Behind the Scenes

In the hot, sticky humidity of New Orleans, a dark and twisted tale of vampires and circus freaks took shape, and the terrifying result is coming to a theater near you just in time for Halloween '09. Okay, it's not too terrifying -- it's PG-13, after all. But writer-director Paul Weitz has adapted the first four books of the 'Cirque du Freak' series by U.K. author Darren Shan, and on Oct. 23 you'll get your fill of bearded ladies, monkey girls, Willem Dafoe and other intriguing creatures, in 'The Vampire's Assistant.'

Moviefone was invited to the N'Awlins set last year to witness the creepy goings on (and conduct interviews in Evra the Snakeboy's tent, natch). What we learned might frighten and amaze you, but unlike a real sideshow, this thrill ride is free admission.

School vacation has never seemed longer. 'Potter' heads who've been breathlessly waiting two years since the last movie from the mega-popular franchise can finally exhale -- Harry, Ron, Hermione and their classmates are back for year 6 of Hogwarts training in 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' (opens July 15), which is shaping up to be the most romantic -- and of course, mature -- installment yet.

We visited the 500,000-square foot Leavesden Film Studios in rural London (imagine an interconnecting complex of 15 Home Depots, plus dazzling exterior sets) to see where Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have spent the better part of the last decade of their lives -- and to get the scoop on their latest 'Potter' adventure. Keep reading for a sneak peek from the set of 'Half-Blood Prince.'

What did you do yesterday? Oh, it doesn't matter, because my day was probably infinitely better. Not trying to brag or anything, but I was on the set of 'Iron Man 2.' Yep, I win.

The much-anticipated sequel to last summer's Marvel comic blockbuster is even bigger than the first -- right down to the all-star cast. Joining Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow for the second adventure are Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson (who's already getting a lot of fan attention for playing Black Widow).

"All I know is Bale doesn't f*** around ... he doesn't sign up for things unless he believes 100%. He's already Bruce Wayne, he doesn't need to be John Connor." -- McG

Reprising a trilogy is hard work. Reprising one of sci-fi's most heralded and closely critiqued series is near impossible.

That's why the decision to revive 'Terminator' for a fourth (and, almost definitely, more to come) installment was met with mixed emotions. And the announcement that McG would direct received even more passionate outcries -- could the 'Charlie's Angels' guy really go head-to-head with John Connor and Skynet's toughest machines? Well, he has, and we can say from seeing it all first-hand that fans are in for an action-packed ride.

Moviefone was invited to the set of 'Terminator Salvation' in Albuquerque, N.M., last June to see Christian Bale step into John Connors' future-fighting shoes, with Bryce Dallas Howard as his wife, Kate, Anton Yelchin as his father, Kyle Reese, and some new characters played by Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood and Common.

Keep reading to see what we learned behind the scenes on the action-packed 'Terminator' set -- as well as interviews with McG, Worthington, Howard, Yelchin, Bloodgood and more -- before the movie hits theaters May 22.

Radcliffe chimes in on Dumbledore's sexuality, while Grint counts kissing takes.

It's 79 days and counting until 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince' hits theaters (on behalf of 'Potter' heads everywhere, we'll now take the opportunity to thank Warner Bros. for its recent move in pushing the release date up two days to July 15). Considering that all told, it will be over 700 days in between 'Potter' installments, it's safe to say we're in the home stretch.

But for fans clamoring for some wizardly fun to hold you over, look no further. After "teasing" you once with our first sneak peek from the set of 'Half-Blood Prince,' we bring you another look at the goods gathered from our broomstick ride (OK, fine, we flew Delta) to the London set. Check out five fun facts.

Visiting the set of 'Land of the Lost' on the Universal lot felt a little bit like being sucked into the same time and space vortex the movie's characters get transported through.

After walking through a sea of incredibly good-looking sleestaks (see below -- it's not just me who thinks they're hot), the soundstage doors opened and immediately welcomed us into the Land of the Lost. And not the campy '70s TV version either -- we're talking giant 100-foot rock formations, an altar with a fiery pit at the center of it and, of course, the movie's stars Will Ferrell, Anna Friel and Danny McBride.

Before the movie premieres on June 5, take a look at our video interviews with all the stars, as well as director Brad Silberling and charming co-creator Marty Krofft, and keep reading for our behind-the-scenes sneak peek. -- By Maggie Furlong

"The subject matter is more serious, but we're trying to make it just as funny ... It's kind of a demented 'Tuesdays With Morrie' -- that's how I look at it. [Laughs]" -- Judd Apatow

Nestled in the Hollywood Hills is Runyon Canyon, a haven of celebrity exercise fanatics and people desperate to get discovered while hiking with their dogs. And for a few particularly star-studded days last December, it was also a location for filming 'Funny People,' Judd Apatow's latest flick.

Starring Adam Sandler as a mega-famous comedian -- if you can imagine that -- named George Simmons, 'Funny People' takes an unusual path to the laughs, giving Simmons a terminal medical condition and, in turn, a new lease on life. Helping him in his rediscovery of life before fame is not-quite-as-famous-but-maybe-even-funnier Ira Wright, played by Seth Rogen.

Given a supporting cast of characters that can only be called Apatowian (read: completely random and amazing), Moviefone's exclusive visit to the set was nothing short of hilariously entertaining. Check out this behind-the-scenes video tour, which includes interviews with Apatow, Rogen, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman, and keep reading below for more 'Funny People' scoop.

Find out what happened when we visited stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law on the London set ...

You can't discuss the great detective stories of our time without mentioning Sherlock Holmes and his partner Watson -- who've been entertaining us with their wild adventures since first appearing in publication back in 1897.

Times have changed, though, and gone are the stuffy, boring, made-for-TV incarnations that have kept folks across the pond busy for a few decades.

Instead, Warner Bros. has gone back to some of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's earlier novels and brought on director Guy Ritchie and stars Robert Downey Jr. (Holmes) and Jude Law (Watson) to reboot the iconic characters and, at the same time, possibly ignite a whole new franchise.

"You've got all the characters interacting, like Andy Warhol doing portraits of the superheroes."

The long and agonizing wait is almost over. No, we're not talking about an upturn in the failing economy -- it's the hotly anticipated 'Watchmen,' which finally hits screens on March 6.We'll get to see for ourselves if Zack Snyder's vision has made the world of doomsday a reality (in a more entertaining way than the aforementioned flagging markets).

Moviefone was on the set in 2007 to witness the early days of the film's production in Vancouver, talk to Snyder and the film's cast and crew -- and find out whether this project could ever live up to its critically acclaimed source material, Alan Moore's graphic novel.

'Twilight' didn't do it for you? Sixth 'Potter' flick will be worth the wait.

If good things really do come to those who wait, then 'Harry Potter' fans have something really, really good coming their way in 2009.

'Potter' Nation was taken aback when the release of the series' sixth installment, 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' was pushed back eight months, from this past November to next July.

To ease the strain this waiting game has put on the minds of muggles everywhere, we bring you a few tidbits from a trip we took to the London set of 'Half-Blood Prince' in early '08 (look for the full feature to come closer to the film's release).