A Look Inside Heath Ledger's Joker Diary From 'The Dark Knight' "A Whole New Level"

A Look Inside Heath Ledger's Joker Diary From 'The Dark Knight'

"A Whole New Level"

By Alex Burns

Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker in 2008's 'The Dark Knight' has already gone down as one of the greatest and most iconic in cinema, sadly Ledger never got to witness the effect his unique take on Batman's arch enemy evoked worldwide, he passed away some time before the film's release. Much was made about how it was Ledger's performance that contributed to his death but thankfully that was all just media sensationalism, what is clear however is just how much the actor dedicated himself to the role, how he didn't merely adopt the character he became it. A sequence from the upcoming documentary based on the life of Heath ledger (EW) has made it's way online revealing the actor's journal for his preparation and work on 'The Dark Knight'.

“He pretty well locked himself up in a hotel, in his apartment, for a month or so, to sort of galvanise the upcoming character in his own mind,” Kim Ledger, Heath’s father, says in the clip. “That was typical of Heath on any movie. He would certainly immerse himself in the upcoming character. I think this was just a whole new level.”

Film buffs will get a real kick out of seeing the images that adorn the journal's pages, photos of influences for the role of the Joker including Alex DeLarge from Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' as well as comic book art, playing cards and hyenas. Director Christopher Nolan cited a number of anarchist characters for his take on the Joker and the director is a huge fan of Kubrick's movies so it's really insightful to see that those influences went past the directors chair and into Heath ledger's preparation. There’s also written dialogue of the  scene in which the Joker confronts Harvey Dent at Gotham General hospital, so much about 'The Dark Knight' gave me chills the first time I saw it but that scene is up there with the best the film has to offer. For a close look check out the clip below.


 

Ledger's outstanding work was recognised when he was posthumously awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor the year after 'The Dark Knight' was released. The film was a global sensation and remains one of the highest grossing movies of all time amassing $1,004,558,444  worldwide (without a 3D ticket bump as well!). The film also starred Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman. You know what that film is awesome, I'm gonna go watch it again!

 

Marvel Phase 3 - What to Expect - Here's How the MCU is Shaping Up Going Forward

Marvel Phase 3 - What to expect

Here's How the MCU is Shaping Up Going Forward

By Steven Carter

In the wake of the successful Ant-Man film, it’s time to look forward to the next few years! We already know the dates of all 9 Phase 3 films, it’s time to figure out which will be awesome and which will be, well, less awesome. Lets face it. Marvel know how to make a decent superhero flick, even when the film is expected to be a flop, it ends up churning out all kinds of awesome! (In Kevin Feige we trust!) We will be focusing on the films that Marvel Studios have sole ownership over so I’m afraid Spiderman will be sitting this one out! Please bare in mind that these are purely OPINIONS and SPECULATION! Any aspects considered to be spoilers will be purely coincidental! We'll start with what I think will be the least successful...

This accolade goes to Captain Marvel. It may be the unfortunate timing as the film is set to be released right between the two Avengers films. It may end up being forgotten about amongst all the hype which doesn't seem right for Marvel’s first endeavour into a female lead, I would imagine there will be some big references to future films to keep fans interested. My guess is that due to Carol Danvers’ links with the alien race known as the Kree, she may have a run in with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Possibly leading them to come to Earth to join the fight against Thanos. Captain Marvel was originally a male character in the comics, Mar-Vell was a Kree Soldier sent to observe the Human race and it’s technologies. However this character died a number of years ago and the current iteration is indeed the former Ms. Marvel herself.

Next up is Black Panther. It’s always a risk introducing a fringe superhero, Marvel’s track record has been rather impressive so far so I may well be proved wrong here. We will have already seen the Wakandan King in Captain America: Civil War so chances are, this won’t be an origins story, but considering this film will be the last before Infinity War part 1, I can’t help the feeling that a vast majority of the film will be spent referring to this event to the point that I will have just spent £8 to watch a 2 hour trailer. Black Panther in the comics does have strong ties to Mutants however, for a long period T’Challa was married to Storm. Speaking of 2 hour trailers, this brings us on to the next film...

