Benedict Cumberbatch, the thinking man's alpha wolf

LA TIMES
By REBECCA KEEGAN
August 9, 2014

Benedict Cumberbatch at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego during Comic-Con on July 24, 2014. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

During his first trip to Comic-Con in July, Benedict Cumberbatch stopped to chat about his many brainy characters, from the detective he plays on the BBC's "Sherlock" and the World War II codebreaker Alan Turing, whom he portrays in the upcoming movie "The Imitation Game," to Hamlet and an animated wolf.

You're here for "Penguins of Madagascar," an animated movie in which you voice a wolf who looks like he's the brains of the operation. Have I got it just about right?

Kind of. He's the leader, the alpha wolf of the pack, so to speak, and does things in a polar opposite way, pun intended, to the penguins.

I noticed you're often playing really smart guys — Sherlock, Julian Assange, Alan Turing in this movie coming up, the famous codebreaker, and I wonder, do you have a go-to, 'I'm a genius thinking really hard' …

... Smart face?

Yeah.

Definitely. [Cumberbatch furrows his brow and rests his chin in his hand]

No, it changes. It's about the character. I've been very, very fortunate that there's something going on behind my eyes so that it looks like I'm ... encompassing the brilliance of their minds and ability to concentrate. But you know I have a very superficial, skin-thin understanding of the science. ... It's just about finding the humanity in all of that. Brilliant people have private moments of self-doubt and things which we could all relate to, but they also have these extraordinary moments of discovery or pioneering brilliance that pushes the envelope in how we view the world. I try not to pull faces — if I do, it has to be something with the character.

Darn, so you're not really just thinking about what you're having for lunch?

Yeah, exactly — "Why did I eat that cheeseburger? I should have stuck to the salad." Actors often have that kind of a feeling, especially on stage when you're struggling through the weirdness of your day and you're doing the play for the umpteenth time in a long run, that's very often something that happens: Your mind drifts and you think, "I forgot to buy the cheese in the supermarket!" You have to be careful of those mundanities creeping in because they can play havoc with your concentration.

Speaking of the stage, you're going to be playing Hamlet in London next year. What does that particular role mean to you?

A lot. It's something that's been in my life for a long time. I was offered it at school and turned it down to do my "A" levels and try and get some decent grades. ... I'm of an age now where I think it's now or never ,and I've found the right director ... this brilliant female director called Lindsey Turner, who's just a phenomenon. I think she's the greatest director of her generation, I'll be that bold, and she's a good friend and great collaborator. We've been talking about it for over a year already, and we don't even start rehearsals until next June.

Most actors, [Hamlet] appeals to them initially because it feels like an everyman part, which it is, to an extent, you have to bring a lot of yourself to it. ... The other appeal is the amount of direct communication you have with your audience. There's such a large portion of it where you become very intimate. You should care about him a lot, but he should make you laugh as well as feel things.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-mn-ca-cumberbatch-conversation-20140810-story.html

A naked Charlie Hunnam Explains Comic-Con Absence in Hilarious Video

ACES SHOWBIZ



Charlie Hunnam had a special message for "Sons of Anarchy" fans at San Diego Comic-Con last weekend to explain his no-show. The hilarious video has now landed online for viewing pleasure.

In the clip, Hunnam goes naked as gets a massage from co-star Mark Boone Jr. "Hello, lovely people of Comic-Con. I'm recording you this message because unfortunately I can't be with you this year," the Jax depicter begins explaining his absence. "I hate to miss Comic-Con on the final season of the show, but for the future and safety of America, my presence is required elsewhere."

Boone Jr. interrupts Hunnam and snarkily says that Hunnam would skip Comic-Con for a photoshoot for Vogue magazine. Tommy Flanagan, who gives Hunnam a manicure, hits Boone Jr. with a towel to warn him to be careful with his words. The "Pacific Rim" star later scolds Boone Jr. for rubbing him too hard.

Kim Coates is also featured as Hunnam's servant, serving Hunnam with the beverage he doesn't like and getting water thrown in his face as the consequence. Coates later annoys Boone Jr. with his giant fan.

