When I first noticed Apex, the new movie starring Charlize Theron, Eric Bana, and Taron Egerton on the 2026 movie schedule, I was skeptical I would bother to use my Netflix subscription to watch it. It’s not because I don’t like the cast or anything like that, I’m a fan of all those actors. It was the title alone. I sensed what it was going to be about, and I wasn’t wrong. However, I’m glad I powered through the opening moments and got into the movie, because it’s pretty fun.

I Don’t Like Movies With Climbing Scenes

I just knew Apex was going to involve some harrowing moments on the side of a mountain, and I can’t watch stuff like that. My acrophobia, which they call a fear of heights, but we all know is really a fear of falling, gives me terrible anxiety and vertigo when I watch anything with scenes like that. I couldn’t watch the scene in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol when Tom Cruise climbed the Burj Khalifa, and I flatly refused to watch Alex Honnold climb El Capitan in Free Solo.

Apex does indeed begin with a climbing scene, complete with distressing looks down the mountain, slipping hands, and swinging ropes. It has everything that stresses me out in scenes like this. I mean, they were even camping in a tent attached to the side of the cliff. My stomach churned, and at one point, I just picked up my phone and played Wordle for a few minutes. After the white-knuckle start, however, I got pretty into the movie.

It’s Not A Perfect Movie

I’m not going to sit here and write that Apex is the…um…pinnacle of filmmaking achievement. It’s not. It’s chock full of well-worn tropes and plot holes the size of a mountain in Yosemite National Park. It also has some dodgy CGI, but those things didn’t stop me from enjoying it. It’s a pretty typical Netflix action movie in a lot of ways. It clearly had a decent budget and obviously landed some big stars, but it’s not going to be added to a list of the best action movies ever.

I won’t spoil the movie, but it’s an adventure-horror movie featuring a heroine played by the always great Theron and an even better villain. It’s pretty clear very early on just what kind of movie this is going to be, and I was ok with that. Nothing in the film is particularly unique, either; the plot is something we’ve all seen before. High cinema it’s not, but for a rainy Saturday afternoon, it’s pretty much exactly what I’m looking for. As I said, it’s just a fun movie.

If you’re like me and you love fun-but-cheesy action movies, but can’t watch scenes involving extreme heights, I would say power through the opening. I think you’ll end up having a pretty good time with this movie, just like I did.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced an entire generation of superhero movie fans to some of the comic book publishing giant’s most iconic characters, such as Iron Man and Thor. However, many of the heroes and villains we know from those Marvel movies in order have found their way to the big or small screen. Let’s honor some of the actors who brought them to life before they were inducted into the MCU.

Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man)

Some Marvel Comics fans have criticized the casting of Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, considering he was far older than when Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive arachnid at the time. While Tom Holland certainly fit the bill of a teenage vigilante better years later, Maguire is still remembered today as one of the best to play the role. Not to mention, he wore, arguably, the best cinematic Spidey outfit of all time.

Jessica Alba (Invisible Woman)

Following her Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough role on Dark Angel, Jessica Alba could be seen just about everywhere in the early 2000s. Ironically, she made her comic book movie debut in Tim Story's Fantastic Four as a superhero known for being unseen: Sue "Invisible Woman" Storm, who would be inducted into the MCU with Vanessa Kirby's portrayal.

Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Ben Affleck would make an amusing, if not polarizing, impression when he joined a long line of live-action Batman actors for Zack Snyder's short-lived DC Extended Universe. More than a decade earlier, the Oscar winner cut his teeth in the world of superhero acting by playing the title role of 2003's Daredevil before Charlie Cox took over the role for the MCU in his own hit series.

Djimon Hounsou (Black Panther)

Djimon Hounsou has a small role in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy as Korath the Pursuer, but had voiced the Black Panther in a BET original animated series four years earlier. The Academy Award nominee would later share the screen as Korath with the MCU's T'Challa, Chadwick Boseman, for an episode of the animated anthology series, What If...?

Wesley Snipes (Blade)

Marvel's popular vampire hunter character would, technically, make his MCU debut when Mahershala Ali made a vocal cameo as Blade in the post-credit sequence of 2021's Eternals. However, the first actor to play the Daywalker in his own trilogy of Blade movies, Wesley Snipes, beat him to the punch by making a full, live MCU appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Dolph Lundgren (The Punisher)

It is hard to imagine Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren with jet black hair, but he donned it to play Frank Castle in a straight-to-video feature adaptation of The Punisher in 1989. The role of the vengeful vigilante would be passed down a couple more times before Jon Bernthal took over as the MCU's official iteration, but the Swedish actor would later return to comic book movie acting as King Nereus in the Jason Momoa-led Aquaman movies.

David Hasselhoff (Nick Fury)

Samuel L. Jackson's performance as Nick Fury has become so definitive that Marvel would use his likeness in the Ultimate universe comics. However, the eye-patched secret agent's main iteration better resembles David Hasselhoff, who would, indeed, play him in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., a made-for-TV movie that was intended to be a pilot for an original series on Fox.

Jennifer Garner (Elektra Natchios)

Jennifer Garner played a lighter interpretation of Matt Murdock's assassin lover, Elektra Natchios, in 2003's Daredevil and in her own spin-off film from two years later. While the Alias star would also reprise the role in Deadpool & Wolverine, the official MCU iteration, introduced in Season 2 of the Daredevil series, is played by Élodie Yung.

Chris Evans (Human Torch)

Chris Evans is one of the few MCU actors who can say he previously played a superhero from a different corner of the Marvel Multiverse. Years before he was cast as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, he starred in the 2000s Fantastic Four movies as the Human Torch, which he referenced to hilarious effect in Deadpool & Wolverine. The MCU later introduced its own official iteration of Johnny Storm, played by Joseph Quinn.

Lou Ferrigno (Hulk)

Before Bruce Banner's mean, green alter ego became the product of putting Mark Ruffalo in a performance capture suit, he was brought to life in live-action on the hit TV show, The Incredible Hulk, by Lou Ferrigno, standing in for David Banner actor Bill Bixby whenever he would get angry. The legendary bodybuilder also lent his voice to the role in the Incredible Hulk animated series and made a cameo as a security guard in both 2003's Hulk and the Edward Norton-led MCU debut.

J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)

One of the few actors known for playing the same Marvel character both in and outside of the MCU is J.K. Simmons. The Academy Award winner stole the show as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies before reimagining the role as a conspiracy theorist and podcast host in the Tom Holland-led films.

Doug Jones (Silver Surfer)

The MCU would introduce a unique version of the Silver Surfer played by Emmy winner Julia Garner in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Doug Jones, a master of roles requiring performance capture and heavy makeup transformations, shares credit for portraying the first "live-action" iteration of the metallic-skinned alien from 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with Laurence Fishburne, who provided the voice.

Robert Hays (Iron Man)

It is hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Tony Stark other than Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr., but Iron Man was the star of his own animated series years earlier in the mid-1990s. Voicing the wealthy vigilante was Robert Hays, who is best known for starring in the classic spoof movie, Airplane!, as Ted Striker.

Neil Patrick Harris (Spider-Man)

In 2003, MTV aired a TV show very loosely connected to Sam Raimi's Marvel movies called Spider-Man: The New Animated Series. Instead of Tobey Maguire, the actor providing the voice of Peter Parker was none other than future How I Met Your Mother cast member Neil Patrick Harris, who later contributed to the 2010 video game, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

Eric Allan Kramer (Thor)

Years before Chris Hemsworth's definitive performance as Thor in the MCU made him a household name, Eric Allan Kramer of Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Good Luck Charlie fame became the first actor the play the role in live-action in the 1988 TV movie, The Incredible Hulk Returns. However, I feel obligated to mention that Vincent D'Onofrio's role in Adventures in Babysitting as Dawson, who bears a striking resemblance to the God of Thunder, predates Kramer's portrayal by a year.

Rosemary Harris (Aunt May)

With all due respect and admiration for Marisa Tomei, the Oscar winner is certainly not the first person you would picture to play Peter Parker's Aunt May, as she does in the MCU. However, Rosemary Harris is not only the spitting image of the comic book character, but also gives a moving, iconic performance as May opposite Tobey Maguire's Peter in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

Matt Salinger (Captain America)

One of the most notable screen iterations of Steve Rogers that pre-dates Chris Evans' portrayal comes from 1990's infamous straight-to-video feature, Captain America. Playing the title role is Matt Salinger, who, believe it or not, is the son of The Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger, as the actor discussed with The Guardian.

James Avery (War Machine)

Most people know actor James Avery best from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as Philip Banks. Around that same time, however, the actor lent his voice to the animated Iron Man series as James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, years before Tony Stark's buddy was portrayed in the MCU by Don Cheadle... and Terrence Howard, of course.

Nicholas Hammond (Spider-Man)

Before the role was brought to life by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, the first actor to play Peter Parker in live-action was Nicholas Hammond. The Sound of Music star led CBS' Spider-Man series and its two made-for-TV companion films in the late 1970s.

