Say what you will about the heroes in a half-shell, but at least one of those guys is a real “Jackass.”

Johnny Knoxville lends his voice to sword-wielding fearless leader Leonardo in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” producer Michael Bay and director Jonathan Liebesman’s upcoming adaptation of the classic cartoon, comic book and action figure franchise. Knoxville’s Leo voice makes its grand debut in a new trailer for “Ninja Turtles,” featuring 30 seconds of non-stop ninja action.

Aside from being an action-packed look at the upcoming “Turtles” movie, complete with a tease for how these characters act and sound, the new trailer shows us more about their origin. We see the Turtles in their infancy, then growing up as youngsters, training for Master Splinter. We even see the film’s version of Shredder, a hulking, heavy-metal menace that looks even more roided out than the Super Shredder of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze.”

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” starring Megan Fox and Will Arnett, hits theaters on August 8.

Josh Wigler

Likes pizza, punch and pie. Dislikes the Chitauri. Find him on Twitter @roundhoward — like Ron Howard, but rounder.

Is “Harry Potter” set for a comeback? Maybe. Possibly. Possibly not.

Either way, one thing’s for sure: J.K. Rowling’s new “Harry Potter” story, a fictional account of Dumbledore’s Army reuniting for the first time as 30-something adults, has energized the “Potter” fandom with a kind of excitement that hasn’t been seen since the final books and films were released. The story leaves one to wonder whether or not “Potter” will return with some sequel stories in the future, and if so, what those stories might be.

Well, we have some ideas! If Rowling and/or Warner Bros. return to the “Potter” well with new adventures for Harry, Hermione and Ron, here are seven stories we would love to see:

1. The Quidditch World Cup

Hey, it’s what started this whole firestorm this week, isn’t it? The Rita Skeeter story is enticing for so many reasons, not the least of which is … well, what happens next? The last time we saw the Quidditch World Cup, disaster struck. Could we see a similar Death Eater invasion with the 34-year-old Harry, Hermione and Ron left to battle it out?

2. Harry Potter, Auror At Large

Perhaps the coolest detail of the Skeeter story is Harry’s time working with the Ministry of Magic as an auror. He sports a new nasty scar on his cheek, and silver threads in his hair. Clearly, there’s more magic and mayhem in Harry’s life beyond Voldemort’s demise. Let’s follow Harry on one of his deadly adventures as ...

With Reporting by Josh Horowitz

From the very first scene of the film, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” makes one thing very clear: This movie belongs to the apes.

Following an opening credits sequence inspired by the closing credits of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” the first shot of “Dawn” is a long, lingering look at Caesar, the genetically-modified ape at the heart of the franchise. And to hear actor Andy Serkis tell it, there was no better or more important way to begin the film.

“[Director Matt Reeves] was very enamored with what Rupert Wyatt had created on ‘Rise,’ particularly the emotionality of Caesar,” he told MTV’s Josh Horowitz. “That’s why he wanted to make a Caesar-centric movie, an emotional journey seen through the eyes of Caesar. That’s why it makes total sense to open on this ape, ten years later, now leading a community and trying to create the boundaries and laws and structure of that community, knowing that humanity has all but faded away.”

Of course, humanity isn’t completely eradicated when “Dawn” begins. There’s a small pocket of civilization still struggling to survive in San Francisco, just south of the apes’ forest community. When the two come into contact via a violent inciting incident, Caesar finds himself torn between two worlds.

“Humanity was a huge part of his life,” said Serkis. “He has to wrangle with [the return of humans], as well as keeping control of the apes, but listening to them. He’s a ...

With Reporting by Josh Horowitz

So, Keri Russell’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” character is actually Felicity Porter.

Yes, we’re serious. Kind of. Okay, not totally serious, but maybe? Hear us out: In “Dawn,” Russell plays Ellie, a former nurse who worked at the Center for Disease Control. On “Felicity,” Russell played Felicity, a University of New York graduate on her way to becoming a medical professional.

