This superb Star Wars illustration was created by artist JC Richard, and it is called “The Impossible.” It features Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 watching Yoda lift the X-Wing out of the swamps of Degobah with the power of the force. This is a beautiful scene in the film, and it’s wonderfully interpreted in this piece of art. The artist explains his art:

"Why Dagobah? These are the scenes I always come back to when thinking about the original trilogy. 'Try not. Do… or do not.' This is Star Wars to me–no midicloridians, no voodoo, no dogmatic bullshit; it’s just a teacher trying to get his student to remove himself as the obstacle to success, to tap into his true potential and manifest the power he doesn’t even realize he has. Even now as I watch ESB and listen to Yoda speak about the Force, I believe in it all over again… that its energy surrounds us, binds us.. that luminous beings are we, not only this crude matter.. for my ally is the force..and a powerful ally it is."

The poster debuted on /Film and is a 36 x 12 inch screenprint in an edition of 150. if you want one, it will cost you $40. Just make sure to www.microcosmicmedia.com at 2 p.m. eastern time to get it because that’s when and where it goes on sale. 

Earlier this week we learned that The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were wanted to direct the feature film version of The Flash. It has been confirmed by Deadline that the filmmaking duo will also write the script for the film, and they are currently developing a story treatment for the DC Comics speedster superhero. 

There’s still no word if they will direct the film, but the studio obviously hopes that they will. The directors still have yet to decide what their next film will be, but if they choose The Flash, then it will be a DC movie definitely worth looking forward too. 

Ezra Miller has already been cast in the role of The Flash, and he might make his first appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. If not, he will definitely show up in Justice League - Part 1. There’s no word on which version of The Flash that he’ll be playing yet, but I think it will be Barry Allen. I’m sure we’ll know soon enough. 

Lord and Miller are a couple of very talented individuals, and they’re sure to at least give the movie a proper script. The solo Flash film will be released on March 23rd, 2018, which is six weeks before Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War- Part 1 is released.

A couple of hilarious video ads have been released by Gillette and Stark Industries showing off four superhero razors that were inspired by Avengers technology. These are not real, but it would be awesome if they were! The razors are based on the characters Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, and Thor, and each one harnesses the power that the corresponding hero possesses. The videos below show off the powers of the razors, and I think you'll get a kick out them. 

Scarlett Johansson is Universal Pictures' number one choice to star in the remake of the classic horror film Creature From The Black Lagoon. The news comes from the Tracking Board, who says she is currently being courted for the lead role.

The story for the original film followed a group of scientists who discover a menacing prehistoric creature while on an expedition in the amazon. The creature looks like a half-human, half-fish hybrid. Julia Adams played the female lead of the film.

Universal has been looking to remake this movie since 1982, and new updates on it have appeared sporadically over the years. With the studio in the process of revamping their other horror movie icons such as Dracula, the Mummy, and Wolfman, it only makes sense that now is the time to start bringing it together. 

In 2014, Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan were brought in to structure a cinematic universe. It’s not the first time these monsters will share a universe together, though, as they made films like Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman, House Of Frankenstein, and House Of Dracula in the 1940s.

Over the years several directors have been attached to the remake including the director of the original, Jack Arnold. Others have included John Carpenter, Gary Ross, Breck Eisner, and Guillermo Del Toro.

There’s no one attached to direct the remake yet, but it would be nice if they got a talented director to jump on board to bring it to life. Del Toro would have been perfect. As for Johansson, I like like her, and she would fit perfectly in a film like this, especially if they set it in the 1950s like the original film. 

There are so many comic book characters that have been created over the years that it's hard not to think that some of them are based on real people. The thought has crossed my mind during my years of reading comics, but I've never actually done the research to figure it out. 

Thanks to Youtubers Matthew Santoro and VSauce3, who did do the research, we have a great video breakdown that lists off 10 comic book characters whose creation was inspired by real people. Check out the video. I've listed them off in text form below.

