Actress Jessica Alba is best known for playing heroes in such films as Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World, and Machete, as well as the TV series Dark Angel. But she can soon be seen playing a villain for the first time in the new 3D computer animated family film Escape from Planet Earth, which opens in theaters on February 15th. 

In the film, Astronaut Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet called …  Earth. When his straight-laced brother Gary (Rob Corddry), the head of their planet’s mission control, wants to launch a mission to save Scorch, their boss, the no-nonsense Lena (Alba) tries to stop him. Gary then begins a secret mission, along with the help of his family, to save his brother from Earth’s evil General Shanker (William Shatner). However, things are not as they seem, and Lena has been secretly helping Shanker, who she is desperately in love with.  In addition to Alba, Fraser, Corddry, and Shatner, the film boasts an incredible cast of voice talent including Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City: The Movie), Ricky Gervais (TV’s An Idiot Abroad), Craig Robinson (Hot Tub Time Machine), Sofia Vergara (The Three Stooges), Jane Lynch (Wreck-It Ralph), and George Lopez (Rio).

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jessica Alba to discuss her work on Escape from Planet Earth, as well as two of her highly anticipated upcoming films – the Robert Rodriguez directed sequels – Machete Kills, and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. The beautiful actress discussed her new animated movie, why she wanted to make it, how her daughter reacted to seeing the film, playing a villain, poking fun at her own image, working with director Cal Bunker, voice acting, reuniting with Robert Rodriguez on the upcoming sequels, her role in Machete Kills, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Rodriguez and comic book legend Frank Miller’s relationship, Nancy’s larger arc in the new film, and having scenes with both Bruce Willis and Mickey Rourke. 

Later this year, Jessica Alba will star in not one, but two different sequels for director Robert Rodriguez. 

These sequels, Machete Kills and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, are set for nationwide release within just weeks of each other, and even though they're both more than eight months away, Alba is sharing some exclusive insights on the Machete and Sin City follow-ups.

You just can't keep a good Muppet down. 

Jim Henson's beloved creations are returning to theaters next year with The Muppets...Again!, a sequel to The Muppets, and producer Todd Lieberman has provided IAR with an exclusive update on the production, which is underway in Europe as you read.

No less a source than Cobie Smulders – S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill – is sharing some inside information on next year's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the possibility that we'll see the character in action on the S.H.I.E.L.D. television series.

Ladies and gentlemen, Rogues of all ages, IAR is committed to helping you make it through this potentially apocalyptic pre-holiday week with exclusive goodies.  First, we're proud to bring you the exclusive first look at the official poster art for Life Tracker, along with six brand new stills from the film.

Remember this most ostentatious day, dear Rogues, for this day shall live on for all time as the day on which IAR proudly debuted the first look at the poster for the upcoming crime thriller Mafia.

Currently playing in theaters is the new biopic Hitchcock from director Sacha Gervasi (Anvil! The Story of Anvil), which is already earning early Oscar-buzz. The film stars Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) in the title role as legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, and fellow Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren (The Queen) as his wife and secret collaborator Alma Reville. In addition, the excellent cast of actors portraying real-life people also includes Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers) as Janet Leigh, Jessica Biel (Total Recall) as Vera Miles, Toni Collette (Jesus Henry Christ) as Peggy Robertson, Danny Huston (Stolen) as Whitfield Cook, Michael Stuhibarg (Lincoln) as Lew Wasserman, Kurtwood Smith (Robocop) as Geoffrey Shurlock, Richard Portnow (Law Abiding Citizen) as Barney Balaban, Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid) as Joseph Stefano, Michael Wincott (The Crow) as Ed Gein, and James D'Arcy (Cloud Atlas) as Anthony Perkins. 

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Sacha Gervasi to talk about his work on Hitchcock. The director discussed his new film, the challenges of shooting it, the truth behind the making of Psycho, the real relationship between Alfred and Alma, the biopic's unusual structure, why Anthony Hopkins wanted to play the iconic director, his incredible performance, how Jamie Lee Curtis helped Scarlett Johansson prepare to play her mother, and Hitchcock's true relationship with his leading ladies. 

Opening in theaters on December 7th is the new romantic comedy Playing for Keeps, which was directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happiness). The film stars Gerard Butler (Machine Gun Preacher), Jessica Biel (Total Recall), Uma Thurman (Kill Bill: Vol. 1), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Rock of Ages), Judy Greer (The Descendants), Dennis Quaid (What to Expect When You're Expecting), and introducing young actor Noah Lomax (TV's The Walking Dead).   

