Jason Momoa Joins Superman Vs Batman Movie In Secret Role

Originally published on PopWrapped.  11 December 2013.

Superman vs. Batman may be adding a Khal to their ensemble. Game of Thrones’s Jason Momoa is in talks for a role in DC’s superhero mash up film.

The actor, best known for playing the late Khal Drogo on the HBO series, could be cast as the villain Doomsday or as fellow Justice League member, Martian Manhunter, The Hollywood Reporter has said. If he were cast as Martian Manhunter, that would bring the total count of Justice League members in this film to four, with Henry Cavill’s Superman, Ben Affleck’s Batman and the recently announced Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Including J’onn J’onnz would also pretty much confirm what we all suspect: this Zack Snyder project is actually a Justice League film.

However, Nerdist News is speculating that Momoa could actually be playing Metallo, a supervillain cyborg who uses kryptonite as a power source. This seems like a likely scenario, or at least as likely as Momoa being Martian Manhunter. Callan Mulvey was previously reported to be up for the Doomsday role, which would take that casting option off the table. But if Momoa is going to be Metallo, just how many villains will this film include?

In addition to Game of Thrones, Momoa played the titular role in last year’s Conan the Barbarian remake.

Peter Jackson To Direct Doctor Who Down Under?

Originally published on PopWrapped.  10 December 2013.

Whovians, maybe it’s about time that our beloved Doctor Who got The Lord of the Rings treatment. Director Peter Jackson is reportedly in “serious” talks to direct an episode of the beloved and wildly popular British show.

“I would be very happy to,” Jackson said on Digital Spy. “I’d love to try my hand at television, because I’ve never had the discipline of having to shoot for those impossibly tiny schedules. I think I could do it okay now.”

The Oscar-winner is a die-hard fan of the show and hopes to bring it to his native New Zealand for an episode. This would certainly work for Doctor Who executive producer Caroline Skinner, who said previously, “Of course at some point we’d love to bring Doctor Who down under.” She then quickly added that this wouldn’t be possible until at least a year after the 50th anniversary episode because the majority of series seven has already been filmed.

About Jackson, Skinner specifically said, “I’m absolutely sure that we couldn’t afford him but, you know, we can always negotiate. His enthusiasm is just fantastic of course.”

It sounds like The Hobbit director is more than willing to negotiate. Screen Rant reports that Jackson even told showrunner Steven Moffat that he’d do it for free! Plus, Jackson has a story idea in mind. “I did suggest that they did a New Zealand story – something to do with the [rugby union] All Blacks versus the Daleks. There’s a good story in there, although obviously the All Blacks would have to win!” he joked.

While we wait to hear if these serious talks turn into a seriously awesome reality, Jackson will be busy withThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which premieres this Friday, December 13.

Macaulay Culkin Forms Tribute Band To The Late Lou Reed

Originally published on PopWrapped.  10 December 2013.

In one of the best and most creative tributes to the late Lou Reed, actor Macaulay Culkin has formed a tribute band, The Pizza Underground. With Culkin on percussion, kazoo and vocals, the five person band has put together a nine track demo that is available for download on bandcamp. 

As you might expect, The Pizza Underground’s songs are all about our favorite cheesy pie. The tracks even have deliciously punny titles that play off of Reed and Velvet Underground’s own hit songs, such as “I’m Beginning to Eat the Slice” aka “I’m Beginning to See The Light.” Yes, the lyrics are a bit corny (alright, fine! They’re cheesy!) but that seems to be the point. The demo has such a nice mellow sound to it that if you weren’t listening closely you’d forget you were hearing all about pizza.

Culkin’s band mates are: Matt Colbourn (guitar/vocals), Phoebe Kreutz (glockenspiel/vocals), Deenah Vollmer (pizza box/vocals) and Austin Kilham (tambourine/vocals). The Pizza Underground, which formed in February 2012 prior to Reed’s death, recorded their demo live at Culkin’s house on November 11, 2013

The full track listing is:

1. ’Papa John Says’ (‘Stephanie Says’/ ‘Caroline Says (II)’)

2. ’I'm Beginning to Eat the Slice’ (‘I’m Beginning To See The Light’)

3. ’Pizza’ (‘Sweet Jane’)

4. ’I'm Waiting for Delivery Man’ (‘I’m Waiting For The Man’)

5. ’Cheese Days’ (‘These Days’)

6. ’Pizza Day’ (‘Perfect Day’)

7. ’All the Pizza Parties’ (‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’)

8. ’Pizza Gal’ (‘Femme Fatale’)

9. ’Take a Bite of the Wild Slice’ (‘Take A Walk On The Wild Side’)

You can listen to the demo here:

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Ep. 310: ‘The New Neverland’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  9 December 2013.

We are nearly at the end of this incredibly long (for us anyway) Neverland journey Oncers. Our heroes and some villains have returned to Storybrooke to reunite with all of the secondary character we know, love and miss. But of course, that wily Peter Pan keeps up his scheming even while trapped in Henry baby faced, yet suddenly much taller, body.