Jennifer Connelly (Betty Ross)

Liv Tyler appeared in 2008's The Incredible Hulk as Betty Ross, the colleague and love interest of Edward Norton's Bruce Banner. Years earlier, in 2003's Hulk, she was played by Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, who was also subtly inducted into the MCU as the voice of Karen, the AI built into Peter Parker's high-tech suit in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Thomas Jane (The Punisher)

Three actors were brought in to play Frank Castle before Jon Bernthal was cast in the role for the MCU. The second, after Dolph Lundgren and before Ray Stevenson, and first to bring the vigilante into the 21st Century, was Thomas Jane in 2004's The Punisher, which sees the anti-hero take on a corrupt businessman responsible for his family's tragic deaths.

Cree Summer (She-Hulk)

Cree Summer is the prolific voice actor behind many well-known animated roles, such as Susie Carmichael from Nickelodeon's Rugrats. She was also the second person to voice Bruce Banner's cousin, Jennifer Walters, on the animated Incredible Hulk TV show almost a couple of decades before Tatiana Maslany was cast in the lead role of Disney+'s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Michael Chiklis (The Thing)

Jamie Bell and Emmy winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach (who also appeared on Jon Bernthal's The Punisher series) both played CGI versions of Ben "The Thing" Grimm in their respective cinematic adaptations of the Fantastic Four comics. However, Michael Chiklis admirably went the old-fashioned route and donned a heavy amount of prosthetics to play the orange, rock-skinned superhero in Tim Story's movies from 2004 and 2007.

Sam Elliott (Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross)

Following William Hurt's passing, Harrison Ford stepped in to play Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross for the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World, in which the military general-turned-U.S. president becomes the Red Hulk. However, you could argue that the most intimidating portrayal of the character is still that of Sam Elliott in 2003's Hulk.

Peter Hooten (Dr. Strange)

With the title's otherworldly, psychedelic imagery, it is not very surprising to learn that Marvel's Doctor Strange comics were first adapted for live-action in the 1970s. CBS attempted to launch a series focused on the Sorcerer Supreme with a pilot led by actor Peter Hooten, who was, of course, succeeded decades later by Benedict Cumberbatch as the MCU's official iteration.

Lisa Rinna (Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine)

While better known today as a star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa Rinna also has the honor of being the first actor to portray Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in live-action in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the MCU, the Italian-American noblewoman and CIA director is played by Seinfeld cast member Julia-Louis Dreyfus.

Conan Stevens (Man-Thing)

In 2005, SyFy aired a scary "movie of the week" inspired by the Marvel comic book character Man-Thing, played by Conan Stevens, who is essentially the publisher's equivalent to DC's Swamp Thing. The humanoid plant creature was painted in a far more sympathetic light in the Disney+ original Halloween special, Werewolf by Night, in which he was portrayed in motion capture by Carey Jones.

Ed Asner (J. Jonah Jameson)

Emmy winner Ed Asner's definitive TV role for years was cantankerous journalist Lou Grant on beloved TV sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the character's more earnest self-titled spin-off. In other words, he was a perfect choice to voice J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the 1990s.

Eric Bana (Bruce Banner)

The first live-action, theatrically released feature film adaptation of Marvel's The Incredible Hulk comics, director Ang Lee's Hulk, cast Australian actor Eric Bana as Bruce Banner. The brilliant physicist would later return to the big screen as part of the MCU, first portrayed by Edward Norton in his 2008 solo flick before Mark Ruffalo took over the role in subsequent installments.

Ed Gale (Howard The Duck)

Howard the Duck, one of the most bizarre characters in Marvel Comics' history, exists in the MCU, having first appeared in the post-credit sequence for Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Seth Green. The fowl extraterrestrial crimefighter made his feature debut, however, in a self-titled film from producer George Lucas, in which Ed Gale, a little person also known for playing Chucky in Child's Play, wore a duck costume on set while Chip Zien provided the voice.

Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Fantastic)

Before Pedro Pascal added the MCU to his ongoing list of franchises by playing Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, English actor Ioan Gruffudd played the stretchy superhero otherwise known as Mr. Fantastic in Tim Story's Fantastic Four movies.

Sticky Fingaz (Blade)

Mahershala Ali is actually not Wesley Snipes' direct successor to the role of Blade. Rap artist Sticky Fingaz played the vampire hunter in a short-lived TV series from 2006.

The MCU is always growing, thanks to the movies in theaters and other projects which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie coming to theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine, which will finally bring the title characters into the shared universe. There are countless rumors about what actors might make up the Deadpool 3 cast, and who might reprise their role from previous films. Because of this it's another day, with another Deadpool 3 cameo rumor getting addressed.

What did Eric Bana Say About Deadpool 3?

What we know about Deadpool & Wolverine is limited, thanks to Marvel's notoriously tight security. But it looks like a wild multiversal romp, especially with Loki's Time Variance Authority involved. One of many rumored actors whose names are being thrown around online is Eric Bana, who played the title role in 2003's Hulk. While appearing on The Jess Cagle Show, Bana addressed the rumors about him appearing in Ryan Reynolds' blockbuster, offering:

Well, that seems pretty cut and dry. Despite his personal relationship with Reynolds, it sounds like Eric Bana isn't going to pop up as Hulk throughout the mysterious runtime of Deadpool 3. But smart money says rumors are going to keep swirling until the movie arrives in theaters this summer.

The trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine shows that the multiverse is definitely in play, with the TVA mentioning how Hugh Jackman's Logan failed big time in his universe. And that's a big reason why fans are debating various characters from X-Men and Marvel lore possible popping up when its in theaters.

What other characters are rumored to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine?

While Eric Bana's Hulk seemingly won't join in on the fun of Deadpool 3, there's plenty of other names being tossed around online. Some popular choices that fans think might appear in the threequel include Halle Berry's Storm, Jennifer Garner's Elektra, Patrick Stewart's Professor X, and Famke Janssen's Jean Grey. Just like Bana, Janssen denied she has a role in Deadpool & Wolverine.

The chatter surrounding cameos got louder after the second Deadpool & Wolverine trailer revealed a number of returning villains from the X-Men franchise. And as such, some moviegoers are convinced that characters like Lady Deathstrike are just the tip of the iceberg regarding what's coming in Shawn Levy's Marvel blockbuster.

While Bana said he won't be Hulking out in Deadpool 3, lore from the MCU's version of Hulk is seemingly getting a renaissance. Captain America: Brave New World will feature a number of Hulk characters, including Liv Tyler's Betty Ross.

All will be revealed when Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 26th. While fans like me try to be patient and wait, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next trip to the theater.

Nowadays we’re so accustomed to seeing numerous superhero movies every year that it's hard to remember a time when Marvel adaptations were not commonplace. Among the Marvel movies not associated with the MCU was 2003’s Hulk directed by Ang Lee and starring Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott and Josh Lucas. When Lucas recently reflected on the Marvel movie as it soon turns 20, he recalled its director being “frustrated.” 

Hulk was the first movie adaptation of the Marvel Comics character following Lou Ferrigno previously playing the hero in the ‘70s and ‘80s for television. When Josh Lucas spoke about his time playing Glenn Talbot in the movie with The Playlist, the actor said this: 

Ang Lee is an incredibly talented filmmaker who was hot off his epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon when he made Hulk. The 2003 movie was among the top 20 highest-grossing movies of 2003, per Box Office Mojo, and it was praised by critics for its ambition and style, however, it never became a favorite among Marvel fans. Lucas continued: 

Lucas brings up a valid point about early Marvel movies when speaking about Ang Lee. The technology to show off superhuman abilities like Hulk just wasn’t there yet. One can imagine if you want to bring to screen a character as great as Bruce Banner, but CGI wasn’t in the right place yet, you’d feel like Lee did too. Though, the late Stan Lee, who co-created the character actually felt the reason why the first two Hulk movies didn’t work was because they made Hulk “too powerful.” 

Lee wouldn’t go on to continue the Hulk franchise, even though he had an idea lined up for the sequel. Marvel would go on to give the whole thing a remake with Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk in 2008 before recasting the role for 2012’s The Avengers with our MCU Hulk, Mark Ruffalo. Apparently, Norton and Ruffalo joke about the Hulk role too, with Ruffalo once saying they think it’s “our generation’s Hamlet” and it’s sure to be remade again. And, I mean it kind of was with the great MCU series, She-Hulk, but that’s a whole other comic book hero of course. 

If you’re feeling nostalgic for another time in Marvel movies, you can check out 2003’s Hulk with a Hulu subscription. And, we’ll keep you updated regarding what’s next for Hulk in the MCU here on CinemaBlend. 

At long last, Chip ’n Dale, the fearless co-founders and leaders of the Rescue Rangers are back together, and in action, together again for another set of adventures in the new Disney+ movie bearing their name. The fun-filled and reference-heavy animated/live-action hybrid in the vein of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Tom and Jerry is finally streaming on the popular platform, meaning everyone with a Disney+ subscription can give the new film a spin. 

But, after doing so, you may be wondering exactly where you have seen and heard the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast before. Worry not, because we are about to break down all the stars of the highly-anticipated project, starting with the two leads, former Saturday Night Live greats John Mulaney and Andy Sandberg.

John Mulaney (Chip)

Starting off, we have John Mulaney who appears in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as the voice of Chip, the fearless leader and co-founder of the Rescue Rangers, and the member who didn’t elect to be converted to CGI.

Mulaney, who long served as a writer on Saturday Night Live before becoming one of the best guest hosts of all-time with his hilarious and catchy musical skits, has etched out a place for himself as one of the greatest modern stand-up comedians with specials like The Comeback Kid and John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City. 

