Jesse Eisenberg is Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred for Superman/ Batman

Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. Pictures has found their Lex Luthor for the untitled Man of Steel sequel which fans have dubbed as Superman/Batman for the duration, in the form of actor Jesse Eisenberg.

In the DC Comics, Luthor was a supergenius who just hate Superman with a vengeance. Currently if you pick up a DC book, you'll see that Luthor is embroiled in a fight with the Crime Syndicate in Forever Evil together with a handful of DC rogues as well as Batman and Catwoman.

Eisenberg received Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and BAFTA Award nominations for his starring role as Mark Zuckerberg in David Fincher’s The Social Network. He also starred in Woody Allen's To Rome with Love and Louis Letterier's Now You See Me.

Also in the outs is actor Jeremy Irons who will be playing the role of Bruce Wayne's butler and only father figure Alfred Pennyworth.

Some of the movies I remember Jeremy Irons in was in Die Hard as well as sharing his voice to Scar from The Lion King. 

UPDATE: I got the official press release now from Warner Bros. Pictures Phil.

BURBANK, CA, January 31, 2014 – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Jesse Eisenberg has been set to star as Lex Luthor and Jeremy Irons will play Alfred in the upcoming Zack Snyder untitled Superman/Batman film. The dual announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Snyder stated, “Lex Luthor is often considered the most notorious of Superman’s rivals, his unsavory reputation preceding him since 1940. What’s great about Lex is that he exists beyond the confines of the stereotypical nefarious villain. He’s a complicated and sophisticated character whose intellect, wealth and prominence position him as one of the few mortals able to challenge the incredible might of Superman. Having Jesse in the role allows us to explore that interesting dynamic, and also take the character in some new and unexpected directions.”

The director added, “As everyone knows, Alfred is Bruce Wayne’s most trusted friend, ally and mentor, a noble guardian and father figure. He is an absolutely critical element in the intricate infrastructure that allows Bruce Wayne to transform himself into Batman. It is an honor to have such an amazingly seasoned and gifted actor as Jeremy taking on the important role of the man who mentors and guides the guarded and nearly impervious façade that encapsulates Bruce Wayne.”

Eisenberg received Academy Award®, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award® and BAFTA Award nominations for his starring role as Mark Zuckerberg in David Fincher’s “The Social Network.” He also starred in Woody Allen’s “To Rome with Love” and Louis Letterier’s “Now You See Me.” He next appears in “The Double” and “Night Moves.”

Irons won the Academy Award® for his portrayal of Claus von Bülow in “Reversal of Fortune.” His work in the film also garnered him a Golden Globe Award. He won an Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® for his performance in the TV miniseries “Elizabeth I,” opposite Helen Mirren, and recently starred on the small screen as Rodrigo Borgia in Neil Jordan’s highly acclaimed Showtime series “The Borgias,” for which Irons earned a Golden Globe nomination. He was recently nominated for a SAG Award® for the PBS Great Performances television miniseries “The Hollow Crown,” for his performance as Henry IV.

Snyder’s film stars Henry Cavill, reprising his role as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. The film also reunites “Man of Steel” stars Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.

The new film is currently being written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David S. Goyer. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing, with Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Wesley Coller, David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

The film is set to open worldwide on May 6, 2016, and is based on Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Batman characters created by Bob Kane, and Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston, appearing in comic books published by DC Entertainment.

Superman/Batman hits theaters 2016

Warner has Found Its Wonder Woman in Gal Gadot

Fast and Furious 6 actress (and total bombshell) Gal Gadot will be swinging the golden lasso of truth as she has been officially announced to play the role of Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman for Zack Snyder's MAN OF STEEL 2. 

“Not only is Gal an amazing actress, but she also has that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role. We look forward to audiences discovering Gal in the first feature film incarnation of this beloved character.” (Zack Snyder) 

C'mon lets admit it, we're a bit disappointed that they didn't cast our choice star but much like how Ben Affleck was cast as Batman there might be something that they've seen in Gadot that we're not seeing. I hear that she also beat out Elodie Yung and Olga Kurylenko for the role. 

Plus she can totally kick our collective fanboy asses as she's a trained military personel. 

Gina Carano might not have been picked as Wonder Woman but I'm happy with this casting news.

Credits: IGN 

Runner Runner Review

Saw 20th Century Fox's RUNNER RUNNER tonight starring Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck and Gemma Arterton and I think it's a pretty decent crime drama. More on those thoughts later.

So what do I think of this film. I think it was eye-candy with a potential with some wasted away while others are not fully realized. Still, this does make for one great popcorn muncher. There's just so much jargons here related to the world of online gambling that it might confuse non trendy viewers.

