Chad Michael Collins and Tom Berenger are back in action in a franchise that has lasted nearly three decades: Sony’s Sniper. Kaare Andrews (Cabin Fever: Patient Zero, Spider-Man: Doctor Octopus) directs the newest installment, taking on the challenge of following up seven prequel films.

Andrews not only directs film and television, but he’s also a big name in the comic book industry. He was the very first recipient of the Shuster Award for Outstanding Artist back in 2005, leading the charge for talents such as Pia Guerra (Y: The Last Man), Fiona Staples (Saga), and Stuart Immonen (Ultimate Spider-Man).

We got the awesome opportunity to chat with Andrews and picked his brain about the new movie. Take a look at what the director had to say about Sniper: Assassin’s End below!

Joe: I’d like to start off by asking you to tell me about Sniper: Assassin’s End in your own words.

Kaare Andrews: The long answer is that when I was a teenager I watched Sniper in 1993 with my friend in his basement. And 27 years later I find myself directing the newest Sniper and it’s strange to have a franchise last that long. There’s like a handful of titles that have lasted thirty years, like Star Wars and Rambo, maybe. I’m a big fan of the genre and I think it is so cool to have a franchise last this long.

Joe: I understand this is the eighth installment in the Sniper series. Which of the prequels did you look to the most for inspiration when directing Assassin’s End?

Kaare Andrews: Well, I watched them all and I tried to see what worked and what didn’t work but I looked to the first Sniper film as my point of reference both for visual vocabulary but also for ideas and aesthetics and character. So I deliberately tried to echo some of the signature elements of that first film, such as a sniper emerging from the ground and bullets flying through the air.

It was fun to come up with our own ways of honoring some of that visual vocabulary, and what I try to do is identify it and expand on it and grow it in a new way. It’s the same way I approach comic books. Like if I’m writing Iron Fist or Spider-Man, I always try to go back to those original stories and try to understand those original concepts and re-honor them. So I’m never interested in re-inventing things, but I’m always interested in re-engaging the core concepts of what made that thing great.

Some of the other Sniper films get very big as far as scale and war goes, but this one is kind of a small story that is character-based circling around a father and a son, so I approached it that way.

Joe: What was it like to work alongside Chad Michael Collins and Tom Berenger?

Kaare Andrews: Berenger plays his same characters and Chad Michael Collins plays the son that was established a few films back. When you meet Berenger’s character in our film, he’s an older guy living in the woods than who we saw in the first film. And I found it so cool to be a part of a franchise that has lasted this long.

Joe: Did you approach the actors who have been in previous Sniper films differently than the way you directed the rest of the cast due to their familiarity with the material?

Kaare Andrews: I try not to treat actors any different from each other. Tom Berenger and Chad Michael Collins definitely have a bit of a leadership role on set because it’s their franchise and they’ve been doing these films for so long. So you have to honor that but also I try to treat people equally, and everyone was great to work with and up to the challenge. We got very physical in shooting, and there were guns and explosions and everyone was up to the task. We had a really great little ensemble and a nice cadre of actors.

Joe: Which of your previous works helped prepare you the most for this project?

Kaare Andrews: That’s an interesting question. Well, I’ve always been a fan of martial arts. I trained a little bit myself, and I’ve always loved to choreograph and reverse-engineer fights. I’m a fan of martial arts and action movies and MMA and Japanese pop culture and there’s a bit of a nod to that in this film as well.

The film has a lot of overlapping different genres that kind of overlap to create one movie, and I found that interesting that I was the director because naturally I have this weird career overlap and the film itself also reflected this strange cultural overlap.

Joe: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Kaare Andrews: Take a look at this movie. I think it’s a bit different than you would expect. It’s a genre that is underserved right now, but it is a bit of an overlap of cultural references.

It honors the original franchise but in a new way. It’s not really a military movie as much as it is a film about a father and son and it is no accident that it’s being released around Father’s Day. It’s an interesting installment for a franchise that has lasted thirty years.

Sniper: Assassin’s End is now available. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Sniper Collection is at Wal-Mart, which is a collection of all eight films together for the first time ever.

Check out the trailer and synopsis below and be sure to share your thoughts on Andrews’ comments in the usual spot.

Special Ops sniper Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare) is set up as the primary suspect for the murder of a foreign dignitary on the eve of signing a high-profile trade agreement with the United States. Narrowly escaping death, Beckett realizes that there may be a dark operative working within the government, and partners with the only person whom he can trust: his father, legendary sniper Sgt. Thomas Beckett (Golden Globe®-winner Tom Berenger).
Both Becketts are on the run from the CIA, Russian mercenaries and Lady Death, a Yakuza-trained assassin (Japanese actress and singer Sayaka Akimoto in her Hollywood film debut) with sniper skills that rival both legendary sharpshooters.

