'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2' Poster Revealed

Huffington Post
For Harry Potter fans, it all comes down to this.

Come this July, the epic adventures of Harry Potter and friends come to a thrilling conclusion on the big screen, as the long-awaited "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" hits theaters. Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, and evil wizard Voldemort come face to face in the battle of good vs. evil, and the first poster for the film depicts that intense encounter.

The first part of the two-part finale was released in November, 2010; the new film will hit theaters on July 15th.

If you're looking for your Hogwarts fix in a smaller package, check out the Potter-themed Royal Mail stamps recently put out in the UK.

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Branagh On Idris Elba's Thor Casting

The controversy was 'daft' Source: Exclusive

So far, the signs are looking pretty good for Thor, Marvel's trickiest Avenger to slot into our universe. So as you'd expect, director Kenneth Branagh was in a good mood when we spoke to him for the latest issue of Empire, on sale on Thursday. But in the piece he wrote for us as part of our Brit Director's Diary series, he did address the biggest controversy that has attached itself to his film so far: the casting of The Wire's Idris Elba as Norse god Heimdall. "Idris Elba is a fantastic actor - we were lucky to get him. He provides all the characteristics we need from Asgard's gatekeeper, the man who says, "Thou shalt not pass". When Idris Elba says that, you know you're gonna have a problem. He's smart, intelligent, handsome and an absolute joy to work with. If you have a chance to have a great actor in the part, everything else is irrelevant. "If you're going to say the colour of his skin matters in a story like this, look at 50 years of Thor comics to see how many ways great artists have bent alleged 'rules'. Look at the Norse myths to see the way they confounded and contradicted themselves. That whole 'controversy' was a surprising - and daft - moment." You know what? He's not wrong. For the full story on Thor and more from Branagh, pick up the new issue of Empire on Thursday. Helen O'Hara **I agree! Idris Elba is one of the BEST actors working today!!!

Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS Going To Happen On Screen?

Neil Gaiman's work shouldn't be difficult to put on film, but many of his novels have struggled to be adapted.  Now comes word that AMERICAN GODS is going to happen, with a cinematographer and a director "who has many, many Oscars and is, I think, a genius", according to Gaiman himself.  Apparently the rights were signed last week sometime.  Here's a video with a little more information:

AMERICAN GODS is the story of how humanity's various deities throughout the centuries still exist but are now weaker since we have moved on from them.  It's a terrific read, like so much of Gaiman's work.  We can only speculate about who the director is - any thoughts?  And personally, I'd love to see GOOD OMENS adapted sometime.  I know that particular book has been struggling to get made into a film for years.  Thanks to Bleeding Cool for the heads up.



Nordling out.
Ain't It Cool News

'So darn adorable' and 'delightful' Daniel Radcliffe wows New York as he makes his musical debut on Broadway

By Georgina Littlejohn for The Daily Mail

For the past ten years, Daniel Radcliffe has been known as the Boy Who Lived as he portrayed the world-famous and beloved character of Harry Potter.

But boy wizards have to grow up sometime and with the final film instalment due to hit our screens this summer, the young actor has finally left Hogwarts far behind him.

On the other side of the Atlantic, to be precise, as last night he shook off his Harry Potter tag once and for all as he wowed Broadway and received rave reviews as he made his eagerly-anticipated musical debut.

Scroll down to see video...

Standing ovation: Daniel Radcliffe revels in the applause from the Broadway audience and his cast mates after the opening night of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

Radcliffe, 21, is currently starring as the lead in the 50th anniversary revival of the 1961 musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

And last night, after a month of previews, the play officially open to the public, who flocked inside the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Radcliffe plays J. Pierrepont Finch, who relies on the rules of a  guidebook called How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, to climb the corporate ladder and go from window washer to chairman of the board.

Take a bow: Radcliffe grabs his cast mates hands as they soak up the cheers during the curtain call

Radcliffe is no stranger to treading the boards, having starred in Equus in 2007 in the West End and on Broadway the following year, as Alan Strang, a stable boy who has an obsession with horses.

He also appeared as guest in The Play What I Wrote, a celebration of comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, which was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who starred in the second Harry Potter film.

But this was Radcliffe's musical debut and while critics had mixed thoughts on his singing ability, they all were in agreement that he did a good job.

Won't take all the glory: Radcliffe came out in the stage alone for his own applause but made sure his cast mates were recognised too

Elysa Gardner from USA Today said he was a 'servicable tenor' and had 'sufficient rhythmic savvy to handle Loesser's jaunty, jazz-tinged score'.

She added: 'If Radcliffe doesn't provide a study in loosey-goosey virtuosity, he certainly captures and savors the joy. In fact, Radcliffe ultimately succeeds not by overshadowing his fellow cast members, but by working in conscientious harmony with them - and having a blast in the process.'

