Rumor: Bryan Cranston Cast As Luthor in Batman vs Superman

News of more additions to the Batman vs Superman cast just keep rolling along this week. Hot off of the announcement that Ben Affleck would be playing the Caped Crusader, it appears that the villain hinted at multiple times in Man of Steel is to be played by none other than The Man Who Knocks.

Bryan Cranston, most widely known for his role as Walter White on Breaking Bad is set up to play Superman's nemesis, Lex Luthor, in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel. And Cranston isn't just signing up for Batman vs Superman as reports speculate his deal could be for at least six films and up to as many as ten if Warner Brothers if the sequels prove as successful as the studio hopes they can be. The announcement that Cranston would be stepping in as a baddie on the film came as a pleasant surprise as he had expressed interest in the role a few weeks ago, but it was just written off as an actor having some fun with the press.

Kind of funny that Ben Affleck is Batman now isn't it? All we need is John Goodman and Alan Arkin and we could possibly have an Argo reunion.

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Hitmen Movies to Kill For

Films about assassins can sometimes be trite, but every once in a while a gem comes out. The best flicks that capture these professionals don't just feature killing machines, but fully-fleshed with motivations they keep all to themselves. These characters are fascinating with their natural charisma and yet merciless nature when dealing with others. Characters like Vincent (Tom Cruise) and Anton Chiguhr (Javier Bardem) are oddities in cinema, but their unique behavior makes for compelling viewing.

Check out the rest of the list on GotchaMovies!

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Review: The World's End

As the Cornetto Trilogy draws near an end, let us take a moment to appreciate how we got here. Before Simon Pegg was a key fixture in massive studio properties like Mission Impossible and Star Trek, he caught on as a layabout, who played video games with his buddy Ed (Nick Frost) before the impending zombie apocalypse. Ten years later and the smashing success of 2004's Shaun of the Dead and 2007's Hot Fuzz have brought Pegg, Frost and Edgar Wright to the mainstream.

As we gather to say goodbye to the wild romps that Wright, Pegg and Frost are known for there is only one question. Will their third feature come out on top?

Gary (Simon Pegg, taking his lead in a different direction this time) was an "outlaw" in high-school, his trademark black duster alerting everyone that he was on the scene. Gary wasn't really liked then and he certainly isn't now as a wayward 40 year old still rebelling against the system.

There was a time though when people did like him, twenty or so years ago during a pub crawl when Gary led Andy (Nick Frost), Oliver (Martin Freeman), Steven (Paddy Considine) and Peter (Eddie Marsan) on a drinking marathon that lasted nearly twelve pubs. They had three stops left before The World's End, but the beer caught up to them and the crawl ended in defeat.

Flash forward two decades and Gary's development is firmly arrested: still rebellious, still dressed like a Criss Angel groupie while the rest of his pals have moved on with their lives—families, careers, responsibility, you know, adulthood. Jonesing for a nostalgia trip, Gary convinces his friends to put life on hold and get together one last time to complete the historic pub crawl and reach the fabled World's End.

Reluctantly, Andy, Oliver, Steven and Peter go back to their hometown to appease Gary and to accomplish what they couldn't do twenty years ago.

Going home is never really the same, yet the rose-tinted shades of time usually don't distort things that much. The folks back at Newton Haven don't seem to remember Gary or the rest of the crawlmembers at all. In fact, much of the town looks different, the pubs that had each possessed their own little personalities and quirks look white-washed and homogenized. Even the menus are identical, down to the blue chalk and exaggerated font.

With each passing pint, Gary and the gang take another stab at reconciling their past with where they are now. Of course, as with any other get together with old friends, nothing goes according to plan, squabbles arise and Gary nearly winds up getting his ass kicked when something very peculiar happens. An event that makes the gang realizes their race to World's End isn't just a pub crawl anymore, it's a struggle for the entire human race.

Six years since their last film together hasn't dulled the comic timing of Wright, Pegg and Frost. Each line of the script is delivered with precision and an ample amount of irreverence. Riffing on genres is what made their careers and it's because they are the best at it. Zombie movies, check. Action movies, check. The box on apocalypse movies has a hole punched through it now.

The problem with most end of the world flicks is most get caught up in the spectacle of the special effects and completely lose sight of the people at the heart of the film. We already knew Pegg and Frost could craft loveable characters, but Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman and Eddie Marsan give tip-top contributions as well.

The entire team is at the top of their game here and firing on all cylinders. They bring the wit hard and fast in between rocking some hardcore fighting choreography that I didn't know they had in 'em (Plus, keep an eye out for another Timothy-Dalton-level-fun cameo!). Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead are certified cult classics with infinitely quotable dialogue and memorable characters, consider The World's End safely among them as a classic.

Send summer out with a bang this weekend and send it out with a pint in hand.

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Affleck to Take On Superman in Batman vs Superman

You heard it right, Warner Bros. announced today that Ben Affleck has signed on to be the new Batman in the upcoming Batman vs Superman film. Affleck is the sixth man to don the cape and cowl after Bale, Clooney, Kilmer, Keaton and West on the big-screen. This comes as a bit of a surprise as Affleck's name wasn't mentioned in the rumor mill along with Josh Brolin, Jon Hamm and Armie Hammer.

When asked to speak about the casting, director Zack Snyder said this:

“Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne,” Snyder said in a statement. “I can’t wait to work with him.”

When the news of a Superman/Batman team-up was leaked during Comic-Con, I don't think anyone anticipated the former Daredevil stepping in for the job. And while Affleck's casting seems out of left field, it shouldn't come as too big of a surprise given that Warners Bros. asked him to helm the Justice League film a year ago.

Zack Snyder returns to direct, David Goyer will write and Christopher Nolan will produce the sequel to Man of Steel. Cast members Henry Cavill and Amy Adams are also scheduled to reprise their roles.

Batman vs Superman is slated to hit theatres July 17, 2015

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2013 Oscar Season Preview

The summer season is over and along with the changing of the leaves comes films where the third act isn't resolved by characters punching each other or a city being demolished. Studios shift from superhero origins to character studies, or message pieces that hit the sweet spot between pure entertainment and awards-bait.

This winter's offerings may not blow out your speakers or induce epilepsy, but they are thrilling in their own right.

All of these films feature A-list casts, acclaimed directors and choice scripts ranging from astronauts lost in space, a lawyer in over his head in the drug game, a corrupt Wall Street broker, a FBI sting of a New Jersey mayor, a runaway slave, and a man who chose to combat the pharamceutical system.

So with the awards in mind, here are a handful of winter's best bets for a shot at Oscar gold.

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Steve Carell in Foxcatcher

Steve Carell hasn't gotten a chance to really convince audiences that he can separate himself from Michael Scott, but in Bennett Miller's upcoming Foxcatcher. The film depicts the insane, true story about the relationship between millionaire John duPont (Carell) and Olympic Wrestling Champion brothers, Mark and Dave Schultz (Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo). duPont is a dark role and one that could make moviegoers see Carell in a brand new light (aided by Carell's undergoing a transformation to embody the part).

Source: EW

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Muses and Maestros: Depp and Burton

Part three of a series about the most talented pairings of filmmakers today. On deck: Johnny Depp and Tim Burton.

The players: Johnny Depp and Tim Burton

The works: Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, and Dark Shadows

While Johnny Depp's status as a leading man hasn't been a question since Pirates of the Caribbean launched him into the A-list stratosphere, Depp wouldn't have gotten that far without Tim Burton. The two started working together in 1990 after Burton's huge success with Batman turned into creative freedom for pictures like Edward Scissorhands. When that quirky tale of a young orphan turned into a big hit, a creative partnership was born.

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