MAGICAL TRAILER FOR "THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY" IS HERE STARRING MARTIN FREEMAN, CATE BLANCHETT, LUKE EVANS, LEE PACE, RICHARD ARMITAGE, IAN MCKELLEN, STEPHEN FRY...

Well, as you know, this spy has a career so I wasn't able to give you the long awaited THE HOBBIT trailer immediately as it appeared

around the Net today, so I guess you've already seen it, but tell me how did you like it? You have it bellow if you haven't seen it. As we've expected from the first, and very early trailer, it doesn't show much of the story or action, but introduces us with the characters and some truly lovely sets and landscapes. It also gives us a glimpse at some of the beloved characters from LORD OF THE RINGS saga such as Queen Galadriel and Gollum. It is also quite atmospheric with very interesting music.  As you know the first part of the saga THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY will premiere in December 2012.  Based

on JRR Tolkien's famous book "The Hobbit", the film will bring the story of Bilbo Baggins, whom we have already seen in "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy.

THE HOBBIT STORY

The story now follows Bilbo as he first encounters Gandalf. Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue

by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and

the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities ...

THE HOBBIT CAST

As you remember from HOLLYWOOD SPY's extensive spotlight on THE HOBBIT characters,the magnificent cast includes Cate Blanchett as the Elven queen Galadriel, Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Luke Evans as Bard the leader of

Men, Benedict Cumberbatch who will lend his voice to the dragon Smaug, Hugo Weaving as Elven king Elrond, Lee Pace as Elven king Thranduil, Stephen Fry as Master of Laketown, Evangeline Lilly as Elven girl Tauriel, Richard Armitage and Aidan Turner as dwarves....

THE HOBBIT TIDBITS

 First part AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY premieres in December 2012, while second part THERE AND BACK AGAIN will premiere in December 2013! Overly dark and morbid Guillermo del Toro was supposed to helm the film, but fortunately, Peter Jackson took it

over during the pre-production limbo. Actors James McAvoy, Matthew Goode and David Tennant were in the option to play Bilbo. MGM's bankruptcy, Peter Jackson's ulcer surgery and New Zealand union strikes are just some of the troubles THE HOBBIT

went through. Barry Humphries, also known as famous Dame Edna (US audience remembers her/him from ALLY MCBEAL) will play a CGI Goblin King, the ruler of the underground caverns in the Misty Mountains.

CHARACTER POSTERS FOR "THE AVENGERS" WITH CHRIS EVANS, CHRIS HEMSWORTH, TOM HIDDLESTON, SCARLETT JOHANSSON! DELIGHTFUL TRAILER FOR "MISS MINEOS"!

For some reason a lot of the 2012 big films are releasing trailers or pictures this festive week, we are having THE HOBBIT trailer

tomorrow and PROMETHEUS trailer later this week,while today you can enjoy the first character posters for one of next year biggest super hero flicks THE AVENGERS featuring Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). The plot of this Marvel's film is still kept a secret, but it is known that the S.H.I.E.L.D. agency will bring together a team of superhumans to help save the Earth from annihilation by extraterrestrial invaders. To hit cinemas next May, opening the summer season, this action adventure is directed

by Joss Whedon who is mostly known for his television projects such as FIREFLY, BUFFY, ANGEL, DOLLHOUSE... The cast itself also includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Samuel L. Jackson, Stellan Skarsgard and Clark Gregg.

AVENGERS TIDBITS

The budget of the film is estimated at around $150 million! Edward Norton was the first choice for The Hulk and after that Joaquin Phoenix was mentioned for the role, but it went to Ruffalo. Nathan Fillion was the first choice for Hawkeye, while

his friend from Whedon's FIREFLY sf show Morena Baccarin also auditioned for one of the roles. Lou Ferigno, who is known as the original Hulk, will give his voice in the film which will have Tom Hiddleston's Loki as one of the main villains who will bring the Kree-Skrull war to Earth, thus requiring the Avengers' formation.

