Monday, June 30, 2014

X-Men: Apocalypse: Script Tease

Director Bryan Singer has used his newly created Instagram account to show off the first page of the script for the upcoming "X-Men: Apocalypse". The script mentions The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse on the opening page.



"X2: X-Men United" and "Superman Returns" screenwriters Mike Dougherty and Dan Harris as well as Simon Kinberg are writing the script for "Apocalypse" .

The younger actors introduced in "X-Men: First Class" James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto) Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), and Nicholas Hoult (Beast). Lucas Till (Alex “Havoc” Summers), etc. are contracted for three films and are locked in to return.

It is likely that  Channing Tatum is set to play the X-Men's mutant Gambit

The mutants will take on the comic's greatest villain Apocalypse.

The film will hit theaters on May 27, 2016 opposite Alice in Wonderland 2

Carlos Acosta Is "Tackling Romeo"

Cuban-born dancer Carlos Acosta has joined the Australian drama "Tackling Romeo" says ScreenDaily


The story follows Bobby Sherwood who finds his seemingly perfect life imploding after he rehearses in secret for a contemporary ballet of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

Acosta will play Bobby's mentor and choreographer.

Lynda Heys is directing the film from her own screenplay.

Steve Turnbull is set to produce the film

The film begins production later this year.

Famke Janssen & AnnaSophia Robb Have "Red Hearts"

Famke Janssen and AnnaSophia Robb have joined the indie drama "Jack of the Red Hearts" says  Deadline.


The film tells the story of a teenage con artist who tricks a desperate mother into hiring her as a live-in companion for her autistic daughter.

 Janet Grillo ("Fly Away") is calling action here using a script written by Jennifer Deaton.

Lucy Mukerjee Stefan Nowicki, Joey Carey and Morgan White are producing the pic.

 Production just began in New York.

Peter Webber Charts "The Piano Tuner"

Screen reports that Peter Webber ("Girl with a Pearl Earring," "Hannibal Rising") will direct a film adaptation of author Daniel Mason's historical novel "The Piano Tuner".


Set in 1886 at the height of the British Empire, it follows a piano tuner who receives a strange request by the British War Office to deliver a rare grand piano to a legendary British Officer in the remote jungles of northeast Burma.

Gopi Sait, Sunaman Sood, Daria Jovicic and Rashaana Shah will produce.

Pre-production begins later this year.

Batman v Superman-DOJ: PHOTO-Cavill As Clark Kent

A photo has been released of Henry Cavill on the set of  Zack Snyder's upcoming Superman/Batman team-up film called "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice". He is in his Clark Kent outfit. The pic was taken in honor of his support for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.


DOJ will see the return of Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, Ben Affleck will play Bruce Wayne/Batman amid lots of fallout--while Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane are set to reprise their roles as Lois Lane, Perry White and Martha Kent. "Fast Five" star Gal Gadot's playing Wonder Woman.

How big Gadot's role as WW is, is unknown at this point. Godot beat out Olga Kurylenko and Elodie Yung for the role. Thor: The Dark World" actress is Jaimie Alexander was also linked.

Some time ago there was noise that the production was seeking is a love interest for the Dark Knight in the film. The Type? A woman in their late 20s of any ethnicity.  Adding that she be tall and "possess physicality".

The notice DID NOT give a name for the character, which led to speculation that it was anyone from Vicki Vale to Wonder Woman. A leaked casting call had fanboys thinking that the Amazon warrior was in the pic.

A love interest for Bats suggests that he will have a larger part in the film than expected.

Rumors started that reportedly confirmed that Jason Momoa has been cast as Aquaman for both DOJ and "Justice League".  In response Momoa posted a new photo via Instagram that seemed like a response to the chatter that could go either way (though most likely it's a denial) - The pic sees him  holding a pitchfork like a trident, but he's also holding up his middle finger.

Momoa has been linked to Warner Bros' upcoming DC Entertainment plans for a long time but he's been suggested for numerous other roles like Doomsday or Metallo alien hero Martian Manhunter who also happens to like Oreo Cookies. The imposing actor has been asked about the talk several times but has always denied that he's up for a role.

