We held off on releasing the group image of the cast from the upcoming X-Men: First Class last week, as we weren’t too sure of it’s authenticity. As it turns out, we were right. The image from last week, showing off everyone from January Jones as Emma Frost to James McAvoy as Professor Xavier, was a complete hoax by a fan. Which is good, considering that it looked pretty awful.

Now, probably in retaliation to last week’s bogus image, Fox has released three brand new images and a poster for the upcoming film, all totally legitimate.

In the images you can check out after the jump, we get a first look at both McAvoy as Professor X playing chess with Michael Fassbender’s Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto. Also we’ve got a very 60′s looking January Jones and Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw and the very first image of the titular Class.

Check out all of these new images after the jump, along with the brand new poster, and expect to see the first trailer for the film soon, as its currently in it’s post-production phase.

The film is set to hit theaters on June 3rd.

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Ever since the first footage of the film crept it’s way through the tubes of the internets, fanboys everywhere have been clammoring for more of James Gunn’s upcoming super hero comedy Super, and it looks like we’re finally going to have a date to drool over.

In keeping with his constant fan service, Gunn gave us the scoop on his official blog, as well as reaching out for people to request the film in their towns.

It’s true: SUPER will be opening on April 1st, 2011.  That first week we will be in only Los Angeles and New York.  However, on the following week, April 8, 2011, we will be in fifteen to twenty of the twenty-five biggest markets in the United States.  Around that same time, we will also be available on VOD.  And, after that, only God knows – perhaps more cities, perhaps not.  It depends a lot on what you guys demand and want.

There you have it. And yes, if you live in a small town and want to see Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, Nathan Fillion, and Michael Rooker in this hilariously violent super hero comedy, be sure to keep an eye out and demand that it comes to you as soon as you can.

Mum has been the word as to the look of James Gunn’s upcoming superhero comedy Super starring Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page. We know what a few of the costumes look like, and we know who is in the flick. But as to the tone and visual style, we haven’t gotten many clues. Until Now.

Just about one week after the deal was struck for IFC Films to purchase distribution rights for the film, the very first clip has surfaced showing off both Wilson and Page in their full superhero garb, and it looks pretty cool.

The clip may not be 100% SFW due to language, but it’s surely 100% hilarious. The premise is a bit simple. After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills. Include a psychotic sidekick (Ellen Page) and you’ve got the full scope.

Check out the first clip from the film after the jump, and be sure to keep your eyes open as we see more from the film and even get a release date from IFC Film’s Midnight banner head.

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In what Deadline is describing as a “major deal’ IFC Films has picked up the rights to James Gunn’s latest film Super. The deal happened late last night during the currently running Toronto Film Festival and is reportedly of the seven figure variety.

In the film, Rainn Wilson plays Frank, a man who’s wife (Liv Tyler) leaves him for a seductive drug dealer (Kevin Bacon). Because of this, Frank decides to don the guise of a superhero called Crimson Bolt to wreak havoc on villains everywhere.

With his trusty sidekick Boltie (Ellen Page) Frank takes to the streets to stop evil doers and in the process tries to regain his self-respect and the affections of his wife. Plus, he uses his plumber’s wrench to good effect and crushes a few bad guys skulls in the process.

No word yet on IFC’s release plans for the film but we’ll bring it to you when we know. In the meantime, for more info on this deal check out the full press release from IFC after the jump.

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Following tons of casting and recasting news, X-Men: First Class producer Bryan Singer contacted AICN and revealed tons of juicy tidbits about the highly anticipated film. Of course, we’re going to share them with you right here to save you the trouble of clicking that link.

The film will take place in the fitting time of the 1960′s, with civil rights being of high concern at the time and the obvious parallels between the racial and mutant struggles. In addition, Singer implied that Vaughn will also be utilizing James Bond type technology from that era in the film.

X-Men: First Class will follow the young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Eric Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender)as they plan the futures of mutant kind.  Xavier will not be in a wheelchair in the beginning of the film, but we will witness him losing the use of his legs.

The antagonists of the film will be the Hellfire Club which will include Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw and January Jones as Emma Frost. On a surprising note, he stated that we will not be seeing Jean Grey or Cyclops. Unsurprisingly, he announced that we can expect tons more casting news in the next couple of days.

Singer also explained that even though the costumes in the film will be more “comic booky” than previous films, the film is shying away from the story written in the comic after which the film is named.

Do you think that it’s the right move to delve deep into little known comic book characters, while not utilizing the pre-existing lore? Can an X-men story exist without Jean Grey and Cyclops?

It’s been quite a week for director Matthew Vaughn and the team on Fox’s upcoming X-Men: First Class. Not only has Oliver Platt joined the cast as the “Man in Black”, but Rose Byrne has also joined the project as Professor Xavier’s Scottish love interest Moira MacTaggert.

But even with the new additions, other changes are also being made to the cast with one actor leaving and another taking her place. What am I talking about? January Jones has been added to the cast and will take the place of Alice Eve as The White Queen, Emma Frost.

While initial reports about Eve signing for the role were legitimate, it turns out the deal was not completely done and January Jones will officially fill the role for Vaughn. Most people know Jones as Betty Francis, the recently divorced wife of Don Draper on AMC’s Mad Men.

Jones has found quite a home for herself back in the 60′s, so it will be interesting to see how she can take on playing a British school teacher. Jones joins an already packed cast consisting of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Till, Zoe Kravitz, and Kevin Bacon.

