The Story Behind Howard The Duck And Avengers: Endgame

The Story Behind Howard The Duck And Avengers: Endgame

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame.

It's been nearly a month since Avengers: Endgame arrived in theaters, and new revelations about the movie are still being made every day. With the spoiler ban officially lifted by the Russo Brothers, the cast and crew of Endgame have been able to get more chatty about the film's contents. And considering just how massive the blockbuster is, there's a lot to unpack-- especially related to its ending.

Avengers: Endgame included the biggest MCU battle in history, as the dusted characters were teleported to the battlefield-- and they had some help with them. Every major character united in the battlefield, alongside countless troops of Wakandans, Ravagers, Masters of the Mystic Arts, and Asgardians. This includes Howard the Duck, who briefly pops up alongside the Ravagers. Visual effects supervisor Matt Aitken helped bring this stunning sequence to theaters, and recently opened up about the process of inserting Howard into Endgame, saying:

If Howard the Duck's in there, then it's kind of like everybody's in there, right? Nobody's missed out. We got that call from Marvel that and we were well underway with that shot and we were kind of close to finishing some of them, so it was a little bit of a scramble. But it wasn't totally last minute.

It looks like the idea of bringing Howard into the final battle against Thanos came relatively late into the process. But Matt Aiken and company had enough time to make it a reality, and include the fan favorite character in his third cameo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Howard The Duck got brought from Contraxia to Earth through one of the portals, facing off against the Mad Titan's countless forces.

Related: Infinity War Almost Had A Howard The Duck Cameo Scene

In his conversation with Comic Book, Matt Aitken explained how the visual effects artists decided where to drop Howard the Duck. It was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment that most moviegoers missed on their first viewing. As Aitken revealed,

We said he had time to do it, and there was a nice little gap between a couple of the Ravagers that he would just drop right into. It was nice that he wasn't so obvious in the middle of the frame that everybody was going to see him straight away. It was a little bit of a nice little Easter egg that people would have to hunt out to a degree.

Howard The Duck's Endgame cameo might seem like a bit of fan service, but it makes sense within the canon of the MCU. The last we saw Howard, he had a hot date on Contraxia in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. It stands to reason that he might be in that party spot when the dusted characters were revived, and hopped in a portal that the Ravagers were utilizing.

Despite not having a meaty role or much screen time, it still took Matt Aitken and his team of artists at Weta Digital a ton of work to fully render Howard the Duck, and insert him into the mind-blowing final battle. Aitken explained the kind of detail work that was needed, saying:

You can't skimp on these things, so he's a hero insert, he's got feathers, all the feathers are rigged. He's got hero pictures and he had to be animated. There's no corner-cutting in lots of this work, you just have to do it. But we did it all, and just delighted that he could be in there.

All that work really paid off, not only where Howard the Duck is concerned. The entire final battle was stunning, and had more action than the average viewer could ever keep track of. It was a sequence meant for the big screen, and one that fans will likely be dissecting with a fine toothed comb once Endgame is available for home purchase.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

James Gunn Has Returned To Direct Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

James Gunn Has Returned To Direct Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

Well, folks, it happened. Last summer, one of the biggest news in the movie-sphere was how James Gunn was fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 due to controversial social media posts he’d made over a decade ago resurfacing. However, today it’s been announced that Gunn has been reinstated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and will return to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

You’ll recall that last August, approximately a month after James Gunn was let go from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it was reported that Disney had not changed its mind and would not rehire him. Well, according to Deadline, Gunn has returned to helm the threequel, and apparently this was decided months ago among the respective Disney and Marvel Studios leadership teams. Walt Disney Studios president Alan Horn reportedly met with Gunn several times and, persuaded by Gunn’s public apology and handling of the matter afterwards, decided to bring him back into the fold.

Now some of you may be asking, “Wait, what about Suicide Squad 2, a.k.a. The Suicide Squad?” After all, several months after James Gunn was let go from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, he hopped aboard the DC train to write and direct the next movie starring Task Force X, which is said to be less of a direct sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad and more of a relaunch of the property. Well, Gunn signing on to The Suicide Squad complicated Marvel’s plans to bring him back for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but as things stand now, Gunn will work on The Suicide Squad first, and once it’s finished, then he’ll turn his attention to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. So Gunn gets to wrap up his Guardians trilogy as originally intended and leave his stamp on another superhero franchise.

