Tommy Wirkola did a great job directing Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. The movie was full of action packed fun and the stars, Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton, had great chemistry on screen, but somehow it never captured the American movie going audience’s attention .

Renner’s run with The Avengers and  The Bourne Legacy were thought by the producers, to be a draw for the re-imagined fairy tale, but instead, Witch Hunters got panned by critics and grossed at what best could be called modest $205 million dollars in worldwide box office earnings. So what we can only conclude was a drunken sugar binge decision by Paramount and MGM, a Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters sequel is on the way.

The decision for a sequel may be due to the film reaching the $200 million dollar mark, but Deadline has confirmed that a number of the film’s producers expected a much bigger return, producers including Beau Flynn, comedian Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Kevin Messick. Currently there’s no plot , no title, and no time-frame for shooting the sequel, and even the return of writer-director Wirkola and stars Jeremy and Gemma are still up in the air. Seeing as the film didn’t do as good as their respective studios thought it would, the idea of doing sequel might be a bit of a turn off for the film’s stars.

Perhaps they can still pull it off when the movie is released and profits from the Blu-ray and DVD sales are added to the mix. Until then it’s best to keep an open mind, but this could easily end up as a straight to DVD feature starring Thomas Mann‘s sidekick character before you know it.

Source: /Film

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The Avengers may have been the biggest movie of 2012 at the box office, but when it came to Oscar love it got a total of one nomination for Best Visual Effects. Now giving The Avengers recognition in this category is a bit like saying apple pie is the best tasting apple-flavored dessert, but for a consolation prize, the Oscars are giving what fans really want: a reunion of the Avengers themselves.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this morning that several, though sadly not all, of the main Avengers cast will take part in an awards presentation at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony on February 24. Sadly, it seems as though Black Widow and Thor – or at least their portrayers Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth – are unavailable, but this is honestly the closest thing we’ll get to a sequel till 2015.

The Avengers men. In formal wear. Handing out awards. To other people. I can picture it now.

Here’s the press release from the AMPAS:

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – “Marvel’s The Avengers” cast mates Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo will present together on the Oscar stage, show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today.

“We are happy to re-unite the ‘Avengers’ cast to present on our show,” said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. “Audiences who enjoyed the year’s biggest box office hit will be excited to see these terrific actors back together again.”

Downey has twice been nominated for an Oscar, for his leading role in “Chaplin” (1992) and for his supporting role in “Tropic Thunder” (2008).

Evans, who will be making his first Oscar show appearance, will be seen in the upcoming “The Iceman.”

Jackson was nominated in 1994 for his supporting role in “Pulp Fiction.” He can also be seen in this year’s Best Picture nominee “Django Unchained.”

Renner was nominated for his leading role in 2009 Best Picture winner “The Hurt Locker” and for his supporting role in “The Town” (2010). Renner had roles in this year’s “The Bourne Legacy” and “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” (2011).

Ruffalo received his first nomination for his supporting role in 2010 Best Picture nominee “The Kids Are All Right.”

Oscars® for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Source: Coming Soon

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While Captain America: The First Avenger wasn’t the stunning “marvel” fans expected, many people liked the connection between Steve Rogers and British agent, Peggy Carter. Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell both played their roles wonderfully, but with Cap’s forced cryogenic freeze and revival in the 21st century we never got to see what could have been – and we never will.

Viewers of The Avengers deleted scenes will know Peggy is alive and well, just a little old for Rogers. He might not want to show her his bald eagle is what I’m getting at. Unless Hayley is willing to undergo some prosthetic facial work for Captain America: The Winter Soldier her cameo is non-existent and will require recasting by directors Anthony and Joe Russo. According to TimeOut however, Atwell will have no part in The Winter Soldier whatsoever.

Now this isn’t due to casting issues or scheduling conflicts with Atwell, she simply will not return. Hit the jump for her response.
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The Red Band trailer for Hanzel and Gretel has hit the Internet and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun. Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star as the title brother and sister that, after escaping the first witch they encountered as children, turn to hunting witches to earn a living. The movie takes place 15 years after that fateful day at the gingerbread house of Grimm’s Fairy Tale.

Yes, it’s silly, but the trailer is packed with dry humor and action. This just might be the modern look at an ancient fairy tale that actually captures the hearts of modern audiences.

