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The big Marvel Cinematic Universe crossovers generate a lot of excitement prior to their release. The internet is suddenly flooded with multiple rumors, fans create crazy theories that might just wind up being true, and everybody wonders if their favorite hero might perish in an epic yet heartbreaking battle. However, one of the most exciting parts is trying to guess what characters will make it onto the big screen, especially in a time when the multiverse is at the center of the stage.

Remember how excited we were all at the prospect of watching the return of Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's Peter Parkers in Spider-Man: No Way Home? Slowly but steadily, fans are starting to get the same feeling in anticipation of Avengers: Doomsday. While the movie's official cast announcement already gave us a glimpse of what to expect from Earth's Mightiest Heroes' upcoming adventure, Kevin Feige has...

Spider-Man has a long and varied film history. The first Spider-Man movies were recuts of the 1977 TV series "The Amazing Spider-Man," and starred Nicholas Hammond as the title hero, a man who could climb walls and swing through the streets of New York on homemade webs projected from his wrists. In 1978, there was a Japanese Spider-Man film based on the Toei TV series, starring Shinji Tōdō as a robot-controlling version of the hero. Better known to American audiences are the three big-budget Spider-Man blockbusters that Sam Raimi directed between 2002 and 2007. Those films starred Tobey Maguire. Raimi's films were followed by two movies in rebooted continuity called "The Amazing Spider-Man," starring Andrew Garfield. When the second of his films tanked, Sony (who held the films rights to Spider-Man) decided to move away from that continuity and co-produce an even newer version of Spider-Man, folding the character into Disney's already-successful Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Quick LinksGrowing Up, I Thought Marvel Would Never Make It Onto the Big ScreenThe Marvel Era of Movies Began at the Same Time I Became a FatherThe End of the Infinity Saga Marked My Child's Transition Into Adulthood

My mother is an old-school nerd. She watched Star Trek: The Original Series as it aired. When the crew of the USS Enterprise impossibly got a second act for the movies, she made sure to take me with her. In fact, I remember watching Star Trek III: The Search for Spock in the theater and being very upset that the movie began with my favorite Vulcan dying. Sharing movies like this with a parent is more than just a fun escape.

Kids see the artifice of parenthood slip away a bit. My mom was a "fan" just like me. When I became a father, I got to live the other side of...

For fans of Spider-Man, the journey to seeing the beloved web-slinger on screen has been a long one. While we now enjoy the character’s epic wall-crawling in movies with stunning special effects, bringing the hero to life wasn’t always easy. One of the earliest attempts to bring Spider-Man to television was the 1977 Spider-Man live-action TV series.

Stan Lee | Credits: pinguino k | Cca 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

But back then, the technology simply wasn’t there to fully capture the essence of the character. In a past interview, Stan Lee himself reflected on the challenges of that early adaptation.

Stan Lee on why the 1977 Spider-Man series failed to live up to the hype

Spider-Man is one of the most beloved superheroes in comic book history, and fans have always been eager to see him on screen. However, it wasn’t until 2002 that audiences saw Spider-Man in a major Marvel movie. But long before that,...

In many ways, the modern superhero landscape owes a lot to Richard Donner’s Superman, which made people believe that a man can fly. Although one would presume the film’s success would kickstart a renaissance for CBMs, what ensued was boatloads of unanimously panned projects, and it wasn’t until 1989’s Batman that things started to shift for the genre.

Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge | Credit: Columbia Pictures

Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge was one of the many forgotten unbridled messes released to capitalize on the character’s popularity among comic readers. Surprisingly, it included NCIS star Ted Danson.

Ted Danson’s Forgotten Cbm Debut: Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge

One year before Ted Danson’s breakthrough performance in NBC’s Cheers, the actor appeared as Major Collings (via IMDb) in the Nicholas Hammond-led Spider-Man: The Dragon and the original TV series. Originally intended for TV like its predecessor The Amazing Spider-Man,...

Tom Hardy and Kelly Marcel are gearing up to conclude their journey with Venom. In a recent interview with People, ahead of the release of Venom: The Last Dance, the 47-year-old actor and 50-year-old writer-director revealed that they envisioned the series’ ending from the very beginning.

We always knew it would be a trilogy. We knew the story would wrap up this way right from the beginning.

Marcel wrote all three films, with Hardy contributing to the story in the last two. For this final installment, she also stepped into the director’s role for the first time.

Sony asked, and I said, ‘Alright, let’s do it. Having worked on the first two movies, we knew this one was both going to be a blast and pretty emotional.

Tom and I have worked on this for almost seven years and wanted to finish what we started. It felt like...

Tom Hardy and Kelly Marcel are ready to wrap up their work on Venom. In a recent interview with People, ahead of the release of Venom: The Last Dance, the actor, 47, and writer-director, 50, share that they had planned the ending for the series from the start:

“We always knew it would be a trilogy. We knew the story would wrap up this way right from the beginning.”

Marcel wrote all three movies, with Hardy helping with the story for the last two. She also took on directing for the first time in this final film.

“Sony asked, and I said, ‘Alright, let’s do it. Having worked on the first two movies, we knew this one was both going to be a blast and pretty emotional.”

“Tom and I have worked on this for almost seven years and wanted to finish what we started. It felt like the right time to step up,...

The stage is set in Art of Eight Limbs for a fight fans dream come true. We’re introduced to Scott Schiff, a skilled CIA analyst who also happens to be a talented kickboxer. But Scott soon finds himself tapped for an undercover mission unlike any other.