Read more: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00073422.html#ixzz395ucchlH

Hayley Atwell: From Captain America to Jimi Hendrix

TELEGRAPH

By Chris Harvey

8:00AM BST 10 Aug 2013

Hayley Atwell’s beauty is the first thing you notice about her. She walks out of a rehearsal room near London Bridge into an outdoor café, and it almost makes me laugh. If there were a kit for making a film star, her dark flashing eyes and full lips would be included in the box. What’s more surprising is that she turns out to be so funny.

She’s recently returned from Comic-Con, the American convention that celebrates all things fantasy and sci-fi. She was there because in the Marvel Universe she is Peggy Carter, the wartime British agent girlfriend of Captain America himself, as seen in the 2011 blockbuster The First Avenger. It sounds like a strange experience.

“What is weird is walking down the streets seeing people dressed as superheroes but then picking their nose or running for the bus,” she says. “That’s really surreal. You’re like, 'I’m sure Wonder Woman doesn’t eat burgers slouched over a bench like that.’ It was very funny, but the level of commitment is quite humbling. There’s an innocence about them as a fan base, it’s not aggressive, but they really do love that world. I approach Peggy Carter as I would any character, then take all the make-up off and go home and be myself. But for the fans, those worlds live for longer within them.”

I ask if the films – some of the most lucrative franchises in contemporary Hollywood – pay as well as they’re said to, mentioning Robert Downey jnr’s reported $75 million earnings for The Avengers. “Really? Is that true?” Atwell gapes. “Well, he is also an executive producer. It completely varies according to your star power, how big your name is.”

But is it life-changing? “That’s a very personal question,” she says, adopting a clipped RP tone. “I think anything is life-changing money if you’re doing something you love and earn a living from it, because it takes you beyond doing a job just for survival.”

Next up is something for love. She’s rehearsing the dual role of Sylvia, the trapped, lonely wife of a repressed homosexual man in Fifties London, and the independent, supportive friend of an identically named gay man in the present, in Alexi Kaye Campbell’s play The Pride, which opens at Trafalgar Studios later this month, directed by Jamie Lloyd. It’s an interesting choice, not least because Atwell’s last stage outing was in Kaye Campbell’s The Faith Machine two years ago, also directed by Lloyd.

“I like working with them as people and it’s nice to do something that’s at least half modern,” she says. She’s referring to the way casting directors look at her voluptuous figure and see the perfect Forties heroine. “I suppose physically I suit that era. It’s wonderful to look like a period heroine, there’s something very beautiful and romantic about that. But I think there’s so much more going on behind my eyes and in my head than just looking a certain way.”

The play juxtaposes the way that changing attitudes affect the lives of people who are alike in spirit but living in different eras. The earlier Sylvia is “fragile and sensitive, and has suffered from an illness that nowadays we would call depression. I think Sylvia loves her husband deeply and his unhappiness causes her great unhappiness.

“I can relate to bouts of the blues or moments when self-destructive thoughts are a way of dealing with your surroundings. Some people, if they’re going through a difficult time they’ll lash out, and then you have people, like myself, who direct it inwards. I’m much more of an internal person than an external one, I think.”

Is there a temptation to put theatre to one side when your career is at its most bankable, I wonder, when you’re “hot”, as Atwell is now?

“Oh really?” She laughs. “'So hot right now’ – I feel like I’m in Zoolander. I think there’s a fear. The fear-based mentality would be to go, 'I’ve got to capitalise on this right now.’ I think it can be detrimental because the minute you’re hot or 'in’ the next step is to be not hot, or out. So you’re only just waiting for the time when you’re not considered cool. I think if I’m interested in my work, then life will forge its own path.”