Ben Affleck shines as the notorious Ivan Block, the owner of this shady "online gaming" website that scams Timberlake's Richie Furst for all his hard earned savings. If anything, I consider Affleck's role here in Runner Runner as a trial run for his eventual role as billionaire Bruce Wayne / Batman in "Man of Steel 2".  On the performance itself, it was "just OK". The guy does look like a natural amongst the yachts, girls and fast cars so I can really see why he was cast as Batman's alter ego.

Justin Timberlake shows us that he can play more serious roles. While there's barely any action here in the film, Timberlake takes that challenge for himself to actually make this somewhat droll story interesting. And he does so partly with charisma and just looking all awesome in suit and tie.




Gemma Arterton was pure eye candy. The way her character was written, she was trying to be a femme fatale and partly be the damsel in distress. Both aspects fail spectacularly. Still all those scenes where she's supposed to be alluring work to her advantage.

The film looks beautiful and is typical. But face value simply cannot be the only basis to this caper-crime film. That's where Runner Runner flounders; its got no real "twist" and just follows the motions leaving moviegoers with a story that you could probably tell in 5 to 10 minutes tops.

Despite that I still like Runner Runner. It offers an interesting world, one which is highly secretive and very lucrative. Plus its a good inspiration if you're already well on your way to establishing your own online poker site. :D

Verdict: C

Special thanks to 20th Century Fox for the invitation. RUNNER RUNNER is now showing.

Ben Affleck Plays Online Gambling Kingpin in "Runner Runner"

Despite the risks – statistical and criminal – online gambling holds innumerable attractions. In today's post-economic-meltdown world, young people have fewer job options than ever before. But that hasn't done anything to affect their desire to get-rich-quickly. This generation – consumers from early childhood – is used to getting what they want, when they want it, with the click of a mouse.

“Runner Runner” depicts the risks of this reality starring Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake and Gemma Arterton where Timberlake plays Princeton grad and former Wall Street star Richie Furst, who believes he’s been swindled by an online poker organization based in Costa Rica. He decides to head to Central America to confront the owner, Affleck’s Ivan Block, and is soon seduced by the promise of immense wealth. As Block’s right-hand man he uncovers more than he bargains for, and is soon juggling loyalties and trying to stay alive.

The lavish life of “Runner Runner’s” gambling kingpin Ivan Block is what director Brad Furman calls, “the new American dream.” He elaborates: “Technology has led us to a world where everything comes very quickly, which has expedited this concept of the American dream. Young people today want everything faster – especially money.”

Affleck agrees, “Underneath this allure of fast and easy money is something inherently fraudulent, crooked, broken and wrong.” Everything now is about getting rich quickly, by any means necessary. The new corporate ethos is to cut the other guy’s throat. In some circles, it’s even considered healthy and to be prized.”

Ivan Block’s own journey down the rabbit hole has yielded untold riches, which is all the enticement Richie needs for what ultimately becomes a rite of passage. “Ivan Block is the unapologetic mentor who says, ‘Get what you can get and don’t think twice about it,’” says Affleck. “Block wants to manipulate Richie, to get him to be part of his team. His mission is to groom Richie so he won’t object to some of the darker things he sees.”

Affleck notes that reading people is one of Block’s chief strengths in distracting Richie from the tycoon’s less savory aspects: “Block knows what buttons to press on people, and his most impressive trick is to distract them from his true motives. To Block, people are insecure and almost desperate to succeed. He knows people feel they’ve been kicked around and that we’re taught to chase the dollar and to equate wealth with status, honor, success, and manliness. So he holds up that wealth, which blinds Richie to what’s really going on.”

“The movie hopefully will show how complicated Ivan Block is. We like to stand apart and look at people in this binary way and say you're bad and you’re good, and I think that makes really an interesting drama. What I hoped was that people would understand and identify with this guy on some levels, and maybe some people would find him and what he's proselytizing appealing. Justin's character does early on, and then given time he's revealed to be a guy who makes very bad choices and does things we recognize as immoral. What I think is interesting is that hopefully, if we've done our job right, you see at the root of those choices was a guy who wasn't necessarily bad to begin with, but chose a road. Once he made that choice he did what he had to do in order to be successful on that road,” Affleck explains of his character.

Before stepping in the caped crusader’s realm, Affleck says he immensely enjoyed the opportunity to “chew the scenery” of “Runner Runner” and, after the enormous success he had as director of last year’s “Argo,” relished the chance to “just be an actor again”. Which may come as a surprise to those who have adjusted to thinking of him as a world-class director – before the groundbreaking “Argo,” Affleck helmed the kidnapping drama “Gone Baby Gone” and Boston heist thriller “The Town.”

