Coming Attractions

RIP Coming Attractions

2011-08-30T14:07:00.000-07:00

I have returned to officially announce the death of Coming Attractions. However, like a phoenix, it has been reborn as "Next Up Hollywood"! Please follow.

http://www.nextuphollywood.blogspot.com

THOR trailer thunders!

2010-12-11T17:24:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios have revealed the first official trailer for Thor which you can watch using the player below.

Opening in 3D and 2D theaters on May 6, the Kenneth Branagh-directed adaptation stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg and Colm Feore."

I'm so stoked for Thor, and I actually know other people are too!

REAL STEEL knocks out a trailer

2010-12-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"[DreamWorks Pictures] has released the first trailer for director Shawn Levy's Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo, Kevin Durand and Anthony Mackie.

In the film, opening in conventional and IMAX theaters on October 7, 2011, Jackman plays Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON blasts off a trailer

2010-12-09T17:28:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The [teaser] trailer for Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon is now online and can be watched using the player below!

Opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX theaters on July 1, the third installment stars Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Ken Jeong, Patrick Dempsey, Alan Tudyk and John Turturro.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon features Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) taking his first tenuous steps into adulthood while remaining a reluctant human ally of Optimus Prime. The film centers around the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, suggesting there was a hidden Transformers role in it all that remains one of the planet's most dangerous secrets."

Irvin Kershner has passed...

2010-11-29T09:34:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"...director Irvin Kershner, best known for directing the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 87 after a long bout with illness. Born in Philadelphia in 1923, the filmmaker trained in music and photography before making documentaries and features starting in the late '50s. His breakout came exactly thirty years ago when George Lucas hired him to helm Empire Strikes Back, which many movie fans still consider the best of the beloved series. That was followed by the unauthorized James Bond flick Never Say Never Again, starring Sean Connery, and another sequel, RoboCop 2."

I honestly was watching The Empire Strikes Back last night. It is a great film, but I love A New Hope so much more.

Mr. Kershner, you will be missed.

Leslie Nielsen has passed...

2010-11-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Actor Leslie Nielsen passed away today at a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida hospital, according to his agent John S. Kelly. He died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 84.

Born on February 11, 1926, Nielsen is most known for his roles in comedies such as Airplane! and The Naked Gun films.

His agent sent out the following statement:

'We are saddened by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60 year career in motion pictures and television.

Mr. Nielsen, 84, died of complications of pneumonia in a hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, surrounded by his lovely wife and dear friends at 5:34pm EST today.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his name to the charity of your choice.'

Nielsen appeared in over 100 films, including Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure, as well as over 1,500 TV programs during his career."

I mostly remember him in films like The Reluctant Astronaut (him playing a straight man role in a comedy), Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4, Superhero Movie and my favorite, Mr. Magoo.

RIP Mr. Nielsen, you will be missed. Yes, we are serious. And don't call me Shirley.

Gore Verbinski says, "Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!"

2010-11-23T14:45:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Walt Disney Pictures has confirmed... that Gore Verbinksi is now officially signed on for Disney's The Lone Ranger.

Verbinksi, who has worked with Johnny Depp on the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films and the upcoming Rango, will re-team with the actor, currently attached to play the Lone Ranger's sidekick, Tonto.

The Lone Ranger's origin story begins with a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto, who nurses him back to health. The Ranger, donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.

The film version will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer with a script from Justin Haythe."

From out of the West, in a cloud of dust,

MARS NEEDS MOMS and a trailer!

2010-11-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Walt Disney Pictures has released the first trailer for Mars Needs Moms, based on the book by Berkeley Breathed and opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on March 11. Directed by Simon Wells, the animated adventure is voiced by Seth Green, Dan Fogler, Elisabeth Harnois, Mindy Sterling, Kevin Cahoon and Joan Cusack. You can watch the trailer below the synopsis.

Take out the trash, eat your broccoli—who needs moms, anyway? Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she's nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young. Produced by the team behind Disney's A Christmas Carol and The Polar Express, Mars Needs Moms showcases Milo's quest to save his mom - a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling). With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom—in more ways than one. Based on the Book by Berkeley Breathed."

Now this is what I'm talking about! Not too kiddish, yet not too serious! Maybe this will be the movie to have Disney change their minds and reinstate ImageMovers Digital.

COWBOYS & ALIENS shoots up a trailer!

2010-11-17T12:33:00.001-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Universal Pictures has revealed the trailer for Cowboys & Aliens, the Jon Favreau-directed graphic novel adaptation starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach, Paul Dano, Noah Ringer, Keith Carradine, Clancy Brown, Ana de la Reguera and Abigail Spencer. Written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof, the action thriller hits theaters on July 29.

1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It's a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival."

GREEN LANTERN shines a light on a trailer

2010-11-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Warner Bros. Pictures has debuted the first trailer for Green Lantern, the highly-anticipated big screen adaptation directed by Martin Campbell. Opening in 3D and 2D theaters on June 17, the action adventure stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins, Mark Strong, Taika Waititi, Temuera Morrison, Angela Bassett, Jay O. Sanders and Jon Tenney.

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan."

CARS 2 zooms across the world and gets a trailer!

2010-11-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Disney•Pixar has revealed... the new [trailer] for Cars 2, opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on June 24. The trailers reveal that Michael Caine is providing the voice for Finn McMissile.

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater's action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors.

The sequel is directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Brad Lewis."

From IRON to MAGIC?

2010-11-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Jon Favreau is now attached to Magic Kingdom, a family feature that takes place in a fantasy version of Disneyland, reports Variety.

Favreau, currently gearing up to release his [film] Cowboys & Aliens with Universal next summer, will helm the project for Disney. Currently without a script (though a version by Ronald Moore was allegedly written and shelved), the project is being compared to Night at the Museum, treating the theme park in the same way that museums have been treated for that franchise.

Separately from Magic Kingdom, Disney is filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth film in the franchise, The Haunted Mansion with Guillermo del Toro, Tomorrowland [supposedly starring Dwayne Johnson] and Jungle Cruise, all of which are based on existing Disney theme park rides."

Jon Favreau = the right man for the job.

TRON gets animated

2010-11-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Variety is reporting that Disney is producing a Tron animated series. It will be titled, 'Tron: Uprising'. The series is scheduled to air in Summer, 2012.

Disney XD will be the hosting channel. The series will be executive produced and directed by Charlie Bean. The voice cast will include Elijah Wood, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Mandy Moore, Paul Reubens and Lance Henriksen, with Bruce Boxleitner reprising his role from the films as Tron.

'Tron: Uprising' will be proceeded by a previously announced Disney XD 10-episode Tron 'microseries', which will air fall 2011."

Batman is back!

2010-10-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"In an interview with Hero Complex, Christopher Nolan revealed that the title for his third Batman movie will be The Dark Knight Rises. He added that the villain 'won't be the Riddler'.

'We'll use many of the same characters as we have all along, and we'll be introducing some new ones,' Nolan said cryptically. He also said that the studio has agreed with him not to shoot the film in 3D. but that he'll be experimenting with the scope of IMAX in unprecedented ways.

'We’re looking to do something technologically that’s never been done before,' Nolan explained.

The filmmaker also reiterated that The Dark Knight Rises will close out his trilogy.

'Our ambition for the third movie is to complete a story that has begun,' he said, 'This is not starting over. This not rebooting. We’re finishing something and keeping a consistency with what’s come before has real value.'

The Dark Knight Rises is scheduled for a July 20, 2012 release."

WOO-HOO! Let's get on with the villain!!

Disney to release THE AVENGERS and IRON MAN 3

2010-10-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios announced they have reached an agreement under which Paramount will transfer its worldwide marketing and distribution rights to Disney for Marvel Studios' The Avengers and Iron Man 3. Paramount will remain the worldwide distributor of the upcoming films, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, as well as the previously released Iron Man and Iron Man 2.

Under terms of the new deal, Disney will pay Paramount $115 million for the transfer of the distribution rights to Iron Man 3 and The Avengers to be paid on the theatrical release dates. These monies will serve as a minimum guarantee against the distribution fees.

'In completing this agreement, Disney will now assume worldwide marketing and distribution of The Avengers and Iron Man 3 and leverage these two highly-anticipated films across the multiple global platforms of The Walt Disney Company,' said Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. 'We appreciate the tremendous momentum that Paramount established with these iconic Marvel characters and look forward to propelling the brand even further in the coming years.'

'Five years ago, when Paramount and Marvel made our initial deal, both our businesses were in very different places,' said Brad Grey, Chairman & CEO of Paramount Pictures. 'We are grateful for the partnership we have had with the terrific Marvel team over these years and proud of the work we have done together. Today, this new agreement is the right deal for Paramount, for Marvel and for Disney. We look forward to working together on Thor and Captain America, and we wish Disney and Marvel the utmost success, in what we know will be a very productive and wide-ranging partnership.'

'Paramount has been a wonderful partner in helping Marvel Studios bring our characters to the big screen,' said Alan Fine, Office of the President, Marvel Worldwide, Inc. 'This agreement makes sense now that Marvel is part of The Walt Disney Company.'

Paramount will release Marvel Entertainment's Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger worldwide beginning on May 6 and July 22 of 2011, respectively. The Avengers will be licensed to Epix under Paramount's existing pay television arrangement.

Disney is planning a May 3, 2013 release date for Iron Man 3."

Well, people like Joss Whedon, Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson have all been a part of Disney movies before; Joss Whedon had a hand in Toy Story and Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Robert Downey Jr. starred as the villain in The Shaggy Dog with Tim Allen (and is looking into a Disney prequel to The Wizard of Oz as the Wizard of Oz) and Samuel L. Jackson played the voice of Frozone in The Incredibles with Pixar.

This is, however, the first Disney film for Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson and Clark Gregg.

The Incredible Hulk returns to TV!

2010-10-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"ABC is currently developing a live-action television series based on 'The Incredible Hulk'.

The character of the Hulk and his alter-ego, Bruce Banner, first appeared in 1962's The Incredible Hulk #1. A scientist, Banner's accidental exposure to Gamma rays causes him to become an uncontrollable, rampaging beast whenever he is enraged.

Outside of comics, The Incredible Hulk is perhaps best known as a CBS series that ran from 1978 to 1982, starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. More recently, the character has spawned two films, 2003's Hulk (starring Eric Bana) and 2008's The Incredible Hulk (starring Edward Norton). Mark Ruffalo [will] take over the role for 2012's The Avengers.

Although there is some planned continuity between the latter two films, it is unknown whether or not that plan will carry over for the ABC series, which is currently seeking writers."

Well, that's interesting. Maybe Edward Norton can do the TV show. It'd look something like this:

Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller... together?

2010-10-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

Eddie Murphy is joining Ben Stiller and Alan Alda in the Brett Ratner-directed Tower Heist [previously titled Trump Heist] at Universal Pictures.

Tower Heist sees an overworked manager (Stiller) of an illustrious tower residence who leads a team of defrauded workers in a heist of its penthouse tenant, a Bernie Madoff-type Wall Street capitalist (Alda) who pulled a Ponzi scheme and swindled the staff.

Jeff Nathanson is rewriting the script for the action comedy, targeted for a November 4, 2011 release."

Michael J. Fox is BACK!

2010-10-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Spike TV's SCREAM 2010 awards will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future with Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson and Elisabeth Shue reuniting onstage. To tease the event, Fox reshot the original teaser for the film! You can watch the new version below followed by the original teaser. The "Back to the Future" trilogy hits Blu-ray and DVD on October 26, 2010."

Rhys Ifans is the Lizard?

2010-10-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"According to TheWrap, they've figured out who the villain in Marc Webb's Untitled Spider-Man Reboot will be, as played by the recently-announced Rhys Ifans, and it's a villain that's been discussed to be in the fourth movie even back when Sam Raimi was still going to direct it... The Lizard!

In the previous trilogy, Dr. Curt Connors was played by actor Dylan Baker, who had originally assumed he would be returning for Raimi's fourth movie, saying that the Lizard would indeed be next, but when it was decided to reboot the franchise and Marc Webb was brought on board, it was thought that maybe those plans had changed.

Who knows if and when Sony Pictures will make their own announcement confirming this (or not) or we find out who leaked this information? (Andrew Garfield was in London for the premiere of his new film Never Let Me Go tonight, so maybe that's where it came from? TheWrap ain't sayin'.)"

Mike Myers as Pepe Le Pew?

2010-10-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Vulture is reporting that Mike Myers will take on the voice of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies character Pepé Le Pew in a live-action/CGI feature at Warner Bros. Pictures.

In the cartoons, which first premiered in 1945, Pepé Le Pew is a French skunk who is always in pursuit of a black cat that has a white stripe painted down her back by accident. He, of course, thinks it's a skunk and won't take 'no' for an answer, even though she often physically assaults him.

In the film, Pepé and the cat would be CGI characters while the rest of the film would be live action.

The Chuck Jones-directed Pepé Le Pew short 'For Scent-imental Reasons' won an Oscar for Best Short Subject (Cartoons) in 1949.

Myers has voiced Shrek in DreamWorks Animation's popular franchise that includes four films, a theme park ride and two television specials."

Face it, Tiger... Emma Stone IS Gwen Stacy?

2010-10-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Emma Stone has been cast as the female lead in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, it was announced today by Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures. Stone has been tapped for the role of Gwen Stacy opposite Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. The film, to be directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and produced by Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will begin production in December and will be released in theaters nationwide in 3D on July 3, 2012.

The casting continues an association between Sony Pictures Entertainment and the actress, who previously starred in Superbad, The House Bunny, and Zombieland, all for Columbia Pictures; she may currently be seen in Screen Gems' hit comedy Easy A, and takes a cameo role in Screen Gems' upcoming Friends with Benefits.

Commenting on the announcement, Tolmach said, 'It's been an incredible journey for us to watch Emma's star rise as an actress. She is extraordinarily talented and has a very special on-screen spark that is perfect for this role. Given her history with the studio, casting her in one of our most important franchises is a real thrill.'

Webb added, 'The chemistry between Andrew and Emma was stunning and made Emma the clear choice. At the heart of the story of Peter Parker is not only the amazing Spider-Man, but also an ordinary teenager who is wondering what he has to do to get the girl. Andrew and Emma will bring everything audiences expect to these roles, but also make them their own. Much to my surprise, it was fun to find out that our choice for Gwen (Emma) is also a natural blonde.'

Emma Stone can currently be seen starring in Screen Gems' hit comedy Easy A. Next year, she will star in Warner Bros.' Crazy, Stupid, Love opposite Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling and in The Help, the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's bestselling novel; she also takes a cameo role in Screen Gems' Friends with Benefits and will voice a role in DreamWorks Animation's comedy The Croods. Stone's recent credits include Paper Man, Zombieland, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, The House Bunny, The Rocker, and Superbad."

YAY!!! Huh? Not as Mary Jane? What the heck???

Who watches the SUPERMAN? Zack Snyder does.

2010-10-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300) has been officially confirmed as the director of the upcoming Superman reboot, reports Heat Vision.

Snyder's name recently appeared as a rumored candidate for the position and one of several directors on the Warner Bros. short list. Snyder himself revealed in 2008 that he was originally in line to direct Superman Returns, but that he was not interested in taking the job.

'They asked me to direct a Superman movie, and I said no,' was Snyder's response more than two years ago, 'He's a tricky one nowadays, isn't he? He's the king daddy of all comic-book heroes, but I'm just not sure how you sell that kind of earnestness to a sophisticated audience anymore.'

Whether it is Snyder's view of the project or the new tone itself that has changed remains to be seen, but what is known is that the film will move forward with a script from David Goyer and Jonathan Nolan. Christopher Nolan will 'godfather' the production, aiming for a late 2012 release.

Snyder's Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is currently playing in theaters and his next film, Sucker Punch, opens March 25th.

UPDATE: Deadline has just spoken with Snyder, who both confirmed his involvement and made the following statement:

'I've been a big fan of the character for a long time, he's definitely the king of all superheroes, he's the one. It's early yet, but I can tell you that what David [Goyer] and Chris [Nolan] have done with the story so far definitely has given me a great insight into a way to make him feel modern. I've always felt he was kind of awesome. I'll finish Sucker Punch and get right at it.'"

HE'S PERFECT!!!!!!!

As long as he doesn't make it too violent.

TRUE GRIT cuts down a trailer

2010-10-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"In the December 25 release, [True Grit] 14-year-old Mattie Ross's (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him -- over his objections -- to hunt down Chaney. Her father's blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man."

MAGIC KINGDOM to come to life?