Principal photography for the film begins in London next week, and we can expect to see more news develop soon as X-Men: First Class makes it’s way to theaters on June 3, 2011.

Director Michael Vaughn (Kickass) is putting all the pieces in place for the upcoming film X-Men: First Class.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, actress Rose Byrne will play Moira Mactaggert, a scientist who specializes in genetic mutation. The X-Men will be younger than we have previously seen them on film.

Byrne has played opposite Glenn Close on the FX series Damages for three seasons. She earned two Emmy nominations for her work on that series.  She also took a comedic turn as a dim-witted British pop-singer  in Get Him To The Greek, with Russell Brand and Jonah Hill.

Byrne will play the love interest of Charles Xavier, played by James McAvoy.  Other cast members include Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon, and Michael Fassbender.

Shooting for X-Men: First Class will begin in late August.  It is tentatively scheduled to be released in the summer of 2011.

With filming set to begin later this month, some of the final pieces of casting for the film X-Men: First Class are falling into place. Joining the recently announced Rose Byrne and Jason Flemyng, Oliver Platt is the newest addition to the start studded cast.

Along with James McAvoy as Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Alice Eve as Emma Frost, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, Lucas Till as Havoc, Edi Gathegi as Darwin, Kevin Bacon as the villain, Jason Flemyng as Azazel and Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, we now have Oliver Platt joining as “The Man in Black”.

Like Kevin Bacon before him, Oliver Platt’s character has yet to be described fully.  So far the only information being released is that Platt will not be playing a mutant character.

Even though I feel that I’m versed in the world of geekdom and comics, I’m not sure who this “Man in Black” character could  be. If he was a mutant, many names come to mind ranging from Black Tom Cassidy to the Black Rook of the Hellfire Club. The moniker may just be a blanket government agent title.

There are still some glaring absences in the list of parts that have been cast. If this film is to mirror the comics at all, we are still missing Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel and Iceman.

Who do you think Platt will play? Who do you think will play the remaining major parts?

X-men: First Class will be released in theaters June 3rd 2011.

Welcome to this week’s On the Radar where we delve into all corners of the entertainment, tech and geek Internets for news, views and whatnot that may have escaped our regular coverage this week. Let is know if we missed something interesting. Otherwise, on to the links!

• A fan-made alternate ending to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has surfaced. Michael Bay would love this one.

• Of course there is a real life Kick-Ass, and he prefers to be called “The Viper”.

• Kevin Bacon is allegedly in talks to be the main villain in X-Men: First Class. No word on who he’ll play, we just hope it’s not the same character he played in The Woodsman.

• Just in case you weren’t excited enough for The Expendables, here’s an 8-bit video game to keep you occupied.

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Not many people are fans of “reboot” news these days. Considering things like Real Genius and Laverne & Shirley are getting rebooted, it’s almost a wonder if anything good that can be called a “reboot” is in the works. That brings us to the pending remake of 1984′s Footloose.

Originally set for High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, he ended up backing out just five months before production was set to start over budget constraints and creative differences. Now, according to Variety, things seem to be back on track with the hiring of a new director.

Paramount’s redo of “Footloose” is back on course, with Craig Brewer set to direct the high-profile project from his rewritten script. However, Brewer will have to find a new lead now that Chace Crawford is exiting the project due to scheduling conflicts with the CW’s “Gossip Girl.” Par insiders said Monday that casting will commence immediately. Studio intends for Brewer to begin lensing this summer.

President of production Adam Goodman has stated that he wants a new and edgier remake, which should be what he’ll get by hiring Brewer, who’s previous films include Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan.

This week sees the release of several new movies and TV shows, some for the first time ever on Blu-ray. Of the ones coming out this week, we’re excited for a few of them in particular.

These esteemed examples of entertainment include A Nightmare on Elm Street, Pirate Radio, the debut of Voltron Beast King Golion, the thirteenth season of Dallas, the DVD release of the very funny Defendor and the 15th Anniversary Blu-ray of Apollo 13 (pictured above with Bill Paxton, Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise and Kevin Bacon).

Check them out:

Movies

A Nightmare on Elm Street ~ Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, John Saxon (Blu-ray)

Apollo 13 (15th Anniversary Edition) ~ Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise (Blu-ray)

Creature of Darkness ~ Devon Sawa, Sanoe Lake, Matthew Lawrence (Blu-ray and DVD)

Defendor ~ Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, Sandra Oh, Elias Koteas (DVD)

Final Storm ~ Luke Perry, Lauren Holly (Blu-ray and DVD)

Gone With the Wind (The Scarlett Edition) ~ Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh (Blu-ray)

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The SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild) awards aired on Saturday evening. As far as the actual awards given, it was largely a repeat of last week’s Golden Globes.  However, since Avatar was not nominated in any categories, another film  got to bask in the glow of the evening.

Inglourious Basterds won for best ensemble cast, and Christoph Waltz repeated last week’s Golden Globe win. Other repeat winners included Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Mo’Nique, Michael C. Hall, Julianna Margulies, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon, and Drew Barrymore.

Despite the lack of  suspense, the show seemed quite a bit more lively and more entertaining than last week’s rather restrained Golden Globes. Here are a few highlights.

Sandra Bullock beat out perennial favorite Meryl Streep, and this was a vote by her peers.  She clearly has won the respect of a lot of naysayers this year. She gave an adorable acceptance speech, and was truly funny when she introduced Betty White for her lifetime achievement award.  This is shaping up to be the year of the Sandra.

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