Included in Affleck’s journey as one of Hollywood’s A-list actors are unforgettable and blockbuster films such as “Good Will Hunting,” “Chasing Amy,” “Jay and Silent Bob,” “Mallrats,” “Dogma,” “Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Daredevil,” “Gigli,” “Hollywoodland,” “Smokin’ Aces” and “The Company Men.”

“Runner Runner” opens September 26 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

GEEK FASHION: Ben Affleck's Daredevil - Batman Sweater

Yeah okay so it looks like we've got a winner when it comes to finding out what Ben Affleck would be wearing for the Christmas season. It really should be something like this:

And when he turns his back on unsuspecting fanboys and fangirls this is what they get:

Oh and an added info, today somebody from Warner said that Ben Affleck's Batman which will be appearing in Man of Steel 2 aka World's Finest would be somebody that's experienced and world weary; which was also probably the reason why they were eyeing Josh Brolin for the role. 

Gemma Arterton's Dangerous Game in "Runner Runner"

Gemma Arterton stars alongside Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake in “Runner Runner” wherein her role as Rebecca Shafran is entangled in the cutthroat world of online gambling.

“Runner Runner” explores the multi-billion dollar industry of online gambling where all players are supposed to have their share, in any which way possible. Affleck takes on the role of gambling kingpin Ivan Block while Timberlake is Richie Furst, a brilliant Princeton grad student on his way to finishing his masters. Furst, in order to further finance his studies takes commissions from online gambling operators and risks playing online too for additional money. When Richie betted all of his savings and lost it to Block’s operations, he soon finds out that he’s been tricked. Determined to recollect his tuition money, he heads to Costa Rica to confront Block about his malicious online practices. Soon thereafter, Richie falls for Block’s associate –sophisticated COO Rebecca Shafran (Gemma Arterton) – and he embraces a world that sees all of his fantasies come to life. But Richie soon learns that Block is wanted for racketeering, extortion and bribery, and that FBI Special Agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie) is obsessed with bringing Block and his associates to justice.

“The real allure of Block’s world transcends money,” says director Brad Furman. It’s about something far more interesting – and dangerous. “The real equation in this movie is money times power equals sex. You ask men why they want money and power, and the answer usually is: women. That’s the bottom line.”

The distaff representative of this world is Rebecca Shafren, Block’s sharp and powerful COO, whose loyalty to Block is tested when she meets Richie. English-born Gemma Arterton portrays Rebecca. A gambling novice, Arterton nevertheless embraced the role. “I really liked the script, which I thought was clever and witty, and it portrayed a world I wanted to investigate.”

“I really like Rebecca,” Arterton continues. “She's almost villainous in certain ways, and she’s never predictable. “Runner Runner” is about power, wealth and greed. I was intrigued by Rebecca’s desire to live in this world, which is indicative of how many women believe they must act – in an almost masculine way – in order to succeed.”

“When Richie arrives in Costa Rica and meets Rebecca, she is very much the business person in control; she’s very tough, almost like a femme fatale,” Arterton continues. “But she also enjoys having fun. She sees this sexy, young guy and thinks, ‘I'll play around with him for a bit.’ She finds out that he's actually quite clever and smart, and he's different from other people she knows and works with. Rebecca has a real dilemma: she covets the wealth that comes with her position, and yet also rediscovers her moral bearings through her relationship with Richie. And she begins to change her outlook on Block and her position in his empire.”

A (2011) BAFTA nominee as Best Newcomer, Gemma Arterton is mostly known for the roles she played in the previously released blockbusters “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” “Clash of the Titans,” “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” “Quantum of Solace” and “RocknRolla.” She has most recently been seen in the highly anticipated “Byzantium” directed by Neil Jordan and written by Moira Buffini, in which she stars as vampire Clara opposite Saoirse Ronan. Her other film works include “Song for Marion,” “Tamara Drewe,” “The Disappearance of Alice Creed,” “The Boat that Rocked,” “Three and Out,” “St. Trinians” and in the animated “A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventure” as her debut voice role.

“Runner Runner” opens September 26 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Check out the trailer feature of “Runner Runner” @ 20thCenturyFoxPh/YouTube.



Visit and like 20th Century Fox (Philippines)/Facebook. Follow us too at Twitter handle @20thcenturyfoxph.

