Film Flash: Sexy superhero Ryan Reynolds shows off new suit in 'Green Lantern' trailer

Let the summer movie hype begin!

Warner Bros. has just released the theatrical trailer for its 2011 summer blockbuster "Green Lantern," starring People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard.

At just over two minutes, the trailer gives audiences a glimpse into the film's plot, in which test pilot Hal Jordan is given a green ring by a dying alien to become one of "them"--an intergalatic crew of Green Lanterns.

The ring, of course, gives Jordan strength and other heroic powers. It also quick-changes him into a digitally-painted, skin-tight green suit.

The purpose of the suit is two-fold: 1) to geek out comic book fans and 2) to attract a female audience to the franchise's charismatic, muscled lead.

For diehard fans or newcomers to the DC Comics universe, MTV created this nifty comic book guide on which books audiences should read before heading into the theater this June. To check out the guide, click here.

The official "Green Lantern" movie web site can be found here.

To view the new trailer, click play below.



Sources:
EW: 'Green Lantern' trailer hits. Let the swooning over Ryan Reynolds continue
MTV: People's Sexiest Man Alive Ryan Reynolds Gets Superheroic In 'The Green Lantern' Trailer'
MTV: 'Green Lantern' Star Ryan Reynolds Named People's Sexiest Man Alive

Film Flash: Harry Potter mania brings Quidditch to life in NYC

The first half of the final installment in the beloved book series adapation hits theaters Nov. 19. Tickets for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" went on sale in mid-October, selling out hundreds of midnight screenings across the nation.

With several TV spots, posters (here, here and here) and theatrical trailers (here and here) released, the mania surrounding the bespectacled boy-who-lived continues to grow.

In fact, the buzz is culminating in a real-life Quidditch World Cup this weekend in New York City. According to Entertainment Weekly, the event will be the fourth annual tournament of its kind.

In 2005, students from Middlebury College in Vermont were the first to bring the fantasy sport to life. Today, there's even an International Quidditch Associaton. 46 teams will compete Nov. 13 and 14, including Middlebury, Boston University, Michigan State, NYU, Vassar, Syracuse and Yale.

To view the snitch and Quidditch players in action at Harvard (yes, with brooms perched in between their legs), click here. Click play below to watch the advertisemet for Quidditch Coming to New York City.



Source:

EW:  'Harry Potter': Quidditch World Cup happening this weekend, for real

Film Flash: 'The Hobbit' and 'Breaking Dawn' casts continue to grow



Followng news that Peter Jackson has found his Bilbo Baggins--U.K. Actor Martin Freeman from "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "Hot Fuzz" (pictured left)--the cast of "The Hobbit" continues to grow.

Joining Jackson and Freeman for production in February 2011 will be Richard Armitage (British series MI-5) as Dwarves leader Thorin Oakenshield, as well as fellow English Actor Rob Kazinsky and Irish actor Aidan Turner as dwarves Kili and Fili.

Other dwarves Jackson has cast for his two-part adaptaption of the J.R.R. Tolkien book include several TV actors like Graham McTavish from "24" as Dwalin and John Callen ("Power Rangers Jungle Fury") as Oin. The cast also includes Stephen Hunter ("All Saints") as Bombur, Mark Hadlow ("King Kong") as Dori, and Peter Hambleton ("The Strip") as Gloin.

In addition to filling more cast slots, Jackson has also reached an agreement with the New Zealand government enabling him to keep production of the movies in the country.

In other book-to-film-adaptation news, the "Breaking Dawn" two-part finale event is adding even more to its overflowing, fanged cast.

In a press release by Summit Entertainment, the newcomers include Olga Fonda ("Love Hurts"), Janelle Froehlich ("Hacienda Heights"), Masami Kosaka ("The Runaways"), Sebastiao Lemos ("Força-Tarefa"), Amadou Ly ("The Tested"), Ty Olsson ("2012"), Wendell Pierce ("Ray"), and Carolina Virguez ("Matalobos").

According to Entertainment Weekly, Summit has not yet announced which characters they will be playing.

Sources:
EW: 'Hobbit' director Peter Jackson cast heartthrob dwarf
CNN: New Zealand, filmmakers reach agreement on 'Hobbit' movies
EW: 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' announces more cast members

Film Flash: Peter Jackson to direct 'The Hobbit'

After months of vollying back and forth, a momentary hiring of Guillermo Del Toro and constant speculation, Warner Bros., MGM and New Line Cinema have (finally!) officially announced that The Lord of The Rings director Peter Jackson will helm The Hobbit. The Academy Award-winning director also co-wrote the script and will produce.

