Author: Simon Andrews

Funny things, sequels. Love them or hate them, they tend to fall into one of two camps… There are some films that just scream out to be continued in future installments, only for fans to be frustrated by the apathy and profit-chasing of Hollywood studios. The hardened and eternally frustrated following that Dredd has amassed is a case in point. In contrast, there’s a second group of films that when you happen across a poster advertising the sequel, you find yourself involuntarily blurting out “What the f@&k?” Paul Blart 2, is a prime example of this. There is however, a third,…

Being based in the UK, I’ve only just finished watching the first season of Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’, and I’m pleased to report that it managed to fulfill expectations. Having voiced unwelcome displeasure with the show’s older cousin, ‘Agents of SHIELD’ in a previous article, I approached Carter with mild anxiety, a little concerned that it might be more ‘superfluous’ than ‘superhero’. The results though, are satisfying enough, and the material gels comfortably with the preceding output from the studio. So here’s why if you haven’t bothered with a bit of Peggy Carter, you might well want to: 5. The Format…

It can be a thankless task, being an actor who signs on to portray a Marvel villain. True, you could well end up being the next Alexander Pierce. Chances are though, you’ll end up being the next Aldrich Killian…. Marvel Studios can never be accused of cutting corners with the creation of their bad-versaries. Audiences have experienced a long shuffling line of Hollywood A-listers, utilizing the studio’s finest prosthetics and CGI to go head to head with The Avengers and their compatriots. But playing your average comic book evildoer has an inherent problem. You’re essentially disposable. The bad guys are…

Let’s be fair. We all know the biggest question facing humanity in this modern age. Who can we get to present Top Gear in the wake of Jeremy Clarkson’s latest buffoonery? Nope. How do we get rid of the Kardashians in a brutally effective, yet humane manner? Good question but – nope. Will they make a Dredd sequel? Yeah. That’s the one. You’re asking it. Your neighbors and work colleagues are asking it. There are salmon fishermen in the Yemen asking it. But the recent frenzy of online activity and speculation has produced little other than misery and denial. But fear…

Netflix’s recent adaptation of ‘Daredevil’ was a shot in the arm of pure adrenalin for Marvel fans. It was unflinching and bone-crunching in the visceral level of violence it portrayed, unafraid to kill off major characters with little or no warning, and staying focused on keeping its protagonists at a more grounded street-level, much like the ‘Marvel Knights’ source material from whence it came. So where to go, following that reveal of Charlie Cox, fully suited and booted in his red DD costume in that last episode of series 1? Well, the internet’s been awash with official announcements, website…

Listen up, Dredd-heads. It’s time to put down your fantasy football teams, and set your brains to something far more important. We want you to select your favorite Dredd character, past or present, and then think of the best person to play them in a potential Film/TV sequel. We’ll go over the results, and publish a top 10 in due course. Have a look at our suggestions below, and let us know what you think? 10. Judge Hershey – Gina Carano Perhaps a controversial one to kick off with, but who better to play a young Barbara Hershey than Carano?…

By now, the expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe has reached a point where risky decisions about which directions to go in have to be made. The key to making these conceptual gambles succeed (such as a talking tree or a superhero themed around an ant, for example), will largely come down to casting the right performer for the role. You need a perfect fit, who can take the dream of a decade gone by and present it in a modern and innovative way, that suspends an audience’s disbelief. This week marks the arrival of the train-wreck that is the new Fantastic…

In the comics, when not constrained by timeframe or budget restrictions to work to, the idea of a recurring team of villains persuaded/forced into doing good is a constant theme. DC have been running the modern iteration of the Suicide Squad since 1987, and the Marvel equivalent is the Thunderbolts. The concept of a bad guy suddenly flipping his good switch to ‘ON’ in an effort to find some redemption is a fairly regular occurrence in the world of superheroes. In the cinematic universe, it’s usually confined to the remaining 5-10 minutes of the film, when said bad guy has…

“Daddy needs to express some rage…” Well. It’s finally here. After the infamous (and frankly hilarious) leaked test footage on the Internet last year, a shaky festival trailer leaked last month and monday’s comedy monologue teaser, a full and official Deadpool trailer has finally arrived… Dissected, it’s roughly 5% sentimentality, 35% action and 60% one liners, and would we have it any other way for everybody’s favourite ‘Merc with the mouth’? We all know Ryan Reynolds is playing Wade Wilson, and fans will be glad to see not only will he be retaining his mask, but his trademarked facial scarring…

You’ll all be more than familiar with Chris Evans’s portrayal of Steve Rogers in the MCU. You may not, however, be as aware that in the annals of Marvel publications, there have been several other soldiers who have borne the mantle of Captain America over the years. The comics make it clear that after Rogers was lost in action, the U.S. government continued to progress a number of Super Soldier programs, which produced several other Captain Americas, all of whom were deeply affected by the role. Modern day readers of Marvel will be aware that Bucky Barnes filled the role…