 HEARTWARMING TRAILERS WEEK

Continuing HOLLYWOOD SPY's week of Heartwarming Trailers this Christmas season, since I want you to smile, laugh and get inspired in this part of the year instead of being scared by some

of the current morbid films, I'm presenting you today a lovely family fantasy comedy MISS MINEOS which hits US market December 23rd. The charming story follows a cat who turns into a young woman Mineos but retains some of her feline characteristics and helps a journalist to gather news for the front page of his local newspaper. With the help of Minoes, who can talk to the cats in the small town, he soon discovers that the popular chairman of the Club For Friends of Animals and boss of a nearby factory has evil plans. The film has Carice van Houten in the lead role, and we shall watch her next year in GAME OF THRONES 2 as Melisandre.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S BEST AGE DEFYING ACTRESS IS HELEN MIRREN! NEW POLL: BEST BREAKTHROUGH STAR IN 2011!

The second part of BEST AGE DEFYING ACTRESSES is finished after three weeks of voting, and the absolute winner this time is Helen Mirren who took amazing 48% of your votes, leaving behind her Michelle Yeoh (15%) and Julianne Moore (14%).

Now, I know you love British legend Helen Mirren both for her charming  acting talent and for her trade mark naughtiness. As you remember, back in her youth, she was one of the actresses who didn't have a problem with taking their clothes off in front of the camera, and everybody still remembers the famous or infamous CALIGULA from 1979 which is the first and the last of the mainstream films to try to mix epic and erotic or even pornographic in one film. Among hundreds of nude people in that film we've seen Helen Mirren too. But the mature age didn't make her become shy, so she still thrills her fans from time to time with nude pics of her 66 years old body. After CALIGULA, one of her best roles was in equally unusual epic EXCALIBUR from 1981 in which she played Morgana. Continuing her royal roles, after that we saw her in THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, and she was even using her voice to play queens in animated flicks SNOW QUEEN and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT,

and then she was queen again in marvelous TV mini series ELISABETH I next to Hugh Dancy and Jeremy Irons. After that came her most famous role, for which she won an Oscar, again playing Elisabeth but the Second one in THE QUEEN. If you ask me personally, I loved her best in amazing film THE ROMAN SPRING OF MRS. STONE a deeply passionate drama in which she seduced or was seduced by extremely younger hunks Olivier Martinez and Rodrigo Santoro. In more recent years we've seen her in a lot of really bad films, rather unfitting for her talent from INKHEART, NATIONAL TREASURE, THE DEBT and STATE OF PLAY, to THE TEMPEST and ARTHUR. But she did give great performances in THE LAST STATION as the

wife of Leo Tolstoy and as madame in LOVE RANCH which was directed by her real life husband Taylor Hackford. As you know, in the future we shall see her next to Anthony Hopkins in ALFRED HITCHCOCK AND THE MAKING OF PSYCHO.
Most people don't know that she is of Russian origin and her real name is Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironoff. She received the title of Dame from the Queen in 2003. She is one of the very few people to receive two acting Golden Globes in the same year and she got them for playing Elisabeth I and Elisabeth II. Believe it or not, she has just one Oscar, but was nominated four times.

2011 BREAKTHROUGH STAR

Now let us move to our next poll: next three weeks we shall be choosing 2011 BREAKTHROUGH STAR. There were a number

of actors and actresses who had great roles this year and who won media attention and love of the fans securing themselves a lot of great future projects. So, who is the best among them: Henry Cavill (IMMORTALS, THE MAN OF STEEL, THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY), Luke Evans (IMMORTALS, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, THE RAVEN, THE HOBBIT), (X-MEN FIRST CLASS, SHAME, A DANGEROUS METHOD), Michael FassbenderChris Hemsworth (THOR, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN), Jennifer Lawrence (X MEN FIRST CLASS, THE HUNGER GAMES), Tom Hiddleston (THOR, DEEP BLUE SEA), Melissa McCarthy (BRIDESMAIDS).

DYNAMIC TRAILER FOR "WRATH OF THE TITANS"! AMAZING POSTER FOR "RISE OF THE GUARDIANS"! SANDRA BULLOCK & GEORGE CLOONEY IN "GRAVITY"! PATRICK DEMPSEY IN "THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN"

One of the lovely posters released this weekend is the first one for upcoming animated movie RISE OF THE GUARDIANS. We haven't seen much info on this DreamWorks project ever since the casting process was finished. The adaptation of children's

book by William Joyce, starts with an evil spirit called Pitch who becomes bent upon taking over the world by inspiring fear in the hearts of kids everywhere, so a group of our greatest heroes - Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and Jack Frost - band together for the first time, determined to stand in Pitch's way. More than a collection of storybook subjects, The Guardians are also a band of superheroes, who possess their own special powers. Now joined in opposition of a common foe, the Guardians heed the call and combine their powers to defeat Pitch and protect the world from his campaign of fear. The almost incredible voice cast includes Hugh Jackman, Alex Baldwin, Jude Law, Chris Pine, Isla Fisher, Leonardo DiCaprio...

