SNL 'Star Wars Auditions' Sketch Features Rey and Finn

This week on "Saturday Night Live" we got a special sneak peek at Star Wars: The Force Awakens screen tests. Introduced by director, J.J. Abrams, of course. It featured not only SNL cast members playing characters such as Sofia Vergara, Chris Tucker, and a Coke Zero-obsessed George Lucas (Bobby Moynihan) but also, the real Emma Stone, Jon Hamm (Solo), Michael Bublé and of course, new stars, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. Bonus!

I may have LOLd one or two times. Did you? Anyway...here it is. Enjoy.



-Larissa Mrykalo

Benedict Cumberbatch Puts 'Star Wars' and 'Doctor Who' Rumors to Rest

Image Courtesy The Iris

Sorry, Cumberpeople, but it appears that everyone's favorite otter-faced actor will not be joining any new franchises in the foreseeable future. During a panel at this year's Oz Comic Con, Benedict Cumberbatch sat down to set the record straight.

For quite some time now the Internet has been swirling with rumors that the "Sherlock" star would be joining the upcoming season of "Doctor Who" as the Master, while other fans speculated that he would someday be the next madman with a box. Considering Steven Moffat serves as showrunner to both popular BBC shows, it would make a bit of sense if a cross-over occurred. Unfortunately for those Wholocked fans out there, BennyBatch told audiences that "I'm never gonna play the Doctor-and nothing to do with the Whoniverse."

As for re-teaming with "Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams for the upcoming "Star Wars" film? According to Australian entertainment site, The Iris, it's not happening- “I would've liked a part in JJ's new Star Wars but it won't happen, sadly."

-Nowal Massari

'Star Wars: Episode VII' Close to Signing on Adam Driver as its Villain

Driver, courtesy IMDB

According to an exclusive over at Variety,  we may have our next "Star Wars" villain cast. Indiana native, Adam Driver ("Girls") is very close to signing the deal and although exact details on the character are unknown at this point, it's reported that the villain will be similar to Darth Vader.

The is big news not only for fans but also for the 30-year-old up-and-comer who's in demand for other projects, including currently filming Warner Bros.’ “Midnight Special." He also attached to Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” starring Andrew Garfield and Liam Neeson. Driver’s name had been rumored during the casting process for the J.J. Abrams-directed film which will continue the where “Return of the Jedi” left off.

According to Variety, "Star Wars: Episode VII" is "...scheduled to shoot at London’s Pinewood Studios in April. Additional cast members will likely be announced in the next month."

Naturally, the studio is also developing theme park attractions, TV shows and a line of merchandise to go along with the release of the films.

What are your thoughts on the (distinct) possibility of Driver being cast as the main villain? Fans of his work will most likely agree that he's a great choice. We'll keep you posted on any future casting news. The film is scheduled for release on December 18, 2015.

-Larissa Mrykalo

'Star Wars: Episode VII' to Begin Filming in May

Buckle up fellow nerds, for the ride has begun. Director J.J. Abrams has confirmed that filming of the latest "Star Wars" installment will begin in May 2014. According to Hitfix, Abrams has stated that filming will run from May until September, with a majority of filming taking place in the UK.

During the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, Abrams stated that a May shoot date was most likely, saying "That's the current plan,[...]We have our script and we’re full steam ahead. Have script, will travel." With a tentative December 18, 2015 release date, this means that the film could spend up to a year in post-production once filming wraps in September.

Will we be seeing these familiar faces?

Sources state that casting is nearly complete, no actual cast information has been confirmed at this time. That doesn't stop rumors from blasting through the internet, though!

Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill have all been rumored to make appearances in the upcoming film, while actors such as Dame Judi Dench, Zac Efron, Benedict Cumberbatch and Gary Oldman have all been recently linked to the project. Oldman actually confirmed via Metro that he had been approached for the film by producers, revealing "They’ve called. I’m more cynical about it now. I’ll believe it when I’m on the plane home. The deal isn’t done, but yeah, they’ve inquired." Joking, Oldman added "I mean Planet of the Apes, Harry Potter, Batman and Star Wars – bloody hell!"

As audiences are well aware of by now, Abrams is incredibly secretive about his projects and the upcoming Star Wars movie is absolutely no exception. With casting and plot completely hush-hush, it looks as though fans and detractors alike will have to impatiently wait a little longer for details.

-Nowal Massari

'Star Wars: Episode VII' Gets a Script

In a sit down with The Wrap, director J.J.Abrams reveals that a script for "Star Wars: Episode VII" has been completed. "We're working really hard and we've got our script and we're in deep prep,[...]full steam ahead, y'know."

While speaking at a press event for his new NBC show, "Believe", he also confirmed the rumor that they have been talking to actor Jesse Plemons about a role in the upcoming Star Wars sequel. On a bean-spilling spree, Abrams also confirmed that the new movie will be shot on regular film, as opposed to digital or IMAX film. He stated that IMAX cameras are "very loud ... very unreliable," are restrictive due to their reel lengths, and despite previously applauding the IMAX format, it is difficult to shoot intimate scenes with the cumbersome cameras.

The newest "Star Wars" installment will take place after the events of "Return of the Jedi," last in the original series, and is set for a December 18, 2015 release.

-Nowal Massari

New Fox Series 'Almost Human' Gets an Extended Trailer

Courtesy IMDB

This Sunday, November 17, kicks off the two-night premiere of Fox’s new futuristic series, “Almost Human.” If you were wondering if you wanted to add another show to your watch-list, Fox just released a nice and extended movie-style trailer. They've also released the first seven minutes of the first episode, so we've provided that as well.