Thor: Ragnarok. This film is set for release 4 months before Black Panther. Ragnarok is a Norse prophecy about an epic battle resulting in the destruction of Asgard, and the deaths of several gods including Thor, Loki and Odin. Since details are still hazy on who will be in this film, my guess is that Thanos will be behind an attack on Asgard being as they were the last to see the Aether. We all know the Collector now has it but Thanos may not know this yet. We also know Loki is masquerading as Odin so that needs resolving too! My prediction is that Loki may well snuff it after possibly attempting to redeem his past actions, along with Odin. Thor may end up being presumed dead. Considering Chris Hemsworth still has 1 film left out of his 6 film contract after Ragnarok, we assume he will still be alive (just) in order to make a dramatic return in Infinity War part 2.

Next up is Guardians of the Galaxy 2. This film may be expected to top most people's lists because of how successful the original film was. But my argument is precisely the opposite due to the same reason. This is going to be the difficult second album. The introduction of this band of misfits was so successful, it’s going to be a hard one to top. Think Iron Man 2. Yeah… Chris Pratt and company are going to have to pull out their A games for this one, if they settle for a performance that is more or less the same as the previous film, the critics are going to have a field day harping on about unoriginality, no ambition etc etc. They set the standard high, and I’d very much like to see them beat it but it won't be easy!

On the halfway point between awesome and less awesome is Dr Strange. I was excited to hear that Benedict Cumberbatch was announced to play the sorcerer supreme and still believe this will be the strongest of the new arrivals. Hopefully, the gap will be filled between earth’s science and Asgard’s magic science and I for one am really interested in how they will go about achieving this.

Captain America’s third outing in Civil War is next! This was one of my favourite comic book series due to the huge impact the Superhero registration act had on the whole superhero community. I was surprised to see this as merely a Cap film though! It’ll be a tough one to pull off convincingly in just 2 hours and since we will also be seeing Superman throw down against Batman the same year. Not forgetting Suicide Squad and Deadpool too! It is up against stiff competition and needs to do something special in order to stand out from the crowd.

Finally, we have the two Avengers films. I’m inclined to put them in order too so part 1 coming 2nd and part 2 in 1st. (I realise I have left out Inhumans but fear not dear reader, we’ll get there!) considering we are being treated to 2 films for Infinity War, it’s fair to assume our gallant heroes face a galactic ass whooping in the first film, with Thor presumed dead (as mentioned previously) and possibly the Hulk missing, the Avengers as Nick Fury once said, will be hopelessly and hilariously out-gunned. They will eventually find said big guns in the 2nd outing and presume to kick back at the Mad Titan. I’m really looking forward to these films and even more interested in finding out how they are possibly going to take down this powerhouse of evil known as Thanos!

Finally we come to the Inhumans. I’m going to say this is going to be a wild card entry. It could go anywhere in this list quite easily. It’ll also be the final film before Avengers part 2. Could they be the integral part in taking down Thanos? With the likes of Blackbolt, it could be very possible! Thinking back to the Captain Marvel film, these two films could possibly be used to gather up reserves to aid in the fight against Thanos.

So what do you think? Do you agree or are you expecting something a little different? The Team at Cape and Cowl are definitely interested in hearing your views! All I can say is no matter what we all think, there's no denying that the next 3 years will be a very exciting time for superhero movies!

The X-Men May still come to Television - FOX want to make full use of Marvel's Mutants

The X-Men May still come to Television

FOX want to make full use of Marvel's Mutants 

By Alex Burns

Okay so remember way back in January FOX revealed they were looking to expand their 'X-Men' franchise into new markets including television? Well over a half a year later we've finally got an update! Fox Television Group chairman and CEO Dana Walden has spoken out about the X-Men appearing on the small screen following the FOX TCA presentation, the key point here being that FOX are "pursuing" the appropriate deal to establish a “long-running” series. 