It seems some stolen nerve gas has made its way to Myanmar, into the hands of a sinister general with ties to the country’s fighting circuits. To obtain proof, Scott must infiltrate an upcoming Muay Thai tournament – presenting the perfect cover for a dangerous arms deal.

With secret agents and Mma action promised, it’s a blend that sounds too good to be true. And as ananalyst myself, it’s my duty to carefully examine every element. How well does this story deliver on its high-octane premise? Is Scott up to the task as our hero?

And most importantly, are the fights...

Stars: Sahajak Boonthanakit, Nicholas Hammond, Ludi Lin, Vithaya Pansringarm, Suradet Dongthaisong | Written by H. Daniel Gross, Ryan C. Jaeger, Louis Spiegler | Directed by Robert Grasmere

No, Art of Eight Limbs isn’t about an octopus that can paint portraits. It’s the latest knockoff of Enter the Dragon, a film that came out fifty-one years ago and still hasn’t been equalled despite a near-endless stream of films utilizing its mix of international espionage, crime, and martial arts tournaments.

Somewhere in Myanmar, a pair of Russian agents arrive at the encampment of General Thiha looking to buy some Vx Nerve Gas. They show they have the cash, and Thiha’s men show them the gas is the real thing by killing the town drunk as they watch. The CIA are quite familiar with The General and aren’t surprised to find out he’s involved. They alert Nick Buckley, one...

Tiger Style Media is partnering with Paramount‘s Republic Pictures for old-school-style martial arts double feature releases. The first two of the four films released this month are Art of Eight Limbs and The Lockdown. Art of Eight Limbs stars Ludi Lin, who plays Liu Kang in 2021’s Mortal Kombat and the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2. The trailer will likely give viewers some déjà vu as the plot of infiltrating a martial arts tournament led by a criminal comes straight from Bruce Lee’s famous film Enter the Dragon. However, mix it in with some Muay Thai action and it’s a cocktail for some martial arts mayhem.

The official synopsis reads,

“In this action-packed thriller from a producer of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Ludi Lin stars as a CIA data analyst and part-time kickboxer. Sent on a mission to Myanmar, he must infiltrate a martial arts tournament...

"We look forward to seeing you fight." Republic Pictures via Paramount has unveiled the official trailer for Art of Eight Limbs - the title is just another term for Muay Thai Boxing. The martial arts action movie is playing in select theaters now before it's on VOD later this month. A small release that we've barely heard about. Four canisters of deadly Vx nerve gas have fallen into the hands of an arms dealer in Myanmar. A CIA data analyst goes undercover to infiltrate a martial arts tournament that masks an auction of the deadly nerve gas, where he finds himself as the last hope against a time-ticking global threat. Can he pull off a win and save the world? Chinese-Canadian actor Ludi Lin (who played Liu Kang in the recent 2021 Mortal Kombat movie) stars as the CIA analyst. The cast includes Thai actors Sahajak Boonthanakit & Vithaya Pansringarm, both were...

In Art of Eight Limbs, a young CIA data analyst takes on a dangerous mission to stop a Vx gas auction in Myanmar. Ludi Lin leads an action-heavy martial arts film and performs his own stunts. The film showcases impressive fight choreography and engaging performances.

In the wake of Mortal Kombat's continued popularity, Tiger Style Media is keeping the martial arts films flowing. Their first venture, Art of Eight Limbs, follows a young CIA data analyst who has some boxing skills and is tasked with a highly sensitive mission. When a warlord in Myanmar is selling deadly Vx gas to the highest bidder the CIA steps in to halt his plans, their best option is not a seasoned agent, but a data analyst. As he is embroiled in this criminal underworld he will have to face off against skilled fighters in a deadly martial arts tournament with not just his life on the line,...

Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid is back at the helm for the sequel Mortal Kombat 2, and while the video game adaptation wrapped production back in January after a bumpy ride through the year of the strikes, it sounds like they’re doing some reshoots at the moment. Ludi Lin reprises the role of Liu Kang in the new film, and while doing the press rounds for the martial arts movie Art of Eight Limbs, where he co-stars with former TV Spider-Man Nicholas Hammond, Lin took a moment to hype Mortal Kombat 2 to the folks at Screen Rant, saying the sequel is bigger and better than its predecessor, and that Karl Urban’s performance as popular video game character Johnny Cage will “blow your socks off.”

The screenplay for Mortal Kombat 2 has been written by Jeremy Slater, who was the lead writer on the Marvel / Disney+ series Moon Knight.

Your browser does not support the video tag. Tiger Style Media showcases classical martial arts and grindhouse movies with a modern twist. Exciting upcoming releases include The Art of Eight Limbs, The Lockdown, Lady Scorpions, and Kung Fu Games. Watch for stars like Ludi Lin, Caity Lotz, Cynthia Rothrock, and Mark Strange in action-packed films.

Martial arts cinema is back in full force, and the brand-new banner Tiger Style Media is here to offer four action-packed movies that highlight world-class performers and various styles of fighting. The company was founded by producer Shannon McIntosh, who has previously worked with Quentin Tarantino on movies such as Once Upon a Time.in Hollywood and The Hateful Eight, and Daniel Gross, who is known for Halloween: Resurrection and Highlander: End Game.

Tiger Style Media seeks to highlight both classic martial arts and grindhouse movies in the contemporary landscape, and Screen Rant has an...

