Mike Sampson is the Editor-in-Chief of ScreenCrush. He studied to become a lawyer and worked as an architectural planner after graduating college but neither of these professions afforded him the opportunity to watch movies and TV for a living. He previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of JoBlo.com for 10 years. He lives in New Jersey and probably spends too much time playing video games and overthinking things.
Mike Sampson
Kurt Russell on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ and the Secrets of His Mysterious Character
There are a lot of fascinating, interesting and just plain cool things involved when you’re visiting the set of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2. For one, getting to hold Baby Groot. For another, getting to walk through the massive practical sets built for the film. And for another, getting to shoot the breeze with Kurt Russell.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ Set Visit: All the Surprises and Secrets of Marvel’s Latest Blockbuster
Movie sets. If you’ve watched La La Land or even Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, you know they’re supposed to be glamorous. Bright lights, brighter stars, exotic locales ... So, what am I doing here in an abandoned convention center outside Atlanta?
‘Justice League’ Villain Revealed (and No, It’s Not Darkseid)
Remember when we all pretty much assumed that the Justice League villain would be Darkseid, one of the most powerful beings in the DC universe and a guy who was heavily teased throughout Batman vs. Superman? Ahh, those were the days. As Justice League continues filming in London, a new report suggests that Mr. Darkseid is not the film’s villain as we all assumed. Instead, it’s something even more exciting!
Just kidding, it’s Steppenwolf.
‘Wolverine 3’ Begins Filming, Confirmed to be Rated R
While Hugh Jackman and Wolverine make only a very brief appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse, the Oscar-nominated actor and his popular mutant alter ego are returning for Wolverine 3, the upcoming sequel that will serve as Jackman’s last. From the Apocalypse press day in London, we have some new details on the film including that filming has now begun and that, as rumored, Wolverine 3 will be rated R.
‘Captain America: Civil War’ Writers Say They Were Never Going to Kill Off [SPOILER]
We spoke to Civil War writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely about the film and asked them point blank if, at any point during the planning or writing phase, they ever considered directly following some of the more shocking events of the comic book series that inspired the movie.
‘Captain America: Civil War’ Directors Talk Spider-Man, Post Credits Scenes and ‘Infinity War’
Jon Favreau directed two Marvel movies and then left to work on other projects. Joss Whedon directed two Marvel movies and left after some “really, really unpleasant” disagreements with the studio. James Gunn has said he can’t even think about returning for a third Marvel movie at this point. Yet, Joe and Anthony Russo have just finished their second Marvel movie and are so excited to return for two more movies, they’re not even taking a break. Captain America: Civil War is in theaters today and on Monday they start work on the two-part Avengers: Infinity War; a massive project that will be filming for over 10 months later this year. They seem almost invincible to the exhaustion and struggles other directors have had to endure.
I spoke to the Russos at a swanky New York City bar just two days before their movie was set to open in theaters. They moved with almost complete anonymity, despite holding some of the biggest secrets in Hollywood. There they told me that they expect the Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Homecoming to be different than the one in their movie, that Avengers: Infinity War will be “telling a very different story” than the one in the classic comic series and talk about why they still haven’t seen Batman v Superman.
‘Captain America: Civil War’ Star Emily VanCamp Discovers the World of Stucky Slashfic
Sharon Carter, as played by Emily VanCamp, didn’t really have much to do in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. She’s ostensibly the love interest in the film, but she’s not the woman that Cap actually kisses in the movie (that would be Black Widow). The movie ends and Captain America still doesn’t know that she’s the niece of Peggy Carter. Luckily, despite the massive roster of superheroes in Captain America: Civil War, Sharon has much more to do. Despite her distinct lack of superpowers, she heads into battle, and even shares a moment of romance with Steve, which may disappoint Stucky fans who have imagined a world where Steve and Bucky are the ones in love.
Ms. VanCamp had never heard of the world of internet slash fiction and the fictional gay adventures of Captain America and The Winter Soldier, so we introduced her to that world and talked about the future of Sharon Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Minor spoilers for Captain America: Civil War ahead.
About That Time Tobey Maguire Got Fired From Spider-Man and Was Replaced by Jake Gyllenhaal
It’s 2003. Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man has just become the biggest movie of the year, grossing over $400 million (at the time, one of only four films to achieve that feat). Maguire had just wrapped filming on Seabiscuit, a prestige film that would go on to earn six Oscar nominations including Best Picture...
What the F–- Is With This ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’ Trailer?
Batman: The Killing Joke is notable for being an adaptation of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel and for adapting that work without losing any of the brutality of the source; it was the first Batman movie to be rated R by the MPAA. Sadly, that’s about all it looks notable for based on this new trailer, which looks pretty awful.
Bryan Singer Says Wolverine Cameo in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ Is ‘Birth of a New Direction’
Earlier this week came the X-Men: Apocalypse trailer that confirmed what we all suspected: Wolverine would be making an appearance in the upcoming X-Men movie after all. Most of us also assumed that decision was made because Hugh Jackman is a huge star and Wolverine is the most popular and recognizable of the X-Men and having him in the movie means more $$$. According to director Bryan Singer, it wasn’t about box office, but instead it was the “birth of a new direction” for Wolverine and the X-Men movies.