READ MORE HERE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-features/10234252/Hayley-Atwell-From-Captain-America-to-Jimi-Hendrix.html

'The Avengers' star Tom Hiddleston on being Loki and meeting unexpected fans

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
by Adam Markovitz on Aug 5, 2013 at 12:00PM
@amrkvtz

Whether he’s channeling bow-down-to-me villainy as Loki in The Avengers and Thor or bookish wit as F. Scott Fitzgerald in Midnight in Paris, Tom Hiddleston is one of the most exciting British actors to hop the pond in recent years. And we’re not the only ones who think so. “I met David O. Russell for dinner when he was in London for Silver Linings Playbook. I just wanted to tell him how much I loved the film. And he basically spent an hour telling me why he thinks Midnight in Paris is the greatest film that’s been made in the last 20 years, and he insisted on taking a picture because he was such a fan of Fitzgerald,” recalls Hiddleston, 31, who’s part of EW’s New Hollywood cover package, on stands now. “And I wanted to say, ‘David, can you please stop? I need to tell you how great your film is!’”

That kind of reaction isn’t unusual for Hiddleston anymore — and it’s not just industry insiders who are starstruck.  ”I was going through the security machines at Heathrow, and the guard’s eyes went wide, and he said, ‘Oh my God, it’s Loki! Then the whole line turned around. It turned into Comic-Con,” he says. “But I always say, an actor cannot call himself an actor without an audience.”

READ MORE HERE: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/08/05/tom-hiddleston-loki-avengers-new-hollywood/

Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, & Peter Dinklage Suffer Comic-Con Identity Crisis!

PEREZ HILTON

July 22, 2013

Ah, the seXy men of X-Men: Days Of Future Past!

Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, and Michael Fassbender were looking great at Comic-Con on Saturday–

Wait, that's not Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, and Michael Fassbender!

It's Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult!

OK, two out of three ain't bad! And if J-Law is wrong, we don't want to be right!

We guess there was a mix-up with the seating arrangements? Maybe Jennifer wanted to be closer to her Beast boy beau Nicholas!

READ MORE HERE: http://perezhilton.com/2013-07-22-jennifer-lawrence-nicholas-hoult-peter-dinklage-michael-fassbender-comic-con-x-men-cast-confusion

Henry Cavill: Superman and Batman crossover movie announced by WB at Comic-Con 2013

HYPABLE

By Andrew Sims (@Sims) 

at 1:41 pm, July 20, 2013
Reviewed by Brandi Delhagen


A Superman and Batman crossover movie is in development, according to the Los Angeles Times, and Warner Bros appears poised to blow Comic-Con out of the water today when they make the official announcement at their Hall H panel at Comic-Con 2013.

The crossover will be the follow-up to Man of Steel starring Henry Cavill which hit theaters in June. Cavill will reprise his role as Superman, and director Zack Snyder and writer David S. Goyer will be included in the project which is planned for a 2015 release date.

Update: Warner Bros. has confirmed the news. Director Zack Snyder commented on the the film saying, “I’m so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can’t wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter. Let’s face it, it’s beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world.”

The film will reportedly be called World’s Finest, and some footage was shown which ended with the official logo seen here:

After Man of Steel pulled in $620 million earlier this year, it was also announced that director Zack Snyder and writer David S. Goyer would be focusing on a Man of Steel sequel. This crossover film is most likely what’s next.

It’s possible that Warner Bros. may have decided to focus on Batman and Superman teaming up in the sequel, but that brings up the massive question: Who will be cast as Bruce Wayne? We’ve heard nothing solid at all about the recasting of Batman. The only thing we know for certain is that Christian Bale will not reprise his role as Batman

READ MORE HERE: http://www.hypable.com/2013/07/20/sdcc-batman-superman-crossover-movie-2015/

Watch Tom Hiddleston Show Up As Loki During Insane Marvel Panel

Comic-Con 2013

SCREEN CRAVE

Posted by Laura Aguirre on July 20th, 2013

Besides the major news that came our today’s Marvel panel (ahem, Joss Whedon‘s announcement that the official title of Avengers 2 will be Avengers: Age of Ultron), there was one awesome treat for those people who camped out last night. After Marvel president Kevin Feige mentioned Thor: The Dark World, all of Hall H went pitch black and a voice said, “Humanity… look how far you’re fallen. Lining up in the heat… chattering together in the dark… like beasts!” Those words came from one Tom Hiddleston, who decided to appear in character as Loki. Check it out:

Sean Wicks Youtube

READ MORE HERE: http://screencrave.com/2013-07-20/comiccon-2013-watch-tom-hiddleston-show-loki-insane-marvel-panel/

Comic-Con: 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' Cast Sends Hall H Into Frenzy

Fox touted "The Wolverine" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" before Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Peter Dinklage and more stormed the stage.