While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was initially believed to be one of the first Phase 4 movies to be released, but James Gunn’s firing last year placed the project on indefinite hold. Since The Suicide Squad is set for release on August 6, 2021, that means Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will probably arrive a year or two later at the very least, so we’re still in for a long wait for it to arrive. Nevertheless, this is a major turn of events following months of reports, and while Marvel was already planning on using James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 script regardless of who direct the movie, now Gunn gets to oversee the production just like he did two times before.

No plot details for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 have been revealed yet, although the story is reportedly quite the tear-jerker. Regardless, before we get to that adventure, we have to see what goes down next month in Avengers: Endgame. Avengers: Infinity War saw all the Guardians except for Rocket Raccoon and Nebula being turned to dust by Thanos, and while Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff are all confirmed to be appearing in Endgame (hopefully Vin Diesel will provide some Groot vocals as well), we don’t know with absolute certainty yet which of their characters will be brought back to life and which will appear in flashbacks, hallucinations etc.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s development, but for now, look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what else is coming down the MCU pipeline.

Rambo 5: What We Know So Far About Last Blood

Rambo 5: What We Know So Far About Last Blood

Besides his work as legendary boxing icon Rocky Balboa, there’s one other role that actor/writer/director Sylvester Stallone is known for: Vietnam Vet turned one man army John Rambo. Since 1982’s First Blood, the character has become a staple in the lexicon of action/drama fans worldwide, and with over a billion dollars in international grosses across four films, that's not an overestimation. All of that history looks to come to a close with Rambo 5, the (presumably) final entry in the series.

Already in the midst of production, Stallone’s fifth and final outing as one of his most famous contributions to pop culture has a lot of details available to the public awaiting John Rambo’s latest foray into combat. So, leave it to us to help you sort through what we know so far about the project, and how it shapes what the film looks like in its current form. Keep in mind, the information below is subject to change, so if you’re a Rambo superfan, you’ll want to check back often to see what’s new. For now, here’s what we know so far about Rambo 5.

What Is The Rambo 5 Title?

Initially, the fourth Rambo sequel was just known as Rambo V, stylized with a Roman numeral, much like Rambo III. That was changed not too long after the film was greenlit under an earlier concept, which changed the title to Rambo V: The Savage Hunt. That title lasted for a little while, up until that rather outlandish story was replaced with a couple of concepts, one of which was entitled Rambo: Last Stand. Of course, the title didn’t last, as that concept was also rejected, leading to Rambo V landing the extremely fitting final title of Rambo V: Last Blood. Unless anything happens between now and the film’s fall release date, this is presumably the title we’ll see whenever the trailers start to drop. Let’s hope that title sticks as well as the name for Rambo’s new knife does.

When Is The Rambo 5 Release Date?

Rambo V: Last Blood has landed the prime release date of September 20, 2019. Once Rambo V: Last Blood had a story locked down, the film went into production in late 2018, wrapping before the end of the year and commemorated by a very thankful Sylvester Stallone on social media. This allows the film to be more than ready for the date it’s set its sights on, though there is a bit of competition in the weeks flanking the release.

With IT: Chapter 2 and The Goldfinch releasing in the two weeks before Rambo V: Last Blood’s arrival, the mature viewer’s film market will be a bit crowded at the start of September. Meanwhile, the week after this picture’s release holds a spot for an untitled Blumhouse project, which could split the market after opening. But, the greatest challenge may lie in the day of release, as Screen Gems’ police action thriller Black and Blue is set to debut alongside John Rambo’s final return.

What Will Rambo 5 Be Rated?

While there isn’t an official rating from the Motion Picture Association of America yet, seeing as the film hasn’t been submitted for classification yet, we don’t have an official answer on just what rating Rambo V: Last Blood will have. That having been said, the historical precedent does spell out an all but absolutely certain outcome, and it’s the one that fans will definitely be happy with.

Typically, the Rambo series has been an R-rated enterprise, from First Blood to the most recent entry, simply titled Rambo. Considering the level of action and carnage that have been integrated into the franchise throughout its history, it’s certainly not expected to change with Rambo V: Last Blood. So, while we can’t say dead certain that Sylvester Stallone’s warfighter won’t be downgrading to a PG-13 for ticket sales, we can say that decision is as likely as Rambo failing in his mission.

What Will Rambo 5 Be About?

If the original concepts for Rambo V: Last Blood had stuck, there would have been everything from an ill-advised sci-fi angle to a much different and more grounded concept. We’ll discuss the details of those later, but for now we can say that after all of the effort poured into this latest Rambo movie’s story, there’s a clear path for it to follow.