2010-09-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"While Variety says the project is a low priority for the studio, Disney is planning on giving its theme park attractions the Justice League/Avengers treatment with Magic Kingdom, which would be the setting of a family adventure.

Ronald Moore ('Battlestar Galactica') already wrote a script based on his own pitch for the project that Marc Abraham and Eric Newman will produce through their Universal-based Strike Entertainment. The initial plot took place inside Disneyland, says the trade.

The studio is looking to develop the project further with a new writer, who has not been hired yet.

The movie would feature well-known Disney-owned icons such as Mickey Mouse and friends, princesses, attractions from the parks, and more.

Separately from Magic Kingdom, Disney is filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth film in the franchise, The Haunted Mansion with Guillermo del Toro, Tomorrowland [(with Dwayne Johnson supposedly in the lead role)] and Jungle Cruise.

On the princess side, the studio is working on live-action pics Snow and the Seven, Maleficent [(with Angelina Jolie supposedly as Maleficent herself)], and Cinderella."

Maybe Disney's Night at the Museum?

Robert Zemeckis' TIMELESS return to live-action

2010-09-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Robert Zemeckis will be returning to live-action films with a sci-fi tentpole called Timeless.

Details are scarce, but Timeless is said to have come from a time travel pitch at Warner Bros. and is confirmed to be the director's first live-action project since 2000's Cast Away. Beginning with 2004's The Polar Express, Zemeckis has worked exclusively with performance capture animation on films like I and the upcoming Yellow Submarine.

A frequent subject in Zemeckis' films, time travel is most famously associated with the Back to the Future trilogy, but also plays a storytelling role in his most recent film, A Christmas Carol. Stylistic elements of time travel (particularly an examination of characters from two distinctive eras) are visible in nearly all of the director's works, particularly Forrest Gump."

STAR WARS will finally be released in 3D!

2010-09-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Lucasfilm Ltd. announced today that the live-action Star Wars saga will be converted to 3D.

'There are few movies that lend themselves more perfectly to 3D; from the Death Star trench run to the Tatooine Podrace, the Star Wars Saga has always delivered an entertainment experience that is completely immersive," said the statement.

Presented by Twentieth Century Fox and Lucasfilm Ltd., the 'cutting edge conversion' will be supervised by Industrial Light & Magic.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is expected to be released theatrically in 2012. A release date has not yet been determined.

'Getting good results on a stereo conversion is a matter of taking the time and getting it right,' said John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor for Industrial Light & Magic. 'It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to detail to be successful. It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results. For Star Wars we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new Star Wars experience.'"

YAHOO!!!!

Mark Ruffalo REALLY is the Hulk!

2010-09-24T15:46:00.001-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"We all know that Mark Ruffalo landed the part of Bruce Banner/The Hulk in Marvel Studios' upcoming The Avengers. What we didn't know is that he'll actually do the motion capture for the Green Goliath!

He told Vulture: 'I'm really excited. No one's ever played the Hulk exactly, they've always done CGI... They're going to do the Avatar stop-action, stop-motion capture. So I'll actually play the Hulk. That'll be fun.'

Ruffalo added that he's going more for Bill Bixby's Banner: 'I really love the first TV version of it, the Bill Bixby one... I'm gonna shoot for that a little bit. He was an everyman in it. He's always on the run and trying to find love. It's really a sympathetic character, before he turns into the Hulk and [messes] everything up.'

The Avengers is scheduled for a May 4, 2012 release."

Face it, Tiger... Emma's hit the jackpot?

2010-09-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

From Slashfilm:

"Sony has been remarkably good so far about keeping details of the upcoming Spider-Man reboot totally quiet. We know that Andrew Garfield is set as Peter Parker. (After seeing him in The Social Network, you’ll probably really understand why.) But that’s just about all we know. Who is the villain? What character will be the female lead and who will play her? Open questions right now.

But the latest report says there will be two female leads, and that Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre) and Emma Stone (Zombieland, Easy A) have been working with Sony, Garfield and director Mark Webb in readings and tests.

EW reports that the two actresses are now in the mix, and supposes that means the roles are classic romantic interests Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy. The immediate conclusion to draw is that Emma Stone would be Mary Jane and Mia Wasikowska Gwen Stacy.

To which I say: yes. Do it. After Easy A, I wouldn’t doubt Stone’s fitness for the role for even a second. And she’d be great opposite Garfield. Wasikowska is equally appropriate for Gwen Stacy.

Questions: are those really the roles? (How could they not be?) Who else is testing? (A great many actresses, one would guess.) And do Stone and Wasikowska want the gigs? As for who else is testing, previous shortlist reports included Imogen Poots [(Me and Orson Welles)], Ophelia Lovibond [(Nowhere Boy)], Lily Collins [(The Blind Side)], Teresa Palmer [(The Sorcerer's Apprentice)], Emma Roberts ([Scream 4)] and Mary Elizabeth Winstead [(Scott Pilgrim vs. the World )].

The second and third questions are key. EW says Sony declined to comment and won’t reveal who else is testing, nor how the priority shortlist is arranged. The site does say that Wasikowska is said to be ambivalent about the job. We’ve been led to understand that this won’t be a particularly high-paying job, and it would likely require an open multi-picture contract. (Wasikowska may well already have one of those with Disney for another Alice movie.)

Spider-Man should shoot by the end of this year, so expect real decisions to be made soon."

OK. Here we go.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please let Emma Stone play Mary Jane Watson. It would be brilliant for her to do this role. Just imagine her saying the famous line, "Face it, Tiger. You just hit the jackpot." A line that Kirsten Dunst NEVER said in any of the Spider-Man films.

And Mia Wasikowska as Gwen Stacy is genius, IF she can pick up a flawless American accent. If so, fantastic.

How in the world could Disney be making ANOTHER Alice in Wonderland movie? It makes no sense, unless they plan on pulling more from "Through the Looking Glass".

Cast Announced for FRANKENWEENIE

2010-09-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Winona Ryder, Martin Landau, Martin Short and Catherine O'Hara have been cast to do vocal work on Frankenweenie.

The project is a stop-motion, feature-length adaptation of the live-action short film Burton directed in 1984. Short and O'Hara, who have appeared in Mars Attacks! and Beetlejuice, respectively, will voice five characters each. Ryder (Edward Scissorhands) will voice the character Elsa, while Landau (Ed Wood) will play Mr. Rzykruski. Martin Short (Mars Attacks!) and Catherine O'Hara (Beetle Juice and A Nightmare Before Christmas) take on the voices of five characters each. Short plays Bob, Nassor, Toshiaki, Victor's Dad and Mr. Bergermeister. O'Hara voices Edgar, Weird Girl, Victor's Mom, and Gym Teacher.

John August (Big Fish) penned the script and the film is on track for a March 9, 2012 release."

Cast Announced for SUPER 8

2010-09-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Paramount Pictures announced today that it has commenced principal photography on Super 8, directed by J.J. Abrams (Star Trek), from a screenplay by Abrams, based on his original idea.

Steven Spielberg, Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing the Amblin Entertainment/Bad Robot Production. Paramount Pictures will release the film summer 2011.

Starring Emmy-nominated Kyle Chandler ('Friday Night Lights') and Elle Fanning (Somewhere, winner of the 2010 Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion Award), the cast includes veteran actors Ron Eldard [(Black Hawk Down)] and Noah Emmerich [Cellular, The Truman Show], newcomers Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills [(Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium], and Gabriel Basso ('The Big C')."

UPDATE:

From ComingSoon.net:

"AJ Michalka, actress and one-half of the duo 78violet, announced today that she has been cast in J.J. Abrams' Super 8.

Michalka, who recently had a role in The Lovely Bones and stars in the upcoming Secretariat, will be joining a cast that includes Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Ron Eldard, Noah Emmerich, Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills and Gabriel Basso.

Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the [sci-fi] thriller is now shooting for a Summer 2011 release."

Her sister, Aly Michalka, just starred in the hit comedy film Easy A.

FAST FIVE burns up IMAX

2010-09-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"IMAX Corporation announced today that Universal Pictures' Fast Five will be released to digital IMAX theatres simultaneously with the action-thriller's wide release on June 10, 2011. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of all-stars from every chapter of the Fast and Furious franchise, along with some new cast including Dwayne Johnson, in the film directed by Justin Lin.

Universal's partnership with IMAX on Fast Five marks the studio's return to the IMAX fold. The Academy Award-winning Apollo 13, in 2002 was the first Universal film to utilize the IMAX DMR technology.

'Fast Five' is a perfect film for IMAX,' said Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Fogelson. 'The film's incredible action sequences combined with IMAX's unmatched quality that allows the action to jump off the screen will provide filmgoers with an optimal theatrical experience.'

In Fast Five, former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law. Dwayne Johnson joins returning favorites Jordana Brewster, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Matt Schulze, Tego Calderon and Don Omar for this ultimate high-stakes race.

Since Brian and Mia Toretto (Brewster) broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail.

Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey...before someone else runs them down first."

Shawn Levy suits up for DEADLIEST WARRIOR

2010-09-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Shawn Levy and Dan Levine are looking to bring the Spike TV television series 'Deadliest Warrior' to the big screen, Paramount announced today in a press release, excerpted below:

'Deadliest Warrior' pits history's greatest warriors against one another to determine who reigns supreme. Along with the use of 21st century science and the latest in CGI technology, the series enlists world-class fighters, historians and weapons experts to provide insight into the unique history and style of these combatants which culminates in a head-to-head final fight between two warriors to declare which one would have been the deadliest. The first two seasons showed such memorable battles as Spartan vs. Ninja, Viking vs. Samurai, Pirate vs. Knight, Yakuza vs. Mafia and Comanche vs. Mongol.   

The film's storyline is being kept under wraps.

Levy is currently working Real Steel for a late 2011 release. There is the suggestion that Deadliest Warrior may become his next directing project, but it is unconfirmed at this time."

Wow. This would be a real turn for him. I thought he said he wanted to do comedies again.

THE TOURIST boards a trailer

2010-09-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Columbia Pictures has revealed the trailer for director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's thriller The Tourist, starring Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton and Steven Berkoff.

Opening in theaters on December 10, 2010, the film revolves around Frank (Depp), an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise (Jolie) is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Venice, Frank pursues a potential romance but soon finds himself the pursued as he and Elise are caught in a whirlwind of intrigue and danger."

It's sort of in tone with Knight and Day. It's funny and action-packed. I've read that Depp does a sort of "Jimmy Stewart in a Hitchcock film" performance. It sounds fantastic. That's gonna be an interesting war between The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Tourist, because Treader's in 3D and a third film in a popular franchise. Tourist does however have more star power and will certainly bring in fans of both Depp and Jolie.

From RED to R.I.P.D.

2010-09-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Universal Pictures has hired Red helmer Robert Schwentke to direct the supernatural action film R.I.P.D. (short for "Rest In Peace Department"), based on Peter Lenkov's Dark Horse comic about a police department of the dead.

Ryan Reynolds signed last spring to star in the film, centered on two officers -- one recently dead and one who's been dead for hundreds of years.

Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi are writing the screenplay.

Mike Richardson, founder and President of Dark Horse, and Lawrence Gordon will produce for Dark Horse Entertainment. Neal Moritz is producing through his Original Film."

Sounds great! Can't wait to see it, especially if Red is as good as it looks.

Liam Neeson boards BATTLESHIP

2010-09-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

"Liam Neeson has joined the cast of Universal's Battleship, the Hasbro board game adaptation directed by Peter Berg.

The film also stars Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna and Hamish Linklater

Neeson will play the Admiral Shane character alongside Kitsch, who portrays a Naval officer and Shane's future son-in-law. Decker is playing Shane's daughter. Skarsgard will play the brother to Kitsch's character.

Battleship will unfold as a massive Naval adventure across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force.

Universal Pictures is scheduled to release the movie on May 18, 2012."

Maybe Liam Neeson will make this movie better, who knows? Though his last two films (The A-Team and Clash of the Titans) haven't done well.

We're BACK... as a Video Game!

2010-09-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Telltale Games announced today that Christopher Lloyd is returning to voice Doc Brown for the Back to the Future game series. The films' co-creator and writer Bob Gale is consulting as well. You can also see the first image below the announcement:

'At 88 miles per hour, Back to the Future took millions of spellbound viewers on a high-flying voyage across the space-time continuum in a trio of wildly inventive tales that broke box-office records around the world. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award®-winning cinematic franchise that generated nearly $1 billion worldwide, Telltale Games will release a new game series this winter as part of the milestone soon after the Blu-ray debut and DVD release of the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy on October 26, featuring all-new restorations of the classic films.

Telltale today announced that the highly anticipated Back to the Future games will feature the likenesses of the original stars that made the characters of Marty McFly and Doc Brown legendary: Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. Lloyd is voicing Doc Brown for the full game series, which Telltale will deliver in five monthly episodes. The first images showing the game depictions of Marty and Doc are now available at: www.backtothefuturegame.com. The game series is developed through a licensing agreement with Universal Partnerships & Licensing.

'Creating cinematic adventures true to the source is a top mission for Telltale,' says Telltale CEO Dan Connors. 'Securing Marty and Doc for the games, and presenting the experience that fans know and love, has been top on our list since we initiated development.'

Co-creator and writer Bob Gale’s involvement further strengthens the links to the original series. Gale is consulting with Telltale on the characterizations and storyline for the game, ensuring it will be true to the spirit and adventure of the films.

Gale elaborates: 'Twenty-five years ago when I wrote Doc Brown’s line about ‘seeing the future,’ little did I realize that I would be traveling with him to work on this game. Collaborating with Telltale is an amazing opportunity to continue the adventures of Doc and Marty.'

FANTASTIC!!! I am a huge Back to the Future fan!!! Now if only they can get Michael J. Fox to come back. If they can't get either Thomas F. Wilson or Mary Steenburgen but they can get Michael J. Fox, it will still be a great game for me!

TOY STORY 3 makes a billion!

2010-08-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Walt Disney Studios announced today that Toy Story 3 will surpass the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office today. It marks the first time a studio will have two $1 billion movies in one year:

Two weeks after becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 will cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office today, joining Alice in Wonderland as the second $1 billion film this year from The Walt Disney Studios – the first studio in history to accomplish this feat. Disney first crossed the $1 billion threshold with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in 2006. Toy Story 3 becomes the only animated film to reach this milestone and the seventh title in industry history.

'It's been an incredible year as we saw the Pixar team bring Buzz and Woody back to the big screen and watched Tim Burton's vision for Alice in Wonderland take the world by storm,' said Rich Ross, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. 'These box office triumphs prove that creative storytelling brought to life by imaginative, inspired and talented professionals is something audiences respond to the world over.'

As of Thursday (8/26/10), Toy Story 3 tallied more than $592.9 million internationally, Disney's largest international animated release. Latin American audiences have contributed $138 million making Toy Story 3 the highest grossing Disney film ever released in the region. Toy Story 3 is the most successful UK release in Disney history and currently stands as the fourth biggest title in territory history with $102.4 million in box office receipts so far. In Japan, the film has taken in $111.2 million and spent five consecutive weeks as the #1 movie. Toy Story 3 currently ranks as the #7 film in global box office history and domestically ranks #9 with $404.6 million in receipts to date.

Alice in Wonderland began setting records during its opening weekend (March 5-7), becoming the biggest March opening in industry history, the highest 3D opening ever and The Walt Disney Studios' biggest opening for a non-sequel film. Internationally, the film went on to tally more than $690 million, becoming Disney's biggest overseas release of all time and the fourth biggest title ever released overseas. Worldwide, the film took in $1.0243 billion, ranking it as the #5 film in global box office history."

Let's hope Tron: Legacy makes a billion!!!

From KUNG FU to KARATE

2010-08-27T19:39:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Cyrus Voris and Ethan Reiff, who wrote the Kung Fu Panda story, have been hired to write the sequel to The Karate Kid.

The first film, starring Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith and Taraji P. Henson, cost about $40 million to make and has earned an impressive $299.7 million worldwide. It was directed by Harald Zwart.

Columbia Pictures has not revealed the setting or the plot of the sequel. Will Smith is again producing with Overbrook Entertainment partners James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz."

Interesting. Both Kung Fu Panda and The Karate Kid star Jackie Chan.

If you have not seen The Karate Kid, it is a fantastic movie. I highly recommend it.

Jeremy Renner accepts MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV

2010-08-26T19:36:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Jeremy Renner has signed to star alongside Tom Cruise in Paramount Pictures' Mission: Impossible IV.

