About Alex Leadbeater
Screen Rant's Content Director, Alex Leadbeater has been covering film online for over a decade and been a permanent fixture of SR since 2016. Based in London, he oversees a global news & features team based in NY, LA and beyond. You may have also seen/heard him on the Total Geekall podcast, unaffiliated YouTube channels, BBC Radio and CBC News. Growing up in the English countryside on a mixture of Star Wars, The Simpsons and Aardman, Alex is a lifelong movie obsessive. Despite a brief jaunt in Mathematics at Durham University, film writing was always his calling.
Industry Focus
Alex has covered an exhaustive range of movies and TV shows - from digging out obscure MCU Easter eggs to diving deep into deeper meanings of the latest Jordan Peele - and has covered a litany of set visits, junkets and film festivals. He once asked Tom Cruise about his supposedly fake-butt in Valkyrie (he swore it was all real).
Favorite Media
As a movie-obsessive, Alex will watch any and all films, with highlights ranging from Psycho and Night of the Hunter to Stand By Me and Titanic. He has a soft spot for 1980s slashes (especially Friday the 13th) and 1990s thrillers, and has seen all of the MCU (although Star Wars is far-far-and-away his favorite franchise).
Latest Articles
How Each Star Wars Prequel Villain Foreshadowed Darth Vader's Fate
The Star Wars prequels' revolving door of villains was more than just new faces - each one set up a part of Anakin's transformation in Darth Vader.
Aladdin Remake Theory: Has Will Smith's SECOND Character Been Revealed?
Will Smith plays Genie in Aladdin 2019, and it looks like he could be taking on Robin Williams' other role from the original too.
Joaquin Phoenix Filmed Birds of Prey Joker Cameo With Margot Robbie [UPDATED]
Joaquin Phoenix's Joker may have a cameo in Birds of Prey with Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn, replacing Jared Leto as the DCEU's Clown Prince of Crime.
Why How I Met Your Mother's Controversial Finale Was A Perfect Ending
It's five years since How I Met Your Mother's controversial ending. Here's how the underrated finale revealed the show's true meaning.
Dumbo 2019 Changes: How Disney's Remake Tries To "Fix" The Original
Dumbo 2019 makes some big changes to the original 1941 animation, some to reflect the times but many in a move to "fix" the dated story.
Star Wars 9 Can Finally Finish The Prequel Trilogy Story
Star Wars 9 is the end of the Skywalker Saga and needs to not just resolve Rey and Kylo's conflict, but also the dropped ideas from the prequels.
Captain Marvel Points Out The MCU’s Biggest Problem (But Can't Quite Fix It)
Captain Marvel correctly states that "humor is a distraction". Unfortunately, the MCU doesn't learn its lesson in the prequel movie.
Nick Fury’s Biggest Captain Marvel Spy Trick Came From Ant-Man
Did Nick Fury's sellotape trick in Captain Marvel look familiar? That's because Scott Lang did it before back in 2015's Ant-Man.
Just How Scary (& Violent) Is Us?
Jordan Peele's Us is the first major horror movie of 2019. Just how scary and violent is the Get Out follow-up? We explain (spoiler-free).
How Us Is A Very Different Film To Get Out
How does Jordan Peele's second film, Us, differ from his first, Get Out? Here's what the new horror movie adds (spoiler-free).
Why Stranger Things Season 3's Trailer Uses A Song From 1971
Stranger Things season 3 returns to the 1980s, but the trailer's song is straight out of 1971. Why such an upside-down choice?
Toy Story 4 Can Give The Series The Ending It Actually Deserves
Toy Story 4 continues beyond the resolute ending of Toy Story 3. Although was that happy-ever-after really so fitting for Woody and co?
What James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Rehiring Means For Suicide Squad
James Gunn has been rehired by Disney/Marvel for Guardians of the Galaxy 3, but that doesn't mean he's deserting DC and The Suicide Squad.
Why The Best Moment From The Shazam! Trailers Isn't In The Movie
Shazam's latest trailer features John Williams' Superman theme in a hilarious meta-joke - but it's not in the actual movie. Here's why.
What The Avengers' New Suits In Endgame Are For
Earth's Mightiest Heroes have new costumes in Avengers: Endgame. Here's what they're for and how they're essential to defeating Thanos.
Star Wars 9's First Order Stormtroopers May Have A Big Clone Wars Reference
Star Wars 9 ends the whole Skywalker Saga. Here's one way that it might manage to reference the prequel trilogy and The Clone Wars.
What To Expect From Disenchantment Season 2
Disenchantment season 1 sets up a very different second season. Here's when Disenchantment season 2 should release and what to expect when it does.
Ricky Gervais Responds To His Critics With After Life (& Agrees With Them)
With After Life, Ricky Gervais overtakes his critics and breaks down the logic of his comedy style in a surprisingly emotional way.
What Terminator 6's "Dark Fate" Title Reveals About The Sequel's Story
Terminator 6's working title is Dark Fate. What does this reveal about the reboot of a franchise famous for preaching we have "no fate"?
Star Wars: C-3PO's Plot-Convenient Memory-Wipe Was Always Planned
C-3PO's memory-wipe in Revenge of the Sith avoided potential continuity issues - but it may have always been part of George Lucas' Star Wars plan.