“[For] X-Men, we’re in negotiations with Marvel. We’re hopeful we’ll be able to announce something soon. We’re not closed on a deal yet but it’s something we’re definitely pursuing,” Walden tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The characters from the X-Men franchise are with Fox on the feature side so we won’t be including Marvel characters that are at ABC with Disney. This will be exclusively the franchise as it has existed at Fox.”

As for the talent involved, well it's a pretty impressive roster with“24” producers Evan Katz and Manny Coto developing the live-action series along with screenwriters Patrick McKay and JD Payne who are tasked with getting a pilot episode scripted. If successful expect all four to be the main creative minds behind the first season with Katz and Coto locked for showrunner roles.

Since this is our first update on the project since January we can presume FOX's priorities are still with the movie features that are enjoying a much needed resurgence after 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' became the highest grossing entry in the franchise amassing $748,121,534 at the world wide box office. There's also spin-off movie 'Deadpool' starring Ryan Reynolds due February 12, 2016 and the next big ensemble picture 'X-Men: Apocalypse' debuting that summer on May 27. That's not all though as we've got another spin-off to look forward to starring Channing Tatum as the lovable Ragin' Cajun in 'Gambit'  which is scheduled for October 7, 2016 and last but not least is Hugh Jackman’s final outing in adamantium claws in the third 'Wolverine' movie set to debut March 3, 2017.

So while we may have to wait awhile to see any X-Men television show it's exciting to hear it's in the works, the recent success of fellow Marvel hero Daredevil on Netflix and DC Comics' 'The Flash' and 'Arrow' series' are sure to have made FOX hungry for a slice of the superhero TV pie. We can't wait to see how this project develops and we'll be sure to share it with you so keep it locked right here at Cape and Cowl!

Two Awesome 'Gotham' Season 2 Posters - Plus New Villain Pictures

Two Awesome 'Gotham' Season 2 Posters

Plus New Villain Pictures

By Alex Burns

FOX have released two epic posters for  “Gotham” Season 2 check them out! The banner poster is seriously sweet and the bat-signal shape with all the cast on show is kinda perfect. There's also the first official iamges from the shows new season featuring new stars James Frain and Jessica Lucas as villains Theo and Tabitha Galvan looking all evil and stuff.

Everyone knows the name Commissioner Gordon. He is one of the crime world’s greatest foes, a man whose reputation is synonymous with law and order. But what is known of Gordon’s story and his rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner? What did it take to navigate the multiple layers of corruption that secretly ruled Gotham City, the spawning ground of the world’s most iconic villains? And what circumstances created them – the larger-than-life personas who would become Catwoman, The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face and The Joker?

Gotham Season Two begins Autumn this year on Channel 5.

'The Flash' Casts Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West - Another Speedster Joins Season 2

'The Flash' Casts Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West

Another Speedster Joins Season 2

By Alex Burns

Australian actor Keiynan Lonsdale joins the second season of DC Entertainment's hit show 'The Flash' as Wally West. The iconic hero has been DC Comics regular for decades but this will be the new 52 version of the character which is a little change up. In the comics Wally West starts out as Kid Flash a sidekick to Barry Allen and later inherits the mantle of The Flash proper. Lonsdale will appear as a series regular in season two and after the time bending, alternate universe revealing climax of Season 1 it'll be a real treat to see how the show runners incorporate Wally into the series.

Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said of Lonsdale’s casting, “Just like when we met Grant for the first time, we instantly knew Keiynan embodied all the heart and courage of a hero. We are so excited to be bringing this much-beloved character onto the show.”

The show will most likely connect Candice Patton's Iris West as in the comics the two are related Wally being her nephew, there's been no mention of Iris having any siblings so it remains unclear how they will link, I'm betting cousins. Lonsdale's casting makes it another super fast hero joining the second season after Teddy Sears was cast as Golden Age speedster Jay Garrick a couple of weeks back, with ultra fast villain Zoom the main antagonist for season 2 there's bound to be a lot of super speed action, more than I anticipated for sure!