Possible Concept Art for Ben Affleck BATMAN Costume Surfaces

A neat concept art has surfaced online featuring a possible look for Ben Affleck's Batman for 2015's Man of Steel 2 (which I like to dub as Superman/Batman or World's Finest).

Here's the entire image:

So the guy who did this was Steve Scott, who also worked on the initial Batman look for BATMAN BEGINS. Which also explains why this concept looks really similar to the first Christopher Nolan Batman movie.

There's nothing really wrong with this design, it basically continues what we've already seen in the last three Batman movies. There's a bit of NEW 52-ism here as well what with all those unnecessary lines (unless of course they tell us that the suit is modular). 

Obviously we're too far away from anything tangible for this DC Comics project helmed once again by Zack Snyder with the assist of Nolan. Let's all look at this suit, move on and file it under "let's wait and see". For all we know the next costume would be more akin to this. 

Will Bryan Cranston Be Getting the LEX LUTHOR Role?

From the looks of things Warner Bros. isn't really done with casting announcements for MAN OF STEEL 2 aka SUPERMAN/BATMAN aka WORLD'S FINEST. That's of course if you were to believe Cosmicbooknews' report that WB has already found their Lex Luthor in the form of BREAKING BAD star Bryan Cranston.

If we are to believe the only website that ran the story, then it looks like that Cranston got the bigger share of votes from another actor rumored to have gotten WB's attention - Mark Strong... who also happens to be SINESTRO in the GREEN LANTERN movie.

Again, I'm taking this bit of information with a grain of salt, and I'd like to comment on how perfect Cranston would be for the role. He can go from charming, demure and shy which was Walter White in the early parts of Breaking Bad's season to an egomaniacal, power hungry tyrant. Oh and in between you can see that he can also go for damaged genius once in awhile. That alone is perfect chemistry for a good Lex Luthor. Oh and a high tech battle suit wouldn't hurt either.

New 52 Luthor in his battle suit for Villain Month

Point is (a) take the Cosmicnews story with a grain of salt and don't assume that it's a 100% accurate because there's been no real announcement from Warner Bros. regarding this casting. (b) Bryan Cranston is perfect for the role of Lex Luthor if you ask me. (c) Mark Strong should really stick with Sinestro because he was such a great yet underused bastard in Ryan Reynold's Green Lantern.

Ben Affleck Announced as the New BATMAN

It's official, ARGO director BEN AFFLECK has been tapped to play the role of Bruce Wayne/ Batman for the sequel to MAN OF STEEL

Here's a fraction of the report coming from Hero Complex

"In a statement, director Zack Snyder expressed his excitement about the casting of Affleck, noting, “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”

Snyder, who directed “Man of Steel,” is set to co-write the story with David S. Goyer, who will pen the screenplay.

Production is expected to begin next year, with a July 17, 2015, release date."

Meanwhile, Here's Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen from Arrow) on Twitter reacting about the announcement:

I'm now totally confident I'll eventually play Iron Man.
— Stephen Amell (@amellywood) August 23, 2013

Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck Star in Runner Runner

Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck team up for 20th Century Fox's latest offering "Runner Runner". Here's the first poster, trailer and synopsis. Opens September 2013.

Synopsis: In the sexy, sultry thriller RUNNER RUNNER, Richie (Justin Timberlake), a Princeton college student who pays for school with on-line gambling, bottoms out and travels to Costa Rica to confront the on-line mastermind, Ivan (Ben Affleck), whom he believes has swindled him. Ivan sees a kindred spirit in Richie and brings the younger man into his operation. When the stakes get incredibly high and dangerous, and Richie comes to fully understand the deviousness of his new boss, he tries to turn the tables on him.

"Runner Runner" will open very soon this September from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

ARGO Movie Review

ARGO is a movie so enthralling that you'll cheer when all the good bits get shown. Opens October 17! thanks to Warner Bros.!

The film stars Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez a CIA exfiltration specialist who is tasked to rescue six US Embassy employees/ diplomats who managed to escape the 444 day hostage-taking crisis in Iran in the 1980s. To get these people out, Mendez fakes a movie entitled "Argo" which will be the cover story used to get the employees out of Iran.

The six US diplomats who escaped the US Embassy occupation in "Argo"

A Real Life Daring Mission Unravels in 'Argo'

In 1980, Studio Six Productions trumpeted a new film project that had the elements of a hit sci-fi movie: spaceships, aliens, action and adventure, all happening on an arid, distant planet. Billed as a “cosmic conflagration,” the epic feature was never greenlit by any studio chief.

It could only be given a green light by America’s Commander in Chief.