Mike Sampson is the Editor-in-Chief of ScreenCrush. He studied to become a lawyer and worked as an architectural planner after graduating college but neither of these professions afforded him the opportunity to watch movies and TV for a living. He previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of JoBlo.com for 10 years. He lives in New Jersey and probably spends too much time playing video games and overthinking things.
Mike Sampson
‘South Park’ Creator Trey Parker Joins ‘Despicable Me 3’
When you’ve five Emmys, four Tonys, one Grammy and was one Phil Collins song away from an Oscar that would’ve made you one of only 13 people to have an EGOT, what else is left to do? For South Park creator Trey Parker, you voice the bad guy in Despicable Me 3...
Original ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy Returning to Theaters This Summer
One of the most common reactions after seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens in theaters was to go back and rewatch the original trilogy again. Part of that is nostalgia, and part of that is that The Force Awakens was, for better or worse, a rehash of a lot of similar plot points from A New Hope...
‘Neighbors 2’ Red Band Trailer: Drugs, Parties and Sex Toys
Besides being hilarious, Neighbors never struck me as the kind of movie that needed a sequel. Frat moves in next store to family, they fight, they resolve, fin. But, Neighbors made so much money, there was no chance there wasn’t going to be a sequel, and now here we are...
Warner Bros. Sets Two Mystery DC Films For 2018 and 2019
Just a few hours after a report in The Hollywood Reporter claiming that Warner Bros. would be releasing fewer movies in the years ahead to focus on LEGO, Harry Potter and the DC Cinematic Universe, the studio has at least made good on one of those promises...
Adult Swim’s Latest WTF-ery Will Break Your Brain
Remember Too Many Cooks? Of course you do, how could anyone possibly forget that happened? Adult Swim unleashed that popular short film with little fanfare during its 4am slot usually reserved for infomercials and it quickly went viral. It was hilarious and weird and about as dark as dark comedy can get...
‘Ghostbusters’ Trailer: These Women Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost
Ever since the Ghostbusters reboot has been announced (with an all-female cast) the film has been harshly judged, sight unseen. Today, director Paul Feig has officially revealed the Ghostbusters trailer, so now we can judge the film on its own merits...
‘X-Force’ Movie Could be R-Rated Thanks to ‘Deadpool’ Success
Just a few days after Deadpool’s record-breaking haul at the box-office (the biggest opening for a film released in February, the biggest opening for an R-rated film, the biggest opening weekend in 20th Century Fox history and the biggest opening of any X-Men film), studios are already adapting to the massive success of an R-rated superhero film and adjusting accordingly. X-Men and Deadpool producer Simon Kinberg has said that while he doesn’t see the X-Men universe changing much after Deadpool’s success, he said he could definitely see another mutant-oriented superhero film getting an R-rating.
BB-8 Originally Spoke Written Dialogue in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
If you stuck around through the Star Wars: The Force Awakens credits (perhaps waiting in vain for a post-credits scene), you may have noticed that both Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz were credited as “BB-8 Voice Consultants” for the film. Hader spoke about his involvement only briefly saying, “JJ f–-ing around with this sound effects app on his iPad that was attached to a talk box operated by me.” Now Schwartz has spoken about his contributions revealing that he was originally reciting written dialogue.
The ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ Viral Marketing Just Kicked Into High Gear
Hidden web sites? Scrambled codes? Secret passwords? If that sounds like a J.J. Abrams viral marketing campaign to you, you win a prize. We told you last month that the viral campaign for 10 Cloverfield Lane had quietly started, but following the new ad that ran during the Super Bowl, things have considerably gotten more excited...
Bryan Singer Set to Direct ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ Later This Year
The last time Bryan Singer directed an adaptation of classic tale the result was Jack the Giant Slayer, a movie so bad that it lost Warner Bros. over $100 million and put an end to Singer’s run at Warner Bros (the director had also made Superman Returns with the studio and had a number of projects in development including a remake of Logan’s Run)...
A Yoda Cameo Was Cut From ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
Though Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place over 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, director J.J. Abrams still found a way to work on some classic characters who had long since passed on. Kylo Ren has a conversation with Darth Vader’s helmet. Obi-Wan speaks to Rey during her Force vision. And, there was one additional cameo that ultimately was cut from the film: Yoda.
New ‘Ghostbusters’ Photos Show Off the New Cast, First Look at Chris Hemsworth
Early this morning, Sony Pictures relaunched the official site for Ghostbusters, the home of the original two movies, the cartoons and the upcoming reboot. Along with the relaunch, we got five new photos from the film, each highlighting one of the main characters from the movie, including our first look at Chris Hemsworth as the new Ghostbusters secretary. Eat your heart out, Janine Melnitz!
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Passes ‘Avatar’ to Become Biggest Movie of All-Time
As was widely expected, Star Wars: The Force Awakens passed Avatar as the highest grossing movie of all-time on Wednesday morning. It was a record many, including George Lucas, thought would never be broken; The Force Awakens did it in just 20 da
Tom Cruise in Talks to Star in Universal’s Mummy Reboot
There were not many ways to get me excited in a Mummy reboot, the first in a planned series of connected movies linking The Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein and more, but Universal has found a way. Tom Cruise is in talks to star in The Mummy and is expected to take a major role in developing the new monster universe.
New Japanese ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Trailer With Tons of New Footage!
J.J. Abrams recently said that the third Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer that debuted back on October 19 would be the last trailer we would see for the upcoming Star Wars film. Turns out, even J.J. Abrams is wrong sometimes. Today, a new Japanese Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer appeared online with lots of new footage and BB-8 fans are going to love this.
J.J. Abrams Talks Luke Skywalker’s Absence From the ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Trailer
Disney and Lucasfilm are trying very hard to preserve the secrets of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There are reports that the film won’t screen for critics until the day before it opens in theaters. And there are rumors that not only will there be no more trailers, but that the TV spots that run won’t use any new footage and everything you’ve seen so far, is all you’re going to get. But, even as they try to keep a carbonite fist on spoilers, J.J. Abrams has to leave his house. As much as Disney would like, they can’t keep him chained up in a Rancor pit until December 17. The dude has to go out in public. And that he did just the other day, and as people shouted at him “LUKE!!! WHERE’S LUKE!!!!” he was obliged to answer.