Rambo V: Last Blood will follow John Rambo’s mission into Mexico, to recover Gabriella, the daughter of a friend who went to the country of her birth in order to try and find her father. He left her as a child, and the pull of locating him is strong for Gabriella, but Rambo and her grandmother don’t approve of the idea, which is eventually proven to be a valid fear, as she’s kidnapped by a drug cartel during her trip. Before you can say “bow and arrow,” Rambo takes up arms and gets on with the show.

Who’s Directing Rambo 5?

Rambo V: Last Blood was directed by Adrian Grunberg, who up until this point has made a name for himself as a second unit director. His work on shows such as Sense8 and Narcos, as well as films like Apocalypto put him in a prime position to take the director’s chair one day, and that he did when he directed 2012’s Get The Gringo, for frequent collaborator Mel Gibson.

During the phase where various concepts for Rambo V: Last Blood were panning out, it looked like Sylvester Stallone might take the directing responsibilities for himself, as he’s been known to do in the past with projects he’s particularly passionate about. But, after a couple of his other concepts dropped off, Stallone ceded the director’s chair, and Grunberg was in!

What Is The Significance Of The Rambo 5 Title?

Before Rambo’s name eventually became the focus of the series’ title, it all started with a book written by David Morrell, entitled First Blood. The story of a Vietnam vet who, through a series of escalating incidents, becomes the subject of a woodland manhunt, the film adaptation kept that name intact. Eventually, that gave way to sequels titled Rambo: First Blood II, Rambo III, and most currently Rambo.

To create the title Rambo V: Last Blood highlights two possible points of order. The first is the obvious finality of this chapter in history, promising one last mission for John Rambo to carry out. But the more symbolic reason could be that just as First Blood kicked everything off with a more grounded and personal story, Rambo V: Last Blood will be returning to such a tactic, as opposed to merely sending him into Mexico with unlimited ammo to solve the problem.

Sylvester Stallone

It’s more than a safe bet to say that without Sylvester Stallone, Rambo wouldn’t be the man he is today. Since 1982, Stallone has put in the time and effort to revisit the character periodically, as well as keep himself in prime shape to do so, but especially when he had a reason to do so. This wasn’t only by showing up to play the part, though, as the action legend has worn many hats during the franchise’s long history.

Serving as a writer on each of the films leading up to, and including, Rambo V: Last Blood, Sylvester Stallone has always contributed to the story of John Rambo’s transition from wounded war vet to all time ass kicker. He even kicked things up a notch when, much like he did with Rocky Balboa, he revived his character as a writer and a director on the fourth entry to the series, Rambo. Though with this most recent project, Stallone only committed to co-writing and starring in the film.

Yvette Monreal

The role of Gabriella is one crucial to the narrative of Rambo V: Last Blood, so it’s going to take a young, but seasoned collaborator to jump into things and deliver. Cast in that role is actor Yvette Monreal, a teenaged professional with some impressive credits to her name.

Monreal is probably best known for her role as Adriana Gutierrez, on the hit Freeform drama The Fosters; though she’s also made appearances in shows like NCIS, and the El Rey network’s Matador. Her film credits include parts in the independent films Lowriders and Monsoon. In addition to her role in Rambo V: Last Blood, Yvette Monreal can also be seen on DC Universe’s Stargirl when it debuts at some point in 2020.

Paz Vega

Helping John Rambo in his quest to rescue Gabriella is her sister, reporter Carmen Delgado. Someone who’s familiar with the Mexican drug trade, as it’s her beat of reporting, Carmen will more than likely provide all the information about the local hierarchy and muscle that runs cartel operations, in the hopes that he’ll be able to retrieve Gabriella without much hassle.

Playing this role is Paz Vega, who was most recently seen in the Netflix original series The OA. Prior to that, Vega started her career in the Spanish film industry, with her big Hollywood debut coming from James L. Brooks’ dramedy Spanglish, alongside Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni. Other notable credits on Paz Vega’s resume include roles in the comic adaptation The Spirit, Pedro Almodavar’s I’m So Excited, and the historical drama Kill The Messenger.

Adrianna Barraza

At the end of Rambo, we saw the titular hero walking up to a ranch, more than ready to live the quiet life. That very ranch was none other than that of John Rambo’s father, and helping take care of that land for quite some time was Maria, Gabriella’s grandmother and spiritual sister to John Rambo. When Gabriella decides to go searching for her father in Rambo V: Last Blood, she voices her disapproval of the idea, and so does John.

