The Long-Awaited First Trailer for 'Fantastic Four' is Here!

Here it is! After months of literally nothing from Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot, yesterday we got our first official set photo and now the trailer has arrived weeks ahead of schedule. From the beginning it's been clear that Trank was working from a very different version of Marvel's "First Family" than fans were accustomed to, and with the melancholic, deep sci-fi flavor of this trailer he seems to have hit the nail on the head. And the best part is that it still keeps plenty under wraps to be discovered later. Impressive, but the key is going to be how the fanboys react.

The film stars Miles Teller as Reed Richards, Kate Mara as Sue Storm, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm with Toby Kebbell as Doctor Doom, renamed Victor Domashev. Here's the official synopsis:

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Fantastic Four opens August 7th.

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Check Out a First Look at Michael B. Jordan in His 'Fantastic Four' Costume

Is Josh Trank's Fantastic Four relaunch a disaster before anybody has seen a second of footage? Many have already begun to assume the worse since 20th Century Fox have passed up on every chance to show anything from the film. But the curtain is finally getting lifted now as Collider has provided the first set photo which shows Michael B. Jordan in his Johnny Storm costume.

By now it's become clear that this version of the Fantastic Four won't be like any version we've seen before. It's basically an origin story that Trank tells the site will be inspired by David Cronenberg  movies like The Fly and Scanners....

"Maybe the biggest influence for me in terms of an overall view and communicating tool to the various department was Scanners or The Fly. In terms of the feeling of what these powers are. Because the drama speaks for itself in terms of the script or the story but the look of the movie and the feel of the movie has to be more evocative.

I would say that the science fiction of it is a big thing that sets it apart from most of the other superhero genre films. I’m a huge David Cronenberg fan, and I always viewed Fantastic Four and the kind of weirdness that happens to these characters and how they’re transformed to really fall in line more with a Cronenberg-ian science fiction tale of something horrible happening to your body and [it] transforming out of control. And the potential for a hard sci-fi take on that material makes me really excited."

The Fantastic Four has always been rooted in hard sci-fi so it shouldn't be completely surprising that Trank is going in that direction. It sounds like he'll be taking an approach very similar to Chronicle, which begs the question if the film will be done with found footage. Some rumors I've heard are that it will be entirely in found footage, but that's still just a rumor. Trank did confirm that Philip Glass and Marco Beltrani are working on the score, while the final runtime could be be as long as 140 minutes. We'll learn more when the Fantastic Four trailer arrives next month ahead of its release on August 7th.

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Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan Talk 'Fantastic Four' Changes; Marvel Refuses to Help Promote Film

In case it hasn't been made pretty clear already, Josh Trank and 20th Century Fox's version of the Fantastic Four is going to be totally different from anything we've seen before. And that includes anything we've seen in the comics pages. And it goes far beyond the mixed casting of Kate Mara, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell as Marvel's "first family" of superheroes; they are going to be different in other fundamental ways. And at least according to Teller, who will play brainiac Reed Richards, it's because of those changes that he was convinced to come aboard. He recently told Vulture...

Teller: “It’s different in every way. All those actors were a lot older, their characters were in different places. The tone of this film is completely different: We don’t have Michael Chiklis in a big Styrofoam thing, and I think that [a more grounded approach] is what people are into — X-Men: First Class is doing that. You’re dealing with these characters but you’re making them real people in how they exist day-to-day. People wanted it to be taken more seriously than the kind of Dick Tracy, kitschy, overly comic-book world.”

He went on to talk to MTV about how Trank had to really fight for the cast he wanted, and sell Fox on the approach.

Teller:  “I ended up meeting Josh [Trank] a year before and the script was going through some stuff. Then I tested for the role of Reed Richards; I think I'm the only person that did. But absolutely, it took a lot of convincing. For me with Reed Richards, I know Josh [Trank] really had to [pull for me]. Josh did for all of the characters. For Jamie [Bell], he really vouched for [him]. For [Jordan], he was like, ‘This is my guy’ from the bat. He was very specific on who he wanted to play these characters. I was his guy for it."

Trank might have known Michael B. Jordan was his guy, but having an African-American as the typically white Human Torch has pissed a lot of people off. Then again these are the same folks who cried about Idris Elba as Heimdall. Friggin' Heimdall. Nobody cares about Heimdall. Anyway, Jordan has always taken the criticism in stride, and he continued to do so while speaking with the New York Daily News...