#1 – The Joker - Conrad Viedt (1928)
#2 – John Constantine - Sting
#3 – Tintin - Danish Boy Scout Palle Huld
#4 – The Hellfire Club - Various actors who Jack Kirby and Stan Lee were familiar with
#5 – Magneto and Professor X - Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
#6 – Iron Man - Howard Hughes
#7 – Lucifer Morningstar - David Bowie
#8 – Harley Quinn - Arleen Sorkin (Days of Our Lives)
#9 – J. Jonah Jameson - Stan Lee
#10 – Darkseid - Adolf Hitler

Yesterday, we got our first clear and official look at the Thing from Fantastic Four. Today (via EW), we have an even clearer photo that shows a bit more color and the Thing with his fist raised high. The big question is: will we hear the comic book characters signature phrase "it's clobberin' time," or is that too hokey for the ultra-grounded and dark Josh Trank adaptation?

Fantastic Four seems to be really dividing geeks, but everyone on the staff is really intrigued by this adaptation. In the most recent trailer we see what looks like the Invisible Woman (Kate Mara) flying, which left lots of readers grumbling. A quick Google search lead me to several bits of information saying that she can fly, which, when you think of her complement of powers beyond invisibility, seems kind of obvious.

We have an excerpt from EW talking about shooting a scene of the Invisible Woman developing her powers:

For this scene, in which Sue struggles to master her ability to float (she can also turn invisible and project force fields), Mara stands on a crane and makes faces usually reserved for squats or dead lifts. “Move your knees around,” yells director Josh Trank from below. “It’s painful! It’s painful!” In most comic-book adaptations, superpowers are mainly just supercool. In the new Four, they feel more like a disability. “It’s not easy at all,” Mara says. “It’s exhausting.”

Another except talks about Trank's take on the team's powers:

His immediate take on the Four was how terrifying it would be to have your arms suddenly turn into rubber, or your skin burst into flame. “I just kinda jumped to ‘body horror’ in my head,” he says. “Chronicle is about the evolution and strengthening of unique powers. This movie is really viewing them as a curse.”

I'm very excited for this adaptation of the Fantastic Four mostly because it's so different from the previous adaption, which I thought was cheap and cheesy. Fantastic Four launches into theaters August 7th (USA).

The six movie posters that artist Drew Struzan created for the Star Wars saga have been recreated in the style of LEGO. It's always fun seeing geeky things we enjoy getting Legoized. What's great about these is that they will be given out to attendees at the upcoming Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California next week. Thanks to MTV for the tip!

Here are the original poster designs created by Struzan:

A ton of new photos have hit the internet from the set of Tim Miller and Ryan Reynolds Deadpool movie. Many of them give us a detailed look at the merc with a mouth, and there are a few featuring him brandishing his signature samurai swords for the first time! I've also included a few videos from the set where you get to see the character bust out some action moves. Then there's the wild fan art above created by BossLogix showing the character on a fiery chimichanga truck.

View post on imgur.com

Photos Via: Celebuzz, Vancity Buzz, CBM

TARS was an unexpectedly awesome character in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. Because of the amount of practical effects and the seamless CGI, the blocky metal TARS has an undeniable presence. Cosplay artist Iain Heath created this walkable TARS replica/suit over three months.

Heath talks about the suits other features (via Fashionably Geek):

The replica uses two iPads as computer readouts, and features a camera/monitor system to allow me to see in front of it. It also has an audio system, allowing me to talk to people or play sound effects. Everyone seemed enthralled by the thing, and we got a lot of love from the convention-goers. It was a great experience and I hope to lug TARS to other conventions over the course of 2015.

I think the best part of this cosplay is that even when Heath is not in it, he can enjoy having it standing in his living room.

Director Roland Emmerich has announced that Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation) has signed on to reprise his role as scientist Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day 2. Hopefully he's still sporting that epic hairdo. Joey King (Oz the Great and Powerful) has also joined the cast of the film, but there are no details on her character.

Spiner seemed to have a fun time playing the eccentric over-the-top character whose attempt at an alien autopsy didn't go very well. 

