Gunn Fires Back at Superhero Haters

If you watched Sunday night’s 87th Academy Awards broadcast, you could not have missed – amid all the back-patting and self-love – a clear contempt for superhero movies, from host Neil Patrick Harris — y’know, the guy from the Harold & Kumar movies — to Jack Black‘s routine, there was a clear vibe that superhero movies are not art and not welcome.

‘Captain America 3’: Winter Is Coming (Back)

It’s not exactly the revelation of a state secret, but Anthony and Joe Russo, the co-directors of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, have confirmed that a major character from that movie (still the top-grosser of 2014!) will return for Captain America 3 : none other than Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier himself.

This is hardly a surprise, given that both Cap (Chris Evans) and Bucky (Sebastian Stan) survived the last film with no resolution of their conflict and Cap vowing to track him down. Also, Stan previously revealed that he signed a nine-picture deal with Marvel Studios, and he still has seven films to go, so the Winter Soldier has to show up someplace….

Warner Bros Moves ‘Batman v Superman’ Away From ‘Cap 3’

It was bound to happen, and it finally has — just as I called it: Warner Bros. has blinked and moved its DC Comics-based Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice from its May 6, 2016, release date, bumping it up to March 25 and thus avoiding a head-to-head showdown with Marvel Studio’s Captain America 3.

Moving the unproven superhero team-up out of the path of the expected Marvel juggernaut is the right thing to do; an even better thing would have been to never have scheduled BvS:DoJ against the First Avenger in the first place. Cap 3 staked its claim to May 6 first. Now Warners and DC have to eat crow and back down beat a strategic retreat.

Winter Soldier Sebastian Stan Will Be Back!

You can rest assured that whatever happens in Captain America: The Winter Soldier when it opens tomorrow, Sebastian Stan will be back — because he says he signed a nine-picture deal with Marvel Studios!

Winter Soldier is his second outing (following Captain America: The First Avenger), leaving seven more contracted appearances. Of course, not all of them have to be as the Winter Soldier — although Marvel does need more good baddies. One idea has Stan moving up to take over the Captain America identity whenever current star Chris Evans inevitably leaves — either from fulfilling his contract or aging out of the role. In the comics, Bucky did indeed take over for his mentor at one point, so it’s not an outrageous possibility.

But if you end up hating the Winter Soldier actor… well, these could be seven long movies…

 

‘Cap’ & ‘X-Men’ Movies Go Retro Cool With Posters

Check out these awesomely amazing retro-flavored posters for Captain America: The Winter Soldier and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Six Stylized ‘Winter Soldier’ Poster Designs

ComingSoon.Net had unveiled six stylized character posters for the upcoming Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Based on previously released designs, these new versions feature a powerful deep red color motif. To me they resemble a mashup of Cap and Sin City. The actual posters themselves can be seen in person at the Hollywood Arclight if you happen to be in Los Angeles.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens Aril 4.

‘Winter Soldier’ Clip: Mr. Fury & Mr. Pierce

In this clip from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury goes to Alexander Pierce to ask for a favor, giving Samuel L. Jackson a chance to work with Hollywood legend Robert Redford. Check it out…

Y’know speaking of Redford and that “Hollywood legend” stuff, the Law of Conservation of Casting would seem to indicate that a production would not hire an actor of Redford’s stature/salary for a throwaway role — which fuels the speculation that Alexander Pierce is not exactly who he says he is. But if that’s the case, who is he?

There has been rampant speculation that Pierce is the Red Skull in disguise, and while that certainly sounds cool, I kind of doubt that Redford was brought on board just to replace Hugo Weaving. And does Redford really want to take over a role created by someone else? We know he’s not Baron Strucker. He’s not Batroc. Could Redford be Zemo? Maybe he’s playing the son of Red Skull, who takes on his late father’s mask and mission?

Of course,  Alexander could be Cap and Peggy’s lovechild from the 1940s, left fatherless by Steve Rogers’ plunge into the icy North Atlantic…

‘TMNT’ To Show Up Before ‘Winter Soldier’

Timing always matters, and sometimes, so does placement.

That Michael Bay-produced reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that stars Megan Fox will debut its first trailer in front of Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, according to ComicBookMovie.com. And that has some Cap fans fuming, because they thing the Turtles project is trying to mooch respectability off the Star-Spangled Avenger.

TMNT producer Galen Walker broke the news on his Facebook page:

“Ok-Cool Beans folks! the new Ninja Turtles Teaser will make it’s debut in front of the New Captain America Movie – April 4th. We are ready and prepared for lift off! Been a long haul.”

It’s also slightly (but only slightly) unusual to unspool a full trailer some four months before a film’s opening, lending at least a little credence to the idea that TMNT producers are trying to latch onto Cap’s coattails.

The live-action movie’s cast includes: Megan Fox as April O’Neil, Alan Ritchson as Raphael, Noel Fisher as Michelangelo, Danny Woodburn as Splinter, Jeremy Howard as Donatello, Pete Ploszek as Leonardo, Will Arnett as Vernon and William Fichtner as Shredder.

TMNT hits theaters Aug. 8.

Baron von Strucker Will Menace Cap and the Avengers… a Lot

Marvel Studios is about introduce another Big Bad in the tradition of Loki: one who can serve as the villain in any number of future superhero films.

German actor Thomas Kretschmann has signed a deal to play villainous former Nazi Baron Wolfgang von Strucker in several movies, including Avengers: Age of Ultron and possibly a cameo in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, according to websites ComicBookMovie.com and Dark Horizons.

Kretschmann, who has already played Nazi officers in films such as The Pianist and Valkyrie, will play the battle-scarred leader of HYDRA, whose agents were seen battling Captain America in the World War II period of Captain America: The First Avenger. In the comics, von Strucker is a nemesis of Cap, the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., which makes him a particularly appropriate addition to the Marvel movie universe. Also, he can give Loki a break from multifilm villainy. After all, the Norse god of mischief cannot be in every Marvel film!

Pregnant Scarlett Johansson Still in Avengers Sequel

Scarlett Johansson is reportedly pregnant with her first child with her French journalist fiancé, Romain Dauriac, but that doesn’t mean the Black Widow will have sit out the action in the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron — and the role is not being recast.

Instead, Scarlett’s scenes are being moved to the beginning of production, so she can complete her filming well before her baby is due, in August. Word is Scarlett will report to the set for returning director Joss Whedon on April 5 — right after she finishes her press duties for Widow’s appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.