On top of that, Mulaney has appeared on shows like Documentary Now!, Kroll Show, Big Mouth, and even had his own short-lived sitcom simply titled, Mulaney. And let’s not forget his hilarious portrayal of Peter Porker, a.k.a. Spider-Ham, in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and various short films in the franchise.

Andy Samberg (Dale)

Next up is Andy Samberg, who provides the voice of Dale, the more happy-go-lucky and free-flowing co-founder of the Rescue Rangers who has undergone a procedure to transform himself from traditional animation to CGI prior to the events of Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

Just like his co-star, Samberg first made a name for himself as one of the funniest members of the Saturday Night Live cast of all time, with memorable skits like “Lazy Sunday,” “I’m on a Boat,” and various others, including an iconic digital short featuring Justin Timberlake. Since then, Samberg has found success on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and Never Have I Ever.

Over the course of his career, Samberg has also found success in cinema, with a major role in the Hotel Transylvania animated franchise, the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies, and the 2020 time-loop romantic comedy, Palm Springs. And let’s not forget his work with his comedy music group The Lonely Island (who were responsible for some of those great SNL shorts).

KiKi Layne (Ellie)

Stepping in as one of the human roles in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is KiKi Layne, who portrays a rookie police detective (and Rescue Rangers superfan) named Ellie in the new Disney+ streaming exclusive.

Ever since giving her outstanding portrayal of Tish Rivers in Barry Jenkins’ 2018 drama, If Beale Street Could Talk, Layne has been one of young Hollywood’s brightest stars. In the years following her breakout role, Layne has given incredible performances in movies like Native Son, Captive State, The Old Guard, and Coming 2 America.

Will Arnett (Sweet Pete)

Taking on the role of Sweet Pete, a down-on-his-luck former Disney star who has turned to a life of crime in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, is Will Arnett, whose character makes a vow to bring his former employer down to Earth.

Arnett, who has appeared in live-action movies like Let’s Go to Prison, Semi-Pro, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and shows like Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and Murderville, is perhaps best known for his long list of voice-over credits on the silver screen and small screen alike. Over the years, Arnett has voiced characters in The Lego Movie (and its various sequels and spinoffs), The Nut Job franchise, Despicable Me, and most recently, Rumble, as well as shows like King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and most importantly Bo-Jack Horseman, which saw him portray the titular character in the decorated Netflix animated series.

Eric Bana (Monterey Jack)

Stepping in to voice Chip ’n Dale’s former partner-in-crime, Monterey Jack, in the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Eric Bana, who brings new life to the iconic cheese-obsessed Australian mouse once voiced by Peter Cullen.

Although he has spent most of his career in live-action roles, Bana has provided his voice for a few animated film projects over the years, including Finding Nemo, Mary and Max, and Back to the Outback. However, Bana is best remembered for performances in movies like Munich, Hanna, Star Trek, The Other Boleyn Girl, Troy, and Ang Lee’s 2003 Marvel movie, Hulk, which saw him portray Bruce Banner and his supersized alter-ego. Bana has also appeared on a number of shows in his native Australia like Full Frontal, Something in the Air, and The Eric Bana Show Live.

Dennis Haysbert (Zipper)

Providing the voice for Zipper, the housefly and trusty member of the original Rescue Rangers in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Dennis Haysbert.

Although younger members of the audience will recognize Haysbert’s voice from his portrayal of King Grayskull on Masters of the Universe: Revelation or from those Allstate insurance commercials, others will remember the actor from his roles in movies like Major League, Waiting to Exhale, and Heat, or his various shows that include Now and Again, The Unit, or 24, a performance that earned the actor a number of nominations for his portrayal of President Donald Palmer throughout the show’s run.

Keegan-Michael Key (Bjornson The Cheesemonger)

Providing the voice for the puppet character Bjornson the Cheesemonger on the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Keegan-Michael Key.

One of the most recognizable voices featured in the new Disney+ movie, Key is perhaps best known for his longtime sketch comedy program, Key & Peele, alongside Jordan Peele. In the years following the Comedy Central show’s conclusion, Key has found success with an assortment of animated series including BoJack Horseman, SuperMansion, Archer, and Green Eggs and Ham. He has also shown up in movies like the Hotel Transylvania franchise, Toy Story 4, The Prom, and most recently, as a member of The Bubble cast.

Tress MacNeille (Gadget)

Taking on the role of Gadget in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Tress MacNeille, who originally voiced the character during its original run, as well as voicing Chip during that same stretch.

Over the years, MacNeille has consistently been one of the hardest-working voice actors in the entertainment industry, working on shows like The Simpsons, Rugrats, Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, and Futurama. If you are a fan of an animated series released anywhere between 1980 and now, chances are you’ve heard MacNeille’s voice more than a few times. And, it’s not just TV, as MacNeille has provided her voice for some of the most iconic Studio Ghibli films, like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro.

Seth Rogen (Bob The Warrior Viking)

Seth Rogen appears in Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers as Bob the Warrior Viking, the awkwardly-animated CGI character featured in the wacky trailer.

Since breaking out as a multi-talented star in the early part of the 21st century, Rogen has become one of the most entertaining names in Hollywood with a variety of great roles in movies like Knocked Up, Superbad (which he co-wrote), Steve Jobs, 50/50, and other unforgettable movies. He is also no stranger to voice roles, as he appeared in animated movies like The Lion King and the Kung Fu Panda franchise. He is set to provide the voice of Donkey Kong in the upcoming Mario movie.

J.K. Simmons (Captain Putty)

Taking on the role of the claymation police officer named Captain Putty in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is J.K. Simmons, who knows a thing or two about playing iconic cops.

Over the years, Simmons has been in movies like the Spider-Man franchise, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Palm Springs, Juno, and Whiplash, which earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and numerous other accolades. His TV work includes roles on shows like Oz, Law and Order, The Closer, and BoJack Horseman.

Da’Vone McDonald (Jimmy The Polar Bear)

Taking on the role of Jimmy the Polar Bear in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers is Da’Vone McDonald.

Throughout his career, McDonald has appeared in movies like Funny People, Drillbit Taylor, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, as well as shows like Drunk History, The PET Squad Files, and Dads.

Flula Borg (DJ Herzogenaurach)

And, rounding out the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast is Flula Borg, who shows up as DJ Herzogenaurach.

An accomplished actor, comedian, and musician, Borg has appeared on shows like Mr. Mayor, The Boss Baby: Back in Business, and Tangled: The Series throughout his career, as well as in movies like Ferdinand, Pitch Perfect 2, and a little movie called The Suicide Squad.

This is just a portion of the Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers cast as there are all sorts of cameos and other surprises in the new Disney+ streaming movie.

On December 28, 2001, Ridley Scott released one of the loudest, most violent, and most realistic  war movies with Black Hawk Down. The military epic, which is based on the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, is filled with some of the best actors of the time, with everyone from seasoned acting veterans like the late Sam Shepard to up-and-comers like Tom Hardy portraying actual Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives as well as characters based on the likeness of others.

A lot of time has passed since the Black Hawk Down cast provided engaging and sometimes harrowing performances in the tense and hectic war drama, and you may be curious to know what they’re up to now. You have come to the right place if that’s the case.

Josh Hartnett (Matt Eversmann)

Josh Hartnett was one of most bankable young stars in Hollywood by the time he joined the Black Hawk Down cast as Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann in 2001, with movies like The Faculty, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and Pearl Harbor under his belt.

More recently, Josh Hartnett has continued to find success on both the big screen and small screen, with everything from Wrath of Man to Ida Red and Paradise Lost to Exterminate All the Brutes coming out since 2020. The former teen heartthrob will next appear in The Long Way Home and The Fear Index.

Eric Bana (Norm “Hoot” Gibson)

Already a massive star in his native Australia by the time Black Hawk Down came around in December 2001, Eric Bana got one of his first big breaks in Hollywood with his portrayal of Delta Force Sergeant First Class Norm “Hoot” Gibson.

In the years following the release of Ridley Scott’s gritty war drama, Eric Bana appeared in Hulk, Troy, Munich, and Star Trek, and has continued to remain a busy actor with recent movies like King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Dry, and Back to the Outback. He’ll next appear in the upcoming drama Blueback.

Ewan McGregor (John “Grimesey” Grimes)

Ewan McGregor gave a tremendous performance as Army Rangers Specialist John “Grimesey” Grimes in Black Hawk Down, a movie that came out in the middle of one of the Scottish actor’s most successful runs (the film was released between Moulin Rouge! and Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones).

No surprise here, but Ewan McGregor has remained just as successful and just as prolific in the two decades since he went from a desk clerk to combat soldier, with Doctor Sleep, Birds of Prey, and The Birthday Cake all coming out since late 2019. McGregor will also take on the role of his famous Jedi master once more in the upcoming Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Tom Sizemore (Danny McKnight)

Just a few years after Saving Private Ryan and only months following the release of Pearl Harbor, Tom Sizemore tried his hand at the military drama genre with his portrayal of Colonel Danny McKnight in Black Hawk Down. 

Despite extensive legal trouble over the years, Tom Sizemore has remained one of the busiest figures in Hollywood (he appeared in 28 movies between 2017 and 2018), and has continue to appear in multiple film and TV projects like Twin Peaks, Adam, and Central Park Dark.

