Margot Kidder, Lois Lane of 'Superman' Films, Dead at 69

Margot Kidder, Lois Lane of 'Superman' Films, Dead at 69

Courtesy of https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/margot-kidder-superman-actress-dead-at-69-w520293

Actress also starred in 'Sisters,' 'The Amityville Horror' and 'Black Christmas'

Margot Kidder, the actress who portrayed Lois Lane in four Superman films, died Sunday at her home in Livingston, Montana at the age of 69.

The Franzen-Davis Funeral Home & Crematory first announced Kidder's death, which was later confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter by the actress' representative. No cause of death was provided. 

During the Seventies and Eighties, Kidder's most prolific decades, the actress starred in films like Brian De Palma's Sisters, The Amityville Horror, The Great Waldo Pepperwith Robert Redford, the slasher classic Black Christmas and, between 1978 and 1987, four Superman films: Superman, Superman II, Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. However, the actress' popularity waned in the Nineties after she suffered a public breakdown; Kidder was later diagnosed with bipolar disease and became an activist for mental health. 

Kidder was born in 1948 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and lived in remote areas throughout her childhood. "We didn't have movies in this little mining town. When I was 12 my mom took me to New York and I saw Bye Bye Birdie, with people singing and dancing, and that was it," Kidder told The Guardian in 2005. "I knew I had to go far away. I was clueless, but I did OK."

Kidder first started acting in Canadian television and film productions before making her American feature-film debut with a role in 1969's Gaily, Gaily. The following year, Kidder moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career, leading to roles in the Gene Wilder-starring Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx and the TV Western series Nichols.

In 1973, Kidder broke out with her dual role of separated conjoined twins in director Brian de Palma's psychological thriller Sisters. After starring alongside Robert Redford in 1975's The Great Waldo Pepper, Kidder scored the role she's best remembered for: Playing the Daily Planet's star journalist and Clark Kent's love interest Lois Lane in the Christopher Reeve-starring film series about the DC Comics superhero. Kidder landed the Lois Lane role despite having little knowledge of the Man of Steel beforehand.

"I had a very fierce English teacher mother who felt that children should not read comic books. So I didn't know anything about it," Kidder told Superman Homepage in 2005. "I read one comic before my screen test and it was about the Daily Planet having a bowling tournament with those terrible women's libbers. And I thought of myself as a feminist so I read this and went 'What is this?' So I based my interpretation on the script."

Following two years of filming Superman, Kidder capped off the Seventies by playing Kathy Lutz in the 1979 hit horror film The Amityville Horror; Superman became the highest-grossing film of 1979, while The Amityville Horror finished in the Top Five at the year-end box office.

Over the next decade, in addition to three Superman sequels, Kidder starred in films like Heartaches, Miss Right and the Richard Pryor vehicle Some Kind of Hero; Kidder and Pryor would also appear together in 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

However, Kidder's career severely stalled in the Nineties: In 1990, she suffered a serious car crash that prevented her from acting for two years and forced her into bankruptcy. Six years later, Kidder suffered a manic episode that became a source of tabloid fodder. As the actress later explained, her meltdown – sparked by the loss of the computer containing her in-the-works memoir – involved her believing her first husband was going to murder her, so she fled her home, cut her hair and pulled her teeth out to avoid identification. Police ultimately found her on a porch near the studios where Superman was filmed. 

"I guess I came to terms with my demons," Kidder told The Guardian. "Horrifying as it was to crack up in the public eye, it made me look at myself and fix it. People were exploitative; that's human nature. I'll tell you, being pretty crazy while being chased by the National Enquirer is not good. The British tabloids were the worst. But you take the cards you're dealt, and I got better. I'm now ferociously healthy in body and mind." 

Kidder remained active in film and television until her death, including guest roles on Law & Order: SVU, The L Word and the Superman-inspired TV series Smallville in a non-Lois Lane role.

Kidder's last television role, a guest appearance on a 2014 episode of R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour, earned the actress a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming.

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Superman Star, Margot Kidder dies aged 69

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/margot-kidder-dead-superman-actress-was-69-1111613?utm_source=twitter&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

Hollywood pays tribute to Margot Kidder: Your Legacy will live on forever

http://variety.com/2018/film/news/magot-kidder-dies-hollywood-reacts-1202810072/

Hollywood mourns Superman actress, Margot Kidder

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/margot-kidder-dead-superman-actress-remembered-by-celebs-social-media-1111656?utm_source=twitter

Celebrities pay tribute to Margot Kidder

http://ew.com/movies/2018/05/14/margot-kidder-dead-celebrities-react/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=entertainmentweekly

Powers Boothe, ‘Sin City,’ ‘Nashville,’ and ‘Deadwood’ Actor, Dies at 68

Powers Boothe, ‘Sin City,’ ‘Nashville,’ and ‘Deadwood’ Actor, Dies at 68

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/powers-boothe-dead-at-68-sin-city-agents-of-shield-1202426655/

Powers Boothe, a character actor on the small and big screen, died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 68.