Jordan:  “I don’t think about it. Can’t make everybody happy. I loved comic books. Japanese animation, cartoons, so to be able to play a character that I always fantasized about and always wanted to be — to have powers and stuff like that — and to be a part of Marvel’s family, it’s a huge deal for me. I’ve known about this character and playing this role for almost two and a half years now. So when I get all these new questions about how I’m feeling about it, I’m like, ‘You know, I’m feeling pretty good about it.’”

Short of a couple of set photos showing the Thing and Toby Kebbell's Doctor Doom, Fantastic Four has been kept completely under wraps, not even making an appearance at Comic-Con. And perhaps that's because Trank wants to keep the team's new look a secret for as long as possible because according to Jordan even the costumes will be different. He tells ABC News...

Jordan:  "It's a new look. We are all in containment suits. The costume process definitely took some time to get in and out of that thing, especially since I was bulking up. It was a little more snug during filming. We got through it man. It was a process, but we did it. It was hard work."

So basically, don't count on anything being as you remember it. And don't count on Marvel giving this movie much in the way of support. Rumors have been swirling for months that Marvel/Disney would be ceasing any promotion of the Fantastic Four so as not to help their rivals at Fox, who own the film rights. Marvel's decision would include cancelling the Fantastic Four comic book, removing the characters from posters, toys, promo art, everything. Bleeding Cool has now confirmed this to be true, and it's an unprecedented move for the company to make. And at least in my opinion it's the first shot across the bow at studios who took advantage of Marvel's bankruptcy years ago and acquired the rights to some of their prominent characters.

Of course, it's easy for Marvel to do this with Fantastic Four because the comic doesn't sell all that much, but would they dare do the same with Spider-Man, whose rights are now owned by Sony? What about the X-men, another Fox film property? Probably not, but then again they did just kill off Wolverine, the X-men's most popular character.

Anyway, the Fantastic Four reboot is set to open August 7th 2015.

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Michael B. Jordan Says 'Fantastic Four' is Still Evolving

We haven't seen much from Josh Trank's currently-filming Fantastic Four reboot, yet it's still making a lot of noise and causing fans to get anxious. Earlier this week Kate Mara, who plays Susan Storm aka Invisible Woman, said the story wouldn't be based on any specific comic and that had some fanboys worried. But one who isn't at all concerned is Michael B. Jordan, who has already created waves by taking on the role of Johnny Storm. Speaking with MTV, Jordan agrees the production has basically been secreted away from the press, and says Trank's evolving plans are part of the reason...

Jordan: "We have been pretty much in our own world, that's really the only way we could get a project like this done. It is so massive, so many moving parts, so many moving pieces, things are changing every day...The script is evolving, [you make] on set decisions on the fly, things are always constantly changing. Me personally, I block out that extra noise and I focus on the job I have to do. It is an important film for all of us… We’re taking it seriously, taking a lot of risks. I think it’s going to pay off."

Learning that Trank is doing things "on the fly" probably isn't going to calm fan fears, but Jordan insists there is a plan in place and that it calls for a very different Fantastic Four than we've ever seen on screen....

Jordan: "As much as everybody thinks that these projects are cemented in years before, they’re not. There’s so many things that you just can’t account for. You know, you can try and plan as much as you want, but you get there on game day and you get thrown a curve ball, I guess, hey, the game plan goes out the window. You’ve got to adapt.Josh’s vision is very clear and he knows exactly what he wants, and he gives us room to adapt and to play. That’s what I kind of think sets us apart, is that this is going to be grounded and unconventional. It’s not your typical superhero film, you know, we aren’t looking at this as like, being superheroes. We’re more or less a bunch of kids that had an accident and we have disabilities now that we have to cope with, and try to find a life afterwards – try to be as normal as we can."

Looking at their powers as disabilities is interesting even if it doesn't make a lot of sense except in the case of Ben Grimm.  There's no official confirmation 20th Century Fox will have the film at Comic-Con but the rumors are the cast will be there. Hopefully we'll get some footage and maybe some more info on Fantastic Four then.

