Tag Archives: teaser

TV reminder: 4 premieres to look out for in February

February is all about quality over quantity in terms of appealing premieres to look out for. The new month packs two specials, one highly anticipated series premiere, and the return of the show that popularized the art of binge-watching. It’s all after the break. Continue reading TV reminder: 4 premieres to look out for in February

Super Bowl XLIX: the emotionally-charged commercials and buzzy trailers inside!

Despite a last-second reception that will go down in history as one of the best, the Seattle Seahawks lost to the New England Patriots in an exciting, nail-biting Super Bowl that ended with a final score of 28-24. Now that the game’s over, instead of analyzing Russell Wilson’s downright barbaric decision to throw the ball instead of run it into the end zone for an easy touchdown, let’s take a look at some of the most memorable commercials that aired between the gameplay. A whole bunch of them, including the buzziest movie and TV trailers, are posted after the break.

Update (2/2): NBC and the advertisers who shelled out $4.5 million for a 30-second spot have reason to celebrate today just as much as the Pats did last night. The final tally is in and a record 114.4 million people tuned into the big game. So many eyeballs; somebody do the math. This makes Super Bowl XLIX the most watched telecast in U.S. history. Bam. Continue reading Super Bowl XLIX: the emotionally-charged commercials and buzzy trailers inside!

‘Fantastic Four’ reboot ignites with a decidedly lackluster debut teaser

20th Century Fox is rebooting the Fantastic Four franchise with a more youthful cast, just as Sony Pictures did with Spider-Man in 2012. Miles Teller (Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic:), Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm / Human Torch), Kate Mara (Susan Storm / Invisible Woman), Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm / The Thing), and Toby Kebbell (Victor Domashev / Doom) are the Marvel superhero film’s stars this time around. Josh Trank (Chronicle) directs. Here’s the current logline:

Fantastic Four, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

Fox (and Marvel for that matter) have been uncharacteristically quiet about this film which has a summer release date. Rumors about creative difficulties aside, this is very much a teaser that doesn’t do much in the tantalizing department. We’re briefly introduced to the updated cast and we get a strong monologue about the human desire to discover spoken by Reg E. Cathey who plays Dr. Storm. But there’s nothing here that truly amps me up, unfortunately. It looks and feels like your run-of-the-mill superhero flick–but maybe that’s because the box office has been flooded with them as of late. Who knows. Of course I have faith in Marvel, as well as Chronicle helmer Trank whose work on that film was surprisingly risky and rewarding. Here’s to hoping a beefier full-length trailer adds some oomf to this lackluster first look.

The new Fantastic Four (whose title is actually stylized like this: Fant4stic, ugh) releases August 7 in 3D.

‘Wet Hot American Summer’ brings back its memorable cast for new Netflix original series

Set on the last day of camp, in the hot summer of 1981, “Wet Hot American Summer” follows a group of counselors who are each trying to complete their unfinished business before the day ends. The entire summer of pent-up sexual frustrations, unresolved post-traumatic stress, pending separations and of course, the talent show, all weigh heavily on the minds and groins of counselors and campers alike.

Now follow me here. Flash-forward 14 years after the release of that 2001 cult comedy and coming soon to Netflix is an 8-part limited series that will take us back to the summer of ’81 following the events of the first day of camp!

Who needs a theatrical sequel when streaming giant Netflix can round up the film’s director, writers, and pretty much the entire wildly impressive ensemble cast to make a Wet Hot American Summer TV series?! WHAS director David Wain and his co-writer Michael Showalter (he also played Coop!) are reuniting to produce the show that serves as a prequel to the movie. As maybe not so conveniently explained above, the series takes place at Camp Firewood in the same summer featured in the movie, except this time we’ll be witness to the first day of camp instead of the last. Get it? Good!

The video above blasts out the returning cast and your favorite camp counselors. Think you might recognize a name or two: Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, Judah Friedlander, Janeane Garofalo, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, Christopher Meloni, Marguerite Moreau, Zak Orth, Amy Poehler, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Michael Showalter. Getting this all-star cast to return today to reprise their 2001 roles–especially when many of them like Banks, Cooper, Poehler, and Rudd have turned into massively talented and constantly working actors–is beyond impressive.

Wain and Showalter’s Wet Hot American Summer reunion hits Netflix (you guessed it) this summer.