The two actors join Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, Charlotte Gainbourg, and Jassie Usher who will play a major role in the story as the son of Will Smith’s character from the first film, Steven Hiller. Smith is not coming back for the sequel, but I do hope they can at least get Bill Pullman on board.

The sci-fi adventure movie is set for release on June 24th, 2016, which is almost exactly 20 years after the first Independence Day was released in theaters on July 3rd, 1996.

With Mad Max: Fury Road coming out this year, Jamie Hooper created this awesome video tribute featuring footage from all of director George Miller's Mad Max movies — Mad Max, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, and Mad Max: Fury Road. The video is made in the style of an old school VHS tape. It also shows us just how true Fury Road is going to be to the other films in the franchise. Thanks to Hooper for sending us the video!

Ben Pearson, Eli Reyes, Free Reyes, and Joey Paur discuss Star Wars, Bladerunner, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and other movies that have been altered after their theatrical release. The GeekTyrant editors get into the reason these films are getting altered and why the filmmakers might be motivated to change their films.

It's rare thing to come across a first sketch of a popular superhero, but here we have H.G. Peter's first sketch for William Marston's (then) new female superhero Wonder Woman. The drawing is up for auction, and it gives us a glimpse at the history of one of the most iconic female superheroes ever created.

The writing on the art are comments from both Peter and Marston about the design which was created in 1941. Peter's note says:

Dear Dr. Marston, I slapped these two out in a hurry. The eagle is tough to handle – when in perspective or in profile, he doesn’t show up clearly — the shoes look like a stenographer’s. I think the idea might be incorporated as a sort of Roman contraption. -Peter

This is Marston's feedback:

Dear Pete – I think the gal with hand up is very cute. I like her skirt, legs, hair. Bracelets okay + boots. These probably will work out. See other suggestions enclosed. No on these + stripes – red + white. With eagle’s wings above or below breasts as per enclosed? Leave it to you. Don’t we have to put a red stripe around her waist as belt? I thought Gaines wanted it – don’t remember. Circlet will have to go higher – more like crown – see suggestions enclosed. See you Wednesday morning – WMM.

Wonder Woman made her debut in December 1942's All Star Comics #8, and the initial design isn't too far off from the final costume — I included an image from the comic below. The piece is being auctioned on Comic Link and the price is undisclosed. You can find more information about it on their website.

Via: Bleeding Cool

Art by Michael Whelan 

I feared that the big screen adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower book series had died. Thankfully, it's alive and well! Deadline is reporting that the first installment of the film franchise has found its funding with a team up between Sony Pictures and MRC. 

This will be the first of several planned films that Sony will distribute, and the complementary TV series that will bridge the gap between the films is also still in play and being developed by MRC.

The most recent version of the script was written by Akiva Goldsman and Jeff Pinkner, and it is based on the first book in the series, The Gunslinger. The horror/fantasy film will center on the relationship between Roland and Jake. This is apparently a totally reconceived version of the script from when the project was set up at Universal Pictures. 

Imagine Entertainment’s Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Erica Huggins are producing. There's no word on if Howard is still attached to direct, but the report says that Sony and MRC are on the hunt for filmmakers to take on the project now. King had this to say in a statement:

“I’m excited that The Dark Tower is finally going to appear on the screen. Those who have traveled with Roland and his friends in their search for the Dark Tower are going to have their long-held hopes fully realized. This is a brilliant and creative approach to my books.”

Sony Picture Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman added:

“There are few projects out there that compare with the scope, vision, complex characters and fully drawn world that Stephen King has created with The Dark Tower. I am a giant fan. And, as Stephen himself does, we love the direction that Akiva and Jeff have taken. This is a great opportunity for a director to put his or her stamp on a cool global franchise.”

Over the years, Javier Bardem, Russell Crowe, and Aaron Paul have all been linked to the film. I imagine that's no longer the case. I'm just ecstatic the the movie is finally actually going to move forward! It's about damn time. 