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Michael B. Jordan Joins 'Men Who Kill'; Chris Pine Eyes 'The Finest Hours'

* With Fantastic Four, the Rocky spinoff Creed, and John Hillcoat's Triple Nine on the way, Michael B. Jordan isn't lacking for things to do. But he's still taking time to add more to his slate, joining the upcoming CIA thriller, Men Who Kill. Nothing else is know about it at this time except TJ Fixman will write the script with Greg Berlanti (Life As We Know It) producing. [Variety]


* Last year we learned Robert Schwentke (Red , RIPD) was on board to direct Disney's The Finest Hours, based on the 1952 collision of two oil tankers near Cape Cod and the daring Coast Guard rescue that followed. But with Schwentke busy with the Divergent sequel, Insurgent, that job is now going to Craig Gillespie (Million Dollar Arm), with Chris Pine in talks to star. Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson write the script, adapted from Casey Sherman and Michael J. Tougias' book. Pine would fit this movie in before he jumps into the next Star Trek film which is still in need of a director. [THR]

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Michael B. Jordan Says 'Fantastic Four' Criticism "Was Expected"

It began way back when Michael B. Jordan's name first surfaced as a contender to play Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four, but the outcry against it reached a new level when he was recently confirmed. Director Josh Trank, who worked with Jordan on Chronicle, and 20th Century Fox are moving away from the traditional Caucasian interpretation of the character, while mixing things up by casting Kate Mara as Storm's sister, the Invisible Woman. Jordan has always taken the criticisms in stride, and during a conversation in Rome with Cinefilos he seems to be rolling with the punches just fine...

Jordan: "It was expected. You kinda know going into it that people are used to seeing something one way, it's a continuity thing more than anything. People don't like change too much. But annoyed? Eh, you just kinda accept it, it is what it is. You can't make everybody happy. You just gotta accept that and know. I'm an actor, I have to do my job. I'm going to do my job the best I can and the way I've been doing it my entire life, my entire career. I grew up a comic book guy, I read comic books as a kid growing up, and the Fantastic Four/Human Torch is one of my favorite characters so I'm going to give it my everything. I can't wait. I don't really let it bother me at all. I just want to go into it and do the best job I can. We'll see what happens."

I think he's being generous saying this is mostly about continuity when there is clearly a racial component to much of the outrage. The previous Fantastic Four films had Chris Evans and Jessica Alba as siblings, and there's no combination of DNA that could have made them look like family. In particular Alba was a far cry from the blond-haired blue-eyed Susan Storm and there wasn't any screaming about that.

Jordan also spoke about his reasons for taking on the role, and it turns out he's a bit of a comic book geek, too...

Jordan: "The Human Torch is, 'yknow, that's fun. That's going to be a good time…To play a superhero? That's dreams coming true. It's not going to be hard. It's going to be fun to kind of show a side of me that I don't really get to show on screen, to be a little bit lighter, funnier, just more personality. It's going to be fun."

Fantastic Four will star Jordan, Mara, Miles Teller, Jamie Bell, and opens June 19th 2015.

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Michael B. Jordan Rumored for 'Batman vs. Superman' Role

Now that Michael B. Jordan is ready to flame on as the Human Torch in Fantastic Four the chances of him jumping into other superhero films are slim, but that won't stop the rumors from circulating. According to Latino Review, Batman vs. Superman is in need of an athletic African-American actor in his 20s for a role, and they say Jordan has met with Zack Snyder about it.

The important piece of the story is that it would be for a recurring role in the DC Universe, starting out with only a small part in Batman vs. Superman. So this sounds like a character who would appear in Justice League down the line. Speculation has already begun that the role could be for Victor Stone aka Cyborg, a character Jordan voiced in the animated Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Some are also saying it could be for the John Stewart version of Green Lantern, although some are guessing (hoping?) Dwayne Johnson has that one sewn up.

Again, it's doubtful Jordan will be able to take up major characters from rival studios, but you never know. Anything could happen. Batman vs. Superman opens May 6th 2016.

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The New 'Fantastic Four' Have Been Revealed!

After months of rumors and various casting reports, Josh Trank has decided on the young cast for his reboot of the Fantastic Four.When we spoke to Miles Teller some weeks ago he sounded pretty sure that a decision would be made in just a few weeks, and not only was he right but he has indeed been set to play Reed Richard aka Mr. Fantastic. He'll be joined by Kate Mara as Sue Storm aka the Invisible Woman, Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch, and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm aka the Thing.