Nicolas Cage's Spider-Man Noir breaks a 45-year Spider-Man trend. Sony plans to expand live-action Spider-Man projects with new TV series, starting with Noir. Cage brings a darker, film noir-inspired live-action Spider-Man to Prime Video.

Nicolas Cage's Spider-Man Noir is responsible for breaking a long-running trend for Spider-Man. Tom Holland gives life to Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the young actor will continue serving as the McU's Spider-Man for the foreseeable future, with Holland's Spider-Man 4 in the works, that does not mean that he will be the only live-action version of the hero to be running around. Sony is preparing to expand its live-action Spider-Man-related projects with multiple new TV series, starting with Cage's Noir.

While the planned Silk: Spider Society is not moving forward at Prime Video, Sony is hard at work crafting Cage's live-action debut as a version of Spider-Man. The...

Sony's Noir series will introduce Spider-Man Noir into live-action for the first time ever, with Nicolas Cage reprising the role. Spider-Man Noir being adapted to live-action first may be an insult to the more well known Miles Morales' Spider-Man. Miles Morales' Spider-Man could still come into live-action, whether that be in Sony's Spider-Man Universe or in the MCU.

Sony's upcoming Noir series will soon bring a new version of Peter Parker into live-action, but another popular iteration of Spider-Man seems to have been ignored, but the MCU could be his saving grace. A live-action Sony Spider-Man Universe series focused on Spider-Man Noir was announced for Sony and Amazon Prime Video in February 2023, and though the fate of the project was uncertain during 2023's WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, production has since restarted on Noir. The series will bring Spider-Man Noir, who previously appeared in 2018's animated smash-hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,...

A Marvel fan imagines what Nicolas Cage's Spider-Man might look like in Sony's Noir series. Marvel's Spider-Man Noir is grittier and more violent than most Spider-Men across the multiverse. He even wields a gun and isn't afraid of killing his enemies. Sony's Noir series will likely be extremely different from all previous live-action Spider-Man projects.

Nicolas Cage's live-action Spider-Man stars in a realistic piece of Noir fan art based on Sony's upcoming Marvel series. Set to release on Prime Video and MGM+, Sony's Noir series adds Nicolas Cage to the growing list of live-action Spider-Man actors, which started in 1977 with Nicholas Hammond and is currently spearheaded by Tom Holland in the MCU. With Kelly Marcel's Venom: The Last Dance seemingly concluding Sony's most successful live-action Spider-Man property at the moment, Noir might seek to fill the void with an A-list actor and a bold premise, likely set in an alternate universe.

Nicolas Cage, at 60 years old, is the oldest actor to be cast as Spider-Man. Cage is 12 years older than Tobey Maguire, 20 years older than Andrew Garfield, and 33 years older than Tom Holland. Nicolas Cage's Spider-Man Noir could provide a unique perspective on an older, seasoned Spider-Man in Sony's Noir series.

Nicolas Cage's Spider-Man casting in Sony's Noir breaks a record that none of Marvel's previous Spidey actors have gotten even close to attaining. Sony has officially announced the live-action Spider-Man show Noir, set to release on Prime Video and MGM+ with Nicolas Cage in the lead role. Cage voices an animated version of Spider-Man Noir in Sony's multiversal Spider-Verse movies, but this iteration of the character will be separate from the live-action series. Spider-Verse writers and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, however, will executive produce Noir.

In the source material, Spider-Man Noir is the Peter Parker from Earth-...

Tom Holland will break a long-running Spider-Man movie trend. Marvel and Sony's achievement marks the start of a new era for Spider-Man in the MCU. Spider-Man 4 is expected to focus on new beginnings, a street-level story, and perhaps a fresh supporting cast.

Tom Holland is set to return for Spider-Man 4 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in doing so, the actor will finally break a Spider-Man movie trend that has lasted almost 50 years. Holland is one of the most popular stars in the MCU, especially since Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. retired from the franchise. It is easy to see why, as Spider-Man's MCU movies have been some of the franchise's best, with 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home being one of the biggest events in superhero movie history.

Spider-Man: No Way Home's ending set up the path for Holland's future as Peter Parker, with the...

Spider-Man's legacy is a complicated one. The beloved movie -- directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maquire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe and James Franco -- made history as the first film to open with more than $100 million. But just five years later, the third film in its nascent franchise brought things to a screeching halt. There's also the fact that some modern viewers dismissed Spider-Man for being a campy romp from a bygone era. Others went as far as blaming it for starting the modern superhero boom that they feel overstayed its welcome.

Have the two decades since its release and its two sequels changed how people see the original Spider-Man today? Absolutely, but for the better. Even from a modern perspective, it was clear that Spider-Man's first feature was not going to be like the Nicholas Hammond-led The Amazing Spider-Man TV series from the 70s, or any...

Spider-Man has had the most different cinematic universes established in his name, making it difficult to keep track of all the different versions. The different Spider-Man continuities frequently interact with each other, taking advantage of the concept of the multiverse in superhero stories. The various Spider-Man timelines, including the 70s movies and TV show, the Tobey Maguire trilogy, the Andrew Garfield movies, the MCU Spider-Man movies, Sony's Spider-Man universe, and the Animated Spider-Verse, each have their own distinct characteristics and contributions to the Spider-Man mythos.

Of all the superheroes to be put to screen, Spider-Man has had the most different cinematic universes established in his name, each of which frequently interact with each other. One of the most beloved Marvel superheroes of all time, Peter Parker has swung his way into the movies with six different movie continuities, spanning over a dozen movies featuring Spider-Man or peripheral characters...

