Comic-Con: The Hobbit Just Got a Little Funnier with Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry does it all. He writes, acts, speaks, blogs -- basically, he's putting us all out of jobs. His latest role will be that of an ordinary human, albeit one who gets to hang out with hobbits and dwarves and dragons.

Compared to the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbitwas always a lighter adventure, a prequel meant for younger readers as a segue into the epic, dark experiences of the Fellowship of the Ring and their quest to Mordor. Keeping with his past trilogy, it's likely that Peter Jackson's upcoming adaptation of The Hobbit will keep the same grim tone, but with recent casting additions, there may be room in the film for a bit more comedy.

According to Peter Jackson's official Facebook page, British comedian/writer Stephen Fry has been cast in the film as the Master of Laketown. Bilbo Baggins and his posse of dwarves are welcomed to the town by the Master, who's real intentions are driven by greed and weakness.

Jackson and Fry have a previously relationship, spending a good part of the last decade working together on a remake of the 1955 war film The Dam Busters. Now Jackson's expanded his relationship with Fry, bringing him into theHobbit fold in a role that could be more substantial than the original text would have you believe, now that the source material is being broken into two parts.

For those unfamiliar with Fry, or simply need a reason to love this bit of casting, watch this:

Jackson also updated with a few more casting additions, including relative unknown Ryan Gage as the Master of Watertown's slimy servant Alfrid and Conan Stevens as the orc Azgog. Jackson posted a picture of himself and Stevens on set, to give you an idea how tall this lumbering actor really is (Jackson is aroundn 6'5"). Not someone you want to mess around with.

The Hobbit is a strong contender for a panel at SDCC this year, so keep your eyes peeled for official announcements soon.

Magnet Releasing To Take You Beyond The Black Rainbow

The trippy sci-fi festival favorite from an alternate 1983 lands a distribution partner.

Panos Cosmatos' Beyond the Black Rainbow, the only memorable film from this year's Tribeca Film Festival, has landed a distribution partner.  And it is the right partner.

Our friends at Magnet Releasing, the sociopaths who brought us Rubber and Hobo With a Shotgun and Black Death and the upcoming Trollhunter, announced the deal the other day at the Cannes Film Festival.  It was swallowed by the news of Lars von Trier being a douche but, much like the insidious nature of this otherworldly film, the message has still seeped out.

Beyond the Black Rainbow is an endurance test - an intensely slow movie, focused on eerie tone over plot.  It bathes in the aesthetic of late '70s and early '80 science fiction, like a visit to EPCOT on some really bad LSD.

No timetable for VOD or theatrical release has been announced.

Below is the festival trailer.  If this doesn't turn you on, then you and I really have nothing to say to one another.

Check out my review of Beyond the Black Rainbow from the Tribeca Film Festival.

The Awesome Gross Chick From Bridesmaids Announces Two Projects

The Bridesmaids scene-stealer is doubling-down with two new comedies.

When I first reviewed Bridesmaids I was so swept up with Kristen Wiig's performance (the best film comedienne since Madeline Kahn) that there were few column inches left to talk about the other performances.

As I exited the SXSW premiere, however, I recall saying to friends that "if it were a just world, Melissa McCarthy would be starring in films of her own."

Well, there's nothing like a movie overshooting its estimates (it made $25 million at the box office this weekend) and receiving near-universal praise to make miracles happen.

Deadline reports that McCarthy is teaming with Bridesmaids co-writer Annie Mumolo on a quest movie to steal the Stanley Cup for her dying husband. The husband will be played by McCarthy's actual husband, Ben Falcone, who plays the object of McCarthy's affection in the soon-to-be-if-not-already airplane scene in Bridesmaids.

What disgusting things are in store for this noble vessel?

Entertainment Weekly is also reporting that Bridesmaids director Paul Feig is setting up a project for McCarthy to star in.  Nothing is yet known, except for the quote pulled in The Film Stage's article, "“If an actress like Melissa becomes a huge star? THAT is a world I want to live in.”

McCarthy uglied herself a bit for the role in Bridesmaids, but no matter how you slice it she has "unconventional Hollywood looks."  To that end, we must all do what we can to support Ms. McCarthy and her career.  Because she's really effing funny and we need more of that.

Stanley Kubrick's Iron Man

"You must design a poster for a movie called IRON MAN directed by Stanley Kubrick. This is all you know."

That was all the instructions the members of Warren Ellis' Whitechapel forums received in their latest challenge.

Above: Paul Sizer's take on A Clockwork Orange. Below: Michael Furious' take on Full Metal Jacket. Me: In film mashup heaven. (Link via Geek-Art | io9)


Previously on Popped Culture...

If Stark Industries Had Created Astroboy...
Reservoir Droogs
I Love The Smell Of Midi-chlorians In the Morning