Movies

Rian Johnson is trying not to feel too "responsible" for the 'Star Wars' franchise.
The 40-year-old filmmaker is directing 'Star Wars: Episode VIII' and expect to helm Episode 'IX' admits that, when it comes to the new movies, it is a "challenge" staying true to the original while also not getting too involved in the early films.
He said: "I'm figuring it out as I go. I'm dancing on top of the avalanche a little bit. But it's a challenge of remembering what inspires you about the original films, but I think you can probably go to the wrong place by feeling too responsible to it. You have to keep your head loose enough to tell a story you actually care about."
The director may have only just begun work on the project, but admits it is the "most fun" he has ever had on a film.
Speaking to Terry Gilliam on the TalkHouse Podcast, Johnson, he said: "I'm just starting into it, but so far it's the most fun I've ever had writing. It's just joyous.
"The first movies I was making in my head were part of this world, so part of it is a direct connection - it's almost like an automatic jacking-in into childhood in a weird way."
J.J. Abrams is currently shooting 'Episode VII', which will be out on December 18, 2015.
'Episode VIII' is expected to follow in 2017.

Michael Douglas insists it's much more fun to play villains.
The 69-year-old actor has had a varied career but admits he much prefers taking on the role of a villain and even claimed being an unlikeable character is more likely to see you win an award.
Quizzed on whether it's more fun to play the villain, he said: "Oh yeah. Much more fun. You get to be bad. B-b-b-b-b-b-bad to the bone.
"My father ['The Bad and the Beautiful' actor Kirk Douglas] was the sensitive young man for seven pictures until The Champion. He played a prick and was nominated for an Oscar. Most everyone's careers, their biggest successes have been through playing villains."
However, the Hollywood legend - who is currently starring in 'The Reach' - went on to admit that while he thinks actors receive more accolades for villain roles, it's much harder to play a "nice guy".
He told The Guardian newspaper: "Nice guys are more and more difficult to play in terms of getting the edges. I enjoy the challenge of winning an audience over.
"The audience hate you at the beginning of the picture, and by the end they're going, 'Wellllll. He's not so bad."

20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios have announced that the X-Men spin-off 'Deadpool' will be released on February 12, 2016.
The character appeared in the 2009 film 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', with Ryan Reynolds playing the part.
And it is widely anticipated that Reynolds, 37, will assume the part once more when the eagerly-awaited film goes into production.
Although his participation in the project is still to be officially confirmed, it has been revealed by the movie studios that the film will hit cinema screens in 2016, which will come as a relief to fans, many of whom had started to wonder whether the flick would ever be made.
Last year, in fact, director Tim Miller felt it necessary to reassure fans of the character that the 'Deadpool' movie was still alive.
He told Clevver Movies: "Deadpool is still alive and we're just waiting for the studio to embrace what an amazingly f*****g awesome film this would be."
The director added: "Ryan is ready. The fans are more than ready. We just need that elusive green light.
"We will never give up."

Toby Kebbell is in early talks to appear in the remake of Ben Hur. According to Variety, the actor- who starred in 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' - has already held discussions with MGM and Paramount over the role of villain Messala in the film, whi...

Zachary Quinto believes 'Star Trek 3' will begin shooting within the next six months.
The 37-year-old actor - who has also appeared in the popular sci-fi show 'Heroes' - has confirmed he expects to return to the iconic role of Spock shortly.
When asked how close the cast are to filming 'Star Trek 3', Quinto told NBC: "I think it's on the horizon.
"Things are rumbling, so I have a feeling that we will be in production sometime in the next six months."
Quinto is expected to appear in the much-anticipated movie alongside Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana.
Meanwhile, Roberto Orci - who helped write JJ Abrams's two 'Star Trek' films with Alex Kurtzman - is in line to direct the new flick.
Last month, Orci - who is writing the script alongside John D. Payne and Patrick McKay - said an initial draft of the script has been completed.
He has also expressed an interest in directing the film, telling Collider: "I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch. The studio has yet to even read the script. I'm in the middle of writing it, with the talented team of [John D.] Payne and [Patrick] McKay.
"They are true Star Trek fans, as well. So, I can't even think anything about the future until I give them a script and they greenlight it. Until that happens, everything else is just a rumour."

