'X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST' PICS WITH MAGNETO, PROFESSOR X, BISHOP, COLOSSUS! JAKE GYLLENHAAL IN 'NIGHTCRAWLER' THRILLER AND IN 'EVEREST' MOUNTAIN CLIMBING DRAMA WITH JOSH BROLIN! BILLY CAMPBELL IS LEAD IN ARCTIC SF SHOW "HELIX"

  EVEREST THRILLER

JAKE GYLLENHAAL, JOSH BROLIN

I did mention this project last year, but now they've got a strong male cast: 'Deadline' reports that Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes and Jason Clarke will be scaling EVEREST! Based on different books which brought stories from the survivors the film will depict the 1996 Mount Everest expedition in which eight members lost their lives when they got into a nasty snow storm over at EVEREST. It is interesting that this Universal film has a rival project at Sony which will, with the same title, be directed by Doug Liman with Tom Hardy in the lead role.

  Speaking of Jake Gyllenhaal, he has ditched INTO THE WOODS musical for NIGHTCRAWLER a crime thriller about a young man who gets sucked into the strange world of Los Angeles freelance crime journalism. He was supposed to play Rapunzel's prince next to Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp and Chris Pine in INTO THE WOODS.

  X MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

PROFESSOR X & MAGNETO

Meanwhile,  at Comic Con, the first pictures depicting Magneto (Ian McKellen), Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Bishop (Omar Sy) and Colossus (Daniel Cudmore) from X MEN DAYS OF FUTURE  PAST have been revealed. The film comes out next May with James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence and Hugh Jackman also in the cast! Oh, and here are also Havok and Beast played by Lucas Till and Nicholas Hoult!

  BILLY CAMPBELL IS

THE LEAD IN "HELIX" SF SHOW

In television news today, one of the most promising of the upcoming science fiction shows HELIX has found its lead star! Billy Campbell will play emotionally troubled Centres for Disease Control pathologist Dr Alan Farragut whose marriage has recently fallen apart after his wife had an affair with his brother! Coming to SyFy next January HELIX will follow a group of scientists at a high-tech research facility in the Arctic who investigate a possible disease outbreak — and Farragut's brother reaches out to him after being infected by a deadly virus. They quickly find themselves pulled into a terrifying life-and-death struggle that holds the key to mankind's salvation or total annihilation.The show is supposed to have 13 episodes in the first season and it will be shoot in Canada! Check out a spooky teaser trailer below!

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REESE WITHERSPOON IS "WILD" IN NICK HORNBY MOVIE ADAPTATION! FIRST "THE FIFTH ESTATE" WIKILEAKS TRAILER WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, DANIEL BRUHL, DAN STEVENS, LAURA LINNEY! 'RIO 2' HILARIOUS TRAILER!

  REESE WITHERSPOON IN

NICK HORNBY'S "WILD" BIG SCREEN ADAPTATION

Sometimes we all need to do something wild, to stir up the stale water in us and experience true life again. And that is exactly what Reese Witherspoon will do according to Fox Searchlight. She's just taken the lead role in WILD, a movie adaptation of the bestselling Nick Hornby novel: With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behaviour, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. WILD powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.

  HILARIOUS NEW

 RIO 2 TRAILER!

And here's a sweet treat: second hilarious teaser for animated sequel RIO 2! Coming to theatres next April, with the voices of Rodrigo Santoro, Anne Hathaway and  Jesse Eisenberg, the sequel will see Blu, Jewel and their three kids living the perfect domesticated life in that magical city. When Jewel decides the kids need to learn to live like real birds, she insists the family venture into the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in with his new neighbors, he worries he may lose Jewel and the kids to the call of the wild!

 

  THE FIFTH ESTATE TRAILER

 BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, DANIEL BRUHL, DAN STEVENS

Dreamworks has released the first trailer for Wikileaks movie THE FIFTH ESTATE which hits theatres this November depicting the two men who's only crime was their fight against US tyranny and fight for truth.  Following Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Brühl), an early supporter and eventual colleague of Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch), THE FIFTH ESTATE traces the heady, early  days of WikiLeaks, culminating in the release of a series of controversial and history changing information leaks. The website’s overnight success brought instant fame to its principal architects and transformed the flow of information to news media and the world at large. The cast also includes Dan Stevens, Alicia Vikander, Laura Linney, Anthony Mackie, David Thewlis, Stanley Tucci and Carice van Houten.