William Fichtner (Jeff Sanderson)

Following successes like Heat, Armageddon, and The Perfect Storm, William Fichtner went on to portray Sergeant First Class Jeff Sanderson in Black Hawk Down.

Here more recently, William Fichtner has shown up in everything from 12 Strong to The Space Between on the film side of things with appearances on TV including Mom, Veep, and Corporate. At some point in the near future, Fichtner will try his luck again at the small screen with the upcoming Peacock series Joe Exotic which is to feature the actor as the Tiger King’s former producer Richard Kirkham.

Sam Shepard (William Garrison)

The late Sam Shepard, who found a great deal of success as an actor, playwright, author, and director, portrayed Major General William F. Garrison in Black Hawk Down.

In the years prior to his 2017 death at the age of 73, Sam Shepard appeared in Midnight Special, Never Here, and Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (though the film wasn’t released until 2019). He also appeared on the Netflix series Bloodline shortly before his passing.

Jason Isaacs (Mike Steele)

Jason Isaacs, who made a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s leading villainous actors with The Patriot and later the Harry Potter franchise, showed up in a less evil role in Black Hawk Down as Captain Mike Steele.

More recently, Jason Isaacs has appeared on Star Trek: Discovery, Sex Education, and Castlevania, as well as movies like Mass, Scoob!, and Hotel Mumbai. Isaacs has multiple projects in the works, including Spinning Gold and Henry VIII: Man, Monarch, Monster.

Ewen Bremner (Shawn Nelson)

One of the many actors who appeared in both Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, Ewen Bremner shows up in the latter as Specialist Shawn Nelson.

Over the course of the past five years, Ewen Bremner has appeared in T2 Trainspotting (reprising his role from the 1996 original), Wonder Woman, First Cow, and Creation Stories to name a few. He will soon appear in the upcoming HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death.

Orlando Bloom (Todd Blackburn)

Just as he was becoming an overnight sensation with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Orlando Bloom took on another memorable role as Private First Class Todd Blackburn in Black Hawk Down.

Since the December 2001 release of the violent war drama, Orlando Bloom has become an international superstar with franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Hobbit (where he reprised his LOTR role). Bloom is currently one of the leads on the Amazon series Carnival Row.

Tom Hardy (Lance Twombly)

Not long after he found a place on the Band of Brothers cast, Tom Hardy stuck with military dramas as Specialist Lance Twombly in his feature film debut. 

Since then, Tom Hardy has become and remained one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood balancing comic book adaptations like The Dark Knight Rises and Venom with dramas like The Revenant and Dunkirk. Hardy will next appear in Gareth Evans upcoming crime thriller Havoc.

Kim Coates (Chris Wex)

Already an established name in show business by the time he joined the Black Hawk Down cast as Master Sergeant Chris Wex, Kim Coates has continued to find success in film and TV in the past 20 years.

The Sons of Anarchy and Prison Break star has recently appeared on shows like Tangled: The Series, The Crew, and Van Helsing, as well as movies like Fantasy Island, See for Me, and Donkeyhead.

Ioan Gruffudd (John Beales)

Ioan Gruffudd had already appeared in movies like Titanic and Another Life by the time he was cast as Lieutenant John Beales in Black Hawk Down, but his career would take off even more years after with Fantastic Four (and its 2007 sequel), King Arthur, and W.

More recently, Ioan Gruffudd has appeared in movies like The Professor and the Madman, Buttons, and Ava, as well as TV shows like Liar and Harrow.

Hugh Dancy (Kurt “Doc” Schmid)

Hugh Dancy made his feature film debut in Black Hawk Down as Sergeant First Class Kurt “Doc” Schmid, but it certainly wouldn’t be his last.

Following the success of The Jane Austen Book Club, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Martha Marcy May Marlene, Hugh Dancy landed roles in more recent film productions like Late Night and the soon-to-be-released Downton Abbey: A New Era. Dancy will also appear on Law & Order Season 21 in early 2022..

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Gary Gordon)

Before he became known for his portrayal of Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau took on the role of Delta Force operative Master Sergeant Gary Gordon in Black Hawk Down.

Since completing his role in the divisive Game of Thrones Season 8, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has portrayed the titular character in a 2020 production of Macbeth, The Silencing, and A Taste of Hunger, with several upcoming projects on the way including Against The Ice and God is a Bullet.

Jeremy Piven (Clifton Wolcott)

Though more associated with comedic roles, Jeremy Piven showed up in Black Hawk Down as Clifton Wolcott, the pilot of the doomed Super 61 helicopter. 

In the years following the release of Black Hawk Down, Jeremy Piven would land one of his most iconic roles when he was cast as Ari Gold on the HBO series Entourage (and the 2015 film adaptation). Recently, Piven has shown up in Last Call, American Night, and the soon-to-be-released All-Star Weekend alongside Jamie Foxx.

Ty Burrell (Timothy A. Wilkinson)

And then there is Ty Burrell, who has a brief appearance as Technical Sergeant Timothy A. Wilkinson in Black Hawk Down.

In the years following the film’s release, Ty Burrell would find success, first in Zack Snyder’s 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake and then on a much larger scale as Phil Dunphy on the long-running Modern Family. Since the landmark series completed its run in 2020, Burrell has voiced Jack Harris on the animated series Duncanville.

This is just a little more than a dozen of the actors who appeared on the Black Hawk Down cast, as including every single name would take a very long time. If it has been forever since you watched Ridley Scott's Academy Award-winning war drama, now's the perfect time as it is one of the best movies on HBO Max.

There's The Hulk and there's Bruce Banner. The Marvel Comics characters are tied together but also separate entities, and Edward Norton judges them differently. The Incredible Hulk star left the MCU long ago, but now that he's promoting Motherless Brooklyn -- which he's been trying to make for 20 years -- he's game to revisit his days as Bruce Banner/The Hulk and talk about others in the role.

Can I just say how much I appreciate that he's game to keep talking about this stuff? Edward Norton was replaced as the MCU's Hulk after what sounded like pretty tense creative differences. He could easily brush off all Hulk questions. But not only is he now willing to return to the MCU, he's willing to give a thoughtful response when asked about other Bruce Banner actors. It's clear he knows his stuff.

Here's what Edward Norton told Yahoo when asked whom he considers the gold standard of Bruce Banners:

I think it's a great attitude to see a role like The Hulk as Hamlet (although the cinesnobs of the world might sniff at that). I wish fans would take that attitude whenever a new star is cast in a familiar role. Just because, in this case, Bill Bixby set a high standard with CBS' The Incredible Hulk TV series doesn't mean that should be the end of all Bruce Banner portrayals. Fans get prickly with #NotMyXYX these days.

Bill Bixby played Dr. David Bruce Banner on the TV series and in the connected movies, with Lou Ferrigno playing the Hulk. In modern years, both Banner and Hulk have been played by the same stars, with the Hulk often filled out through VFX. Eric Bana played both roles in Ang Lee's 2003 movie Hulk; then Edward Norton introduced Bruce Banner to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Louis Leterrier's 2008 movie The Incredible Hulk; with Mark Ruffalo taking over in the MCU starting with The Avengers, but never getting his own standalone Hulk films.

Good for Edward Norton for being so generous with his praise of other Hulk actors, including his friend Mark Ruffalo, who replaced him in the MCU role. Norton has talked over the years about why things fell apart with his Hulk, including another version of the story just last month.

Now Edward Norton is busy promoting Motherless Brooklyn, and also possibly showing up in future Avatar films after saying no to Avatar 2 in favor of his role in Alita: Battle Angel.

Who would you pick as the best Bruce Banner actor, and would you pick the same actor for The Hulk or differentiate?

There is nothing messy about the ratings for Dirty John's premiere. The new Bravo anthology kicked off last Sunday (November 25), and it cleaned up. With its debut, Dirty John easily set the new ratings record for Bravo's most-watched scripted series.

After counting three days of delayed viewing, Dirty John swept up the competition -- bringing in 2.09 million viewers with its premiere, per THR. That number puts it well ahead of the former record-holder, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce. For comparison, that Bravo series garnered 1.48 million with its debut in 2014.

When replays from USA, E!, and Oxygen are combined, Dirty John's total viewership amounts to 3.8 million. That is an impressive number. Clearly, anticipation was intense for the podcast adaptation of the same name. When you consider the popularity of the true crime podcast, it comes as little surprise. The television series comes a little over a year after the podcast premiered in October 2017.

The series Dirty John stars Connie Britton as Debra, a divorcée and mom to three adult kids -- a son and two daughters. The daughters are played by Juno Temple and Ozark's breakout star Julia Garner. When Dirty John begins, Debra is looking for true love via a dating site. She thinks she has found it when she meets John Meehan.

Played by Eric Bana, John claims to be a doctor and the answer to all of Debra's dreams. The problem is that Debra's grown daughters have an entirely different impression of him. They smell a rat. The psychological battle between John and Debra's daughters starts to escalate in the first episode, while a flash-forward when Dirty John begins hints at the life-and-death struggle ahead.

With its second episode, Dirty John will have to prove it has the staying power to keep its debut viewership. Traditionally speaking, shows tend to see a slight dip after viewers have gotten a taste of what they have seen. Whether word-of-mouth buzz will prove powerful enough to propel Dirty John to another spectacular week of ratings success will be interesting to follow.

