Splash Page ›

The release of "Thor" is creeping ever closer, and director Kenneth Branagh sat down for a thoughtful interview with Polish viewers to talk about the upcoming movie. While talking about comparisons to Odysseus and Shakespeare, Branagh also went into detail on 3D effects and a scene involving Bifrost Bridge.

In a FilmWeb interview posted at Daily Motion, Branagh said about 3-D filming and conversion, “I think that it’s a fantastic tool for the right kinds of stories. I think it’s developing . . . For us, we felt as though we could be a little more immersive with the way we develop the 3-D here. We spent a long time sculpting it, so it was not only about things coming out and hitting you. It was about layer and depth, so that as much as a hammer or snow or stars whizzing by you.” Read more...

Tags kenneth branagh, thor

The final episodes of "Smallville" are rolling out, and we're left with only a few more adventures to be had with The CW's Superman and his supporting cast. That doesn't mean they're letting up on the throttle, though.

The network has posted a trio of new previews for the series that feature another peek at this week's debut of Booster Gold (Eric Martsolf) and a look ahead to the two-hour series finale. Appropriately titled "Booster," the new episode is written by comics scribe and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, but Booster Gold isn't the only new addition to the "Smallville"-verse. Blue Beetle also makes his live-action debut, with Jaren Brandt Bartlett playing Jaimie Reyes.

You can check out the "Booster" preview below, as well as the episode synopsis and a pair of previews for the May 13 series finale. Read more...

Tags blue beetle, Booster Gold, smallville

Ever since HBO announced that they would be adapting George R. R. Martin's "Game of Thrones" for TV, fantasy nerddom has anxiously been awaiting its arrival. After weeks of tweeting about the show, everyone finally got to see the first episode last night, and Bill Willingham, Ed Brubaker and Marjorie Liu all seem to have checked the "Like" box.

That's not to say that there weren't a few critics in the audience as well, though. I'm not entirely sure which end of that spectrum Fred Van Lente's assessment fell on, but Brubaker and Willingham suggested some improvements, Joe Hill felt left out of the party and Brian Lynch just wants to see more angry geeks in the world.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for April 18, 2011. Read more...

Tags bill willingham, brian lynch, ed brubaker, fred van lente, joe hill, kevin maguire, marjorie liu, ron marz, Twitter Report

It won’t be much longer before “The Avengers” starts filming. Not long ago, Mark Ruffalo said it would begin the first week of May, and now director Joss Whedon is answering questions about when production will start, too.

Speaking with The New York Times, Whedon said, “We’re just a hardscrabble bunch. Guerilla filmmaking. I start production a week from Monday. I’m going to get started on the script now. Apparently that’s a thing. I don’t get it. Improv stunts are always way more exciting-looking.”

That likely means production will start on April 25. Since the director also admitted in the interview that he has insomnia, let’s hope he’s doing better by then and ready to jump into action. Read more...

Tags joss whedon, the avengers

Some of the most interesting parts of "Captain America" that we've seen so far show Chris Evans as a puny dude who is at first rejected from the Army for being too skinny. Unlike some actors who go on dangerous crash diets to achieve that freaky look, Evans was digitally manipulated -- which is especially helpful since he has to get all muscle-bound and ready to kick butt later in the movie.

However, before he became the superstar of comic book flicks, he admits he looked more like Steve Rogers than the all-American Captain.

"[I]t it wasn’t that foreign to me because that’s what I looked like for a big chunk of my life," he told USA Today. "This is what I looked like for all of all middle school. Up until maybe sophomore year, I was a pretty skinny kid for a long time." Read more...

Tags captain america, Captain America: The First Avenger, chris evans

Over the last few years, "Doctor Who" fans have seen their favorite Time Lord tackle alien menaces from one end of history to the other, but in a new miniseries kicking off next week, The Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond take a page from your favorite fables.

Appropriately enough, "Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life" is written by Eisner-nominated "Jack of Fables" scribe Matt Sturges, with interior art from "Doctor Who: The Forgotten" illustrator Kelly Yates. The four-issue series sends The Eleventh Doctor and companion Amy Pond on an adventure that unfolds in a medieval fantasy world populated with knigts, castles, and yes, even a dragon.

I chatted up the "Fairytale Life" writer to get some details about The Doctor's latest adventure and pick his brain about the upcoming "Doctor Who" season premiere. You can also get an exclusive preview of the issue — which hits shelves April 20 — courtesy of IDW Publishing. Read more...

Tags doctor who, doctor who: a fairytale life, matt sturges, photo

"Thor" hits theaters May 6, but his magical hammer Mjolnir showed up a few weeks early at Splash Page HQ.

We gave you an early peek at Hasbro's line of "Thor" movie toys during our Toy Fair 2011 coverage, and now some of those same toys — and one big hammer — have found their way to the MTV Newsroom. Along with a trio of action figures that really do look like miniature versions of Chris Hemsworth as the god of thunder, Hasbro also sent over a ridiculously cool "Lightning Hammer" and an "Armor of Asgard" helmet.

And because I have no shame whatsoever, I immediately donned the helmet and held the hammer aloft, calling upon the power of Thor! Read more...

Tags photo, thor

"Smallville" returns this week with a brand new episode featuring the alternate dimension where the Man of Steel was raised by Lionel Luthor instead of the Jonathan and Martha Kent.

Titled "Kent," the new episode airs this Friday, and The CW has posted a pair of new teasers on their YouTube channel. In the first teaser — a clip from the episode — Clark Kent discovers that his alternate-universe counterpart has dropped by for a visit. The second teaser features an interview with "Smallville" executive producer Brian Peterson, who offers a little more insight about the episode.

You can check out the previews below, and then be sure to let us know what you think the episode will have in store for Clark and the "Smallville" crew. Read more...

Tags smallville

Tweeters had a lot to keep track of last night, and the diversity of discussion this morning reflected that. Neil Gaiman fans have been buzzing about HBO developing an "American Gods" adaptation, while Jon Favreau was monitoring reactions to the new "Cowboys and Aliens" trailer, and everyone with an opinion on Ayn Rand and a Twitter account seems to have something to say about the "Atlas Shrugged" film.

And somehow two posts addressed quantities of Batman, as Jock mentioned how much he has to draw right now and R. Stevens asked whether or not we're all maxed out on the Caped Crusader. These retweets and more made the day's rundown after the jump.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is your Twitter Report for April 15, 2011. Read more...

Tags david willis, jock, jon favreau, kyle higgins, mitch breitweiser, r stevens, ron marz, Tim Seeley, Twitter Report

Thor may be the star, but Loki can’t be ignored — and actor Tom Hiddleston, who plays the trickster god, has the paperwork to prove it.

Speaking to Italian publication Comicus, Hiddleston confirmed his deal to return as Loki for more Marvel movies.

“When I signed my contract, I signed to play Loki in five more Marvel movies, but they were unspecified," he explained. "So, if there will be more movies or not remains to be seen, but I like the idea of Loki turning up in the shadows when people least expect him." Read more...

Tags the avengers, thor, tom hiddleston