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"12 YEARS A SLAVE" TRAILER WITH MICHAEL FASSBENDER, BRAD PITT, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, CHIWETEL EJIOFOR! JOSEPH GORDON LEVITT WANTED FOR "DR STRANGE"! NEW PICS FROM "BLACK SAILS" EPIC SHOW

  JOSEPH GORDON LEVITT

 IS DOCTOR STRANGE?

 In superhero news todays, if you're a fan of those, the hot gossip is that Marvel wants Joseph Gordon Levitt for the lead role in DR STRANGE which should arrive to theatres (with ANT-MAN) in 2016 or 2017 after THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA sequels finish their cinematic life. There are some rumours that DR STRANGE could first make a cameo in THOR 2 THE DARK WORLD. Doctor Strange is a former neurosurgeon, a sorcerer, and serves as the Sorcerer Supreme, the primary protector of Earth against magical and mystical threats. Joseph Gordon Levitt often appears in these rumours surrounding superhero movies, and was one of the candidates for Star-lord role in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY which, thankfully, later on went to Chris Pratt!

  12 YEARS A SLAVE TRAILER

 MICHAEL FASSBENDER, BRAD PITT, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

Our trailer for today comes from historical drama which opens up in theatres this October: 12 YEARS A SLAVE is based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender) as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) forever alters his life. As you can see in the trailer Michael Fassbender gives another marvellous performance as the villain in the film and it will be interesting to see if the Academy will look him over for who knows which time again. Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano and Scoot McNairy are also in the cast!

  BLACK SAILS EPIC SHOW

 BRAND NEW PICTURES

New pictures have been released for STARZ new epic adventure BLACK SAILS, a show which will replace SPARTACUS next January in the programme. The dynamic and hot new show will be set 20 years before the events in Robert Louis Stevenson’s "Treasure Island", chronicling the adventures of fabled buccaneer Captain Flint! Toby Stephens plays Captain Flint, while MERLIN's Tom Hopper will play Billy Bones, the first mate of The Walrus who is caught in the middle of the power struggle between Flint and his main dissenter Singleton (Zach Maguire)! Threatened with extinction on all sides,  the pirates fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality. Jessica Parker Kennedy will play a beautiful and capable French prostitute named  Max. Gorgeous Hannah New will play Eleanor, the beautiful, courageous and determined owner of a rowdy Open Nassau saloon who wields considerable influence in her dual roles as fence/ supplier and party hostess! Luke Arnold plays John Silver, a fast talking member of Flint's crew.

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NEW COMIC CON "THOR 2: THE DARK WORLD" POSTER WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ANTHONY HOPKINS, TOM HIDDLESTON! FIRST PICTURES FROM "MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS" MOVIE WITH CAMILLE RUTHERFORD, ANEURIN BARNARD, TONY CURRAN!

  THOR 2 THE DARK WORLD

 EPIC NEW POSTER IS HERE

The first thing to check out today is the rather spectacular Comic Con poster for THOR 2: THE DARK WORLD showing our blond God (Chris Hemsworth) soaring towards the sky with his daddy dearest Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and his favourite nemesis Loki (Tom Hiddleston) watching him from the background. Opening this November in cinemas, the superhero adventure will see Thor battling to save the Nine Realms from a mysterious enemy older than the universe itself. A primeval race led by Malekith, who is out for revenge, intends to plunge the universe into darkness. Confronted by an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot overcome, Thor must set out on a dangerous journey that will force him to make the ultimate sacrifice. Idris Elba plays Heimdall, Asgardian sentry, Zachary Levi as Fandral and Ray Stevenson as Volstagg are Thor's closest friends, Christopher Eccleston is Malekith, the ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim, while Rene Russo is Frigga, queen of Asgard and Thor's stepmother.

  MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS

 PICS FROM HISTORICAL FILM

I'm sure you are eagerly anticipating the Fall premiere of REIGN, new CW epic show on Mary Queen of Scots, which will focus on her teen days spent at the French court filled with intrigues and plots, but there is also a movie on MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS in development and  you can see first pictures from it today. It is coming from German producers and will be based on the book by famous Stefan Zweig. Directed by Thomas Imbach it will see young Camille Rutherford playing the queen who lost three kingdoms, the wife who lost three husbands and the woman who lost her head. The film also has Aneurin Barnard (THE WHITE QUEEN), Tony Curran (DEFIANCE) and Sean Biggerstaff in the cast. Mary was queen of France and Scotland, and many people considered her a legitimate queen of England too, but she was held imprisoned by Elizabeth and later on executed by her. However, she, in a way, won over Elizabeth, since her son James I became the heir to Elizabeth's throne as the new king of England.

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HOLLYWOOD SPY SPOTLIGHT ON DISNEY'S NEW ANIMATED WINTER TALE "FROZEN"! DELIGHTFUL NEW CHARACTER PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS!

  DISNEY'S FROZEN

MAGICAL SNOW TALE

 Ah, dear people, since it's been a poor start of the week in movie news business, I shall entertain you today with freshly released first pictures and character descriptions from Disney's upcoming new animated adventure FROZEN their new version of SNOW QUEEN with different heroes in it. Hitting theatres this winter, November 27th, the movie is directed by Chris Buck (TARZAN, SURF'S UP) and Jennifer Lee (WRECK IT RALPH)!

  DARING ANNA

Anna (Kristen Bell) is more daring than graceful and, at times, can act before she thinks. But she's also the most optimistic and caring person you'll ever meet. She longs to reconnect with her sister, Elsa, as they were close during their childhood. When Elsa accidentally unleashes a magical secret that locks the kingdom of Arendelle in an eternal winter, Anna embarks on a dangerous adventure to make things right. Armed with only her fearlessness, a never-give-up attitude and her faith in others, Anna is determined to save both her kingdom and her family!

  SNOW QUEEN ELSA

From the outside, Elsa (Idina Menzel) looks poised, regal and reserved, but in reality, she lives in fear as she wrestles with a mighty secret-she was born with the power to create ice and snow. It's a beautiful ability, but also extremely dangerous. Haunted by the moment  her magic nearly killed her younger sister Anna, Elsa has isolated herself, spending every waking minute trying to suppress her growing powers. Her mounting emotions trigger the magic, accidentally setting off an eternal winter that she can't stop. She fears she's becoming a monster and that no one, not even her sister, can help her.

  CHIVALROUS HANS

Hans (Santino Fontana) is a handsome royal from a neighboring kingdom who comes to Arendelle for Elsa's coronation. With 12 older brothers, Hans grew up feeling practically invisible and Anna can  relate. Hans is smart, observant and chivalrous. Unlike Elsa, Hans promises he'll never shut Anna out; he just might be the connection she's been waiting for all these years.

  MOUNTAINMAN KRISTOFF

Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) is a true outdoorsman. He lives high up in the mountains where he harvests ice and sells it to the kingdom of Arendelle. Rough around the edges, Kristoff's the strong,  no-nonsense type, who follows his own set of rules. He may seem like a loner, but he always has his best friend by his side, a loyal and extremely mangy reindeer named Sven.

  ICY MARSHMALLOW

Marshmallow is an enormous icy snowman born from Elsa's powers. He serves as a brute bodyguard charged with keeping  intruders away from her ice palace. The menacing white beast doesn't say much, but he packs a powerful punch.

BUSINESSMAN OAKEN

Oaken (Chris Williams) runs Wandering Oaken's Trading Post and Sauna. But since Elsa's massive winter storm hits in mid-July, he finds himself with a surplus of summer supplies. Deal-seekers beware: though he's good-natured and helpful, if you cross him, Oaken won't hesitate to throw you out of his humble establishment.