Coincidence? Maybe. But there’s something else to consider: Matt Reeves, director of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” is also the co-creator of “Felicity.”

When we posed the possibility to Russell herself, the “Felicity” veteran shared our suspicions. She said that when she first arrived to the “Dawn” set, there were a few clues pointing to the “Apes”-”Felicity” conspiracy theory.

“I got into hair and makeup and they said, ‘Matt keeps talking about … when you used to have your hair on ‘Felicity,’ it was very textured and curly,’” she said. “And I was just like, ‘Where is my blown out hair and cat eyeliner and too tight jeans?’ But you know what, I think there’s a part of Matt that did want that. I think he wanted that sweet, sensitive brave girl with that curly fro.”

In actuality, Russell only plays Felicity in the “Dawn” of our hearts, and our fan-fiction. But even if the characters aren’t exact, there’s a common bond between them, and that’s all because of Reeves.

“Even all those years ago making a TV show about a girl following a ...

If you ever wanted to get to know the man beneath the mask, here’s your chance.

(Although, technically, we already know the man beneath the mask thanks to “Attack of the Clones,” but let’s try and pretend like that never happened, okay? Okay.)

Actor Jeremy Bulloch is not a household name, but his “Star Wars” character is. Bulloch suited up as ruthless bounty hunter Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” saying few words but making one hell of an impact on fandom.

To this day, Fett remains one of the most popular figures in the entire “Star Wars” universe, expanded or otherwise — and even though Bulloch wouldn’t get recognized on the street as easily as Harrison Ford or Carrie Fischer, the actor nevertheless has a close relationship with both Boba Fett and his fans.

The connection between Bulloch and the Boba Fett-ishists grew closer than ever during a Reddit AMA this week. Read on for some of the highlights:

On His Inspiration For Boba Fett:

“I always remembered that Clint Eastwood, in A Fistful of Dollars, he and Boba Fett had the same sort of cape. He stands up and he’s looking at someone and takes a draw of a cigarette, all done in slow motion, and that’s how I felt Boba Fett should be: all done in slow motion. He has time, he’s never rushing around. His movement its very literal and that’s what he does. He does his job very well and then ...

Maybe it’s time to take this “Game of Thrones” movie idea seriously after all.

George R.R. Martin, author of “A Song of Ice and Fire” and the mad man responsible for murdering all of your favorite characters, is very much on the record about his desire to see “Game of Thrones” live past its natural lifespan as an HBO series, and wrap up with a big-budget feature film. He’s said it before, and he just said it again, during an appearance at the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival.

“If we go seven or eight seasons and then the show is still big enough that we can get the $200 million to finance a huge epic movie to end it … sure!” he said, according to Screen Daily. “But that doesn’t mean it has been approved. Some people like the idea. Other people don’t like the idea.”

Like the idea or loathe the idea, it’s worth spending some time thinking about why Martin is so on board with a “Game of Thrones” movie.

There’s one obvious explanation: Ending “Thrones” as a feature film buys Martin a little more time to wrap up the books before the live-action adaptation beats him to the punch. As it stands, “Thrones” could very easily catch or outpace Martin as soon as next season. If the author isn’t able to release the sixth book in the series, “The Winds of Winter,” in the next year or two, then “Thrones” will most assuredly be ahead ...

For someone who only speaks the same three words over and over again, Vin Diesel‘s Groot is a pretty intimidating fella.

Diesel supplies the voice for the sentient tree-creature Groot in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Marvel’s oddball space opera heading into theaters next month. And while we won’t see Diesel in the flesh when “Guardians” arrives, we have more than enough proof that the actor went above and beyond to get into character.

Case in point: Diesel’s new Instagram video showing the “Fast & Furious” star hard at work in the recording booth, repeating the signature “I Am Groot” line over and over again — albeit in Mandarin, not English.

