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A casting call sheds a surprising light on Batman v. Superman's take on Bruce Wayne. Andy Serkis debunks a bunch of rumors about his Star Wars role. Evangeline Lilly says some intriguing things about Ant-Man, and there's a look at Jessica Chastain in Crimson Peak. Plus the first look at Neil Patrick Harris in American Horror Story. Spoilers now!


Top image: Batman v. Superman

Star Trek

Here's another rumor around why Roberto Orci is no longer directing Star Trek, one that's way more worrisome than the one about time travel being an issue. Devin Faraci at Badass Digest writes it was due to:

Guardians of the Galaxy. That's the movie that has a bug up Paramount's ass, and they want Star Trek 3 to feel more like Guardians. This comes on the heels of the first two movies being respectable, solid earners but not the kind of home runs Paramount needs. They want the third film to be huge, and they want it to be huge overseas especially. They look at Rocket and Groot and then they look at Keenser and they wonder why he doesn't have more of a role. Weirdly, I think you could use aspects of Guardians as a template for a Trek movie. What made that film work was the way humor and characterization melded with strong action and big, fun ideas. The Enterprise crew aren't galactic ne'er-do-wells, but many of the best Trek stories have them bouncing off each other. Of course I'm sure that's not what Paramount means when they use Guardians as a reference. Still, this could be the moment we get Harry Mudd on screen.


Keenser is cute, but he's not going to be the next Rocket Raccoon, no matter what the studio does. More details at the link. [Badass Digest]

Batman v. Superman

According to this casting call, we'll be seeing a much more active young Bruce Wayne than before:

Midthunder Casting is conducting a talent search for a Warner Brothers feature film which will heavily feature two young boys in SAG principal roles; one Caucasian 12 year old boy (to portray a young Ben Affleck) and one Caucasian 10 year old boy. Both boys must have extensive WUSHU, KUNG FU, or PENCAK SILAT training and experience; however, they will consider high level (state – world champion) competitors in all martial arts forms.

The question this raises is who the other child with martial arts training is going to be. Movie Pilot suggests this could be Tommy Elliot, who is canonically a caucasian childhood friend of Bruce's. The emphasis on a young Bruce Wayne could also be a way to set up a future standalone Batman movie. Of course, take all of this with a grain of salt for now. [One Headlight Ink via Movie Pilot]

Speaking of Batman, Jim Carrey made a slightly confused bid to return, telling MTV:

I'd love to work in the new graphic novel versions of the movie. I don't know about reprising the role — I don't think Chris Nolan would go for that, but I'd love to work with him.


[via Spinoff Online]

Star Wars

Andy Serkis said that, yes, his voice in the trailer is the voice of his character, which has no digital finish to it — it's all him. He also debunked the rumor that he'll be playing more than one character, and that he'll be the leader of some kind of "band of gymnasts or acrobats."


He did refuse to say whether or not his character would be motion-capture, and said of his backstory: "He's been through some stuff." [Entertainment Weekly]

Maisie Richardson-Sellers talked about why she thinks Star Wars works and the reaction to the trailer:

I grew up watching them and I've always been fascinated about how they use the epic nature of the story — but also make it really personal. It has tender relationships, and it's funny and quirky. I feel it's really well-rounded and that's why it's so popular; it's so accessible for so many generations and backgrounds. Even though it's such a surreal story, it feels very true. All the relationships are very true. It breaks down the age old story of good versus evil in a very accessible manner. Did the huge reaction to the trailer blow you away? It was amazing! It's fantastic to see so many people still so engaged and so thrilled. It's so nice to be a part of something that can bring so many people such excitement and such happiness.


[Refinery29]

Here's a Disney XD video about The Force Awakens trailer, which covers some details we've seen before. [via Slashfilm]

Captain America: Civil War

According to Badass Digest, even though we've heard that Sony had refused to let Spider-Man appear in Captain America: Civil War, Marvel's still left the door open to the possibility. Their sources confirm that, as of now, Civil War is going forward without Spider-Man in the mix. But, they, add:

That's an important note here; there's always the possibility that Spider-Man gets himself a cameo in the film, some sort of post-credits sting. The process on these films is fluid, and Marvel relies heavily on additional shooting, so nothing is in stone until the film is in theaters. But anyone hoping that the word of Sony and Marvel negotiating could mean Peter Parker having a major role in Civil War should put that hope away. One of my sources reiterates that Winter Soldier will be central to the story, and that there have been hints planted through the Marvel movies as to how that works. When I asked if the fact that Winter Soldier killed Tony Stark's parents could have anything to do with it, my source noted that it was an interesting line of thought. That's not quite a confirmation, but it makes an awful lot of sense that a conflict between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers starts when Tony finds out Steve's best friend killed his mom and dad.


[Badass Digest]

Ant-Man

Evangeline Lilly is very happy with her experience in the Marvel film, telling CNN:

I've been astounded to discover how good to their teams and crew that Marvel are. They're so collaborative, so smart with their stories. They have rich, dynamic characters which are so much fun to play. I expected I'd be a cog in the wheel of a big machine — I wasn't sure I'd like this experience. But I've been so astounded at how pleasurable the whole experience has been.


She also talked a bit about her character, with an interesting description of Hope's parents:

She is the daughter of the founders of The Avengers, Ant-Man and the Wasp. She is a very talented, intelligent, capable woman and a force to be reckoned with. This one is very much a heist film. It has all the fun, tension and drama of a good heist film. The heist is being masterminded by myself, my father and Scott Lang.