5:20 PM PDT 7/20/2013 

by Borys Kit

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Fox brought out the entire cast of X-Men: Days of Future Past for Comic-Con, sending Hall H into pandemonium.

Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, and several others were introduced to a roaring crowd that was screaming after every other sentence from the actors.

“I was in the halls this morning,” said McAvoy. “It’s amazing the passion you guys have so it’s awesome to be among you.

Every actor was given a moment to say a few words to the enthralled audience. McKellan scored major points from the crowd for getting a little political.

“I feel safe here now that you’ve gotten rid of Proposition 8," he said. Then, turning to Fassbender, he added, “Looking for a husband. It’s nice to meet you Michael."

After the panel, Singer tweeted a thank you to fans along with a photo of the cast.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/comic-con-x-men-days-589553

Henry Cavill poses with original Superman book at Comic-Con... as it's revealed next Man Of Steel movie will include Batman

By KIMBERLEY DADDS

MAIL ON LINE

PUBLISHED: 19:06 EST, 20 July 2013 | UPDATED: 19:15 EST, 20 July 2013

He's the man of the moment thanks to his blockbuster hit in the latest Superman movie Man Of Steel.

And Henry Cavill was sporting a super grin on Saturday as he continued to ride the wave of success at San Diego's annual Comic-Con.

The British actor was just one of the A-list guests attending the convention as he mingled with a number of movie stars throughout the day.

But while there was plenty of star power on show, he seemed more happy to become acquainted with an original comic book during his appearance.

Henry, 30, grinned widely as he posed with the Action Comics Issue #”1 at the Superman 75 Party.

And he dressed for the occasion in an electric blue shirt seemingly mimicking the colours of his Superman costume.

Although his handsome looks of course drew attention, it was what was said by his Superman director Zack Snyder that will be remembered most from the day.

Warner Bros. have now revealed plans for a Superman/Batman movie.

The follow up to Man of Steel starring Henry is being written by Snyder and will feature an as-yet-uncast Batman.

Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, Zack said: 'I'm so excited to begin working again with Henry Cavill in the world we created, and I can't wait to expand the DC Universe in this next chapter.  

'Let's face it, it's beyond mythological to have Superman and our new Batman facing off, since they are the greatest Super Heroes in the world.'

READ MORE HERE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2372066/Henry-Cavill-poses-original-Superman-book-Comic-Con-revealed-Man-Of-Steel-movie-include-Batman.html?ico=tvshowbiz%5Eheadlines

Martin Freeman's John Watson to wed during Season 3 of 'Sherlock'

(UPI Photo/Hugo Philpott) 

UPI.COM

Published: July 19, 2013 at 1:25 PM

SAN DIEGO, July 19 (UPI) -- "Sherlock" co-creator Steven Moffat says John Watson, Sherlock Holmes' sidekick in sleuthing on the British drama series, will get married next season.

"Hot off the presses from 110 years ago ... John does get married," Moffat told the crowd at Comic-Con in San Diego Thursday. "The secret was out before you were born."

The contemporary London-set show is based on the 19th century detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the modern incarnation, Benedict Cumberbatch plays Holmes, while Martin Freeman plays Watson.

Read more here: http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2013/07/19/Martin-Freemans-John-Watson-to-wed-during-Season-3-of-Sherlock/UPI-58411374254714/

Henry Cavill does not see conflict in Superman and 'Fifty Shades of Grey' roles

EXAMINER

JULY 19, 2013 BY: BARBIE KAVETSKY 

"Fifty Shades of Grey" has an official release date of August 1, 2014, giving Team Fifty one year to cast, film, edit and promote the most anticipated movie of the year. The difficult and lengthy process of casting is well underway and while E L James is enjoying some down time at Comic Con, the remaining production team is searching for the perfect Christian and Ana. Many fan favorites are still in the running and Henry Cavill recently discussed the role once again. Headline & Global News reported on July 18 that Cavill did not see a conflict in donning both the Superman suit and Christian Grey's red room jeans.