It is the second big part Renner has landed after his role in the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker. He's also set to play Hawkeye in Marvel Studios and Paramount's The Avengers, coming to theaters on May 4, 2012.

Production on the fourth installment of the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise is scheduled to begin this fall under the direction of Brad Bird. J.J. Abrams is producing the December 16, 2011 release with Cruise."

This is a good way to introduce Renner to mainstream audiences months before The Avengers.

Marvel clenches their IRON FIST

2010-08-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"An Iron Fist film is moving into the scripting stage, says a report at Deadline.

Marvel Studios has brought aboard Rich Wilkes (the XXX film series) to write the screenplay, which will adapt the story of Danny Rand, the Marvel martial arts superhero created in the 1970's.

In the Marvel Universe, Rand is the son of a wealthy explorer who trains in the mystical arts and eventually gains the power of the legendary Iron Fist, a magical fighting power that gives him indestructible fists. First using the power after his father's death, Rand continued to bear the mantle in the fight against evil. Later, Iron Fist popularly teamed with Luke Cage (Power Man), who allegedly has his own film in development.

In the current comic book continuity, Iron Fist is member of the New Avengers, a team that includes Cage, Jessica Jones, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, Mockingbird and The Thing (of the Fantastic Four). Studio rights preclude several of those characters from appearing on the big screen together for the time being, but a Power Man and Iron Fist crossover is certainly possible."

I've heard this could be the first Marvel/Disney film. They gotta put some years between The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Dr. Strange.

Dustin Hoffman's a FOCKER again

2010-08-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Despite initially being written out of Little Fockers, Dustin Hoffman will indeed be reprising his role in the sequel. His scenes will come from a series of pickup shots Universal Pictures is adding to the film, including some opposite onscreen wife Barbra Streisand.

Opening in theaters on December 22, the Paul Weitz-directed film also stars Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Jessica Alba, Laura Dern, Harvey Keitel and Teri Polo."

Maybe he'll make the movie better. I've heard this movie is disasterous compared to the original two films.

Jessica Alba becomes a mother to SPY KIDS

2010-08-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Jessica Alba is reteaming with Robert Rodriguez a third time for Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World. She has previously starred in Sin City, co-directed by Rodriguez, and has a role in the helmer's September 3 release Machete.

Heat Vision says the new Spy Kids film is a reboot of sorts. Alba will play a retired spy who has been reactivated. Her character is the mother of a baby and two preteen stepchildren.

The actors cast in the preteen roles will be the new Spy Kids. Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara played the Spy Kids in the first three films, that also starred Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino as their superspy parents.

The trade adds that other roles seeking to be filled include Alba's husband, 'a slightly nerdy investigative reporter, and the villain, known as the Time Keeper, whose goal it is to stop time.'

Banderas, Vega and Sabara are expected to return in supporting roles. Shooting is scheduled to start on the 3D film next month."

Good to see Jessica Alba doing a slightly less-serious movie. And also good to see the original Spy Kids and their dad coming back.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS plot points revealed!

2010-08-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

I've read this and I will say there aren't that many spoilers. If any, they are mild.

From ComingSoon.net:

"Several details from next summer's X-Men: First Class have been revealed thanks to an informal phone interview AICN conducted with the film's producer (and director of the first two X-Men films) Bryan Singer.

First Class is said to take place in the 1960's and will heavily play with the style of the day. Audiences will see John F. Kennedy as President and the parallel storyline of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X will play in the background. Overall, the look is said to emulate the original X-Men costumes far more than previous films have, though the film's chronology pre-dates the First Class story in the comics, meaning that many of the expected characters (Cyclops and Marvel Girl are listed by name) will not appear.

The villain of the film is, as rumored, Sebastian Shaw (played by Kevin Bacon). January Jones's Emma Frost will appear as the Hellfire Club's White Queen as well.

The central focus of the film is the friendship between Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Eric Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) and how it falls apart. Xavier will not be depicted as bald or in a wheelchair for the majority of the film, though we will learn what cripples him.

AICN's article makes frequent James Bond comparisons, nothing that that film will heavily play up the 60's style, but with retro future technology with a setting that spans the globe. Russia, specifically, is mentioned.

X-Men: First Class is slated to hit theaters on June 3, 2011."

Neville Page, monster maker, working on SUPER 8

2010-08-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Neville Page, the conceptual artist responsible for designs in Star Trek, Cloverfield, Piranha 3D, [Avatar] and the upcoming TRON: Legacy, teased information to Wired about the creature design in his next big project, Super 8.

Though he's light on details, Page does reveal that he was tasked with designing the creature after the teaser trailer was created and that J.J. Abrams showed him the footage to help get him excited.

'When that door blows open,' he says, 'it's the ultimate reveal. It's Elvis or something.'

What's more, Page hints that Abrams won't resort entirely to computer animation to bring the monster to life and that the writer/director will rely on some classic special effect work.

'I'll bet you anything there's going to be a rubber something or other at some point,' says Page."

So if they're using a rubber monster, they're really serious about making this an old-school movie. Can't wait to see and/or hear more.

Jim Carrey takes care of MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS

2010-08-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Jim Carrey has signed on to play the lead in Mr. Popper's Penguins.

The project, announced for development earlier this year, is based on the storybook by Richard & Florence Atwater, a perennial children's classic since 1938. The story tells of Mr. Popper, a house painter whose letter to one of his heroes, an Arctic explorer, results in the gift of a dozen penguins that arrive on his doorstep.

Earlier plans were to have Noah Baumbach direct with Ben Stiller in the lead, but it was subsequently suggested that Mark Waters would helm, a report that the latest news seems to confirm."

Jim Carrey? Penguins? A comedy?

Color me interested!!!! Now if only he'd come back to Twitter.

More from MTV.com:

"The last time Jim Carrey lit up the big screen, he did so as four different CGI characters in Disney's animated A Christmas Carol. Now, in addition to the recently announced project Pierre, Pierre, with "Bruno" director Larry Charles, Deadline reports that 20th Century Fox has lined up the funnyman to star in Mr. Popper's Penguins, based on the classic children's book of the same name.

The film adaptation is said to be an upscale spin on the book, with Carrey in the role of the titular Mr. Popper, now a high-powered businessman who suddenly inherits six penguins. As Popper becomes increasingly attached to his feathered friends, his life unravels and you guessed it wackiness ensues. According to the script synopsis, Popper's swanky apartment turns into a winter wonderland, and he almost lands in jail.

'But thanks to his new charges,' the logline reads, 'Popper comes to understand the importance of family human and otherwise.'

Fans of the book, written by Richard and Florence Atwater, will note that this proposed film version is a departure from the 1938 original, in which Popper is a poor housepainter who receives the surprise gift of a penguin by mail after writing into a radio broadcast hosted by Antarctic explorer Admiral Drake. Eventually, one penguin turns into 12, and in order to support their expansive brood, the Poppers train the penguins to perform.

Perhaps Carrey can convince the filmmakers to reintroduce the painter aspect of Popper's character, given the actor's newfound passion for painting, which he has been chronicling via his Twitter account. No word on when production is scheduled to begin, but Mark Waters (Mean Girls and The Spiderwick Chronicles) is set to direct."

DreamWorks Animations makes IMAGINARY ENEMIES

2010-08-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Married screenwriters Joe Syracuse and Lisa Addario are penning Imaginary Enemies for DreamWorks Animation. Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After) is developing the project with the writers, but he is not on board to direct at the moment.

... The project 'will be told from the point of view of the imaginary friends who had long been used as scapegoats by unscrupulous children looking for someone else to blame for their misdeeds. Eventually fed up, those imaginary people come looking for some payback when the kids are grown up.'

According to the trade, discussions are taking place about a possible live-action/animation hybrid that would represent the split worlds of the imaginary and the real."

"Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" brought back to life?

NEXT!!!

Seth Rogen turns into a ghost?

2010-08-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Seth Rogen has signed on for Boo U, according to Heat Vision.

The animated film (from Igor director Tony Leondis) is being developed by DreamWorks Animation for release in 3D. Rogen will play a ghost who is forced to return to ghost school and improve his haunting skills.

The studio is eyeing a 2012 release for the film."

Seth Rogen has previously done films from DreamWorks Animations - Shrek the Third, Kung Fu Panda (and its upcoming sequel), Monsters vs. Aliens.

So can this be an interesting combination of Casper and Monsters, Inc.?

7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN... 2 hour movie

2010-08-17T23:16:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Jack Bender [one of the lead directors of the TV show "Lost", including the infamous series finale] has signed on direct 7 Minutes in Heaven for Paramount.

The film, based on an original idea from Bender, tells the story of two teenagers who, upon returning from a round of the titular game, find all of their friends dead.

J.J. Abrams will produce through Bad Robot, now at the stage of finding a writer to move the idea towards a full script."

If this is anything like Disturbia, this film will work. I know J.J. Abrams won't be involved in anything but the best.

Hugh Jackman is not AVON MAN

2010-08-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Hugh Jackman has opted not to appear in the upcoming Avon Man.

The film (an original script from Hitch writer Kevin Bisch with a current rewrite from The Switch's Allan Loeb) tells the comedic story of a man who, after being laid off from his job at a car dealership, is forced to become an Avon representative to make ends meet.

Jackman will remain involved as a producer through his company, Seed Productions with an eye towards an October start date.

The article mentions that Jackman will instead start getting in shape in late fall to reprise his role as Logan in Wolverine 2, written by Christopher McQuarrie and concentrating on the samurai storyline originated in the comic series."

"I'll Be Back..." as a Cartoon?

2010-08-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

Fronm ComingSoon.net:

"Hannover House, the entertainment distribution division of Target Development Group, Inc., has entered into a feature film development venture with Vancouver-based Red Bear Entertainment, for Terminator 3000, envisioned as a $70-million dollar budgeted, 3D animated feature film based on the characters and situations introduced in the original Terminator feature. Hannover House C.E.O. Eric Parkinson previously served as C.E.O. of Hemdale Home Video, Inc. and Hemdale Communications, Inc., and handled the distribution of the original Terminator feature.

Story details for Terminator 3000 are being kept under close wraps, but the writers and production team have a stated goal of minimizing violence in order to obtain a PG-13 level of material.

Hemdale produced and distributed director James Cameron's original Terminator feature, but released the sequel rights in 1990 to Carolco, which later transferred the rights to ultimately end up under the control of Halcyon Media. Santa Barbara based Pacificor, LLC prevailed in the most recent auction and transfer of rights to the franchise in January, and retains approval and licensing authority over the proposed Terminator 3000 project.

Hannover House and Red Bear Entertainment will release details of the production timing, financing and principal production personnel later this year, in advance of a proposed January, 2011 start."

McG's gonna be mad.

Maybe this is a good way to get Arnold Schwarzenegger back as the Terminator. He's too old to play the Terminator in a live-action movie, but he's still got the voice.

UPDATE:

From ComingSoon.net:

Maybe the news about the $70 million computer-animated film was premature because now Deadline is reporting that Pacificor, the company that owns the rights to the Terminator franchise have sent a cease and desist letter to Hannover House following the announcement earlier today. Hannover House CEO Eric Parkinson, former head of the Home Video division of Hemdale, who made the original Terminator, claims that he owns the animation rights to the property which weren't included in the sale to Carolco."

BUGS BUNNY to return to the big screen

2010-08-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Warner Bros. is planning to bring Bugs Bunny to the big screen in a live-action film.

David Berenbaum, the screenwriter of Elf and The Spiderwick Chronicles has been hired to draft the film which, like the studio's upcoming Yogi Bear, will blend live action with computer animation.

Bugs Bunny, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, has not appeared on the big screen since 2003's Looney Tunes: Back in Action. Other 'Looney Tunes' characters [Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner] recently made a theatrical resurgence with a CGI short before Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. Two more [3D] shorts are planned before WB family films [(Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole and Yogi Bear)] later this year."

If they do this right, this will work. If not, Warner Bros. will ruin Bugs Bunny like Disney ruined Herbie the Love Bug! The Love Bug was the highest-grossing film of 1969! And they stuck him with a dumb redhead who can't keep herself out of jail! (not to assume all redheads are dumb - see Emma Stone).

By the way, Looney Tunes: Back in Action wasn't all bad. It was okay, Brendan Fraser did fine. The animation should've been 2D like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.

YOGI BEAR steals a trailer

2010-07-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The unlikely pairing of Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake provide voices to the classic animated characters Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, respectively, in a big screen adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series.

'When Jellystone Park is found to be losing business, greedy Mayor Brown decides to shut it down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors -- and, even worse, Yogi and Boo Boo will be tossed out of the only home they've ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove that he really is 'smarter than the average bear' as he and Boo-Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith to find a way to save Jellystone Park from closing forever.

The film also stars Tom Cavanagh as Smith and Anna Faris as Rachel. Yogi Bear hits theaters on December 17, 2010."

Okay. It's a step-up from Alvin and the Chipmunks. The character design is a bit better than Scooby-Doo, which didn't even remotely LOOK like Scooby-Doo. Both Yogi and Boo-Boo look like CG versions of The Country Bears. Hopefully, it won't end up BEING The Country Bears (which has since faded into obscurity).

Yogi sounds like a cross between his normal self and Space Ghost. If they ever made a live-action Space Ghost movie, Dan Aykroyd would be a good voice.

Justin Timberlake was my biggest concern before the trailer came out. I used to think he'd be a terrible voice for Boo-Boo. After seeing the trailer, he sounded eerily like Boo-Boo. It was uncanny! I'd go so far as to say he actually nailed it!

BATTLESHIP's newest star is...

2010-07-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Rihanna is set to make her feature film debut in Universal's Battleship, the Hasbro adaptation to be directed by Peter Berg.

The recording artist, songwriter and model will be joining Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Skarsgard in the film, scheduled to hit theaters on May 18, 2012.

Battleship will unfold as a massive Naval adventure across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Kitsch stars as a Naval officer who leads the fight and Skarsgard will play his brother in the film.

Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber wrote the screenplay, which was revised by Brian Koppelman and David Levein."

Oh, good Lord. I gotta admit this gave me a laugh when I needed it.

By the way, this is post #700!!!

Comic-Con: THE AVENGERS assembled!!

2010-07-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

From Slashfilm:

"It was a pretty poorly kept secret that Marvel planned to formally announce The Avengers today during the Marvel Studios panel in Hall H at the San Diego Comic Con, but that didn’t stop thousands of people going into geek rapture when the full cast walked out on stage.

After the Thor panel concluded, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige dimmed the lights one last time, and an Avengers ‘A’ logo slowly resolved on screen as the voice of Nick Fury (Sam Jackson) explained the formation of the world’s biggest superhero team. And then Jackson himself came on stage to introduce the cast.

Jackson introduced the cast we know, all of whom strode out on stage. We’d just seen Clark Gregg (SHIELD Agent Coulson [from the Iron Man films and the upcoming Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor) on other panels, but the appearances of Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man) and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) were surprises.

Then Downey took the mic, and before he got down to business he took a moment to comment on the wild ambition of Inception before proclaiming the idea of bringing together the leads of all of Marvel’s superhero films for The Avengers to be the most wildly ambitious movie idea yet hatched.

Then he introduced Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk.

Then Joss Whedon came out, grinning like a madman. 'I’ve had a dream all my life,' he exclaimed, 'and it was not this good!' (Then, in typically self-depricating style, he jokingly added 'and I am going to blow it.')"

UPDATE:

A video detailing each actor and what role they will play in The Avengers straight from Marvel.

Here's also the logo teaser that Marvel had at Comic-Con:

Comic-Con: Ryan Reynolds lights up GREEN LANTERN

2010-07-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"ComingSoon.net's SuperHeroHype is at the Warner Bros. Comic-Con presentation for director Martin Campbell's Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins and more, and we're live-blogging the event as it takes place.

There's a lot of excitement to see the very first footage for the first Warner Bros. superhero movie done under the DC Entertainment banner, the production having been shooting in Louisiana since February with two more weeks to go.

Not sure if this is something that many people will realize but apparently, there are hurricane warnings along the Gulf, which means the cast and crew of Green Lantern had to run in to do the panel and they have to get right back to Louisiana.

Moderator is Geoff Boucher of Hero Complex. He started things off by saying the Green Lantern oath, great way to kick things off and the first person out is Green Lantern writer and DC Entertainment CCO Geoff Johns!

They're starting things off with some footage! It's essentially a teaser which starts off with a glowing green ball and an alien voiceover that says:

'Welcome inhabitants of sector 2814. The Guardians have chosen you as candidates for enlistment but before you can be recruited, you must be tested. The light you see before you is controlled by your will. Focus on the light. If you will it, it will be. Now, focus.'

