jennifer Johnson for a Q&A and special video presentation. 11:15-12:15 p.m., Hall H.

• Teen Titans Go! (Cartoon Network) Q&A with producers Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath and members of the voice cast. Panel will include a special appearance by Puffy AmiYumi, the Japanese pop duo responsible for the theme song from the original Teen Titans series. 11:45-12:45 p.m., Room 6BCF.

Universal Pictures has moved the released date up a week for Fast and Furious 7. The movie was supposed to be released on April 10th, but will now hit theaters on April 3rd, 2015.

James Wan is directing the next highly anticipated installment of the awesome franchise, and it stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou, Kurt Russell, and more.

I'm surprised they've managed to keep the plot of this film under wraps for so long. We still have no real idea what it will entail, but I know it's going to be a lot of fun! 

The studio also announced that Insidious: Chapter 3 will now be released on May 29th, 2015 instead of April 3rd. The movie is being directed by Leigh Whannel, and it's the first film in the franchise that's not being directed by Wan. I love this horror franchise, and I can't wait to see where the story goes!

Super7 has revealed a really cool Alien movie playset  that will be available exclusively at 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. It's called the Alien Egg Chamber ReAction Playset, and these are the details they provided us:

The highly anticipated playset that will pull on nostalgic heartstrings of 70’s youth will be exclusively released at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Now you can relive the excitement of the Nostromo Crew’s journey into the Derelict Alien Spaceship! Venture with Kane deep into the mysterious Egg Chamber ReAction Playset and pose your sturdy ReAction Figures on the detailed, egg-covered base. Inspired by the playsets of the 1970’s and packaged in an era appropriate photo box, the playset provides the perfect backdrop for all of your ReAction Adventures.  The playset comes complete with classically styled action base made from durable hand-cast resin and corrugated cardboard, full-color Alien Egg Silo backdrop that slides into the base for display. ReAction Figures sold separately. Limit to one per person for the entirety of the show.  Limited run of 250/numbered. 

I love the little kids that are playing with the set in the cover art. That's one thing I miss about the '70s and '80s… the kids toys that were made for hard R films. 

IMP Awards

Universal Pictures has released a series of character posters for their upcoming murderous thriller, The Purge: Anarchy. They feature five masked maniacs who are out to fulfill their murderous desires.

I watched the first movie for the first time about a month ago, and it was better than I was expecting. I have to say that the sequel looks a lot better. I'm not really that excited for the film, but I do like the fact that they opened up this world and give us a look at the madness that ensues outside and in the streets of a major city. 

The movie was written and directed by James DeMonaco, and it stars Frank Grillo, Michael K. Williams, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, and Keith Stanfield. The movie comes out on July 18th. Click on any of the images below to see the full sized posters.

Just in case you need to wash the bad taste of Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction out of your mouth, here's an awesome set of fan art that was inspired by the classic cartoon designs. They were created by Carlos Valzonline and feature Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ultra Magnus, and one of my favorites… Jazz. Just for the hell of it I also included his Cyclone Armor from Robotech: The New Generation.

In celebration of the 4th of July, 20th Century Fox released a chilling new TV spot with new footage. What makes this spot stand out is the fact that it's cut to president John F. Kennedy's famous address at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1962. The movie comes out on July 11th. Happy independence day! 

Gentle Giant has revealed another incredibly cool mini bust featuring the Luke Skywalker concept design created by legendary Star Wars artist Ralph McQuarrie. I've always loved this design, and as much as I like Luke Skywalker, he would have been so much more badass if he looked like this. The bust will be available at San Diego Comic-Con, and here's a description from Star Wars.com:

Gentle Giant has a slate of new Star Wars products coming to San Diego Comic-Con (July 24-27), and StarWars.com is excited to reveal one item with an especially historic significance: the Ralph McQuarrie-style Luke Skywalker mini bust. Depicting the hero as he appeared in McQuarrie’s original concept art forStar Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, this mini bust shows a very different-looking Luke, but with details that would inform his final design and the designs of other characters. As a collectible, it offers a special glimpse into the visual evolution of Star Wars. It is digitally sculpted, cold cast in high quality polystone and hand-painted, and is individually numbered with a matching certificate of authenticity. The mini bust measures 6.5″ x 7.25″ x 5″, and will be available for $85.00; check out a full preview in the gallery below!