The "Man of Steel" star has admitted in the past that he would be interested in "Fifty Shades of Grey" as long as the script was up to par. Now Henry Cavill is defending the possibility of playing such an erotic role while still maintaining his wholesome image. "I'm very much a storyteller, I enjoy telling stories and if there is a wonderful story to tell than I don't think having played the role of Superman will necessarily stop me from telling that story. The chances are it will very much be a different vehicle than what Superman is, so it won't damage any of that character...because they'll see two very different things on screen."

READ MORE HERE: http://www.examiner.com/article/henry-cavill-does-not-see-conflict-superman-and-fifty-shades-of-grey-roles

'Sherlock' hints at series 3, confirms series 4

'Sherlock' hints at series 3, confirms series 4

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman will return despite fall of 'Sherlock,' Comic-Con reveals

By Abby Hamblin 3:15 P.M.JULY 18, 2013Updated3:17 P.M. U.T. SAN DIEGO

“Benedict is really quite puppy-ish and sort of bubbly, and Martin is much more direct and earthed. Maybe they should just put each other’s costumes on,” Moffat said.

"They have a natural chemistry,” Gatiss said. "They're just completely different people, very much like Sherlock and John are. They really have a good laugh that (translates) onto the screen — how much love there is behind the cameras."

The panel offered a sneak peak at an upcoming episode that depicts Watson's wedding, and Sherlock and Watson share a beautiful moment when they establish they're best friends.

Other than that, Moffat, Vertue and Gatiss were very tight-lipped about what is to come for the show.

As for how long the show will go on telling the famous “Sherlock” story, Vertue said the future looks good.

“As long as everyone wants to keep doing it, and they do, then we will keep doing it,” she said.

The producers did confirm that both Martin and Cumberbatch are signed on for series four.

“Sherlock” will premiere its third series on PBS Masterpiece in early 2014.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jul/18/sherlock-hints-at-series-three-confirms-series/

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH and MARTIN FREEMAN Send a video message to COMIC-CON (MASTERPIECE)

Watch Sherlock’s Martin Freeman & Benedict Cumberbatch; Comic-Con on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

New Shot Of Tom Hiddleston's Loki On The THOR: THE DARK WORLD Display (COMIC BOOK MOVIE) By Mark "RorMachine" Cassidy - 7/18/2013

It's not much, but the Thor: The Dark World screen at Comic-Con has been pretty bare of anything new to whet fan's appetites for the sequel thus far, so now we have a new image of fan favorite Loki (Tom Hiddleston) for you.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo & Anthony Hopkins as Odin, “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, and hits theaters November 8, 2013.

 Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/notyetamovie/news/?a=83515#xxGb077IrvvLFZP6.99

July 16, 2013: Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder Attending Comic-Con (SUPERMAN HOME PAGE)

TheWrap.com reports that Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder will both be attending the Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment "Superman's 75th Anniversary Celebration" panel at Comic-Con International.

The tempo will get a defibrillator's shock at 8:30 P.M., when WBTV's corporate sibling from the film division's partner DC Comics invades the space for a celebration of Superman's 75th Anniversary. Henry Cavill and Zach Snyder are coming, but the real VIP is a copy of an original "Action Comics #1". That's where Superman made his debut in 1938. It's a loaner from musician Jack White.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=13639

LUKE EVANS, ORLANDO BLOOM, EVANGELINE LILLY: The Hobbit Won’t Appear at Comic-Con, Jackson Reveals in Smaug Video Monday, July 1st, 2013 at 2:45pm PST - by Kevin Melrose (SPIN OFF ON LINE)

Director Peter Jackson has some good and some bad news. The good news is that there’s a production video for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug that shows plenty of behind-the-scenes footage, including up-close looks at the Lake Town sets, brief interviews with Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly and Luke Evans, and … Dwarf aerobics.