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Mark Kennedy, AP: 'His voice is nice, but thin and he strains to fill the theater. Somehow it doesn't matter. He works so hard that we're on his side even if he, like his character, doesn't have the creds.'

Ben Brantley, New York Times: 'This 21-year-old British actor conscientiously hits his choreographic marks, speaks his lines quickly and distinctly (with a convincing American accent) and often sings on key.'

Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Daily News: 'His current transformation into a song-and-dance man isn't quite so convincing.'

Elysa Gardner, USA Today: 'Radcliffe ultimately succeeds not by overshadowing his fellow cast members, but by working in conscientious harmony with them.'

The Associated Press's Mark Kennedy said he was 'so darn adorable' that 'pockets of smitten teenage girls in the audience will be rooting for his unlikely rise from window washer to chairman of the board'.

He commented on his singing ability and said: 'To be blunt, Radcliffe is not a Broadway singer. His voice is nice, but thin and he strains to fill the theatre - American Idol judge Randy Jackson would call it "pitchy". Somehow it doesn't matter.

'He works so hard that we're on his side even if he, like his character, doesn't have the creds.
'Radcliffe has somehow telegraphed enough personal guts, tenacity and good humor that the audience doesn't hold it against his smarmy character.

Ben Brantley from the New York Times wrote: 'Mr. Radcliffe is clearly not to the musical manner born, I would give him, oh, a 6 out of 10.'

But he added that he was also the 'only reason to see the show and added: 'There’s little doubt that audiences will feel like rooting for Mr. Radcliffe. This 21-year-old British actor conscientiously hits his choreographic marks, speaks his lines quickly and distinctly (with a convincing American accent) and often sings on key.'

Philly.com, Philadelphia's 24-hour news website said: 'Those dancing lessons Radcliffe took, as he emerged from a film-acting life as Harry Potter, paid off; he executes the show's sometimes complex, quick choreography easily with one of Broadway's best current ensembles.
'The singing instruction is not quite as successful, but Radcliffe is more than passable.'

Gracious: Radcliffe humbly opens in his arms in thanks to thunderous applause from the sold-out audience

What would Harry say?! Radcliffe's Finch is seduced by Tammy Blanchard's character, the flamboyant and seductive mistress of boss J.B Biggley, Hedy LaRue

But Joe Dziemianowicz from the New York Daily News wasn't so complimentary and wrote: 'His current transformation into a song-and-dance man isn't quite so convincing.
'Making his first foray into musical comedy, Radcliffe is a likeable but very boyish presence. He shows off a pleasant singing voice as corporate climber J. Pierrepont Finch, but he's waxen and not animated enough to make Finch soar.'
This summer, Radcliffe will team up with his Harry Potter co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint to promote the second part of The Deathly Hallows, the seventh and last installment of the Harry Potter films.

A job well done: Radcliffe attends the after-party with co-star Rose Hemingway, who plays secretary Rosemary Pilkington

On his way to the top: Radcliffe and John Larroquette - who plays the company boss J.B Biggley

Paganism in fun places - 'Firefly: Safe'

While watching 'Firefly' on the Science Channel, I heard a quote that I had forgotten about and had to share -
"Patron: The girl is a witch.
Mal: Yeah, but she's our witch.
[Cocks shotgun and aims at Town Patron]
Mal: So cut her the hell down."


Enjoy!  Make sure you are tuning in to 'Firefly' Sundays on the Science Channel!










Have a safe and beautiful night everybody...

Weekend Box Office – DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES Knocks Out SUCKER PUNCH

Collider.com by Nicole Pedersen

Ouch.  Though it seemed likely after Friday’s figures were announced, the fact that Fox’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules so easily topped the flashier Sucker Punch has still got to hurt the folks at Warners this morning.

	Title	Weekend	Total
1	Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2	$24,400,000	$24.4
2	Sucker Punch	$19,000,000	$19
3	Limitless	$15,225,000	$41.2
4	The Lincoln Lawyer	$11,000,000	$28.9
5	Rango	$9,800,000	$106.3
6	Battle: Los Angeles	$7,600,000	$72.5
7	Paul	$7,500,000	$24.6
8	Red Riding Hood	$4,340,000	$32.4
9	The Adjustment Bureau	$4,240,000	$54.8
10	Mars Needs Moms	$2,186,000	$19.1

In March of 2010 the first Wimpy Kid opened to $21.2 million, putting it just ahead of the Jenifer Aniston/Gerard Butler comedy The Bounty Hunter but well behind the number one Alice in Wonderland. With no big holdover to contend with this year, the PG-rated Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 led the weekend with an estimated $24.4 million from 3,167 locations.  That is all kinds of good news for Fox, who earlier in the week said they would have been happy to land in the mid-teens against the better-promoted and more-pricey Sucker Punch.

