Though there have been several one-sheets online already, we’ve clearly reached the point in the Man Of Steel promotional campaign where the character posters come striding out. Welcome, then, Supes himself, General Zod and super-dad Jor-El. {Man Of Steel Character Posters}Even though Jor-El’s presence in the film is traditionally limited – he might be one of the sources of advice to son Kal-El (Henry Cavill), but he perishes along with the rest of planet Krypton early in the story – Crowe’s star power is being used to help boost the film. Which, along with the character’s iconic status, explains why he gets his own image here along with the others.Man Of Steel finds young Kal-El growing up on Earth, raised by the kindly Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane). Unsure about his place in society thanks to his incredible powers, he chooses at first to hide away, hunted by reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) who has heard the stories of his feats.Yet he’s forced to reveal his presence to the world when General Zod (Michael “I WILL FIND HIM!” Shannon) arrives on the planet and demands that Kal-El swears fealty to him, lest Zod get medieval on the Earth and its inhabitants. And in related Crowe news, he’s apparently seen the movie and thinks highly of it, believing that it’s set to change Henry Cavill’s life.With Zach Snyder directing a script by David S. Goyer, Man Of Steel touches down in UK cinemas on June 14. There’s plenty more about it in the current issue of Empire, in shops and on the iPad now. Plus, we talked to Steel composer Hans Zimmer about taking on a character so closely associated with John Williams’ theme.

Anything Bradley Cooper and the Wolfpack can do, Michael Douglas and, er, the slightly older Wolfpack can do better! At least, that appears to be the message coming over the loudspeakers from the first teaser trailer for oldies gone wild comedy Last Vegas. While it’s not quite shaping up to be as chaotic or filthy as The Hangover, the presence of Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro and Kevin Kline means there’s more old school charm on display.The premise for the film – which has Jon Turteltaub wrangling the gang from behind the camera – finds Douglas as the last bachelor in the group finally getting hitched. Cue a party and the foursome heading to Vegas for drinks, gambling, girls and as much bacchanal as their doctors will allow (or more, if they can get away with it).Yes, with six Oscar wins, 14 nominations and an estimated $16.6 billion box office between the leading men, this one is looking to blend their class with a little madness. Can the combo work? Drunk Morgan Freeman has our vote already, but we’ll reserve judgement until the full film swaggers (or staggers) into our cinemas on December 20.

As we pointed out when Liam Hemsworth was rumoured as star, no, The Raven is not a remake of the Edgar Allen Poe wannabe period thriller that starred John Cusack. It’s actually based on Ricardo de Montreuil’s ambitious, conspiracy-minded dystopian sci-fi thriller short (see below) and it looks like Gerard Butler is up to take the lead instead.Universal nabbed the rights to make the short into a movie back in 2010 with support from Mark Wahlberg’s production company. Assuming he signs on the dotted line, Butler will be a man who possesses remarkable powers that is hunted by the government and the military, who consider him both a threat and a possible new weapon.De Montreuil is set to direct based on a script that has seen work from Justin Marks and, more recently de Montreuil himself, working with original short scribe Antonio Perez.Butler last saw action in Olympus Has Fallen, the first of this year’s two White House-in-peril movies. He’ll next be heard rather than seen in How To Train Your Dragon 2, which arrives on July 4 next year.

Unexpected casting possibility of the day: Arnold Schwarzenegger in the reboot of The Toxic Avenger? Well, according to Variety, he’s in talks for a lead role in the film, even if it’s not the lead.No, while Schwarzenegger may end up co-starring, he won’t actually be playing the mutant main role.Director/co-writer Steve Pink (he crafted the script with Daniel C. Mitchell for Elysium Films) is developing the tale of Melvin, a socially and, to some degree, mentally, challenged caretaker at a health spa who is ignored by women, sneered at by co-workers and generally finds life tough. His naïveté sees him thrown into a vat of toxic waste by leering criminal types. But he emerges as a muscular warrior who, despite his melty appearance, is a hit with the ladies and who uses his newfound powers for good.While the original was a flop on release, it went on to be a cult sensation, and the producers – which include Akiva Goldsman – will be hoping to channel some of that schlock appeal. Yet can something as distinctive as a Troma film make it as a more mainstream comedy? If Schwarzenegger boards this one, we may be one step closer to finding out…The former Governator most recently appeared in The Last Stand. He has Escape Plan set for release on 27 September and David Ayer’s Ten due to arrive next year.