That ball of green light continues to pulse and get larger and larger before it blasts the screen with a wave of green light.

We then hear Reynolds' voiceover saying the Green Lantern oath and a quick montage of footage cut together that went by very fast, including a close-up of Reynolds as Hal Jordan, his hand holding the ring, we see him in street clothes being pulled upwards and see a later scene in which he's taking on criminals by using the ring to form a giant fist that throws a roundhouse punch knocking out a bunch of guys. We get a very brief glimpse of Hector Hammond and Tomar Re.

After the oath is done, we hear the original alien voiceover saying, 'The choice has been made.'

The light we saw earlier starts forming into the GL emblem and then we see the logo is 'Await Further Contact Summer 2011.'

They're now bringing out the cast and crew including producer Donald DeLine, writer/producer Greg Berlanti, director Martin Campbell, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong and Peter Sarsgaard.

Ryan Reynolds says he was influenced by Han Solo and Chuck Yaeger for the part of Hal Jordan. The rest of the cast are talking about their characters and doing a superhero movie.

Director Martin Campbell is talking about the tone about keeping it very real and that the humor is apparent due to the presence of Ryan and Blake.

Producer Donald DeLine just listed a roster of Green Lanterns we're likely to see in the movie... he did mention that we get to see Killer Wasp.

Geoff Johns is talking about the origins of the project and how ten years ago, he never thought a GL movie would happen cause someone at Warner Bros. asked, 'Can we do it without the ring?' [I'm sure that the previous Green Lantern project was brought up - a comedy that would've starred Jack Black. Massive negative response from the fans convinced Warner Bros. to stick with the comic books]

Sarsgaard described Hammond as 'the kid who licked the battery or went up the rooftop with a coat hanger [in a thunderstorm]' to see what happened.

A question from the audience asks how they picked the characters to use for the movie, and it focuses on Kilowog, Sinestro and Tomar Re. They mention that Green Man and Bzzt will both be seen briefly.

Geoff was asked about other DC projects and he said that he can't talk about them. Same as always.

Ryan Reynolds was also talking about how he got the gig, and how they showed him the worlds and he was trying to play hard to get, but they really wanted him, though they made him work for the part by doing a couple screen tests before he got the role.

Martin Campbell is talking about Hal's relationship with his father Martin as seen in the 'Secret Origins' arc and how that's going to play a large part in the movie, finally culminating at the end of the movie when Hal becomes a Green Lantern.

Geoff Johns was asked about a Justice League movie but he's sidestepping it, saying that it will depend on the success of Green Lantern.

A question from the audience asks if there's room for Alan Scott, and Johns says, 'There's always room.' Ryan Reynolds says that Parallax is in the movie.

Asked about whether Mogo may appear, Johns says, 'There's a lot of Green Lanterns in the film.'

When asked which DC character they might make into a movie next, Johns says Green Lantern 2.

Ryan Reynolds and Mark Strong talked a bit about how their character fly in the movie, and then Martin Campbell is talking about Hal and Carol as test pilots and how that's shown in the movie as the two of them test out some of Ferris Aviation's latest jets. We definitely will see Carol in the skies flying the jets as well, rather than being only on the floor.

Ryan Reynolds says he's been wearing the ring for six months and he plans on passing it onto someone else, similar to Abin Sur giving his ring to Hal Jordan. They told the audience that there's a piece of paper under someone's seat and they will be given the ring. And we have a winner!

From Ain't It Cool News:

"One aside: Ryan Reynolds had one of the classiest and coolest moments in the history of the Con when he recited the Green Lantern oath for a young fan. When he finished, he lifted up his hand to reveal that he was wearing the ring. The awestruck look on the kid’s face elicited a chorus of 'Awwws!' from the crowd. Reynolds then signed a comic book for the kid. There’s a lot of self-promoting nonsense that goes on during the Q&A periods at these panels, but something like this reminded me what Comic Con is all about. Well done, Mr. Reynolds."

Here it is, the first footage of Ryan Reynolds saying the Green Lantern oath:

Comic-Con: Captain Jack speaks out!

2010-07-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"As a surprise for attendees exiting the Tron Legacy panel, Disney showed a special teaser for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, now shooting in Hawaii.

Johnny Depp appeared as Captain Jack Sparrow in full 3D, sitting on the beach with a bottle of rum and speaking directly to the Comic-Con audience. He told everyone that it certainly wasn't the case that he would soon be embarking on a quest to find the fountain of youth but that, even if he were, he wouldn't be looking for a crew. But, if he did, would anyone in the audience be interested?

He promised that such an adventure would include 'zombies, cutthroats, mermaids and... Penelope Cruz' and that it would be the kind of quest that would require 'A bloody map. Or a bloody Mary. Or both.'

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will hit theaters on May 20, 2011."

Who knows? Maybe there'll be a trailer attached to Tron Legacy.

There used to be a video up here but Jerry Bruckheimer took it off YouTube. You can still see it on YouTube but not here.

Here's a transcript of the video:

JACK SPARROW: Hello boys and girls.... or whatever. My name is Captain Jack Sparrow. Ah, I take it some of you have heard of me. As you may well know, there are times - almost constantly, in fact - where I prefer to look at the world from the bottom of the glass... of rum. Something like this. [drinks rum] Oh. [holds it out to audience, remember this is 3D] You may have also heard whisperings and rumors that Jack Sparrow be recruiting a crew to undertake a voyage to the Fountain of Youth. Not true, course not. But even if it weren't not true, you wouldn't be interested in joining me, would you? Eh? No, thought not. I do admit that there will be varied and substantial dangers along the way including but not limited to zombies, cutthroats, mermaids and the vicious and vivacious Penelope Cruz... which is why I’m not going, no sir. Impossible to find the place anyway. No one knows where it is, plus I'd have to have a bloody map. Or a Bloody Mary. Or both. Which is not a bad idea, in fact, a Bloody Mary. [smiles] Bloody Maries all around! It's on the Mouse! [cue Pirates music]

Comic-Con: Guillermo del Toro re-opens THE HAUNTED MANSION

2010-07-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Guillermo del Toro made a surprise announcement at Disney's panel for Tron Legacy that he will next co-write produce and [possibly] direct a 3D The Haunted Mansion reboot.

A teaser was shown with a very brief narration about the haunted house over animation that looked to be either done by Mike Mignola or Mignola-inspired. Mignola, the creator of Hellboy [which del Toro directed two blockbuster films based on Hellboy], also illustrated a poster for Guillermo del Toro's [Oscar-winning] Pan's Labyrinth.

'We are not returning Eddie Murphy's calls,' del Toro said, making a surprise appearance onstage, '...and we are not making it a comedy... We are making it scary and fun, but the scary will be scary.'

The story will be built around the Hatbox Ghost and del Toro hopes that he'll be reintroduced to the ride as well.

Here's the official announcement from the studio:

'Guillermo del Toro surprised the 6,500 fans gathered today at Comic-Con with the announcement that he is currently developing a new film for The Walt Disney Studios based on the classic Disney theme park attraction, The Haunted Mansion.

'Dark imagery is an integral part of the Walt Disney legacy. After all, Disney himself was the father of some really chilling moments and characters - think Chernabog from Fantasia or Maleficent as the Dragon or the Evil Queen in Snow White,' said del Toro. 'I couldn't be more excited to be a part of my own adaptation of the original theme park attraction Walt envisioned and that remains- for me- the most desirable piece of real estate in the whole world!'

'Millions of people from around the world visit The Haunted Mansion each year, but no one has ever had a tour guide like Guillermo del Toro,' said Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. 'Guillermo is one of the most gifted and innovative filmmakers working today and he is going to take audiences on a visually-thrilling journey like they’ve never experienced before.'

Since August 1969, foolish mortals have dared to trespass on the macabre grounds of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. A hallowed landmark in Disneyland’s New Orleans square, it’s the dwelling place of 999 happy haunts dying to meet new visitors each day. The plantation-style of the mansion’s facade is a sweet deception for visitors. Inside, ghostly doom buggies line the hallways. Since its construction, the mysteries of the mansion have transcended the attraction with stories surfacing about horrifying encounters with the supernatural. Versions of the daunting edifice have been built at other Disney theme parks in Orlando, Tokyo and Paris."

So del Toro's doing the first modern Disney horror film. I say modern because Disney once before dabbled in the world of horror - The Watcher in the Woods.

But del Toro himself said, "We won't be returning Eddie Murphy's calls."

Comic-Con: TRON LEGACY roars to life

2010-07-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Tron Legacy takes the stage this morning at San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H, the same location where, two years ago, a teaser for the film met with roaring applause and helped speed the film into development.

Set to open on December 17th, Tron Legacy stars Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen and will hit regular theaters and IMAX in both 2D and 3D.

Patton Oswalt has appeared onstage to moderate.

'Welcome, furries!' he announced to the crowd before adding, 'Sorry, that's something I'm doing later.'

He also joked about a viral shirtless Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner knife fight tonight, the secret location of which will soon be revealed.

A brief series of clips was screened to showcase Tron's pop culture legacy. Though most of it has been shown at Disney events before, it's now updated to include the recent 'South Park' episode.

The cast and crew have come onstage, including director Joseph Kosinski, producer Sean Bailey, producer and director of the original Tron Steven Lisberger, and cast members Garrett Hedlund (Sam Flynn), Olivia Wilde (Quorra), Michael Sheen (Castor), Bruce Boxleitner (Alan Bradley) and Jeff Bridges (in the double role of Kevin Flynn and his alter-ego, Clu).

Both Quorra and Castor are being described as ambiguous characters, not necessary on anyone's side.

Michael Sheen has promised that the film is actually in 4D 'because Jeff Bridges brings a whole other dimension of awesome.'

Eight minutes of the film were screened:

Opening with a 3D Tron version of the Disney logo, the footage begins with Sam Flynn having just entered the computer world and captured by a red Recognizer.

'This isn't happening,' he says, looking at the world before adding, 'This is happening!'

'This program has no disk,' says one of the helmeted officers, 'Another stray.'

Sam is taken aboard the craft and locked in a light field along a number of others. He tries to ask them about his father, but they are just speaking meaninglessly. One of them turns and glares at him, revealing his face is half missing.

We see that this Recognizer is part of a larger fleet, all headed towards a large conical building that looks a stadium.

Inside, each of the prisoners is approached and identified as either 'Rectify' or 'Games'. Sam gets games and is taken to a light-disc elevator that takes him down to a large empty room. From four sides come four attractive women in skin-tight white suits. They surround Sam and illuminate their fingers, touching them against his clothes which rip to shreds, falling to the floor and getting sucked away instantly.

A black bodysuit materialized around him and the women gather armor that they clip to his body.

'He is different,' one of them says.

Sam is then given an identity disk which is clipped into his back, causing his eyes to flash with light.

'What am I supposed to do?' Sam asks.

'Survive,' one of the women says.

On a different elevator, Sam is taken up, emerging in the middle of a large stadium, other programs all around him.

The footage switches to a montage with lots of bike racing. One shot has someone killed by a disc, slicing them in half as their body goes to pixels.

One shot reveals Clu, removing his yellow mask to reveal young Jeff Bridges. Another shot has him leaping mid-air and turning into a yellow light-jet.

'I'm not your father, Sam,' we hear Clu say, 'But I'm very happy to see you.'

Following the footage, the audience was given a chance to help record ADR [direct from Skywalker Sound] that they plan to incorporate into the final film. The screen gave the audience words to chant including 'Disk! War', 'Rinz! Ler!', and 'Dee! Rez!' as well as the sound of cheering and stomping feet.

When asked if the original might get a rerelease in 3D, Bailey said, 'Those are conversations we're having right now.'"

Other quotes from the Tron press conference -

"[This is a] true 3D movie, shot with two cameras." - Joseph Kosinski [Patton just, sarcastically, called Avatar a "cheap piece of crap" when telling the audience that Tron Legacy uses the NEXT generation of 3D film technology.]

"[I] threw away [my] walker [when I got the call to do the sequel]." - Bruce Boxleitner

"I had no idea Alan Bradley would become such a lost soul." - Bruce Boxleitner

"To revisit a character 27 years later is quite amazing." - Bruce Boxleitner

"[Playing against my 35-year-old self] was pretty wild and psychedelic." - Jeff Bridges

"[Quorra] has been a companion to Kevin Flynn for a long time and she's a fearless warrior." - Olivia Wilde

So I thought that was nice that Disney gave Tron fans a chance to BE HEARD in Tron Legacy because they were HEARD.

Before the show everyone was given a card with the number "999" on it. No one knew what it meant, if it had something to do with Tron or something else....

Tim Burton declares a MONSTERPOCALYPSE

2010-07-21T13:24:00.001-07:00

From Slashfilm:

"Last month, it was reported that John August was in talks with Dreamworks to pen a big screen adaptation of the Monsterpocalypse board game which has been described as 'part strategy, part Kaiju Big Battel, and part Rampage!, all played out with miniatures on a tabletop'. At the time, it was speculated that the involvement of Burton’s regular collaborator might mean that Tim Burton was developing the project to direct. We now have a confirmation and more information on the project.

* John August is writing the screenplay right now, consulting with the game’s creator Matt Wilson (who is also a co-producer)
* Tim Burton is developing the project to direct
* Being developed as a 3D movie
* It could hit theaters by the end of 2012
* Will not feature other properties like Voltron
* The plot involves giant monsters who attack earth. After the humans fight back, the monsters retreat, but it is quickly discovered that they didn’t leave, but instead burrowed underground and are sending some sort of signal into space. The humans prepare for a possible future attach and developed giant robots that will fight the monsters if and when they return.
* Most of the movie is going to be during that battle between the giant robots and the giant monsters.
* Tim Burton is developing the look for the monsters with Ken Ralston, four time Academy Award winner who has been involved with the visual effects on films such as Forrest Gump, Death Becomes Her, Back to the Future series, Who Framed Roger Rabbit... Star Wars trilogy
* The monsters and robots are each the size of a very tall building.
* The robots are controlled by a crew inside of each one of these robots, and we’ll be seeing the battles from the inside of the bridge and the outside."

Cool. Looks like Tim Burton is going back to doing a movie like Mars Attacks!. Could we see an all-star cast that rivals those of Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Michael J. Fox, Natalie Portman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Jones, Christina Applegate and Jack Black? And maybe (for once) not even Johnny Depp?

Simon Pegg re-accepts MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV

2010-07-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Although Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible IV has yet to be officially greenlit by Paramount, Heat Vision is reporting that actor Simon Pegg is already in talks to return as lab geek Benji Dunn in the movie targeted for a December 16, 2011 release.

Pegg's role in J.J. Abrams' feature film debut Mission: Impossible III was a fairly small one, but it ultimately led to Pegg playing Scotty in Abrams' blockbuster reboot of Star Trek last year. With Abrams producing the fourth installment, it would be Pegg and Abrams' third movie together before the in-development Star Trek [sequel].

Once Paramount gives the go-ahead, plans are to start filming in September with Tom Cruise already signed to return as Ethan Hunt."

Obviously, Paramount is worried that the public has lost interest in Tom Cruise. Especially when he tried to throw audiences a bone by being both funny (like he did successfully in Tropic Thunder) and action-packed (again, as in the M:I III) in the box-office flop Knight and Day. Paramount fears that Cruise can no longer pull in an audience, because of all his personal controversies. They have been conspiring to basically turn Mission: Impossible IV into a Kingdom of the Crystal Skull-like film - aka getting him a younger, more BANKABLE sidekick. Somebody they know audiences will pay money to go see.

I think it would be kinda cool for somebody like Simon Pegg himself to play the sidekick. Almost like the TV show "Chuck", a tech nerd suddenly thrust into the world of being a spy; but on a much larger scale. But that's just me.

UPDATE:

On a live Comic-Con special on G4 with (the vivacious) Olivia Munn, Simon Pegg (promoting Paul with Nick Frost) admitted he hasn't actually signed a deal yet, but wouldn't mind returning.

Warner Bros. declares WORLD WAR X

2010-07-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Warner Bros. Pictures has bought Colin Trevorrow's script World War X and has set it up with Silver Pictures.

The trade says the story is 'centered on a man recruited by a team of government agents to stop a terrorist from the future who is using time travel to reshape history'

Joel Silver and Andrew Rona are producing. Chris Bender, JC Spink, Alex Heineman and Jake Weiner are executive producing."