There is every reason to believe Dirty John can do it. Fans of the podcast will have to tune in to see how the series' change to a crucial real-life moment plays out.

The next episode airs Sunday, and it will focus on the aftermath of Debra and John's Las Vegas wedding. They got married at the end of Episode 1. While the newlyweds bask in having taken the next step in their relationship in Episode 2, Debra's daughters and nephew start making plans to unmask the real John.

See if they succeed when new episodes of Dirty John air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo. The true crime drama is among many new series premiering this fall. Even more, shows are set to bow in television's upcoming midseason.

The next time Chris Pine sets foot on a ship as its captain, it won’t be on the bridge of Star Trek’s U.S.S. Enterprise. The upcoming dramatic action-thriller, The Finest Hours, sees him trade the far reaches of space for a rough rescue mission with the Coast Guard during a historically disastrous 1952 New England nor’easter. Watch Pine and his crew embark on a daring rescue of sailors stranded aboard a weather-ravaged oil tanker in the new trailer below.

One glance at the characters and themes The Finest Hours displays in this debut trailer, coupled with the rough, aquatic atmospherics, and it immediately evokes the memory of The Perfect Storm, the 2000 hit that inspired an array of reality shows about commercial fisherman. However, it seems that this film actually aims to give a bit of a shout-out to the Coast Guard, showing their bravery as first responders, rather than being the target of snarky punchlines to jokes about avoiding military conscription. The film showcases a parallel of leadership dynamics as Chris Pine plays Coast Guard Captain, Bernie Weber and Casey Affleck plays Ray Sybert, the first assistant engineer and only surviving senior officer aboard the stranded oil tanker, the S.S. Pendleton.

The film is inspired by an actual event from February 18, 1952 in which New England was devastated by hurricane force winds that resulted in waves reacing up to 60 feet. With the storm devastating the coast, it also granted a serious misfortune to a number of ships in the area, notably the Pendleton, which was quite literally ripped in half, trapping more than 30 sailors inside the floating wreckage that threatened to claim even more lives for the unforgiving floor of Davy Jones’ Locker. There, Casey Affleck's Ray Sybert, in his new role as defacto captain, desperately attempts to calm the panicking crew.

Answering his obligatory call of duty, Pine’s Captain Weber leads a four-man team on an insane rescue mission with the killer conditions forcing them to take a small boat that is almost comically absurd in size. Along with the visually-impressive intensity of the storm scenes, the film also focuses on the family and tumult-tested romances as the loved ones of the brave rescuers and the trapped sailors are put through a different sort of agony during the ordeal.

Besides the aforementioned Chris Pine and Casey Affleck, the film sports an impressive supporting cast including Eric Bana, Holliday Grainger, Ben Foster, Rachel Brosnahan, and Graham McTavish in what looks like a heartwarming human element amidst the violently icy waters of a super-storm. The Finest Hours comes to the rescue at theaters on January 29, 2016.

Once again, Ricky Gervais is teaming up with Netflix, for a movie this time instead of an episodic offering, like his last outing, the comedy Derek. This project with the streaming service giant is titled Special Correspondents, and the comedy has put together an incredible cast, which just unveiled its first cast photo.

A satirical comedy about a struggling radio journalist from New York who lives a spoiled, over-the-top lifestyle and may lose his job, the story follows him as he fakes a reports from the front lines while hiding out a Manhattan eatery. Joining Gervais are Eric Bana, who plays the aforementioned journalist, Vera Farmiga, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin Pollack, America Ferrara, Raul Castillo, and Benjamin Bratt.

In addition to his on screen acting duties, Gervais also wrote and is directing Special Correspondents for Netflix. The picture is currently filming in Toronto, where they have been in the process of principal photography since last month, and production is slated to wrap up in New York City next month, concluding on July 3. This is an impressive array of talent, and only goes further towards cementing Netflix’s status as an outlet producing interesting, original content that attracts top tier actors.

Eric Bana recently fronted the horror joint Deliver Us From Evil, as well as Peter Berg’s Navy SEALs actioner Lone Survivor, but played the Romulan villain in Star Trek and has even been the Incredible Hulk. Vera Farmiga garnered an Oscar nomination for her role opposite George Clooney in Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, and has appeared in everything from The Conjuring to The Departed, and currently stars in A&E’s Bates Motel. Kelly Macdonald’s highest profile recent role was on HBO’s prohibition era gangster drama Boardwalk Empire, where she played the female lead, Margaret Schroeder, opposite Steve Buscemi. But if you’re of a certain generation, you first saw her in Trainspotting.

Beginning as a standup comedian, Kevin Pollack has won awards and acclaim for his varied roles in movies like The Usual Suspects, Casino, and many more. America Ferrara first came to prominence as the star of Ugly Betty, but has appeared in tons of other films and TV projects, and even lent her voice to the How To Train Your Dragon movies. The Texas-born Raul Castillo has an extensive resume, but is most known for his role as Richie on HBO’s comedic drama Looking. And Benjamin Bratt is, of course, an industry vet who has popped up in everything from Law & Order to 24 and Modern Family. Hell, he even dated Julia Roberts.

Special Correspondents is deep into production as we speak and is scheduled to debut on Netflix sometime in 2016. And if this cast is any indication, this is probably going to be something rather memorable to behold.

The upcoming rendition of Knights of the Round Table has just cast itself a new fatherly figure. Eric Bana has joined the Arthurian blockbuster from director Guy Ritchie (whose The Man from U.N.C.L.E. trailer just dropped yesterday). The former Hulk and Troy star is set to play the father of the timeless tale’s iconic protagonist and future legend lore king, Arthur Pendragon. Bana will join what is increasingly becoming an impressive cast for this ambitious redux, kicking off what the studio hopes will be a six-part series of films.

According to Variety, Bana has nabbed the role of Uther Pendragon, the plate-wearing paternal figure for the future King Arthur. Playing what has been described as not an overly significant role, Bana will join confirmed cast member Charlie Hunnam who will play his son, and peers in Jude Law and Djimon Hounsou in the Knights of the Round Table movie.

Interestingly enough, the casting of Bana seems a bit age-inappropriate, seeing as the 46 year-old Bana will be playing daddy to a 34 year-old Charlie Hunnam (who is topical this week thanks to the fact that he once landed the Fifty Shades of Grey Christian role for about five whole minutes). However, not much is known about the plot, other than the fact that Arthurian legend will provide the framework for this new series. Of course, seeing what Ritchie did as far as creative changes with the Sherlock Holmes canon, we probably shouldn’t assume that the movie will be taking the source material as gospel. Regardless, we could be looking at either some aged makeup for Bana or a flashback type situation.

Liam Neeson, who is a good 16 years older than Bana, was apparently in negotiations for the part, but ultimately decided to pass. This fact may support the "flashback" theory. Uther’s basic role in the legends essentially involve the fate-driven, magic-intervening conception of Arthur. Apparently the necessary steps towards conceiving the once and future king required the sorcery of the wizard Merlin to magically manipulate the wife of Uther’s enemy, Gorlois, into a titanic tryst with Uther. The enchanted session of magic-cooked cuckolding was part of fate that would bring Arthur into the world to fulfill destiny

The subject of Merlin serves to highlight one possible difference in store for this Ritchie-adapted tale. Coming off the momentum from his role in Guardians of the Galaxy, Djimon Hounsou was reportedly circling the role of a "Merlin-esque" character, after Idris Elba dropped out, due to scheduling conflicts. That bit of news dropped a few months ago and there haven't been any updates since. However, it is entirely possible that this film will look to distinguish itself with a black Merlin. It certainly seems like it could be a measure taken by Ritchie to ensure that folks who are probably sick of the same ancient, conveniently public domain legend, over-done in both film and television, to at least do a double-take.

Yet, the 800 lb. gorilla for this project is the idea that Warner Bros. is attempting to turn this rendition of Knights of the Round Table into a SIX film series. Whether it’s due to hubris or legitimate enthusiasm for what’s been pitched, it’s clear that this franchise road map makes Peter Jackson’s cinematic filibustering strategy with The Hobbit films look brief and muted.

Knights of the Round Table was last reported to be scheduled to swing Excalibur at theaters on July 22, 2016. However, there’s no word, yet on its FIVE prospective sequels.

There has been a lot of chatter online regarding the Hulk, and how the mighty member of Marvel’s Avengers needs another standalone movie, this time with Mark Ruffalo shouldering the load of Bruce Banner and his angry alter ego. Given the amount of times Marvel tried to get Hulk off the ground, though, you can understand why they are a little gun shy. Still, a sequel allegedly was discussed after Ang Lee’s attempt at The Hulk in 2003, and now we have an idea of what that movie would have been about.

Screenwriter James Schamus is credited with the story for Ang Lee’s Hulk, and reportedly was set to pen the sequel. In a conversation with BAFTA officials (shared via Film Divider), the Oscar-nominated scripter revealed that he had "a really cool idea" for the sequel, which never materialized. He said:

That’s right. The Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Eat Drink Man Woman, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Lust, Caution speaks like a Valley Girl.

