Movie Muser

At one point it looked like producer/star Bradley Cooper had scored Steven Spielberg to direct American Sniper. However while the bearded one stepped away he got a great replacement in the form of Clint Eastwood.

Now the first images have arrived, via USA Today, and you can take a look at them above and below.

The action movie is based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Cooper), a Texas native who racked up the most confirmed sniper kills of anyone in US military history. However before he took the record, he was a rodeo cowboy. Tragically though, he was killed by a fellow veteran at a shooting range in February 2013 (it’s not clear if that will be included in the movie).

Cooper did manage to talk to Kyle before he died. He says, “Thank God I got to talk to him once on the phone. It was a very quick conversation. But I did tell him how serious I was about making this movie. And he should just know that whatever fears he had about Hollywood, to just put them aside and trust me. That I was going to do everything I could to tell this story.”

Sienna Miller also stars as Kyle’s wife Taya Renae Kyle.

A few years ago Ben Affleck’s acting career looked slightly dead on its feet, with most expecting he’d end up working mainly as a director. However thanks to the likes of Argo, The Town, Gone Girl and the upcoming Batman v Superman, he’s come back with a vengeance.

Now he’s in talks for a new role, as he could be The Accountant, according to Variety.

It’s not exactly the world’s most exciting title, but the movie is actually an action thriller about a mild-mannered accountant who also moonlights as a deadly assassin (and yes, that does make it sound like this is going to be a superhero movie without a superhero.

Gavin O’Connor (Warrior) is the top choice to direct, with Bill Dubuque (The Judge) writing the script.

It’s all a bit of a change, as it was initially being developed for Mel Gibson to direct and later Will Smith was set to star. Now Ben Affleck is interested, and hope to fit it in before he directs Live by Night, which will shoot next summer.

The BBC’s The Hollow Crown was a great take on Shakespeare’s Henriad tateralogy, giving us new versions of Richard II, Henry IV, Part I, Henry IV, Part II and Henry V. Now it’s returning with The Hollow Crown: The War of the Roses, which gives us Henry VI Parts 1 & 2, along with Richard III.

The first picture has now arrived featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III (before he’s offering a kingdom for his horse).

The great cast also includes Judi Dench, Sophie Okonedo, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Keeley Hawes, Tom Sturridge, Michael Gambon as Mortimer, Philip Glenister, Andrew Scott, Samuel West, Ben Daniels, Ben Miles, Sam Troughton and James Fleet.

Executive producer Sam Mendes comments, “After the critical and popular success of the first part of The Hollow Crown – and seven years after we very first suggested the idea to the BBC – I am delighted to announce the start of principal photography on the second half of this magnificent epic story. Yet again we have assembled an amazing cast – led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Hugh Bonneville, and Sophie Okonedo, amongst many others – under the direction of the hugely talented Dominic Cooke. I’m very excited indeed to see them all bring the rest of this astonishing story to life.”

The War Of The Roses should hit our screens in 2015.

Mega-fans of the Angry Birds game have been given a treat, unlocking info on the voice cast and the first pic from the movie version of the popular game.

Jason Sudeikis will lead the cast as Red, a bird with a temper problem. Josh Gad, in his first animated role since the global smash hit Frozen, plays speedy Chuck, and Danny McBride portrays the volatile Bomb. Bill Hader has joined the pork side, Maya Rudolph will play Matilda, and Peter Dinklage will play the legendary Mighty Eagle.

In the supporting roles are Keegan Michael Key, Kate McKinnon, Tony Hale, Ike Barinholtz, Hannibal Buress, Cristela Alonzo, Jillian Bell, Danielle Brooks, Grammy nominee and Latin music sensation Romeo Santos, and YouTube stars Smosh (Ian Andrew Hecox and Anthony Padilla), who have over 30 million YouTube subscribers, will bring an extra kick to this angry flock.

John Cohen, producer of the film, commented, “I’m extremely proud of this cast. Not only do we have Jason, Josh, Danny, Bill, Maya, and Peter bringing these characters to life, but they’re surrounded by an all-star ensemble of emerging comedic talent – these are some of the funniest people out there today, and we’re thrilled to have them all on board.”

The upcoming movie marks Rovio’s first foray into feature films, although fans have already been introduced to the Angry Birds world with the weekly Angry Birds Toons animated series, which has surpassed more than three billion views in its first 18 months. The film will be out in the US July 1st, 2016.