Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Fortune profiled Lex Luthor -- the one in the upcoming DC extended-universe installment Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, played by Jesse Eisenberg -- as if he were a real tech company mogul. While it's mostly just a fun read for the fans and an early form of viral marketing, there are some teases about his role in the movie, including how he's actually Lex Luthor Jr., how his LexCorp compares to Bruce Wayne/Batman's Wayne Industries, and how LexCorp is on "the cusp of unveiling a technology that will change the world forever." More vague details from the profile:
When pressed, the youthful mogul will only hint. "It's about safety. This is a product that will protect you, and everyone, from threats you don't even know about yet. I don't want to scare anybody... much. But there are a lot of threats out there, and they're here today."
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters March 25, 2016.
Black Panther
T'Challa is at least one step further towards getting his own solo MCU installment, as The Wrap reports that Marvel's Black Panther now has a screenwriter. Joe Robert Cole, who made the 2011 indie film Amber Lake and has worked on FX's upcoming show American Crime Story and possibly also Marvel's own Inhumans, will pen the movie set to star Chadwick Boseman as the titular costumed character and Andy Serkis as villain Ulysses Klaw. Meanwhile, Variety claims Straight Outta Compton helmer F. Gary Gray is in the running to direct, though Marvel Studios is currently set on having complete scripts before reaching out to possible directors. Black Panther is due out July 6, 2018, though the character will be introduced in Captain America: Civil War, due May 6, 2016.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Speaking of the MCU, Tom Hiddleston has come out with clarification as to why his villainous character Loki was cut from Avengers: Age of Ultron. The actor told Digital Spy [via /Film] that he spent a day filming scenes for Thor's "dream sequence" but it was just too much for the movie. Not just because it stuffed the sequel with more characters and plot points, but because his appearance was misunderstood by test audiences. "Audiences had overemphasized Loki’s role," he explained. "They thought that because I was in it, I was controlling Ultron, and it was actually imbalancing [sic] people’s expectations, so Joss and Kevin were like, ‘Let’s cut it because it’s confusing people.’"
In a recent radio interview [via Uproxx], Will Smith, who plays Deadshot in the supervillain team-up Suicide Squad (also part of the DC extended universe) sort of joked about Jared Leto's method acting. "I've never actually met Jared Leto," Smith said of his costar, who plays the Joker. "We worked together for six months and we've never exchanged a word outside of 'Action!' and 'Cut!' I literally have not met him yet. So, the first time I see him will be, 'Hey, Jared. What's up?' He was all in on the Joker." You can watch the full interview below. Suicide Squad hits theaters August 5, 2016.
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