'Batman v Superman' deleted scene teases new villain?

MANILA - In an attempt to further confound critics, Warner Bros. has released a deleted scene from "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" that raises even more questions.

Entitled "Communion," the clip sees a group of soldiers arrest Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), presumably after the film's final battle, following his conversation with an alien-like creature.

The Internet consensus suggest that the creature is a re-imagining of Steppenwolf, one of the generals of arguably Superman's greatest foe, Darkseid. The alien warlord has been rumored as the main villain for the upcoming Justice League film in 2017.

The short video also gives fans a glimpse of the Mother Boxes, which are essentially sentient supercomputers created by the New Gods, the same race Darkseid belongs to.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FIFA scandal to get Hollywood movie treatment

Actor-director Ben Affleck is to help produce a feature film about the corruption scandal that has rocked world soccer and its governing body FIFA, the author of an upcoming book said on Friday.

Affleck and his friend since childhood, actor Matt Damon, will be among the producers of the as-yet-untitled movie for Hollywood studio Warner Bros., the author, U.S. reporter Ken Bensinger, told Reuters.

It is expected to focus on the role of American Chuck Blazer, a former FIFA official. Bensinger said that actor John Goodman had been mentioned as a possible option to portray the 70-year-old Blazer, who has a curly white beard and has in the past tipped the scales at more than 400 pounds.

A spokeswoman for Goodman said she was not aware of any discussions about the part.

The deal was first reported on Friday by trade paper The Hollywood Reporter.

Blazer, the former general secretary of CONCACAF, soccer's governing body in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has secretly provided U.S. prosecutors with information about alleged bribery and kickbacks in connection with bidding to host the 1998 and 2010 soccer World Cups.

Blazer pleaded guilty in 2013 to 10 criminal counts, according to a plea deal unsealed by U.S. prosecutors earlier this month,

Seven current or former soccer officials were arrested on U.S. corruption charges in a raid on a Swiss hotel in late May as part of a wide-ranging investigation. The following week, FIFA President Sepp Blatter - just days after being reelected - said he would be stepping down.

The movie is to be based on Bensinger's proposed book "Houses of Deceit", which went to a bidding war between Hollywood studios after the FIFA scandal broke in May.

Bensinger, an investigative reporter for U.S. news website Buzzfeed.com, said the book was still in its early stages and was unlikely to be published before 2017.

DIFFERENT PASSIONS

"I'm excited about the challenge of putting together this book and the prospects for a movie. I think this story has amazing potential to capture the interest of a wide range of people and not just soccer fans, because it touches on fundamental human themes of power, greed, corruption and justice," Bensinger added in a statement.

That will make it very different from a FIFA-funded movie, "United Passions," which explores the 111-year history of the organization and attempts to show it as a force for good. The 2014 French movie, which was first screened in the U.S. this month, has been widely panned by critics and has been a massive box office flop.

Bensinger said that director Gavin O'Connor may be involved in his movie.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., declined to comment on Friday, saying the studio did not comment about projects that may be in development.

Blazer is now in hospital with cancer and unable to speak. But in his pomp he chronicled his globe-trotting activities to spread the good word for FIFA on his blog. He is pictured with Nelson Mandela and soccer legends George Best and Pele. He can also be seen with an exotic dancer, his parrot, and dressed up like a pirate.

The New York Daily News reported last year that he kept an apartment in the city mainly for his cats and needed a fleet of mobility scooters to get about.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant and Mark Hosenball; Editing by Martin Howell)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warner Bros. to produce 'Adventure Time' film

MANILA - Mathematical!

Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network Studios are working on an "Adventure Time" animated movie, a report from Deadline said Saturday.

The first big screen outing of the cult animated hit will be backed by "The LEGO Movie" producer Roy Lee and "The LEGO Batman Movie" director Chris McKay.

Series creator Pendleton Ward will be involved in writing and producing the film, according to the report.

"Adventure Time" follows the story of Finn the human and his best friend Jake the dog as they journey through the mystical Land of Ooo, battling monsters and saving princesses along the way.

Other main characters of the show include Princess Bubblegum, the Ice King, and Marceline the Vampire Queen.

The series is currently on its sixth season.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Arnel Pineda's story inspires upcoming Hollywood film

MANILA – After the acclaimed 2012 documentary "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey," Journey lead vocalist Arnel Pineda will be the subject of another Hollywood movie.

According to Pineda, he will appear in the movie to be released by Warner Bros. but another actor will be cast to play him.

“I will do some parts pero baka mag-workshop muna ako. Alam ko kukuha sila ng Hollywood actor na magpe-play na ako at dapat mag-aral siya ng Tagalog,” he said.

Pineda said the movie will be part of a reality talent search that aims to inspire artists who are dreaming of launching an international career.

The grand winner of "Asian Music Camp" will win US$1 million and a recording contract. Auditions will start in January next year.

“Noong una ayoko sana pero kasama na ito ng pag-start ng music camp natin. Ang nangyari kasi sa akin is an extraordinary story so kailangan kasama siya para ma-inspire ang lahat ng aspiring musicians out there na hindi nabigyan ng chance na ituloy lang ang dreams nila,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

DC superheroes, Lego and Harry Potter spin-off get new Warner Bros. films

LOS ANGELES - The superheroes of DC Comics will battle the Marvel heroes at the box office, as Warner Bros. confirmed plans for upcoming films on Wednesday that include new installments of "The Lego Movie" franchise and expansions of the "Harry Potter" world.

Masked hero Batman will get a starring role with Ben Affleck's portrayal in Zack Snyder's anticipated 2016 release of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Affleck will reprise the role for Snyder's 2017's "Justice League Part One" with Henry Cavill returning as Superman and Amy Adams as Lois Lane. Snyder will also direct "Justice League Part Two" for release in 2019.

Actress Gal Godot will debut as Wonder Woman in "Batman v Superman," and helm her own "Wonder Woman" film in 2017.

Lego Batman, voiced by Will Arnett in this year's hit animation "The Lego Movie," will get his own spotlight in "The Lego Batman Movie" in 2017, and will also return in "The Lego Movie 2" in 2018. The Lego franchise will also include "Ninjago" in 2016.

The new release dates and casting details were issued by Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. studios at the company's investor conference. They come at a time when Disney's Marvel superheroes such as "Captain America," "Iron Man" and "Avengers" are ruling the box office.

"The demand for high quality video content is growing fast - in the United States and around the world - as new technologies have created new platforms and millions of new connected consumers," said Warner Bros. Chief Executive Kevin Tsujihara.

While the "Harry Potter" franchise concluded with its eighth installment in 2011, three new films from the fantastical world of magic created by author J.K. Rowling will be released every two years from 2016, starting with "Fantastic Beasts."

The new film will feature characters from the fictional textbook written by Newt Scamander at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and will be directed by David Yates, the filmmaker behind the final four "Potter" movies.

A new band of DC heroes, the "Suicide Squad," will get their own film in 2016, directed by "Fury" filmmaker David Ayer. The Suicide Squad are ruthless incarcerated villains who work for the government in high-risk missions.

Speedy hero The Flash will be played by 22-year-old "Perks of Being a Wallflower" actor Ezra Miller in a standalone film in 2018, and "Game of Thrones" actor Jason Momoa will take the lead in "Aquaman" that same year.

Captain Marvel, who has the power to transform into six mythical heroes, will lead new film "Shazam" in 2019, and stage actor Ray Fisher will play the lead in 2020's "Cyborg," the superhero alter-ego of Victor Stone and one of the founding members of the Justice League.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com