 Ray Fisher is playing the role of Cyborg in the film. Jeremy Irons has been cast as Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth. Jesse Eisenberg is playing Lex Luthor

There were reports that suggested that the chatter about former "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston was playing Lex in the upcoming movie were true were denied by the actor. In fact he and fellow early frontrunner Mark Strong were never offered the role. Tom Hanks was internally discussed but an offer was never made.

Instead, they stuck with a next generation' mandate. We were told that Joaquin Phoenix came up as a contender for Lex. The trade says that he passed.

Holly Hunter, Callan Mulvey and Tao Okamoto ("The Wolverine") have joined the cast. Specifics about their new characters are being kept under wraps. Australian actor Mulvey ("Zero Dark Thirty) has  been rumored for the role of an (unnamed) villain in the film for quite some time now....Scoot McNairy ("Argo," "The Rover") has joined the film. Nobody at the studio will confirm the news or reveal what the role is.

 Spanish site El Multicine which claims that "Looper"and "Edge Of Tomorrow" actress Emily Blunt is close to inking a deal for an unspecified role.

Batman on Film also suggests that the character of Commissioner Jim Gordon is in the film, however there's no word on potential casting or confirmation at this time. The character is front and center in Fox Broadcasting's fantastic looking new Fall TV Series prequel Gotham starring  , , and

More rumors ran recently that Girls co-star Adam Driver was the frontrunner to play the character of Dick Grayson, the post-Robin Nightwing incarnation in the film. The original story mentioned that two other actors are in the mix for the role. Less than 24 hours later "Gossip Girl" and "Easy A" star Penn Badgley and "The Perks of Being A Wallflower" and "We Need To Talk About Kevin" star Ezra Miller were said to be in mix for the part. Driver denied any such talk...With good reason since he was really up for Lex. He turned it down due to scheduling conflicts. Denzel Washington was also among a list potentials for Lex generated by Thinkmcflythink as were Idris Elba and.

Singer Justin Bieber uploaded a photo on his Instagram account showing him holding up what appeared to be a personalized script for the film with the hashtag "#Robin" but it turned out to be a prop for a Funny or Die skit.

The speedster The Flash is said to be in the script.

Meantime: The star of The CW's popular Arrow TV series Stephen Amell posted a "Justice League" comic image on his official Facebook page.  We already know that Flash (Grant Gustin) showed up there for a few eps before getting his own show this Fall (Watch an extended trailer). Could more of DC Entertainment's "Justice League" be coming to "Arrow"? For now the DC Cinematic Universe will NOT co-exist with the TV heroics...There are rumors about where the films might go as well as the  TV side of things...

"Man Of Steel" writer David S. Goyer was back on the keyboard but now--THR reports that  Chris Terrio, who won an Oscar for writing Affleck's “Argo,” has been hired to write the latest draft of the MOS 2 script. 

Goyer is in the midst of developing several projects including an adaptation of author Neil Gaiman's  popular comic book series Sandman, which he’ll produce with Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven return to executive produce the multi-hero film.

Sources say the new movie is going for the tone of the relationship and fight seen in Frank Miller’s 1980s ground-breaking mini-series The Dark Knight Returns.

The release has been delayed a full 10 months for a number of reasons. As a result, the original release date of July 17th 2015 is no longer doable. Now, the studio is targeting a May 6th 2016 release. They quickly inserted the fantasy Pan into that original slot. MOS 2 will go head to head with "Captain America 3"--or not...

Production is officially underway on the film.

Once DOJ is completed  Snyder will helm the long planned Justice League movie.

Bond 24 In "Polite Turmoil"?

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reports that veteran James Bond screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have returned to perform rewrites on the Bond 24 script.


The duo have been the early writers on the film series since 1999's "The World is Not Enough,"and  they would often do the initial script drafts while other writers like Paul Haggis and John Logan would  polish.

The pair were set to retire from the series after handing in their early drafts of "Skyfall," with Logan subsequently taking over the later drafts. Logan was writing the latest adventure solo.

Now Purvis and Wade have been brought in to "punch up the jokes and add more insight into the past world of James Bond, giving the film a touch of history".
 