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

According to "The Hollywood Reporter" Universal is preparing a movie adaptation of THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN a Garth Stein's bestselling novel, which is told from the perspective of Enzo, a dog who evaluates his life based on lessons learned from his owner a race car driver. The film doesn't have a director yet,

but the lead role will apparently go to Patrick Dempsey, one of our favourite TV hunks. Another project that I wrote about before is Sandra Bullock's sf film GRAVITY in which she will take the lead role next to George Clooney. The plot of the film has been officially revealed around the net now: the story follows Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock), a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone, tethered to nothing

but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

Beside THE HOBBIT trailer which should arrive tomorrow, another great epic trailer is here this week. It is the first clip for the

epic adventure WRATH OF THE TITANS, the sequel to the famous blockbuster which earned hundreds of millions around the world. A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Sam Worthington), the demigod son of Zeus (Liam Neeson), is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity's lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the

imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the brothers Zeus, Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that

lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus' godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalties and make a deal with Kronos to

capture Zeus. The Titans' strength grows stronger as Zeus' remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon's demigod son, Argenor (Toby

Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind. The film hits cinemas next March!

MAGICAL TRAILER FOR "THE FLYING MACHINE"! "THE HOBBIT" TRAILER TO PREMIRE TOMORROW! EVA GREEN IN "300: THE BATTLE OF ARTEMISIA" EPIC PREQUEL

Why oh, why, do you hate me Hollywood? It seems that Tinseltown has decided to put one of my least favourite actresses in one of my most anticipated future projects: "Heat Vision" reported

this weekend that one dimensional, blank, frigid and highly unappealing Eva Green has been offered a role in 300: BATTLE OF ARTEMISIA, the prequel to the legendary Spartan epic with Gerard Butler. She will apparently play Artemisia, a wicked goddess who persuades Xerxes to assemble his army and lead them into battle against the Greeks. I really hope it doesn't happen, since the casting efforts have been horrid so far, especially with the idea to give the lead role to Joel Edgerton, but thankfully that didn't happen. Thus, the role of Greek general Themistokles who will give resistance to Xerxes is still open (do you hear me, Karl Urban and Luke Evans?) .

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

As I've  mentioned a few times before probably the most anticipated trailer this year, the one for Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT should arrive this Tuesday with the premiere of

Steven Spielberg's THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN, although there are some rumors that it might be released online later tonight. It will be an exciting wait :) Some of the lucky ones who managed to see the trailer in top secret, say it presents the characters rather than give action and that it has some huge legendary scenes from the book. However, although the trailer will bring us some joy this Christmas,  we shall have to wait for the film itself more than a year, since THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY premieres December 2012 starring Cate Blachett, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly... Don't forget to check out HOLLYWOOD SPY's extensive spotlight on characters  we shall watch in the film.

 HEARTWARMING TRAILER WEEK

To fight back all of those who had horror blogfests, and who get thrills for dark knights, dragon tattooed loonies and other morbid nonsense, I'm continuing my series of heartwarming trailers in the Christmas week which I've started with SALMON FISHING

IN THE YEMEN this weekend, and will continue with THE HOBBIT and some other trailers this week, but today here's something really dazzling and magical: it's a quite a breathtaking clip for THE FLYING MACHINE, the first film ever to combine 3D, stop -motion animation and live action, united by the stunning music of Frédéric Chopin. The film's live action segment is set in present day London, where career focused single parent (Heather Graham) juggles her professional life with parenting. Overworked and inattentive to the needs of her two children, she has a chance meeting with Lang Lang and his

flying-piano contraption, which prompts her to reevaluate her life and priorities as she's hurled skyward. In a wordless stop-motion segment, we are introduced to young Anna, who is separated from her beloved father because of his work. Heartbroken, she and her cousin attempt to reunite with him by traversing the globe on the flying machine. What began as a short film project celebrating the two-hundredth anniversary of Chopin's birth has blossomed into one of the most dazzling marriages of animation and classical music.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S SPOTLIGHT ON OSCAR SEASON FILMS: "FLOWERS OF WAR" WITH CHRISTIAN BALE AND "ALBERT NOBBS" WITH GLENN CLOSE

The season of Golden Globes, Oscars and other movie awards is just ahead of us, bringing us many great dramas with terrific performances, and today you can check out a spotlight on two

of the films which might score big at these ceremonies.

