Cinema is filled with memorable and repeated pairings between directors and actors, but with all due respect to Scorsese/De Niro, Allen/Allen and Cameron/Paxton, the collaborations between Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg are a magic all their own. After a successful run on UK TV (that ended with Spaced) the duo unleashed two genre-hopping films that were described as parts one and two in a loose and unofficial trilogy. Shaun of the Dead melded comedy with horror while Hot Fuzz brought the laughs with an action film homage, and now the third and final film in the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy is mere months away. The World’s End follows a group of five friends who reunite and return to a small town where they last failed to complete an epic pub crawl. Convinced to try again the five discover how the years have changed them, but the bigger surprise is how something else has changed the townspeople of Newton Haven. Check out the international teaser courtesy of MSN below.

You know what? It’s really just sort of nice to see Simon Pegg and Nick Frost looking equally terrified and silly on a poster together again, and what better production for them to bring their charms to than the final entry in Edgar Wright‘s Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy, The World’s End? The new quad poster features our favorite bumbling heroes amidst a possibly intergalactic firestorm and a horde of blue-eyed baddies, but the entire thing could just consist of their dumbstruck faces and a title and we’d be sold. Wright himself tweeted out the new quad poster, and it seems like he’s about as excited for this new film as the rest of us (which is very). The World’s End opens on August 23rd. Prepare and such.

Briefly: Focus Features has just sent around word that Edgar Wright‘s highly anticipated The World’s End, the final film in his Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (aka the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy), has moved up from its original October 25th release date to a prime summer date of August 23rd. Penned by Wright and star Simon Pegg, the film also features Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan, and Rosamund Pike on a sprawling pub crawl that is meant to end at “fabled pub The World’s End,” but just might wrap up at the actual end of the world.  The film will now go up against other August 23rd releases The Mortal Instruments: City of Bone and You’re Next.

We’ve been hearing about Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s next film together as co-writers for a while. A mashup between the concepts of the pub crawl and the apocalypse, The World’s End has been said to be the third film in an informal trilogy that started with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Other than Wright directing and co-writing the film with Pegg, we’ve also known from the start that Pegg was set to re-team with Nick Frost as its stars. But, seeing as the film’s synopsis says that it’s about five friends in their forties trying to recreate an epic pub crawl they completed when they were younger, there’s always been a question of who else was going to be joining the cast. Well, a press release put out by Universal today not only confirms a couple names that have been floating around for a while, it also adds two more to the mix.

According to a press release, Universal has given the thumbs up to Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as they seek to put an end to the excellent comedy trilogy that began with Shaun of the Dead and continued with Hot Fuzz. With zombies and cops out of the way, the only thing left to heartily mock is the destruction of the planet. The World’s End is aiming to roll cameras in October. Theoretically, we could be in for a Summer or Fall 2013 release. This comes on the heels of Marvel revealing Wright’s test footage for Ant-Man at Comic-Con and announcing that it would be, you know, made at some point in the near future. They promise. Seriously. Of course this greenlight is fantastic news, but what’s most interesting (and most encouraging) here is that Universal is happy to do business with Wright again after losing money on Scott Pilgrim. It shows the kind of creative fortitude that seems rare these days. It would be too easy to dismiss a business relationship with a filmmaker, ignoring that the movie he made was brilliant simply because the box office return didn’t shine like gold. Good on ‘em for teaming up again. The team will no doubt churn out another hilarious winner.

Ian McShane is an accomplished actor who’s been steadily working in the business for more decades than he’d probably like to admit at this point, but these days he’s likely best known for bringing the phrase “cocksucker” back into style while playing the cutthroat and dastardly saloon owner Al Swearengen on HBO’s Deadwood, so it’s kind of funny to picture him salsa dancing, which is what he’s going to be doing in his next film. According to THR, McShane has just signed on for a big role in the upcoming UK comedy Cuban Fury. The film, which was penned by a television writer named Jon Brown but which comes from an idea of Nick Frost’s, will feature Frost playing a schlubby doormat type who’s inspired to return to the world of salsa dancing because of a crush that he has on his boss. You see, his character used to be a dancing prodigy, but he had his career ruined early on by a rival dancer. Probably the idea of watching Nick Frost sexy-dance sounds appealing enough to sell you on seeing this one already, but wait, it gets even better.

For those of you who didn’t dig on Tarsem Singh‘s giddy Mirror Mirror, here is what you thought you wanted. Do not expect characters to be joking around or having a good time in Snow White and The Huntsman, as all that fun stuff is simply not cool and edgy enough for this grim universe. Mirror Mirror was for the sophisticated and playful child version of you, while talented commercial director Rupert Sanders‘ dark modern take is for that goth High School you, the person who prefers everything — even the kiddiest of things — to be dragged through an edgy, gritty filter. Dour Snow White and The Huntsman certainly is. In a fifteen minute cliff notes introduction, we’re quickly, and yet slowly, introduced to the reactionary Snow White (Kristen Stewart) as a child. We’re told she’s best friends with a boy named Will, who later pops up as a runner in the competition for most disposable character of the year. We’re told she’s famed for her beauty. We’re told her kingdom is dying. We’re told far too much, while hardly ever being shown. After the death of her sickly mother and the murder of her father she’s banished to a jail cell by the evil Queen: the bird heart-eating Ravenna (Charlize Theron).

