The Man From U.N.C.L.E. may be Warner Brothers’ long-gestating adaptation of the famed spy thriller, but that won’t stop the studio from trying to get it produced. Sure Steven Soderberg may have dropped out of the project – after Matthew Vaughn and David Dobkin were attached – but Guy Ritchie would eventually sign on, saving the project from perpetual gestation. Seemed like a nice fit, after all he directed two hit Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr. for the studio.

Now THR has word that Tom Cruise is in talks to take the lead role that was originally played by Robert Vaughn in the 1960s TV version.

With the music arm of the 2013 edition of SXSW in full swing and sonic force, who better to kick off that inaugural night deep in the heart of Austin, Texas at the House of Vans showcase at Mohawk than Iggy and the Stooges, who have already gained plenty of PR this year, with an album on the way followed by a summer tour. The band threw their hearts full of napalm into the delirious and frenzied crowd a few nights ago, debuting a few songs from their upcoming album Ready To Die, which is the first to feature the lead guitar strains of James Williamson on record since the band’s seminal 1973 release Raw Power, released over 40 years ago this year.

Led by T-N-T [he’s dynamite] lead singer Iggy Pop, who although in his mid-60s, still burns like a white hot, white noise whirling dervish of intensity and sonically apoplectic moxie, had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, which has been his musical wont since he made mincemeat of a microphone and a stage over 45 years ago when The Stooges’ first musical strains were heard in Southern Michigan.

Sound City
Director: Dave Grohl
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe
Cast: Neil Young, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Trent Reznor, Rick Rubin, Mick Fleetwood, Lars Ulrich, John Fogerty, Rick Springfield, Paul McCartney

Directed by Dave Grohl, Sound City focuses on the history of the legendary Van Nuys, CA studio for which it is named — where artists like Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, and countless others created classic records over the past 40 years — and the never-ending fight to preserve the human element of music in a digital world.

Through interviews with legendary musicians and producers, Sound City uncovers the magic within the walls of that studio and culminates with many of those legends creating a new album on the same legendary Neve console that produced so many hits.

Justified
Season 4 Catch-Up
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, and Walton Goggins.
Tuesdays at 10pm; FX Network

With Justified hitting its final stretch of episodes, William takes a look at the latter part of the season to see how the show has come together through the course of its fourth season.

“We just gotta figure out how to get out of Harlan alive.”

Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #2
Story by Roberto Orci & Mike Johnson
Script by Mike Johnson
Art by David Messina
Ink Assist by Marina Castelvetro
Colors by Claudia Scarletgothica
Letters by Chris Mowry
IDW Publishing
Release date: February 20, 2013
Cover price: $3.99

I am super-excited to see Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to 2009’s Star Trek, when it comes to theaters this May. But before we can head into darkness, first we must “countdown.” As with the first film, IDW Publishing is doing a 4-issue prequel comic book miniseries, this time called Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness.

Details about Star Trek Into Darkness have been scarce so far, and ever since the sequel was first announced, fan have been looking for any clues they could find of the appearance of famed Star Trek villain Khan Noonien Singh in the follow-up. The reveal in Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #1 of an existing character who’s new to the rebooted Trek universe fueled the fire of that speculation. Now, with Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #2 we find out a little more about this character and his motivation.