For someone who’s considered the closest thing to a sister that Rambo ever had, an actor of similar iconic stature and gravitas to that of Sylvester Stallone is greatly needed, and this film found it when they cast Mexican acting legend Adriana Barraza. Barraza’s list of credits is a grab bag of huge names and titles, with TV shows like ER and CSI: Miami as well as films such as Amoros Perros and Babel. This won’t be the only time Barraza will be worried about an on-screen granddaughter, as she’s also playing Abuelita Valerie in Dora and the Lost City of Gold.

Sergio Peris-Mencheta

Heroes, and their action franchises, need villains, and Rambo V: Last Blood is no exception. In the case of this fifth and final film in the Rambo saga, drug cartel kingpin Hugo Martinez is the man to beat in this crusade to save Gabriella. Her presumed abductor, and maybe even her father (if we have any eye for anticipating plot twists) this is the guy that will most likely fight John Rambo in the dramatic third act of this film.

Strangely enough, this probably won’t be the bloodiest battle that actor Sergio Peris-Mencheta will see in his career, as the Spanish actor was previously seen in Resident Evil: Afterlife. So, fighting Rambo is probably a bit of a scaled back experience when compared to a zombie apocalypse. Peris-Mencheta is also known for his appearance in Dan Fogelman’s critically blasted tear-jerker Life Itself, as well as for playing Gustavo Zapata, an enforcer as part of a drug enterprise in FX’s drama Snowfall.

Oscar Jaenada

One of the two actors cast to star in Rambo V: Last Blood without any character information given at the time is Oscar Jaenada. While we don’t know what his role is in the latest Rambo action adventure, we do know that he’s got an interesting range of credits for himself. Jaenada’s most prolific role was that of Mexican film legend Cantinflas in the titular biopic, which saw him nominated for the Ariel Award (the Mexican Oscar) for Best Actor. Jaenada’s other notable credits include roles in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and most recently in director Doug Liman’s Chaos Walking, as well as Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

Joaquín Cosío

While the name Joaquin Cosio may not ring a bell to you at this moment, it only takes a look at the man’s credits to remind you that you probably have seen him more than once in your movie watching life. Most recognizably, Cosio can be seen as the secondary villain, General Medrano, in the James Bond adventure Quantum of Solace, as well as the Mexican wrester turned vampire hunter Angel Guzman Hurtado in FX’s The Strain. While we don’t know what Joaquin Cosio’s affiliation with the cartel is in Rambo V: Last Blood, we do know that he’s currently playing Ernesto “Don Neto” Fonseca on Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico.

John Rambo’s Combat History

Serving as a Green Beret in Vietnam, John Rambo first fought on screen in Washington state, during the events that transpired between himself and local law enforcement in First Blood. While those actions landed him behind bars, they brought him to the attention of his commanding officer, Col. Samuel Trautman, who would remain an ally and handler of his through the next two sequels, Rambo II and Rambo III.

In Rambo II, John was offered a literal get out of jail free card, in exchange for locating and aiding in the recovery of American POWs still in Vietnam. Using this opportunity to its fullest advantage, John saved the prisoners, and exposed a rogue element in the US military who specifically tried to hamper his efforts to rescue those missing in action. With Rambo III enlisting John Rambo to aid the Mujahideen against Soviet incursion, and Rambo seeing him rescue missionaries from a vicious warlord in Burma, you can begin to see why Rambo V: Last Blood’s title just might be a blessing for Rambo himself, even aside from the fact that Sylvester Stallone has really gotten banged up in this particular time out at the rodeo.

Rejected Concepts For Rambo 5

We’ve previously alluded to discarded concepts for Rambo V: Last Blood that just didn’t get off the ground, and their story content ranges from the interesting to the flat out absurd. The more grounded side of the spectrum had some of the components that eventually made their way into the final story, with human trafficking, drug cartels, and even a film that was supposed to directly invoke the limited scope of action that First Blood had thrived on. That last concept was entitled Rambo: Last Stand, but it was soon scrapped, with the abduction and drug cartel angles being combined to create Rambo V: Last Blood. And just as you’d suspect, there almost was a reboot of the entire franchise, as well as a TV series pitched in the interim.

But perhaps the most infamously dumped concept is Rambo V: The Savage Hunt; a film that would have seen John Rambo teaming up with a special ops team to hunt down an abnormally powered creature created in genetic experiments. Taken from the novel Hunter by James Byron Huggins, this idea would have pivoted the stereotypically action focused franchise into some new sci-fi shaded waters, but this angle was too out there for all involved and eventually gave way to the drafts that put Rambo on the track for his final, more realistic battle.