Set in the year 2048, the show pairs humans with androids and is executive produced by J.J. Abrams and J.H. Wyman. Wyman served as showrunner for “Fringe” so we’re curious to see if “Fringe” fans follow.

Here's the official synopsis:
"Almost Human" – Executive-produced by Emmy Award winner J.J. Abrams (“Fringe,” “Lost,” the “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible” franchises) and creator J.H. Wyman (“Fringe,” “The Mexican”) and starring Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Michael Ealy (“Sleeper Cell,” “Common Law”) and Emmy Award nominee Lili Taylor (“Six Feet Under,”"The Conjuring"), "Almost Human" is a high-tech, high-stakes action drama set 35 years in the future, when police officers are partnered with highly evolved human-like androids. An unlikely partnership is forged when a part-machine cop (Urban) is forced to pair with a part-human robot (Ealy) as they fight crime and investigate a deeper cover-up in a futuristic new world.

'Star Wars: Episode VII' Casting Call News

Courtesy stagebuddy.com

Do you want to be in the new “Star Wars” movie but can’t make it to the UK auditions? Well then you’re in luck because, according to Variety, Disney is taking video submissions for their latest casting call.

The call was a generic announcement looking for someone to play “Rachel,” who is a young woman 17-18 years-old, and also a character called “Thomas,” who is aged 19-23 years old.

Rachel “was quite young when she lost her parents, with no other family, she was forced to make her way in a tough, dangerous town. Now, 17 she has become street smart and strong. She is able to take care of herself using humor and guts to get by. Always a survivor, never a victim, she remains hopeful that she can move away from this harsh existence to a better life. She is always thinking of what she can do to move ahead.”

Thomas “has grown up without a father’s influence. Without the model of being a man, he doesn’t have the strongest sense of himself. He can appreciate the absurdities in life and understand you can’t take life too seriously.”

Do you think you fit the role of either Rachel or Thomas? Your video can be submitted through the casting web site but additional auditions are being held in U.S. cities including Chicago; Nashville; Austin, Texas; and Troy, Mich.

Shooting for the film is scheduled to begin in spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios in London and the film is scheduled to be released December 18, 2015.

The film is now being penned by director J.J. Abrams and “Star Wars” veteran Lawrence Kasdan. They are replacing “Toy Story 3″-writer Michael Arndt, who was originally hired to pen the project.

-Larissa Mrykalo

J.J. Abrams to direct next 'Star Wars'

Well this is big news.

Much speculation has surrounded who would direct Star Wars VII for Disney, but thanks to an exclusive over at TheWrap.com, we know now J.J. Abrams (Star Trek Into Darkness, Lost) will command the ship despite being resistant and just wanting to be in the audience for one of the most anticipated sequels for 2015.

Back in November, Abrams, who is also an executive producer for NBC’s Revolution,, told EntertainmentWeekly.com:

"As a kid I was always a fan of special effects ... Watching movies I was constantly trying to figure out how they did it, whatever the effect was. Star Wars was the first movie that blew my mind in that way; it didn’t matter how they did any of it because it was all so overwhelmingly and entirely great. It was funny and romantic and scary and compelling and the visual effects just served the characters and story. It galvanized for me; not for what was exciting about how movies were made, but rather for what movies were capable of."

Abrams apparently beat out fellow contender - and Argo director - Ben Affleck. So what do you think of Abrams being the chosen one? What are your hopes and fears for the Star Wars franchise?

-Larissa Mrykalo

J.J. Abrams talks 'Fringe' series finale

Fans of the Fox series Fringe are bracing themselves for not only the end of its 5th season, but then end of the series. And GiveMeMyRemote.com got a nice little tidbit from series co-creator himself, J.J. Abrams (Lost, Star Trek Into Darkness).

Fans can breathe a sigh of relief that Abrams feels "satisfied" with the ending, and called the ending "inevitable" and "emotional."

Abrams states, "I've been involved in shows that have had resolutions that have been in some cases adored; in other cases, [they ended up] enraging fans and in some cases, [it's been] a split. There is no one way to end a story - you can't please everyone."

What will you miss most about the series? What do you hope the finale episodes accomplish? John Noble (Walter Bishop) is quoted as saying that it could be "one of the greatest finales of all time."

Let us know if you agree.

Meanwhile, check out the teaser for the finale here, as well as this very cool poster. And remember, the two-hour finale airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET, not at Fringe's regular airtime of 9 p.m.

-Larissa Mrykalo

'Revolution' premiere lowdown

If the Revolution premiere last night piqued your interest about the show and left you wanting more information, you're in luck. Check out this video giving the lowdown on the first episode from the actors and creators. One interesting note after the premiere: exec-producer J.J. Abrams told EW the show is about a world without power is a quest story in a modern-medieval setting, but is more of a story about rebirth than a post-apocalyptic tale.

'Super 8' teaser online

There are still so few details about the plot of Super 8, the J.J. Abrams-directed and Steven Spielberg-produced flick hitting theaters in 2011, but teased before Iron Man 2.

The Super 8 Web site is up, but so far just shows a blank, flitting film strip - which might coincide with New York mag's Vulture blog report the movie is about "a bunch of kids who are shooting a movie with a Super 8 camera in the seventies or eighties. When they develop the film, they notice that there's an alien creature in the frame." However, Lost maestro Abrams says, "It has nothing whatsoever to do with Cloverfield," which shoots down Vulture's theory the film is connected to his 2008 monster production.

Personally, I like a good mystery production, and love the idea of a year of teasing and theorizing with a Slusho!-style viral marketing campaign from Abrams and Spielberg. And if anyone can make a giant monster/alien flick worth waiting a year for, it's these two.

The teaser trailer playing now before Iron Man 2 is embedded after the jump.