You don’t need to speak Mandarin to understand what Diesel’s doing here. (Really, you don’t; he’s just saying “I AM GROOT,” because that’s literally the only phrase the character can say.) The very image of Diesel on stilts, when he very much does not have to be wearing stilts, growling his soon-to-be iconic line into the microphone, more than explains what we can expect to see from Groot when “Guardians” rocks our faces off in just a few weeks.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” hits theaters on August 1.

Josh Wigler

Likes pizza, punch and pie. Dislikes the Chitauri. Find him on Twitter @roundhoward — like Ron Howard, but rounder.

Dragons, White Walkers and giants galore — these are the creatures populating the world of “Game of Thrones,” but they’re not the only reasons why the HBO fantasy epic needs such an expansive effects budget.

As seen in this “Game of Thrones” visual effects reel, it took a whole lot of work to bring Westeros (and Essos) to life in season four. Between the mountain-topped towers of the Vale, the towering Titan of Braavos, the outrageously over-the-top wedding of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell, and beyond, nearly every location and event during season four of “Thrones” required tireless amounts of effects in order to come to life — even if those effects weren’t always so obvious.

Watch how Westeros came alive in season four in the video below:

“Game of Thrones” returns next spring for its fifth season.

(via Gizmodo)

Josh Wigler

Likes pizza, punch and pie. Dislikes the Chitauri. Find him on Twitter @roundhoward — like Ron Howard, but rounder.

With Reporting by Eric Ditzian

In less than a month, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will finally get to embrace the “universe” part of the equation.

That’s because “Guardians of the Galaxy” blasts into theaters in August, bringing an all-original space epic loaded with action, adventure, heart and humor. The film follows a fivesome of rogues, assassins and mercenaries, brought together by forces beyond their initial comprehension, compelled to stick together to save the world. They’re the unlikeliest heroes in the land, and judging on early buzz, they just might be the unlikely heroes of the summer blockbuster season as well.

MTV News was on the set of “Guardians of the Galaxy” last year, and here’s what we learned:

1. Chris Pratt Kind Of Enjoys Prison

Pratt, who plays Star-Lord, has already opened up about a whole bunch of “Guardians” secrets. But here’s one thing he hasn’t talked too much about: going to prison.

A significant portion of “Guardians” takes place inside of a prison, where Star-Lord and the other members of the super-team first meet each other. On the set of “Guardians,” Pratt spoke out about the massive, practical set used to shoot the prison sequences, a set that’s “as big as a warehouse” featuring “prison cells all the way around and a giant tower in the middle.”

“You are in a prison,” he said. “You are not happy.”

But there’s some joy behind bars as well; Pratt recalled one scene in ...

Are you sitting down? You might want to sit down.

J.K. Rowling just released a brand-new piece of writing set in the “Harry Potter” universe, taking place after the events of the series-ending “Deathly Hallows.” The article is titled “Dumbledore’s Army Reunites,” written from the perspective of unscrupulous gossip columnist Rita Skeeter of The Daily Prophet, and focused on a 34-year-old Harry, now sporting “threads of silver” in his hair and a mysterious new scar over his cheek, attending the Quidditch World Cup final with his young sons James and Albus Potter.

Also in attendance: Ginny Weasley, Harry’s wife, serving as a reporter at the Quidditch World Cup; Hermione and Ron, now an employee at the Ministry of Magic and the co-manager of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, respectively; and Neville Longbottom, quietly nursing a possible drinking problem.

It’s the first time we’ve checked in on Harry, Ron and Hermione since their epilogue at the end of “Deathly Hallows,” providing us with more insight into their post-Hogwarts lives than we ever expected to see.

However, two things of note: 1) The story is only available to Pottermore.com subscribers, and as of this writing, the site is on absolute overload; and 2) Rowling’s spokesperson tells TheBookSeller.com that the author has “no plans” to write further stories about older Harry.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t send your share of Howlers imploring Rowling to continue. And if she doesn’t continue, at least we have this new story to read over and over again — ...