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"Captain America" Japanese Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: Captain America: The First Avenger was a breakout hit at the box office and seeing as how Cap (Chris Evans) is the de facto leader of the Avengers, it was perhaps a foregone conclusion that the Star Spangled hero would return for Captain America 2. In theaters on April 4, 2014.

Updates: Will Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage play M.O.D.O.K. in the sequel? | Dark Horizons reports that a sequel won’t happen until 2014, and that Evans is signed up for three Captain America and three Avengers films. | Fandompost.com notes that the sequel will be set in the present. | Not sure how it’d work, but Atwell would be game for a sequel. | CBM reports that the sequel will begin shooting later this year. | As per AICN, the official release date for the film is now April 4, 2014. | Anthony and Joe Russo (You, Me & Dupree, TV’s Community) will direct Captain America 2.

The next Captain America film is officially titled Captain America: The Winter Soldier, adapting the popular comics storyline in which Cap’s former sidekick Bucky is revealed to have spent the Cold War as a brainwashed Soviet assassin. Not only that but actor Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) is in talks to join the cast as Captain America’s ally the Falcon. | Collider reports that The Grey’s Frank Grillo is testing for the villain. | It’s official: Frank Grillo is Crossbones. | Total Film reports that Robert Redford set to join the cast as a top-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

Check out some pretty stunning concept art for both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Marvel’s sci-fi superhero flick Guardians of the Galaxy. And a look at concept art for Captain America’s superhero buddy the Falcon here. | Captain America: The Winter Soldier has officially gone into production and Marvel has the picture to prove it.

BREAKING NEWS: Via Beyond Hollywood, here’s your first look at actor Anthony Mackie in costume as Cap’s superhero pal Falcon.

"Aftershock" International Poster

THE MOVIE: Written and directed by Nicolás López, Aftershock takes place in Chile, where a group of friends are partying in an underground nightclub when a massive earthquake hits. Little do they know, the earthquake is just the beginning of their nightmare.

Aftershock stars Cabin Fever’s Eli Roth (also serves as producer and co-writer), Andrea Osvárt, Ariel Levy, Nicolas Martinez, Lorenza Izzo, Natasha Yarovenko and a cameo from Selena Gomez. Aftershock is López’s first English language film. The movie will hit theaters in 2013.

Updates: Enjoy the first clip. | The trailer is now available!

BREAKING NEWS: There’s a bloody new Red Band trailer for your viewing pleasure.

"Ip Man: The Final Battle" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: In Ip Man: The Final Battle, Anthony Wong (Beast Cops) is taking over the role of Ip Man (after Donnie Yen, Dennis To and most recently, Tony Leung in The Grandmaster), playing him from age 40 to his passing in 1972. The film is being directed by Herman Yau. There’s no word if it’s an official continuation to Yau’s Legend Is Born: Ip Man or just another “unrelated” Ip Man tale.

The film also stars Anita Yuen Wing Yi (Thunderbolt), who will be playing Ip Man’s wife. According to the promo poster, Jordan Chan (Enter the Eagles) and Eric Tsang (Gen X Cops) also appear. The character of Bruce Lee will be featured, but his part is still currently being cast.

Updates: According to Chinese Films, Ip Man: The Final Battle is set in Hong Kong, [Anthony] Wong, who plays the middle-aged Ip Man, and his five pupils battle the local bully. We assume one of those five pupils is a young Bruce Lee.

Don’t miss the action-packed trailer, which features a fight between Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang(!). What do you think, does Anthony Wong have what it takes to be Ip Man? | Don’t miss the Second Trailer ahead of the film’s opening at the 37th Hong Kong International Film Festival.

In case you haven’t seen all the posters, here they are: Poster 1 | Poster 2 | Poster 3 | Poster 4 | Poster 5

BREAKING NEWS: Here’s some good news if any of you are wondering about the film’s outcome. Ip Man: The Final Battle has took home the Udine Far East Film Festival (FEFF) Bronze Prize. Thanks to HK Top Ten for the heads up.

"District 9" Thai Theatrical Poster

Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune. Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. And now, the newest members of “The Greatest Actor & Director Team” are Neill Blomkamp and Sharlto Copley.