Jordan was amongst the very first mentioned for film, stirring up a great deal of controversy in the process due to him being African-American. We'll see how Trank intends to handle that but the most likely scenario is that one or both of the Storms are adopted. Or they come from a merged family like The Brady Bunch, which could cause some interesting sibling tension.  Jordan, along with Teller and Mara, were high on Trank's list from the beginning and it sounds like their deals are mostly in place. Bell was a recent contender and is in "heavy talks" to finalize his deal.

The combination of Teller and Jordan have been busy, recently starring in That Awkward Moment and signing on for an upcoming heist thriller. Mara can be seen on Netflix series House of Cards and has a role in Wally Pfister's directorial debut, Transcendence. Bell will appear soon in Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac, and has some experience with motion-capture roles having starred in The Adventures of Tintin. 

Filming on Fantastic Four is to begin next month for release on June 19th 2015.  [TheWrap]

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Heist Thriller to Reunite Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller

Are Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan the new Ben Affleck and Matt Damon? While it may be a little early to make that sort of comparison, we could be seeing a lot of them as a package deal. The duo recently starred in That Awkward Moment, and it's looking very likely we'll see them both as part of the Fantastic Four reboot. And obviously they must be getting along famously because they're set to team up once again.

According to The Wrap, Teller and Jordan have come aboard an untitled heist thriller from That Awkward Moment writer/director Tom Gormican. Little is known about the plot but the action is said to take place in China and have a tone similar to Ocean's Eleven.

It's unclear where this would fall on either actor's schedule as both have a ton on their plate. Besides Fantastic Four which should shoot this summer, Jordan has the Rocky spinoff titled Creed, and has John Hillcoat's star-studded cop film Triple Nine. Teller is doing press rounds for Divergent, has Two Night Stand and Sundance award-winner Whiplash on the way, and recently agreed to boxing biopic Bleed for This.

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Kate Winslet, Michael B. Jordan, Gal Gadot, Aaron Paul and More Join John Hillcoat's 'Triple Nine'

As has been noted here many times in the past; Lawless director John Hillcoat has had it easy attracting A-list talent to his films. And that has continued to be the case as he's put together cop thriller Triple Nine, with names like Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Christoph Waltz, and Charlie Hunnam among those who didn't end up signing on. Fortunately, Hillcoat managed to snag Casey Affleck and Best Actor nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, but that's nothing compared to who just came aboard.

According to Deadline, Kate Winslet, Teresa Palmer, Michael Pena, Gal Gadot, Aaron Paul and the previously rumored Michael B. Jordan have all joined Triple Nine, making for a powerhouse cast that should have it on every radar. The gritty crime tale features Affleck as an honorable rookie cop who is targeted for death by a crew of dirty cops looking to distract from an impossible heist they are planning. On the inside of their crew is an undercover looking to foil their plot, which is already turned upside down when Affleck's character survives the attack.

No word on any roles but when Blanchett was attached she was set to play a mobster's scheming wife and the mastermind behind the entire ordeal, so maybe that's who Winslet will play.  Open Road plans to release Triple Nine in 2015, so look out.

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Doctor Doom May Switch Genders in 'Fantastic Four'; Kate Mara, Emmy Rossum Testing for Sue Storm

 We spoke to Miles Teller a couple of weeks ago at the Sundance Film Festival where he was promoting his new film, Whiplash, and he told us that casting decisions on the Fantastic Four reboot should be coming up soon. Looks like he wasn't far off as THR reports screen testing is underway now with a few more names added to the list of contenders, plus a couple that never made the cut.

Kate Mara and Emmy Rossum are said to have read for the role of the Invisible Woman, Sue Storm, with Elizabeth Olsen and Saoirse Ronan apparently out of the picture. Mara has been rumored previously, along with Girls star Allison Williams. Miles Teller has also tested for the role of team leader, Reed Richards, and appears to be the frontrunner with Kit Harington moving on to star in Testament of Youth. Meanwhile, Christian Cook (Romeo & Juliet) is in contention to play the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing, Ben Grimm, but there's no mention of the previously-rumored Josh Gad.