I love watching movies in 3D, especially when the technique is done well. While there have been 3D releases of the Star Wars prequels films, we haven't yet been able to watch the original trilogy in 3D, which is the one fans want. While it's something that has been heavily hinted at, in development, canceled, and back again, we still don't have them. Until then, there is a dimensionalized Star Wars: A New Hope poster that adds depth to a classic poster. Available at Red5.co.uk for about $20 (plus shipping from the UK) the poster is roughly 11.5" x 9.5" x 1.5" — yup it's got real depth.

Warner Bros. wants James Wan to direct their Aquaman movie, and if that happens, we should prepare ourselves for something amazing. I'm a huge fan of Wan, who has directed film such as Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, and most recently Furious 7. The studio would be extremely lucky to get a guy like this on board. 

The news comes from THR, but no offer has been extended to Wan at this point. He is the studio's top choice, and there have only been some preliminary talks. Zack Snyder is the guy who is building the DC cinematic universe, and Wan's inclusion in the team would only strengthen it. The guy is an incredible director who has a knack for telling great stories and developing solid characters. 

Jason Momoa is already attached to star as the aquatic superhero, and he will make his first on-screen appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He will also be included in the two-part Justice League movies. The Aquaman solo film is currently being developed on two tracks, with screenwriters Will Beall and Kurt Johnstad writing separate scripts for the movie.

It will be interesting to see if Wan takes the gig if it's offered to him. I'm sure Universal Pictures will want him to come back for the next Fast & Furious film. He's also prepping to shoot The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist, which goes into production this fall. If the filmmaker can find the time to direct Aquaman, I hope he does. 

Yesterday, word got out that Guillermo del Toro was in talks with Ryan Gosling to join Disney's Haunted Mansion movie. It is said that the movie will have a main focus on a the Hatbox Ghost, which has become a legend at the theme park. 

The ghostly apparition appeared on the Haunted Mansion attraction on opening day, but then mysteriously disappeared shortly after. There's a rumor that the reason it was removed was because it was too scary, but that's not the reason at all. They just couldn't get the damn thing to work properly. The character is described as “an elderly ghost in a cloak and top hat, leaning on a cane with a wavering hand and clutching a hatbox in the other.” There was an effect they tried to pull off in which his head disappear and then reappear inside the hatbox he was holding. 

For all of you Disneyland fans out there, you'll be happy to hear that Disney has confirmed that they will be bring the Hatbox Ghost back to his home starting in May. The image above is a promotional image that they released.

Here's a little history on why the Hatbox Ghost was removed:

The Hatbox Ghost was installed inside The Haunted Mansion and in place for cast member (park employee) previews on the nights of August 7 and 8, 1969. Almost immediately, it became apparent that the effect had failed, as ambient light in the attraction’s attic scene prevented the specter’s face from disappearing fully, despite the turning off of its designated spotlight. Attempts were made to remedy technical problems, but the effect wasn’t convincing enough, and the ghost was decommissioned after a few months. … While it is unknown what became of The Hatbox Ghost, there are speculations as to his fate. … Because the Hatbox Ghost featured prominently in artwork and narration for popular Haunted Mansion record albums sold for many years at Disney parks, and because Disney continues to market the ghost’s image, he has never been forgotten and has become somewhat of a legend, complete with cult following. Many fans of the ride wish to see him returned and have gone so far as to circulate petitions calling for the figure’s restoration.

The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite rides at Disneyland, and it will be cool to see the Hatbox Ghost reappear. 

Warner Brothers and LEGO officially threw their hat into the “toys come to life” arena yesterday by announcing LEGO Dimensions. But before you dismiss the game as a cash grab, let's take a look at what it has to offer — oh, and do yourself a favor and watch the announce trailer, because it's all kinds of wonderful.

Dimensions will launch with a starter kit, which will include the game, the LEGO Gateway (the base), three Minifigures (Gandalf, Batman, and Wyldstyle), and a vehicle (the Batmobile). All of that will be $99.99. I'm not going to lie, that is pretty steep seeing as Disney Infinity, even when it debuted, was priced at around $75, as is the case with the newest version of Skylanders (Trap Team). Warner Bros., LEGO, and Traveller's Tales are betting on LEGO’s iconic brand along with its impressive array of licensed universes to drive purchases, but that $99.99 price point is still a bit off-putting.