Boothe died in his sleep Sunday morning of natural causes, his rep tells Variety.

Boothe appeared in several comic book shows and movies, portraying Senator Roark in “Sin City” and it’s sequel “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” (pictured above). He also had a small role in “The Avengers.”

He also played Gideon Malick for eleven episodes on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” As a voice actor, he voiced Gorilla Grodd and Red Tornado on the animated “Justice League” series.

His talents weren’t only limited to genre material. He played former mayor Lamar Wyatt on 26 episodes of the country drama “Nashville,” as well as Judge “Wall” Hatflied on “Hatfields & McCoys.” Prior to that, he played saloon owner Cy Tolliver on “Deadwood” and Vice President Daniels on “24.”

Actor Beau Bridges tweeted news of Boothe’s passing on Sunday.

“It’s with great sadness that I mourn the passing of my friend Powers Boothe. A dear friend, great actor, devoted father & husband.”

In 1980, Boothe took home the Emmy for lead actor in a limited series or special for playing infamous cult leader Jim Jones in “Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones.”

His other notable film roles included “Red Dawn,” “The Emerald Forest,” “Tombstone” and Oliver Stone’s “Nixon,” in which he played Alexander Haig.

Born in Snyder, Texas, Boothe joined the Oregon Shakespeare Festival after graduating from college and worked in theater before moving to film and television.

According to reps, there will be a private service held in Texas where he was from. A memorial celebration in his honor is being considered for a future date. Donations can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which honors the nation’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need.

Read more

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·          http://ew.com/movies/2017/05/15/powers-boothe-dead-celeb-tributes/?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter

·          http://news.sky.com/story/deadwood-star-powers-boothe-dead-at-68-10878388?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter

http://www.thewrap.com/powers-boothe-emmy-winning-character-actor-dead-68/

HENRY CAVILL AS CLARK KENT ON SET OF BATMAN VS SUPERMAN

First Look at ‘Batman v. Superman’ Star Henry Cavill On Set as Clark Kent


Courtesy of Sheila Weinstein Variety -  http://variety.com/2014/film/news/batman-v-superman-henry-cavill-clark-kent-costume-1201254938/

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Henry Cavill in costume as Clark Kent on the set of “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” While Superman’s alter-ego is seen without his iconic glasses in the behind-the-scenes shot, Cavill is unmistakably inhabiting Superman’s secret identity as Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent — for further proof, check out the name on his director’s chair.

Proving that he’s equally heroic off-screen, Cavill was photographed showing his support for the U.K.’s Royal Marine 1664 Challenge, displaying a shirt for the event, which is a fundraiser to help wounded and severely injured Royal Marines transition back into civilian life.
Cavill is an ambassador for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, which tweeted the photo.
The newest installment in the superhero franchise stars Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent opposite Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman.  Amy Adams is set to reprise her “Man of Steel” role of Lois Lane, while “Game of Thrones” actor Jason Momoa will appear as Aquaman/Arthur Curry, and Gal Gadot (“Fast and Furious 6″) will make her debut as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince.
“Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” is currently slated for a May 2016 release.


 

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN FINALLY GETS A TITLE

 

Batman-Superman Titled ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’

Courtesy of  Justin Kroll http://variety.com/2014/film/news/batman-superman-titled-batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-1201188157/         

Warner Bros. has officially titled the Batman-Superman pic “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” with principal photography starting today in Detroit.

Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck star in the film with Zack Snyder directing. Pic also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from “Man of Steel,” Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, and Holly Hunter.
Film is written by Chris Terrio, from a screenplay by David S. Goyer. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing.

Plot details are unknown.
Production will take place in Detroit as well as areas around Illinois; Africa; and the South Pacific. Film is set to bow May 6, 2016.
The title seems to hint as an origin tale for the untitled “Justice League” film that Snyder has already committed to direct and the majority of the cast is expected to appear in.

MAN OF STEEL 2 FINDS IT'S CYBORG - RAY FISHER HAS BEEN CAST AS CYBORG 'VICTOR STONE'

'Man Of Steel' Sequel Finds Its Cyborg

Warner Bros. and DC Comics tap theater actor Ray Fisher for coveted role.