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse star Shameik Moore addresses recent speculation that there could be another in the acclaimed series.

Speaking to ComicBook.com on the red carpet at the Madame Web world premiere, Moore, who has played Miles Morales throughout the Spider-Verse franchise, was asked about comments by producer, Amy Pascal, implying the possibility of a fourth film. However, as far as Moore is aware, there are no plans for another movie beyond the Spider-Verse trilogy. "I don't know. I think, you know, I don't know," he said. When subsequently queried about what fans should expect in Beyond the Spider-Verse, Moore coyly replied, "I'll be there."

Related How Sony's Miles Morales Spider-Man Provides Representation to All Fans As Spider-Man, Miles Morales offers representation to kids who need to feel seen, but he also gives it to anyone of any age who loves the Wallcrawler.

During a recent Oscars luncheon, Pascal...

The Sound of Music is a classic film based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name. With Julie Andrews as the leading lady, the songs are beautifully performed and Maria (Andrews) is as charming as can be. As a result, almost 60 years after its release, the film is still instantly recognizable. It tells the story of the large von Trapp family coming together with the help of the free-spirited Maria. Maria is sent to the family to take care of the von Trapp children, Leisl (Charmian Carr), Louisa (Heather Menzies), Friedrich (Nicholas Hammond), Kurt (Duane Chase), Brigitta (Angela Cartwright), Marta (Debbie Turner), and Gretl (Kym Karath). But she arrives to find that their father has enforced strict rules that need to change for her charges to behave like the children they are. As she helps the father learn how to relate to his seven children, Maria and...

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It's been nearly 60 years since Julie Andrews first sang about how the hills of Austria were alive with the sound of music, but "The Sound of Music" remains a beloved cinematic treasure. Vividly colorful, unabashedly musical, and anchored by Andrews' performance, the story of Maria the would-be nun, and her small army of new wards — the Von Trapp children — is still rewatched and referenced often across the world.

With more than half a century of retrospect, "The Sound of Music" has also become a bit of a historical document: much of the film's cast and crew has since passed away, with the exception of Andrews herself and five of the seven actors who embodied the Von Trapp kids. Heather Menzies (Louisa) and Charmian Carr (Liesl) have both passed away in recent years, as has Christopher Plummer, who embodied family patriarch...

Character and voice actor Harry Johnson, whose acting credits include Battlestar Galactica, Law & Order, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, passed away.

Deadline confirmed that Johnson died on January 2, 2024, in Los Angeles, California, after an undisclosed "long illness." Johnson was 81 years old. His passing was confirmed by his wife of 15 years, Christiane.

Harry Johnson was born on December 27, 1941, in Plainfield, New Jersey, and was credited as "Chip Johnson" in the 1970s and 1980s. Johnson began his career in 1978 with a multi-part pilot episode of the original Battlestar Galactica, where he played the First Warrior. He went on to sign a contract player with Universal Studios, appearing in other productions the same year.

Johnson's career of over four decades includes acting credits on TV shows like M*A*S*H, Dynasty, The A-Time, Cold Case, Melrose Place, Days of Our Lives, Party of Five, Highway to Heaven, Thirtysomething, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Spider-Man has evolved from a comic-book character to a successful live-action hero in film and television. The first live-action version of Spider-Man in the 1970s was limited by budget constraints but still resonated with audiences. Different versions of Spider-Man have left their own unique mark on the character's legacy.

Spider-Man started life as a comic-book character in 1962, but since then, he's taken over live-action entertainment, too. Thanks to the MCU and Spider-Man: No Way Home in particular, fans have even been able to compare and contrast their favorite interpretation of the Web-Head that has evolved dramatically over decades on television and film.

Spider-Man first appeared on television in the 1970s during an odd but memorable cameo on The Electric Company, where he put his seldom heralded detective skills to work, uncovering the dastardly deeds of an emotionally exhausted school principal. Spidey didn't even speak during this short sketch, but he...

The Amazing Spider-Man actor Emma Stone was shocked to learn that her character Gwen Stacy was included in an early draft of the massive blockbuster, Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The actor found out about the scrapped cameo during a conversation with ComicBook.com's Phase Zero podcast on the red carpet premiere of Poor Things. "Oh my god. Is that true?" Stone surprisingly asked, adding that Marvel never reached out to her about possibly appearing in the 2021 superhero movie. "I have never heard that before. This is awesome. This is a big moment. Thank you for telling me."

Related Beyond the Spider-Verse Can Bring Back the Spider-Man That No Way Home Forgot Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse can do justice to Nicholas Hammond, the first live-action Spider-Man that the No Way Home reunion forgot.

Stone's Gwen Stacy was one of many Spider-Man characters rumored for inclusion in No Way Home. While she ultimately didn't appear,...

Quick Links The 1977 Amazing Spider-Man TV Series Starring Nicholas Hammond Spider-Man's Powers Were Too Much for 1970s-Era VFX Why Beyond the Spider-Verse Should Bring Nicholas Hammond Into the Story The Spider-Verse Movies Prove There Are No 'Bad' Spider-Men Spider-Man: No Way Home brought back all the live-action Spidey actors on the big screen, but not an important one from television. In the late 1970s, Nicholas Hammond played the first live-action Peter Parker in a TV show that ran for one season, The Amazing Spider-Man. Beyond the Spider-Verse could bring back the original Amazing Spider-Man since he didn't make the trip to the MCU in No Way Home.