THE FLOWERS OF WAR

A movie adaptation of Geling Yan's book 13 FLOWERS OF NANJING, China's candidate for 2012 Oscars THE FLOWERS OF WAR is set in 1937, when Nanking stands at the forefront of a war between China and Japan. As the invading Japanese Imperial Army overruns China’s capital city, desperate civilians seek refuge behind the nominally protective walls of a western cathedral. Here, John Miller (CHRISTIAN BALE), an American trapped amidst the chaos of battle and the ensuing occupation takes shelter, joined

by a group of innocent schoolgirls and thirteen courtesans, equally determined to escape the horrors taking place outside the church walls. Struggling to survive the violence and persecution wrought

by the Japanese army, it is an act of heroism which eventually leads the seemingly disparate group to fight back, risking their lives for the sake of everyone. Through treacherous surroundings and facing unimaginable evil, THE FLOWERS OF WAR, inspired by true life events, manages to tell a genuine story of hope, love and sacrifice. With nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, fate always has a way of bringing the most unlikely heroes together.

 FLOWERS TIDBITS

The film is currently in US cinemas! With the budget of $90 million it is one of China's most expensive films ever. It is directed by famous genius Zhang Yimou best known for his amazing epics HERO, HOUSE OF  FLYING DAGGERS and my personal favourite CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER. It took 164 days, 18 hours a day, to shoot this epic.

ALBERT NOBBS

One of the films which amazed us all with Glenn Close's stunning transformation, is certainly ALBERT NOBBS which might bring the great actress an Oscar she has never, believe it or not,

gotten so far (she was nominated five times, though)! Hitting cinemas next January, this period drama will have legendary Glenn Close in the role of a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men's clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making. Quite a stunning cast also includes young Aaron Johnson, the new count Vronski in ANNA KARENINA, amazing Maria Doyle Kennedy, whose magnificent portrayal of queen Catherine of Aragon in THE TUDORS we still remember, and two ultra talented Irish thespians Brendan Gleeson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

ALBERT NOBBS TIDBITS

The film hits cinemas January 27th. It is interesting that the first two actors to be offered the role in the film were Amanda Seyfried and Orlando Bloom, but after they've backed out, the roles were given to much weaker Aaron Johnson and extremely cold Mia Wasikowska.

TRAILERS FOR "JACK THE GIANT KILLER" WITH NICHOLAS HOULT AND EWAN MCGREGOR & "SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN" WITH EWAN MCGREGOR & EMILY BLUNT! 1ST POSTER FOR "ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER"! REESE WITHERSPOON IN "DEVIL'S KNOT"

I'm sure that you will rejoice when I tell you that we are having an Ewan McGregor day today at HOLLYWOOD SPY :) By some strange coincidence he is having two trailers for his new films

released this weekend. The first one is for one of next summer's most exciting fantasy epics JACK THE GIANT KILLER. Premiering next June it is directed by Bryan Singer (USUAL SUSPECTS, X MEN) and stars young Nicholas Hoult in the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend and gets the chance to become a legend himself. Ewan McGregor plays the head of the Royal Guard, and the cast also includes three smashing gents Ian McShane, Stanley Tucci and Bill Nighy. 

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

One of the brand new posters released today is for Timur Bekmambetov's horror flick ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER. Produced by Tim Burton, and hitting

theaters next June, the film follows the infamous American president who leads the state by day and hunt vampires by night. This silly business stars young Benjamin Walker in the lead role (he is mostly known as Meryl Streep's future son in law), Anthony Mackie, Dominic Cooper and Rufus Sewell, or as we call him RufRuf, as his vampire nemesis. Deadline reports that Reese Witherspoon has joined DEVIL'S KNOT a drama in which she will play Pam Hobbs, the mother of a West Memphis 3 murder victim, who initially believes the trio committed the crime, but eventually is persuaded that they are innocent. Unusual choice for the romcom star.