Courtesy of By Maurice Bobb
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1726789/man-steel-sequel-finds-its-cyborg.jhtml


The "Man of Steel" sequel just took another major step toward setting up an eventual Justice League of America film.

According to Variety, Ray Fisher, a noted theater actor, has been tapped for the role of Victor Stone or Cyborg, the half-man, half-machine superhero who started off as a member of the Teen Titans before graduating to the JLA.

Warner Bros. and DC Comics conducted screen tests over the past couple of weeks before landing on Fisher, who is most widely known for playing Muhammad Ali in the Broadway play "Fetch Clay, Make Man" and for his recent testing for J.J. Abrams' upcoming "Star Wars: Episode VII."

While Cyborg's role will be small, he'll become a more significant character as the studio develops more films for the Justice League universe. Cyborg's casting may be also be a sign that DC Comics paid attention to the successful integration of The Falcon, another African-American superhero, to Marvel's recent blockbuster, Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier.

"I think he would create an incredible bridge between superheroes and humanity," Cavill said of the Cyborg character in bonus feature on the recent "Man of Steel" home video release.

Fisher joins a cast that already includes Henry Cavill (Superman), Ben Affleck (Batman), Jesse Eisenberg (Lex Luthor), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) and Amy Adams (Lois Lane).

Zack Snyder is returning as director for the production, which is currently already under way in Michigan.

BATMAN VS SUPERMAN: Zac Snyder explains Batmans role in Man of Steel 2 sequel

Zack Snyder Reveals How Batman Ended Up in ‘Man of Steel’ Sequel

Director Zack Snyder explains how Batman's planned cameo grew into a larger role in the "Man of Steel" sequel, and talks about the costume tests for Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

[ Courtesy of http://on.cbr.cc/1eE6u1T ]

Do you have high hopes for the sequel?

When it was announced last year at Comic-Con International that Superman would face Batman in the sequel to Man of Steel, many fans were excited by the possibility of a Dark Knight Returns-style showdown. Still, plenty of others wondered whether it was the right time, or the right place, to introduce a new actor beneath the cape and cowl.

While director Zack Snyder is clearly relishing the idea of the Dark Knight having such a large presence in the film — he’ll even share the title, if initial reports of Batman Vs. Superman are correct — he reveals in a new interview that’s not how he initially envisioned it.

“I gotta be honest, it definitely was a thing that … after Man of Steel finished and we started talking about what would be in the next movie, I started subtly mentioning that it would be cool if he faced Batman,” he tells Forbes. “In the first meeting, it was like, ‘Maybe Batman?’ Maybe at the end of the second movie, some Kryptonite gets delivered to Bruce Wayne’s house or something. Like in a cryptic way, that’s the first time we see him. But then, once you say it out loud, right? You’re in a story meeting talking about, like, who should [Superman] fight if he fought this giant alien threat Zod who was basically his equal physically, from his planet, fighting on our turf …  You know, who to fight next? The problem is, once you say it out loud, then it’s kind of hard to go back, right? Once you say, ‘What about Batman?’ then you realize, ‘OK, that’s a cool idea. What else?’ I mean, what do you say after that? … But I’m not gonna say at all that when I took the job to do Man of Steel that I did it in a subversive way to get to Batman. I really believe that only after contemplating who could face [Superman] did Batman come into the picture.”

The significance of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman — DC Comics’ oft-mentioned “Trinity” — appearing together on the big screen isn’t lost on the filmmaker, either.

“The thing also that’s really fascinating for me is that, even just in the tests we’ve been doing, the costumes, right? You basically have Batman and Superman — and this is without Ben [Affleck] and Henry [Cavill] in the costumes, but just like the stand-ins, just testing to see what the costumes look like,” Snyder says. “And  you have them standing there and they’re standing in the same shot — and then we have Wonder Woman, you know, all three of them in the same shot. Even just for a test, you really have to go, ‘Wow, that’s crazy!’ Not only is it the first time that I’m seeing them, it’s the first time they’ve ever existed together on screen in a movie. And that’s kind of a huge deal. Even just Batman and Superman standing next to each other … [I]t’s kind of epic. You do sort of sense the weight of the pop culture iconography jumping out of its skin when you’re standing there looking at the two of them and Wonder Woman. It’s crazy. But it’s fun. I mean, I have the first photo, I’ve got it in my archive because I was like, ‘OK, I better keep this, it’s gonna be worth something!’”
Arriving May 6, 2016, the Man of Steel sequel stars Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Fishburne, Holly Hunter and Diane Lane.
(via ComingSoon)