The last truly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe movie was, arguably, Spider-Man: No Way Home because it reunited all the live-action Spider-Man actors. Well, not all of them. Actor Nicholas Hammond portrayed the Web Head in a 1970s TV series, The Amazing Spider-Man,...

With many big-screen Spider-Men since Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, it's hard not to consider which of these heroes are the best of them all. Each live-action Spider-Man has pros and cons worth noting while trying to find the best of the best. The best Spider-Man may come as a surprise, but it's an iteration that captured all of the best ideas of the character while introducing something new for all fans to relate to.

Superman and Batman have represented two of the most important foundations in superheroes for nearly a century. But even still, it's hard to compare to the cultural and generational impact left behind by Spider-Man. From his first outing to his most recent appearances, fans have always related to the Wall-Crawler and his many iterations. While he's made a considerable mark in the world of animation, Spider-Man also had a huge part to play in the live-action...

Tom Holland's Spider-Man is distinct from his predecessors, being the only one able to interact with other Marvel heroes like Iron Man. Holland's Spider-Man is technologically advanced, with a high-tech suit designed by Tony Stark, setting him apart from previous versions. Holland's Spider-Man experiences growth and independence, stepping out of Iron Man's shadow and making choices unique to his character.

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is the third cinematic iteration of the web-slinger, with several notable scenes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that would not have been possible for his two predecessors. Following several live-action TV versions of Spider-Man, such as the Nicholas Hammond iteration from the late 1970s, Tobey Maguire became the first actor to play Peter Parker in a proper cinematic adaptation, with 2002’s Spider-Man becoming a beloved and highly influential film that helped establish the modern superhero movie genre. Maguire’s successor, Andrew Garfield, played...

Before John Wick ushered in a new era of stuntmen turned directors, Expend4bles director Scott Waugh was one of the few exceptions to pull off the feat. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Ric Roman Waugh, the younger Waugh made his own luck by funding 2012’s Act of Valor and co-directing the action film alongside Mouse McCoy. The film starred active-duty Navy Seals, and its success then opened the door for Waugh to direct Need for Speed for Disney, as well as DreamWorks head Steven Spielberg.

Expend4bles is now Waugh’s fifth feature film, and he managed to cross off a major bucket-list item in working with Sylvester Stallone. The duo were supposed to join forces with Jackie Chan on Waugh’s other 2023 film, Hidden Strike, but the volatility of Hollywood schedules led to Stallone’s exit. However, Waugh still managed to bring a bit of Chan’s...

When "The Expendables" first exploded into theaters back in 2010, the cast of aging action icons were already getting a little long in the tooth. Seeing Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis in the same scene together was still worth the price of admission, however. Incredibly, it's already been 10 years since "Expendables 3" came out as the weakest entry in the series, as it proved to be a marketing mistake to give the third installment a PG-13 rating. Part of the fun of this throwback franchise is seeing outlandish sequences of graphic violence. The audience for this wants to feel the arterial blood spray hitting the screen. As a result, the series has made the right course correction by making "Expendables 4" (aka "Expend4bles") R-rated. 

Opening this weekend, it will be interesting to see if "Expendables 4" can recapture the box office glory it once enjoyed by putting old faces...

Expend4bles director Scott Waugh has a huge affection for Spider-Man.

In an exclusive interview with ComicBook.com promoting the latest installment of The Expendables franchise, Waugh reveals his long-time fandom for Marvel's "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man." Waugh's interest in the wall-crawler dates back to the days when his stuntman father, Fred Waugh, would double for actor Nicholas Hammond in the late '70s Spider-Man television series for CBS. The director not only has the character tattooed on his arm but also wants a crack at helming a future Marvel Cinematic Universe project with Spider-Man.

Related: Expendables 4 Producers Say Fifth Movie Will Happen on One Condition

"I'm going to show you," Waugh said as he revealed his tattoo, pointing to a big Spidey on his shoulder. "Right here is Spider-Man. My father was the original Spider-Man in the TV show... So yes, I think I have comic book in my blood. I have...

Susan Sarandon, playing the U.S. Secretary of State Alaska Adams, gets the better of Bryan Brown, as the Australian prime minister, in a fast-paced verbal duel that represents the first footage from the Sean Penn-produced satirical comedy series “C*A*U*G*H*T.”

An elite team of Aussie soldiers is sent to an island nation to retrieve a secret file that has gone astray. Mistaken for Americans, they are captured by freedom fighters and produce a hostage video that goes viral. When the soldiers achieve celebrity status on social media, they realize that being caught might just be the best thing that could’ve happened to them.

“C*A*U*G*H*T” explores themes of identity, fame, and the absurdity of the viral age. “Why can’t we comedically deconstruct the intellectual ideas that humanity is facing right now?” says Kick Gurry who directs, produces and stars in the six-part series.

In a real-life digital take on the Spider-Man meme, the three key big screen Peter Parkers – Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire – apparently have a group text with one another where they chat all things Spider-Man. What, Nicholas Hammond doesn’t have an iPhone?

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Holland said, “Myself, Andrew, Tobey — we have this amazing bond as three people who have been through something that is so unique that we really are like brothers. We have a great group chat and we catch up every now and then. It’s called the Spider-Boys.” Oh come on, how adorable is that? But what do the Spider-Boys text about? Well, Spider-Stuff of course. Holland revealed that the last text with the boys involved some Spidey merch. “I was doing a charity event in London for the Brothers Trust and I was asking if they would be so...