The movie lights up movie screens on January 11th, 2013.

Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Will this movie be good fun or just another Van Helsing disaster?

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Want to see Captain America struggle with a parachute? Ever wonder what it would have been like had Alan Rickman played Loki? Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the 4 minute gag reel from the Avengers and damn it is actually funny. No only are we treated to the likes of Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, and Mark Ruffalo being hilarious. We also see Cobie Smulders being really freakin hilarious. PLUS more Hawkeye/Jeremy Renner screen time than the actual film!

Enjoy:

Via /Film

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Paramount has seen fit to make an adaptation of the old folk tale Hansel and Gretel, but with an edgier twist.  It’s called Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and it stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the titular characters, though a bit older than most might remember them from childhood stories.

These sorts of movies tend to bounce back and forth between the “R” and the “PG-13” ratings as producers decide whether or not they want to appeal to a wider, younger audience or just stick with some serious blood, guts and violence.  Often this struggle ends with the more family-friendly (and thus watered-down) version making the grade, which can spell disaster.  Just watch the atrocity that is 2004’s Van Helsing if you don’t believe me.

Reports say that Paramount has decided to take the grittier “R” route, so it looks like Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters will be getting the full treatment.  Expect witches to be dying in proper fashion with an appropriate amount of gore.  Who knows, there may even be some boobies thrown in as a bonus!

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is currently set to release at the beginning of next year on January 11^th.

Thanks to slashfilm for the heads-up.

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The fine people at Universal have brought us another look at the upcoming re-launch of the Bourne franchise, The Bourne Legacy. There are also some new indications as to where the plot’s going in this new film, which subs Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne for Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross.

Combining old and new characters, it seems that The Bourne Legacy follows Cross as he tries to outrun the government’s attempt to wipe out the last dregs of Treadstone. There also seems to be some significant overlap between Legacy, and the last film, The Bourne Ultimatum, with some clips and scenes from the previous film edited into the story.

So what’s next with the story of Bourne and friends? Let’s role the video tape…

Synopsis: The narrative architect behind the Bourne film series, Tony Gilroy, takes the helm in the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise that has earned almost $1 billion at the global box office: The Bourne Legacy. The writer/director expands the Bourne universe created by Robert Ludlum with an original story that introduces us to a new hero (Jeremy Renner) whose life-or-death stakes have been triggered by the events of the first three films. For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles.

The Bourne Legacy will be out in theaters on August 3rd.

Source: /Film

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Are you hyped for The Avengers yet? You damn well should be. After pounding you with news, clips, featurettes and interviews these last few weeks, your Avengers fever should be at its peak. You should be so pumped that hearing us gab about the film any further should make you say “enough already”. But lets be honest, none of us can get enough of the Avengers. Until the film is released on May 4th, we’re all going to continue to demand for “MOAR!”

Anyway, (after the jump) we have some more juicy Avengers news and info to pour down your eager gullet. We got word The Avengers is already breaking over seas records. A press conference with the cast and crew. As well as some words from Director Joss Whedon discussing marvels stipulations and butting heads with Robert Downey Jr.

ABOVE: IMAX The Avengers movie poster that movie goers can receive with the 12:01 May 4th debut.

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Hooray! It’s another new clip from Joss Whedon‘s The Avengers. 

Mark Ruffalo visited The Graham Norton Show and brought along a new clip from Marvel’s super hero extravaganza. This is an extension of a scene that we’ve seen in a few trailers in which Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is trying to persuade Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) into joining the team. Check out the clip  below and tell us what you think. I can’t promise we’ll actually read your comments though. See we at Nerd Bastards have refused to indulge in any clips, features or comments that would spoil our desire to have fresh viewing experience.  I hope you understand.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel’s The Avengers also stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard, Cobie Smulders and Samuel L. Jackson.

Source: Coming Soon

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We’re almost a month away from the release of Joss Whedon‘s  The Avengers – the epic superhero team-up starring Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson. With fanboys and fangirls counting down the days until the summer blockbuster crashes into theaters, Walt Disney Pictures has released a series of  “fun facts” surrounding the year long production.

This “Spoiler Free” fact sheet is filled with all sorts of goodies and  behind-the-scenes details. Check it out below:
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