What is Movie News After Dark? This week, it is like the idiotic parents’ suburban Pasadena home in Project X. The responsible party is taking some time off, so he has handed the keys to some of us on staff, and we are having the Movie News After Dark House Party of the century. We’re doing our best to remain somewhat respectable and deliver some entertainment news you may have missed this week, but at some point we all know we’ll put a dwarf in the oven. On with the show. The first story is one you’ve likely seen already this weekend, but it’s worth repeating for the sheer joy it brings. This weekend, Movies.com published the story of George Lucas doing something we can all get behind. After decades of trying to develop land in Marin County to make the biggest movie studio in the galaxy, and with his snooty neighbors blocking the $300m a year initiative for fear of causing problems, he has decided to develop low-income housing. Finally, people can pat him on the back and forget about Jar Jar, Han shooting first and a certain crystal skull.

No time for quick puns or jokes here, just a quick sitdown to share news of a project that movie nerds everywhere have been rabid over for years – Deadline Dorset reveals that the long-anticipated third film in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg‘s Cornetto Trilogy not only has a plot in place, but it also has a planned start date. That’s like, this year. The outlet reports that Working Title and Wright “have set a September start date for The World’s End,” which will serve as the final film of the trilogy that also includes Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz. As with the first two films, Wright will direct from a script that he’s penned with Pegg. Pegg will again star alongside Nick Frost in the film which, while total no-duh news, is so exciting to see in print that it’s a bit dizzying. The current plan is for the film to hit theaters in spring of next year, which is thrilling enough to make fans go a bit cross-eyed. Universal Pictures has not green lit the film just yet, but is “expected” to (again, duh). So what exactly is The World’s End going to be about? We’ve known that Wright and Pegg completed their script last month, but details have been scarce on its actual content. But no longer!

Has a titular character for a tentpole film ever been muted in their own previews? That seems to be the case for Universal Pictures’ flashy-looking Snow White and the Huntsman, which so far seems hellbent on not letting its lead, played by Kristen Stewart, utter a single word in the previews. It’s probably wise to let Charlize Theron do all the talking, but how do you not give Snow White at least one line? Even Chris Hemsworth gets to open his mouth and yell in slow motion once again, Thor-style. Stewart is only given the exciting task of gazing off and acting lost. This is only a 60 second preview and I’m sure we’ll see Stewart say something before the film comes out, but after two previews with zero dialogue, it’s starting to get a bit comical. Check it out after the break.

This week, Fat Guy Kevin Carr pulls out his screening schedule, which looks like a gambling addict’s racing form. He bounces from huge, mainstream releases to minor indie award contenders. Facing motion-capture CGI, tattooed bisexual investigators, cross-dressing waiters, silent film actors, and a lead star who is literally hung like a horse, Kevin tries to make sense of the seemingly countless releases this holiday week. Exhaustion from this process makes it impossible to buy a zoo or face the 3D end of the world, but his movie stocking is full, nonetheless.

Based on the comics by Belgian artist Hergé, The Adventures of Tintin follows a young reporter as he (along with his trusty dog Snowy) end up on a series of adventures in pursuit of his next story. Brought to the screen by director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson, this may be the first time many audiences in America will be seeing and experiencing the world of Tintin (as the comic was first made famous overseas), but the series should have little trouble finding new fans this holiday season. Jackson’s skill with motion capture technology (as seen in his films like The Lord of the Rings and King Kong) is well-translated in Spielberg’s first animated project, creating an immersive world you can easily escape into, while the director’s love of telling an adventure story (and the series itself) bursts through each frame. The film begins with a series of animated scenes which work as a nice recall to the comics from which the story originated – even including a slight reference to newspapers as a nod to Tintin’s (Jamie Bell) job as a journalist and the format through which the comic first ran. The transition from to this the more standard style of animation into the full scope of the film’s 3D motion capture sublty helps audience realize just how impressive and vibrant this new technology truly is. Tintin may not look exactly as he does in the comics, but a clever wink at that iconic image is given early on, making it

Shuffle. Shuffle. Groan. Crawl. Shuffle. And commentary on all of it. It’s the Halloween season, so you know the zombie movies are out there in force. But we always like a few lot of laughs with our scares. What better movie to dish out both of those along with an ample helping of heart – figurative heart, as in emotion, not actual bloody hearts being tossed about, though we have that here, too – than Edgar Wright‘s Shaun of the Dead? What’s even better, Wright has brought along a familiar and jovial voice to help him recollect some of the fun and interesting times on set. Simon Pegg is helping out with the color commentary, that color being red more than likely. So it’s time to head on down to the Winchester – provided they have a DVD player – grab a pint and your best cricket bat, watch the ball go from bat to wicket – that’s a cricket reference just to show I know a thing or two. That’s two things. I’m out. – and hear what Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg have to say in this week’s Commentary Commentary. Shuffle. Crawl. Shuffle. Groan. Brains.