Spider-Man is having a moment. Not Peter Parker but the second Spider-Man created in the early 2010s, Miles Morales. In fact, it seems that the future of Spider-Man in live-action is centered on the younger web-head rather than the character who first wore the mask. Since Miles Morales is shining on the big screen, it's time for Peter Parker's Spider-Man to swing on over to television. Across the Spider-Verse is winning the box office, improving on the performance of the first film to feature Miles at its main character. Longtime Spider-Man producer also said that a Miles Morales live-action movie is in the offing. After almost a dozen movies centered on Peter Parker, it's time the big-screen focus shifts to the Miles Morales Spider-Man for a new generation.

In the comics, Peter Parker is still Marvel's biggest hero, and now he's facing enemies and problems worthy of the Fantastic Four,...

Before the dawn of the Millennium, the prospect of a live-action Spider-Man meant Nicholas Hammond doing things slowly with a lot of string. The short-lived 1970s Spider-Man TV show perfectly illustrated that non-animated Spidey antics weren’t really achievable, although several – from James Cameron to Albert Pyun – tried to get projects spinning. But then came the arrival of CGI, and anything was possible…

Since Sam Raimi first swung Tobey Maguire into cinemas in 2002 there have been ten Spidey movies, three more Peter Parkers, and a Miles Morales, across four discrete franchises recently connected by Marvel’s multiverse shenanigans. If that sounds complicated, allow us to guide you through the Spider-Verse with our ranking of every big-screen Spider-Man outing.

10) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Mark Webb’s second Amazing Spider-Man had the opportunity to fix the problems of its predecessor, but sadly ended up more of the same. As previously, the...

It's easy to forget, what with all the recent hype about it, but as far as movies are concerned the concept of a "multiverse" is anything but new. Gwyneth Paltrow was starring in rom-coms about alternate realities 25 years ago, with the groundbreaking "Sliding Doors," and just a few years later Jet Li tried to kill every other version of himself across alternate realities in the action-thriller "The One."

But a few things have certainly changed. Audiences seem to grasp the concept pretty clearly now — making weird and complex films that would have probably struggled to find mainstream acceptance years ago into massive Oscar-winning crossover hits — and so do motion picture studios. Thanks to multiverses, studios can now create movies and shows where every iteration of their intellectual property can exist simultaneously, making the nostalgic seem new and the fan service seem poignant.

And for whatever reason, the focal point of...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe really gives us a novelty that took forever for comic book movies to fully embrace. The idea of superhero properties crossing over and building to a much wider world is something that’s in the DNA of the source material. Outside of the Lou Ferrigno Hulk rubbing elbows with half-realized versions of Thor and Daredevil, it’s something that we never truly got to see until Nick Fury stopped by Tony Stark’s house after the Iron Man credits. Before that, the closest thing we had was J. Jonah Jameson referencing the existence of Doctor Strange. Even their rivals at DC Comics couldn’t give us more than a Superman reference in Batman and Robin or a Batman and Robin reference in Steel.

But we did have some close calls over the decades. Some closer than others. Movies and sequels that would have brought together various...

Throughout his 60-year-long history, Spider-Man has appeared in a number of cartoons, but his popularity quickly skyrocketed as actors began portraying the webhead in a live-action format. The performers that brought the character to small and big screens ranged from renowned actors to ones that were just starting to gain some recognition after appearing in lesser known material. Acting as a major Marvel superhero gave these actors international fame, more so for those who played the hero on the big screen.

What has worked so well for Spider-Man's live-action appearances is how the character can be interpreted differently in each franchise. While it still remains to be seen what Spider-Man's future in the MCU has in store for him, it's expected that he will be the first Marvel superhero to receive a second trilogy. Dating back nearly 50 years, Spider-Man's live-action role has undergone numerous changes. However, a limited amount of...

Sony's Spider-Man Universe is expanding on to TV with Silk: Spider Society, but already it looks as though Peter Parker has been erased. Sony's Spider-Man Universe launched without Peter Parker, a controversial decision that meant Venom's origin story lacked any connection to Spider-Man. The franchise has been mostly successful to date, though; and now Sony has signed up to a deal with Amazon that will bring their Spider-Man Universe to TV, beginning with a series called Silk: Spider Society. Created by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, Silk was a classmate of Spider-Man's who was bitten by the same radioactive spider. It seemed difficult to imagine any version of Silk's origin story that didn't involve the wall-crawler himself.

The title of the TV series suggests Sony has indeed managed to erase Spider-Man, however. Silk isn't traditionally associated with the Spider Society at all; they're typically connected to an entirely different character,...

A former Spider-Man actor has explained why Peter Parker's famous mask is one of the most important elements behind the character's success. Marvel's web-slinger has remained one of the world's most popular superheroes since his 1962 debut, and that enduring appeal has given rise to countless iterations of the character both in film and TV. While nerdy high-schooler Peter Parker has been the most common version Spider-Man portrayed onscreen, the success enjoyed by Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse proves Spider-Man's message is universal.

Nicholas Hammond, who played Spider-Man in the 1970s The Amazing Spider-Man series, notes (via With Great Power... by Sean O'Connell) that the Peter Parker costume was integral in making Spidey relatable for all backgrounds. Recalling talks to audiences of mostly Black and Hispanic children, Hammond comments, "These fans could relate to a guy who is basically no color when he's in a suit... they can see themselves in that...

The MCU has always been full of action, and in recent years the scope of its superhero adventures has grown, but through this, the franchise has forgotten the important lesson that made Spider-Man one of the world's most popular heroes. The MCU became a hit franchise by focusing on its well-developed stars, Iron Man and Captain America. But now that the Avengers have lost their leaders, Marvel Studios appears to have forgotten what has made their movies a success. The MCU would do well to remember past Marvel adaptations, like CBS's The Amazing Spider-Man, to get back on track.