With this weekend’s win, Diary 2 should be able to match its predecessor in terms of profitability.  The first film cost less than $20 million and ended up grossing $75 million worldwide.  The sequel, which was in the works before the original’s release, cost a reported $21 million before promotion. That means that every weekend it stays in theatres going forward it is making money instead of balancing expenditures.  Sadly, that is not the case with Sucker Punch.

Just as the first Wimpy Kid put the hurt on the Bounty Hunter in 2010, the sequel is making Sucker Punch look like the wimp this weekend.  Though the studio will undoubtedly find a way to spin it to their advantage, the fact that the film’s $19 million estimate is lower than the $19.8 million Kick-Ass earned in its debut last April is not boding well for Zack Snyder’s latest feature.  It could have been worse, however.  Sucker Punch could have easily lost on Friday (the traditional night for action movies to shine).

Warner Brothers put a lot into promoting Sucker Punch: Comic-Con, video games, apps, etc, etc.  That means that the film’s budget (as low as $85 million and as high as $110, depending on who you believe) is only part of the story. The film’s stunning visuals should play well overseas so this may not be a disaster, but the trouble is that, here at home, weekend’s like this only make it harder for original screenplays to make it into multiplexes.  On a positive note, Sucker Punch did have a good showing at its IMAX venues (bringing in $4 million from 229 screens) and it also managed to open better than Snyder’s last film, Legends of the Guardians: the Owls of Ga’Hoole.

Last weekend’s number one film Limitless came in third this weekend, taking in an estimated $15.2 million in its sophomore frame.  That’s a drop of less than 20% over last weekend which is pretty great for any genre.  The Lincoln Lawyer did even better, falling just 16.7% while fellow sophomore Paul declined by 42% to place seventh.  Already ranking as number five on Hollywood’s list of all-time money losers, Mars Needs Moms dropped to number ten this weekend with a total domestic gross still shy of $20 million.

At the other end of the spectrum, Rango crossed the $100 million mark here in the US in its fourth weekend in theatres.  Sony’s Just Go With It hit the same milestone – preserving Adam Sandler’s record as the $100 million man of American comedy.  Next weekend Universal’s animated Hop will dominate, though I’m more interested in seeing how the release of the newly edited The King’s Speech will fare in its 1,000 locations.

Amy Adams Has Been Cast As Lois Lane In The New Superman Film

In January we learned that actor Henry Cavill won the role of Superman in the upcoming Zack Snyder-directed reboot of the Superman film franchise followed by the news in February that Kevin Costner was cast as Jonathan Pa Kent and the news in March that Diane Lane was cast as Martha Ma Kent. Today we learn that actress Amy Adams has been cast in the leading female role of Lois Lane. At last, Clark Kent/Superman has found his leading lady.

This just in — three-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams will play journalist Lois Lane in Hollywood’s revival of “Superman.” The 36-year-old star got the news on Sunday from director Zack Snyder, who phoned her from Paris … There had been a crush of Hollywood interest in the lead female role in the Warner Bros. project but Snyder said that after meeting with Adams, she was the clear choice to take on a character that dates back to 1938 and has long represented the strong, professional woman who can hold her own against any man – even if he can leap tall buildings in a single bound. “There was a big, giant search for Lois,” Snyder said. “For us it was a big thing and obviously a really important role. We did a lot of auditioning but we had this meeting with Amy Adams and after that I just felt she was perfect for it.” Snyder declined to discuss the precise prominence of Lois in the story or any plot details about the film but he said the role is “a linchpin” to the project and that he considers it essential that Lois — an FDR-era creation – arrives on screen in 2012 with contemporary appeal and spirit. “It goes back to what I’ve said about Superman and making him really understandable for today. What’s important to us is making him relevant and real and making him empathetic to today’s audience so that we understand the decisions he makes. That applies to Lois as well. She has to be in the same universe as him [in tone and substance].”

Yes, I am very happy with this casting. While I wouldn’t necessarily have pictured Amy in the role of Lois, I can see how she is a great choice for the role. I generally like Amy Adams in everything I’ve seen her in so I think she will make a perfect Lois Lane. I really hated Kate Bosworth as Lois in Superman Returns so here’s hoping Amy will NOT look to her performance for inspiration. Now that Superman and his lady have been cast, along with the Kents … I guess we’ll soon be hearing about villain casting. I’m assuming Superman‘s arch nemesis Lex Luthor will be featured in the film … I wonder who they’ll get to play him. As for Amy‘s casting, what do y’all think? Do you approve of Amy Adams as Lois Lane?
[Source]

Tagged: 'Superman: Man of Steel', Amy Adams, Lois Lane Casting News, Movies, Updates