But now the bad news: The Hobbit won’t be coming to Comic-Con International later this month.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens Dec. 13. The Hobbit: There and Back Again arrives Dec. 17, 2014.

READ MORE: http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/07/01/the-hobbit-wont-appear-at-comic-con-jackson-reveals-in-smaug-video/

Richard Armitage:The Hobbit’s Thorin Oakenshield tells us what happens when you get a dwarf drunk (109) Meredith Woerner

The Hobbit's Richard Armitage plays the stoic Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the dwarves and a very strong presence throughout The Hobbit. But how will this lofty, Lordly character play with today's movie audiences? We asked, and Armitage answered — plus find out what other songs we'll be hearing from Armitage in the movie!

Is [The Hobbit] going to be a little bit more musical than The Lord Of The Rings?

Richard Armitage: Yeah, yeah, and there are other songs in it [besides the one we've already heard]. Which I was kind of hoping for. But I thought, "are they gonna shy away from that?" But I think the culture of the dwarves, the dwarves are kind of raucous dirty, filthy beasts. And when they party, they party hard. So there are a few drinking songs in there.

What makes a good drunk?

A smelly dwarf — and boy, do we smell.

SEE THE GREAT 109 INTERVIEW VIDEO HERE

Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Martin Freeman: CAST OF THE HOBBIT ON STAGE! More evidence for Freeman and Armitage at Comic-Con plus video of the ‘Hobbit’ cast on stage — together June 23rd, 2012 by frenz (THE ONE RING)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fznfX4947A&feature=player_embedded#! 

Warner Bros. has not confirmed ‘The Hobbit’ panel at Comic-Con, but perhaps the vagaries of Twitter have. Several independent tweeters who attended Ian McKellen’s benefit show last night in Wellington have said Lee Pace stated Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage would be at Comic-Con in July. We cannot confirm the reports, but we believe them and expect both key “Hobbit” actors to be in San Diego. We also volunteer to act as popular-culture coaches as the place will be mad for them.

And while WB has officially said it hasn’t officially said a ‘The Hobbit’ panel will be part of the three-hour block the studio has reserved on Saturday in the 6,500 seat Hall H, but it is widely believed ‘The Hobbit,’ will play a big part of it. The hall, the biggest the convention center has to offer, has required waiting in long lines at least the last three years and now even camping out for a space is not unheard of. Over 125,000 people attend the show each year.

READ MORE:http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/06/23/57732-more-evidence-for-freeman-and-armitage-at-comic-con/

LUKE EVANS, HENRY CAVILL

Luke Evans and Henry Cavill at Comic-Con

Some lovely pictures of Luke and Henry at the Comic-Con conference this weekend in San Diego.

Source: zimbio.com, Luke Evans News Twitter.

LUKE EVANS, HENRY CAVILL

Comic-Con 2011: IMMORTALS Panel Recap; Tarsem Talks 3D Visuals and Screens Fight Scene Footage
by Matt Goldberg Posted:July 23rd, 2011 at 2:22 pm



Tarsem Singh’s Immortals had a presentation at WonderCon in April and you can check out my recap of that panel here. For those who don’t know, the film has been compared to 300 due its highly-stylized re-telling of Greek myth (and yes, I know 300 was based on Greek history, not mythology). The story centers on Theseus (Henry Cavill) who is called upon by the gods (Luke Evans as Zeus; Isabel Lucas as Athena) to fight the conquering menace of King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his bunny rabbit helmet of doom. But Comic-Con’s Hall H is a much bigger stage, we’re closer to the release date (November 11th), and I was eager to see how much new stuff I was going to see. I also wanted to see how many Man of Steel questions Cavill could duck.

Hit the jump for my recap of the Immortals panel.

Singh, producers Mark Canton and Gianni Nunnari come on stage. Singh says the tone of the movie is darker than what the trailers have shown and the footage we’re about to see prove that. We then get to the new footage and this is the first time I’ve seen scenes from the film in 3D. It looks good and Tarsem, a director who likes to fill the frame, seems suited to the format. The footage we saw is also a lot bloodier (CGI blood, but lots of it). We see giant hammers smashing skulls, tridents decapitating monsters, and we see Theseus fighting a minotaur.