Sounds like a great story. Original even! I love time travel stories and this sounds like a new take on the concept.

Nicolas Cage confirms GHOST RIDER 2

2010-07-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Nicolas Cage will return for a Ghost Rider sequel to be helmed by Neveldine/Taylor, the actor confirmed tonight on 'The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson'.

'There's gonna be a new one,' Cage told Ferguson after the host presented him with a model of a flaming skull, 'I just made the deal today.'

He also confirmed the recent rumor that Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank, Gamer) will direct the film, still rumored to be called Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance."

This is great news. Hopefully the new movie will be as good or better than the original Ghost Rider.

Here is the trailer for the original:

"I'm the only one who can walk in both worlds. I'm Ghost Rider."

Pixar gives TRON LEGACY a jump-start

2010-07-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

From Entertainment Weekly:

"Joe Kosinski’s Tron Legacy is getting a little help from above. EW.com has learned that the CG-extravaganza due out at the end of the year received some key input from some very brilliant filmmakers, mainly the elite brain trust at Pixar in Northern California. In late March, the Tron filmmakers chose to show a very early working cut of the film starring Garrett Hedlund and Jeff Bridges to Pixar’s John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, The Incredibles director Brad Bird, Toy Story 3 screenwriter Michael Arndt, and others. The one-day exercise was done in advance of some planned re-shoots scheduled for June with the intent of beefing up the very things that Pixar is so good at: character, emotion, and theme.

Following the screening — and other viewings with various live-action filmmakers in Los Angeles — Disney hired Arndt and Bird to write some pages for the upcoming re-shoots, which lasted six days last month. Original writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz ('Lost') were also integral in the writing at this time. 'Tron is very much Joe Kosinski’s vision, a vision which is thrilling to me and I hope is thrilling to the fans,' said Sean Bailey, Disney’s president of production. 'What I give Joe and the filmmaking team immense credit for, is this was all born out of how do we give the fans the best movie we can. We were very fortunate that Pixar wanted to play a part in it.'

So is this inter-studio collaboration a sign of things to come for Disney, under the new regime of studio head Rich Ross and Bailey? The answer seems to be yes. With Disney now essentially an umbrella company for not only Pixar but Marvel and DreamWorks Studios too, it makes a lot of sense. And Bailey, who was first a producer on Tron before being hired by Disney in January, is certainly encouraged by the positive experience of working with those famed filmmakers up north. 'Certainly being able to have an open dialogue with our formidable partners in Pixar, Marvel, and DreamWorks is really interesting to me.'

Tron Legacy will bow on Dec. 17."

Now all doubts aside, can this movie fail? Unless they change the pronounciation of the character's name and remove any hint of humor, no they can't.

Mighty Marvel in 3D!!

2010-07-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Los Angeles Times has revealed this new photo from Marvel Studios' Thor featuring Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor with his hammer. The article also confirms that both Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger will be released in 3D.

The article says that both films will be released in 3D, but Thor was not shot with 3D cameras and neither will Captain America: The First Avenger. The films' directors, though, say they will be doing the post-conversion right as compared to some recent pics like Clash of the Titans and The Last Airbender.

'We came to feel that in our case 3D could be the very good friend of story and character for a different kind of experience,' Thor director Kenneth Branagh said, 'It's another draft of the story that can reveal itself in a different way... I had a healthy degree of skepticism up front... I've become somebody extremely excited about working with possibilities of doing it this way.'

Captain America: The First Avenger director Joe Johnston added, 'I think it tends to be overused and can be a little bit gimmicky... A lot of people are using 3D now because they feel have they have to... that will come and go and the pictures that deserve to be in 3D will continue to be. When it's done bad, it can make you carsick.'

Johnston said they tried a one-day test shoot with a 3D rig but that it was 'a nightmare' due to bulky gear, calibration issues and restricted filmmaking options. He said he's a firm believer, though, in the conversion approach if done right and he's enthused to move forward. 'It's a new challenge and it's exciting.'

While both films use 2D for principal photography, the special effects were conceived and executed from the beginning in 3D. Kevin Feige said that 'an unprecedented amount of time' would be devoted to the conversion process.

Thor hits theaters on May 6, 2011 and Captain America: The First Avenger on July 22, 2011."

Oh, boy. Here comes the post-convert 3D hate!

UPDATE 2:

I forgot I never put up the first looks at the Captain America suit.

Edward Norton IS NO longer THE INCREDIBLE HULK

2010-07-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Edward Norton will not be reprising his role as Dr. Bruce Banner [in The Avenger], reports HitFix, who say that Marvel Studios plan to cast a new actor in the part.

The report theorizes that a deal could not be made, despite Edward Norton wanting to join the ensemble cast that will include Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America.

Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige confirmed the report with the following statement he sent to the site:

'We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.'

Marvel Studios is planning a May 4, 2012 release for The Avengers.

UPDATE 2:

From ComingSoon.net:

"This looks to be turning into a war of the press statements. Brian Swardstrom of WME, which represents Norton, fired the following off to HitFix after they posted Feige's above comment:

'This offensive statement from Kevin Feige at Marvel is a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light. Here are the facts: two months ago, Kevin called me and said he wanted Edward to reprise the role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. He told me it would be his fantasy to bring Edward on stage with the rest of the cast at ComiCon and make it the event of the convention. When I said that Edward was definitely open to this idea, Kevin was very excited and we agreed that Edward should meet with Joss Whedon to discuss the project. Edward and Joss had a very good meeting (confirmed by Feige to me) at which Edward said he was enthusiastic at the prospect of being a part of the ensemble cast. Marvel subsequently made him a financial offer to be in the film and both sides started negotiating in good faith. This past Wednesday, after several weeks of civil, uncontentious discussions, but before we had come to terms on a deal, a representative from Marvel called to say they had decided to go in another direction with the part. This seemed to us to be a financial decision but, whatever the case, it is completely their prerogative, and we accepted their decision with no hard feelings.

We know a lot of fans have voiced their public disappointment with this result, but this is no excuse for Feige's mean spirited, accusatory comments. Counter to what Kevin implies here, Edward was looking forward to the opportunity to work with Joss and the other actors in the Avengers cast, many of whom are personal friends of his. Feige's statement is unprofessional, disingenuous and clearly defamatory. Mr. Norton talent, tireless work ethic and professional integrity deserve more respect, and so do Marvel's fans.'

UPDATE 3:

From ComingSoon.net:

"Edward Norton has posted his official statement on the matter:

'As most of you know, I don't like to talk much about the business of making movies because it means a lot to me to protect the audience's fullest enjoyment of the 'magic' that films can have. But I am so appreciative of the outpouring of support from fans of the Hulk and the Avengers that I feel it would be rude not to respond. So here goes: It seems it won't work out for me to continue playing Bruce Banner for Marvel in "The Avengers". I sincerely hoped it could happen and be great for everyone, but it hasn't turned out as we all hoped. I know this is disappointing to many people and that makes me sad. But I am very sincerely grateful to Marvel for extending the offer and even more so for giving me the chance to be a part of the Hulk's long and excellent history. And I really can't thank the fans enough for how much enthusiasm you've sent my way about what Louis and I tried to do in our turn with the legend. It means a lot of me. I grew up with Banner and Hulk and have been an fan of every incarnation. I'm really proud, and very blessed, to have been one of them and will be thrilled to see him live on through other actors. Hulk is bigger than all of us, and that's why we love him, right?

Sincerely, Edward Norton.'"

Somewhere, Eric Bana (Bruce Banner from 2003's Hulk) is dancing with joy, screaming, "And now, you know how it feels!"

Here's a video detailing Edward Norton's impressive performance from The Incredible Hulk set to the "The Lonely Man" theme that would end every episode of the famous "The Incredible Hulk" TV series. A fitting end...

I've already heard rumors that Oscar-nominee and recently crazy man Joaquin Phoenix (Johnny Cash in Walk the Line) is set to replace Norton as Bruce Banner. If he can clean up his act and grab some serious geek love, he might just appear at Comic-Con when the cast of The Avengers is announced.

Andrew Garfield IS Spider-Man

2010-07-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

Sony Pictures has officially announced that Andrew Garfield has landed the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in director Marc Webb's untitled Spider-Man [reboot]! The film focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises. The action adventure will open in 3D and 2D theaters on July 3, 2012.

Here's the official press release followed by the announcement photos:

'After a comprehensive worldwide casting search, Andrew Garfield has been chosen to portray Peter Parker when Spider-Man swings back onto the screen in 3D on July 3, 2012. The new film will begin production in early December directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce the film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Today's confirmation culminates what has been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting announcements in recent memory. Bloggers, pop culture speculators, and everyday fans have pored over and analyzed every conceivable online rumor in an attempt to discover the identity of the next actor to play Peter Parker. Garfield will immediately begin preparing for the coveted role.

The Spider-Man franchise is one of the most successful in film history and the three previous motion pictures have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office.

On selecting Garfield, director Marc Webb said, 'Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor's work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.'

Commenting on the announcement, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, President of Columbia Pictures said, 'Spider-Man is a classic superhero -- a young man who balances his responsibility to serve humanity and crush evil with the shyness and normalcy of someone struggling to find himself. The role demands an extraordinary actor. You need someone who can magically transform himself from Peter Parker into Spider-Man. An actor who will depict the vulnerability of youth and the strength and confidence of a legendary figure at the same moment. We have found that actor in Andrew Garfield. From the first time we saw him in the upcoming film The Social Network, to his glorious screen test, which floored all of us, we knew that we had found our new Peter Parker.'

Producer Avi Arad added, 'I'm incredibly excited about Andrew Garfield. In the Spider-Man tradition, we were looking for a smart, sensitive, and cool new Peter Parker who can inspire us and make us laugh, cry, and cheer. We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.'

Producer Laura Ziskin said, 'We are thrilled to have Andrew Garfield for this new incarnation of Spider-Man under Marc Webb’s direction. We were fortunate enough to meet with a group of fantastically talented young men. In the end, we all agreed that in addition to being an extraordinary actor, Andrew had the right mix of humor, youth, and pathos, along with an underlying sense of strength and power necessary to bring Peter Parker and Spider-Man to life on screen.'

The selection of Garfield was revealed at a press event in Cancun, Mexico for international journalists attending a media tour promoting upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Garfield is fast becoming one of the most respected and sought-after young actors working in the industry today. In a short career, spanning only five years, he has already been directed by, and starred alongside, some of the greatest names and received a BAFTA for a role that won him international praise.

Garfield most recently worked with director David Fincher on the upcoming film The Social Network. He previously starred for Spike Jonze on his robot love story I'm Here, which premiered at Sundance this year. He plays the lead male opposite Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan in Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go, due for release later this year.

Other notable screen credits include Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus playing opposite Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law and the late Heath Ledger; Robert Redford’s Lions For Lambs, where he starred alongside Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep; Revolution Films' Red Riding Trilogy – 1974 directed by Julian Jarrold, where he lead a stellar cast including Rebecca Hall and David Morrissey, and his unforgettable portrayal of a young ex-con in John Crowley's Boy A, for which he earned the best actor BAFTA in 2008."

Too bad Spider-Man is no longer an American icon.

A CLOUDY CHANCE of LEGO

2010-06-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Heat Vision is reporting that Warner Bros. Pictures has hired Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller to write and direct the LEGO movie.

Based on the popular building blocks, the movie will mix live action and animation. The studio is keeping the plot tightly under wraps, but it's described as an action adventure set in a LEGO world.

Dan Lin and Roy Lee are producing and LEGO's Jill Wilfert is executive producing.

The duo 'prepared a presentation that not only had to pass muster with Warners brass but also with execs from Lego, which is extremely protective with its toys and brand and had a significant hand in the process,' adds the trade.

Lord and Miller are currently developing the 21 Jump Street movie and plan on doing LEGO after that."

Getting better and better!

THE GREEN HORNET stings a trailer

2010-06-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Hollywood was host to a very special reception this evening as guests gathered at Mann's Chinese 6 for the first ever look at The Green Hornet trailer that just debuted online. Joining the private screening was director Michel Gondry, star Seth Rogen, writer Evan Goldberg and producer Neal Moritz, who fielded questions with an audience of journalists and their friends.

Q: 'Can you sum up the basic story in your own words?'

Seth Rogen: 'To explain it, I guess, briefly, I'm an irresponsible kind of idiot (as one might imagine) and my father dies and I form a friendship with someone else who did not have the highest opinion towards him. One of his employees, Kato. Through that friendship, we realize that maybe we can create this kind of thing that will help us both live out our dreams. In time, we realize that each other's personalities are the most difficult thing to overcome and try to form this thing. That's how the story goes.'

Michel Gondry: 'We see a bit of his childhood and home. This friendship finds its resolution through his inner voice. He's talking to his dad in his mind.'

Q: 'Some of the shots look very different in terms of how the action is shot. Is this the final look of 'Kato Vision' or is it still evolving?'

Gondry: 'It's not really represented here. There's an outside of Kato vision. There's the way he sees things... [which is] more like a surprise I guess.'

Rogen: '[There are] two steps to 'Kato Vision' as I guess we've called it. The way you see the fights as an observer and then the way Kato sees fights in his own eyes.'

Q: 'Have you reconsidered how you stage fights, now that you're doing it in 3D?'

Gondry: 'To be honest, we were always hoping to go 3D. The way I put the camera was always [thinking] it would be so cool to see it in 3D. We pushed a little more of the effects. The way the fight works... the use of the 3D to split the screen. We sort of always wanted to do it in 3D.'

Q: 'This is the first time an audience has seen any of the movie? How involved were the four of you in deciding what went into the trailer? Do you have another version of this trailer?'

Rogen: 'There have been a lot of versions of this trailer. We were pretty involved. We watched it every step of the way. I have to acknowledge, honestly, that our perceptions of the movie are different sometimes to your general person who knows absolutely nothing about the movie... I'm sure every person in this audience knows a millions times more about the Green Hornet than 99% of people who will be seeing this trailer. And some of you came to set and saw another thing... We really had to keep reminding ourselves that we were presenting to people who knew nothing about the Green Hornet. And we really wanted to make sure that it portrayed the real feel of the movie more than anything.'

Neal Mortiz: 'We really showed it a lot and we got a lot of feedback. We tested the trailer a lot of times quite a few times to make sure that what we liked about it was the same thing that the audience was going to like about it as well.'

Gondry: 'We wanted to make sure our enthusiasm for the story and the characters would be portrayed. We really worked close. For the first time I'm really excited about the movie.'

Moritz: 'The goal of the movie is the relationship between Kato and Britt and in the subsequent trailer we really want to develop that more.'

Rogen: 'We have to introduce the idea of the Green Hornet to people first. There will be more trailers and more advertisements down the line and we can explore the intricacies of what the movie is about. To make sure people understand the general concept of what it is we are doing.'

Q: 'There's sort of been the idea in the past that Kato is more the superhero and the Green Hornet is a work in progress? Is that still an aspect that will remain?'

Evan Goldberg: 'Kato is definitely the more skilled individual. We joke about it with Seth that he had to get in shape to do the movie and Jay didn't. He was in shape. It was inherently there. He is a very talented, genius kind of guy and Seth is a normal guy.'

Rogen: 'We didn't want the joke to be, 'Look at this!' One of complete and utter goofiness and complete physical incompetence at all times. And we knew that, ultimately, it had to live up to the expectations of a superhero movie and needs to have the kind of action, full-blown action that people expect from that genre and we knew that we couldn't just rest on the comedy to make it interesting.'

Moritz: 'Something they create together.'

Q: 'What kind of tone are you going for? What kind of tone do you see emerging? Balancing action and comedy? This is clearly not some kind of dark superhero film.'

Gondry: 'There is comedy but, overall, the tone is not a spoof. You get that in the trailer. We never intended to do something comical. We really embraced the superhero feature and there are serious parts. Of course, there is some comedy but I think it's more of an action movie.'

Moritz: 'We always talk about it as an action movie with comedy versus a comedy with action.'

Rogen: 'Michel and Sally [Menke], our editor, are really coming up with a lot of interesting ways to tell the story, Both of them are really great at that. She had Pulp Fiction and movies like that, which really are great at telling the narrative, the story and it's really amazing to see what they've done in the editing room and how giant a creative step the movie has taken, leaving it in Michel and Sally's hands for a little while. It's really exciting for us as fans to see our movie filmed and then taken to this whole other place.'

Q: 'How close does storyline fit into the comic?'