The film was originally slated to start production this Fall (October/November) but filming has been pushed back to December. The source says:

"Let's call it polite turmoil. People are getting on with their work, but we have to wait for the script, so filming won't begin till December, a few months later than they wanted."

Sam Mendes is once again directing the film.

Daniel Craig is back as Bond--we will also see the return of Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris reprising their roles from "Skyfall" as M, Q, and Moneypenny.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will produce the new film

The sequel is still targeting a November 6th 2015 release--with no plans to change the date.

Guardians Of The Galaxy: The End Zone

After nearly two years the finishing touches are being applied to James Gunn's film adaptation of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy".

The Guardians of the Galaxy comic book follows a US pilot who ends up in space during a universal conflict, then is forced to go on the run with a band of futuristic alien ex-cons.

Chris Pratt is Peter Quill/Star-Lord-The character is an interplanetary policeman and the Guardians leader who is born of a human mother and alien father.

WWE superstar Dave Bautista plays Drax the Destroyer who born as the human Arthur Douglas, whose family was attacked and murdered by the villainous Thanos (seen in the credt post-script of The Avengers). Arthur's spirit was then placed into a powerful new body by Kronos, which resulted in Drax the Destroyer's creation. The superhero's powers include incredible strength and the ability to emit energy blasts from his hands.

Zoe Saldana is Gamora a "green-skinned humanoid who is the last of a species that was exterminated by a race known as the Badoon" who also "happens to be a skilled assassin."

"The Walking Dead" fave Michael Rooker plays Yondu Udonta who first appeared in a 1969. He hails from the Zatoan tribe on Centauri IV, the first planet to be colonized outside of the Sun's solar system in the 29th Century. Yondu does not possess any super-human abilities, but he is a skilled hunter with a bow and arrow, and has a mystical "sixth sense" that gives him limited empathic abilities with other life forms. He is one of the founding members of the group.

The lovely Ophelia Lovibond plays "The Collector" who "gathers artifacts and beings in the hopes of saving them from a foretold galactic annihilation."

John C. Reilly has been offered the role of Rhomann Dey in the film who is said to be "Agent Coulson of the 'Guardians' movies," a human agent who serves as a go-between with S.H.I.E.L.D. This is quite different from the comic character, described as an alien centurion in the Nova Corps. There's were reports that the studio was interested in either Hugh Laurie, Alan Rickman or Ken Watanabe to play the role of a colleague of the Dey's.

Glenn Close is "playing a leadership role in Nova Corps, the intergalactic space patrol. ... Close’s role would be the closest thing to the one that Samuel L. Jackson plays in Avengers movie.

Benicio Del Toro is playing The Collector. who is billions of years old and does exactly that - collect rare or valuable items from across the universe. He also has the power of prophecy and created a museum of countless life forms to keep them safe from Thanos.

Lee Pace plays the villain Ronan The Accussor is an alien Kree with superhuman powers. He was a villain, but has become more heroic in the comics - so he'll probably have an arc in the film.

Actress Karen Gillan is set to play Nebula  a space pirate and the apparent granddaughter of Thanos.

Vin Diesel will be providing the voice for Groot who can absorb wood to gain strength, as well as control trees. The surprise here is that the is not as high as profile a role as many though it was going to be.

Bradley Cooper will provide the voice for Rocket Raccoon who has a penchant for big guns and is also a master tactician. He’s best friends with Groot and in the comics was captain of a starship.

Gregg Henry also stars. "Firefly" and "Castle" star Nathan Fillion has a cameo in the film.

Screenwriter Chris McCoy was hired to rewrite Nicole Perlman’s original script.

The film arrives August 1, 2014.