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Guardians of the Galaxy included a lot of great Pop Culture references, but Star-Lord’s love of both Kevin Bacon and Footloose (which he deems the greatest movie ever made) really resonated with fans. There’s been an expectation that the actor will actually end up making a cameo appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at some point, especially after working with James Gunn on Super. 

Time will tell whether that’s something we see in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (surely Peter Quill tracked down Bacon while he was back on Earth in Avengers: Endgame?), but during a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the X-Men: First Class star shared his thoughts on those references.

“Well, I mean, there was the mention in Guardians which I thought was pretty amazing,” he explained. “I didn’t really know anything about it and then I went and sat in the movie theater and somebody just said to me, ‘Have you seen that movie yet?’ I said, ‘No, I’m going but I haven’t seen it yet.’ I’m sitting in the movie theater and I’m thinking, ‘Wow, that’s some shout out!'”

Those mentions in Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Infinity War have certainly helped cement Bacon as one of those iconic actors, and while he’s flown under the radar in many ways these past few years, another big blockbuster role feels like it could be around the corner for him (just look at the resurgence of Keanu Reeves following the release of John Wick). 

Regardless, Bacon will always have a fan in Star-Lord, and that’s not pretty damn awesome…

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While the promotional stills did spoil the big team reveal last week, The CW has now released a full-length promo, offering a much better look at Stargirl (Brec Bassinger) and the newly revamped Justice Society of America embarking on their first superhero mission against the dangerous Sportsmaster (Neil Hopkins) and Tigress (Joy Osmanski).

In addition to Wildcat (Yvette Monreal), the team has now added both Rick Tyler (Cameron Gellman) and Beth Chapel (Anjelika Washington) as the new Hourman and Doctor Midnite, respectively. Plus, based on Pat Dugan’s (Luke Wilson) intriguing discovery to close the last hour, the show may also be on the verge of introducing a new Green Lantern.

THE POWERS THAT BE — Courtney (Brec Bassinger) makes a difficult decision after Pat (Luke Wilson) confronts her about the potential consequences of recruiting new members to the JSA. Elsewhere, Barbara (Amy Smart) shows up in support of Mike’s (Trae Romano) science fair, and Courtney, Yolanda (Yvette Monreal), Beth (Anjelika Washington) and Rick (Cameron Gellman) prepare for their first major mission. Neil Jackson and Hunter Sansone also star. Chris Manley directed the episode written by Taylor Streitz (#106). Original airdate 6/23/2020.

The new DC UNIVERSE drama series DC’s STARGIRL follows high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new drama reimagines Stargirl and the very first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, in an unpredictable series that focuses on the character that started creator Geoff Johns’ career as a comic book writer when he created her in 1999, lovingly inspired by his late sister who was killed in a 1996 plane explosion.

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Black Adam was supposed to begin shooting this summer, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed things, and it’s currently unknown whether the movie will be able to meet its planned December 2021 release date. Regardless, the DC Comics adaptation is set to receive the spotlight at the upcoming DC FanDome event on August 22nd. 

“The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change,” the wrestler turned actor said in an Instagram post. “I will be joining the epic and first of its kind, DC FanDome on 08.22.20. This one is for YOU – THE FANS.”

It goes without saying that we won’t see any footage from Black Adam at the event, but Johnson could easily share some concept art or another poster to get fans excited about what’s to come. Heck, if he’s done any costume tests, then even a shot of him suited up would be appreciated, and something that will have everyone talking online. 

Regardless, we’ll be finding out more about Black Adam soon, and that’s another reason to count down the days to DC’s own version of Comic-Con. 

Check out the post from Johnson below:
 

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Spider-Man: Miles Morales is set to be released on the PlayStation 5 this October, but as the titular character has only really had one costume, it’s hard to say whether we’ll see any alternate suits in the standalone video game. However, there were plenty to check out in Spider-Man PS4, and another is highlighted in this Hot Toys action figure. 

Based on the armour Peter Parker wore during the “Parker Industries” era of Dan Slott’s Amazing Spider-Man, it looks downright spectacular, and was definitely a highlight in the hit PS4 game.

Incorporated with stunning luminous reflective web pattern which appears under specialized LED lighting exposures, the figure includes a newly crafted masked head sculpt with multiple pairs of interchangeable eye to create different combinations of Spider-Man’s expressions.

It also boasts a highly poseable specialized body; beautifully designed red and blue Spider Armor – MK IV Suit that presents on a more metallic appearance vibrant effect; specially applied web patterns with teal coloured luminous reflective effect on the suit to recreate the unique “Defense Shield” power, black spider emblem surrounding, eyes, and interchangeable hands.

In terms of accessories, there’s also a Spider-Drone; assorted spider-web effect accessories; a pair of specialized LED light units; and a dynamic figure stand for signature poses.

Check out the figure below:
 

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