After teaming up for District 9 and the upcoming Elysium, director Blomkamp and actor Copley are putting their muscle together for a third time in yet another sci-fi film called Chappie. Accoring to EW, Blomkamp is keeping details about the project largely under wraps, but he has described it as “a science-fiction comedy” in an “unusual setting.”

We’ll keep you posted on any new developments.

"Versus" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Nippon Cinema reports: While promoting his latest movie, No One Lives, director Ryuhei Kitamur mentioned he was planning a sequel to 2000′s Versus sometime next year. Ryuhei even said he’d get Tak Sakaguchi out of retirement to return: “The lead actor is retired, but I’ll get him to make a comeback. He’ll do it if I do it.”

Cityonfire’s Numskull describes the original Versus as “Evil Dead and Bad Taste meet in-your-face combat like only those bloodthirsty Asian film makers can do it.” Joe909, who gave it a perfect score of 10, says it’s “the most enjoyable movie I’ve seen in a long time.”

Stay tuned for more on Versus 2. In the meantime, if you haven’t seen the original, Amazon.com carries it in a variety of formats.

"Smokin' Aces" Japanese Theatrical Poster

THR reports that Joe Carnahan (The Grey, Smokin’ Aces) is in talks to direct Sugar Bandits, an action-thriller based on the 2010 crime novel Devils in Exile by Chuck Hogan (The Town).

Here’s the description of Devils in Exile from Amazon.com: Neal Maven is a Iraq War veteran, struggling to make ends meet as a civilian in Boston. When some other vets toss him a potentially lucrative job offer, which involves knocking over drug dealers, Neal joins their crew; but soon something happens to make him realize that he’s wandered too far into the dark life.

Let’s hope this one pans out for Carnahan, especially after his Death Wish remake fiasco and his rejected Daredevil reboot. Stay tuned for more details.

"Bruce Lee Double Feature" Shout! Factory DVD Covers

It’s that time again to look towards this week’s new releases. If you’re interested in any of these titles, you can support the site by ordering through our affiliate. We appreciate it!

Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 4/30/13:

ASIAN CINEMA

Bruce Lee: The Big Boss / Fist of Fury (DVD) – two classic martial arts films starring Bruce Lee are offered on one DVD, courtesy of Shout! Factory. Sorry, no hi-def release quite yet

Bruce Lee: Way of the Dragon / Game of Death (DVD) – two more famous features from the one and only Bruce Lee

FOREIGN

Parked (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2010 comedy/drama starring Colin Meaney (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) explores the economic recession’s impact in Ireland

Young & Wild (DVD) – this 2012 drama from Chile follows a sex-obsessed teen whose lifestyle conflicts with her strict religious upbringing

Stuck to Your Pillow (DVD) – a Spanish-language twist on “Ghost”? A young diver lingers on earth after his death and falls in love with a married woman in this 2012 movie

In Danger and Deep Distress, The Middleway Spells Certain Death (DVD) – this experimental 1974 effort out of Germay blurs the line between documentary and fiction

MAINSTREAM

Broken City (Blu-ray/DVD) – big name actors Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe headline this 2013 crime drama set on the gritty streets of NYC

Silver Linings Playbook (Blu-ray/DVD) – Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star in the 2012 Academy Award-winning dramedy from “The Fighter” director David O. Russell

Not Fade Away (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2012 drama from the creator of “The Sopranos” follows a young band from the suburbs of New Jersey during the early 60′s

Strictly Ballroom (Blu-ray) – the 1992 debut feature from “Moulin Rouge” director Baz Luhrman is now in hi-def

CULT

Manborg (DVD) – this 2011 cult film out of Canada takes place in a desolated future where the forces of hell have taken over the earth and the only one who stands in their way is a half-man, half-machine hero named Manborg

NEW TO BLU-RAY

Star Trek films (Blu-ray) – several of the “Star Trek” movies are available on discounted single-disc Blu-rays this week, including “Star Trek I: The Motion Picture,” “Star Trek III: The Search For Spock,” “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” “Star Trek VII: Generations,” “Star Trek IX: Resurrection,” and “Star Trek X: Nemesis”

