Ben Skipper

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Jurassic World 2 adds Brits Toby Jones and Rafe Spall

Universal's 'Jurassic World' sequel is getting a small influx of British talent in the form of 'Prometheus's Rafe Spall and the legendary Toby Jones.

The two actors are reportedly set for roles opposite  Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, who will reprise their roles from 2015's monster box office hit.

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Variety reports that the two stars are currently in talks with Universal and Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment.

There are no details yet regarding the characters the two actors will be playing or what the film's general plot will be, but it will continue the story following the disaster that struck the fully-operational dinosaur theme park in the 2015 film.

J.A. Bayona is in the director's chair this time, replacing Colin Trevorrow as he heads off to LucasFilm and the galaxy far far away for 'Star Wars: Episode 9'.

Trevorrow has penned the script however, with his 'Jurassic World' collaborator Derek Connolly.

Variety's sources claim the film's producers wanted to get offers out to Jones and Spall before focusing on testing for two other key roles in the anticipated sequel.

Spall was most recently seen in the third season of 'Black Mirror' on Netflix and Spielberg's 'The BFG'. This year Jones has starred in 'Dads Army', and his next major role will be opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in 'Sherlock's fourth season.

"I feel like the audience has given us permission, to a certain extent, to take this to the next level,”  Trevorrow said of the film back in September.

"I don’t necessarily mean in scale. I feel very strongly that it’s not about more dinosaurs or bigger and better dinosaurs. It’s about using this as a starting point for a much larger story about our relationship with these animals, and with animals in general, and the dynamic created by bringing them back to life.”

'Jurassic World 2' is set for release on 8 June 2018.

Picture Credits: WENN / Universal Pictures

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Movie presidents we'd vote for over Trump or Clinton

Tomorrow (8 November), the United States of America heads to the polls to decide the next leader of the free world. Whoever wins between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump - it's safe to say a lot of people will be left upset.

Never before have the two front-runners for the US presidency been so enormously unpopular, so we thought we'd take a look at some of the excellent fictional presidents we'd sooner vote for.

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Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman) - 'Independence Day'

The speech. We all know the speech. When Bill Pullman's President Whitmore gives the pep talk to end all pep talks, as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, it's a classic Hollywood moment.

It works because the speech strikes a balance between ridiculous and sincere, just like the film as a whole. For this scene alone, Whitmore is considered one of the best ever movie presidents.

James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) - ‘White House Down’

Roland Emmerich's preposterously fun 'White House Down' is dumb in the best possible way, and one scene exemplifies that perfectly.

When President Sawyer and Channing Tatum's vest-and-freedom-loving police officer find themselves on the White House lawn in a limo looking for an escape, Foxx's character finds a solution.

With Tatum egging him on, the President of the United States is soon hanging out the limo blowing up a gate with a rocket launcher. Fantastic.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Harry Shearer) - ‘The Simpsons Movie’

A celebrity who is often a source of mockery, as President? Ridiculous...

Back in 2007, Arnie had just started his second term as governor - sorry, governator - of California, but the idea of him becoming president was ridiculous enough to be a joke in 'The Simpsons Movie'.

It's a cameo more than anything (and Shearer is basically using his Rainier Wolfcastle voice) but the line "I was elected to lead, not to read" is a classic.

Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) - 'Dr Strangelove'

Given the state of the world, Stanley Kubrick's biting 60s satire about bickering politicians and nuclear might soon become relevant again.

One of the character's at the centre of it all is President Merkin Muffley, one of several characters played by the legendary Peter Sellers. He's a meek and naive man, but one of few in the film who (at some stage at least) wants to avoid war.

Tom Beck (Morgan Freeman) - 'Deep Impact'

In 'Deep Impact' Morgan Freeman's president is caught in a difficult position when - in the face of Armageddon (the world-ending event, not the Michael Bay movie) - he's presented with a plan that will only save some of the American people.

It's a plan that angers many, but Freeman's glorious voice is a constant reassurance, and there's no word in the English language that man can imbue with my drama than "messiah": the name of the spaceship hoping to split the incoming asteroid.

James Dale (Jack Nicholson) - 'Mars Attacks!'

It's Jack Nicholson as the leader of the free world, and his performance is as over-the-top and charismatic as you'd expect. Even in Tim Burton's certifiable alien invasion spoof, Nicholson stands out for his unabashed scenery-chewing.

The highlight for Nicholson is his take on the classic, rousing presidential speech, in which he tries to reconcile with the invading martians. It almost seems to work, but then they impale him.