According to Sean O’Connell’s book With Great Power: How Spider-Man Conquered Hollywood During the Golden Age of Comic Book Blockbusters, Nicholas Hammond, who played the title character in CBS's The Amazing Spider-Man show in the 1970s, says that the production studio wanted Peter Parker's private life and personal struggles...

The possibility of Quentin Tarantino releasing another Once Upon A Time In Hollywood extended cut remains and this is what's known so far. The original film came in at a solid 161 minutes, but past interviews with the seasoned director indicate that a further extended cut could come in at a whopping four hours. The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood universe is clearly a place Tarantino wants to explore, having released a novelization of the original film with alternative character beats. There’s a second novel on the way called The Films Of Rick Dalton, a potential TV show called Bounty Law, and Tarantino has even voiced plans to explore Rick Dalton’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) time in Italy through a stage adaptation. The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood universe is clearly important to Tarantino and another extended cut of the film seems inevitable.

Tarantino and the cast of Once...

The Dolby Theatre was alive with the sound of music on Thursday, as the American Film Institute presented the two-year-delayed Life Achievement Award Gala in honor of Julie Andrews‘ career, from “Mary Poppins” to “The Princess Diaries”

Speaking to Variety on the red carpet, Andrews called the honor “a culmination, in a way, of wonderful events and great fortune.”

“My early years were in in Music Hall in London and vaudeville, and I was just a bit of a child brat, I suppose, that had a big voice,” Andrews said. “But the wonder was that I then was asked to go to Broadway and then to Hollywood.”

Andrews made her Hollywood debut playing the flying nanny Mary Poppins in 1964, and has spoken in the past of the learning curve she faced when she first made the transition from stage to screen, clearly to fruitful results. When asked if she had...

“Welcome to the 48th, 49th, and 50th AFI Life Achievement Award” joked Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO, who kicked off the last night’s event in honor of Julie Andrews by first giving the other award of the night, the 2022 Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal, to “Coda” director and AFI alum Sian Heder.

It was a direct address of how the event, which had to take two years off due to the pandemic that is still affecting everyone’s schedules, travels, etc., was now back as a somewhat more humble affair. After a three-course meal, the audience was treated to a bit of theater, with the first presenters being the child stars from “The Sound of Music,” Angela Cartwright, Duane Chase, Nicholas Hammond, Kym Karath and Debbie Turner, all grown up and leading a sing-a-long of “Do-Re-Mi.”

Next was the first of what would be multiple video segments played between each presenter,...

“Welcome to the 48th, 49th, and 50th AFI Life Achievement Awards,” American Film Institute president and CEO Bob Gazzale said as he began his welcoming remarks for Thursday night’s long-awaited and pandemic-delayed tribute to Julie Andrews, the 2022 honoree at a ceremony originally set to take place in the spring of 2020. It finally took place last night at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, with all style and warmth so familiar to these evenings ever since AFI founder George Stevens Jr. came up with the idea in 1973, when director John Ford was the first honoree.

Since then there has never been a “gap” between ceremonies, but now there is between 2019 honoree Denzel Washington and Andrews, but it was well worth the wait, and congratulations to the AFI, Board Trustees chairs Kathleen Kennedy and Bob Daly, as well as Gazzale for not letting Covid diminish the event, even if it had to come a little later than usual.

Every member of the audience at the Dolby (transformed into a banquet setting for the elegant dinner) had to take a Pcr test at least 48 hours before entering the building. Other than that it was just like old times, and you could tell the industry crowd was thrilled to be there for a genuine show-business legend. The only sad part was that Andrews’ The Sound of Music co-star Christopher Plummer was not there. The Oscar-winning actor had actually been set to appear at the tribute when it was originally to take place before the pandemic had other ideas. He died in February of last year at age 91.

As you might expect, however, that iconic 1965 musical was a big part of these proceedings. The show actually started with the clip of the famous opening where Maria Von Trapp (Andrews of course) gorgeously sings the title song. And after the heartfelt standing ovation when Andrews was introduced (she sat at the dais in the middle of the room right next to family and old “chum” Carol Burnett) was a break for dinner, with the show then resuming with another familiar SoM song, “Do Re Mi,” bringing on the five surviving actors who played the Von Trapp children. They saluted her from the stage before charmingly moving through the audience, leading a sing-a-long while surrounding Andrews at her table. Nicholas Hammond, Debbie Turner, Angela Cartwright, Kym Karath and Duane Chase may all be older now, but next to the ageless Andrews it was just like they were all back in Austria and time hadn’t passed at all.

In fact Chase, who played Kurt, the younger of the two boys, actually went to junior high and high school with me (I remember the day he told me he was leaving our music class to go to Innsbruck to make “a movie”), so we had our own nice reunion. Later at the Sunset Tower after-party, he reminisced about how director Robert Wise would have to keep him from wandering off the set, something he said he often did to go exploring that memorable location.

It was indeed the perfect way to get things rolling as the tribute then highlighted the long career of Andrews, now 86 and still going strong. She talked about much of it herself in a video interview that accompanied the presentation of vintage footage of her childhood through expertly curated clips of her numerous triumphs on stage in classics like My Fair Lady and Camelot, the movies of course, and television, something Burnett charmingly recalled. They worked together every 10 years or so in very special specials like Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall; a hilarious bit involving food smeared over each other gets just as many laughs watching it now as when they actually did it. There was also much attention paid to her Oscar-winning performance in Mary Poppins, which she revealed was actually delayed after she had to tell Walt Disney she was pregnant. The studio waited for her and the rest is history.

