Splice As Nice

Some recent and random flix news:

-Director Matthew Vaughn tells the U.K.'s Guardian:

The "Thor" script he handed in to Marvel was budgeted upwards of a staggering $300 million! Consequently, he's been asked to cut that in half.

Meanwhile, Kevin McKidd, who stars in the new TV series Journeyman, spoke with Empire Online--and confirmed that he won't be playing the title character in that film, but he could play the villain Loki.

It's A Wrap!

--On Tuesday, October 9, 2007, Todd Gilchrist & Eric Moro of IGN, joined other media outlets on a visit to Universal Pictures in Hollywood, Calif. to interview director Steven Spielberg.

As you might image the subject of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull came up... At that time the film was just two days out of wrapping principle photography!

According to Spielberg, he is shooting Indy IV on film instead of using digital video, despite producer George Lucas' encouragement to use the newer technology. The reason for this, Spielberg said, was because he wanted the film to remain true not only to its predecessors in the series but also to the original serials which inspired Indiana Jones' initial creation. Additionally, he said that the effects work was approximately 70 percent practical and 30 percent CGI, although the computer-generated work will be obvious (presumably backdrops and large set pieces).

Spielberg also confirmed that the Russians are the villains in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which he said is accurate given the film's 1950s time period. He said that from the film's opening shot you can immediately tell who these villains are and why.

When asked about actor Shia LaBeouf taking over the mantle of action hero from his co-star Harrison Ford, Spielberg coyly said that LaBeouf has a lot of big things in his future. At the same time, he indicated that LaBeouf has to make multiple Transformers movies before he can move over and take on the fedora and bullwhip of Indiana Jones.

Bravo to Spielberg on sticking to his guns on how Indy 4 was shot! It's a good thing that moved into the post production phase as moviegoers vote Indy IV the most anticipated film of 2008.

Speaking of Ford: At the age of 65, reports are that he did his own stunts for the film....

Meanwhile--On the subject of TF2:

Transformers 2 is rapidly being prepared for production. Spielberg, who executive-produced the first film, said that the story will be going out within the next 30 days.

Spielberg said that the producers want to get the film going before the possible [industry] strike occurs.

-- Sean Astin informs MTV's Movieblog that as far as he knows, "The Goonies 2" is an "absolute certainty".

--Variety has famed Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) director Tobe Hooper set to helm the feature film adaptation of Stephen King's novel "From a Buick 8"

The story centers on a mysterious Buick stored in a state trooper barracks. After one of the troopers dies, his son becomes obsessed with the mysterious vintage automobile.

Actor-writer Johnathon Schaech and Richard Chizmar penned the script-Frequent King adapter Mick Garris will co-produce the flick.

-- Variety also has news that Frank Langella will join Cameron Diaz in director Richard Kelly's adaptation of the horror tale The Box.

Kelly wrote the screenplay which is based on short story from Richard Matheson called "Button, Button". Langella will play a stranger who presents a mysterious box to a woman.

The film starts production in mid-November as soon as Langella wraps the film version of the Broadway play "Frost/Nixon"

--The team of behind 300-- Zack Snyder and co- screenwriter Kurt Johnstad plan to reunite for the drama "The Last Photograph" as reported in Variety.

Based on an original idea by Snyder, the story involves a photograph becoming the catalyst for a two man journey through war-torn Afghanistan.

Johnstad will write the script as a potential directing gig for after Snyder completes Watchmen.

That's all the news for now...

--After last week's huge win against the Green Bay Packers., the Bears hope to build some momentum versus the Vikings...

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