There are two options: One, Lilly's just talking about who Hope, Ant-Man, and Wasp are in the comics, since those two aren't the founders of the Avengers in the movieverse. Or, two, Lilly could be referencing a rumor we've heard, that a flashback shows Hank Pym meeting with Howard Stark, Peggy Carter. Arnim Zola, and Alexander Pierce at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. It could be that this scene has a reference to the Avengers Initiative, that gives the whole thing roots further into the past than we'd previously seen. [CNN]

Crimson Peak

Here's the first still from the movie, featuring Jessica Chastain. [Shock Till You Drop]


Doctor Who

Neil Gaiman really wants to write another Doctor Who script, but can't find the time:

I'm not writing for series 9 right now, just because of ridiculous work commitments I'm trying to get out from under. I am determined to write for Peter Capaldi. As long as Peter is Doctor Who, I will write for him. And every time I'm in the UK, I go and see the Doctor Who people. I go see [producer] Brian Minchin and Steven Moffat, and none of us are going to let me go off the boil. ... The problem for Doctor Who for me is it's an enormous time commitment. partly because you're reinventing an entire world with every episode. And you're trying something thats never been done before with every episode. Then you write it, then you give in a script, then they tell you how much it would actually cost to shoot your script as written. Then you write a different script, then they tell you how much that script would cost, but they tell you you're in the right direction. Then it's the third script...


[Radio Times]

Here are some teases for "Last Christmas" from Blogtor Who:

Someone has Time Lord technology. "He's probably texting women of low moral character." The Doctor reveals he finds someone sexually attractive. "That noise. I never realised how much I loved it." Something heard in Turn Left is heard again "My Little Pony" The Doctor almost quotes Die Hard. "That is rude. That is perverted." Santa reveals how reindeer can fly. The Doctor quotes Madame Vastra

More at the link. [Blogtor Who]

American Horror Story

Lily Rabe talked about what it was like to come back as Sister Mary Eunice, but in a prequel to where she was last we saw her:

[S]he has that wonderful daffiness that I loved getting to play. I loved that it was the pre-possession, that original Mary Eunice. Pre-Jude, even. She doesn't even know Jude yet. That whole relationship, of course, is probably the most formative relationship of her life, and that hasn't even happened. So she's this clean slate. Because Jude isn't there yet. She's trying her hand at trying to have a little bit of authority, and she's not the best at it. But she's trying and I respect her for that. [Laughs]


[Entertainment Weekly]

Here's a preview featuring Neil Patrick Harris — and, yes, of course there's magic involved in his role:

The 100

Eliza Taylor talked about the devastating repercussions Finn's death will have for Clarke:

We're going to see her break, definitely. What's good about this, in a way, is that it'll force her to evolve into a real leader. You'll be asking, "How far will she really go to save her people?" And, "Can she wash the blood from her hands?" It was really Finn's story in the first half of the season, and now it's Clarke's. TVLINE | Will some people not understand why Clarke had to do this? Oh yes, especially Raven. That friendship is over, at least for quite a while. A lot of people are shocked by what she's done, but people also realize he wouldn't have made it out alive. He would have suffered, so she ended it quickly.


[TV Line]

Vampire Diaries

Joining the cast in a recurring role is Annie Wersching (24) as Lily. Lily is described as "beautiful and strong" and "articulate and caustic." She also "has a reputation for protecting the ones she loves at any cost, though it's unclear as to who (or what) those loved ones are." We'll see her first in episode 6.15, "Let Her Go." [TV Line]


Ian Somerhalder will direct episode 6.16, "Downward Spiral." [TV Line]

Dark Matter

The cast for Syfy's adaptation of the Dark Matter graphic novel has been announced: Melissa O'Neil (Les Miserables on Broadway), Marc Bendavid (Bitten), Anthony Lemke (White House Down), Alex Mallari Jr. (Robocop), and Jodelle Ferland (Twilight, Stargate Atlantis) will be regulars, with Roger Cross (Continuum, The Strain) and Zoie Palmer (Lost Girl) also appearing. [GateWorld]


Once Upon a Time

Eion Bailey is set to reprise his role as August Booth, aka Pinocchio, in episode 4.14, titled "Enter the Dragon." We last saw him be turned into a seven-year-old, so I'm betting that this will be a flashback appearance. [Entertainment Weekly]


Atlantis

Here are some dialogue teases from episode 2.6, "The Grey Sisters":

"You're exactly who I believe you to be" "Stop it both of you, or I will bang your stupid, empty heads together!" "They say it is cursed, a place of sorcery of the darkest kind" "We will be together again even if I must journey to Hades" "Ariadne's father usurped the King, she has no more right to the throne than I" "They're sure to have guards posted, we'll wait until nightfall" "Just try not to do anything heroic...and by heroic, I mean stupid" "I sense something in you, as you sense something in me" "I want to see him, give me the eye" "I'm so sorry about Eurydice, I know how it feels to lose your true love"

[SpoilerTV]

Gotham

Here's a featurette on the season so far. [via SpoilerTV]

Go here for more photos from episode 1.11, "Rogues' Gallery." [SpoilerTV]


Lost Girl

Go here for photos from episode 5.03, "Big In Japan." [SpoilerTV]

Additional reporting by Charlie Jane Anders and Diana Biller