Rambo V: Last Blood will be headed our way on September 20, 2019, but should that release date or any other details we’ve mentioned above change, we’ll update this handy guide for your reference!

Wait, Why Did Avengers: Infinity War Let Shuri Die Off Camera?

Wait, Why Did Avengers: Infinity War Let Shuri Die Off Camera?

Every Marvel fan has that one victim of Thanos’s Decimation that they wish had survived. Watching our favorite MCU characters fading away into a cloud of ash was a pretty devastating event, and every time it’s brought up, it feels like a freshly opened wound in our hearts. And just when you thought it was all said and done with the greatest Marvel happening since the collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D., there was a new wrinkle added to the already high toll of emotional damages. As it turns out, Shuri -- sister of King T’Challa and tech guru extraordinaire of Wakanda -- was apparently part of the casualties of that fateful day.

While presumed to be alive at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, the trailers for Avengers: Endgame hit with the implication that one of our favorite Marvel geniuses was dusted off camera. At first, this was dismissed as one of those shots that the folks in charge love to include, so as to throw off fans trying to guess what’s going to happen in the actual film. But by time the posters for Avengers: Endgame hit, Shuri was a confirmed kill with her visage shown in the same black and white quality all the other fallen heroes took in their posters. Which not only has us mad, it has us questioning why in the hell Avengers: Infinity War would let such a huge death happen off screen.

The princess of Wakanda’s actual fate has always been considered up in the air -- even Angela Bassett herself seemed to think that Shuri, as well as her character Ramonda, had survived the ending of Avengers: Infinity War. It’s a conclusion we previously jumped to as well, as the film wasn’t shy about killing off a mass of characters that occupied both the front and center as well as the supporting rung of the series. Seeing everyone from Bucky Barnes to Groot biting the dust, it didn’t feel like they’d leave that important of a character off of the chopping block in the first half of this two part story. If she had done less to effect the outcome of the story, then maybe not including Shuri would have made sense. But, as we saw in her final recorded moments of activity in Avengers: Infinity War, her importance to the overall plot can’t be overstated.

Shuri’s big move in Avengers: Infinity War was all about the potential solution to save Vision from being dependent on the Soul Stone to live. Her last known location was in her lab in Wakanda, as Shuri was scrambling to finish her work, and it was even theorized that she possibly found a way to save Vision in order to resurrect him, sans the Infinity Stone that gave him life. Of course, Corvus Glaive burst into her lab during what looked like some very crucial stages of that process, and the question of whether or not she succeeded was left as open ended as whether she’d survived or not.

And yet, as we saw T’Challa disappear in front of Okoye during Avengers: Infinity War, we didn’t get such a scene with Shuri. Which is rather interesting, considering that not only is Danai Gurira's character a crucial survivor in Avengers: Endgame’s story, she was also the last person we saw with Shuri as they fought off Corvus Glaive in the Wakandan labs. You’d think those two would want to stick together, not only to up the odds of survival, but also to get Shuri over to her brother, so that the three could mount a mutual defense against Thanos and his goons. Even if she still died, it would have been on camera, she would have gone out fighting, and Okoye would be even more galvanized to carry on the good fight in Avengers: Endgame.

So why didn’t they show both children of Wakanda’s royal bloodline dusting away in Avengers: Infinity War? Well, whether they knew it was happening or not, this could have been Marvel’s own way of building in a trap door in case one particular party couldn’t be involved. Just as surprising as Shuri’s death was the announcement that Avengers: Endgame would include Valkyrie in the roster of heroes that survived The Decimation. So if Tessa Thompson’s schedule wouldn’t allow her to participate, then Letitia Wright might have been asked to come back as Shuri to balance the playing field. But as Valkyrie is now officially spared, someone had to take her place on the other side of the MCU wind, and that unlucky soul was Shuri. It may not be the best reason for omitting the character, but it plays by the rules of The Decimation, and feels like a natural fit.

Even with The Decimation requiring half of the Marvel Cinematic Universe be wiped out, wasn’t there another character that could have disappeared, allowing Shuri to remain? It’s useless at this point, as not only is her character expected to make a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Endgame, she’ll probably be back for further adventures in the Black Panther franchise, which seems like a shoo-in for a Phase 4 release date.

Obviously, the decision was part of a meticulous plan to end The Infinity Saga, and we’re not arguing with that fact. But even with the comfort that comes when thinking of the obvious return of the fallen from Avengers: Infinity War, it still doesn’t sit well that the proper time and space to grieve that character’s death wasn’t given to the audience members who latched onto and/or identified with Shuri at this stage of the game.