Lust, Caution, also helmed by Ang Lee, was James Schamus’ next credited screenplay, so it’s possibly that which he moved on to from Hulk 2. But Ang Lee’s approach to the hero wasn’t necessarily what Marvel had in mind when cracking the code of bringing the green giant to the big screen. Lee’s movie has its defenders, for sure. I, for one, loved his use of comic-book panels in his visual communications. Eric Bana’s Bruce was a little to wrapped up in his "Daddy Issues," though, and the action – when it happened – wasn’t memorable. I can hardly remember Nick Nolte’s scenery-chewing turn as the villain who was supposed to evolve into the Absorbing Man. Boy, was that mishandled.

To Ang Lee and James Schamus’ credit, bringing the Hulk to the big screen has confounded multiple filmmakers, and it wasn’t until Joss Whedon figured out how to ease him into a team that we finally got the Hulk we’ve wanted in a movie. But it says something that while Thor, Captain America and Iron Man have enjoyed sequels, Hulk has been relegated to the Rumors section, content to be part of the Avengers whenever they assemble.

It’s fun, though, to imagine what Ang Lee’s Hulk 2 might have been about – and how different the comic-book movie landscape might be now had he been given the greenlight to pull it off.

Though he had a major stone-faced misstep with 2008’s remake The Day the Earth Stood Still, director Scott Derrickson proved his horror potential with 2005’s The Exorcism of Emily Rose and 2012’s Sinister, both of which took overused plotlines and gave them a wicked edge. The filmmaker is headed back to possession thrillers with Deliver Us from Evil, which just premiered not just one but two brand new trailers, and each one looks exceedingly different from the other. But they both look pretty good.

Let’s lay out the plot, which is based on the 2001 true crime novel Beware the Night, before delving into these previews. Eric Bana plays pragmatic NYPD officer Ralph Sarchie, who reluctantly teams up with a priest (Édgar Ramírez) familiar in the world of exorcisms in order to figure out a way to stop the random possessions that are happening all over the city. We don’t often see cops enter the supernatural spectrum, so that’ll be a welcome change, and Bana’s dramatic chops should make this more believable than the average film of this sort.

The domestic trailer, seen above, indeed makes this out to be a thriller whose victim is an entire city. From the outdoor shots to Sarchie referring to "human naycha," we know we’re in New York, and we know that something truly dangerous is afoot. While he’s obviously interesting in taking down demons, Sarchie also has a family he cares about: his wife (Olivia Munn) and his daughter Christina (Lulu Wilson). In fact, this trailer makes it look like Sarchie’s home and daughter’s room will play an important part in the story, as Christina’s toys are particularly suited to being played with by ghosts.

Much like Sinister, this is a quietly haunting trailer that doesn’t feel the need to deliver rapid-fire scares or a pounding score to prove effective. It just silently dangles its tension out there, and it got me feeling a little uneasy by the time Sarchie sees the scarred up face in the mirror.

On the flip side of things is the official U.K. trailer, courtesy of Bleeding Cool, which is a far more flashy and effects-heavy promo. Barely bothering with the setting or Sarchie’s family dynamic, this trailer pits the two leads against one gnarly-looking Sean Harris, who has all kinds of words and images carved into his body. Beneath a recitation of the Our Father, we see all kinds of things, including pale corpses, a body falling onto a car, a woman trying to dig her way out of something, and lots of flickering light bulbs. Check it out below.

Make a sign of the cross and find Deliver Us from Evil in theaters on July 2.

Jerry Bruckheimer has a reputation in the film world for directing big family-friendly adventure movies, but now he's taking a bit of his television experience - where he's produced gritty, dramatic television shows like CSI and Without A Trace - to the big screen. The producer is now set to make Beware The Night a new paranormal police thriller.

Variety says that Scott Derrickson, who impressed a good number of critics earlier this year with his horror film Sinister, is directing the movie, which follows a cop in New York who "investigates demonic possessions, exorcisms and other supernatural occurrences." The trade says that Eric Bana is currently in talks to play the lead role.

This is actually the second time that Derrickson has been attached to the material. When Jerry Bruckheimer Films first purchased the rights to the book that the project is based on (authored by Ralph Sarchie) the company hired Derrickson and his partner Paul Harris Boardman were the first hired to adapt it. The trade says that the screenplay went through David Ayer, Bryan Bertino and Bruce C. McKenna, only now to find itself back in the hands of the guy who worked on it in the first place. Hollywood is funny sometimes, isn't it?

Derrickson will be doing another draft of the script, but the trade doesn't say when the project is looking to start bringing together more actors and roll camera. The film doesn't have a distributor as of yet, but Screen Gems is currently considering it.

Together screenwriters Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman have burned a path of terror, penning one scary feature after another, from Urban Legends: Final Cut to Hellraiser: Inferno and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. And while the pair have been branching out with Boardman taking screenwriting jobs elsewhere, and Derrickson teaming up with C. Robert Cargill for the recently released Sinister, their latest collaboration is gearing up, and will delve deeper into the strange subgenre of supernatural crime thriller that seems to attract them both.

Titled Beware the Night, this paranormal thriller centers on a New York cop charged with tackling cases of "real life demon possessions, exorcisms and werewolves." The Wrap reports Screen Gems is currently considering backing the production, which just got more enticing with word that Eric Bana is in talks to star. Notably, Mark Wahlberg was previously eyed for the role, but no mention is made as to why he is now out of the running.

Derrickson revels in grounding his horror stories in a procedural setup. Bookended by a trial, The Exorcism of Emily Rose played out like an episode of Law & Order with a supernatural twist. Then Sinister, which he co-wrote with C. Robert Cargill, starred Ethan Hawke as a true-crime novelist whose latest investigation pulls him into the path of a killer no cop can stop. And now Beware the Night plays into the cult-adored concept of cop (or FBI agent or bounty hunter) facing something supernatural, a premise that's played out with success on such TV series as The X-Files, Grimm and Once Upon a Time.

Personally, I've had mixed feelings on Derrickson's filmography thus far, but I admire his genre-blending approach to horror and how he attempts to make his monsters all the more menacing by setting up his plots within familiar stern premises where the villain is often evil but at least human. Perhaps this time around, Derrickson will stick the landing on this tricky feat, creating a creepy feature that packs a profoundly sickening wallop.

There's no word yet on when Beware the Night might roll into production.

Stefan Ruzowitzky, the former music video and commercial director, won the 2007 Best Foreign Language Oscar for The Counterfeiters, an adaptation of Adolf Burger's memoir about surviving the Holocaust by taking part in Operation Bernhard. And after making the German children's film Lilly the Witch: The Dragon and the Magic Book, the Austrian filmmaker finally did what most foreign language Academy Award winners do: make a film with American stars.

Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde and Charlie Hunnam star in Ruzowitzky's new thriller called Deadfall and EW's PopWatch debuted the first poster. Take a look...

Deadfall screened at Tribecca and even though we didn't review it, Perri did catch up with director Stefan Ruzowitzky for an interview. The movie is about the aftermath of a botched casino robbery by sibling criminals Addison (Bana) and Liza (Wilde). Forced to flee into the cold Canadian wilderness, the brother and sister split up with Liza stumbling across Jay, himself an ex-con and boxer, (Hunnam) on his way to spend Thanksgiving with mom (Sissy Spacek, awesome) and pop (Kris Kristofferson, more awesome). Oh, and pop just happens to be a retired Sheriff so things might not go smoothly when Bana's big bad Addison comes looking for his sister and, I'm guessing, the take from the casino. Happy holidays!

As for the poster, it's pretty striking. I like how it's divided in the center (and would probably look great as two separate lobby cards), automatically hinting at the inevitable conflict between Bana and the other two stars. Hunnam looks pissed! Also, the way Wilde is positioned, not to mention her shifty eyes, suggests that her intentions are still ambiguous. It kind of looks like Bana walked right from the set of Hanna and into this poster but since I love him in Joe Wright's action fairytale I suppose I shouldn't complain. On top of the characters butting heads, the poster obviously also showcases the icy and unforgiving setting, making me instantly think of Joe Carnahan's The Grey, a great flick from early this year. I bet we get a trailer pretty soon.

Deadfall first premieres 'On Demand' November 2 before opening in theaters on December 7, 2012.

There many kinds of relationships that can exist between an ex-girlfriend and boyfriend or ex-wife and husband, but no matter how clean a break the couple might have had, there's always a certain level of tension and awkwardness. Whether it's something that happened before or after the breakup, co-habitation between former lovers is difficult. Hell, even Jerry and Elaine on Seinfeld weren't immune to the occasional slip up or backslide. So I can't even imagine what the would be like if that tension and awkwardness were present during a terrorist trial.

According to THR, Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall have signed on to an untitled international thriller that will feature them as "ex-lovers" who must work together on the defense team during a, you guessed it, terrorist trial. John Crowley, who is best known for directing Boy A (the movie that launched Andrew Garfield's career), is directing the project based on a script by Oscar nominee Steven Knight (Eastern Promises). Focus Features and Working Title are teaming for the project and the plan is to sell the title to foreign markets at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The current plan is to start production this April in the UK. Hall will next be seen in the Stephen Frears comedy Lay The Favorite (which just premiered at Sundance) and Bana recently completed work on the crime thriller Blackbird, from director Stefan Ruzowitzky.