CLASSICS

Cloak and Dagger (Blu-ray/DVD) – Olive Films presents this 1946 spy thriller from legendary director Fritz Lang (“M”), starring cinema icon Gary Cooper (“High Noon”)

The Enforcer (Blu-ray/DVD) – Humphrey Bogart of “Casablanca” fame headlines this 1951 suspense thriller, in hi-def from Olive Films

The Men (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1950 picture about a paraplegic WWII veteran was actually the screen debut of Marlon Brando

The Lonely Trail (Blu-ray/DVD) – a very young John Wayne stars in this 1936 Western set shortly after the Civil War

Hoodlum Empire (Blu-ray/DVD) – Olive Films offers this 1951 noir film from director Joseph Kane

HORROR

The Vampire Lovers (Blu-ray) – this 1970 vampire film is one of the best (and sexiest!) efforts from the venerable Hammer Horror studios. Now in hi-def thanks to Shout! Factory

Night of the Scarecrow (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1995 horror b-movie has developed enough of a cult following over the years that it’s now in hi-def from Olive Films

Body Melt (DVD) – speaking of cult followings, if you’re a fan of Peter Jackson’s early work you might want to check out this ultra-gory 1993 Australian horror/comedy

The Dreaming/The Initiation (DVD) – it’s a double bill of Ozpsloitation from Katrina’s Nightmare Theater

Night of the Living Dead: The Resurrection (DVD) – this 2012 horror film is yet another remake/spin-off of George Romero’s zombie classic “Night of the Living Dead”

Interested in any of these movies? If so, we hope that you’ll consider ordering from our affiliate to help support this site. Thank you!

"Snowpiercer" Teaser Poster

THE MOVIE: Bong Joon-ho (The Host)  is directing Snowpiercer, his first English-language film, an adaptation of the French comic Le Transperceneige (Snow Piercer). The story follows the last survivors of a new ice age as they travel aboard a train. A high profile international cast includes Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger), Song Kang-ho (The Host), Tilda Swinton (We Need To Talk About Kevin), John Hurt (The Immortals), and Jamie Bell (The Adventures of Tintin).

Updates: Beyond Hollywood notes that Park Chan-wook of Oldboy fame is on board as producer. Kelly Masterson, writer of Sidney Lumet’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, will do a rewrite of the Snow Piercer script before the film goes into production in March. The Help’s Octavia Spencer has joined the cast.

Film Business Asia reports that Dutch actress Emma Levie has joined the cast. Main production on the film has officially gotten underway in the Czech Republic, following some preliminary shooting in Austria back in March.

Twitch Film reports on budget woes for Bong Joon-ho’s film. Production company CJ Entertainment, the largest movie studio in Korea, has pumped another $40 million into Snow Piercer‘s budget - making this their most expensive endeavor yet. Considering that the director of The Host is behind the camera, working with international talent like Tilda Swinton and Chris Evans, our guess is that Snow Piercer will be worth the investment.

According to Indiewire, The Weinstein Company has acquired US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zeland and South Africa rights to Snowpiercer. Anticipate a Summer 2013 release.

The teaser poster has been released. While you’re at it, check out a sample of the soundtrack, by Marco Beltrami (2011′s The Thing). Take a peak at the first image from Snowpiercer, featuring Song Kang-ho (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), courtesy of Twitch. | Here’s the first poster. | Head over to Collider for a pack of new promotional photos. | Check out all the Snowpiercer posters at impawards.com.

BREAKING NEWS: A 1-minute ‘behind the scenes’ featurette is online now.

"Yurusarezaru Mono" Japanese Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: Variety reports that Warner Japan is planning to remake Clint Eastwood’s 1992 western The Unforgiven. The remake will star The Last Samurai’s Ken Watanabe, and will be directed by Lee Sang-il, a Korean filmmaker who gained critical acclaim for 2010’s Villain (aka Akunin), which swept the actor awards at the 2011 Japan Academy Prize ceremony. The remake, which will also star Akira Emoto and Koichi Sato, is to be titled Yurusarezaru Mono (Japanese for “unforgiven”).

1992’s The Unforgiven revolves around a retired outlaw (Eastwood) who takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner and a young man.