  SNOWMAN OLAF

He's Olaf (Josh Gad) and he likes warm hugs. Sprung from Elsa's magical powers, Olaf is by far the friendliest snowman to walk the mountains above Arendelle. His innocence, outgoing personality and uncanny ability to disassemble himself at good and not-so-good times lead to some awkward, albeit laughable moments. He may also have the world's most impossible dream, but what he doesn't know won't melt him, or will it!

  REINDEER SVEN

A reindeer with the heart of a Labrador, Sven is Kristoff's loyal friend, sleigh-puller and conscience. He makes sure his mountain-man companion is the stand-up guy Sven knows and loves, and does so without saying a word. A few emphatic snorts usually get his point across. Life would be perfect if only Kristoff would lose that ridiculous reindeer voice he likes to use when speaking for Sven (as if reindeers really talk that way).

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SPECTACULAR FIRST TEASER FOR "HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2" WITH GROWN UP HICCUP AND TOOTHLESS! ZACH MCGOWAN IS GYPSY CHIEF IN "DRACULA" WITH LUKE EVANS, DOMINIC COOPER, SARAH GADON!

  ZACH MCGOWAN IS

 GYPSY CHIEF IN LUKE EVANS' 'DRACULA' EPIC

Glorious news today at HOLLYWOOD SPY, people. First, Deadline reports of a new actor in the cast for Universal's DRACULA epic! Australian hunkster Zach McGowan, whom we mentioned last year when he joined the cast of Starz upcoming pirate show BLACK SAILS, will play Shkelgim, a gypsy chief, in the origin story that has THE HOBBIT, THE CROW, THE THREE MUSKETEERS and IMMORTALS super star Luke Evans as the historical medieval Prince Vlad, the Transylvanian ruler who would later on become the inspiration for Bram Stoker's vampire. Dominic Cooper is also in the cast, most probably as sultan Mehmed who ruled the Balkan peninsula at that time. Gorgeous Sarah Gadon from WORLD WITHOUT END takes the lead female role! The film tells the story of a young prince who, when the lives of his wife and child are put in danger by a bloodthirsty sultan, risks his soul to save them, and in the process becomes the first vampire.

  HOW TO TRAIN YOU DRAGON II

FIRST TEASER

A month or so ago your trusted HOLLYWOOD SPY showed you first pictures from delightful sequel to the one of the most legendary animated movies HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 and today here's an adorable teaser for the film! Even though there's a whole year to wait till June next year when it hits cinemas, the teaser will give you something to delight your senses: our dear hero Hiccup is now a grown up teenager and another new thing are dragon races which have become popular on his island in the meantime. In the sequel, Hiccup and  Toothless, who spend their time going on journeys and adventures, will discover a cave that is home to hundreds of wild new dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider. They will have to do everything to protect the peace in their land. The voice cast includes Gerard Butler, Jay Baruchel, America Ferera, Craig Ferguson!

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HOLLYWOOD SPY EXTENSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON BBC & STARZ EPIC SHOW "THE WHITE QUEEN" WITH DAVID OAKES, REBECCA FERGUSON, JANET MCTEER, ANEURIN BARNARD. WHAT WE THINK ABOUT THE SHOW SO FAR!

  THE WHITE QUEEN

 WAR OF THE ROSES

Here in Europe we are already watching the first season of new BBC historical show THE WHITE QUEEN, but here's a spotlight and a review of what we've seen so far for all of those who will watch the show on Starz over in USA from August. Depicting the famous War of the Roses in which King Edward IV fought for the throne with his brothers and other candidates, the show throws a focus on a number of women who also took part in the fight either through plots and intrigues or even through use of magic. You can expect a more of a refined, elegant European court show than one of those American epic gorefests.

