Mike Sampson is the Editor-in-Chief of ScreenCrush. He studied to become a lawyer and worked as an architectural planner after graduating college but neither of these professions afforded him the opportunity to watch movies and TV for a living. He previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of JoBlo.com for 10 years. He lives in New Jersey and probably spends too much time playing video games and overthinking things.
Mike Sampson
‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ Posters: The Four Horsemen Unite
With Batman vs. Superman and Captain America: Civil War each less than two months away, it might feel like the Marvel and DC universes are dominating the landscape. But, let’s not forget that the X-Men Movies Universe is still a thing and X-Men: Apocalypse is on its way. Not to be outdone by the many Captain America posters, X-Men: Apocalypse has released a brand new poster highlighting the film’s villains.
‘Justice League’ Casts J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon
Just last week Oscar winner J.K. Simmons commented on fans hoping he’d return as J. Jonah Jameson in Marvel’s new Spider-Man reboot. Simmons diplomatically said, “I’ll never close the door on anything.” Well, this may slam, lock and barricade that door. The Whiplash actor has just been cast as Commissioner Gordon in Warner Bros.’ two-part Justice League movie.
Is Luke Skywalker Gay? Mark Hamill Says ‘Of Course He Is’
Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams said recently that it “seems insanely narrow-minded to say that there wouldn’t be a homosexual character in [the Star Wars] world.” But, what if there was already a gay character in the Star Wars universe and we just didn’t know it? And what if it was the biggest Star Wars character in a galaxy far, far away?
Seth Rogen’s Animated ‘Sausage Party’ to Premiere at SXSW
Seth Rogen was already planning on attending SXSW to premiere to first episodes of his upcoming AMC series Preacher, starring Dominic Cooper. Now Rogen has decided if he’s going to be at SXSW anyway, he might as well bring one of his upcoming films with him. The actor-director will premiere a “work in progress” print of his first animated film, Sausage Party, with a cast that includes Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd and more.
Ben Affleck Reportedly Rewrote ‘Batman vs. Superman’ Script Every Day…in Costume
One of the stipulations when Ben Affleck signed on to star in Batman vs. Superman was that his Argo writer, Chris Terrio, would come aboard to help fix the script. Though Terrio was indeed brought in to rewrite the script (originally written by David Goyer), it seems Affleck still was not happy with it. According to a recent report, Affleck spent each day rewriting that day’s scenes until they were up to snuff. Oh, and he did it dressed as Batman.
‘Captain America: Civil War’ Directors Say Ending Will Be Very Controversial
It’s strange to realize that the end of the first Marvel Cinematic Universe trilogy is almost here. It feels like not that long ago, Marvel was ambitiously releasing Iron man in theaters, hoping for a mild success. But as Captain America: Civil War opens in theaters this May, it is most definitely the beginning of the end and specifically setting up the two-part Avengers: Infinity War finale. Fans of Marvel comics and readers of the Civil War storyline may have an inkling of what to expect and directors Joe and Anthony Russo have hinted that Captain America: Civil War will have a “very dramatic” and “controversial” ending.
Over 20,000 Goobers Sign Petition to Get Deadpool to Host SNL
Deadpool made a ton of money this past weekend. At 84% on Rotten Tomatoes it’s been a success with critics too. It’s already influencing multiple future blockbusters. People love Deadpool. Apparently people love Deadpool so much they want him to host SNL. No, not Ryan Reynolds, he already hosted back in 2009 with musical guest Lady Gaga. Over 20,000 fans and counting want the character himself to host a full episode of SNL.
‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ Hid Secret Images in Trailers Attached to ‘Deadpool’
If you saw Deadpool this weekend (and there’s a very, very good chance that you did), you likely saw the new trailer for 10 Cloverfield Lane, the J.J. Abrams’ produced sorta-sequel to Cloverfield. What you may not have noticed, however, is a split-second flash of an image right after the film’s title...
‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’ Cast Revealed, Kurt Russell and Elizabeth Debicki Join the Marvel Sequel
Though Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 has actually been filming for over a week or so (the cast and crew have been posting shots from the set, including that crew chair you see above), Marvel and Disney officially announced the start of production this morning. Yes, we already knew that, but they’ve also confirmed the film’s cast.
Hugh Jackman’s Final Wolverine Movie May Also Get an R Rating
The Deadpool Effect is now officially a thing. As many predicted and suspected following Deadpool’s surprising success at the box office this past weekend, movie studios would try to capitalize on the success of that film by making their superhero movies R-rated (ignoring the fact that that was just a very small part of why Deadpool was successful). Just this morning we brought you the news that the X-Force movie could be rated R and now comes word that Hugh Jackman’s still untitled final Wolverine movie (Wolverine 3? The Wolverine 2?) is being planned as an R-rated film.
‘X-Force’ Movie Could be R-Rated Thanks to ‘Deadpool’ Success
Just a few days after Deadpool’s record-breaking haul at the box-office (the biggest opening for a film released in February, the biggest opening for an R-rated film, the biggest opening weekend in 20th Century Fox history and the biggest opening of any X-Men film), studios are already adapting to the massive success of an R-rated superhero film and adjusting accordingly. X-Men and Deadpool producer Simon Kinberg has said that while he doesn’t see the X-Men universe changing much after Deadpool’s success, he said he could definitely see another mutant-oriented superhero film getting an R-rating.
Disney to Face Criminal Charges Over Harrison Ford’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Injury
Back in June of last year, Harrison Ford was injured on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens when the door of the Millennium Falcon fell, dislocating his ankle and breaking his leg in two places. The production was put on hold for six months while Ford recuperated and director J.J. Abrams would later say of the incident, “Once we knew that Harrison was going to be okay, we all realized this was this greatest gift to the movie.” Abrams, and his bosses at Lucasfilm and Disney, may be disagreeing with that sentiment today as officials in London have brought four criminal charges against the Star Wars: The Force Awakens production company.