An international trailer for Kick-Ass 2 has been released.  The red-band trailer focused on the plot of the film where we saw heroes banding together against the threat of The Motherfucker (Christopher Mintz-Plasse).  The international trailer mostly ignores all that (there’s no Motherfucker to be found), and shines a light directly on Hit-Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz).  That’s not too surprising when you consider she was the most popular character in the first film, and Moretz looks like she’s even better this time around.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  There’s also a new character poster for Jim Carrey‘s superhero, Colonel Stars and Stripes.  The movie co-stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clark Duke, Donald Faison, John Leguizamo, and Olga Kurkulina.  Kick-Ass 2 opens August 16th.

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures announced today that filming has begun in Vancouver on director Gareth Edwards’ (Monster) new Godzilla film. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche lead a cast that also includes David Strathairn and Bryan Cranson.  Additionally, the press release notes that Ken Watanabe has now joined the film as well.  Though plot details are firmly under wraps, we know from the film’s brief Comic-Con appearance last year that Edwards is taking a grounded, realistic approach to the classic monster.  His take attempts to answer the question, “What would it be like if all of this really happened?”

Edwards is working from a screenplay by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont, and Dave Callaham.  Hit the jump to read the full press release.  Godzilla opens in 3D on May 16, 2014.

The first red-band trailer for the sequel Kick-Ass 2 debut this morning, and now Universal has released a batch of high-resolution images and the first poster for the film. Jeff Wadlow takes over from the first film’s director Matthew Vaughn this time around, and the story finds Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Kick-Ass and Chloe Grace Moretz’s Hit Girl inspiring a new wave of masked superheroes that join in their fight against evil.  On the flipside, Christopher Mintz-Plasse has now become a supervillain named The Mother Fucker and is assembling his own masked evil league.

Hit the jump to check out the images and poster.  The film also stars Morris Chestnut, John Leguizamo, Donald Faison, and Jim Carrey.  Kick-Ass 2 opens on August 16th.

Universal has released the first red-band trailer for director Jeff Wadlow‘s sequel Kick-Ass 2.  The trailer opens with a fight/dialogue scene between Aaron Johnson‘s Kick-Ass and Chloe Moretz‘s Hit Girl that brings us right back into the Kick-Ass world, and it sure does feel good to be back.  The plot appears to revolve around the preparations for a showdown between Kick-Ass/Hit Girl and Christopher Mintz-Plasse‘s newly minted “The Motherfucker,” as both sides are building up their own armies of heroes/villains.  Mintz-Plasse looks to have gone delectably full-evil in the follow-up, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how his character progresses throughout the film.  The CGI is pretty iffy in places, but the fight scenes and performances look great, with Jim Carrey essentially unrecognizable as Colonel Stars and Stripes.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Clark Duke, Donald Faison, John Leguizamo, and Olga Kurkulina.  Kick-Ass 2 opens on August 16th.

Earlier this month, we got our first official look at Kick-Ass (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey) in Jeff Wadlow‘s Kick-Ass 2.  Today, the latest issue of Empire Magazine has revealed new images of Hit-Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) along with a glimpse of the Colonel’s “Justice Forever” headquarters.  When the sequel’s story picks up, Kick-Ass has inspired a wave of superheroes led by Colonel Stars and Stripes.  When the group becomes the target of Red Mist’s (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) fury—now going by the name of “The Motherfucker”—only Hit-Girl can save them.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The film also stars Clark Duke, Donald Faison, John Leguizamo, Olga Kurkulina, and Nicolas Cage.  Kick-Ass 2 opens June 28th.

The first official image has been released for Jeff Wadlow’s Kick-Ass 2.  The superhero sequel to Matthew Vaughn’s 2010 comic adaptation features the return of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as titular hero, Kick-Ass, plus plenty of newcomers.  One such addition is Jim Carrey, who is showcased in the first image as Colonel Stars and Stripes, the leader of a new band of crime-fighters named Justice Forever.

Also starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Nicolas Cage, Donald Faison and Clark Duke, Kick-Ass 2 opens June 28th.  Hit the jump to see the image.

And the Godzilla news keeps on coming.  Earlier this week we had a couple of major developments regarding Warner Bros.’ upcoming Godzilla reboot, including the news that Frank Darabont has been brought on to perform a final rewrite of the script and a shortlist of actors in the running for the lead role reportedly include Henry Cavill, Scoot McNairy, and Caleb Landry Jones.  Well so much for that shortlist story, as word now comes that Warner Bros. has its eye on a different actor to lead the project: Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson.  Hit the jump for more.

Now playing in theaters is director Joe Wright’s adaptation of the classic Leo Tolstoy novel Anna Karenina.  The film takes place in late 19th century Russian society and stars Keira Knightley as an adulterer who questions her happiness.  In true Wright fashion, this isn’t exactly a straightforward adaptation; the director has set much of the film in a lush theater that uses over 100 interconnected sets to allow the action to move fluidly through a door and into a separate setting entirely.  The film also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Olivia Williams.  For more on Anna Karenina, here’s Matt’s review, five clips, and all our previous coverage.

At the press day, I spoke to Aaron Johnson.  We talked about how he prepared for the role, when he found out Joe Wright was changing the way he wanted to tell the story and why, and more.  In addition, we also talked about the Kick-Ass sequel. Hit the jump to watch.