The second Ewan McGregor's trailer for today is equally charming and promotes SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN which will open in cinemas next March also starring mesmerizing Emily Blunt. Directed by one of the most heartwarming directors ever Lasse Hallstrom (CHOCOLAT, AN UNFINISHED LIFE, DEAR

JOHN) the film follows Dr. Alfred Jones, a henpecked, slightly pompous middle-aged scientist at the National Centre for Fisheries Excellence in London, who is approached by a mysterious sheik about an outlandish plan to introduce the sport of salmon fishing into the Yemen. Dr. Jones refuses, but the project, however

scientifically absurd, catches the eye of British politicians, who pressure him to work on it. His diaries of the Yemen Salmon Project, from beginning to glorious, tragic end, form the narrative backbone of this novel; interspersed throughout are government memos, e-mails, letters, and interview transcripts that deftly capture the absurdity of bureaucratic dysfunction.

And, please, don't forget to vote for HOLLYWOOD SPY in Movie411BlogAwards, especially in Gold Blog category (it's at the bottom of the voting page), don't let me lose, dear people :) The voting closes this Sunday.

NEW TRAILER FOR EWAN MCGREGOR'S "PERFECT SENSE"! SAOIRSE RONAN GOES WW2 IN "HOW I LIVE NOW"! SCARY JACKAL FROM VIN DIESEL'S "RIDDICK"! REMAKE OF "BONNIE AND CLYDE" HAS ITS CAST

Young Irish star Saoirse Ronan didn't get a role in THE HOBBIT, but she keeps getting some other ones. Beside playing the lead

in Andrew Niccol's sf film THE HOST as a girl whose soul is invaded by an alien, giving her voice in animated flick JUSTIN AND THE KNIGHT OF VALOUR, and playing a vampire in Neil Jordan's BYZANTIUM, she will now also star in HOW I LIVE NOW. As "Variety" reports she will portray Daisy, a teenage girl from New York City who travels to England to spend the summer with family in the English countryside. When World War II breaks out and insurgents invade, Daisy and a younger girl named Piper must survive alone in the woods as they try to make it to safety. The film will be based on a novel by Meg Rosoff.

HOLLYWOOD SPY HEADLINES

According to "Variety" yet another film to get its remake is THE STORY OF BONNIE AND CLYDE, with young and hot

Sean Faris (LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES) and Lindsay Pulsipher (TRUE BLOOD) taking the roles originally played by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. The new film aims to explore many aspects of the lives of the Depression era bank robbers that have never been seen on the big screen before. As you've probably noticed financial crises is all around us, and Hollywood isn't immune to it either. Many projects are suffering cutbacks in their budgets or are being put on hold (ARTHUR & LANCELOT epic and sf AKIRA are the latest to be postponed) and Vin Diesel's RIDDICK is also having similar problems. He is really straining his muscles to find enough financing for the third part in his famous sf saga which

will again star Karl Urban and himself, and he keeps releasing concept art pics in order to raise the interest. The latest one is a really scary concept art of the jackal, one of the beasts Riddick will have to fight against.

After yesterday's trailermania, the only new clip I have for you today is the second trailer for unusual apocalyptic romantic

drama and thriller, everything in the mix, PERFECT SENSE in which brilliant Ewan McGregor is, unfortunately, matched with always one-dimensional Eva Green in the story about two strangers who form a desperate romantic connection and fall in love with each other while their city is facing an apocalyptic epidemic of sensory loss in which people lose sight, smell, hearing... one by one. Will they lose love too, without their senses? The film is directed by David Mackenzie who worked previously with Ewan on YOUNG ADAM, a film mostly remembered for Ewan sporting his naked willy in at least half of the scenes :)

TRAILERS FOR 2ND SEASON OF "GAME OF THRONES", "G.I. JOE 2: RETALIATION" WITH DWAYNE JOHNSON, BRUCE WILLIS, CHANNING TATUM & "ROCK OF AGES" MUSICAL WITH CATHERINE ZETA JONES & TOM CRUISE

I guess we shall have a trailer day today, since I have three brand new clips to show you. The Cold Winds Are Rising, that's the title of the fresh new trailer that HBO has aired this weekend for the

anxiously awaited second season of their super popular epic series GAME OF THRONES which should be broadcast next April in ten episodes. Beside the old characters from the Stark family

members, John Snow, khaleesi Daenerys and Cersei Lannister the new trailer introduces Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dilliane), the brother of the late King Robert (Mark Addy) who announces the

fight for the Iron Throne in a very dramatic way. The second season has just finished its 140 days shoot in Ireland and part of it was shot at Croatian seaside as well.