 With film's press tour about to begin, Gunn took to his Facebook page to talk about the end of the process:

"I swear, I've gotten angry with filmmakers like Ridley Scott and George Lucas who can't let go of their old films and want to keep going back and offering up different versions, but I can easily see myself doing that now. This is essentially my last week of actually making Guardians of the Galaxy. It's been two years straight and I've starting to become terrified of actually having to STOP. But on July 7, I leave for Singapore to begin the press tour so I suppose I really have no choice. There isn't much left. I'm still playing with the sound mix and the 3D and the DI (digital intermediate - basically the color-timing) - and there are some outstanding visual effects shots. But I still want to do what I can with what I have left to make the most stunning film I can for you guys on August 1! I think the Marvel producers are starting to understand my almost psychotic inability to be happy with anything, and to pick apart things to the very bitter end. They're going to have to tear this movie from my bloody grip. Aagh. I'm starting to get very sad every time I think of how I'm going to miss all of the people I've been working with side-by-side for the past two years. And - to show you how strange I really am - I get teary-eyed when I think of how I won't be working with Rocket (at least for a little while). He's been the center of my life for a long time now, and I've come to love the little son-of-a-bitch. Really. Let's be honest. I'm getting teary-eyed now writing those words. And yes that may be a sign that I really am in need of a break. But for now, it's back to work. Love to you all."

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Box Office Update: It's Good To Be Bad

Bad reviews? Global audiences did not seem to care...This weekend Michael Bay's sequel Transformers: Age Of Extinction had the best opening so far this year.


Pamela McClintock of THR:

Paramount's Transformers: Age of Extinction debuted to $100 million in North America, the best number of the year to date. Overseas, it was even more massive in its initial assault, taking in $201.3 million for a worldwide bow of $301.3 million.

The $210 million tentpole, earning an A- CinemaScore despite blistering review, is the first movie of 2014 so far to reach the $100 million threshold. And it's easily the biggest opening of star Mark Wahlberg's career, thanks to a strong turnout by males (64 percent).

Age of Extinction -- featuring a new leading man in Wahlberg, who replaces the troubled Shia LaBeouf -- broke records in China, earning $90 million to mark the top opening of all time for any film. The movie went to great lengths to prosper in China, including shooting at some of the country's most iconic sights, such as the Great Wall.

Michael Bay returned to direct the fourth installment, considered a reboot because of its new cast, including young stars Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor. Age of Extinction takes place four years after a devastating face-off between the Autobots and the Decepticons in Chicago in the last film Dark of the Moon, and introduces the Dinobots (i.e., dinosaur robots) for the first time.

Age of Extinction bested the $97.9 million earned by the last film in the series, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, in its first weekend in 2011 (the movie, opening on Tuesday took in a total $162.6 million in its first six days). Sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen grossed $108 million in its first weekend, a franchise best, although Dark of the Moon went on to become the top-grossing title in the series ($1.12 billion).

In terms of 2014 summer tentpoles, Godzilla opened to $93.2 million, while The Amazing Spider-Man 2 earned $91.6 million and X-Men: Days of Future Past, $90.8 million. Opening weekend numbers don't portend how well a film will hang on (Days of Future Past is the biggest earner to date of the three, with more than $710 million in global ticket sales).

Age of Extinction could have especially strong legs because it has virtually no competition for a month. To boot, it opens on the eve of the Fourth of July week.

No other movie dared go up against Age of Extinction and open nationwide this weekend.

Among holdovers, Disney's Maleficent and Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 both crossed the $200 million threshold. Maleficent's showing is especially impressive, considering it isn't a sequel. Disney also celebrated the fact that Captain America: The Winter Soldier passed up The Lego Movie over the weekend to become the top grossing film of the year domestically with $257.2 million.

A slew of films opened at the specialty box office this weekend, including John Carney's Begin Again, starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine and Hailee Steinfeld. Distributed by The Weinstein Co., the film took in a solid $148,325 from five theaters in New York and Los Angeles for a location average of $29,665.

Korean film Snowpiercer, opening in 8 locations, grossed $162,127 for a location average of $20,266 for Radius-TWC.


Summer 2014 reaches the halfway mark (Wow! Time Flies)

During the long holiday weekend you can meet Tammy ("Bridesmaids" actress Melissa McCarthy) an unemployed woman who discovers her husband is having an affair and decides to go on a road trip with her alcoholic, foul-mouthed, diabetic grandmother (Susan Sarandon).

Earth to Echo is described as a "found-footage" meets "Explorers" and "E.T.". After receiving a bizarre series of encrypted messages, a group of kids embark on an adventure with an alien who needs their help.