After making waves with the likes of Take Shelter and his latest, Mud, Writer/director Jeff Nichols is now contemplating his first studio film, stepping aboard a science fiction project at Warner Bros. called Midnight Special. And just who will he have starring in it? Why, regular collaborator Michael Shannon, of course!The two have become firm friends since Shotgun Stories and Shelter and Shannon is obviously also a hot property these days given he’s starring in one of Warners’ massive summer releases, Man Of Steel.Everyone involved is staying quiet about the plot, though Variety dug up that it’s a present-day chase film. With Shannon’s experience running, driving and shouting around after Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Premium Rush, we wonder if he’ll be the chaser or the chased…Nichols’ Mud hits our screens on Friday and he’ll be gracing the Empire Pod-booth, so keep an ear out for that too.Shannon, of course, is Zod in Man Of Steel (the trailer’s below for anyone needing their daily dose of “I WILL FIND HIM!” shouty goodness), which hits on June 14 and is the star of The Iceman, arriving June 7.

Iron Man 3It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas for Marvel, and not just because Iron Man 3 is a typically festive Shane Black film. After reaching an impressive $504 million at the overseas box office in just one week, the movie is now looking at more than $175 million for its first US weekend, according to studio estimates. The figures mean give Tony Stark and co the second-biggest opening weekend, after a little film known in the US as The Avengers.Iron Man’s success meant Pain & Gain had to slip into second, with the bodybuilders taking home $7.6 million. Jackie Robinson biopic 42 stayed in third place with $6.2 million, while Oblivion slipped to fourth and $5.7 million. Rounding out the top five, animated adventure The Croods remained in place for $4.2 million.The Big Wedding was down to sixth, earning $3.8 million, while Mud expanded its cinema count and soared into the top 10 at seventh with $2.1 million. Oz The Great And Powerful was also back, slipping into eighth with a somewhat surprising $1.8 million. Scary Movie 5 fell to ninth and $1.4 million, while The Place Beyond The Pines was 10th with $1.2 million.

Cablevision announced today that Glenn Beck‘s news, opinion and entertainment network TheBlaze will be added to Optimum TV’s line-up in late May. TheBlaze is the exclusive provider of The Glenn Beck Program. The network also offers original news and opinion shows such as Real News, Wilkow! and For The Record, late-night comedies The Wonderful World Of Stu and B.S. Of A., family-friendly Liberty Treehouse as well as documentaries and original specials. TheBlaze first launched online on September 12, 2011 as GBTV and became a television network the following year. TheBlaze will be available to Optimum’s residential customers with the Optimum Preferred, Silver and Gold Packages and to commercial customers with Optimum Business or Optimum Entertainment.

NBCU Taps Pair Of Execs In Pay-TV Division
NBCUniversal has appointed a pair of executives for its pay-TV channels operation. Satpal Brainch takes over as EVP and Managing Director of Universal Networks International effective May 8, and Duccio Donati assumes the newly created role of EVP of E! and Style starting in July. Brainch was President and Managing Director of CNBC International and will relocate from Singapore to London for her new role. Donati, who was EVP of Universal Networks International, will move from London to Los Angeles.
History UK’s New ‘Heroes Of War’ Focuses On Poland
History UK has tapped Sky Vision to produce Heroes Of War, a five-episode documentary series about unsung heroes from World War II. Each hourlong segment will focus on stories of heroism and sacrifice in Poland, where some of the worst atrocities of the war were committed. The series is due to premiere later in the year on H2 in the U.K. and on History in select European countries. Sarah Proctor is the Executive Producer for History UK.Germany’s NDR Greenlights Second Season Of Game Show ‘Gefragt Gejagt’
ITV Studios Germany will produce a second eight-episode season of Gefragt Gejagt, the local version of ITV Studios’ hit game show format The Chase, for German public broadcaster NDR. Again hosted by Alexander Bommes, the hourlong Gefragt Gejagt will include six celebrity episodes and an additional two non-celebrity episodes. The first season aired in summer 2012.
Discovery Buys Two U.S. Dramas For Its New TLC Channel
Discovery has acquired a pair of original drama series from Disney UK & Ireland to air on its new U.K. channel TLC, with goes live April 30. The Alyssa Milano starrer Mistresses and Marc Cherry’s Devious Maids, both from ABC Studios US, will premiere exclusively on TLC in the U.K., as Discovery premieres new fiction on one of its UK channels for the first time. The deal includes 13 episodes of both hourlong dramas, along with the classic sitcom Golden Girls also will air on TLC in the UK.
‘Muscle Shoals’ To Tour U.K. Theaters Via Dogwoof
Dogwoof has acquired U.K. distribution rights to the documentary feature Muscle Shoals, which premiered at Sundance in January. Directed by Greg “Freddy” Camalier, the film about the unlikely breeding ground for some of America’s most creative and defiant music makes its U.K. debut this week at Sundance London. The deal was negotiated by David Koh of Submarine Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers.