AFI had hoped to have her 96-year-old co-star Dick Van Dyke on stage in person last night but instead he delivered some lovely remarks in a pre-taped greeting from his Malibu home. In other taped messages, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ariana DeBose and more offered their own thoughts on the star.

But on hand at the Dolby was a much more recent co-star, Steve Carell, who tried to claim he had a longer history with Andrews than just the fact she played Gru’s mother in the Despicable Me franchise. “I was actually Kevin Von Trapp, their illegitimate son and cut from the movie,” he said, before also claiming he was originally set as Bert for Poppins and Thoroughly Modern Millie before Andrews got rid of him. More seriously, he summed her up as practically perfect in every way. “She has grace and eloquence. She is kinder, funnier, and more charming than you could ever imagine. She is even better than you could hope she would be,” he said.

Of course, much of the show was made up of clips of so many movies along the way including The Americanization of Emily, Victor Victoria, Hitchcock’s Torn Curtain, Hawaii, S.O.B. The Princess Diaries, Darling Lili, Shrek the Third and the other many collaborations with husband Blake Edwards including 1979’s hilarious 10, which made a star out of Bo Derek who returned the favor last night on stage as she saluted both of them. “Blake and Julie made seven films together. And as impressive as that is, it’s nothing compared to their 41 years of marriage…,” Derek said. “And for me and all of us, what they had onscreen and off was a perfect 10.”

Gwen Stefani — a massive fan, as it turns out — practically geeked out in her comments about her idol as she said she couldn’t believe she was finally getting to meet her (Stefani’s song “Wind It Up” features a “Lonely Goatherd” from Sound of Music). A clear highlight of the evening was a stunning rendition of the classic Sound of Music song “Edelweiss” by Cynthia Erivo. Andrews said it was her favorite even though she didn’t sing it in the film (Plummer did). Not a dry eye in the house after that one.

After a little over an hour or so, Burnett appeared again to present the Life Achievement Award to Andrews, who took the long walk to the stage, the applause never slowing down. Andrews in her acceptance speech graciously turned the spotlight on those who work behind the scenes, exhaustively listing every job on a set from camera operators, focus pullers, script supervisors and on and on. “The night reminds me with great clarity how many people are involved with making movies. What a huge collaborative effort it takes to bring film to the screen,” she said. “My husband Blake never liked when people referred to filmmaking as the business or an industry. He insisted that film was an art form and should always be called that. And I know that is exactly the way the AFI feels also.”

One special moment during the evening in the filmed interview with Andrews, she demonstrated how she can still say ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ backwards. For the record: “Dociousaliexpisticfragicalirupus!”

Just before the dinner break, the 30th Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal Recipient award was presented to Coda writer-director Siân Heder, who won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar earlier this year. She made her own terrific speech last night at the Dolby in the very same room she won that Academy Award, recalling her class at AFI had just seven women but that what she learned has colored her career ever since.

At the after party I caught up with her to re-live the very long Oscar season. She genuinely did not think she would win, only that she was certain Troy Kotsur would take Supporting Actor (he did). She told me after that early award, Steven Spielberg, sitting directly in front of her, turned to her and said “that’s one, two to go,” referring to the film’s other two nominations for her and Best Picture. It was only at that moment she thought she better come up with something to actually say if he’s right. And he was. Her speech last night reinforced the fact she is the real deal. AFI should be proud.

And also for AFI, this much anticipated evening was indeed not just “practically,” but pretty much perfect in every way.

As another participant, Hector Elizondo said, “In the words of Yogi Berra, ‘Thanks for making this occasion necessary’.”...

Six decades later, the von Trapp children are back together. On Thursday night, the child stars who appeared in 1965’s “The Sound of Music” reunited 48th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to honour friend and co-star Julie Andrews. Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich), Duane Chase (Kurt), Angela Cartwright (Brigitta), Debbie Turner (Marta) and Kym Karath (Gretl) appeared together on the red carpet at...

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After a two-year pandemic delay, Julie Andrews was finally honored with AFI’s Life Achievement Award on Thursday, in a star-studded celebration that included Carol Burnett, Steve Carell, Gwen Stefani and Cynthia Erivo.

The 86-year-old star of The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and The Princess Diaries made a rare public appearance at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to receive the honor, telling The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the event, “I’m still taking the wonder of it in because it’s such a huge evening.”

And living up to that, the evening kicked off with a spectacle, as a woman in costume as Mary Poppins descended from the ceiling and flew around the theater, followed by an onstage Sound of Music cast reunion with the film’s child stars, including Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, Duane Chase, Kym Karath and Nicholas Hammond, now all grown up.

The Hollywood Hills were alive with the sound of music with this reunion. Julie Andrews received the AFI Live Achievement Award at a Gala Tribute in Los Angeles on June 9, and the stars who played the von Trapp children in The Sound of Music came together to celebrate her career. Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich), Duane Chase (Kurt), Angela Cartwright (Brigitta), Debbie Turner (Marta) and Kym Karath (Gretl) walked the red carpet at the Dolby Theater and at one point led the crowd in a sing-along of "Do Re Mi." And before they had to say so long, farewell for the night, they got a group picture with Andrews, who played Maria in the 1965 film and received an Academy Award...