Updates: Watch the first trailer and now the second teaser.

Hands of the Ripper | Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse Films)

RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2013

Synapse Films presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1971′s Hands of the Ripper. The film follows Anna, the daughter of Jack the Ripper who witnessed him murdering her mother when she was a child. When new bloodshed occurs, a psychiatrist suspects that Anna may be possessed by Jack’s spirit. Presented uncut for the first time in the U.S., plus a load of extra features. Watch the trailer.

"Fast and Furious 6" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: The fourth sequel in any franchise is rarely the most popular but Fast Five rocked the box office so now Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, and the rest of the crew are returning for Fast and Furious 6 and 7. The big question is: will they film them back to back? In theaters on May 24, 2013.

Updates: Screenwriter Chris Morgan has been assigned to a fifth sequel. | Apparently, they want to pull a fast one on viewers and change the sixquel to a heist movie. | Twitch suggests plans are in the works to shoot F6 and F7 simultaneously and bring in Jason Statham. | Dwayne Johnson says they most likely won’t shoot Fast Six and Fast Seven back-to-back due to weather issues. The source seems to confirm that Fast Six will be set in Europe, with filming taking place in both the UK and Germany. | Twitch has news that Jason Statham has declined to star in Fast and Furious 6.

The story is breaking that MMA fighter/actress Gina Carano (Haywire) is in talks to join the cast of Fast and Furious 6. | Luke Evans (Immortals, The Raven) has signed on to play the bad guy in the film. | Variety reports that The Raid: Redemption actor Joe Taslim (he was the SWAT field leader) has signed on to play a bad guy in Fast and Furious 6. The press release promises that his character will challenge Vin Diesel and Paul Walker with his “martial arts and parkour skills.”

The Playlist has the first image of Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson in Fast & Furious 6. Ropes of Silicon has set videos featuring a ‘car’ chase and explosions from the movie. Beyond Hollywood has the official plot synopsis. The condensed version? Dwayne Johnson’s character offers Vin Diesel and the crew a chance to clear their criminal records if they help him track down a gang of ‘car mercenaries’ who are wrecking havoc across Europe. Expect outrageous stunts, big explosions, and cut off t-shirts!

Enjoy an extended first look trailer as well as the Super Bowl TV spot. This new poster from Beyond Hollywood almost makes it sound like Fast and Furious 6 is going to be the last film in the franchise, but somehow we doubt that. | The latest rumor is that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s law enforcement character will receive his own spin-off movie after Fast and Furious 6. And here’s a new TV spot for the film.

Check out the newest poster. Also, some news came out that director Justin Lin (Fast & Furious, Fast Five and Fast & Furious 6) will not return to direct Fast and Furious 7. No details on why, but we assume he wants to explore other film franchises, possibly Terminator 5, which he is still connected with.

AICN reports that Universal is in negotiations with none other than James Wan, director of the first Saw film and the upcoming supernatural thriller The Conjuring, to helm Fast and Furious 7. Word has it Part 6 will end with a ‘hook’ for the sequel and Universal is keen on delivering the movie to theaters for Summer 2014.

BREAKING NEWS: The final trailer for the film has raced its way online. In theaters on May 24th, 2013.

"The Night Comes For Us" Promotional Poster

In addition to The Raid 2: Berandal, British filmmaker Gareth Evans and his Indonesian-based Merantau Films production company has another action project in the works called The Night Comes For Us.

Currently in script-development, not much is known about The Night Comes For Us, other than it will be “a neo-noir hitman thriller.” Timo Tjahjanto (of the “Mo Brothers” directing duo) is directing, while Evans is co-writing the story. Rising action star Joe Taslim (The Raid, Dead Mine and Fast & Furious 6) has landed the lead role of the hitman.

Tjahjanto – whose other directing credits include segments from The ABCs of Death, V/H/S/2 and the upcoming Killers – has released an illustrated promotional poster for the film. The Night Comes For Us is scheduled to start production in the fall. Thanks to Twitch for breaking the story.

"Urban Fighter" AKA "Arena of the Street Fighter" Poster Art

Martial arts fans are always keen to discover the next big onscreen fighting sensation. With some of our icons like Donnie Yen and Jet Li eyeing retirement and Tony Jaa’s future looking uncertain, there’s some manner of urgency as action buffs hope to find new talent to fill the void.