Meanwhile, THR says that Michael B. Jordan is indeed locked in to play the Human Torch, exercising the option they had on him after starring in Chronicle for Josh Trank. But the most intriguing idea the story pushes is that Doctor Doom, the expected villain of the film, may be played by a female as the studio searches for a big name to take on the part. If they thought people were upset over an African-American Johnny Storm, wait until they propose a female Doctor Doom.

More auditions are expected over the coming days. Fantastic Four is expected to open March 6th 2015.

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Review: 'That Awkward Moment' Starring Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, and Miles Teller

Nothing good comes after the word "so", especially when it's a woman saying it. That seems to be the entire premise behind That Awkward Moment, a relationship comedy about dudes who, you'll be surprised to learn, have serious commitment issues. Pausing here to let the shock wash over you. So even though the film isn't telling us anything new in its rather juvenile outlook on the way men and women relate it's fortunate enough to be led by the trio of Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, and Miles Teller, who go a long way in making it watchable and at times even enjoyable.

Jason (Efron) and Daniel (Teller) are a pair of lovable, womanizing jerks living a life of one-night-stands and booty calls in Manhattan, until their best bud Mike (Jordan) is suddenly thrust back into the dating scene when his wife (Jessica Lucas) reveals she's been cheating on him with a guy who looks like Morris Chestnut. Why Morris Chestnut? Because all the ladies love him, and so does writer/director Tom Gormican who labors to turn his name into one of the film's many attempted catch phrases. With all three back out there, they make a promise to stay single and enjoy just being dudes and building their "roster" of women to score with until the inevitable question "So...what are we doing here?" comes up. Then it's time to kick them to the curb and move on. Chivalrous gentlemen they aren't; underneath their fashion mag outfits and breezy responsibility-free existence is a bunch of sexist pigs.

Of course, it's just as they make this pact of bachelorhood that that the perfect women enter their lives. For Jason it's Ellie (Imogen Poots) who puts the hooks into him, although things get off to a rocky start. After making her another notch on his bedpost, Jason suspects she's a high-class hooker and bails, only to have her show up at the publishing house he (barely) works at. Oops. Daniel falls for Chelsea (Breathe In's talented Mackenzie Davis, kind of wasted here), his best girl friend who often plays his wingman...wingwoman (?) when on the prowl. And Mikey soon falls back into bed with his wife in an attempt to patch things up. Not that any of these women are worth revealing their true feelings and breaking the pact. Not only does that show how little value placed on the ladies, but it takes the "guy code" to levels only seen in movies just like this.

But for all of the wrong messages sent and obvious plotting, That Awkward Moment does have a solid ear for funny dialogue and features a trio of easy lead performances. Teller, Jordan, and Efron are immensely likable on their own and they are downright potent as a trio, capable of making you forget every other problem the film has. The best moments come when they are all together, just hanging out in what appear to be ad-libbed riffs on Chestnut, orange penises, and taking a dump in a friend's house. One memorable scene has the guys, after downing some Viagra, being forced to go horizontal in order to pee in a toilet. Efron and Poots share little in the way of chemistry, and she seems especially out of place here. The film requires Ellie to be more quirky, but Poots is too refined of an actress for that and so she's just sort of unimpressive. Jordan gets the meatiest role of all, and the Fruitvale Stationbreakout finds something true in the emotional limbo Mike is trapped in. Teller is the jokester of the group and his presence comes naturally. He shares some nice moments with Davis, pulling from his romantic experience in a deeper relationship film like The Spectacular Now.

Of course the stakes are mighty low here, lower than the film's ambitions. When Jason screws up mightily and hurts Ellie in a way few women would easily forgive, there's never any doubt how things will turn out, or how simply everything will be resolved. Much like its leading guys, That Awkward Momentisn't built to commit to that level of emotional attachment. Consider it a date movie guys can attend without wanting to scream bloody murder.

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Lee Daniels in Talks to Direct Richard Pryor Biopic; Michael B. Jordan Eyed for Lead

Lee Daniels has gone biopic crazy, and considering the success he found with civil rights drama The Butler, it's not really a surprise. While the film was still in development he became attached to a Janis Joplin biopic with Amy Adams; has circled a Sammy Davis Jr. film over at HBO; and has spoken frequently about making a Richard Pryor bio. It's that last project that has taken a big step forward into reality, as THR reports Daniels is in talks to helm a film on the legendary comedian.