IAR's Managing Editor Jami Philbrick recently had a chance to sit down with Noah Lomax in the IAR Studios to talk about his work on Playing for Keeps. The talented young actor discussed his new film, similarities he has with his character, rehearsing scenes with the director, working with Gerard Butler and Jessica Biel, not knowing who they were before shooting, and learning to play soccer for the film. 

Dane DeHaan is having one hell of a good year! The actor, who until this year was best known for his roles on the HBO series In Treatment and True Blood, has had not one but three major movies released in 2012. 

DeHaan first gained attention earlier this year for his role as a teenager that gains super powers and then travels to the dark side in the surprise hit, found footage film Chronicle. He was next seen in director John Hillcoat’s critically acclaimed ensemble film Lawless, which will be available on Blu-ray and DVD beginning November 27th and stars Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy. Not to mention, that DeHaan can also currently be seen in a small role as a soldier in director Steven Spielberg’s historical epic Lincoln. If that wasn’t enough, the actor has several high profile projects on the horizon including The Place Beyond the Pines with Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, Devil’s Knot about the West Memphis Three, and a possible role as Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, while that is still a rumor and has yet to be confirmed. 

In Lawless, which is based on the novel “The Wettest County in the World" by Matt Bondurant, DeHaan plays Cricket Pate, the crippled best friend of Jack Bondurant (Shia LaBeouf). Jack and his older brothers Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke) run a profitable depression-era bootlegging business that is threatened by a crooked law officer named Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce). In addition to DeHaan, LaBeouf, Hardy, Clarke, and Pearce, the film’s impressive cast also includes Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland), and Academy Award-nominees Jessica Chastain (The Help), and Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy). Lawless was directed by acclaimed filmmaker John Hillcoat (The Road) and was written by his frequent collaborator, Australian musician Nick Cave.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with actor Dane DeHaan about his work on Lawless, as well as Lincoln, and the upcoming films Devil’s Knot, and The Place Beyond the Pines. The talented young actor discussed making Lawless, working with John Hillcoat, Tom Hardy’s unusual performance, creating his character, researching the prohibition era, reading the book, how he became friends with Shia LaBeouf, shooting his most powerful scenes with Guy Pearce, as well as Lincoln, what its like to work on a Steven Spielberg set, his role in Devil’s Knot, and collaborating with director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) on The Place Beyond the Pines.

Adam Shankman has done pretty much every job there is to do on a movie set including actor, dancer, choreographer, producer and director. His latest producing effort, Step Up Revolution is the forth film in the popular dance movie franchise and will be available on Blu-ray beginning November 27th.

Shankman began his career as an actor and dancer, and appeared in music videos for Janet Jackson, as well as Paula Abdul’s legendary “Opposites Attract” video featuring the animated MC Skat Kat. He would eventually go on to choreograph such films as The Flintstones, Miami Rhapsody, Boogie Nights, She’s All That, and Catch Me If You Can, as well as the TV shows Friends, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But it was in 2001 when Shankman made the move to the director’s chair with his feature film directorial debut The Wedding Planner. Since then, the director has helmed such extremely successful films as A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Bedtime Stories, and the feature film adaptations of the Broadway musicals Hairspray and Rock of Ages. 

In addition to directing films, Shankman has also helmed several episodes of the popular television programs Glee and Modern Family, as well as being a judge and choreographer on Fox’s hit reality show So You Think You Can Dance. If that wasn’t enough, Shankman has also overseen the entire Step Up franchise as a producer and occasional choreographer, which includes Step Up, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D, and the most recent installment; Step Up Revolution. 

Step Up Revolution follows Emily (Kathryn McCormick) as she arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer. She soon falls in love with Sean (Ryan Guzman), a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs, called “The Mob.” When a wealthy businessman threatens to develop The Mob’s historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people, Emily must band together with Sean and The Mob to turn their performance art into protest art, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with choreographer-turned director/producer Adam Shankman about his work on Step Up Revolution, and the success of the overall franchise. The producer discussed the new film, the success of the series, why audiences relate to the movies, inspiration from big screen musicals of the ‘50s and ‘60s, how long the franchise can last, how 3D has enhanced the series, his involvement as a producer, working with director Scott Speer, casting dancers that can act, taking credit for Channing Tatum’s success, and what type of film he would like to direct next.