Production on the two film installments is set to begin in February 2011 and will be shot in 3D. Though, the exact location of Middle Earth has yet to be determined. CNN reports that labor issues with the New Zealand Actors' Equity and SAG might result in relocating production to another site (possibly Australia, one of many countries that has reached out to Jackson).

Now that a name has been attached to the director's chair, casting rumors have begun to spread across the blogosphere. Rings actors Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis are expected to reprise their roles as Gandalf and Gollum, respectively. The rumour most likely to be true is that U.K. actor Martin Freeman ("Hot Fuzz," "The Office" and BBC series "Sherlock") will play the young Bilbo Baggins. Offers have also been made to other British actors, including Jimmy Nesbitt ("Millions," "Bloody Sunday"), Michael Fassbender ("Jonah Hex," "X-Men: First Class") and David Tennant ("Doctor Who").

Jackson and his Rings cast were reunited in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly. To read more about the teary-eyed hellos, click here.

Sources:
EW: Peter Jackson to officially direct 'The Hobbit'
CNN: 'The Hobbit' to begin production in early 2011
MTV: 'The Hobbit' casting rumours

Film Flash: 'Breaking Dawn' casts its crew, covens

For the final two film adaptations of Stephanie Meyer's worldwide phenomenon, the "Twilight" series, director Bill Codon ("Dreamgirls") has sunk his teeth into the casting process and quickly filled the numerous positions in his cast and crew for "Breaking Dawn."

Only three characters remain uncast, though it is unclear whether or not Codon aims to fill those roles. The surprisingly impressive list of confirmed hirings is provided below.

Crew Members
Cinematographer - Guillermo Navarro ("Pans Labyrinth")
Visual effects supervisor - John Bruno ("Poltergeist," "Avatar")
Production designer - Richard Sherman ("Gods and Monsters," "Kinsey")
Costume designer - Michael Wilkinson ("Watchmen," "300," "Tron: Legacy")
Make-up designer - Jean Black ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button")

Vampire Casting
Renesmee - 9-year-old Mackenzie Foy ("FlashForward")

Denali clan:
Irina - Maggie Grace ("Lost")
Eleazar - Christian Carmargo ("The Hurt Locker," "Dexter")
Carmen - Mia Maestro ("Alias")
Kate - Casey LaBow ("Moonlight")
Tanya - MyAnna Buring ("Doomsday")

American nomads:
Garrett - Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies")
Mary - Toni Trucks ("Music and Lyrics")
Randall - Bill Tangradi ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronciles")
Peter - Erik Odom (newcomer)
Charlotte - Valorie Curry ("Veronica Mars")

Amazon tribe:
Senna - Tracey Higgins ("Chains")
Zafrina - Judi Shekoni ("Private Moments")
Kachiri - TBD

Egyptian coven:
Amun - Omar Metwall ("Munich")
Kebi - Andrea Gabriel ("Lost")
Benjamin - Rami Malek ("Night at the Museum")
Tia - Angela Sarafyan ("The Good Guys")

Irish coven:
Maggie - Marlane Barnes ("The Tree of Life")
Siobhan - Lisa Howard ("Highlander")
Liam - Patrick Brennan (newcomer)

Romanian coven:
Vladimir - Noel Fisher ("Pacific")
Stefan - Guri Weinberg ("Munich")

European nomads:
Alistair -Joe Anderson ("The Crazies")
Charles - TBD
Makenna - TBD

Whew! That was a lot of names. Codon seems to have carefully selected individuals with top-notch credentials and experience, so hopefully this will shape up to be a fine cast and crew. As the fourth and final book in the teen vampire series, "Breaking Dawn" will be divided into two film installments (a 'la "Harry Potter"). The first part will hit theaters November 18, 2011. The second is set to be released November 16, 2012.

To attach faces to the names, check out MTV's "Breaking Dawn" cast photo gallery.

Sources:
EW: Bill Codon announces key crew members for 'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn'
EW: 'Breaking Dawn' announces more new cast members
MTV: 'Breaking Dawn' casting news
CNN: Stephanie Meyer excited about 'Breaking Dawn' casting