Coventry Telegraph - The Geek Files

Idris Elba joins cast of Marvel Studios' Thor

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:43:39 +0000

IDRIS ELBA has joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh's comic book adaptation Thor, according to Heat Vision.

The London-born star will play Heimdall, the guardian of Asgard who stands on the rainbow bridge (Bifrost) which connects to Earth, in order to defend the gods' realm from intruders.

Elba, 37, will next be seen in heist thriller Taken and is also in comic book adaptation The Losers. His previous credits include The Unborn, RocknRolla, American Gangster, 29 Weeks Later and The Reaping.

Shooting on Thor, based on Marvel's comic book version of the Norse thunder god, is due to begin in mid-January in California. The film is set for release on May 20, 2011.

First look at David Tennant in Doctor Who special The End of Time

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:24:15 +0000

TIME LORD David Tennant looks ready for a holiday in the Christmas special of Doctor Who.

The Doctor dons a Hawaiian-style garland, a straw hat and sunglasses, despite the snowy white backdrop.

The picture forms part of a tantalising sneak preview set to air on tonight's Children in Need.

Brad Pitt set to star in adaptation of new game Dark Void

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:01:03 +0000

BRAD PITT could star in a planned film version of upcoming video game Dark Void after the actor's production company Plan B and Indian media conglomerate Reliance Big Entertainment bought the film rights from Capcom.

According to Variety, the idea is to develop a big-screen franchise from the game, which is released on PS3, PC and Xbox 360 in January.

Michael Shanks on Hawkman role in Smallville TV movie

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:44:44 +0000

MICHAEL SHANKS is best known as archaeologist Daniel Jackson in TV's various Stargate spin-offs including the latest series starring Robert Carlyle, SGU Stargate Universe.

For an upcoming two-hour Smallville movie event, called Absolute Justice, Shanks will once again play an archaeologist but this time with wings as the DC Comics character Carter Hall aka Hawkman.

The special, which introduces other superheroes including Dr Fate and Stargirl, airs on February 5 in the USA and a first look at the character in costume is included above. SPOILERS AHEAD

Sigourney Weaver on the mind-blowing, knicker-wetting experience of Avatar

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:02:43 +0000

SIGOURNEY WEAVER says James Cameron's upcoming sci-fi film Avatar is so amazing that viewers will need several changes of underwear.

The film, opening on December 18, is a 3D sci-fi epic set about 100 years in the future. It cost a reported $220million to make and is director James Cameron's first feature film since Titanic.

Fan dragged away after stripping for Robert Pattinson

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:36:40 +0000

ROBERT PATTINSON has recalled the horror he felt after jokingly telling a fan to strip, only for her to do just that.

Fortunately a security man saved her blushes, removing her before the striptease got out of hand.

In an interview for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Twilight star said he had been bored with reciting the same old niceties to autograph hunters.

He recalls: "It happened after a period of signing 500 signatures.

"You kind of get ten seconds with each person and you never really say anything and I kind of got bored of saying, 'Hey, how are you doing?'

"A fan said in her ten seconds, 'What can I do to get your attention?' I was like um, just take your clothes off.'

"She stood there and frantically started taking her clothes off and got dragged out of the room by security. I never felt more terrible... I sound like I'm actually just abusing my position."

The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the second film in the franchise, is released this Friday.

Sam Worthington to star in The Last Days of American Crime

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:16 +0000

SAM WORTHINGTON is to play the lead in a film adaptation of Radical Publishing's The Last Days of American Crime, reports Mania.

Written by Rick Remender, who's also penning the screenplay, the comic book is a fast-paced crime story set in the not-too-distant future.

The US government is planning to halt terrorism and crime by secretly broadcasting a mind-control signal that stops people committing unlawful acts.

Anne Hathaway 'approached for role in Spider-Man 4'

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:23:49 +0000

YET another actress is reported to be under consideration for a possible role in the next Spider-Man film.

This time it's Anne Hathaway joining the queue of female contenders.

Her previous credits include Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada and Becoming Jane.

According to a report by Movie Scoop, and subsequently Deadline Hollywood, producers of Spider-Man 4 have approached the 27-year-old actress to star in the film.