Director Scott Derrickson brings us the supernatural thriller "Deliver Us from Evil". NY police officer Ralph Sarchie () investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Cast Fills Out For "Hello, My Name Is Doris"

Kumail Nanjiani and Natasha Lyonne are set to join the comedy "Hello, My Name Is Doris" says The Wrap.


The film follows an isolated sixty-year old woman (Sally Field) who is motivated by a self-help seminar to romantically pursue a younger coworker. This causes her to stumble into the spotlight of the local hipster social scene.

"New Girl" guy Max GreenfieldJack Antonoff Kyle Mooney Wendi McLendon-Covey Rich Sommer and Beth Behrs also star.

Michael Showalter will direct the film using a script he wrote with Laura Terruso.

Jordana Mollick and Kevin Mann are producing the project while Daniela Taplin Lundberg and Riva Marker, and Daniel Crown are executive producers.

Takashi Miike's "Audition" Getting A U.S. Remake

Deadline reports that "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and "Basic Instinct" producer Mario Kassar is planning a remake of Takashi Miike's twisted cult classic from 1999 "Audition".


Like the original film the updated version is based upon author Ryū Murakami's 1997 novel. The action follows a lonely widower is convinced by his filmmaker friend to hold a casting call for a fake movie in order to find a girlfriend. He finds one girl he likes, a ballerina named Evie Lawrence, but soon his life turns into a nightmare.

Richard Gray will be directing from his own adapted screenplay.

Production is slated to begin this Fall once Gray wraps "Sugar Mountain" starring Jason Momoa.

Black Says New "Predator" Film Not A Reboot

The news that "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "Iron Man 3" writer/director Shane Black is set to do the same for a reboot of Predator franchise at Fox seemed to come outta nowhere.

The idea of a reboot evenleft some folks irritated though--As it turns out the new film is NOT a reboot after all, but an "inventive sequel".

Black tells Collider:

"Why start over, when you've all this rich mythology yet to mine?

Black said he doesn't like reboots generally, but can "really get behind inventive sequels", adding that he likes "the idea of expanding and exploring the existing Predator mythology, rather than hitting the restart button."


The  John McTiernan-helmed 1987 original followed a U.S. special forces team sent to a Central American jungle to rescue some high-level ministers. They soon learn their handler's motives were duplicitous - something is in the trees and is hunting them, something that is not of this world.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers starred in the original film. Black had a cameo in that film as the crass joke telling Hawkins, one of the first to be killed off. He then went on to make a name for himself writing the scripts for other action pics like Lethal Weapon The Last Boy Scout The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Last Action Hero.

Black is directing and writing the treatment, with his "Monster Squad" co-writer Fred Dekker scripting in full (which Black will no doubt have input on).

John Davis is attached to produce.

The '87 made nearly $100 million in worldwide grosses. “Predator 2,” starring Danny Glover, took in $57 million in 1990; “Predators,” starring Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne, grossed $127 million in 2010; Fox also combined franchises with two “Alien vs. Predator” movies in 2004 and 2007 .

Latest RUMORS About Star Wars: Episode VII

Before production began on J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: Episode VII" both the director and producer Kathleen Kennedy were advocating to push back the release date from December 2015 to May 2016 to give them more time. Mouse house chief Bob Iger nixed the idea.

The ankle injury that original  Star Wars actor Harrison Ford got while playing as Han Solo on the set lead to speculation that production might be delayed and the release date might be pushed back after all.


There's even chatter from the NY Post that Oscar Isaac's role has been expanded to make up for the loss of Ford.

The studio has denied both claims.

Now, Latino Review says that behind-the-scenes friction is growing with Kennedy and Abrams who are now looking for a May 4th 2016 release, but Iger is still saying no as more pressure mounts on Abrams.

Fellow Original Trilogy stars Mark Hamill returns as Luke Skywalker Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Peter Mayhew playing the legendary Wookiee Chewbacca, and Kenny Baker as Astro droid R2 D2 will be back as well.