'Lego Dimensions' Gets a New Trailer - 'Lego Marvel's Avengers' Gets Delayed

'Lego Dimensions' Gets a New Trailer

'Lego Marvel's Avengers' Gets Delayed

by Alex Burns

Two red brick pieces of Lego news today as 'Lego Dimensions' gets an awesome new trailer showing off even more gamplay and we get the slightly-bummer news that 'Lego Marvel's Avengers' has been delayed until January 29 2016. Avengers was set for release this September but it looks like we'll have to wait a little longer to buddy up with Iron Man and hulk against the forces of evil. Lego Dimensions is still set for release in September and maybe the powers that be wanted to spread their Lego games a bit more evenly, two big titles launching so close might have a negative effect on each others sales. Marvel fans, you'll have to make do with Batman and friends to get your LEGO fix in the meantime but hey that's pretty awesome so go cry somewhere else. Okay that was mean, we're sorry take a look at these new character images for the upcoming Marvel game as an apology, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl ftw!

Extended 'Fantastic Four' Promo - One Final Look Before the Film hits Cinemas

Extended 'Fantastic Four' Promo

One Final Look Before the Film hits Cinemas

By Alex Burns

20th Century Fox have released a new promo showing off even more of their new 'Fatastic Four' movie. The reboot wants to establish Marvel's first family as a new blockbuster franchise to accompany their 'X-Men' films and capitalise on the Superhero buzz that's taken over Hollywood this past decade. The film releases worldwide this week and we'll be posting our review soon, check out the clip below to see if you're willing to take a chance or pass on this new film.

A contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, 'Fantastic Four' centres on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Official Deadpool Movie Trailer Revealed - Check Out the Redband Footage in all it's Glory

Official 'Deadpool' Movie Trailer Revealed

Check Out the Redband Footage in all it's Glory

By Alex Burns

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

New 'Marvel's Guardians of The Galaxy' Promo and Clip - Hooked on a Feeling

New 'Marvel's Guardians of The Galaxy' Promo and Clip 

Hooked on a Feeling 

By Alex Burns

We've got a brand new promo for Disney XD's upcoming animated series, 'Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy' and it features a pretty familiar tune! The new footage shows off plenty of action and rounds out the supporting cast as well, the animation style is seriously sweet and definitely not half-assed like a lot of other Saturday morning programming can be. The tone of the series is straight out of the movie and we can't wait to see how this new show shapes up. There's also a cool clip from the episode 'Starlord' based on, you guessed it, Peter Quill aka Starlord himself! Cool fact, Starlord will be voiced by Will Friedle who is know and worshipped in fan circles as the voice of Terry McGinnis in the epic 90's cartoon 'Batman Beyond', I'm feeling nostalgic so stay tuned for a feature on that show in the near future! For now enjoy these two fantastic videos, you're welcome.

 
'Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy' follows the newly-formed team who finds a strange artifact keyed only to the DNA of Peter Quill. Upon opening it, Quill unleashes a treasure map leading to a powerful weapon known as the Cosmic Seed which is capable of giving birth to the next universe. It’s up to the Guardians to find, protect and ultimately destroy the Cosmic Seed in order to keep it out of the hands of those who would abuse its power, from galactic big boss Thanos, to the conniving brothers the Collector and the Grandmaster, to a resurrected Ronan, to the ultimate trickster, Loki, in order to save the universe. 

Deadpool does his own Movie-Voiceover in Trailer Tease - The Merc with a Mouth gets Talking

Deadpool Does His Own Movie Voice over in Trailer Tease

The Merc with a Mouth gets Talking

By Alex Burns

With the 'Deadpool' trailer set to debut tomorrow Ryan Reynold's has suited up as the Marvel anti-hero for a tongue in cheek trailer for the real trailer which we just had to share with you! It's great to hear more of Reynold's voice while in costume and it's a perfect match for the character, the official 'Deadpool' trailer was shown at Comic-Con earlier this summer but tomorrow will be the first time it's shown to the masses, we'll have full coverage then but in the meantime, enjoy...

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.