New Moon: How they made Robert Pattinson sparkle and turn into a vision

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:37:47 +0000

THE VISUAL EFFECTS supervisor on The Twilight Saga: New Moon has revealed how they created the supernatural imagery for Robert Pattinson's vampire character Edward Cullen.

Susan MacLeod worked on making Edward's skin sparkle in sunlight and turning him into an apparition that appears before Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart).

Terminator Salvation website launched: Win a Ducati bike and play 3D game

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:34:48 +0000

TERMINATOR SALVATION, the fourth film in the series, comes out on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK on Monday (November 23) and to mark the event, a new official website has today gone live.

You can get information on the Blu-ray and DVD release, including details of the story, cast and crew; production notes; video clips; and a photo gallery. There are also wallpapers, screensavers and messenger icons to download.

The site also allows you to play a 3D game on your desktop and enter a competition to win a Ducati motorcycle.

The first prize is a Ducati Hypermotard 1100 bike, the inspiration for the awesome Moto-Terminator machines in the movie (see picture above). There is a second prize of a Ducati motorcycle helmet and a third prize of a Ducati leather biker jacket.

Visit the website by clicking here.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson talks Shazam! and Captain America

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:01:37 +0000

DWAYNE JOHNSON, the former professional wrestler known as The Rock, has long been linked to a role in the film adaptation of the DC Comics' title Shazam!

The comic is named after the magic word - an acronym of the names of six legendary figures from the ancient world - uttered by teenager Billy Batson to transform into the adult superhero Captain Marvel.

Robert Pattinson on his nerve-wracking striptease in front of 2,000 people

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:15:43 +0000

FANS of Robert Pattinson will no doubt be melting into pubescent puddles of dreamy desire when the heart-throb takes his shirt off in this weekend's Twilight sequel New Moon.

But Pattinson himself says he found stripping off for The Twilight Saga: New Moon was a nerve-wracking - and also uplifting - experience.

The British actor, who plays vampire Edward Cullen, said the scene was like "a striptease".

Vampire comic Nightfall picked up for film adaptation

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:33:57 +0000

VAMPIRES show no signs of staying in their coffins and crypts as far as Hollywood is concerned.

Aurora Productions has teamed up with Platinum Studios to develop a feature film of Platinum's graphic novel Nightfall, reports Variety.

The 2007 publication, penned by Scott O. Brown and illustrated by Ferran Xalabarder, centres on a man who is sent to prison only to discover it is controlled by vampires.

Aurora's William Stuart will produce the movie with Platinum Studios' chairman and CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg.

Platinum is also planning film adaptations of Cowboys & Aliens, Unique, The Witchblade and Atlantis Rising.

Julia Stiles is latest to be linked to role in Spider-Man 4

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:08 +0000

JULIA STILES is the latest actress to be caught up in the web of rumour and speculation about a role in Spider-Man 4.

The 28-year-old, whose credits include all three Bourne films and The Omen remake, met with a casting company in New York, according to UGO.

No role was specified, but it's being speculated she is another actress under consideration to play villainous love interest Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat. It's worth adding that we don't yet know if Black Cat is even part of the story.

Stiles had apparently been considered for the role of Susan Storm/Invisible Woman in Fantastic Four, before Jessica Alba landed the part.

Rachel McAdams earlier denied reports that she had met with producers over the Black Cat role. Romola Garai admitted being among hundreds of actresses who had attended open auditions but said she was not going to be cast in the film.

New Moon director Chris Weitz: I thought vampire craze was over

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:03:27 +0000

LAST WEEKEND saw Roland Emmerich's global disaster movie 2012 bring in $225million at the box office.

This weekend there is likely to be another series of earth-shaking tremors caused by the stampedes of Twihards to see New Moon, the second film in the Twilight franchise.

It willl be interesting to see its opening ticket sales and how it impacts on 2012's second weekend.

But Chris Weitz (pictured right), director of The Twilight Saga: New Moon, has revealed the public passion for bloodsuckers has taken him completely by surprise.

He thought TV's Buffy show was the stake through the heart of the vampire craze.