Update (1/28): Deadline reports new cast additions today and they are: Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Kristin Wiig (SNLBridesmades), Jason Schwartzman (Bored to Death), and Chris Pine. “I hear Hamm will play a secret spy, Wiig is playing a snobby counselor at the preppy rival camp Camp Tigerclaw, Schwartzman is the boy’s camp head counselor while Pine’s character is described as mysterious,” reports Deadline. The already amazing cast just got amazing-er.

‘The Walking Dead’ 5B: new poster, haunting teaser, and a sneak peek at the back eight episodes

The Walking Dead returns in less than a month and so it’s time to ramp up anticipation for the back half of season five. AMC does it right by pumping out a flashy new poster, a truly epic teaser, and a brief sneak peek at what’s in store next for Rick and the gang. In the poster (see above), the survivors are walking down a dilapidated, deserted street. And what’s that on the side of the road? It’s the map that Abraham scribbled the following note on before departing for Washington: “The new world’s gonna need Rick Grimes.” [Spoiler!] Though Washington ended up being a bust (thanks a lot, Eugene!), perhaps the band of brothers (and sisters) are about to catch some much needed luck and find a new safe haven to fortify and for Rick to lead. A post-credits scene in the 5A finale featured Morgan finding the overrun church and that map inside; perhaps the poster is signaling a long-awaited reunion for Rick and the man who cried clear.

There’s more after the break: a haunting teaser following the survivors in the woods as they take down off-screen walkers, and a look at what’s ahead including commentary from the cast and producers. Showrunner Scott M. Gimple calls the back half of the season “a very interesting structure. There are some very emotional moments, there are some very crazy moment, and there’s a huge change for the situation for these characters.” Star Andrew Lincoln says, “it feels like a new show visually and also story-wise.”

The Walking Dead returns February 8 at 9pm on AMC.

Continue reading ‘The Walking Dead’ 5B: new poster, haunting teaser, and a sneak peek at the back eight episodes

‘Bates Motel’ teaser turns Norman into the Peeping Tom we’ve all been waiting for

Now that Norman Bates–played exquisitely by Freddy Highmore–is truly reaching his Psycho potential, it’s high time for the buzzy drama to start embracing its rich source material. Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic has found its way into Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin’s prequel series in various forms: Highmore’s Norman has been fascinated with taxidermy for awhile now, and we’ve even seen his mother’s dark (yet still living) silhouette from afar in a window peering out of Bates Manor. Plus, at the very end of last season, Norman realized he could compartmentalize his multiple personalities: Norman and Norma can reason independently inside his mind. There’s no doubt we’re inching closer to the completely psychotic Norman Bates as seen in Hitchcock’s film.

Where does Norman go from here, then? To the peep-hole, of course! In this creep-tastic teaser for the upcoming third season of A&E’s Bates Motel, we spy on new motel tenant Annika Johnson (played by the beautiful Tracy Spiridakos from the recently cancelled NBC series Revolution) as she begins to undress. Cue heavy breathing as the camera pulls out of the hole to reveal Norman as our Peeping Tom. Chilling! As a massive fan of Psycho, watching this teaser is majorly satisfying.

Bates Motel checks in again this March.

‘Orphan Black’ teaser stars so many clones

The latest teaser for the upcoming third season of BBC America’s addicting sci-fi series Orphan Black packs a punch. Series star Tatiana Maslany reprises clones Cosima, Sarah, Helena, and Alison here and they warn of an impending war. The teaser also touts the surprising revelations made at the end of last season: that little girl there is Charlotte, the youngest Project Leda clone; the hooded male figure is Mark and the scarred one is Rudy, the two new male clones (played by Ari Millen) who stem from Project Castor.

For more insight into the new season, head over to EW where you’ll learn more directly from the source–series co-creator Graeme Manson.

Orphan Black returns April 18, 2015.

‘Orphan Black’ season 3 tease

Orphan Black is coming. But not soon enough. In the meantime, enjoy this first teaser hyping the sci-fi action show’s upcoming third season. The song: Leslie Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me.” How appropriate.

BBC America has yet to set an air date, but if prior seasons are any indication, you can expect Clone Club to reconvene this spring.

NERDGASM: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ teaser trailer arrives [Update: Extended trailer inside!]

Earlier this week, word got out that Marvel would be releasing a first look at the upcoming Avengers sequel Age of Ultron. The very next day a poor quality version of the sneak peek leaked but the comics and movie powerhouse took it in stride. Later that evening the studio uploaded and shared with the world the first official teaser trailer for the highly anticipated sequel, even though it was supposed to make its worldwide debut during this coming Tuesday’s airing of ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. They blamed Hydra for the leak–points!