Rogen: 'The Green Hornet comic has nothing to do with our movie. Other than it's called The Green Hornet. Unless you love the Green Hornet comics, then it's exactly based on the comic. We clearly all got our ideas from the same source. There are some elements that are the same. But I think naturally when you are trying to update something, the ideas are going to go to similar places, but there is no collaboration on behalf of comic and the filmmakers.'

Goldberg: 'The one constant is that he poses as a criminal to catch criminals.'

Gondry: 'What is important to say is that the Green Hornet has so many forms. It was a comic. Then it was on television and then you have Bruce Lee. We had to digest all of that to find what would be our version of the Green Hornet. As a director, I was thinking to make a movie before it was asked to be a film. And as well the notion of Kato has evolved so much over the years. He was supposed to be Japanese and then, during WWII because of the war, they had to change the character so he was not Japanese. He was Filipino and then he was Chinese. So all of that inspired us. We respected that, but we had to bring it to a place that it would fit now.'

Q: '3D conversion process has gotten criticisms lately because of Clash of the Titans and Alice in Wonderland. What measures are you taking to avoid pitfalls?'

Moritz: 'That's why we moved the release date back. We wanted the 3D to look really good. The only way was buying ourselves time to make it look good. We already have some sequences that we've turned over now in 3D so we have plenty of time to actually make it good and do it the right way as opposed to Clash of the Titans which was done in six to eight weeks.'

Rogen: 'It's like any other visual effect. There's really good applications of it and really bad applications of it. It all depends on whose hands it's in. You look at CG sometimes and it's terrible. You look at CG sometimes and it's great. I think it's no different. Very good versions and very bad versions. I think it's like any other creative decision. It's going to be gauged by the levels of enthusiasm... of the creative people behind it. It's something that we all feel really strongly about... something that we've always wanted to do... since the first idea of this movie came along. I've been working in 3D movies for years. I started in Monsters vs Aliens almost four or five years ago. It was then that I traveled around the world with Jeffrey Katzenberg, hearing him pontificate on 3D and what a big evolution it was going to be. So its always something I've been a big fan of. It started in the society of the 60's I believe so its always been something we've been big supporters of and I think just like I said there's good versions and bad versions and we hope to do a really good version.'

Gondry: 'You could imagine a movie in 2D in 3D and transform it. If you take this type of movie where they really use the full depth of field. This movie, if it was transformed in 3D, would use much more fast editing. And even before we could do it in 3D, we'd talk about the fight or we'd say, 'Okay, we don't want to rely too much on the other team, so we didn't make it so fast with editing and this is a very important element to make 3D work well.''

Moritz: 'We didn't make a rash decision by any means. We saw a lot of demonstrations with a lot of different companies and then ultimately brought in a number of these companies into the editing room and then went through the film with them together and really looked at the pitfalls, positives and negatives to doing it. And kind of weighed those all out before we even approached the studio and asked them to let us turn it into 3D which is obviously a huge financial impact. After that as well. And I remember Amy Pascal said to us, 'This is going to cost a lot of extra money. Are you sure about this?' And we were because we had done so much homework on it. And we did not want to be reprimanded like Clash of the Titans was. We really wanted to take our time and do it right.'

Rogen: 'First thing people like you say is that the studio is forcing us to do it and it's a quick fix. The funny thing is it could not be more opposite. It was us begging and pleading as creative entities to the studio to allow us to have this tool to tell our story in an original way. And were super excited that were able to do it.'

Gondry: 'There were some ideas. The father relationship is such that, even after he's passed away, he keeps talking to him in his mind. Several times. We got this idea to represent his father by his silhouette, which you can only see if you watch the movie in 3D. In 2D, you would hear the voice but in 3D, he's going to pop out. So that's why we were so thrilled to be able to execute this in 3D. We always had the voiceover of the father in the story but then when we decided to do it in 3D, it was perfect.'

Q: 'In marketing this film, are you gonna try to evoke the Bruce Lee thing? Some kind of selling point?'

Rogen: 'If you ask most high schoolers who Bruce Lee is they will say that it someone they sit next to in English class. I don't think that it would. I think its not something that would never be my instinct to do and not to attempt. Jay Chou is one the coolest dudes I've ever met or been around. What we say is that he's like Steve McQueen. He does everything cooler than anyone else does anything. And I think Jay... Man, I've never been psyched to show up to work and be completely overshadowed by somebody on a regular basis. And it's just how it is. Jay in his own right will win people over. He is an incredibly impressive and charismatic performer. Jay is an incredibly talented martial artist and he's just a rad dude and I don't think we will need to do that.'

Moritz: 'No one here thinks that we will replace or be better than what Bruce Lee was.'

Rogen: 'Yeah, we didn't try. Just as different as I am from Van Williams, Jay is from Bruce Lee. We wanted to create new characters in telling it.'

Gondry: 'Of course, for any actor from Asia, it's a very heavy task over Bruce Lee. So Jay never wanted to emulate Bruce Lee by any means. Did not want to use his type of expression, sound or scream. So out of respect we didn't want to mimic him.'

Rogen: 'Yeah, he definitely was very conscious of not doing a Bruce Lee impression. He wanted to make his own character. He was into that and thank god he did because he makes a great Kato.'

Q: 'Since the character is lesser known than, say, Superman or Spider-Man or other superhero movies, is there any concern going into that? Marketing-wise?'

Rogen: 'For whoever saw the first trailer and then this one. I think that thought is exactly what led us to say this is the approach that we need to take. Like we look at Iron Man. I remember when Iron Man came out. I drove by a billboard with my girlfriend and she said, 'Who's Iron Man?' and they did a good job at taking Iron Man and, believe it or not, he was a relatively unknown Marvel character when that first movie came out. And they did a good job at introducing it. They didn't really tease it. There was no teaser. They just kind of showed you exactly what it was and that's something that we talked about. That they successfully took a pretty obscure character and made him well known and introduced him to people and that's kind of what we realized we had to do. Not show our version of the Green Hornet, but to say, 'Here's what... the Green Hornet is....'

Q: 'We are a month away from Comic-Con? Are you guys gonna be there and what are you gonna show the fans?'

Moritz: 'We are definitely going to be at Comic-Con and will be there with a big presence. We are going to show a piece of the film. As long as the 3D is done to the standard that we want it, we will show the trailer in 3D.'

Rogen: 'Yeah, we've already been looking at stuff to show. We are all Comic-Con fans and as comic book nerds and it's important to us to show respect for those people who go out there...'

Goldberg: 'Show the whole movie backwards. With voice over of the teaser guy.'

Q: 'Is there more of bringing your Michel Gondry style to a comic book? I didn't see it much in the trailer. Is there more?'

Gondry: 'There is more. I don't want really to... There is a danger of having a shtick. It's different than you will see in the movie. There's a difference between a trailer and a movie. That's traditional for a movie. There is some sequences that we're still working out that you didn't see in the trailer, that's more of my specific signature. But when we met, they said we want to see Michel Gondry sequences and I said no.'

Rogen: 'Originally, I was going to be made a string.'

Q: 'Seth you talked about always being a comic book fan, is this the first time you're getting an action figure that's actually you?'

Rogen: 'I have a B.O.B., but that's not really an action figure. It's a blue toy. But yeah, it's pretty cool. I'm excited, but yeah, it's my instinct to blow it up with firecrackers. I might do that.'

Q: 'More than people are saying 'This is the Green Hornet movie' than are saying 'This is the Seth Rogen action movie'. You slimmed down. What is your approach to getting people over that hump to Seth Rogen as an action hero?'

Rogen: 'My guy is not exactly like Bruce Wayne. The whole story of the movie is that I'm an irresponsible idiot who is trying to get his life together and do something worthwhile. So, as an irresponsible idiot, I'm quite good. And that's why we always knew it was an easy buy. We didn't want to just tell people what the whole story of the movie was.... But that's why we knew it was going to be fine because the story wasn't that of a completely serious well-groomed man who decides to become a superhero. It's about a guy who is grappling with his own irresponsible old activities and tendencies and can he put those all aside and do something worthwhile and that's why I think, as an actor, I thought it was something I could tackle. It displayed what people expected of me and what maybe I could show as a growth through the character.'

Gondry: 'What I was hoping when I took the job, basically is that my contribution could help that. I think that with Jim Carrey, as good as he was at being a comedian, he was excellent at being much more dramatic in Eternal Sunshine. I think Seth is selling himself short a little bit because I think that he really conveys a really complex and interesting character and what I hope is that people will see him evolve.'

Rogen: 'It's true that part of the reason we decided to approach Michel was that we knew that it was gonna be something different, taking it in a new direction and that he was traditionally someone who worked with comedic actors and took them in new directions. Just as he had taken people not traditionally known as comedic actors and made them much funnier than they were before as Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine. That's something that was one of his strengths and something that we hoped he could bring to this.'

Q: 'Who was really the champion among you guys who said to Sony, 'We need to make THE Green Hornet movie?'

Moritz: 'It's a good question. We were all champions at different times.'

Rogen: 'Yeah, we've all been champions at different times. Where does an idea come from? I'm sure Inception will answer that for all of us. It's hard to think... I mean Michel Gondry was attached to a Green Hornet movie 13 years ago. It's hard to say who is the first one who wanted to do it. I would say that no matter what they are making a Thor movie and no matter what they are making a Captain America movie. But they are not no matter what making a Green Hornet movie. We had to work really hard to have them let us do it. It wasn't a given that it was eventually going to get made no matter what. We were lucky enough to be the guys that got to do it. We really creatively saw this as an opportunity that was exciting to us and we've all fought really hard. A lot of uphill battles. A lot of bad press, a lot of strikes against us and it hasn't been easy but ultimately we are all really proud of the movie. We all love the movie and I'm excited to be able to show you some of it. I was just saying to Evan as we were walking up here, 'Today is the first day I believe this might get released,' which is exciting.

Moritz: 'I've been involved in a movie where we had so many starts and stops and I think it was August of last year that Amy Pascal was on vacation and I think that was the reason we got to go ahead. It's been a great experience.'

Rogen: 'Honestly, it's something we all strongly agreed. We were passionate about. It's an idea for some reason. The relationship between those two guys. The idea of exploring that relationship. It's creative. Evan and I, as writing partners, Michel as the director, make these relationships and you try to make something out of it and it's something that we all felt very strongly about. It was not a movie that was going to get made no matter what. It's something we had to will into being. We had to work to make happen. If we didn't do it there would not be a 'Green Hornet' movie on screen right now.'

Q: 'Seth, you're know for improv. Was there much improv on set?'

Rogen: 'We definitely wanted it at times in the relationships. When the relationships have that spontaneous feel. I just think that me and Evan found something that works really well. The things in movies that people relate to a lot and the ways characters interact. They see themselves in the characters and a lot of that is through improv. Jay is amazing at it and even in that thing 'I don't want to touch you.' He improvised that and we were joking around one day on a scene and, yes there was a lot and everyone got really into it. I mean, obviously, as an action movie there's limitations to what you can do, but it doesn't have a rigid feel to it. It's a very loose conversational feel.'

Gondry: 'I think always my interest in making movies is to have something really technical mixed with something that was not so formal... something free. I realized very soon that it's not because there are constraints like that and there is a lot of it in-camera effect. The person wants us to be stiff. That is a lot of time the actor. They don't think too much about what they have to do to act or be funny. This context is a very good or great performance.'

Q: 'What was it like working with Christoph Waltz? What comes from his background in European cinema?'

Rogen: 'Working with him was great. I would say that his character is a very unique villain, I hope. Not something we're gonna talk about a lot because I think it's something that people are excited to discover on their own. Christoph is a great actor. Really fun. He embraced coming and doing things in our strange way with open arms. And I don't know. He's technically a very impressive actor to watch. And the way he does things is very demanding at times. At the same time he is very nice and collaborative. I would love to work with him many more times.'

Q: 'Have you started work on score? Can you talk about the process and what we should expect?'

Gondry: 'Danny Elfman is doing the score. It's in the beginning stages.'

Rogen: 'Watching him and Michel weird out together is pretty rad.'

Q: 'How was working with Cameron Diaz? How much did she get into all the action?'

Moritz: 'Nicest lady in whole world.'

Rogen: 'As to how much she gets involved in the action, we should keep that somewhat under wraps. She's amazing. She gets very involved creatively. The character is very important to us that it was not just an obligatory character. The character added a lot to the movie both comedicaly and story-wise. She had a lot of great ideas. Anytime someone that famous puts any extra effort into anything. I really feel great about it. Anyone that famous... you don't expect them to get involved at all. Evan literally had a party one night and she showed up when Evan was really drunk and literally gave him two hours worth of notes and made Evan drunkenly type them on his computer. And I thought wow, that's so impressive.'

Goldberg: 'She came in like ten times to help Jay Chou learn English.'

Rogen: 'His English at first was a little sketchy at times. She put an enormous amount of time and energy into making sure that their scenes were natural and understandable and very loose and funny. Again, it’s the kind of thing where you're like 'She's too... famous to be doing this. She should be on her island.'"

The Master of the Mystic Arts in a Movie?

2010-06-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Marvel Studios has hired screenwriters Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer to write the script for Dr. Strange. The duo wrote the upcoming Conan, video game adaptation Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and a draft of Jon Favreau's Cowboys & Aliens.

Stephen Strange is a world-renowned but selfish neurosurgeon, until a car accident damaged his hands, preventing him from conducting surgery. Depressed and scouring the world for a cure to his condition, Strange locates a hermit called the Ancient One in the Himalayas. After Strange selflessly attempts to thwart the Ancient One's traitorous disciple, Baron Mordo, he is taught the mystic arts.

The film could be the first one for Marvel Studios that gets distributed through Disney."

Basically, I see this as a more action-packed The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

UPDATE:

"Patrick Dempsey is pitching himself for the role of Doctor Stephen Strange, reports Bleeding Cool, who also brings an artist's rendering of the 'Grey's Anatomy' star in the role."

ON STRANGER TIDES sets sail...

2010-06-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Production has commenced on location in Hawaii, the United Kingdom and Los Angeles on Walt Disney Pictures' and Jerry Bruckheimer Films' sweeping comedy adventure Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth entry in the blockbuster franchise which has already reaped $2.7 billion in worldwide box office from the previous three films, and the first to be filmed and presented in Disney Digital 3D. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic, Academy Award-nominated role of Captain Jack Sparrow, newly joined by Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Ian McShane (HBO's 'Deadwood') and newcomers Astrid Berges-Frisbey and Sam Claflin. Also rejoining Johnny Depp and Captain Jack are Academy Award-winner and three-time nominee Geoffrey Rush ('Shakespeare in Love') and Kevin R. McNally (first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, Valkyrie). The film is slated to open May 20, 2011.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise --this time in Disney Digital 3D. In this action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise, Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love--or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Rush reprises his role as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally returns as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs. Claflin stars as a stalwart missionary, while Berges-Frisbey is transformed into a mysterious mermaid.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is written by Pirates veterans Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio and John DeLuca."

Bradley Cooper hits a dramedy home-run

2010-06-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Disney has bought an untitled baseball pitch from Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps screenwriter Allan Loeb with Bradley Cooper attached to star.

According to the trade, 'the dramedy centers on a baseball player who gets injured and has to go back to the minors where the only place he can find lodging is in a senior citizens' home. There, he meets an old baseball guru who helps lead him back.'

The project is said to be in the vein of Scent of a Woman and The Rookie."

Never seen Scent of a Woman but I have seen The Rookie, so it sounds cool.

Next NARNIA film sails away on a trailer!

2010-06-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Fox Walden has released the first trailer for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, opening in 3D and 2D theaters on December 10. Directed by Michael Apted, the third film in the franchise stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Ben Barnes, Will Poulter, Gary Sweet, Bruce Spence, Arthur Angel, Shane Rangi and Liam Neeson.

This time around – Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their pesky cousin Eustace Scrubb – find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to a fantastic Narnian ship headed for the very edges of the world.

Joining forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On this bewitching voyage that will test their hearts and spirits, the trio will face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. Only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan's Country – a voyage of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader – can save Narnia, and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate."

Miley Cyrus gets ready to WAKE

2010-06-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Miley Cyrus is attached to star in paranormal thriller Wake, an adaptation of the Lisa McMann novel at Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. Disturbia co-writer Christopher Landon will adapt the book for the screen.

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lindsay Williams of The Gotham Group (The Spiderwick Chronicles) are producing along with Jodi Zuckerman and Tish Cyrus of Hope Town Entertainment and Steven Schneider and Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity). Eddie Gamarra will be an executive producer.

Wake, which is the first in a series of three books, is described as follows:

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant...'