Crowley really made an impression on critics with Boy A in 2007 and both Bana and Hall, while not quite A-listers yet, are some of the best actors we have going. If Knight's script is solid we could be in for a treat with this one.

Last year our own Katey Rich walked away from the New York Comic Con raving about Hanna, the new Joe Wright directed assassin movie. Hanna stars Saoirse Ronan as a young girl raised by her father (Eric Bana) to become the perfect killer. Hanna’s sent out into the world by her father, and ends up traveling across Europe to find her target, a target with personal connections to her.

If you’ve seen the trailer you know Katey’s right, it looks good, really good. Now you can add to that enthusiasm with five clips from the film. Trust me, they only make this thing look even better. Take a look:

Look for Hanna in theaters on April 8th. For even more on the film, visit its page in our Blend Film Database.

Kate Mara and Treat Williams are co-stars in one of this year's Best Picture nominees, but I bet I could give you 5 minutes and you wouldn't be able to remember which one. The two are among the actors glimpsed briefly and memorably in 127 Hours, Mara as one of the female hikers Aron Ralston runs into just before getting trapped beneath a boulder, and Williams as the father glimpsed in flashbacks. Mara and Williams were likely never near the set together, but now they'll get the chance to work together properly. Variety reports that they've both signed on for Blackbird, the indie crime thriller formerly known as Kin that also stars Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, Sissy Spacey, Kris Kristofferson and Charlie Hunnam.

Hunnam is the main character, a boxer recently released from prison; Spacey and Kristofferson play his parents, Bana and Wilde are a pair of fugitives who cross his path, and Mara and Williams will play a father-daughter team who run into him as well. Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky, who made the surprise Best Foreign Language Film Oscar winner The Counterfeiters, will be making his English-language debut with the film, which starts production next month in Montreal. It's a seriously impressive cast, especially for a director so new, though it'll be interesting to see if Ruzowitzky can wrangle what sounds like a lot of plot threads. Then again everyone thought 127 Hours was way too challenging to work, and Mara and Williams know firsthand how that turned out.

Hanna is the next film from director Joe Wright, but even though it stars his Atonement actress Saoirse Ronan, don't think for a minute this is anything like a British period piece or even a beautifully photographed film about romance of any kind. This time around Ronan is playing a killer, raised in the woods by her father (Eric Bana) to be ruthless and tough, sent on the run throughout Europe while hunted by the harsh CIA agent (Cate Blanchett) who killed her mother years before. The movie looks great-- it wouldn't be a Wright film if it didn't-- but it also features more violence, action and gritty modern locales than anything we've seen from Wright before.

I saw Hanna tonight at a special screening in New York, though sadly I'm forbidden from saying much more for a while. One my way out of the screening, though, I was given a flash drive that included the first released clip from the film plus some brand new images. You can check them all out below, and see larger versions of the images in our Blend Film Database. Just a few seconds into this clip you'll realize this is not the same Joe Wright we've known before-- and with the music from the Chemical Brothers and the flashing strobe light in the background, that feels like a very good thing. Hanna opens April 8.

Eric Bana is already in the news today for a potential starring role in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and you'd think the possibility of a part that huge would be enough to keep the guy busy for a while. But Variety is reporting he's in tales for another project entirely, starring opposite Olivia Wilde and Charlie Hunnam in he crime thriller Kin, directed by The Counterfeiters helmet Stefan Ruzowitzky.

Bana and Wilde would team up as sibling fugitives on the run who encounter an ex-boxer (Hunnam) and somehow screw up their runaway plans. Shooting is set to start in March, which could come just after Bana's work on Sheldon Turner's By Virtue Fall or could screw up the shooting of that independent drama entirely. The movie isn't yet set up at a studio, but it's coming from the producers at 2929 Entertainment and Mutual Film Co., both of whom should have no trouble selling an action-y project with this kind of starpower. Wilde is doing fine despite being in Tron: Legacy because she's the best thing in it, and Bana… well, he's Eric Bana. You know you'll enjoy seeing him in pretty much anything. Hunnam star on Sons of Anarchy, a show I do not watch, so you guys will have to let me know in the comments what we should look forward to from him.

There was a weird imbalance at first at the New York Comic Con panel for Hanna, the assassin drama that reunites director Joe Wright with his Atonement star Saoirse Ronan. While Wright, Ronan and co-star Eric Bana were all on hand for the panel, the first clip they presented focused entirely on Cate Blanchett, who plays an American CIA agent apparently trying to track down Ronan's titular assassin character. The scene was filmed well, with excellent building tension and staging within the hotel room, but it was a little weird to get amped to the teenage girl assassin movie and see Cate Blanchett dodging bullets instead.

Luckily the second clip brought the goods the audience was actually looking for. Hanna has been captured in some kind of concrete cell by Blanchett and her cohorts, and a patronizing doctors starts off asking her questions, while Ronan's Hanna sits there with wild, tangled, Carrie-esque hair and a blank stare. When she asks to see Blanchett's character Marissa Wiegler, both we and Blanchett knows she's up to something, so they send in a decoy instead. It looks like Hanna is just some traumatized girl looking for comfort, but when she wraps her arms around fake-Marissa's neck you'd better believe there's a neck-snapping on the way. Oh, and then she gets her hands on a gun, and you don't get raised in the woods as an assassin without knowing how to handle a gun in a time of crisis.

Bana didn't get a lot of play in either of the clips, but the panel made it clear that his role raising Hanna is important in the film; it's just been the two of them for her entire life, so that her only concept of the outside world comes from books and fairy tale stories. As Wright put it, when it comes time for her to leave home, "she thinks the world she's going to is going to be a beautiful fairy tale, with princes and princesses," while Ronan put it more simply: "She's a bit of a freak. But I like freaks." You really only need one look at her in the orange jumpsuit in the prison scene to know exactly what that means.

The gunplay and general assassin stuff is clearly what everyone in the Comic Con crowd showed up to see, but I'm more interested in what we saw of Wright bringing his lush, meticulous filmmaking style to a grittier and more violent story. I'm imagining something like that famous war tracking shot in Atonement, but with kick-ass Saoirse Ronan running around instead of battered World War II soldiers. Oh, and with music from the Chemical Brothers-- there was no score in place for anything that we saw, but Wright confirmed they'll be doing the score for the entire film, and based on what we saw it will complement the film perfectly. No, not exactly what you were expecting from the director of Pride and Prejudice, but that's the fun of it.

Hanna hits theaters on April 8 next year, and though there's no specific plan for a trailer release, head of Focus Features James Schamus shouted up form the audience during the panel that it was coming "soon." Keep an eye out and brace yourself for well-directed teen assassin madness next year.

From getting raped and murdered in a hole in a cornfield to becoming the perfect killing machine, Saoirse Ronan seems to be making her mark in a big way. Oscar nominated at 13, Ronan is on her way to the top of the young Hollywood ladder faster and with more talent than most.

USA Today recently got their ink-covered hands on a first look photo of the young star from her upcoming assassin thriller, Hanna, in which the title character is raised in Finland by her ex-CIA father to be a well-trained, unsupicious killer. Making a disgustingly adorable girl look like a bad ass is a tough task and despite the fact that she is undeniably cute, her cold stare and icy eyes tell the story of her decidedly different upbringing. It doesn't hurt that instead of a rifle she seems to be hunting with an exponentially more brutal bow and arrow.

Hanna is being directed by Joe Wright, of Pride and Prejudice and Atonement fame, and co-stars Eric Bana and a bigger version of Ronan in the form of Cate Blanchett. The film won't be released until 2011, but for now take a look at this picture and expect some more as we roll into the summer.

When the news broke a few weeks ago that Noah Baumbach would be handling the screen adaptation of Claire Messud's novel The Emperor's Children, I was excited but cautious-- I hated Baumbach's new film Greenberg, but had to admit his knowledge of the New York intellectual elite and skill with handling difficult characters made him pretty perfect job.

Plus, he brought on Keira Knightley, Richard Gere and Eric Bana for three major roles, each of them totally perfect for the roles they'll presumably play. And now that The Wrap is reporting that Baumbach has met with Michelle Williams to take another lead role, I think I might be sold. Baumbach is assembling pretty close to the perfect cast for this thing.

There are three more significant roles left to be cast, two of them particularly difficult given the usual demographic of Hollywood actors (i.e. white and attractive), plus Williams isn't confirmed yet. But let's run down the casting so far and then try to figure out who Baumbach might want to bring on next. That's right, it's time for a Slow News Day Fantasy Casting Session: Literary Geek Edition!

Keira Knightley as Marina Thwaite. One of the three main characters, all Brown graduates nearing 30, Marina is a striking beauty and the daughter of privileged Upper West Side New Yorkers, who thinks she's worked throughout her 20s but in reality has been procrastinating on a book pitch for nearly five years while living off her parents' money. Knightley's looks are clearly an important part of the role, but she's also an instantly sympathetic screen presence, which will be key for keeping Marina's "poor little rich girl" situation from being instantly irritating. It will also be Knightley's first prominent role in which she'll have to put on an American accent-- a really interesting challenge for an actress who has kind of defined young British talent for the last few years.