The episode opens on the quaint town of Storybrooke where nothing strange happens as long as everyone important is away. Belle takes Ariel to the docks where the mermaid instantly locks lips with hunky fisherman Eric. It feels appropriate to again point out that these two knew each for literally three minutes. But this is all just set up for the Jolly Roger to appear in the sky and swoop toward the dock. Credits.

The whole town has instantly gathered to applaud the arrival of the people they earlier said they didn’t actually miss. While everyone else gets hugs and kisses, Regina stands all alone. Snow throws her a well-deserved bone by saying for all to hear that they made it back because of the Queen.

Flashback to Regina interrupting the Charming wedding from the Pilot episode. After the ceremony, Snow is angry as hell about her big day being disturbed. Charming says the real way to stick it to Regina is to enjoy their honeymoon as soon as possible and I think we all know what’s really on his mind. The newlyweds share a genuinely cute scene together where Charming steals a kiss and I’m reminded that sometimes these two actually have on screen chemistry. Snow chooses the Summer Palace as their destination, later revealing privately to Grumpy that there’s something there that can help them defeat Regina.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Full Length Trailer Released

Originally published on PopWrapped.  5 December 2013.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s full length trailer is here and it is packed with action, intrigue and villains.

In the follow-up to the hit 2012 film, Andrew Garfield’s Spidey is showing his more melancholy side as he struggles with protecting those he loves and the city when evil is all around. “It’s just a matter of time before I face those with more power than I can overcome,” he says in the trailer. Well, he’ll certainly have no shortage of bad guys to contend with.

The trailer reveals not only Electro (Jaime Foxx, looking incredible in CGI) and Rhino (Paul Giamatti), who we already knew about, but also Green Goblin. Yes, this is not much of a surprise since we knew Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) would be appearing in the sequel. But announcing such a major Spider-Man villain so casually has Forbes and fans questioning how Osborn, his father, and their shared signature alter ego will feature in to the film series’ arc.

Still, the trailer delivers plenty in the anticipation department. The full-on battle between Electro and Spider-Man looks as thrilling (or even moreso) than anything we saw in the first installment. Also, did you catch the glimpse of Doctor Octopus’ arms and Vulture’s wings? Amazing Spider-Man 3 anyone?

Just in case you haven’t seen the trailer or you just want to watch it again, check it out here:

Watch Out Pongo! Lost Star Finds Her Way To Storybrooke As Cruella De Vil

Originally published on PopWrapped.  5 December 2013.

Look out Oncers! There’s a new big bad in Storybrooke. Lost alum Rebecca Mader has been cast as a major villain for the second half of Once Upon a Time’s third season.

Best remembered for her role as Charlotte on Lost, which was also written by Once series creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, Mader is set for multiple episodes on the fairytale show. There’s no word yet on just which mythical or Disney villain she’ll be playing or her ties to the Storybrooke regulars. However, we do know that our first glimpse of Mader’s character will be in the promo immediately following Once’s December 15 mid-season finale.

The series’ writers may be playing coy with Mader’s role but Hollywood Life (along with plenty of fans) speculates that she could be the puppy-snatching witch, Cruella De Vil. This would send everyone in Storybrooke, especially Archie’s precious Pongo, into a frenzy. Lest we forget, “If she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will…”

TV RECAP: ‘Once Upon a Time’ Ep. 309: ‘Save Henry’

Originally published on The Flickcast.  2 December 2013.

It’s been two weeks since the last episode of Once Upon a Time but, just like this entire half season, it’s felt much longer. Just in case you forgot, last time on Once, Henry stopped using his brain and gave Pan his heart. The little snot is now on the path to immortality and phenomenal cosmic power! (Itty bitty living space to come later.)

Oh and because the Once family tree wasn’t weird enough, Pan is Rumple’s crappy father and also trapped him in Pandora’s Box. This week, Henry’s heart-lessness is resolved rather speedily, Regina remembers her maternal roots and out mothers both Emma and Snow, and Pan proves his much more than a one trick pony.

We start with a flashback to the Enchanted Forest. The curse is billowing toward the castle and Regina poofs into the dungeon where Rumple’s being held. She’s come to gloat about having cast the curse, which really makes no sense because he egged her on to do it. He just wants to pour salt in the open wound that is Regina killing her father to cast the curse.

As always, the Queen is masking her pain with swagger, saying she feels invincible even in the face of Rumple’s revelation about the Charmings’ savoir baby. He gets in one last dig before she skips off to gloat over Snow. “There’s a hole in your heart and someday you will come to me to fill it,” he sneers. Credits.

Henry’s mixed up family is trying to revive the boy, which is proving difficult because his heart is soaring off with Pan right about now.

Eleven years ago, Regina was facing a different tumultuous situation. She reveals to therapist Archie that she’s “feeling nothing.” Even a cricket turned psychiatrist can figure out it’s because the Queen Mayor is lonely. When Regina mentions she didn’t feel that aching emptiness when little boy Owen was around, Archie suggests she look into adopting a child.

Logically this means going to speak with Mr. Gold. Upon being asked to help Regina get a child: “Well I’m flattered but uninterested.” I love these two so much.

Gold agrees to help her find a child but cautions her that just because she wants a child, doesn’t mean she’s ready to have one. Nice PSA Once! Parents have to put their kids first, he reminds her, and selflessness has never been Regina’s strong suit.