Sunday, February 7

• Super Bowl XLIV Trailers Report #4 - The Wolfman Spot

  New Orleans finally scores a field goal in the second quarter. It's now 10-3, and the long-awaited trailer for The Wolfman was just shown.

  Starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, this looks to be a worthy update of the original black-and-white horror of 1966.

  
  

  Posted 02/07/2010 by Jim

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Benicio Del Toro | The Wolfman

Friday, February 5

• Chris Hemsworth Turned into a "Beast" to Star in Thor

  There has yet to be any production designs, costume sketches, or leaked photos from the set of Marvel Studios' Thor, so comic book movie fans are left wondering how it's going to look.

  Sir Anthony Hopkins recently said that he hopes his character (Thor's father, Odin) will "look like God," but what about Thor himself, as portrayed by Chris Hemsworth? According to Hemsworth's Red Dawn remake co-star, Josh Hutcherson, in a recent interview with MTV, Hemsworth worked out hard during the entire Red Dawn shoot in anticipation of Thor and is "a beast now."

  If you're just dying to see Hemsworth as Thor, there's always this fan pic to tide you over until the real deal is revealed.

  
  
  Next Showing: Thor opens May 6, 2011

  Posted 02/05/2010 by BrentJS

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Josh Hutcherson | Chris Hemsworth | Thor

Thursday, February 4

• Sir Anthony Hopkins Praises Thor Director, Kenneth Branagh

  While out promoting his latest movie, Joe Johnston's The Wolfman, Sir Anthony Hopkins was asked to discuss his newest project, Marvel Studios' live-action Thor adaptation. Hopkins had nothing but nice things to say about the movie's director.

  I'm a big [fan of] Kenneth Branagh. I think he's an extraordinary guy, a wonderful actor, and a terrific director. He's one of the easiest guys to be with. He doesn't shout or scream. He just is very gentle with everyone. He believes in his actors. He needs them to act, and he'll direct in a strong way, but he leaves it to you. Whatever you want, he gives it to you.

  The Academy Award–winning actor said that he met with Branagh only a few months ago to discuss the Thor script and the possibility of him portraying Odin, the father of Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth). Hopkins called Thor "a really big one, a really big movie," and said, "I hope I look like God," referring to Odin.

  Unlike other superheroes who have god-like powers, Thor is a god. Or rather, Marvel's version of the mythological Norse god of thunder and lightning. In Norse mythology, as well as in Marvel Comics continuity, Odin is the leader and most powerful of Thor's people, the Asgardians. Also called the "All-Father," Odin is considered the "supreme being" of the Asgardian universe.

  Thor is currently in production, with an intended release date of May 6, 2011.

  
  

  Posted 02/04/2010 by BrentJS

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Kenneth Branagh | Chris Hemsworth | The Avengers | Thor

Sunday, November 22

• Natalie Portman Explains Her Decision to Star in Thor

  Director Kenneth Branagh has assembled an all-star cast for his production of Thor. Though the lead role went to a relative unknown in Chris Hemsworth, Branagh has surrounded the Star Trek actor with such top talents as Academy Award-nominated actress Natalie Portman and Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins.

  While out promoting Brothers, Portman told SuperHeroHype that the opportunity to work with the multiple Academy Award-nominated director was reason enough to consider Thor.

  I just thought it sounded like a weird idea because Kenneth Branagh's directing it, so I was just like, "Kenneth Branagh doing Thor is super-weird. I've gotta do it."

  Other Thor cast members include Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Stuart Townsend, Tadanobu Asano, and the most recent addition, Idris Elba. Thor is scheduled to begin filming in January.

  
  
  Next Showing: Thor opens May 20, 2011

  Posted 11/22/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Natalie Portman | Kenneth Branagh | Thor | Brothers

Friday, November 20

• The Wolfman Featurette Goes Behind-the-Scenes

  November was supposed to be the month that The Wolfman opened in theaters, but yet another delay pushed the movie to February. After hiring a couple of legendary editors to help clean up the troubled production, Universal is releasing a featurette to help keep interest alive. Watch Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and producer Scott Stuber talk about the upcoming movie below.

  
  

  Posted 11/20/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Benicio Del Toro | Emily Blunt | Scott Stuber | The Wolfman

Saturday, November 14

• Zachary Levi Turned Down Role in Thor for Chuck

  

  The nerd-spy TV series Chuck faced down cancellation and came out victorious, even adding six more episodes to the thirteen already on order for its third season. Unfortunately, there was one casualty: series star Zachary Levi was forced to turn down an offer to play Fandral, one of the "Warrior's Three," in director Kenneth Branagh's live-action adaptation of the Thor comic book series, set to begin filming in January.

  According to USA Weekend, the addition of six episodes caused a scheduling conflict that prevented Levi from accepting the role. Levi said that he had actually been asked to try out for the title role of the God of Thunder, as well, but declined.

  I'm tall and in pretty good shape, but I'm not big and girthy like that.

  Thor stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, and Anthony Hopkins as Thor's father, Odin.

  
  
  Next Showing: Thor is scheduled to open May 20, 2011

  Posted 11/14/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Zachary Levi | Chris Hemsworth | Thor

Friday, November 6

• Anthony Hopkins Will Play Hemingway in Andy Garcia Movie

  When Anthony Hopkins finishes his work as Odin in Marvel's adaptation of Thor, Variety reports he will play a different icon — Ernest Hemingway in Andy Garcia's Hemingway and Fuentes.