Michelle Williams as Danielle Minkoff. Danielle and Marina are best friends, but as the plainer, poorer one making her way through New York without the connections of her parents, Danielle is understandably permanently jealous of Marina and somewhat disdainful of how unaware she is of her privilege. Williams isn't plain by any means, but when she dresses down it really works-- a short brown haircut made her totally anonymous in Wendy and Lucy, for example. Most crucially, Danielle's character is incredibly insular-- she spends a lot of time brooding to herself, alone in her apartment-- and Williams' face is uncannily capable of expressing emotion. Perfect, perfect casting.

Eric Bana as Ludovic Seeley. An Australian magazine publisher in the model of a younger, hipper Rupert Murdoch, Ludo is confident and brash and kind of an asshole but with charm to spare-- basically exactly the role Bana pulled off marvelously in Funny People. He's the source of a lot of tension between Danielle and Marina, as Danielle falls for him first but he goes after, inevitably, the prettier one. But he's also required to woo pretty much everyone in the novel, including Murray, who sees Ludo as kind of an upstart heir to the world he's part of. Sounds like Bana's energetic charm and his dramatic chops have finally found a happy medium.

Richard Gere as Murray Thwaite. Think Frank Rich without the theater interests, or Seymour Hersh without the reporting skills, or Ted Kennedy as a writer instead of a politician. Murray Thwaite is the classic "limousine liberal" living in a penthouse but writing about the tyranny of the upper class, and in his old age has gotten pretty fat and lazy about the whole thing-- he drinks too much, he hits on younger women, he doesn't seem to much care about the job that's gotten him where he is. It's a stretch for Gere, who still seems a little young for this kind of role, but then again, way more interesting for it.

Julius Clarke. A gay, half-Vietnamese aspiring writer who hides his middle-class Michigan roots, Julius is a toughie to cast, and not only because there aren't too many skinny half-Vietnamese actors out there with any level of fame. Julius is dazed and confused, like his best friends Danielle and Marina, but he also actively takes part in the downtown New York gay scene, sleeping with many, many men over the course of the novel. Playing gay is less and less risky as the years go by, but playing a sexually active gay man is pretty much unheard of in mainstream films. Of the three ostensible main characters, Julius is maybe the least important, which means they could cast an unknown here. But the most obvious famous choice to me is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who already played a gay hustler in 2004's Mysterious Skin and is the right age for the role. He's not half-Vietnamese and doesn't quite have the lithe frailty described for Julius in the book, but if Baumbach wants to go for famous name (and infinite talent) rather than physical perfection, Gordon-Levitt is by far the best choice.

Annabel Thwaite. Murray's wife and Marina's mother, she's a minor character but still an important one, a wealthy woman who still works for a non-profit that helps underprivileged kids, and kind of the moral compass for the self-absorbed Murray and Marina. It's a role that could have Meryl Streep's name written all over it, but is probably too small. So how about Glenn Close? She fits the physical description-- blond, trim, slightly intimidating-- and has done great work on TV in Damages but hasn't had a good screen role in years. She's also someone you could believe would passionately care about underprivileged people even if her life is so far removed from that world. I'd love to see her and Gere face off.

Bootie Tubb. The name alone should tell you this is the trickiest role of all to cast. Bootie is Murray's 20-year-old nephew, son of the sister still living in the depressed upstate New York town that Murray was desperate to escape. Bootie has super-pretentious literary ambitions and comes to New York to learn what he can from his famous uncle, but soon becomes disillusioned with him and moves downtown, becoming more and more insular and plain bizarre. Bootie is overweight and awkward, and it's an important character trait that distinguishes him from the glamorous Thwaites; for that reason it's almost impossible to think of young actors who fit the bill. This seems the likeliest role to go to an unknown, but if we're thinking Hollywood...Josh Hutcherson is the right age (17), can do the gawky thing and is great in this summer's The Kids Are All Right, but he's growing up a little too hunky to pull it off. So how about Josh Peck, who is no longer "the fat kid from Nickelodeon" but still carries around some of the awkwardness and vulnerability, as he displayed excellently in the underseen 2008 film The Wackness.

Joe Wright's Hanna, which we only learned was in the works in November, has been moving along swiftly ever since his Atonement ingenue Saoirse Ronan signed on to star. Now Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Cate Blanchett will join Ronan and Eric Bana in the film, in which Ronan plays a 14-year-old spy.

No word on what Blanchett's role will be, but I'm hoping she's on the side of the assassin world and not the French family that shelters Ronan's character through her adolescence. I contend that the movie could be amazing, particularly given Wright's fondness for strong female characters (we'll just forget about The Soloist for now), but Josh is convinced it will be boring and slow-moving. Below is the synopsis of the film; read that and tell me a movie about the emotional side of being an assassin also has to be boring:

Turns out there's room for more than one good chick flick at the box office. Debuting with $19 million this weekend, even with Julie & Julia drawing in audiences, The Time Traveler's Wife proved that, especially in the heat of August, lots of people are in the mood for a good cry.

A few weeks ago I got a chance to talk to the movie's stars, Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, about waiting for the film to be released, their feelings on time travel and destiny, and whether or not they can cry in a movie they're part of. Check out the roundtable interview below.

If you could time travel where would you want to travel to?

Bana: I think the '50's. I think you always want to go somewhere that sounds more magical before you were born.

McAdams: Yeah, that's true, going back to the "good old days." I'd like to see my parents fall in love. I think that would be fun.

How different is the script from the book? I was curious to know why it's called 'The Time Traveler's Wife' when it's really more about the Time Traveler's story.

Bana: Well, it's kind of about both of them. I think the core of the book is most definitely there in our screenplay and in the film. I think all the major players involved identify the key element which is this impossible love between two people that get wrenched apart by this time traveling device. So I think the core of the book is there.

McAdams: In terms of the wife thing, I think Robert [Schwentke] had a theory that his wife is actually time. I don't know if Audrey [Niffenegger, the author], if that was her intention or not. I'm not sure if she's spoken on that, but I think that's one of Robert's theories.

It's taken a while to get this film released. Can you talk about waiting for this to finally come out?

Bana: Actually, it's not that big of a deal for me really because I think it's just becoming more normal for anything that's not a tentpole. This film never had another release date announced. It's not a film where you can just kind of whack anywhere in the year. Then there was the New Line/Warner Brothers merger which was a huge factor as well. The film turned out exactly how it was always meant to.

Eric, wasn't there some delay because of your hair?

McAdams: [laughs] I retract. I retract. We had to wait for the meadow to grow, too, not just your hair.

What did happen?

Bana: It's not that anything happened, but we had some stuff that we had to shoot that was not time sensitive. I was bald and I said, 'Does it matter if we wait until my hair grows so that I don't have to wear a wig.' They said, 'Yeah, that's not a problem.' We didn't have to wait that long. Luckily, this stuff grows really fast. We flew back to Toronto and did what we had to do and that was it.

And the meadow?

McAdams: Well, it was a different time of year when we went back to it.

Bana: Yeah, and we shot in that actual meadow at different times of the yea. It was a pretty amazing place. I don't know if you heard Rachel tell the story but it's a real meadow that this guy built for his wife. So he kind of raised the bar of romantic expectations..

Did either of you work with the idea that the time travel device was a metaphor for something in the relationship or did you let it be what it was?

McAdams: I think it was really important to root it into something that we could relate it to and that the audience could relate to and not this sort of intangible thing or this fantastical concept. So that's something that we spent a lot of time talking about in the rehearsal process, talking about longing and waiting and separation and how that obstacle is so relevant to so many relationships and that so many people are overcoming that everyday.

What were the specific challenges in this film?

McAdams: Well, the adaptation was obviously a challenge. You know that you're going to be playing someone that people have cast in their head a certain way, and how do you meld their idea with yours and the authors and the screenwriters and the director's? But at a certain point you just have to give over and fall into it.

A lot of the movie seems to be about love and destiny. Your character says she's been waiting for him all her life. Is that something that you personally believe in?

McAdams: I like your answer on this one.

Bana: I forgot my answer. Give the best version of it.

McAdams: Half and half, that you believe it's destiny and free will or am I wrong? Am I misquoting you?

Bana: No. It sounds good so far. Keep going.

McAdams: I thought that was a great answer, that you believe things do happen for a reason and at the same time you can't just sit back and let it all wash over you.

Bana: Yeah. I guess you have to be proactive about your destiny and then realize that the other half of it is completely out of your control.

Did either of your cry while watching the movie?

Bana: I probably need to see it properly. I'm not good the first time I watch a movie. I usually watch it once with an audience and then I don't see it again. This was a hard one for me to watch for the first time because there was so much that I was looking for. So I'll probably watch it as a proper audience member the next time around but I was definitely moved.

McAdams: Well, my copy said, copyright Warner Brothers, said you will be seriously persecuted and thrown in jail forever if anyone gets a hold of this. Rachel McAdams. [laughs] So I didn't get completely carried away.

If you’re wondering why you haven’t seen reviews for Funny People, it’s because Universal has the film embargoed until next week. Sometimes that means they’re afraid of what critics will say when they talk, but in this case there’s been nothing but good buzz from the few who have found a way to talk about it. Besides, it’s a Judd Apatow film. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible for him to make anything that’s not good.

Adam Sandler was on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (which by the way sucks, I never thought I’d miss the Masterbating Bear) and showed off a new clip from the film. You’ll find that clip below along with eight others, in our Funny People video blowout. Get a taste for Apatow’s next inevitable hit below: