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Doctor Strange seems to the one project in active development that Marvel isn’t willing to talk about. This year’s Comic-Con was thought to be the place where Marvel would announce the actual release date and star of the film. As we all saw, not a drop of information was revealed about the project. Despite not knowing anything about the inner workings of the production, it’s always fun to speculate who Marvel might want to play their Sorcerer Supreme. Below you’ll find a list of possible actors that I think would be more than suitable candidates for the role.

Jon Hamm

So, I have a bit of a man-crush on Jon Hamm. It’s kind of hard not to. Just look at that twinkle in his eye. Thankfully, the man can back up the good looks with his enormous talent. Finding immediate success as Don Draper in AMC’s Mad Men, Hamm is able to serenade an audience with his inspiring, and sometimes devious speeches on the hit show.

Superheroes and Hamm aren’t unfamiliar territories that have been explored before. The Mad Men star was a fan favorite to portray Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, a role that inevitably went to Henry Cavill. Despite his success with Mad Men, Hamm has struggled finding a strong vehicle to propel him to the big screen. Playing Doctor Strange would not only be the perfect way for him to kick off a film career, but it also gives him the chance of broadening his appeal among young filmgoers who might not be familiar with his work on television. Plus, have you seen that mug of his? Imagine that face with a moustache. Helllllooooo, nurse!

Mads Mikkelsen

Originally cast to play Marvel footnote Malekith in Thor: The Dark World, Danish actor Mad Mikkelsen wisely dropped out of the production in order to portray the iconic role of Hannibal Lecter in NBC’s Hannibal. Hannibal, easily one of the most critically underrated shows on television, not only showcases Mikkelsen’s obvious talent, but his ability to inhabit a character that is so eerily calm and unknowable. If that doesn’t describe Doctor Strange then I don’t know what does. Outside of Mikkelsen’s television work, he’s most recognized by American audiences for his villainous performance as Le Chiffre in Casino Royale.

If given the opportunity, I think Mikkelsen could do wonders playing a superhero immersed in a world of sorcery and incantations. It’s also worth noting he seems to be pretty familiar with ritual human sacrifices. I figure playing a character that summons demons and spirits isn’t much of a stretch for him given his taste for playing unsavory characters with a love of theatrics.

Liam Neeson

The man who only needs to look at you to scare you, Liam Neeson is probably one of the few 60+ year olds that could kick your ass and look real cool doing it. Before he became the most unlikely action-star in years, the Irish born actor had a very successful career that went as far back as the 1970s. With critically acclaimed movies like The Mission, Schindler’s List and Gangs of New York on his resume, Neeson has continuously proved he is one of the best actors of his generation.

As many comic book fans know, Neeson is no stranger to superhero movies. Having portrayed master anarchist Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises, it would be fun to see him play a heroic character in a comic book adaptation. Watching him snap a demon’s neck with one hand while hurling balls of fire with the other would be pretty cool too.

Jack Huston

Already the most recent actor to be name dropped as a possibility to take on the role of the Sorcerer Supreme, Jack Huston is an actor that can deliver an extremely dark and heartfelt performance all in one scene. Fans of Boardwalk Empire are very familiar with Huston’s role as the morally-conflicted and physically deformed hitman, Richard Harrow. Already appearing in films like American Hustle and Kill Your Darlings, the 31-year-old is an actor that needs to be the leading man in a film.

The mysterious interwebs have whispered that Huston was initially considered for the role of Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy, the character that eventually went to Chris Pratt. If Huston has already been in communication with Marvel before, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the rumored talks of possibly taking on the part of Marvel’s resident sorcerer are true.

Daniel Brühl

Even if you’re not familiar with the name, you’ve probably seen a number of his films. German actor Daniel Brühl first gained recognition for his portrayl of a Nazi “war hero” in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds. Eventually gaining wide-spread recognition in Rush, a film in which he co-starred alongside Chris Hemsworth, Brühl was considered an early contender for an Academy Award for his role in the movie. While he did not receive a nomination, Brühl went on to star in The Fifth Estate and A Most Wanted Man.

Driven, talented and a love of playing emotionally troubled characters, Brühl can deliver audiences not only a charismatic Doctor Strange, but a Stephen Strange that has undergone enormous physical and psychological trauma. Even if Brühl’s chances of nabbing the part of Strange are a longshot, he deserves a mention on this list nonetheless. Although, I imagine knowing the God of Thunder doesn’t hurt his chances either.

What about you, true believer? Who do you want to see cloaked in the crimson cape of Doctor Strange? Let us know in the comments below!

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Diplomacy is the half century old game of being excessively cruel to other people in your living room, and there was no way the Die Cast crew was going to pass up that experience. On this week’s show, Jacob, Daniel, Tyler and Paul recount one of the best days of gaming they’ve ever experienced, a full eight hours of threats, showdowns, and friendships nearly ruined. Yes, this is Diplomacy!

Plus, listen as the crew talks about what they’ve been playing and the monetary risks of collecting that beautiful/evil X-Wing miniatures games. Double plus: Tyler pitches the crew Kickstarter projects in his new “Tyler’s Kickstarter Corner” segment, which is really just an excuse to be mean to Tyler.

Want to buy your own copy? Please do so by clicking the image and using our Amazon links!

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The Alien series has been one of those mishandled franchises that has been continuously kicked around and abused for decades. Still, hope rises anew, even in the face of great adversity and scorn. Though the chance to see sequels to the films seems more or less dead, especially after the critically panned Prometheus, the multi-mouthed monstrosity is looking to make itself a major player in the world of video games with the highly anticipated first person horror game, Alien: Isolation.

Brought to life by veteran game developer Creative Assembly, well known to PC gamers for their multiple iterations in the Total War series, Isolation is being promoted as a pure survival horror experience.

Right off the bat, this is not in any way shape or form related to the universally detested Aliens: Colonial Marines. No, Alien: Isolation has in fact been in development much longer than Gearbox’s failed first person shooter.

Taking place 15 years after the events of Ridley Scott’s Alien, Isolation follows Amanda Ripley, who is investigating the unexplained disappearance of her mother, Ellen Ripley, and the destruction of the Nostromo. Learning that the Nostromo’s flight recorder was discovered, Amanda travels with a small crew to a massive space station called Sevastopol, where the recorder is being kept. Unbeknownst to her and the crew she is traveling with; an Alien is aboard the station and has been methodically killing off the inhabitants.

As previously stated, Isolation is being sold as a survival horror game with a big emphasis on the survival. Don’t go in thinking you’ll be picking up a pulse rifle with a plasma grenade attachment. While most video games have featured multiple Aliens, Isolation has only one. This Alien, much like the one seen in the original film, is not there to soak up gunfire like the ones in explosion heavy sequel. No, the Alien cannot be killed by the player. In order to avoid the creature, which actively hunts you throughout the campaign by learning your gameplay behavior, the implementation of stealth tactics and distractions are absolutely necessary to survive.

Outside of the Alien itself, players will come across the remaining survivors of the space station who have formed small bandit-like groups in order to survive the Alien’s ferocious appetite for death and dismemberment. Perhaps even more terrifying than then Alien and roving bands of marauders are the bright eye synthetics that stalk the halls. Much like the Alien, the androids are actively hunting anyone left on the station. If there pale ill-fitting skin isn’t creepy enough, one long stare into their lidless eyes will make anyone want to encounter the 7-foot tall monster that prowls the air ducts.

Isolation’s choice to return to the franchise horror roots is being embraced as a welcomed one. The game’s environments are obviously reminiscent of the first film, and even the technology and equipment seen in the 1979 looks as if it was perfectly recreated in the game. Motion tracker? Check. Flamethrower? Check. Bobbing water bird? Check. That’s pretty much all you need to survive against a monster with giant penis head, right?

Even with all the glowing previews from critics and lucky gamers able to get their hands on the hotly anticipated game, the Internet seems to have already deemed Alien: Isolation an inevitable failure. Why? Well, because Aliens: Colonial Marines, which was made by a completely different studio, was bad. Oh, yes. The Internet, known for its invaluable insight, can never be wrong once it delivers its loud, whiny message to the masses. Look, a healthy amount of skepticism is never a bad thing, but to be so opinionated about something you haven’t played or seen is just so ridiculously stupid. Look, we’ve all made statements about movies and games before we ever watched or played them. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of it in the past many times, but with such good word of mouth, and a plethora of previews and interviews with the developers of the game, Alien: Isolation is looking to be one of the best games of 2014.

As of right now, I’m eagerly anticipating Isolation’s release, and implore the OneOfUs.net community to at least watch some of the truly heart pumping demos available online. Alien: Isolation will be released on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on October 7.

What about you reader? Does Alien: Isolation look like the Alien game you’ve always wanted? Let us know in the comments below!

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Tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw saw an incredibly bloated segment focusing on the schism between Nikki and Brie Bella. Viewers also saw the continued escalation between current champion Paige and recently dethroned champ and now number one contender, AJ Lee.

The fan reaction during the latter was some of the louder cheering we’ve heard from the WWE Universe during a Women’s segment in a while. The “Divas Suck” chant during the former really illuminates what the fans think about current booking of the women’s division.

For the past eight or nine years, the WWE has been littered with a bunch of women who don’t really care about professional wrestling and only seek to use the company as a springboard to acting or modeling careers. The few women who HAVE cared about wrestling and about their company (ex. AJ Lee, Paige, Emma, Tamina Snuka, Natalya, Naomi) have had to work twice as hard because of they had to carry mediocre in-ring opponents and three times harder than that just to get noticed because they haven’t, as AJ Lee so eloquently put it, “sucked up to the right people.”

Then you have the Bella twins. The majority of the audience has been lethargic since this angle began and doesn’t show any sign of changing. It’s no secret that the Bellas are in a protected position, with Brie marrying Daniel Bryan recently and Nikki dating John Cena. It’s argued that had it not been for that, they may have been part of the purge that saw nearly twenty superstars released from contracts earlier this year.

Though Vince McMahon, Triple H and company have never been the best when it comes to tapping into the zeitgeist of the modern era, even they have to be getting the hint. The WWE fans no longer want failed lingerie models for eye candy. They don’t want Divas, they want women’s wrestlers. Do you also feel the same way?

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Greetings everybody, and welcome back to Big Finishing Move. For any of you not in the know, this is the little section of One Of Us where I get to take a look at the auditory offerings from Big Finish and give the people my two cents as to whether or not they are worth your investment. Today we are looking at the Season Three finale of the Fourth Doctor Adventures as Scarfy and Savage (I love calling them that) go on a Zygon Hunt.

TARDIS Team: Scarfy and Savage *ahem* I mean, the Fourth Doctor and Leela

The Doctor and Leela hit up the planet Garros, a planet with an ancient jungle and supposedly no large fauna. To the Doctor and Leela’s surprise, they find large creatures, as well as a bunch of yahoos with guns out who kill them for sport. Said yahoos are part of an order of knights who protect Earth. They include Earth Forces Knight Commander-in-Chief Greg Saraton, a man behind a majority of Earth’s defenses including the codes for the defense grid protecting the planet itself. Captured by the order, the Doctor and Leela get caught up in a Earth invasion scheme by the Doctor’s most phallic foes (don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about), the shape-changing Zygons.

One of the things I really enjoyed was Leela’s disgust at the Knights’ brand of “blast everything for no greater purpose than inflating your ego” hunting.” As a huntress, she lives by an ethical code in her hunting. She lives with the land and while not entirely against sport hunting, she sees it fit only when her prey has a good chance of ripping her face off and eating it. She kills to feed, clothe, protect, and on rare occasion to test her mettle. She does not kill to get her jollies and takes great offense at those like the Knights who do. I’m not what you call an outdoorsman, but I have been both hunting and fishing and reaped the benefits of both on my dinner plate. I was taught a respect for the land and its animals and the importance of conservation and I’m happy to hear those values championed in Who.

While I did enjoy the story, it does suffer one major flaw. The Doctor and Leela don’t really do much in this story. One could argue that the story may well have resolved itself without the Doctor showing up at all. I don’t mean to suggest that the Doctor has be the center of every story. In fact, some of the best tales in the franchise have him more in the background. This time, however, his presence (or lack thereof) usually remains vital to the plot.

I’ve sung the praises of Baker and Jameson an bunch of times during the course of this season and their work once again lives up to the high standard they have set for themselves. Special props should also be given to Michael Maloney as Saraton, he really seemed to nail the right vibe of the special kind of overacting actors from the Fourth Doctor’s era were known for.

I’m so happy this season ended on an acceptable note. The middle of the season did struggle, but the season opened and finished fairly strong making this the best season of the Fourth Doctor Adventures to date. Zygon Hunt on its own works well enough on its own, to fully appreciate it though you will need to go back and listen to the previous episodes of the season if you haven’t picked them up already. Here’s to you Nicholas Briggs, you not only brought this season home but you’ve delivered the best season for the Fourth Doctor you’ve ever done. I’ll be expecting even better from you next season.

Purchase Doctor Who: Zygon Hunt Here:

Do note gentle readers, we here at at the good ol’ One of Us have our own audio drama series by the name of Infinite Variations and we are also home to Jason Neulander’s new spin-off series from The Intergalactic Nemesis entitled Salt. Go get yourself some glorious audio goodness!

For next time, it looks like we are going to get our Doctor Who with a splash of Tron in:

Until then, happy listening!

Check out my previous reviews:

Phantasmagoria

The Fearmonger

The Light At The End

The Spectre of Lanyon Moor

Storm Warning

Blood of the Daleks

The Chimes of Midnight

The Last Of The Colophon

The Council Of Nicaea

Destroy The Infinite

The Afterlife

The Abandoned

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This week we celebrate the return of Ashley from darkest Africa and hope she didn’t bring Ebola back with her.

Those of us who haven’t already chime in about Guardians of the Galaxy, the film Calvary, the Fest of Us celebrations, and a whole stack of new recommended comics for you to check out!

If you have a few extra dimes to spare, please help us help a fan in need. Thank you!

We all know that Star Wars Episode VII will be general audiences’ first chance to see what the franchise’s live action future will be. There’s plenty of excitement, nervousness and skepticism in the air. However, Star Wars fans might be able to slightly alleviate, or confirm their fears upon viewing Disney’s first foray into a galaxy far, far away: the animated series, Star Wars Rebels.

Taking place several years before the events of A New Hope, Rebels follows a small rag-tag team of mercenaries, and their adventures working with the newly formed Rebel Alliance.

Led by a rogue Jedi Knight named Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prinze Jr.), the team is comprised of a number of characters with their own unique quirks and personalities. Following Jarrus and his Imperial hating ways is the teenage thief, Ezra (Taylor Gray), who’s coming to grips with the fact that he can use the Force; Sabine (Tiya Sircar), a Mandalorian warrior with a love of explosives and graffiti art; Hera (Vanessa Marshall), the pilot and owner of the Ghost, the team’s personal starship; Zeb (Steve Blum), the group’s Chewbacca-like muscle; and Chopper, a moody astromech droid tasked with the responsibility of repairing the Ghost.

With a cast of fun-loving heroes, a suitably detestable villain is needed. Trained by Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader to eliminate “terrorists” and force sensitive individuals, the pale skinned Inquisitor (Jason Issacs) seems more than up for the task. Equipped with a double-bladed lightsaber, the Inquisitor seems to especially relish hunting down Jedi and instilling fear into his opponents.

Coming from the same animation team that created The Clone Wars, Rebels seems to not only be striving to capture the look and tone of the original 1977 film, but the iconic artwork of conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie. Gone are the chrome plated starships and cities seen in the prequels. In their place are the dirty and battle worn starships and technology fans of Star Wars might glimpse in The Empire Strikes Back. Even the clothes and armor adorned on the characters bodies has a worn look to it.

With the show’s look grounded very much in the original films, it comes as no surprise to hear a number of familiar sounds too. It’s almost a shock to hear the sound of a TIE Fighter screaming across the sky overhead. It’s a noise that many people haven’t heard in a Star Wars movie in quite a long time. While the oddly shaped starfighter is meant to instill fear into those that see it bearing down on them, the iconic wail probably instills warm memories for viewers of the animated series. The Imperial speeder bikes also make an appearance in the show, and much like the TIE Fighters, make the exact same noise as they did nearly 32 years ago in Return of the Jedi.

Even with all these positive signs and familiarities, there are still concerns coming from Star Wars fans. As stated before, it should be noted that Rebels is coming from the same team that created The Clone Wars. Originally premiering in theatres with a full length film, the series was often criticized for its look and writing early in its six season run. Still, six seasons offers plenty of time for improvement, and the series did eventually get better. The Clone Wars was not only able to present a number of well written storylines, but a number of fairly dark ones as well. Anyone still questioning the show’s writers at telling a dramatic story must watch the first five episodes of Season 6.

First impressions are so important, especially to thousands, if not millions of bitter Star Wars fans who have had to endure the prequels and their spin-offs for over a decade. Disney has the monumental task of methodically repairing damage to a beloved franchise that has undergone unwanted revisions and ret-cons. It’s a difficult and extremely profitable position to be in. I, and many others, am hopeful that their first steps into this franchise will be respectful ones. Let’s just hope the Mouse knows what he’s doing.

What about you reader? Are you excited for Star Wars Rebels? What are your concerns for the show? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Greatest Robots Ever! Old School Video Game Skills! The Library is People! Tap X to Public Axis with guest Bryan Powell!

Recorded at the Pubic Axis F-Stop on August 21st, 2014.

00:00 Welcome to the F-Stop! This week, we welcome back comedian and gentleman extraordinaire Bryan Powell to the F-Stop! He’s a kind man who gives good gifts, rides motorcycles and watches True Blood with his mom. We also get down on some serious snacks from Australia and New Zealand -courtesy of Regan’s recent travels.

24:29 Yeah, Imma Look Into Dat! Topic #1: What/who is the greatest robot that was ever made? (Inspired by film, Automata, starring Antonio Banderas and directed by Gabe Ibáñez.)

45:14 Dad’s Corner(ed)! Topic #2: What was the first video game you were good at? (Larry’s kids have recently been introduced to Mario Kart and love it.)

1:05:57 Hey, That’s Not Funny! Topic #3: When’s the last time you went to the library? Do you think they’re truly useful? What’s the last thing you checked out? (Inspired by an article on the usefulness of the public library.)

1:26:58 What Did We Come to Know? Public Axis is an educational program and at the end, we always ask our guests and listeners, “What did you come to know?” Enlighten yourself.

Again, thanks for listening! As always, be sure to check out BLOOD COUSINS, our first feature film! It is waiting for you at bloodcousinsmovie.com! A movie of comedy, terror and revenge – a MUST SEE for fans of this show! Use the promo code FIESTATUBE and score it for $5!

Let your friends know about Public Axis on Facebook and Twitter and keep those Facebook comments coming at our Happy Campers group!

If you have a few extra dimes to spare, please help us help a fan in need. Thank you!

What’s the one thing you hate most while watching a movie in a theatre? Screaming children? Your fellow movie watchers’ incessant chatter? The guy who insists on placing his bare feet over the seat next to you? There’s a cornucopia of bad movie behaviors to choose from.

After much thought, my personal pet peeve is people texting during the movie. That’s why I’ll most likely never want to see a movie in China where cities are now implementing “bullet screens” into their theatres. Well, that and I’m not going to China any time soon.

Bullet screens allow audiences to send text messages on a film while sitting in the theatre. The problem? The messages are projected on the screen. Apparently, Chinese theatres that are using bullet screens are attempting to attract the country’s large mobile device using audience. Mobile devices are the most popular platforms to watch films on in China. With bullet screens, theaters are hoping to create a large scale social media experience that gives audiences a way to express themselves freely while watching a movie. The reaction to bullet screens has been mixed, but that hasn’t stopped Chinese movie theatre chains in Beijing and Shanghai from implementing the screens for select films.

After the reemergence of 3D with Avatar, it is possible that bullet screens could make their way to the United States and become the latest film watching gimmick? I sure as hell hope not.

Can you imagine watching this year’s Captain America: The Winter Solider, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes or Guardians of the Galaxy and seeing the word “fart” continuously scroll across the screen a hundred times? It would be a nightmare that I would never want anyone to experience. It would definitely make me never want to see a movie in a theatre again. Not only would you see the annoying chatter of some idiot sitting five seats above you, but your eyes will be greeted to a few dozen flashing screens of every person in the theatre.

Now, while trying to enjoy a good movie could be extremely frustrating with bullet screens, is it possible that these screens can improve a particularly terrible film? Honestly, I think it’s something worth trying. Mocking a bad movie through texting and social media isn’t unusual. How many times have we ripped apart a film in less than 140 characters?

This summer movie season, while strong, had a few stinkers sprinkled in with the more critically acclaimed blockbusters. A few laughs with bullets screen could be had at the expense of Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age of Extinction and the guy whose name I don’t particularly feel compelled to look up who made Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Still, this would require people actually putting thought into their text messages. I imagine we’ll get several guys who think “penis” is an apt way to describe what is happening on screen before we get a criticism with a little wit behind it. This technology could possibly be used well in the hands of professional movie mockers like Rifftrax and Master Pancake Theatre. With years of experience mocking movies, it wouldn’t surprise me that they could do something with bullet screens to earn a few earnest laughs.

What about you reader? Are bullet screens the way of future? What are your biggest movie pet peeves? Let us know in the comments below.

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We have a massive episode for you folks this with over 2 hours of movie reviews from the past few months, including Snowpiercer, 22 Jump Street and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes!

But Taylor, Chris and Kaycee can’t do it alone so they’re enlisting the help of G@C alums Neil, Steven and Ryan to give you their thoughts on all the biggest summer films.

Enjoy! Empty Space

If you have a few extra dimes to spare, please help us help a fan in need. Thank you!

Five (More) Actors Who Could Play Doctor Strange

The Die Cast: The Art of Diplomacy

Want to buy your own copy? Please do so by clicking the image and using our Amazon links!

Could ‘Alien: Isolation’ Be the Rebirth of a Horror Icon?

SMARK COUNTRY: Diva, The Other Four Letter Word

Big Finishing Move: ‘Doctor Who: Zygon Hunt’

THEOG Episode 21: Ash vs the Evil Gentlemen

Why ‘Star Wars Rebels’ is a Sign of Good Things to Come

Public Axis #88: Bryan Powell

Geeks@College Episode 104: Summer Movie Catch Up