The sequel 'Fade' and 'Gone' detail Janie's investigations with boyfriend Cabel into the perverse activities of teachers at their school and the difficult fate that lies ahead for her."

Sounds interesting. Like Inception meets Disturbia.

THE GREEN HORNET wings onto IMAX 3D

2010-06-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"IMAX and Sony Pictures announced today that The Green Hornet will also be released in IMAX 3D. The full announcement:

IMAX Corporation and Sony Pictures Releasing announced today that The Green Hornet, the highly anticipated adaptation of the radio and television masked superhero character will be released to IMAX theatres, simultaneously with the film's wide domestic 2D and 3D release on January 14, 2011. The film will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience and presented in IMAX 3D.

'We are tremendously excited that The Green Hornet will be released in IMAX 3D as part of our wide release of the film,' said Rory Bruer, President, Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing. 'When you have a film that has such an imaginative and unique depth, scope, and visual style, you really should experience the film with the outstanding 3D elements that the filmmakers are delivering. We believe The IMAX 3D Experience will offer audiences a truly state of the art cinematic experience.'

'Superhero movies typically play very well with IMAX audiences, making the release of The Green Hornet a great way to kick off our 2011 slate,' said IMAX Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Gelfond. 'We're pleased with the continued expansion of our relationship with Sony Pictures, and we're excited to work with them to reach our growing audience base with another quality film.'

'We're excited to welcome Michel Gondry to the list of acclaimed directors who have released films into the IMAX network and we believe his innovative creative vision will play very well in IMAX,' added Greg Foster, Chairman and President, Filmed Entertainment. 'This film is ideally suited to our fanboy audience, and in IMAX 3D, they will be transported into the world of The Green Hornet.'

In the film, Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), son and heir to Los Angeles' largest newspaper fortune, is a rich, spoiled playboy who has been happy to maintain a direction-less existence. When his father James Reid (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, Britt meets an impressive and resourceful company employee, Kato (Jay Chou). They realize that they have the resources to do something worthwhile with their lives and finally step out of James Reid's shadow. Kato builds the ultimate weapon, The Black Beauty, an indestructible car with every weapon and gadget imaginable and Britt decides that in order to be heroes, they will pose as villains. With the help of Britt's new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), they learn that the chief criminal in the city is named Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). He has united all the gangs under his power, and he quickly sees that the Green Hornet is a direct threat to the prosperous criminal underworld he controls. Directed by Michel Gondry. The screenplay is by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, based upon 'The Green Hornet' radio series created by George W. Trendle. The film is produced by Neal H. Moritz."

Sam Raimi conjures up OZ

2010-06-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Disney [hired] Sam Raimi as director of Oz, the Great and Powerful.

The project, a prequel to the classic Wizard of Oz story, would focus on the character of the Wizard himself and his humble beginnings in Omaha, leading to the balloon accident that leaves him stranded in Oz.

Many directors [were] rumored in conjunction with the film, including Sam Mendes, Adam Shankman and Guillermo del Toro."

I'm not a huge fan of Wizard of Oz. Not that I'm scared of the monkeys. I do appreciate the technical achievements that changed the film industry, though.

I think Sam Raimi can make Oz cool.

UPDATE:

From ComingSoon.net:

"The film will be developed as a vehicle for Robert Downey Jr. to star in. The script will be rewritten."

Michael Bay again updates TRANSFORMERS III

2010-06-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"USA Today visited the set of Transformers III and got new details on the third film, opening in theaters on July 1, 2011. The newspaper confirmed it will be released in 3D.

Talking about the second film, director Michael Bay said, 'I'll take some of the criticism' while standing at a set built to resemble a dilapidated nuclear reactor. 'It was very hard to put (the sequel) together that quickly after the writers' strike (of 2007-08).'

Bay said that 'This one really builds to a final crescendo. It's not three multiple endings... As a trilogy, it really ends. It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending.'

'One thing we're getting rid of is what I call the dorky comedy,' Bay added. So the twins, 'They're basically gone,' he said, though John Turturro returns for comic relief.

The newspaper says the new villain will be Shockwave, 'the robot cyclops-turned-laser-cannon, who became dictator of their home world of Cybertron after the other Autobots and Decepticons journeyed to Earth.'

According to USA Today, 'The new film features Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) taking his first tenuous steps into adulthood while remaining a reluctant human ally of Optimus Prime.' 'Shia has this great line: 'You know, I've saved the world twice, but I can't get a job,' producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said.

Transformers III centers around the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, suggesting there was a hidden Transformers role in it all that remains one of the planet's most dangerous secrets.

'The movie is more of a mystery,' Bay said. 'It ties in what we know as history growing up as kids with what really happened.'"

Cool. 3D Transformers. Just like Megan Fox to skip out on the 3D.

TANGLED strings up a trailer!

2010-06-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Walt Disney Pictures has revealed the teaser trailer for Tangled. Directed by Byron Howard and Nathan Greno, the movie is voiced by Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and Donna Murphy.

Opening on Nov. 24, Tangled is an action-packed, swashbuckling, animated musical comedy about the girl behind 70 feet of magical, golden hair. A princess stolen from her parents' castle as a baby, Rapunzel (Moore) is locked in a hidden tower longing for adventure Now an imaginative and determined teenager, she takes off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade with the help of a dashing bandit (Levi). With the secret of her royal heritage hanging in the balance and her captor in pursuit, Rapunzel and her cohort find adventure, heart, humor, and hair... lots of hair."

THE MUPPETS are back!

2010-06-08T13:36:00.001-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Walt Disney Pictures has set a December 25, 2011 release for The Muppets, to be directed by James Bobin from a script by Jason Segel and Nick Stoller. Segel is also starring in the film.

The movie will be going up against...Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn [opening two days earlier in 3D].

Fox has also decided to open Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz-starrer Knight and Day two days earlier on June 23 which gives it a bit of a jump on Sony's Grown Ups, opening June 25."

Whatever happened to The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made?

Did Tom Cruise get scared of Adam Sandler?

Stanley Tucci supports CAPTAIN AMERICA

2010-06-08T13:25:00.001-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Marvel Studios announced today that Oscar-nominated actor Stanley Tucci has been cast to star as Dr. Abraham Erskine in the studio's highly anticipated movie Captain America: The First Avenger opposite Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, and Hayley Atwell.

In the early comics, Dr. Erskine was a German scientist behind Project Rebirth, the secret experiment that created the Super Soldier known as Captain America. Joe Johnston will direct the film penned by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.

Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige will produce Captain America: The First Avenger. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Louis D’Esposito will executive produce. The film will be released in the US on July 22, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Captain America: The First Avenger will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

Tucci's credits include Julie & Julia, Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, and The Devil Wears Prada. He can next be seen in the upcoming comedy Easy A."

Notice they didn't mention Tommy Lee Jones.

Jeremy Renner is HURT'n to play Hawkeye in THE AVENGERS

2010-06-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Jeremy Renner may be close to locking a deal to star as Clint Barton, AKA Hawkeye, in Joss Whedon's The Avengers, reports Heat Vision.

Since last year, rumors have persisted that Marvel has been after the star of The Hurt Locker to play the character, though official sources would not confirm that Hawkeye even has a role in the upcoming summer blockbuster, much less actor selection.

Renner talked exclusively with SuperHeroHype late last year, indicating that, while he'd love to join the Marvel Universe in some capacity, the film was too far off and, at the time, didn't even have a director. It appears that, with Joss Whedon now on board and pre-production moving forward, Renner may become an official member of the team yet."

Meet the new TRANSFORMERS girl!

2010-06-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Director Michael Bay's official website has confirmed that Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has landed the lead female role in Transformers III. Huntington-Whiteley has worked with Bay before on his Victoria's Secret 'A Thousand Fantasies' ad.

She joins Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Ken Jeong, Patrick Dempsey and Alan Tudyk in the third film scheduled for release on July 1, 2011."

I'm in.

I'm still wondering how in the world Victoria's Secret got a hold of the news before Bay released the statement.

MUSIC:

"I'm In" by Keith Urban

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are back!

2010-06-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Proposal director Anne Fletcher, stars Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, and producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are reteaming for Universal Pictures' Most Wanted.

In the action comedy, Bullock plays a woman on the run with Reynolds as an agent who is supposed to be handling her.

The project is described as having a tone similar to that of Universal's 1988 release Midnight Run, with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, which the studio is developing a sequel for.

Reynolds will also executive produce along with his Dark Trick Films partner Jonathon Komack-Martin."

Didn't they already try to do this and it didn't work? The Bounty Hunter ringing a bell?

Betty White better be in this.

UPDATE:

Not so fast, says Sandra Bullock.

"Although it was announced earlier this week that Sandra Bullock was set to star again alongside Ryan Reynolds in a comedy called Most Wanted, her representatives are now making clear that this is not necessarily the case, according to a piece at the LA Times.

Though Most Wanted is not necessarily out for Bullock, the actress will have final script approval and, as such, is not locked into doing the film at all. According to her CAA representative, Bullock will certainly not make the film her next project and, instead, is carefully selecting a role to follow her recent Oscar win."

Jack Black goes on GULLIVER'S TRAVELS

2010-06-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"20th Century Fox has brought online the trailer for Gulliver's Travels, starring Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, James Gorden, Catherine Tate and Chris O'Dowd. Opening in 3D and 2D theaters on December 22, the fantasy action adventure is directed by Rob Letterman from a script by Nicholas Stoller and Joe Stillman.

In the contemporary re–imagining of the classic tale, Black stars as Gulliver, a big–talking mailroom clerk who, after he's mistakenly assigned a travel piece on the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of very tiny people. At first enslaved by the diminutive and industrious Liliputians, and later declared their hero, Gulliver comes to learn that it's how big you are on the inside that counts."

Okay, it's not that bad of a kids' movie. Great Star Wars references (we're that much closer to a 3D Star Wars)! Jack Black is definitely going back to the School of Rock crowd.

UPDATE:

SNOW WHITE to get bad with Brett Ratner

2010-06-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The classic children's fairy tale, Snow White will be getting an updated live-action retelling in 3D courtesy of Brett Ratner and Relativity Media.

The new version, said to take an 'edgy' and comedic look at the original Brothers Grimm story will come from a script written by Melisa Wallack, whose sole produced credit is the 2007 Aaron Eckhart film Bill, which Wallack co-directed.

Claiming, 'This is not your grandfather's Snow White,' Ratner promises a departure from the Disney version of the film.

'His dwarves were miners, and here they are robbers. There is also a dragon that was in the original folk tale... [O]urs is edgy and there is more comedy. The original, made for its time, was soft compared to what we're going to do.'

Ratner will produce alongside Wallack's Bill co-director, Bernie Goldmann."

Basically, I'm getting a vibe that no old childhood story is safe from the 3D-explosion going on right now.

James McAvoy is wanted for X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

2010-05-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Twentieth Century Fox has closed a deal with James McAvoy (Wanted, The Last King of Scotland) to star as Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class, to be directed by Matthew Vaughn.

X-Men: First Class begins production this summer for a June 3, 2011 release. Bryan Singer, who conceived the story for First Class and directed the original X-Men and its sequel X2, is producing along with Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg.

Additional casting is underway and will be announced shortly.

X-Men: First Class, following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men."

Agent Kay supports CAPTAIN AMERICA

2010-05-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"As rumored, Tommy Lee Jones will act in Captain America: The First Avenger in a still-unknown role. Hayley Atwell, who plays Peggy Carter in the Joe Johnston-directed comic book adaptation, confirmed the news to LeicesterSquareTV.

Rumors place the Men in Black star in the part of General Chester Phillips, the military officer who chooses Steve Rogers for the super soldier program and who aided in his training soon after the serum took effect.

Phillips was retconned into continuity in 'Tales of Suspense #63' in 1965, just two years after Captain America was brought to Marvel's forefront as the leader of the Avengers. Phillips remained a character in the Marvel universe until 2003 when he (now retired) was killed by assassins from the underwater rival-to-Atlantis continent Lemuria.

In addition to Atwell, Jones is joining Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Toby Jones, Samuel L. Jackson and Dominic Cooper in the July 22, 2011 release."

Sounds cool. Can't wait!!!

The game's afoot again December 2011

2010-05-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

From HeatVision Blog:

"Warner Bros. has scheduled Sherlock Holmes 2 for a mid-December 2011 release and is getting close to giving the go-ahead for a movie about beloved DC Comics superhero 'Flash'.

The Dec. 16 release date next year for the Sherlock sequel was shown on a slide during a presentation here Thursday by Warner chairman and CEO Barry Meyer. The first Sherlock was released this past December.

Meyer said the 2011 film slate will have roughly 25 movies.

As other big releases already set, he mentioned:
-- Red Riding Hood: April 22, 2011
-- The Hangover 2: May 26
-- Green Lantern (3D): June 17
-- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (3D): July 15
-- Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 (3D): Sept. 23
-- Happy Feet 2 (3D): Nov. 18
-- New Year's Eve: Dec. 9

Given that 2011 will be the last year with a Potter release, Meyer said he guesses that the most successful franchise in motion picture history will have exceeded $7.5 billion in worldwide boxoffice once the final installment ends its theatrical run. And he said his team has been preparing for the franchise's end.

Meyer particularly highlighted that DC Comics characters are key parts of Warner's future, mentioning a July 20, 2012 release date for the latest 'Batman' film by Christopher Nolan and a holiday season 2012 'Superman' film.

He added that the studio is also 'nearing' a greenlight for a Flash movie, with films featuring Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Mad magazine characters also in development."

UPDATE:

The film is coming December 16, 2011. Up against Alvin and the Chipmunks 3D and Mission: Impossible IV. SOMEBODY'S gonna move.

The LOONEY TUNES are back!

2010-05-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, two of the most popular Looney Tunes characters of all time, are returning to the big screen in three all-new animated 3D shorts. The studio will attach the cartoon shorts to three of its upcoming family features—all three features to be released this year in 3D. The first short will be seen with Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore on July 30th; the second with Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, on September 24th; and the third with Yogi Bear, on December 17th. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution.

In the new cartoon shorts, each three minutes in length, Wile E. Coyote is as determined as ever to catch the elusive Road Runner, who continues to leave his hapless nemesis in the dust with a taunting 'beep-beep'. However, bringing the classic characters into the 21st century, the resourceful Wile E. will now be employing an arsenal of state-of-the-art ACME gadgets to snag his quarry—with all of the action in stereographic 3D.

In making the announcement, Fellman said, 'Audiences have always delighted in Wile E. Coyote's dogged pursuit of the Road Runner, with hilarious, albeit predictable, results. We are thrilled to be presenting these characters for the first time in 3D, which will heighten the excitement and humor of the chase, not to mention the impact—at least for Wile E. We're sure these three new adventures will entertain a new generation of fans while reminding us all why these two characters have been beloved for so long.'

The shorts will act as a lead-up to a new 26-episode half-hour series called 'The Looney Tunes Show,' which will air on Cartoon Network this fall featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as roommates with the other classic Looney Tunes cartoon characters as their neighbors."

A Fox Slips Away...

2010-05-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Earlier this month, Megan Fox was spotted doing previz shots for Transformers III, but now Variety is reporting that she will not appear as Mikaela in the third installment after all.

Paramount Pictures reportedly decided not to pick up her option as the studio and director Michael Bay want to take the story line in another direction and plan to cast another actress as the love interest for Sam Witwicky, played by Shia LaBeouf. The trade says the decision 'was unrelated to a September interview with a British magazine in which Fox compared Bay with Adolf Hitler'.

The third installment is scheduled to hit theaters on July 1, 2011."

From Slashfilm:

"Fox is not willing to let movie studios or film journalists write her narrative. Proving that she will not go quietly into that good night, representatives for Fox told People magazine that it was in fact her idea to leave the franchise that made her a star: 'Megan Fox will not be starring in Transformers III…It was her decision not to return. She wishes the franchise the best.'"

America is all out of love and wants Megan Fox to come back.

But wait!

From ComingSoon.net:

"With the news that Megan Fox is not returning for Transformers III, speculation has already begun about who may replace her in the now coveted role. After the news hit earlier today, TheWrap posted an interesting bit:

Prince of Persia star Gemma Arterton is the front-runner to replace Megan Fox in Transformers III, TheWrap has learned.

An individual close to the casting process says the actress has already had discussions with Bay about the coveted role."

Now just who... is ... this... Gemma... uhh...

Huh. Maybe the world ain't slowing down after all!