A couple of years ago it was announced that Clive Barker was developing a TV series with Morgan Creek based on his 1990 horror film Nightbreed. We haven't heard anything about it since he first talked about it, saying:

"The sensitivity of our culture has sort of caught up with Nightbreed. I don't wish to be immodest, but the general sense is that the movie failed because people didn't want to associate with the monster, and I think our culture has changed—I think our culture is now ready to embrace the ambiguity."

Apparently, the production company is once again taking steps to develop the movie into a series. An extended cut of the film is set to be released on Blu-ray soon, and while promoting it, Michael Plumides of Morgan Creek gave an update in an interview with Empire.

"We’ve been actively developing the Nightbreed TV series at Morgan Creek with Clive Barker for two years. We hope the newly restored Director’s Cut will help us illustrate how wildly popular the series could be to potential buyers. I recently penned four episodes including the pilot, with material all approved by Clive and Mark Miller at Seraphim Films. We have also been developing new Nightbreed creature concepts and I’ve been collaborating with Tate Steinsiek (SyFy’s Face Off) for some months now, to create all-new designs for old characters and a few new ones, as well. We think the fans will be very pleased – by staying true to the source material but also modernizing the concepts, we hope Nightbreed will appeal to this millennium’s viewer."

As far as how far along they are in the process, it seems like they still have a lot of work to do. He goes on to say:

"It’s too early to say regarding a pilot, but there is significant interest in the Nightbreed property – and we have the Occupy Midian movement to thank for that. But in writing the scripts, I made every effort to stay true to Barker’s vision for the purists without deviating wholly from the source material – even consulting not just Clive and Mark but Barker experts and aficionados – people that live and breathe Barker’s work. Also, I will say, it feels American, but the British accent shines through, occasionally. We hope to partner with a network that understands and appreciates the “monsters of Midian” as we do, but also recognizes the viability of the Nightbreed property."

Well, it sounds like they are going to try and make fans happy. Hopefully it goes into production in the near future and they actually pull it off. 

Today is the Fourth of July, the day when a bunch of rich white guys told a bunch of other rich white guys that they wouldn’t send them any more money (There was maybe also some other stuff). More importantly, it is Captain America’s birthday, and since Steve Rogers is the symbol of everything that America could be, we would like to honor his humility, selflessness, and generosity of spirit by buying a bunch of stuff with his face on it. Commerce is the true American way, after all. (Note to our international readers: If you would like to celebrate Captain America appropriately, you should eat food outside and then watch a bunch of explosions at 9 pm.)

Captain America Statue Lamp
We are putting this lamp in our ironic wood-paneled basement where we play our old Sega Genesis. It goes really well with our brown plaid couch. [Entertainment Earth]

Captain America Camo Kids Tee
Captain America is the Avenger who is easiest to explain to your kids, and the hero you most want them to grow up to be like. Two year olds are destructive enough without adding HULK-SMASH to their repertoire, Thor opens up difficult questions about theology, and Iron Man is cool, but do you really want your kid to be a narcissistic playboy? So get them started on the path to idolizing a good person who tries to do the right thing with this cool tshirt. [Think Geek]

Captain America, Vol. 1: Winter Soldier Ultimate Collection Paperback
You could always celebrate Cap’s birthday by studying his deeds, and the Winter Soldier arc by Ed Brubaker is a classic. If you haven’t read the story that inspired the movie yet, get on it. [Amazon]

Captain America Shield Backpack
We aren’t sure how functional this backpack actually is, but it’s a cool enough idea that we don’t care. Cap always looks his best stalking around with his shield on his back, and now you can do the same. [Hot Topic]

JADS International Avengers Patriot Cologne Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce
Of all the things on this list, I think this one would embarrass Cap the most, but who could pass up the chance to smell like courage and honor and super soldier sweat? [Amazon]