Was worth a shot though.

James Marshall (Harrison Ford) - Air Force Once

In the UK it's not often we have a Prime Minister who looks like they'd win a fight or even stand steadfast in a strong breeze (Gordon Brown probably could have), and that's an underrated quality in a leader.

Of all the Hollywood presidents on this list, Harrison Ford's James Marshall is the best equipped to deal with an immediate crisis/taking back a plane from terrorists.

Also, he's Harrison Ford.

Picture Credits: Colombia Pictures / Warner Bros / Paramount Pictures / 

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Beauty and the Beast composer reveals new songs for live-action remake

Disney's forthcoming live-action remake of 'Beauty and the Beast' is one of 2017's most anticipated films, and one of the most likely to succeed.

It's far from a simple shot-for-shot remake though, the team behind it includes the Disney's classic's original, Oscar-winning songwriter Alan Menken, and he's brought brand new songs.

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Three of these songs have been revealed by Entertainment Weekly, who also spoke to Menken about the tracks that will sit alongside classics such as 'Be My Guest' and 'Gaston'.

Describing a song that will be sung by Belle (Emma Watson) and her father Maurice (Kevin Kline), Menken said: "It ends up being a song called ‘Our Song Lives On,’ and it’s done in a number of forms.

"The first time it’s sung, it’s Belle’s father singing as he’s completing a music box, and basically it’s [about], ‘How does a moment live forever? How do you hang on to precious moments?’ Then, it’s reprised by Belle, and then it’s the song that’s actually over the end credits at the end of the movie.

"Disney hasn’t announced it yet, but there’s going to be some wonderful singer on the end credits song."

Speaking of the next song, sung by Beast (Dan Stevens): "‘For Evermore’ is this moment where the Beast now loves Belle, and he realises that she misses her father, and he acknowledges she’s no longer a prisoner, and when she sees her father’s in trouble, he says, ‘Go to him, go.’ And he voluntarily lets her go.

"He’s basically singing about how he now knows what love is, as he watches her leave, and he’s climbing up the turret of the castle as she recedes into the distance, just watching her go further and further away.”

The third new song is more of a mystery. It's called "Days in the Sun" with producer David Hoberman telling EW it is "destined to win Menken a ninth Academy Award."

Menken has already won Oscars for songs written for Disney classics 'Aladdin', 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Pochahontas', not to mention 'Beauty and the Beast' for the song of the same name. That same year he was also nominated for 'Be Our Guest'.

'Beauty and the Beast' is set for release on 17 March 2017.

Picture Credits: Disney

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Moana review round-up: Critics heap praise on Disney 'delight'

Disney's latest is getting rave reviews ahead of its anticipated release, with critics heaping praise on the "crowd-pleasing oceanic musical" 'Moana'.

'Moana' is about a young Polynesian woman of the same name (Auli'i Cravalho), who travels to a fabled island, aided by her idol, the legendary demi-God Maui (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson).

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This first round of reviews arrives well ahead of the film hitting cinemas on 2 December, with more reviews to be expected in the run-up to release.

Here's what the critics have said:

The Hollywood Reporter

“Screenwriter Jared Bush, who also penned this year’s 'Zootopia', and the quartet of directors manage to work in plenty of offbeat humor at every inventive turn.

But if Moana boldly ventures beyond the reef, so, too, does the breathtakingly beautiful animation break fresh visual ground. Letting the natural light of the sun and the moon inform virtually every textured frame, the film boasts backgrounds that are awash in phosphorescent greenery and shimmering blue waters.

Equally strong are the tunes; you can definitely hear Miranda’s inspirational hip-hop stylings in songs like 'You’re Welcome' and 'How Far I’ll Go,' which, if not quite as catchy as 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman?' and 'Let It Go,' come pretty darned close."

The Guardian

"Moana’s 'know who you are' message is the sort of thing we’d probably want our children to hear, and there’s a pleasing resonance in the way the movie transmits ancient folk knowledge via digital means. But Disney has set a high standard lately.

“'Frozen' defied its fairytale template by swerving into matters of sisterhood, 'Big Hero 6' pulled off a clever trans-Pacific cultural fusion, and this year’s excellent 'Zootopia' was both a snappy, original comedy and a valuable primer in identity politics.

“'Moana' never quite reaches these heights. Its cultural setting is fresh; its storytelling, less so. It navigates the reefs but it doesn’t discover a whole new world."