Here’s hoping we get some sort of real answers as to why this decision was made when Avengers: Endgame potentially provides closure on these queries and more on April 26th. If you’re looking to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can take a look at what we have so far in our guide for upcoming Marvel release dates, which will be updated as soon as any new information about Phase 4 comes through.

How Interstellar Turned Christopher Nolan Into An Actual Corn Farmer

How Interstellar Turned Christopher Nolan Into An Actual Corn Farmer

Christopher Nolan is one of the premier filmmakers of the 21st century. Nolan, along with his brother and collaborator, Jonathan, is complex and unique writer of modern masterpieces. As a director, Nolan’s films are visually stunning. Did you know that he also learned how to grow corn too?

It was something you may not have paid much conscious attention to in his 2014 hit Interstellar, but it was a crucial bit of filmmaking with a fascinating story behind it. Read on to learn how this happened.

Christopher Nolan Has Always Taken On Big Challenges As A Filmmaker

Christopher Nolan’s breakout film, 2000’s Memento, was a surprise hit that bent time and followed a nonlinear narrative to tell the story of a man with short-term memory loss searching for his wife’s killer. For a budget of just $9 million, Nolan did amazing things. It established his style as a filmmaker that takes risks to make sure he gets the best possible shots, something that he would take to extremes in Interstellar. It also established his penitent for time-bending stories, like Inception.

In his Dark Knight Trilogy, Christopher Nolan created a completely original world that totally turned the often-told story of Batman on its head. He changed the way the world sees Batman, something that had not been done since Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989, which was also praised for its unique style. It’s not easy to take such a well-known story and create something completely original, but he did that beautifully.

His most recent film, 2017's Dunkirk, was an enormous undertaking in his quest to find a unique approach to the classic World War II film genre. From the thousands of extras on the beaches of France to the incredible dogfighting scenes in the planes above them to the enormous flotilla of every kind of boat imaginable coming to save the day, Dunkirk is a visual masterpiece. It is also a film with very minimal use of computer-generated imagery, the lack of which is something that has become a calling card of sort for Nolan in his films.

But how is he as a farmer? Specifically, a corn farmer? And WHY is he – or why WAS he – a corn farmer? Taking a peak behind the scenes of his 2014 hit Interstellar explains why he grew a huge field of corn, in a place that doesn’t usually support corn, and then sold the corn for an actual profit!

Christopher Nolan's Real Corn Is Better Than CGI Corn In Interstellar

In a film world where CGI is king, Christopher Nolan has become something of a traditionalist. Dunkirk is praised for its old-fashioned approach to filmmaking, using models and miniatures to create the special effects instead of relying on a computer to draw them in. Dunkirk was not the first time Nolan has dismissed the modern approach, nor was it the riskiest. Back in 2014, he and the other producers chose to grow a corn field to serve as the farm for Matthew McConaughey’s character, Joseph Cooper, in Interstellar.

Corn Is Crucial To The Plot Of Interstellar

If you don’t remember why the protagonist of Interstellar, Joseph Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey was hurdling through a wormhole near Saturn in hopes of finding a new planet for humankind to colonize due to “The Blight.” The Blight was never fully explained, except that it started sometime before McConaughey’s character joined NASA. The blight had wiped out most of the plants on Earth, with corn and okra being the last two viable crops, and okra was on its last legs, according to Christopher Nolan’s script.

Christopher Nolan Was Not The First Filmmaker To Grow Corn

Zack Snyder did it for Man Of Steel, and in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Christopher Nolan revealed that he spoke with Snyder about it:

Luckily, [director] Zack [Snyder] had grown a bunch of corn, so I said, 'How much can you really grow practically?'

Sometimes two directors sharing notes with one another can lead to great things.

Interstellar’s Corn Wasn’t Easy To Grow

In the script for Interstellar, the setting for the farm was written as being surrounded by corn fields with mountains in the distance. There are not a lot of places in the world, apparently, that can have both. So the filmmakers were taking a $100K gamble to grow corn in Western Canada, outside Calgary, where the film was shot. To be honest, it doesn’t seem like THAT big of a risk. Interstellar was a film with a $165 million budget. The craft services were probably more than $100K.

The Corn Wasn’t Supposed To Last

But a risk it was, as they were told the corn would fail by most experts. Christopher Nolan probably didn’t care if it failed in the long run. Obviously for him, the only important thing was how it looked on the screen. It’s always interesting to find out about the seemingly inconsequential details that filmmakers deal with. The producers had to do a lot of research and bring in consultants just to grow one of the most abundant crops on Earth. Would it really have made a difference if the corn was CGI? Or if the mountains in the background were? Well, yeah, it would have.