Terry Gilliam says he got to make his film 'The Zero Theorem' because his friends in the movie business worked for low pay.
The sci-fi movie - released last year - had a relatively small budget compared to many movies in the genre and he wouldn't have been able to make it with the cast he had if it wasn't for stars such as Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton and Christoph Waltz working for basic pay.
During an appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', he revealed: "'The Zero Theorem' began as a big project, but it became a much cheaper big project. I don't want to reveal the figure because people will then think it's not very good or elaborate or expensive ... we did it for a fraction of what the original price was and we were basically relying on friends like Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton, Ben Whishaw, people like that to come in for scale, basic scale and that's what they did. Christoph Waltz is amazing."
Gilliam, 73, is not deterred from taking on difficult projects and recently revealed he is returning to his much-troubled 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'.
The Monty Python member will start shooting the movie - which is inspired by Miguel De Cervantes' 17th Century Spanish classic novel 'Don Quixote' - shortly after Christmas, but it is unclear id Johnny Depp will return to the project after filming initial scenes years ago.
Gilliam said: "I keep incorporating my own life into it and shifting it. The basic underlying premise of the version Johnny was involved in was that he actually was going to be transported back to the 17th century.
"And now it all takes place now, it's contemporary. It's more about how movies can damage people.
"I've done it so many times - or not done it so many times - I'll believe it when I see it. However, I'm behaving as if it's all going to happen as planned."

Matthew McConaughey will not appear in 'Magic Mike XXL'.
While Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello are all reprising their 'Magic Mike' roles in the stripper sequel, the Oscar-winning hunk - who played greedy Xquisite owner Dallas - won't be in the new movie, director Gregory Jacobs has confirmed.
According to the filmmaker, the new movie is very different to the 2012 original and will see the stripping stars go out on the road.
He told The Playlist: "It's a road trip movie and put it this way, it's different enough that once you see it you'll understand why we made a sequel. No one will be accusing us of making the same movie twice."
It was previously suggested that McConaughey wouldn't be in the sequel because his fees have soared following his award-winning role in 'Dallas Buyers Club'.
'Magic Mike' star Gabriel Iglesias, who will return as Tobias in the new film, said: "Word has it that Matt's probably not gonna be involved, because he's worth a lot of money now - that whole Oscar thing."
New faces are set to be added to the cast, though announcements have not yet been made.
'Magic Mike XXL' is scheduled for release in summer 2015.

Ben Affleck's smile landed him his role in 'Gone Girl'.
The 42-year-old actor stars as Nick Dunne in David Fincher's adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel and the filmmaker felt the key to finding the right person for the role was getting someone who could successfully play a scene where the writer's sad expression is also perceived as the sinister grin of a man who could murder their wife.
He said: "You cast movies based on critical scenes. In 'Gone Girl' there's a smile the guy has to give when the local press asks him to stand next to a poster of his missing wife.
"I flipped through Google Images and found about 50 shots of Affleck giving that kind of smile in public situations.
"You look at them and know he's trying to make people comfortable in the moment, but by doing that he's making himself vulnerable to people having other perceptions about him."
Fincher has worked with Brad Pitt on several movies, including 'Fight Club', 'Se7en' and 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and admitted he always offers every leading role on his projects to the 'World War Z' star before anyone else.
He added to Playboy magazine: "It's not because I'm pathetic but because he's good for so many things."

A new Bourne film starring Jeremy Renner is still "moving forward", according to series producer Frank Marshall.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Hollywood superstar Matt Damon is currently locked in talks over making another Bourne flick - but Marshall insists plans to make another film with Renner as the focal point are also progressing.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Marshall explained: "That movie is moving forward. It's still in development. We're working to get a script as soon as possible."
Of course, Renner replaced Damon in the most-recent Bourne film, entitled 'The Bourne Legacy'.
And it had been speculated that Damon's eagerness to reprise the role may have caused Renner's film to be put on the back burner.
But according to Marshall, that is not the case and the planned film is unaffected by the speculation.
He said that both movies will continue simultaneously should Damon reach an agreement to star in another Bourne film.
Previously, Marshall revealed he revealed he would like to "see Matt and Jeremy team up" in the next film in the franchise.
It's been confirmed that the next Bourne movie will be released in July 2016.