Cast members Freida Pinto, Stephen Dorff, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, and Henry Cavill come on stage. Cavill said he was interested in the project because he’s always been fascinated by ancient Greece but Tarsem really drew him to the project. Lutz says that as Poseidon, he’s the “God of Wetness” and that he loves his character. Evans says playing Zeus as a young man was a new slant on the role, but it makes sense because if you were a God you would want to look young. Dorff plays Stavaros, a slave who meets Theseus on a slave trade and decides to join up with him on his quest. He adds that having someone as hot as Pinto around helps the horny Stavaros to make that decision.

Tarsem said he was drawn to the project because he was fascinated with the idea of gods. He’s been an atheist since he was nine and his mother is deeply religious. His mother would tell him, “Why do you think you’re so successful? It’s because I’ve been praying for you!” Tarsem said he wanted to explore the question of what to do with all the suffering in the world and how free will factors in. He then jokes that when he dies and meets God, God will tell him, “You idiot. Your mother was praying for you all the time.”

We’re now going to see some 2D footage from a fight near the end of the movie. In the scene, Zeus and four of his Olympian soldiers go into a giant mountain and battle a bunch of scrappy, ashen-skinned soldier-monsters. The choreography of the battle is neat, but because the creatures are CG and spew CG blood, I was just thinking about God of War the whole time. I was waiting for a giant “X” button to appear on screen. At the end of the battle, Zeus, who is the only one left standing, climbs to the top of a cube, picks up some ropes, and pulls on them to bring down the mountain while a battle rages outside.

Tarsem says that with 3D, it’s a cart and you don’t put it in front of the donkey. He admits that his style lends itself to 3D and that he composed for with 3D in mind so don’t expect a post-converted mess like Clash of the Titans. Tarsem explains that his static shooting style works much better for 3D than the moving, shaky camera used by other 3D films. He also says they used a lot of practical sets because it helps blends with the heavily stylized costumes. He says that he doesn’t start with a good script but he with a good visual and hopes a good story falls in. He sits down with actors and tells them “This is what I have in mind.” However, the fighting is turned over to a CGI crew. He shot the fight we saw with real actors and then shot it with a computer model.

Cavill says the most difficult thing in filming is always staying in peak physical condition. He jokes that it wasn’t too difficult for Lutz because “he’s always in shape.” Pinto says she always had a good time filming although she adds “I know what Tarsem is thinking about.” She does say that it’s difficult to go away for ten days from set and then come back and get into the headspace of a zen priestess. Tarsem says the first scene that was shot was the sex scene, there was no dialogue, and Pinto and Cavill got in the bed and it was great.

Evans says that his powers in this film aren’t thunderbolts and lightning, but he’s more resourceful and uses chains, but he also has a whip of fire. In the fight scene we saw, he also uses a giant mallet. Lutz jokes that to prepare for Poseidon, he watched a lot of The Little Mermaid. However, he never honestly answers the question (which is admittedly kind of a lame question). He also refers to the character again as “The God of Wetness”, which sounds slightly creepy and slightly like an ad for moisturizer.

Tarsem says we won’t see all of the Greek gods because “I could only muster up so many good-looking guys.” There will only be about five in the film. We then see the fight scene again and the panel ends.

Immortals is still a toss-up in terms of whether or not it will be a good story, but the potential is certainly there. I was a little dismayed by the fight scene but it might look better in 3D (I can’t believe I wrote that). The visuals are clearly spectacular and the film may be worth seeing simply for that. I should note that I don’t think the panel really energized the audience. Not a lot of people lined up for questions (I think because the moderator told folks that they shouldn’t ask about non­-Immortals projects) and I think they re-showed the fight scene simply to kill some time. The panel also ended ten minutes early. While the producers and the studio are trying to draw a 300 comparison to get folks interested, Immortals may be a tougher sell than I originally thought.

Source: collider.com