CGI Would Not Have Looked As Good

This is what separates directors like Christopher Nolan from others. He is willing to go every extra mile to make his vision come true on the screen and when it works, just like Dunkirk, it is glorious. The corn fields in Interstellar are something most movie-goers may not pay that much attention to, consciously, but subconsciously, given the importance of the crop to the plot, this attention to detail and fully immersive process makes for a stunning achievement and adds considerable depth to the film.

To compare, compare the look of the corn in Interstellar with the clearly CGI corn field in another Zack Snyder film, Justice League. That comparison clearly illustrates the difference, and frankly, it is stark. It’s not really a fair comparison, as Christopher Nolan’s looks cleaner, brighter, more authentic, and much better.

The Corn Did Last And It Made Money

According to Nolan in the Hollywood Reporter interview, the corn turned a profit. In his words:

In the end, we got a pretty good crop, and we actually made money on this.

Still, I can’t help but wonder how much money was lost when Cooper tore through the field chasing a drone, crushing thousands of stalks.

So what do you think? Was the huge undertaking worth it or would a CGI corn field had the same visual effect? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the poll and comments below.

Armie Hammer Hasn’t Been Approached About The Batman, But He’s Down

Armie Hammer Hasn’t Been Approached About The Batman, But He’s Down

The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating tenure in theaters, full of peaks and valleys. As such, Warner Bros. is constantly adjusting their plans, with surprise news often hitting the general public after the fact. Following the poor performance of Justice League, the DCEU is pivoting away from serialized storytelling, with movies like Aquaman and Shazam! focusing on their title character, void of crossovers.

In some ways it feels like the DCEU we knew had ended, although the shared universe seems to have hit its stride in the process. But that puts the plans for the Justice League members in jeopardy, especially Superman, Cyborg, Flash, and Batman. The latter was played by Ben Affleck in three movies, but he's officially hung up his cowl and cape for good. Matt Reeves will have to recast for his developing movie The Batman, with names like Armie Hammer on the top of fan lists. Now Hammer has spoken to these rumors, saying:

Yeah, that’s the problem: I’ve never been approached, but if I was, I would jump at the opportunity. You can only say 'no' or 'yes' to projects you’re offered.

Well, that's certainly exciting. While shutting down rumors that he's been approached to play DC's new Bruce Wayne, Armie Hammer also revealed that he's absolutely interested. So if he gets the call, Hammer would be down to don the iconic suit and use all of Batman's wonderful toys.

Armie Hammer's comments to USA Today are sure to illicit plenty of reactions from comic book fans. Batman is one of the most popular superheroes ever, so there's a ton of pressure associated with the casting of the Dark Knight. There was plenty of backlash when Ben Affleck was first announced in the role, although he ended up proving himself, bringing a jaded and experienced adaptation to the silver screen. Hammer is at the top of fan lists for possible Batman replacements, so his excitement over the potential role is going to get heads spinning.

From what we've heard about Matt Reeves' The Batman, the project is going to star a younger version of Batman, and focus on his detective work in Gotham City. Armie Hammer seems like a solid choice, as Ben Affleck is 14 years his senior. There would certainly be a juxtaposition between the two actors, which might be exactly what Reeves is hoping for.

The latest news about The Batman also reveal that Matt Reeves is reportedly looking for a big name to play his Caped Crusader. Armie Hammer's star power has been steadily growing over the past few years, so he might be the tier of fame that Reeves is hoping for. He got action experience in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., starred in Oscar bait Call Me By Your Name, and even voiced a superhero in Stan Lee's Mighty 7. So it might be the perfect time for Hammer to step into a full on superhero role of his own in live-action.

Armie Hammer has a history with Batman, as he was cast as the role in George Miller's failed Justice League Mortal movie. He's ultimately glad his role didn't come to fruition, but I guess he's still got his eye on the cowl.

Armie Hammer's Hotel Mumbai opens in theaters this weekend. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Looks Like Thanos Is Getting An Epic Weapon In Avengers: Endgame

Looks Like Thanos Is Getting An Epic Weapon In Avengers: Endgame

It is arguably the most exciting time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far. A decade of filmmaking and 21 blockbusters will come to a head when Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters this month, ending both Phase Three and the MCU as we know it. Moviegoers are eager to return to the MCU, and see what happened to the galaxy after Thanos wiped out half of all life with the snap of his big purple finger.