Franchise creator George Lucas told Bloomberg Businessweek that he begun talks with original stars to have them return to for its new films -- before he had even begun the process of the ultimately $2 billion deal and sale. It's been said that Lucas' actually spent about a year planning the franchise's future before handing the reigns of Lucasfilm over to Disney.

LR also has it that Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd has reportedly joined the cast in a cameo role.

Meantime AICN has posted some fresh plot rumors that suggest the film could see Han leading a group made up of the younger cast members through the galaxy to find a missing Luke.

The new cast members also include John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and  Max von Sydow as a villain character. 12 Years a Slave Best Supporting Actress Lupita Nyong'o and Game of Thrones co-star Gwendoline Christie have officially been cast in the film as well.

Disney/Lucasfilm haven't revealed any character details at all however, so which of the newcomers is playing which roles is all speculation at this point.

Abrams wrote the script with Lawrence Kasdan for the film. Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Toy Story 3," "Little Miss Sunshine") vacated his job scripting the next film--after disagreements over which characters the film will focus on.

Kasdan ("The Empire Strikes Back," "Raiders of the Lost Ark") and Simon Kinberg ("Sherlock Holmes," "X-Men: Days of Future Past") have reportedly closed deals to pen the final two installments of the new "Star Wars" trilogy. Kasdan and Kinberg are also indeed writing the stand alone/origin Star Wars features. Iger recently revealed that the studio has three features in the works - not two as previously indicated.  "Godzilla" reboot director Gareth Edwards is going to direct the first of the upcoming Star Wars Spin-Off Films. "Fantastic Four" reboot and "Chronicle" director Josh Trank is officially set to direct the as yet Untitled Number 2 stand alone spin-off film.

The plan is to have each of these films come out in the years when we don't see a new episode of the saga - They would come out in 2016, 2018 and 2020. We still don't know which characters these spin-offs will focus on. Current franchise chief,
Kennedy spoke to Yahoo about the stand-alone films saying that they will NOT affect the main narrative of the Episodes.

Looking ahead "Looper" and "Brick" writer-director Rian Johnson has inked a deal to both pen and call action on "Star Wars: Episode VIII" as well as write a treatment for "Star Wars: Episode IX".

 James Earl Jones, the man behind the voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader was asked by Variety recently about the possibility of playing the character in more films, perhaps one of the Spin-Off Films for example set before "Return of the Jedi". He said: "Oh no. I've got no illusions that I will or even hankerings to be in them, but I'm very proud to have been part of the original."

The series MVP composer John Williams is set to score Episode VII, Episode VIII and Episode IX.
  

Kasdan and Kinberg would also join the projects as producers with Kennedy.

Production is scheduled to take place through September at Pinewood Studio in England.


The film has a confirmed release date of December 18, 2015.

Jason Bateman Gets Another Directing Gig

Variety reports that Jason Bateman is set to direct and star in a new as yet Untitled comedy at  Universal Pictures.


The movie is described as an FBI wedding comedy. David Bar Katz is writing the script based on earlier drafts by David Flebotte and Phil Alden Robinson.

Bateman will also produce the film with James Garavente and Bob Cooper.
 
Kristin Lowe and Sara Scott are overseeing the project for the studio.

Bateman directed last year's Bad Words

Yet Another Remake Of "The Omen" Is On The Way

Bloody-Disgusting reports that Fox and Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes are teaming up again for a second reboot of The Omen franchise.

No filmmakers are attached at this time.


The original 1976 is a classic that starred Hollywood legend Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. Directed by Richard Donner, the film works on so many levels, that despite its age still holds up very well even by today's standards.

Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles starred in the horrible John Moore-directed 2006 remake. 

The news comes a month after it was announced that Lifetime Network is developing a TV series adaptation of the original movie, with former "Walking Dead" showrunner  Glen Mazzara writing the pilot and executive producing the show.

The series plans to essentially ignores any of the sequels, opting to explore a now adult Damien Thorn who is haunted by his turbulent past and coming to grips with the fact that he is actually the Antichrist.