Attack the Block is high-concept fun, pitting deadly invading aliens against a motley bunch of inner-city Londoners in an all-out war. Writer/director Joe Cornish imbues a simple, straightforward premise with character-driven depth and relentless full-throttle activity, sustaining the adrenaline through the entirety of the picture’s 88 minutes. The film centers on the unlikely intersection of public housing-dwelling waitress Sam (Jodie Whittaker) and some of the wayward youths that live in her building. A gang led by Moses (John Boyega) has its attempted mugging of our heroine interrupted by a squealing, straining fanged alien that crash lands into a car. They kill it, bring its body home to the towering apartment building they call “the block” and are soon forced to team up with Sam to fight off an invasion of these enraged, deadly creatures.

Do you believe in aliens? Little green men, hidden by the government for decades? Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in the film Paul sure do, and when they meet one that sounds just like Seth Rogen, they simply can’t believe it… until he starts swearing and smoking pot, ’cause that happens in every Seth Rogen film. So while the characters in Paul are lightening their mood, you can too with this game, suitable for either the theatrical or unrated version of the film, now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

What is Movie News After Dark? It’s not getting on that horse, that’s for sure. Instead it is here to bring you the big and the small, the best and the worst, the interesting and not so interesting movie news of the day. Then it will get on that horse and ride off into the sunset. Tonight’s lead image is actress Ruth Wilson. Get a good look, as you’ll soon be seeing her again. This star of BBC’s Luther and Masterpiece Theater’s latest version of Jane Eyre beat out the likes of Jessica Chastain and Abbie Cornish to win the leading lady part in The Lone Ranger opposite Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp.

After this summer, expect all your nerdy friends to endlessly say, “Believe, Bruv!” Enjoy that quote while it lasts, because I’m sure many are going to run it into the ground soon.. so, obviously by the title of this news piece, I already have a hand in not doing that awesome line justice. Couldn’t be more proud. Anyway, the hoods vs. the aliens adventure film has been screening across all over the country since SXSW, and for good reason. Attack the Block is a film that’s going to live or die by word-of-mouth. If the buzz stays as positive as it currently is Screen Gems may end up with a little success on their hands. They’ve set a July 29th release date which is an already a jam packed weekend. With the already sure to be hits Cowboys and Aliens, The Smurfs, and (the supposedly excellent) Crazy, Stupid, Love, Attack the Block will have a lot of competition. Hopefully Joe Cornish‘s truly awesome film debut finds a broad enough audience to appreciate his genre meshing exercise in comedic badassery. Source: Box Office Mojo

What is Movie News After Dark? It’s a nightly movie news round-up that finds the darndest things. Like Sacha Baron Cohen’s beard, creepy Musketeer posters, Mark Wahlberg, Simon Pegg, Paul Walker and a way to make your tweets into epic cinematic adventures. You need this and you know it. We begin tonight with Sacha Baron Cohen looking crazytown as The Dictator, his latest mockumentary prank film. Only this time, it’s got a more concise narrative. Cohen will play the dual roles of a ruthless dictator who heads to the U.S. for a meeting at the United Nations and finds that his number two has replaced him with an unsuspecting sheepherder lookalike. The big guy has sort of a Cosmo Kramer meets Mr. T vibe going on, with all the frills of the late Saddam Hussein. That feeling deep in your loins is unbridled excitement. That’s a good thing.

Attack the Block has of course already screened in America, at SXSW, and FSR already have a review live, thanks to Brian Salisbury and let’s be honest, no matter what I write here, I’m not likely to meet the mastery of that particular article. But then, I wouldn’t want to, and I honestly feel as strongly about the excellent British film as Brian does, so I thought I’d use this opportunity to review the film slightly differently, in order that my article can stand as more of a companion piece to Brian’s. And there’s the also the small matter of me being British as well, which will no doubt mean what I’m about to write will be full of patriotic bluster and lashings of jingoistic pride, what what.

It’s not often that an argument about the fundamentals of the existence of a higher power takes place in an RV toilet, but it’s somehow the perfect setting for a character moment that stands as the centerpiece of Paul. Ruth (played by Kristen Wiig) is convinced of her belief in God without reservation, but when the foul-mouthed, chain smoking alien steps out of the water closet, it shakes her to the core. That’s not the sole example of religion or faith in the film. In fact, faith is the main theme of the entire movie. It just happens to be wrapped in a science fiction narrative and sprinkled with comedy and curse words.