The trailers and marketing material has teased a darker and more grim world for the survivors to inhabit in the wake of Thanos' dinger snap (aka The Decimation). But Josh Brolin's signature villain has been largely absent, save for a shot of his armor and his hand walking through a field. Fans are eager to catch up with the Mad Titan, and now merchandise has revealed he'll be getting a badass new weapon in Endgame. Check it out below.

Does anyone else have chills? It looks like Thanos is getting a sword in Avengers: Endgame, which should be a new way to see the Mad Titan in action. And considering that characters like Thor are packing heat, it opens up the possibilities for action in the upcoming sequel.

This new image comes to us from Hot Toys, which are selling a stunning rendering of Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. With the blockbuster just weeks away, its merchandise is set to arrive in theaters. Blockbusters in the MCU make a ton of money through action figures, but toys can sometimes leak information before they hit theaters. That seems to be the case with Thanos' new sword, which will no doubt bring some punishment to the surviving heroes when Endgame finally arrives.

The Endgame trailers show that the surviving heroes are focused on avenging the fallen, whatever it takes. It looks like the upcoming blockbuster will largely focus on those characters, and how they're coping with the apocalyptic event that Thanos caused. This is in stark juxtaposition to Infinity War, which followed Thanos as the protagonist. But while he's noticeably absent from the trailers, Josh Brolin's character should still have a major affect on the events of Endgame.

But it looks like the public won't know much about Thanos' role until Endgame finally arrives in theaters. Marvel Studios is keeping its cards close to the chest to avoid spoilers, and allow moviegoers to have the optimal experience in theaters. In fact, the Russo Brothers are encouraging fans to avoid spoilers and see their blockbuster on its opening weekend in order keep all of its secrets. And that includes Thanos' role and ultimate fate.

According to Gamora, Thanos has only ever wanted one thing: to assemble the Infinity Stones and wipe out half of all life. Now that's he's succeeded, one has to wonder: what's next? How is he holding up in retirement?

Avengers: Infinity War gave the audience a clear look into Thanos' psyche, however monstrous it was. Josh Brolin's layered motion capture performance brought heart and context to the character's quest for mass genocide. While intent on murdering half of all life, the Mad Titan truly believes he's doing a good thing. Because in solving overpopulation with a snap, he's convinced he's saving future generations from a galaxy that can't sustain them.

It's a quest that's misguided, but something Thanos has built his entire belief system on. What's more, he's got firsthand experience, after seeing his home planet of Titan reduced to rubble in the wake of overpopulation. Thanos was willing to do anything to ensure victory, including killing his daughter Gamora in order to acquire the Soul Stone. And since he's succeeded, the question is: what now?

After all, what's the point of changing the galaxy if you have no one to share it with? While he wiped out half of all live, Thanos suffered loss throughout the course of Avengers: Infinity War as well. Every member of his Black Order perished in the blockbuster, all while attempting to serve their master. He's also presumably still grappling with the guilt and mourning over Gamora, who was killed by his own hands.

Gamora's death played a major role in Avengers: Infinity War, with the young Gamora coming to Thanos after he snapped his fingers and caused The Decimation. And when Mantis managed to incapacitate him briefly on Titan, she felt his mourning and agony. Marvel villains aren't typically shown with such conflicted motivations, or having any remorse for their actions. So it should be interesting to see how Thanos has changed since we last saw him.

Of course, most cinephiles assume that the affects of Thanos' snap will be reversed during Endgame, although how it anyone's guess. Common fan theories involve time travel and The Quantum Realm, but what if the Mad Titan simply changed his mind? Could his time in retirement and inevitable new conflict with the surviving heroes make him change his mind? It would be fascinating to see Josh Brolin's signature character do an about face, and it would be a major change in Thanos' personality.

In addition to seeing how Thanos has managed after The Snap, it will also be interesting to see him interact with what's left of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. While Infinity War saw Gamora and Nebula dealing with their trauma and hatred toward Thanos, now all of the characters have the same bone to pick. The entire galaxy is in mourning, so the motivation to take down Thanos is all the more dire. And now the good guys have reinforcements with Captain Marvel and Ant-Man.

According to one hilarious fan theory, Ant-Man and Thanos' purple butt are the way the good guys will eventually win. Even Josh Brolin weighed in on it all. Still, Paul Rudd's character looks like he's going to have a major role in the upcoming blockbuster.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Endgame arrives on April 26th, one year after Infinity War shocked us all. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.