 G.I. JOE 2: RETALIATION

The second one is a super exciting trailer for upcoming adventure action G.I. JOE 2: RETALIATION. To hit cinemas in the middle of next year's summer season in July, the film will bring back

Channing Tatum from the successful first film alongside two action stars Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis, but this time, the film is not directed by marvelous Stephen Sommers but by Jon M. Chu and I guess it's not a good sign that he only directed musical films before like STEP UP 2 and 3, and Justin Bieber's NEVER SAY NEVER :)  But when it comes to the story, in the sequel, the G.I. Joe team faces off against Zartan, his accomplices, and the world leaders he has under his influence. Channing plays Captain Duke again, Ray Park is Snake Eyes, Adrianne Palicki is Lady Jaye, Arnold Vosloo is Zartan, Dwayne is Roadblock, while Willis appears as Joe Colton, the original G.I. Joe.

 ROCK OF AGES

The third freshly released trailer is for next year's musical ROCK OF AGES and judging from the clip, it's something I will definitely

skip, although I did love Catherine Zeta Jones in it.  Playing a charming villain, she appears in the film next to Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Mary J. Blige, Will Forte, and two young faces Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta in the story  which revolves around two people who meet at the Sunset Strip club ROCK OF AGES, fall in love and try to stay together amid '80s rock anthems. This also means that the film will be filled with famous rock songs from the 80's. If your ears can handle that music, and if your eyes can handle Tom Cruise rocking with a wig on his head :) The film hits cinemas next June.

And, please, don't forget to visit Movie411BlogAwards to vote for your HOLLYWOOD SPY in Gold Blog (bottom of the page) and Gossip Blog (in the middle) categories :) You know me loves you :) And vote for our dear Mel in the Sexy category too :)

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON STARZ' "SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE" EPIC SHOW WITH LIAM MCINTYRE AND LUCY LAWLESS

Are you excited, are you excited? :) The premiere of the second season of one of the most popular epic TV shows SPARTACUS:

VENGEANCE is just around the corner, ready to air at Starz on January 27th. After SPARTACUS BLOOD AND SAND, which has already become a cult show bringing revolutionary visual changes to television programmes, and the dramatic prequel SPARTACUS GODS OF ARENA, all is set for young Liam McIntyre to take over the lead role and shine in VENGEANCE. Check out the exciting clip bellow which presents the first three opening minutes of the first episode. Throughout the post you can also check out beautiful character pictures and posters for the exciting new season!

STORY OF VENGEANCE

On the heels of the bloody escape from the House of Batiatus that concluded SPARTACUS BLOOD AND SAND, the gladiator rebellion continues and begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic in SPARTACUS VENGEANCE. Gaius Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker) and his Roman troops are sent to Capua

to crush the growing band of freed slaves that Spartacus (Liam McIntyre) leads before it can inflict further damage. Spartacus is presented the choice of satisfying his personal need for vengeance against the man that condemned his wife to slavery and eventual death or making the larger sacrifices necessary to keep his budding army from breaking apart.

Containing all of the blood-soaked action, exotic sexuality, and villainy and heroism that has come to distinguish the series, the tale of Spartacus resumes in epic fashion at the beginning of 2012.

SPARTACUS TIDBITS

The second season will have ten episodes like the first one. Beside Liam McIntyre, who is replacing Andy Withfield, who died earlier this summer from cancer, and Craig Parker, one of New Zealand's best actors whom we also watched in LORD OF THERINGS

as the Elven general and in LEGEND OF THE SEEKER as Darken Rahl, the second season also brings back brilliant and spectacular Lucy Lawless as ambitious Lucretia, who has managed to survive the shocking bloodbath finale in the ludus in which she lost her husband and her baby, so now she is seeking revenge, not only from Spartacus and her lover Crixus who tried to kill her, but also

from Glaber's flimsy wife Ilithyia (Viva Bianca) who had left her locked in the House of Batiatus to die. Dustin Clare returns as Gannicus after his successful lead role in GODS OF ARENA, Peter Mensah returns as Oenomaus, Manu Bennett as Crixus trying to find his beloved Naevia, Daniel Feuerriegel as Agron, Nick Tarabay as Ashur, Katrina Law as Mira who is still faithful to

Spartacus. Liam has apparently gained 20 kilos in muscle in preparations for the role. Aidan Turner, Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller were all in the run for the lead role. The third season has already been ordered by Starz even before the start of the second season next year. This is their first original show to survive and get its second season.