And so, here it is. For your viewing pleasure. Our heroes including including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye take on villain Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction, in this action-packed and oh-so-epic 2:16 tease.

Some notes: Yes, that is The Blacklist‘s James Spader spectacularly voicing the villainous Ultron and quoting “I’ve Got No Strings” as made famous in the classic Disney animated tale Pinocchio…Did you catch Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as mutant twins Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver?…And how awesome is Tony Stark’s latest creation the Hulkbuster? He’ll use it, as you can see, to take on Bruce Banner’s green Hulk. But why are the heroes in arms in such a kerfuffle? Time will tell.

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theatres May 1, 2015. Jump after the break to view a new poster and the full official logline for the movie.

Update (10/28): Despite Hydra’s best efforts, Marvel still managed to surprise its fans by airing a new extended trailer during Tuesday night’s telecast of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC. The first minute of the new clip features The Avengers–plus Maria Hill and James Rhodes–straight chilling at Tony Stark’s posh pad. They’re having their hand at trying to pick up mighty Mjölnir; but of course, it is only the mighty Thor who is “worthy” enough to wield the weapon. The party, though, comes to a screeching halt in no time when Ultron emerges and speaks of strings, none of which he has: we know. Watch it after the break.

Continue reading NERDGASM: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ teaser trailer arrives [Update: Extended trailer inside!]

‘The Following’ teaser hints at new love for Ryan Hardy, and then darkness

Kevin Bacon’s Ryan Hardy seems to be in a really good place when the third season of The Following picks up. In this first look at the new season he’s seen getting lovey-dovey with new romance Zuleikha Robinson (Lost, Intelligence). But this being a serial killer thriller and all, the quiet moment doesn’t last. “Where there was hurt, there’s comfort. Where there was dark, there’s light,” narrates Hardy. And then BLAM, cut to black and screams and the shadowy title card.

The most depressing bit of this tease is that we see Hardy’s niece Max Hardy with another man as Mike Weston looks on with a tinge of remorse. WHAT HAPPENED THERE?!

The Following returns in January on FOX.

Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof tease Disney’s secretive ‘Tomorrowland’

From Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) and Damon Lindelof (LostThe Leftovers) comes a new live-action Disney movie that has been completely shrouded in mystery. Until now.

At New York Comic Con today, director Bird, who co-wrote the screenplay with producer Lindelof based on a story imagined by the Lost alum and Entertainment Weekly TV critic Jeff Jensen, a panel revealed Tomorrowland, “a riveting mystery adventure” starring George Clooney and Britt Robertson (Under the Dome). Though the star-studded panel of actors and movie-makers remained tight-lipped about the film’s plot, a brief teaser trailer (embedded above) helped set the tone. In it, Robertson’s character Casey stumbles upon a magical pin that fleetingly reveals another land to her right before her eyes. Clooney’s character Frank is makes a quick cameo hinting at the story’s central theme: “What if there is a secret place where nothing is impossible, a miraculous place where you could actually change the world. Wanna go?”

The official logline goes like this: Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever. “Tomorrowland” promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.

The first Tomorrowland tease came in January 2013 when Bird tweeted out an image of a box labeled “1952;” fun fact: that was the original working title of the film. That’s the year Walt Disney launched the Imagineering division, a collection of people whose sole purpose is to come up with the fantastical concepts and designs for the Disney theme parks worldwide. The box contained all sorts of intriguing pictures, a record, and literature. The archived materials provided inspiration for the film’s story. Tomorrowland, after all, is the name of one of the theme lands at Disney parks here and abroad.

For more on Tomorrowland, hop over to EW where you’ll find an informative interview with Bird and Lindelof. Here a couple choice quotes to mull over: “What Hogwarts is to magic, Tomorrowland is to science: They are both easy to find if you are a wizard and very difficult to find if you’re a Muggle,” shares Lindelof. “Walt Disney is not a character in our movie, but he is referenced as having some involvement in this mysterious place called Tomorrowland, as a huge futurist and aficionado of space travel, rocketry, cities of the future, and space travel.” He adds, “There is a piece of technology in this pin, it’s the kind of old-school pin you would wear on your lapel, and when you make physical contact with it, you have the illusion of being physically transported to another world, and that’s how Casey gets her first glimpse of Tomorrowland. She is a Muggle who accidentally wanders across Platform 9 ¾ and sees something she probably shouldn’t have.”

Mischief Managed! Intrigued indeed! Tomorrowland hits theatres May 22, 2015.