Side Note: Where Are The Amiibos?

While Amiibos are insanely popular, their contribution to the few games they work with is rather slim, and I tend to see them as more of a cool collectible than anything else. There is a wide range of views on them as a whole, but ultimately I don’t view them as direct competition to Dimensions, Infinity, or Skylanders — hence why they are not included in this discussion.

So, what does Dimensions offer that the other franchises don’t?  Well, let's compare and contrast. Here is what they had to say about shelf life (via Facebook).

THE STARTER PACK WILL LAST. The LEGO Toy Pad and the videogame found in the initial Starter Pack will offer continued compatibility with future Expansion Packs for years to come. Like any LEGO building set, LEGO Dimensions is a system of play that offers continued compatibility – everything bought today or expanded with tomorrow will continue to work.

Pretty strong promise, and a direct counterpoint to Skylanders constant mandatory upgrades between installments. Sure, figures work on the new portal, but you have to buy a new portal every time. Disney Infinity has avoided some of that, but when 2.0 came out, people still had to rebuy some things depending on what configuration they owned. If they can stick to this proclamation, it's a definite feather in their cap.

LEGO also happens to have a bevy of licenses at its disposal, hence their 2015 lineup looking so strong and diverse. There will be 3 different types of packs (Level, Team, and Fun) that include franchises like Back to the Future, DC Comics, Wizard of Oz, Ninjago, The LEGO Movie, and The Lord of the Rings. Aiming for Disney Infinities mix and match nerd nirvana system, they bring some fantastic combinations to the party, and that is only some of  the licenses they hold (or at one point held). They should have a strong 2016 with possible additions such as TMNT, LEGO Castle, Harry Potter, Bionicle, LEGO Pirates, Jurassic World, and maybe even The Golden Girls. Heck, if Hell freezes over, Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney. Regardless of whether Disney plays ball or not, the variety at their disposal, even without them,  is top notch and runs a very wide gamut for fans of all different kinds.

According to their Facebook and Amazon listing, the Gateway can hold a mix of up to 7 figures, vehicles, or gadgets at any one time. That’s definitely a step up from just 2 Skylanders, or 2 Infinity figures and 1 playset. The only downside is that, in the end, the figures are just spiffier versions of LEGO figures that you can go buy in a box set right now, and for much cheaper than a cool hundred dollar bill. Compared to Activision and Disney’s offerings, the toys themselves just aren’t as impressive.

Last but not least, we have the gameplay, which they only show a small glimpse of during the trailer, but since it's Traveller's Tales at the helm here, you pretty much know what to expect. I’m still waiting on a game to give me both a strong co-op campaign, ala Skylanders, with the boundless creativity of Disney Infinity’s Toybox mode. Dimensions looks to lean towards the campaign side of things, but who knows, maybe they will expand into Toybox territory and it will be the best of both worlds. Either way, even with a crowded market, there is a great deal to like here, and I’m interested to see more. What say you, though? Let us know in the comments.

PBS has released a new episode of their Space Time web-series, and in it host Gabe Perez-Giz explains how the weight of a fart can be calculated. I never thought I'd see anything like this from PBS, but that's what this web-series is for! He walks us through the math, physics, and science behind farts and explains how to measure them.

Perez-Giz researched a paper that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It measured the gas makeup of ten people’s farts and the ideal gas law to find a workable average fart composition.

Isn't science wonderful?! 

Actress Sofia Boutella has joined the cast of Star Trek 3 in a lead role. You might recognize her as Samuel L. Jackson's right hand badass from Kingsman: The Secret Service. The news comes from Deadline, and we don't really know anything other than that. So she could either be a hero or a villain in the story. 

Simon Pegg and Doug Jung are currently working on the script for the film, which is set to be directed by Justin Lin. Paramount will release Star Trek 3 on July 8th, 2016. We'll keep you updated on any other details as they become available. 

Here's a featurette for Kingsman: The Secret Service that introduces you to the actress and the deadly character she played in it.