MUSIC:

"All Out of Love" by Air Supply
"The World Ain't Slowin' Down" by Ellis Paul

Jon Turteltaub talks NATIONAL TREASURE 3

2010-05-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Nicolas Cage will be returning as Ben Gates soon in the third installment of Disney's hit franchise National Treasure and the very affable director of the series, Jon Turteltaub, stopped to talk to ComingSoon.net at the Hollywood premiere of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time about the upcoming film, why he's such a fan of Nic's and why he's not worried about a potential shooting schedule conflict with Ghost Rider 2.

ComingSoon.net: 'You've worked with Nicolas Cage a few times now. What is it about him that you enjoy working with?'
Jon Turteltaub: 'He's a gentleman. He is one of the most professional actors but especially compared to what we think the wild Nic Cage is like. This is a guy who works really hard and has none of that movie star nonsense. All those bad stories you've heard about movie actors - none of those are true with Nic Cage. You also get someone who never bores you. Every time you're watching him do a scene you're going to get something unexpected. For a director, that's what you want because if they're only doing what you ask them to do - you have to be good as a director. He can fill in anything you're missing and do something special and that's what directors need.'

CS: 'Up until this point, he's been known for being an actor who doesn't do sequels. National Treasure: Book of Secrets is the first one he's ever done. Did that surprise you?'
Turteltaub: 'I wasn't surprised he did National Treasure. I was surprised he'd never done a sequel before. That was the surprise especially with The Rock. That's a movie that can make a phenomenal sequel. I think it's kind of a testament to Nic's variety that he'd never really done a sequel. His films are never kind of so that you can just knock out a sequel - there's something always complicated there. So I guess we made a simple enough movie. National Treasure was designed to be that kind of movie... a treasure hunt where you can go on several treasure hunts. It's really a tribute to Nic and how he created that character. People go see sequels to see characters and not stories, they've seen the story.'

CS: 'When does National Treasure 3 start shooting?'
Turteltaub: 'I think we start shooting late fall, early winter. Hopefully that's the goal and I think it will come out Christmas 2011. That's assuming everyone is available, the script is good and I haven't thrown a tantrum.'

CS: 'I know Nic has to start shooting the next Ghost Rider soon so will that conflict with your movie?'
Turteltaub: 'I doubt it. Usually scheduling conflicts come up if you're trying to land an actor and the actor has to choose between two movies. We won't make National Treasure without Nic and they won't make Ghost Rider without Nic so everyone will find a way to make both movies. It's not like Nic is going to go, 'I'll make Ghost Rider instead.' He'll make both. Also an actor's schedule is three to four months. Whereas a movies takes a year and a half. So it won't be an issue.'

CS: 'Where would you like to see National Treasure 3 go?'
Turteltaub: 'Where Avatar went. $700 million dollars. I want to see 3D and space. There could be treasure on Pandora. It's possible that somewhere hiding in that tree that fell down was Thomas Jefferson's earrings or something. I don't know. That would be the worst movie ever. Horrible!'

Jon Turteltaub's new film with Cage, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, opens in theaters on July 16."

Well, let's hope he can do both, because I know nobody wants to see a Disney-fied Ghost Rider.

UPDATE:

From Slashfilm:

"In National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Nicolas Cage’s character Ben Gates goes after the President of the United States’ book of secrets, an unofficial book which contains the answers for the biggest coverups in American history. In addition to his mission to restore his family’s name, Gates is advised by the President of the United States to 'read Page 47'. And of course, the information which is contained on Page 47 is never revealed, which many suspected might be a possible third film. Others wrote it off as nothing more than a throwaway gag.

But even if it was just a throwaway gag, we all know that can become something of franchise canon. For instance, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale never intended for a sequel for Back to the Future, and the ending of the film where Doc Brown returns from the future with a flying DeLorean was just intended to be a funny gag to end the movie on. In fact, they didn’t decide to do a sequel until after the film became a big success, at which time they added the 'To be continued…' caption to the conclusion of the film (it was never included in the theatrical print). The writers later stated that the ending gag in the first film painted them in a corner for the sequel. So is Page 47 just a throwaway gag or will it be the starting point of National Treasure 3?

Collider talked with screenwriters Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard who said the following:

'We were asked to start there [when writing the third film], so that is where we’ll start. The plan is to start from what’s on Page 47. The idea of the Book of Secrets is spectacular. It’s a great idea. The second movie sort of introduced it and used it as the center of the movie, so it is smart to make the third movie ‘okay, what treasure hunt will come out of the book of secrets’, which is kind of what the end of the movie started.'

The screenwriting team has been working on the screenplay for the third film since June 2009. We’ve heard in numerous interviews with Cage and director Jon Turteltaub that they wanted the plot to take place in Europe. What might be on page 47 that brings them there? Cage has said, whatever it is — it must be 'life altering'."

Captain Jack Sparrow in 3D!

2010-05-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"A lot of the 2011 summer tentpole releases have already been announced as being either filmed in 3D or converted afterwards, but so far, May 2011 has been somewhat devoid of 3D release announcements... until now!

Walt Disney Pictures has announced that the fourth installment of Jerry Bruckheimer's popular action franchise Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, directed by Rob Marshall, will be filmed in Disney Digital 3D. Bruckheimer's only previous 3D movie before that was last year's G-Force.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is still slated for release on May 20, 2011."

Too bad Johnny Depp has a problem with 3D. It's not a matter of opinion, he has a physical condition with his eyes and 3D doesn't work for him.

If the remake fits...

2010-05-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Walt Disney Pictures has made a deal with screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna (27 Dresses, The Devil Wears Prada) to write a live-action reimagining of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. Simon Kinberg will produce.

[It's] not known whether the movie will be released in 3D or if there will be deviations from the original story. While most people know the story from Disney's 1950 animated classic, there are variations going back as far as the 1st century BC.

McKenna's credits also include the upcoming Morning Glory."

It would be interesting to see either Katherine Heigl or Anne Hathaway as Cinderella. Maybe Meryl Streep as the Wicked Stepmother.

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE returns... as a cartoon?

2010-05-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

From MediaBistro:

"An animated television series based on the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite is currently in development at Fox.

Most of the original cast from the 2004 cult favorite are on board to reprise their roles from the film, according to people familiar with the project. Actors lending their voices include Jon Heder as the title character Napoleon Dynamite, Efran Ramirez as Pedro, Aaron Ruell as Kip Dynamite and Jon Gries as Uncle Rico. Likewise Jared and Jerusha Hess, who created the characters and wrote and directed the film, are closely involved with the potential animated series.

If Fox picks up the project, which is in the pilot phase, it would make sense to plug the show into its Sunday night animation lineup, joining 'The Simpsons' and 'Family Guy'. With 'The Cleveland Show' already renewed through 2011, Fox may have to cancel 'American Dad' in order to make room for the new series on Sundays, or move one of the shows to a different night.

Jared and Jerusha Hess have a longstanding relationship with Fox, with the company's Fox Searchlight arm having distributed Napoleon Dynamite as well as their latest film Gentlemen Broncos.

News of the potential series comes just a few days before the broadcaster holds its annual upfront presentation to advertisers in New York Monday."

YAY!!!

The Nautilus... REcommissioned?

2010-05-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"The plans for Walt Disney Pictures to produce a new adaptation of Jules Verne's 1869 underwater adventure novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea seem to be back on track, thanks to director [Oscar-nominated] David Fincher, who approached the studio's new production head Sean Bailey with interest in making the movie his first major studio tentpole project for all audiences, possibly since Alien 3 in 1992. Fincher is currently in negotiations with the studio as is screenwriter Scott J. Burns (The Informant!), who has been slated to write the new take on Verne's classic story.

Previously, Disney adapted Vernes' novel into the 1954 film starring Kirk Douglas that is considered by many to be one of the studio's classic live action films. Last year, director McG had started to develop a new version of the story that focused on an origin story for Captain Nemo, and that version was fast-tracked with a $150 million budget, but was then axed soon after Richard Ross took over as Disney Chairman last year. Ross then went on record that the idea of doing a new version of 20,000 Leagues wasn't dead, but that they would proceed in a different direction.

Bailey had been developing the project covertly, but with Fincher and Burns in talks for deals, it seems likely the project will begin forward movement again. It's thought that the time Burns would need to write a new script would allow Fincher to direct another movie after finishing his upcoming The Social Network for Sony."

Yet at the same time, Fincher's got 10 other projects that also need his attention:

Ness,a bio-pic of law enforcement agent Eliot Ness with Matt Damon as a possible Ness.

The Killer about a top assassin, with his conscience getting the better of him, and a cop on his tail

The Goon, a CG-animated crime caper with Clancy Brown as the voice of The Goon and Paul Giamatti as the voice of Franky

Heavy Metal, Fincher is set to direct one of the film’s eight or nine segments, which will also feature other directors such as Zack Snyder, Gore Verbinski and Guillermo del Toro, as well as James Cameron. The film is envisioned as being an animated, adult-themed R-rated film

Chef, a comedy with Keanu Reeves (really?)

The Reincarnation of Peter Proud about a professor who is beginning to have flashbacks of a previous life

Pawn Sacrifice, another biopic on the life of chess champion Bobby Fischer

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a remake of a Swedish film involving complicated international financial fraud and the buried evil past of a wealthy Swedish industrial family

Old Spidey meets New Spidey

2010-05-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Alvin Sargent, who has worked on every Spider-Man movie, has been brought back to polish the script for Sony's Spider-Man reboot.

The veteran screenwriter is working off a script by James Vanderbilt. Sargent also wrote a draft for Spider-Man 4 before that movie was scrapped.

The Marc Webb-directed reboot is scheduled to start shooting later this year for a July 3, 2012 release in 3D and 2D theaters.

Heat Vision says that Sargent 'has become the studio's go-to guy for punching up weighty scenes. The new Spider-Man is rumored to be more emotionally anchored and realistic than the previous movies. Word is that Peter Parker will be a 17-year-old high school kid struggling with shifting hormones and an outsider status. And let's not forget the death of his uncle.'"

What would be cool is if they at least brought one actor back from the original Spider-Man to play a part in the new film. Like Leonard Nimoy in the new Star Trek.

IRON MAN 2 goes Disney?

2010-05-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

From D23:

"Of all the things a Disney fan might expect from box office smash Iron Man 2 — A-list celebrities, dazzling special effects, heart-racing action — a Richard Sherman tune might not be one of them. But moviegoers get just that when seeing the new movie, which took in a staggering $133.6 million this past weekend.

'It's a small part of the film,' scoffs Richard modestly, speaking exclusively to D23. Sherman's melody, 'Make Way for Tomorrow Today,' is the theme for the 1974 Stark Expo in the film, and can also be heard over the closing credits (an orchestral arrangement of the song is played over the Stark Expo 2010 web site). The Expo looks suspiciously like an updated version of the 1964 New York World's Fair for which Walt Disney himself played a leading creative role. In fact, the character of Howard Stark (father of Tony Stark — played by Robert Downey, Jr.) looks suspiciously like Walt himself and his on-camera addresses are reminiscent of Walt's personal talks with his audience during his many television appearances. 'Tony's father is a cross between Walt Disney and Howard Hughes,' explains Richard, who's crafted dozens of enduring Disney songs over the years — from 'It's A Small World' to 'A Spoonful of Sugar' — with his brother, Robert.

'The filmmakers wanted a Disney-esque song to be the theme song of the Stark Expo,' continues the Disney Legend. So who better to approach than then composer of one of the most iconic songs of the 1964 World's Fair? 'It's very much a Disney-style up-tempo number,' says Richard, who confirms the piece gives a wink and a nod to his 1964 composition for the Carousel of Progress. 'It's the feel of 'There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.' It has the same exciting Disney quality.'

Richard, who calls Iron Man 2 a 'great, fun movie,' says he thinks his old boss would be thrilled with Disney's acquisition of the Marvel label. 'It's entertaining — Walt was an entertainer,' he points out. 'I think Walt would be pleased about this. He's smiling down.'

Richard has reason to smile too: 'Make Way for Tomorrow Today' is slated to appear in the upcoming Captain America film ('different style, same song,' Richard notes), ensuring the music of this true Disney treasure will continue to be enjoyed by a whole new generation."

If you haven't heard this great melody go to - http://www.starkexpo2010.com

It's good to know that the Sherman brothers are still recognizable after all these years.

The plot for COWBOYS & ALIENS

2010-05-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"DreamWorks Pictures has revealed the official synopsis for Iron Man films director Jon Favreau's Cowboys & Aliens, starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell and Noah Ringer. Opening July 29, 2011, the film was written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof:

'1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It's a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.'"

Harrison Ford is a villain? Again?!

Shia LaBeouf admits REVENGE OF THE FALLEN was bad

2010-05-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Shia LaBeouf told The Associated Press that Transformers III 'brings the heart back to the franchise.' He starts working on the third installment on Tuesday.

The new script restores a human element that got lost in the second movie, LaBeouf said. 'When I saw the second movie, I wasn't impressed with what we did,' LaBeouf said at the Cannes Film Festival. 'There were some really wild stunts in it, but the heart was gone.'"

UPDATE:

From LATimes:

"The last time Shia LaBeouf came to Cannes, in 2008, it was to promote Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the revival of the swashbuckling adventure franchise that went on to earn a whopping $787 million around the world. LaBeouf is back on the Croisette this weekend to flog Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, another revival of a classic from several decades ago. But he's not willing to forget about what he says were rampant problems with Indy 4 -- and he doesn't expect fans to, either.

'I feel like I dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished,' LaBeouf said, explaining that this upped the ante for him before he began shooting the Wall Street sequel. 'If I was going to do it twice, my career was over. So this was fight-or-flight for me.'

Meeting with reporters Saturday on a terrace at the Hotel du Cap, he had some strong, confessional words about his acting in the film, which he said he felt didn't convince anyone that he was the action hero the movie claimed him to be. 'You get to monkey-swinging and things like that and you can blame it on the writer and you can blame it on Steven [Spielberg, who directed]. But the actor's job is to make it come alive and make it work, and I couldn't do it. So that's my fault. Simple.'

LaBeouf said that he could have kept quiet, especially given the movie's blockbuster status, but didn't think the film had fooled anyone. 'I think the audience is pretty intelligent. I think they know when you've made ... . And I think if you don't acknowledge it, then why do they trust you the next time you're promoting a movie.' LaBeouf went on to say he wasn't the only star on the film who felt that way. 'We [Harrison Ford and LaBeouf] had major discussions. He wasn't happy with it either. Look, the movie could have been updated. There was a reason it wasn't universally accepted.'

LaBeouf added, 'We need to be able to satiate the appetite,' he said. 'I think we just misinterpreted what we were trying to satiate.'

Asked whether this was difficult to say, given his deep relationship with Spielberg, LaBeouf continued with the directness.

'I'll probably get a call. But he needs to hear this. I love him. I love Steven. I have a relationship with Steven that supersedes our business work. And believe me, I talk to him often enough to know that I'm not out of line. And I would never disrespect the man. I think he's a genius, and he's given me my whole life. He's done so much great work that there's no need for him to feel vulnerable about one film. But when you drop the ball you drop the ball.'"

You gotta admit, the fella's honest.

Casting the 3D MUSKETEERS

2010-05-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Just a month after it was reported that director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) would be directing Warner Bros.' The Three Musketeers, Heat Vision is reporting that director/producer Paul W.S. Anderson is stepping up his own planned contemporary 3D version of Alexandre Dumas' French swashbucklers with the casting of eight actors.

According to the story, Logan Lerman, most recently seen in Chris Columbus' Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief will headline the movie playing D'Artagnan, leader of the other Musketeers, played by Punisher: War Zone's Ray Stevenson (Porthos), Clash of the Titans's Luke Evans (Athos) and Pride & Prejudice's Matthew Macfadyen (Aramis). Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz and Casino Royale and 'Clash' star Mads Mikkelsen will join the cast as the primary villains Cardinal Richelieu and Rochefort, respectively. It's probably a surprise to absolutely no one that Anderson's own wife Milla Jovovich has been cast as Milady de Winter, Athos' ex-girlfriend.

Orlando Bloom, co-star of the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, is in negotiations to play the Duke of Buckingham but hasn't been confirmed yet."

Sounds cool! Good to see even though Logan Lerman is not Spider-Man, he's still getting movie offers.

No Twins for TRANSFORMERS III

2010-05-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

From ComingSoon.net:

"Director Michael Bay says that Skids and Mudflap, which caused some controversy for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, will not be back for next summer's Transformers III. Bay posted a simple message on his forums stating that 'The Twins are not back in T3'."