Five clips from director Joe Wright’s adaptation of the classic Leo Tolstoy novel Anna Karenina have been released.  The film takes place in late 19th century Russian society and stars Keira Knightley as an adulterer who questions her happiness.  In true Wright fashion, this isn’t exactly a straightforward adaptation; the director has set much of the film in a lush theater that uses over 100 interconnected sets to allow the action to move fluidly through a door and into a separate setting entirely.  Early word has praised the gorgeous framing device, and it should be fun to take it all in when the pic hits theaters later this month.

Hit the jump to watch the clips.  The film also stars Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, and Olivia Williams.  Anna Karenina opens on November 16th.

We’ve already seen countless photos and videos from the set of the in-production sequel Kick-Ass 2 (many courtesy of director Jeff Wadlow himself), but now the film’s official synopsis has been released, giving us a peek at the film’s plot.  When the sequel’s story picks up, the bravery of Aaron Johnson’s titular hero has inspired a wave of superheroes led by Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey).  When the group becomes the target of Red Mist’s (Christhoper Mintz-Plasee) fury—now going by the name of “The Mother F%&*^r”—only the incredibly deadly Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) can save them.

Hit the jump to read the full synopsis which includes some further details, and if you missed it check out Steve’s video interview with Moretz from last week’s New York Comic-Con.  The promising ensemble cast also includes Clark Duke, Donald Faison, John Leguizamo, and Olga Kurkulina.  Kick-Ass 2 opens on June 28th, 2013.

We previously brought you the first looks at Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) in a new version of his RoboCop suit, but now we have a few more looks at Kinnaman as the 100% human Alex Murphy.  Speaking of superhumans, director Jeff Wadlow recently tweeted a number of photos of the Kick-Ass 2 cast in costume.  Though none are as awesome as the first look at Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars, these set photos do have that “official” ring to them.

Director Jose Padilha’s RoboCop also stars Abbie Cornish, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton and Jackie Earle Haley and opens August 9th, 2013.  Kick-Ass 2, starring Aaron Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, opens June 28th of next year.  Hit the jump to see the new images. 

We’ve been seeing a multitude of images from the set of writer/director Jeff Wadlow’s sequel Kick-Ass 2 over the past couple of weeks that have given us our first looks at Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz back in costume, but now we have our first peek at Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars.  The character is a founding member of Justice Forever who recruits other heroes to join the crime-fighting group.  Carrey looks to be wearing a bit of prosthetics to get the character’s look just right, and it should be fun to see him in action when the film hits theaters.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The film also stars Donald Faison, John Leguizamo, and Olga Kurkulina.  Kick-Ass 2 opens on June 28th, 2013.

Last night, I managed to squeeze in a double feature of Dredd 3D and The Master. While I wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of not having a 2D showing available to choose from, I have to admit that director Pete Travis‘ film provided me with my first 3D screening since 2010′s Piranha 3D that actually felt worth the extra dimension and additional ticket price. As for The Master, it’s probably unfair to judge something so heavy after a single viewing. That said, my initial reaction is that I can’t remember watching a film where its individual parts so far exceed the sum the first time around. From top to bottom the pic’s technicality is superb. And yet, I don’t see myself in any hurry to revisit Paul Thomas Anderson‘s latest world.

Moving forward to the reason we’re all here, in this week’s episode of the Top 5, The Hobbit celebrates Tolkien Week in a big way with a new trailer and images, we get our first looks at a new suit from director Jose Padilha‘s Robocop reboot, Steve sits down to talk End of Watch with Jake Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick, and more, Kick-Ass 2 set images continue to roll out while Aaron Johnson talks about the film at TIFF, and Fantastic Fest 2012 kicks off. Continue reading for a brief recap and link to each.

As evidenced by the bounty of set photos that have already hit the web, production on Kick-Ass 2 is well underway in Toronto.  Director Matthew Vaughn has taken on a producer role on the follow-up, with Jeff Wadlow stepping in to helm the sequel.  Some exciting new casting additions have been announced like Jim Carrey as The Colonel and Donald Faison as Dr. Gravity, and all signs point to Kick-Ass 2 being one hell of a ride.

Steve got to sit down with star Aaron Johnson recently at the Toronto Film Festival for his upcoming romantic drama adaptation Anna Karenina, and the actor talked briefly about what fans can expect in Kick-Ass 2.  He revealed that they’ve excised some of the more disturbing material from Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s comic book counterpart and teased some interesting character developments.  Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

We previously brought you some early set photos of Aaron Johnson and Chloe Grace Moretz in costume to reprise their roles of Kick-Ass and Hit Girl in director Jeff Wadlow’s Kick-Ass 2.  Today, we’ve got more looks at Kick-Ass alongside Donald Faison as Dr. Gravity, plus a couple other members of the superhero team Justice Forever.  The images show what appears to be Insect Man, plus Clark Duke reprising his role as Marty and taking on the mantle of Battle Guy.

Kick-Ass 2 also stars Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jim Carrey, Lyndsy Fonseca, Yancy Butler, John Leguizamo, Lindy Booth, Andy Nyman, Olga Kurkulina and Nicolas Cage in a cameo. The film hits domestic theaters on June 28, 2013 and will be in UK theaters July 19, 2013.  Hit the jump to take a look at the new set photos.