Variety

"The dynamic between Moana and Maui deepens as the story unfolds, revealing her to be one of Disney’s most remarkable heroines yet: Rather than waiting for her prince (or whomever) to come, Moana takes control of her own destiny.

"Still, there’s a simplicity to the plot here that feels like a step back from the narrative complexity of some of Disney Animation’s recent achievement — most notably 'Zootopia,' whose elaborate mystery plot left room for a powerful social message.

"Considering these two movies side-by-side, one can see how far the toon studio has come in recent years, and rather than judging them against one another (an exercise required only of Oscar voters), there’s something to be celebrated in the way 'Zootopia' advances the storytelling possibilities of animation, while 'Moana' demonstrates how Disney has gotten its mojo back. As princess movies go, this one broadens the studio’s horizons, and as Moana herself sings in the film, 'no one knows, how far it goes.'"

Empire Magazine

"There’s the odd dull stretch and dud line: 'When you have a bird to write with, it’s called tweeting,' is unlikely to age well. It turns out, though, that Polynesian mythology and the House of Mouse go together very well indeed. Between 'Moana' and 'Zootopia/Zootropolis', it’s been a banner year for Disney Animation. Pixar, watch your back.

"A crowd-pleasing oceanic musical with big tunes and beguiling characters, Moana is likely to thwack a big smile on your face. And did we mention the idiotic chicken?"

Entertainment Weekly

"'Moana' has a lot of the hallmarks of your classic Disney adventure — the goofy animal sidekicks, the feel-good messages — but its heroine is something new, a smart and fiery deviation from your standard European lovestruck princesses. (Thankfully, Moana doesn’t have a love interest.) The result is a pitch-perfect addition to the animated Disney canon."

Picture Credits: Disney

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Donald Trump's most awkward movie cameos

Before running for president Donald J. Trump was an eccentric, bizarre but somewhat harmless c-list celebrity, thanks primarily to his real estate empire and role as chief hirer and firer in the US version of 'The Apprentice'.

Over the years he's appeared on the small screen countless times, but he's no stranger to the big screen either.

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Trump's Hollywood career has included a handful of weird silver screen cameos alongside the like of his friend Whoopi Goldberg, child star Macaulay Culkin and, of course, Hugh Grant. 

As this year's US election mercifully reaches its conclusion, we decided to rank the most awkward of these scene-stealing performances. 

The Associate (watch Trump here - 1:54)

This is special. As he's spoken to, Trump is so distant and seems so disconnected from what's going on that you'd believe someone if they told you he had been added in with CGI post-production.

Instead of reacting to a word being said to him, he looks at his watch like a nervous extra asked to act casual then seems to look right down the camera when the scene moves away.

Whoopi Goldberg's character then appears, ignoring Trump completely only for him to quickly follow her. Very awkward, very strange.

'Ghosts Can't Do It' (watch Trump here)

In 'Ghosts Can't Do It', Bo Derek plays a widow who conspires with the ghost of her dead husband Scott (who only she can see) to have a young man drown so Scott can claim his body and come return to the world of the living.

It is not very good.

Donald Trump plays himself, sharing several oddly flirty scenes with Bo Derek, who at one stage says he is "too pretty to be bad". He also gently caresses a scale model of a boat for some reason (see above).

'The Little Rascals' (watch Trump here - 2:24)

In 'The Little Rascals' Trump plays a crazy-rich oil tycoon who pops up to tell his son, who is riding a super-expensive soapbox kart and has his own mobile phone, that he's "the best son money can buy".

Pure Trump. Did he purchase the child at a young age? It's not clear, but the boy (called Waldo, obviously) seems happy enough with the compliment.

It's Trump's unruly eyebrows that are the real stars here however. You can see them at the top of this article. 

'Two Weeks Notice' (watch Trump here)

It's hard to tell in this clip, in which Trump talks to Hugh Grant's character about recently being dumped by Sandra Bullock’s lawyer, whether he's doing so from a place of friendly concern or ridicule.

The latter would be more believable, but the mixture of Trump's acting and Hugh Grant's enormous, distracting tie (we've forgotten why he's wearing it in the film, there must be a reason) make it hard to tell.

'Eddie' (watch Trump here - 2:42)

In 'Eddie', Whoopi Goldberg plays the titular New York limo driver: a hardcore Knicks fan who, with a certain amount of luck, becomes head coach of the famed basketball team.

In Trump's cameo, the future Republican nominee claims hiring Eddie was his idea from the very start. Not the last lie he'd ever tell in front of camera.

'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' (watch Trump here)

In Trump's most famous big screen appearance, he helps guide Macaulay Culkin's burglar-traumatising Kevin McCallister to the lobby of New York's Plaza Hotel - which he owned at the time.

It’s an innocuous little gag about Kevin not knowing who Trump is, but it’s made just a little awkward by how long the magnate spends hanging around int he background of the shot, making sure everyone in the audience sees him. 

'Zoolander' (Watch Trump here)

'Zoolander' is loaded with incredible cameos, and Trump's isn't among them. That's no criticism though, Billy Zane and David Bowie are stiff competition.

'Trump' appears at the very start on the red carpet for a major awards ceremony in the fashion industry. He's one of the host of faces that pays tribute to Ben Stiller's legendary male model.

Picture Credits: Warner Bros / Universal Pictures / Triumph Releasing / 20th Century Fox

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Ezra Miller reveals a major link between Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter

Warner Bros has published a video revealing the major event that will link the 'Harry Potter' series with the forthcoming 'Fantastic Beasts' prequels.

In the video Ezra Miller, one of the film's stars, reveals that a major event from the 'Potter' lore ties into the new story, and to us it sounds like a spoiler. So, be warned.

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That event is the battle between Albus Dumbledore and a dark wizard by the name of Gellert Grindewald, long before Voldemort and the story of Potter, Weasley and Granger.

As Miller says, Grindewald started a series of attacks in Europe around the same time Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander  arrives in 1926 New York at the start of the new film.

"It might be connected, might not be connected, but might NOT be connected, to Grindewald's rise to power."

We can safely say it definitely is connected.

While the story of Dumbledore and Grindewald probably is unlikely to be depicted in full in 'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' the video infers that it will be a major plot-point as the series moves forward with its four planned sequels.

Interestingly, 'Potter' creator and 'Fantastic Beasts' writer JK Rowling has previously revealed that Grindewald was the love of Dumbledore's life - which would certainly lend their eventual battle some serious emotional stakes.

Both characters are rumoured to appear in the upcoming film.

This isn’t the only connection being teased. In one of the new posters revealed in early October, the Deathly Hallows symbol can be seen.

'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' is set to be released on 18 November.

Picture Credits: Warner Bros 

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Kevin Feige talks Marvel diversity in Spider-Man: Homecoming and beyond

In the years since Marvel first started its cinematic universe, its cast of characters has grown increasingly diverse.

This is no coincidence, as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has explained ahead of the US release 'Doctor Strange' - a film that has proved controversial because of its casting decisions. 

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"I think that in the movies we've already made, and certainly in the movies that are coming up, it will be as inclusive a group of characters as one could want," Feige told Vulture.

He pointed to next year's 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' and its cast of young High School characters as a shining example of the diversity Marvel now seeks.

"Our filmmaker came in and had pictures of real high schools, and they are as diverse as you could imagine," said Feige. "That was something that was important to us, to set it apart from other Spidey films that have been made — to carve that niche — and to have it represent the world today."

Tom Holland's Peter Parker will attend a Queens high school alongside actors including Donald Glover, Tony Revolori, Jacob Batalon and Laura Harrier, who plays a potential love interest.

Zendaya plays another potential love interest, one who is rumoured to be Mary-Jane Watson. If this is the case, it will be the latest example of Marvel swapping the race or gender of a comic book character.

With 'Doctor Strange', Marvel courted controversy when it cast white actress Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, who was portrayed in the comics as an Asian man.

In the same film however, Marvel also cast Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo - a character who was originally white - and completely changed the role of Benedict Wong's Wong - whose character in the comics was a sub-servant stereotype.

This is due to often-dated depiction of certain ethnicities in the source material, with many characters created in the 60s, and the more inclusive nature of modern society.

"For us, it's important that we don't feel like a completely white, European cast," said Feige. "It's definitely important to us, that these movies reflect the world."

During Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Avengers were white with the exception of Samuel L Jackson's leader Nick Fury. In the years since, Don Cheadle's War Machine, Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther and Anthony Mackie's Falcon have all entered the fold.

In the year ahead, Zoe Saldana returns as 'Guardians of the Galaxy' heroine Gamora, there's 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' and in 'Thor: Ragnarok' Tessa Thompson plays Valkyrie, another character who was originally white.

Picture Credits: Marvel Studios 

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Star Trek Beyond actor on playing Sulu's controversial husband

'Star Trek Beyond' attracted controversy earlier this year when it was revealed that the film's incarnation of Enterprise crew member Hikaru Sulu is gay.

In the film this amounted to a short sequence when Sulu greets his husband and the pair's daughter, who would later be in jeopardy at the film’s conclusion. Despite the brevity of the scenes, it still proved a divisive decision. 

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The man who played the unnamed husband - Doug Jung - who also co-wrote the film with Simon Pegg, has now commented on the decision.

"I’ve always been incredibly proud of that scene, even when it was just on the page," Jung told Entertainment Weekly.

"I’m even more proud of it now. I think the way Justin [Lin] shot it, and the way John [Cho, who plays Sulu] helped craft that scene — certainly more than me, I just basically stood there! — but the way it was presented, I think everybody felt incredibly good about it.

"We wanted to depict it as a normal part of the fabric of life. Which it is! I think it will stand the test of time. The great victory would be that, in however many years, if they look back on 'Beyond' as part of a 'Star Trek' retrospective, they wouldn’t even blink."

While intended as a gesture of goodwill and a tribute to original Sulu actor George Takei (who is himself gay), the star wasn't a fan of the decision.

“I’m delighted that there’s a gay character," he said. “Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of 'Star Trek' creator, Gene Roddenberry’s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it’s really unfortunate.”

Picture Credits: Paramount Pictures

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The 10 scariest horror movies ever, decided by the internet

Halloween may have been and gone for another year, but horror movies are for watching all year round - not just on 31 October.

If you're in the mood for a fright, one site has come up with an impressive metric to determine the scariest movies ever made.

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Reel Scary asks users to rate slasher flicks, haunted house thrillers and gory shockers out of ten based on three metrics: gore, suspense and how disturbing they are.

The result is a list of the ten scariest movies ever made, as determined by thousands of voters.

Surprisingly, there are some notable classics absent from the list, which does include 'Dawn of the Dead' and 'Cannibal Holocaust' but is topped by 2008's French-Canadian film 'Martyrs'.

In fact, the top four are all from the 21st century, with 2013's 'Evil Dead' remake, 'Wolf Creek' and 'A Serbian Film' occupying top spots.

You can view the complete list at the time of writing below.

1. Martyrs (2008) 2. Evil Dead (2013) 3. Wolf Creek (2005) 4. A Serbian Film (2010) 5. Dead Alive (1992) 6. Cannibal Holocaust (1980) 7. The Changeling (1980) 8. Inside (2007) 9. Eden Lake (2008) 10. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

There are also top 10 lists based on the three judging criteria.

Peter Jackson's 'Braindead' (known as 'Dead Alive' in the US) tops the gore list, ahead of notorious ratings board-botherer 'Cannibal Holocaust' and the 2013 'Evil Dead' remake.

Unsurprisingly, there are also sevaral 'Saw' films on the list.

'A Serbian Film' tops the list of disturbing horror films (we think we know why too), ahead of 'Martyrs' and 'Cannibal Holocaust', while 'Alien' is considered the most suspenseful horror ever, ahead of 'The Conjuring 2' and 'Aliens'.

Gore

1. 'Dead Alive' (1992) 2. 'Cannibal Holocaust' (1980) 3. 'Evil Dead' (2013) 4. 'Martyrs' (2008) 5. 'Hostel: Part II' (2007) 6. 'Hostel' (2005) 7. 'Inside' (2007) 8. 'Saw IV' (2007) 9. 'Saw II' (2005) 10. 'Saw' (2004)

Disturb

1. 'A Serbian Film' (2010) 2. 'Martyrs' (2008) 3. 'Cannibal Holocaust' (1980) 4. 'Audition' (1999) 5. 'The Exorcist' (1973) 6. 'Antichrist' (2009) 7. 'The Taking of Deborah Logan' (2014) 8. 'Eden Lake' (2008) 9. 'Inside' (2007) 10. 'The Human Centipede II: Full Sequence' (2011)

Suspense

1. 'Alien' (1979) 2. 'The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist' (2016) 3. 'Aliens' (1986) 4. 'Eden Lake' (2008) 5. 'The Shining' (1980) 6. '[Rec]' (2007) 7. 'The Orphanage' (2007) 8. 'It' (1990) 9. 'Shutter' (2004) 10. 'The Others' (2011)

According to The Independent, Reel Scary plans to introduce a fourth scale for jump scares.

Picture Credits: Wild Bunch

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Uncharted movie will be the 'Anti-Indiana Jones'

Sony Pictures has had high hopes for its big screen adaptation of hit video game 'Uncharted' for some time, and last week hired Shawn Levy to finally get it off the ground.

Joe Carnahan, the project's previous director and current writer, has been discussing the film's potential - describing the action-adventure as the "anti-'Indiana Jones'".

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'Uncharted' is a PlayStation series starring charming adventurer and roguish type Nathan Drake, whose love of history and thirst for treasure often leads him to trouble.

In an interview with Collider, Carnahan discussed meeting Levy for the first time and sang his praises before launching into why an Uncharted movie has so much potential.

"We both have tremendous fondness for 'Raiders [of the Lost Ark']... I can tell you this: what I’ve written is very anti-Indy in the sense of [Nathan Drake being a] guy that loves museums and wants to preserve these artifacts. He’s not! He’s a thief and he’s a grifter, and he’s a scourge. He and [friend and mentor] Sully are not good guys but they’re better than the bad guys.

"They are certainly rogues, and certainly don’t have a problem, even in the first game he just kind of dump Elena [another lead character] and it’s interesting."

Carnahan, who left the project as director to focus on 'Bad Boys For Life' ("I’m too deep into 'Bad Boys' and I really wanna see that through) also addressed the stigma attached to video game movies.

His belief is that you can't stick too closely to the source material to try and appease fans, but rather find out how to make the series work in a new medium and not be afraid to change things up. 

To make his point, Carnahan revealed how Stephen Cannell , creator of TV series 'The A-Team' approached him ahead of his 2010 big-screen remake and offered some advice.

"[He said] to me, 'Listen, if you wanna make B.A. Baracus a white woman, you should do that.' He didn’t have this sense of, no I think that’d probably have exploded in my face, but this is the guy that created him and he understood that you need to break with tradition sometimes to tell compelling stories."

Moving back on to what this means for 'Uncharted', he said: "It’s just making a great movie and trying to put as much of the game in as you can and the sensibilities of making Drake and Sully and so on, and beyond that, just do something original and fun. Roll the dice, like we have to do on anything.

"There are no assurances, and there certainly are very few hedging your bets when it comes to making movies. So I really believe that. Just be original. Do your best. Try to check the boxes you can, but beyond that don’t get wrapped up."

Sony has been discussing an Uncharted movie for years, with numerous stars and directors attached to and then leaving the project. When news broke that Levy was on board to direct, Deadline's report said that the project is now being fast-tracked to release.

Picture Credits: Sony / Disney

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Deadliest horror movie furniture revealed

If there's a Freddy or Jason chasing you around your house or a nearby woodland shack, the natural reaction is to try to hide behind or in a piece of furniture.

This doesn't always end well, so a new (very scientific, we assure you) study has worked out which household features are the safest and which are the deadliest. 

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The Furniture Market has watched 50 of the most popular horror movies of all time to determine whether it's safer to hide in a cupboard, under a bed or behind a fridge.

They've done this by taking the number of times a piece of furniture helped someone escape a crazed killer and subtracting the number of times that item led to, or was involved in a character's death.

The takeaway from their research is simple: stay well clear of beds. They have a "Chance-of-death ranking" of +7, topping the list. 

If you wanted to evade a mass murderer though, and we assume you would do, the best bet is a simple locked door, which has a rating of -22.

'Alien', 'Psycho', 'Halloween' and 'Final Destination' are among the 50 films the study was based on. 

For a classic example of bed-based murder, here’s a particularly painful one from ‘Freddy vs Jason’. 

Picture Credits: New Line Cinema / Warner Bros 

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Doctor Strange director wants a Dark Knight-style sequel

The Marvel Cinematic Universe being what it is, a sequel to 'Doctor Strange' is more likely than not, and director Scott Derrickson already has ideas.

While on the promotional trail for the magical new superhero movie, Derrickson said how he wanted to follow the path taken by Christopher Nolan with his 'Dark Knight' trilogy.

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Speaking to Den of Geek, Derriskon said: "What made 'The Dark Knight' so great was that the origin story of Batman had been well-told, and then it was time to bring in a villain where you really got to go deep. And not just the Joker, also Two-Face.

"It was a more visceral experience, I’d love to be able to do that for 'Doctor Strange'."

Out this week, 'Doctor Strange' introduces magic to the Marvel universe with Benedict Cumberbatch playing the Sorcerer Supreme: a former surgeon turned master mystic.

The film also stars Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, Benedict Wong as Wong and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo.