Daniels will partner up with The Weinstein Company, who distributed The Butler and are fully committing to back the untitled biopic financially. In development for some years and once titled Is It Something I Said? , Eddie Murphy and Damon Wayans have long been seen as contenders for the lead role, and they are apparently still in the mix alongside Michael B. Jordan. There's a pretty big age disparity there, and Wayans is said to be the right age and has impressed Harvey Weinstein in screen tests. Jordan is red-hot right now coming off another biopic, Fruitvale Station, and may have the overall edge.

Everyone from Adam Sandler to Forest Whitaker to Bill Condon has tried to get this film off the ground so let's just wait and see if Daniels sticks. As for who would do Pryor the justice he deserves? Jordan has the look and could probably knock it out of the park, but aging him up could prove to be a problem. Let's just wait and see what happens. 

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Chiwetel Ejiofor, Casey Affleck, and Michael B. Jordan in Talks for 'Triple Nine'

Whatever criticisms one may have regarding John Hillcoat's Lawless, or any of his prior films for that matter, one thing he's always been able to do is piece together a great cast. He's slowly but steadily been doing the same for his long-brewing cop thriller, Triple Nine, and last summer we saw Charlie Hunnam come in to replace Shia LaBeouf, with Cate Blanchett and Christoph Waltz coming aboard. Now there's been some more shuffling at the top, but it also brings along two potential Oscar contenders.

Charlie Hunnam has now left the film, to be replaced by Casey Affleck who has had one heck of a year with Ain't them Bodies Saints and Out of the Furnace. He may be joined by Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan and Chiwetel Ejiofor of 12 Years a Slave, both figuring pretty heavily in the Best Actor race. The Black List-approved script by Matt Cook will have Affleck as a young and honorable LA cop who is marked for death by his crooked colleagues in order to distract from a heist they're planning. Jordan will play a good cop working with Affleck to infiltrate the group, while Ejiofor is a criminal behind the heist.

Sweet casting all around, and with Nick Cave likely to hook Hillcoat up with another fantastic score there's every reason to think Triple Nine will be something special. Filming is expected to begin next year.  [TheWrap]

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Peter Berg confirms the 'Friday Night Lights' movie probably won't happen

As a Taylor Kitsch fangirl, I'm wiping away my tears as I write this: the "Friday Night Lights" movie probably isn't happening. Years after the series finale in 2011, after NBC dropped the series and brought it back, after cast members Kitsch and Kyle Chandler and Michael B. Jordan and Connie Britton and Jesse Plemons have all gone on to better things, the dream has died.

According to Peter Berg, who developed the show and whose Mark Wahlberg-starring film "Lone Survivor" comes out later this month and early next year, "There's not gonna be a movie." In a talk with Collider.com, Berg also went on to say that he, although initially wanting to do the film, has now "come to believe it's probably not a good idea and I seriously doubt it's gonna happen." This comes only a day after Kitsch told Vulture he was "never gonna be in that movie" because he thought the series ended in the right way.

And the other cast members? Well, Britton has talked before about wanting to do the film, but said back then that Chandler's growing film career - he's been all over the place recently, from "Zero Dark Thirty" to teen drama "The Spectacular Now" to the upcoming "The Wolf of Wall Street" - was holding up the project. Chandler never confirmed or denied that, but now Britton is on "Nashville," so she probably doesn't have time, either. And everyone else - Kitsch had a bad year in 2012 (remember the duds that were "John Carter," "Battleship," and "Savages"?), but he's in "Lone Survivor" and a few more high-profile projects; Michael B. Jordan has tons of work lined up after being so great in "Fruitvale Station" earlier this year; Plemons owned it on this last season of "Breaking Bad"; Minka Kelly is busy being Chris Evans's on-again, off-again girlfriend; and Scott Porter is on the CW's "Hart of Dixie," which is somehow still a show that gets good ratings! So the likelihood of this cast getting together again ... doubtful.

But was the dream of a "Friday Night Lights" movie even that worthwhile to begin with? As a crazy "FNL" fan, I have to agree with Kitsch that the show ended in the right way. All the storylines were effectively wrapped up. We saw the best marriage on television continue to be the best marriage on television. We saw Matt and Julie end up together (spoiler alert, whatever, watch the damn show). And we got to see Riggins say "Texas forever" one last time. Isn't that enough?! I would say Berg and Kitsch are right on this one. Five seasons, seventy-six episodes, of "FNL" was enough.