  WHITE QUEEN STORY

WOMEN IN WAR

The year is 1464 and England has been at war for nine years battling over who is the rightful King of England: ­ it is a war between The House of York and The House of Lancaster. The House of York’s young and devilishly handsome Edward IV (Max Irons) is crowned King of England with the help of the master manipulator Lord Warwick “The Kingmaker” (James Frain). But when Edward falls in love and secretly marries a beautiful young widow, the commoner Elizabeth Woodville (Rebecca Ferguson) Warwick’s plan for control over the English throne comes crashing down around him. Frustrated by the new Queen’s influence he will stop at nothing to maintain his grip on the King. The captivating and beautiful Elizabeth Woodville marries for the love of her King, with the help of her mother Jacquetta (Janet McTeer) a self proclaimed sorceress. Elizabeth’s most fierce adversary is the staunchly loyal Lancastrian Margaret Beaufort (Amanda Hale)­ a damaged and highly religious woman who would willingly lay down her life to see her young son Henry Tudor take the throne. And then there is Anne Neville (Faye Marsay), Lord Warwick's daughter – a pawn in her father’s battle for control, who finds her strength and ambition when she takes control of her destiny and marries the King’s younger brother Richard Duke of Gloucester (Aneurin Barnard). David Oakes plays Edward's other brother George, Duke of Clarence, Eleanor Tomlinson is his wife Isabel Neville, and Tom McKay portrays Jasper Tudor, Margaret Beaufort's secret love.

  WHITE QUEEN ACTORS

OLD SCHOOL VS NEW FACES

I've noticed around the net that most people agree with my opinion that Max Irons is the weakest link in the cast. His high school acting and absence of expressive depth don't really correspond well with the role of a royal authority. Rebecca Ferguson is rather charismatic, but sometimes maybe too modern. Both her and Amanda Hale (playing the extremely of putting character of Lady Beaufort) often use facial expressions which are maybe a bit too modern for a medieval show. For me, Oscar nominee Janet McTeer steals the show as refined, wise and calm Lady Rivers, queen's mother. She shows a deep understanding of her character without being overly theatrical like her younger cast members.

My general problem is that the events in the plot happen so quickly leaving no space for character development and even after four of five episodes we aren't introduced more closely to the characters and the nuances within them.

  WHITE QUEEN COSTUMES

HISTORICAL INACCURACIES

The costumes are sometimes outstanding and exciting, and at some points strangely plane, monotonous and washed out, but since I didn't explore the fashion of the period more closely, I won't criticize too much since it might be true that the outfits of the period weren't so intricate and ornately designed and patterned like those from later eras. There were many historical inaccuracies with costumes (corduroy jackets, almost visible zippers, rubber soles on shoes), but viewers, in general, don't notice such details, so I guess all is well and I wouldn't be overly petty about it.

OUR FAVOURITE SCENE

 ELIZABETH VS DUCHESS CICELY

You probably shouldn't miss the scene in the second episode when Elizabeth Woodville is finally brought to the court as the new queen and goes to get introduced to the king's mother Duchess Cicely. Thinking   she will humiliate Elizabeth by showing power and her bitter tongue, and by expressing her disapproval of her son's choice of wife and her readiness to disown her own son denying him the throne, Cicely actually unexpectedly faces a mighty storm in both Elizabeth and her  outstandingly wise mother Lady Rivers (who is never caught of-guard or unprepared for action) which ends with Cicely being forced to bow and kneel in front of the new queen. Don't miss the hugely entertaining scene!

  WHITE QUEEN TIDBITS

THE REAL HISTORICAL FACTS

The show will bring us three weddings and two coronations! Queen Elizabeth's coronation gown had hundreds of pearls sewn onto it! The Palace of Westminster seen in the series was built and designed  sp ecifically for this show. Production designer even had to build a real forest since the shooting took part in winter and they needed summer forest for a masque forest ball celebrating 15 years of Edward's coronation. They even made a frozen river and fake snow!

The true ending of the WHITE QUEEN story was sad: Elizabeth's and Edward's two sons were secretly killed as kids in the Tower by their own uncle Richard who was supposed to be their protector. Elizabeth, who outlived her own sons, later on married her eldest daughter to Henry Tudor, the son of Margaret Beaufort! Her daughter will then become the first queen of the new Tudor dynasty after Henry overthrows Richard. Her daughter was known as The White Princess, the mother of Henry VIII whose life we watched in THE TUDORS show.

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