Mordo is traditionally Strange's nemesis in the comics, but starts out in the new film as an ally. If this is to change in a sequel, the character may get a great deal more screen time and character development.

With an actor of Ejiofor's calibre, that's very promising.

Speaking more generally about the possibility of directing a 'Doctor Strange' sequel himself, Derrickson added: "I love the character, I love the visual possibilities, and I know the comics so well – [the first movie is] the tip of an iceberg. There’s so much progress that can be made."

'Doctor Strange' has enjoyed positive reviews in the run-up to its release and is expected to perform well at the box office.

The film is out now. 

Picture Credits: Marvel Studios / Warner Bros

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Raunchy R-rated animation Sausage Party hungry for Oscar glory

Sony Pictures is preparing a major push to nab an unlikely Oscar nomination for R-Rated animation 'Sausage Party' at next year's awards ceremony.

Not only is the studio pushing for a Best Animated Feature nod, it thinks the film has a chance in the Best Original Song category as well.

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Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman said: "Academy members are way smarter and more forward-thinking than people realise.

"They want to recognise bold, original, risky breakthroughs, and that’s what 'Sausage Party' is, however subversive. Plus, it’s just plain cool."

'Sausage Party' told the story of sentient food that longs to be bought from a supermarket and taken home, unaware of what will happen to them. It includes a number of memorable scenes, including one in which... well... the BBFC gave the film a 15 certificate for "strong sex references". That's putting it lightly.

In the Original Song category, Sony is putting forward 'The Great Beyond', and given it was written by Disney legend and EIGHT-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, well... stranger things have happened.

An R-rated animated feature has been nominated in this field before. 'Blame Canada' from 'South Park: Bigger, Longer & was nominated in 2000 - resulting in a memorable live performance.

Seth Rogen, who wrote, co-produced and starred in the movie, told THR: "We've never been this passionate about a film and we're thrilled to enter uncharted territory.

"It's rare you really get to break new ground, and we hope that people view it as a good thing for the medium."

The film has proven a success, raking in $135 million worldwide from a budget of $19 million. However, it is likely to face stiff competition in the category from Pixar's 'Finding Dory', 'Kubo and the Two Strings' and Disney's 'Zootopia' and 'Moana' - all of which are potential winners.

Still, if ‘Bad Grandpa’ can get an Oscar nomination, why not ‘Sausage Party’?

Picture Credits: Sony Pictures

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Moff Tarkin confirmed for Star Wars: Rogue One return?

Has Gareth Edwards let slip that Darth Vader isn't the only returning character in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'?

The British director may have revealed a surprising return in an interview with USA Today, while discussing the film's main antagonist, Orson Krennic.

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Krennic, the head of Empire's advanced weapons research wing played by Ben Mendelsohn, will reportedly butt-heads with the upper echelon's of the Galactic Empire.

“It feels like if the Empire ever have a job vacancy, they go to the Royal Shakespeare Company to headhunt people,” Edwards joked. He's referring to the upper-class authority of actors such as Peter Cushing, who played Grand Moff Tarkin in the original movie.

Asked whether he wanted Mendelsohn to adopt a similarly posh accent, Edwards said: “I like the idea that Ben’s character was much more working-class,” adding that he ascended through the Imperial hierarchy “through sheer force of personality and ideas.”

It's then that Edwards potentially reveals the return of a younger Grand Moff Tarkin.

“[Krennic] hits a brick wall in the hierarchy where they won’t let him in the club and it’s going to turn into a them-or-us situation: either Krennic or Tarkin and the others," Edwards says.

Reports dating back to August last year have suggested Tarkin's return, but no official word has come from the filmmakers or the film's marketing. Some believe the figure seen from behind in 'Rogue One's trailer (below) could be Tarkin. The hair and head shape certainly appear to be a match.

A Mail Online reported stated that the Cushing - who died in 1994 - would be brought back to life digitally.

Picture Credits: LucasFilm

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Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne reveals he auditioned for Voldemort

Eddie Redmayne, star of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them', has revealed he once he once auditioned to play a young Voldemort in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.

The Oscar-winning actor did so back in 2001, but lost out to Christian Coulson, who played the Hogwarts student who would become He Who Must Not Be Named: Tom Marvolo Riddle.

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"I actually auditioned to play Tom Riddle while I was at university," Redmayne told Empire Magazine (issue 330). "I properly failed and didn't get a call back."

Redmayne still harboured an ambition to join the 'Harry Potter' saga, seeing it as the platform for British talent it undoubtedly was between 2001 and 2011.