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Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, and Miles Teller in Red Band Trailer for 'That Awkward Moment'

You'll be hard-pressed to find three more likable dudes on screen than Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, and Zac Efron, and for the ladies they make pretty good eye candy. But do we buy them as best friends trying to match the "hug it out, bro" vibe of Entourage or last summer's This is the End? The producers behind That Awkward Moment (formerly Are We Officially Dating?) certainly hope so, and they've just released a red band trailer to try and convince you these guys are the best of buds.

While there isn't much here worthy of the mature rating, the film does show Teller, Jordan, and Efron as three relationship-hating guys in New York City who make a vow to stay single. But all of that gets tossed out the window when they start meeting the perfect women. It looks like a more generic, lesser take on a similar story idea explored in Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Don Jon, and what's more it doesn't provide much in the way of laughs outside of a bad Viagra joke and a worse dildo joke.

Despite the cool cast, this is clearly just another romantic comedy, in case that happy pop music score didn't clue you in. Directed by Tom Gormican and co-starring Jessica Lucas, Josh Pais, and Emily Meade, That Awkward Moment opens January 31st 2014, which sounds just about right.

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Michael B. Jordan Confirms 'Star Wars 7' Rumor; Harrison Ford Unsure About Han Solo Return

It's tough to keep track of all the Star Wars: Episode VII rumors, especially with everybody in Hollywood currently testing for a role, but one that stood out centered on Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan. He had apparently read for a part in the film, with the speculation leaning towards him playing a young member of the Calrissian clan. The actual role probably won't be revealed for quite some time, but Jordan has confirmed to HuffPo that the audition did take place.

Jordan: “I mean, everybody’s going in on this project. They’re trying to figure out what they want. That’s another incredible franchise. It’s pretty crazy! … We’ll see how it happens. I don’t know how I can do everything.”

If Jordan seems a little overwhelmed it's probably because he is. He's been attached to everything lately, from a young Apollo Creed film, to the role of Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four, to a role in the Independence Day sequel.  There's such a thing as "striking while the iron is hot" but there's also the possibility of burn out or overexposure, two things Jordan needs to weigh very carefully.

One guy who also appears to be weighing his options is Harrison Ford, the screen legend who recently has been chatting up a return for Blade Runner 2, but has long been expected to come back as Han Solo. Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, Ford sounded crotchety and a little disinterested in J. J. Abrams' Star Wars franchise, saying "I've not quite made the choice" to return. Interestingly, he was joined on the show by Benedict Cumberbatch who has also been connected to the film. It's possible that Ford is just playing coy or angling for a better contract by feigning disinterest. That also may be why he suddenly got very perky when the subject of Indiana Jones came up, admitting he would be extremely happy to go on a fifth adventure...

Ford: “I would do [Indiana Jones 5] in a New York minute, yes. I don’t think there is any barrier to Indiana Jones being an old fart. I’m old enough that we don’t need (Sean) Connery any more. I’m old enough to play my own father!’”

 Unfortunately, Lucasfilm has basically taken Indiana Jones off the table for the time being as their focus is solely on Star Wars. Time will tell if we see Ford involved with either.

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Lando Jr.? Michael B. Jordan and David Oyelowo Rumored for 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

The Star Wars 7 rumors have kicked up in earnest, and as usual the guys over at Latino Review are right in the middle of it. According to their supposed sources, Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan and The Butler's David Oyelowo have met for roles in the film, with Jordan meeting with J.J. Abrams personally.  Even if this turns out to be a bunch of hokum it's nice to see a little racial diversity to the rumors.

Nobody knows what role they would have been trying out for but the name Lando Calrissian is already being banded about the Internet. The film will apparently include the sons and daughters of the Skywalker and Solo family, so it wouldn't be a total shock to have Lando Jr. in the mix somewhere. If he shows up in a cool cape and a can of Colt 45 then we'll have our answer. 

All of these "meetings" don't really mean much until we get some concrete info, and Latino Review seems to be taking an exception to Disney and Abrams' secretive policies, as if they should adhere to the whims of the Hollywood press. All will be revealed in time and when it finally happens I think some sites are going to have a lot of egg on their faces. But we shall see.