  Hemingway and Fuentes is the first movie Garcia has directed since making his 2005 debut, The Lost City. It chronicles the two decades Hemingway spent in Cuba fishing with best friend Gregorio Fuentes. The project became a personal one for Garcia, who plans to play Fuentes, after meeting some of the men who fished with Hemingway.

  I was specifically most interested in Hemingway's connection to Cuba, where he spent the last 20 years of his life, and his relationship with his last captain, Gregorio. As an avid fisherman, I got to know older Cuban fisherman who knew Gregorio from the fishing culture of the '40s and '50s, and who would compete in tournaments outside the city of Havana, which was really the beginning of competitive fishing.

  Garcia wrote the movie with the aid of Hilary Hemingway, the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, though he put it aside to direct The Lost City. Annette Bening will play Hemingway's third wife, Mary Welsh Hemingway.

  Officially, we are going out with the movie and starting conversations with all foreign distributors. I've done about six movies that way, and sold domestic later. When I worked with Francis Coppola on The Godfather 3, he said the way you make a movie is, you begin. We've begun.

  
  

  Posted 11/06/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Andy Garcia | Annette Bening | Anthony Hopkins | Ernest Hemingway

Friday, October 30

• Anthony Hopkins to Rule Thor

  THR reports that Anthony Hopkins is in negotiations to play Odin in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Thor. This contradicts earlier reports that Branagh-regular Brian Blessed was cast in that role.

  Odin is the ruler of Asgard and father to both Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). In Thor, the Norse god of thunder finds himself cast out of Asgard and banished to Earth after his reckless actions re-ignite an ancient war. There he will learn how to become a hero when Earth is attacked by the dark forces of Asgard.

  Hopkins can be seen in Woody Allen's upcoming You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger in the fall of 2010 and in The Wolfman on February 12, 2010 — that is, unless the release date changes yet again.

  
  
  Next Showing: Thor opens May 20, 2011

  Posted 10/30/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Brian Blessed | Thor

Monday, October 26

• Up Next for Woody Allen? You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

  Always secretive about his upcoming projects, Woody Allen has released just a little teaser about his next movie, reported in THR. Called You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, the movie will star Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Gemma Jones, Lucy Punch, and Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto. Punch was called in to replace Nicole Kidman, who dropped out over a schedule conflict.

  Not many details so far on the plot, other than it revolves around various members of a family and their mixed-up love lives. Meaining, it's a bit hard at this point to differentiate it from any number of other Allen flicks, except perhaps for the bold title.

  Allen recently told the Telegraph that fans can tell ahead of time which of his movies will be good just by what they're called.

  I never title a movie until it's finished because if I look at the film and it's no good I don't like to give it an aggressive title, I give it what I call one of my hiding titles — the kind of title that is low-key and promises nothing, so people are less disappointed by it. But if I feel the film is good, I give it an aggressive, confident title and then hope for the best.

  Well, this latest title certainly does seem to be promising something. So, if this method really holds any water, Allen's latest movie just might be one of his better efforts. You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger is slated for a fall 2010 release.

  
  

  Posted 10/26/2009 by Bill

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Antonio Banderas | Woody Allen | Nicole Kidman | Josh Brolin | Naomi Watts | Gemma Jones | Freida Pinto

Thursday, August 20

• Benicio Del Toro Stretches out His Claws in Trailer for The Wolf Man

  

  From the atmospheric trailer, it's clear how much of a debt the the reboot of The Wolf Man owes to its 1941 predecessor. All very goth and retro, even Victorian, the trailer is peppered with ominous dialogue. On the plus side, one element that's not vintage 1940s are the special effects. It's most definitely not an update along the lines of An American Werewolf in London, except for the scenes where Benicio Del Toro transforms into a werewolf.

  Not only is the trailer a feast for your eyes, but there's a cautionary tale in here too about the value of getting sufficiently strong restraints. It's a public service announcement we can get behind.

  
  

  Posted 08/20/2009 by Bill

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Benicio Del Toro | Emily Blunt | Hugo Weaving | The Wolfman

Saturday, May 30

• Woody Allen Chooses Lucy Punch to Replace Nicole Kidman

  Variety reports that Woody Allen has chosen British actress Lucy Punch to star in his latest movie, which will be shot in London. Punch replaces Nicole Kidman, who had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict with John Cameron Mitchell's The Rabbit Hole, which she is starring in and producing.  Details of the plot of Allen's movie are unclear, but according to sources, Punch may play an escort similar to the one made famous by the Eliot Spitzer scandal.

  Punch's previous credits include Being Julia, Hot Fuzz, Young Americans, and CBS's sitcom The Class She joins a cast that includes Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, and Freida Pinto.

  
  

  Posted 05/30/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Antonio Banderas | Nicole Kidman | Josh Brolin | Naomi Watts | Lucy Punch | Freida Pinto

Saturday, October 20

• From Hannibal the Cannibal to Sir Anthony the Wolf Man   

  Our friends over at MTV movies are reporting that Anthony Hopkins has joined the cast of Universal's The Wolf Man, a remake of the monster movie classic.

  Hopkins joins Benicio Del Toro, who will actually portray the inflicted wolf man. Hopkins will play his father, according to MTV. The Wolf Man is slated for a 2009 release and will be helmed by music video director Mark Romanek.

  
  

  Posted 10/20/2007 by reelz

  Related: Anthony Hopkins | Benicio Del Toro | Mark Romanek