"Over the years I always hoped I might be cast as a member of the Weasley family - I'm colour blind but I've always been told there's a tinge of red to my hair - but unfortunately not.  

"A lot of my friends, like Domhnall Gleeson and Rob Pattinson, got their 'Harry Potter' moment, but I never got mine."

Obviously, this changed.

Redmayne made his professional stage debut in 2002, the year 'Chamber of Secrets' was released, but it wasn't until 13-years (and one Oscar) later that Warner Bros cast him as the hero in its first 'Potter' spin-off.

The 'Theory of Everything' and 'Danish Girl' star plays Newt Scamander, a "magizoologist" who unwittingly unleashes a magical suitcase full of weird and wonderful creatures in 1920s New York.

'Potter' creator JK Rowling has herself penned the film's screenplay (as well as its many future sequels), based on the fictional textbook she wrote in 2001.  

'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' is set for release in the UK on 18 November.

Picture Credits: Warner Bros

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Oasis snubbed Trainspotting soundtrack because Noel thought it was about actual trainspotters

Director Danny Boyle's 1996 classic 'Trainspotting' is famed for many things, including its seminal soundtrack.

Underworld's 'Born Slippy' and Iggy Pop's 'Lust For Life' might have been joined by the work of Britpop legends Oasis too, if the Gallaghers had actually known what the film was about.

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In a recent Q&A (via the Edinburgh Evening News) costume designer Rachel Fleming recalled a meeting with Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher.

She said: "I met Noel at a thing the other week and he said to me ‘I would have done something but honestly I thought it was about train spotters. I didn’t know’. That’s what he actually said."

In the absence of Oasis, the 'Trainspotting' soundtrack was hardly short on Britpop pioneers. Blur's 'Sing' appeared on the tracklist, as did frontman Damon Albarn's 'Cloest Romantic' and Pulp's 'Mile End'.

'Trainspotting' was released in 1996, right at the height of the band’s immense, world-conquering popularity.

Had the Manchester band contirbuted to the soundtrack, it could have included a track from '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?', which was released the year prior.

Ships (or rather, trains) passing in the nights and all that. Still, it's safe to say both the band the film enjoyed sizable success regardless.

Danny Boyle is currently in post-production on 'T2: Trainspotting 2', which is set to be released on 27 January 2017. Oasis meanwhile split in 2009, but are the subject of documentary 'Supersonic', which is currently in select cinemas.

Picture Credits: Film4 / WENN 

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Logan: Hugh Jackman will fight the Reavers in final Wolverine film

Hugh Jackman will face off against the Reavers in his final outing as iconic Marvel superhero Wolverine.

The Reaver reveal came courtesy of the official Instagram account for 'Logan': the character's third solo spin-off movie, showing an armoured soldier working through a cornfield. 

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This latest look at the film is the latest in a succession of images from the film's production, which have revealed characters and potential plot points.

In the comics, the Reavers are a gang of augmented human assassins best known for serving Apocalypse in the famed 'Age of Apocalypse' storyline. In ‘Logan’, the Reavers will most likely be led by Boyd Holbrook's Pierce, a character known in the comics for leading the villainous group.

They won't be the main antagonists however, that will be Nathaniel Essex, a corporate figure known in the comics as Mister Sinister. 

Over the course of the past week, images posted on the 'Logan' account and those of director James Mangold and his cast, have also revealed Stephen Merchant's creepy mutant Caliban, Patrick Stewart is an elderly Professor X and various other set photos.

'Logan's official synopsis reads: "Set in the future of 2024, Logan and Professor Charles Xavier must cope with the loss of the X-Men when a corporation lead by Nathaniel Essex is destroying the world leaving it to destruction, with Logan's healing abilities slowly fading away and Xavier's Alzheimer's forcing him to forget.

"Logan must defeat Nathaniel Essex with the help of a young girl named Laura Kinney, a female clone of Wolverine."

Essex's involvement was teased during the credits scene of this year's 'X-Men: Apocalypse'. Laura Kinney meanwhile is also known in the comics as X-23, a woman who takes on the mantle of Wolverine.

X-23 could well be how 20th Century Fox continues to produce Wolverine films without recasting Jackman, which would probably prove an unpopular decision.

With new details arriving at a steady rate, it can't be long before we see the clawed one himself, or a trailer. The BBFC recently rated a trailer, indicating that one will be released imminently.

‘Logan’ will be released on 2 March 2017. 

Picture Credits: 20th Century Fox.