Well, as luck would have it, a martial artist out of Germany named Mike Möeller is earning praise from some respected figures in the industry – including Undisputed III: Redemption director Isaac Florentine and kickboxing legend Don ‘the Dragon’ Wilson.

Möeller has been in the stuntman business for years but he’s looking to make his breakout in 2013 with Arena of the Street Fighter, a film he not only stars in but wrote and directed.

Formerly titled Urban Fighter, the movie promises plenty of bone-crunching fisticuffs and flying kicks, if this impressive trailer is anything to go by. With any luck, Arena of the Street Fighter should hit DVD in North America sometime in June of 2013. Thanks to Film Combat Syndicate for the story.

Update: Film Combat Syndicate reports that Arena of the Street Fighter will have a limited theatrical release and will also be available via VOD on June 6, 2013 from Gorilla Pictures. For more details, visit the film’s official site.

"Dragon" Blu-ray Cover

Cityonfire.com and Anchor Bay are giving away 3 Blu-ray copies of Dragon (aka Wu Xia) to three lucky Cityonfire visitors. To enter, simply add a comment to this post telling us what your favorite Donnie Yen film is, along with a brief explanation of why it’s your favorite. We will be selecting three winners at random. Be sure to include your email address in the appropriate field so we can contact you for your home address. Additionally, please ‘Like Us‘ on cityonfire.com’s Facebook by clicking here.

The Blu-ray & DVD for Dragon was officially released on April 16th. We will announce the 3 lucky winners on April 25th and ship out the prizes immediately. Enter now!

CONTEST DISCLAIMER: You must enter by April 24th to qualify. Also, because Anchor Bay holds the film’s U.S. rights, only U.S. residents may enter the contest. We sincerely apologize to our non-U.S. visitors.

WINNERS: Congratulations to Anthony Crabtree, Annie B. and Strider. We will contact you shortly via e-mail for your mailing address. Thanks to everyone for participating. We hope you will take part in future contests.

"The Man from UNCLE: One Spy Too Many" Japanese Poster

Over the past few years, Tom Cruise has had a rocky relationship with movie studio Paramount but that all that seemed like bridge under the water after the global success of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Today arrives word that Tom Cruise is in ‘early talks’ with rival studio Warner Brothers to deliver them their own Mission: Impossible-style franchise.

Cruise would take the lead role in a big-screen reboot of the 1960′s TV spy series The Man From UNCLE, a series that was initially developed by James Bond creator Ian Fleming. Shortly after Fleming passed away, the show’s producers decided to put their own spin on the material and it became the show we know today. AICN notes that years ago, a Man From UNCLE movie nearly happened with Geroge Clooney in the lead.

If the project does come to fruition with Tom Cruise starring, it’s likely that Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie will be the one to step behind the camera and direct. Stay tuned to Cityonfire.com for future updates on the film.

Updates: According to Cinema Blend, The Lone Ranger’s Armie Hammer is attached to star alongside Tom Cruise.

"Hard Boiled" Japanese Theatrical Poster

During the Beijing International Film Festival, an announcement was made that John Woo (The Killer, Hard Boiled) will direct a WWII action-drama called Flying Tigers (aka Flying Tiger Heroes). The film will be shot as a two-part movie and a 6-hour television series. Terence Chang, Woo’s long time friend and favored partner, will produce.

Flying Tigers will tell the story of WWII American volunteer fighter pilots who flew successful missions against the Japanese without suffering heavy casualties.

“Flying Tigers is a project that I have always wanted to do, because this is a story that expresses the courage, resourcefulness, friendship, and spirit of both the Chinese and American people and pilots. It promotes friendship between the two nations,” Woo said.

I guess you can say goodbye to John Woo’s proposed remakes of Seijin Suzuki’s Youth of the Beast and Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai for now. As far as his other WWII film Love and Let Love… who knows? I don’t know about you guys, but I’d rather see him make a non-historical movie starring Chow Yun Fat, buckets of blood and a pair of Beretta 92FS handguns. Wake me up when it happens.