With much bated breath we have waited to learn who will write the next three Star Wars films. Episode VII was announced for 2015, and it has been said that Disney intends to release many other episodes to follow.

Now it’s been made known who is responsible for the story and script for at least the next three films: Michael Arndt. Lucasfilm has confirmed that Michael is writing the Episode VII script and a treatment for VIII and IX as well.

Vulture has been told by its “informed sources” that such a 40–50 page treatment has indeed been finished, by none other than Oscar-winner Michael…

Tommy Lee Jones’ life story is as interesting to me as his no-nonsense movie characters. It’s not often that we hear about his acting technique, relationship to his fellow stars, or his thoughts on American history.

In Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, Mr. Jones plays Congressman Thaddeus Stevens. Sharon Knolle pinned Tommy down for a fun interview.

As he says of Stevens’s and Lincoln’s often-contentious relationship, “They could laugh together.” Jones also discussed whether Stevens could exist in today’s political climate and the fiery on-screen exchange he has with Sally Field’s character,…

You may or may not have noticed that sometimes Siri says crazy things. We recently noticed that Siri summarizes movies in a pretty funny way, too. Siri seems to have a distinct preference for Sci-Fi (who can blame her?), though she also has a few words to say about the classic Wizard of Oz, as well as Pixar’s Toy Story.

Siri is such a dear. Not only can she give me the weather report, the latest game stats, remind me to milk the cow at 4:30 am (on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays), but she can also tickle my funny bone.

I trust that Apple, without Scott Forstall (the head…

You may not have realized yet what family film Disney had in store for us this holiday season. What with so many sequels released in recent years from their animation studios, it’s easy to overlook the occasional original story they might release. It only occurred to me the other day as I watched the trailers before a showing of Wreck-it Ralph that this is their holiday theatrical release.

With a budget to the tune of $165,000,000 (estimated) it’s more than surprisingly delightful. This first film — in an undoubtedly new movie franchise — has been well-received. It is sure to attract…

Why you should watch Star Wars movies out of order

The other day, TJ Draper and I recorded our MovieByte podcast. In this latest episode, we talked about the eventful Star Wars news, and what it means for future episodic releases in the franchise.

But TJ couldn’t help himself. He wanted to address films I through VI too. It was actually a lively discussion, seeing as how no two Star Wars fans’ perspectives of the films are exactly alike, there was room for debate about the merits of each film.

In so doing, TJ remarked that he likes to watch the films in the Machete Order. I hadn’t the…

Most of the $4 billion that George Lucas will get from his sale of Lucasfilm to Disney will go to to charitable initiatives, according to a report.

The bulk of the cash will fund “a foundation which will primarily focus on educational issues,” a Lucasfilm rep told The Hollywood Reporter. “George Lucas has expressed his intention, in the event the deal closes, to donate the majority of the proceeds to his philanthropic endeavors,” the rep added.

Lucas heads up the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which includes Edutopia. In 2006, the foundation donated $175 million to USC, Lucas’…

Remember The First Avenger, Captain America? He’s most notable as a lead character of this past summer’s The Avengers, but before that, he was the star-spangled-waving American legend of his own franchise. Marvel continues to overflow the superhero movie extravaganza with the first sequel for Captain, along with a new leading villain from Captain’s comic books: Crossbones.

Variety:

Frank Grillo has landed the role of the villainous Crossbones in Marvel and Disney’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

A key villain in Captain America’s rogues gallery, character debuted in 1989 as…

When it comes to choosing a presidential candidate, you have to think of what they’ll bring to the table. And if it’s a zombie apocalypse you want, then you should vote for Mitt Romney, according to filmmaker Joss Whedon.

The Avengers director released a spoof video endorsing the Republican candidate, saying, “Like a lot of liberal Americans, I was excited when Barack Obama took office four years ago. But it’s a very different world now, and Mitt Romney is a very different candidate.”

Why is he different, you ask?

That’s funny. I thought that the last few presidents have worked…

A worried Dagney Taggart is piloting a private jet through a winding mountain ravine. She is in hot pursuit of another jet carrying the only man left that can help her save Taggart Transcontinental, and that said plane is speedily moving straight into the side of a rocky mountain slope. 

Before her very eyes, and much to her disbelief, Dagney watches a flash of blue light consume the jet and leave nothing behind — leaving the cliff face not so much as scratched. But now it is too late for Dagney, since her jet is much too close to the rocks. Her deadly fate is sealed for sure, and this is…