A sketch performed by Rowan Atkinson during British charity telethon Comic Relief prompted more than 2,200 complaints to the BBC and will be investigated by regulator Ofcom. The sketch in question saw Atkinson play a fictional version of the Archbishop of Canterbury who compared boy band One Direction to Jesus’s disciples and said praying “doesn’t work.” After the skit raised an uproar, the BBC removed it from its iPlayer and apologized saying it was “intended to amuse and entertain” but feedback had shown it was “problematic for a number of different reasons.” Ofcom is said to be investigating on the grounds of offensive language and generally accepted standards, The Guardian reported.
Film Education, a charity supported by the British film industry, has had its funding pulled and will close on April 26 with all staff to be let go. As a result, the UK’s National Schools Film Week will cease. The event was a free, annual program that brought kids to cinemas throughout the country – last year’s program included We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Awakening and Wild Bill. Founded in 1985, Film Education has been active in curriculum-based teaching resources, teacher training and cinema-based events across the UK. Its closure, the charity said, is a result of the decision by its primary funder, Cinema First, to end its financial support. Cinema First, a cross-industry body made up of exhibitors and distributors, recently supported a bid led by publicly financed orgs Filmclub and First Light to secure responsibility for the British Film Institute’s new 5-19 film education scheme 2013-2017.
Arrow Media has been commissioned by BBC Two for The Hairy Bikers: Rebuilding Industrial Britain. The three-part series follows Si King and Dave Myers, known to British TV audiences as The Hairy Bikers, as they journey across the UK on their vintage motorcycles to discover and help fix a number of lost treasures of the industrial age. King and Myers have hosted several shows in Britain including The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook, The Hairy Bikers Ride Again and The Hairy Bikers’ Food Tour Of Britain. Executive Producers for the series are Tom Brisley for Arrow and Tom McDonald for the BBC.
Salon Pictures, the London production shingle hung by former Gunslinger execs Paul Van Carter and Nick Taussig, has commissioned three original feature screenplays which they plan to have ready to package and sell in Cannes. The first, Decompression, is an LA-set thiller about a group of men locked in a decompression recovery chamber after contracting the bends while diving. The script is based on a true story and is being written by playwright Christopher Bell. Commercials director Ian Bonhôte is attached to direct. Meet Me In Ten Years from Fran Poletti follows a New Yorker who wins a government lottery to spend thirty minutes with a version of herself – ten years in the future. Finally, Salon’s biopic of Winston Churchill will examine the dark side of the late prime minister. British historian Alex Von Tunzelmann, whose book Indian Summer was adapted by Working Title, is scripting.

On April 2, Wesley Snipes was officially released from the clink following a stint for tax evasion. Now — according to Slyvester Stallone’s Twitter feed — the three-time Vampire hunter is said to be joining your future Father’s Day purchase, "Expendables 3."
Late on April 15, Stallone tweeted the following about the Simon Phoenix to his John Spartan:

Does Stallone simply mean Snipes is back in the real world and no longer donning stripes? Or does the "…with US" mean that he’s suiting up with Stallone and his (rumored) cohorts Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Jackie Chan, Bill Clinton (?), Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, and other 80′s icons? We await confirmation/denial.
In other "Sylvester Stallone likes Twitter news," the sinewy star stoked the flames about Mel Gibson joining the crew behind the camera. He said:

Stallone added that he was just joshing, but figured he’d take the opportunity to ask fans for their thoughts/build buzz:

Finally, adding some clarification on April 15:

"Expendables 3" is currently in pre-production. No director is attached.