Meanwhile, Abrams spoke to EW briefly about the tone he's aiming for, and what he hopes to achieve in crafting a Star Wars film that can please its most hardcore fans....

“It’s been nice seeing how important ['Star Wars'] is and to be reminded how important it is to so many people. We all know that [George Lucas'] dream has become almost a religion to some people. I remember reading a thing somewhere, someone wrote about just wanting [the new film] to feel real; to feel authentic. I remember I felt that way when I was 11 years old when I saw the first one. As much of a fairy tale as it was, it felt real. And to me, that is exactly right.”

 He would go on to add...

"I would say we are working really hard to make a movie that feels as emotional and authentic and exciting as possible. Whatever your favorite Star Wars movie is and how to compare it is really sort of subjective.”

 Good luck with that. Star Wars: Episode VII should begin production next year and arrive in 2015.

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Three Heartwrenching Clips From 'Fruitvale Station' Starring Michael B. Jordan

Winning a pair of Dramatic awards at Sundance and carrying that momentum through Cannes, Ryan Coogler's heartbreaking Fruitvale Station continues to look like an early Oscar favorite. At the very least it's a window into the talent of star Michael B. Jordan, who plays the real life figure Oscar Grant, who in the early morning of New Year's Day 2009 was shot in the back by BART cops while in their custody at the Fruitvale station. The murder sparked off a fierce debate on race relations, and considering that continues to be a hot button issue, especially with the events of the last few days, the film is going to arrive at a very interesting moment in time.

Three new clips have been released just a few weeks before it hits theaters, and if they make your eyes well up with tears then just wait until you've seen the whole thing. They show Oscar, just as he's starting to turn his life around, having a pair of really tough conversations with his mother (Octavia Spencer) and girlfriend (Melonie Diaz). But it's the scene between Oscar and his daughter that's the toughest to take, and you can probably figure out by the tone just how important every word he says to her is going to turn out to be.  Just be sure to bring lots of Kleenex when you catch Fruitvale Station on July 12th. And be sure to keep an eye out for my upcoming interview with Coogler.

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Michael B. Jordan talks 'Fantastic Four' casting controversy

Michael B. Jordan has been all over the place lately, not totally unexpected after his lead role in Fruitvale Station helped the film earn two major awards at Sundance, pegging him as a future star. It's also given him the chance to show more of his outgoing personality and sense of humor, two things he may be relying on after rumors surfaced that he could be up for the role of Johnny Storm in a Fantastic Four reboot helmed by his Chronicle director, Josh Trank.  As expected, the usual uproar went up from those upset at the notion of an African-American taking on a role that has traditionally been Caucasian. Jordan seems to be taking it all in stride, though....

Jordan: "Things change and time goes on, it’s 2013 right now. The characteristics of the Human Torch are his name is Johnny Storm, he’s charismatic, and he’s a playboy. That’s it. You know what I’m saying? That’s all there is."

It's the right approach to take, as there's no good reason why Storm has to portrayed as white. The only potential source for confusion comes from the potential casting of Allison Williams (Girls) as Susan Storm. But as Jordan says, "it's 2013", and mixed-race families are a natural part of life, so this could easily be explained if Trank and screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith intend to go that route.

Comics have been fairly progressive in playing with the racial dynamics of their biggest superheroes. Spider-Man is arguably Marvel's most important character, and yet they were willing to introduce a new African-American version named Miles Morales. On the big screen we've seen a black Nick Fury played by Samuel L. Jackson, and a couple of years ago the Internet briefly set ablaze at the idea of Idris Elba playing Norse god, Heimdall. The same folks who cried then are likely the ones bawling now over Jordan. Because somehow, all-powerful deities who guard rainbow bridges is more believable than one of them being black. Say wha!?

As for whether he's actually been cast in the role, Jordan was quick to stamp down the rumors during his chat with USA Today....

Jordan: "Nothing is real. Everyone knows we're (he and Josh Trank) good friends. It's something that if it happened I would be ecstatic. I'd love to be a part of it."

Fantastic Four is set for March 6th 2015, but first Jordan takes a stab at an Oscar when Fruitvale Station opens on July 16th.

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