"Jupiter Ascending" Gets A New Trailer

Although it's release has been delayed until early next year, the marketing campaign for Lana and Andy Wachowski's sci-fi thriller Jupiter Ascending continues with the release of a new trailer. This peek is more action-oriented than previous trailers, and includes shots of some kind of space dragon creature...


The plot is said to involve higher forms of life on other planets watching us. These beings have some human and animal DNA in them.

The soon to be Mrs. Ashton Kutcher--Mila Kunis will play a Russian immigrant and toilet cleaner who unknowingly carries "the same perfect genetic makeup as the Queen of the Universe and is therefore a threat to her otherwise immortal rule." A bounty hunter (Channing Tatum) is dispatched to kill her, but they fall in love.

Sean Bean will play a roguish character named Stinger. Eddie Redmayne Tuppence Middleton Aussie actor Kick Gurry and Douglas Booth also star. South Korean actress Doona Bae's role is said to be "very small" in the pic  Industry helmer Terry Gilliam has agreed to act for a key cameo in the pic. No details have emerged on whom Redmayne, Booth, and Middleton will play. Middleton and Bean worked before on Cleanskin with the Wachowskis.

Warner Bros planned to release the film on July 18th, a highly profitable time of year which they used for two of the films in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy Now though, the film has been pushed all the way back to February 6th 2015.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Nick Offerman Joins "Welcome To Happiness" As Cameras Roll

Nick Offerman has joined the cast of the indie "metaphysical" drama Welcome to Happiness says Variety.


The story follows a children's book author (Kyle Gallner), who has a secret door in his closet.

Offerman will play the landlord and father figure to the writer.

Olivia Thirlby, Paget Brewster, Molly C. Quinn, Frances Conroy, Josh Brener and Brendan Sexton III also star.

Oliver Thompson is directing here using his own original screenplay.

Thompson, Gallner, Bay Dariz and Quinn are producing the film.

Production is  currently underway in Los Angeles.

James DuMont Travels To "Jurassic World"

James DuMont, who most recently played Jared Leto's father in the award winning drama Dallas Buyers Club, has joined the cast of Jurassic World says THR. No details were given for DuMont's character in the film.


The events are said to take place Isla Nublar, the site of John Hammond's (Richard Attenborough) Jurassic Park theme park, rather than Isla Sorna of the two previous sequels. "Jurassic World" lays the groundwork of story arcs that could be carried into future installments of the film series.

Chris Pratt will play a rugged ex-military man, who spars with Bryce Dallas Howard's corporate scientist.  Melissa & Joey and The Kings of Summer star Nick Robinson is poised to play the older brother of Ty Simpkins, the 12-year-old actor that befriended Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 3".The boys are in turn Howard’s nephews. Josh Brolin was first in line for Pratt's role but a deal could not be reached. Vincent D'Onofrio will play the villain in the sequel. Irrfan Khan has landed an unspecified role in the project as well. Actor Bd Wong will reprise his role as Dr. Henry Wu."The Intouchables" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" star Omar Sy Judy Greer Katie McGrath and Lauren Lapkus also star.

"New Girl" and "Drinking Buddies" star Jake Johnson also may star. "Pacific Rim" and "Luther" star Idris Elba came up in a casting notice. Jason Schwartzman is rumored for a role in the sequel. David Oyelowo is said to had a meeting about the flick as well. There's nothing official on that though.

Originally slated for June 2014, the sequel was delayed due to further work being need on the super secret script by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planet of the Apes)--not to mention an already too tight schedule.

Colin Trevorrow wrote the revised screenplay with Derek Connolly and will direct. 

Steven Spielberg, who directed Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park, will executive produce here. Jurassic Park III was brought to the screen by Joe Johnston.

Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley will produce the dino sequel set to hit theaters on June 12, 2015.

Production is underway.

Robinson & Roe Join "The 5th Wave"


Nick Robinson ("Jurassic World") has won the male lead in  the sci-fi thriller "The 5th Wave":



Based on author Rick Yancey's novel series, the story follows 16-year-old Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) as one of the last humans on earth after four devastating waves of alien attacks, and she’s determined to get her baby brother back.

 Robinson plays Ben Parish, a.k.a. “Zombie, who Cassie previously had a crush on in school, but is now a ruthless paramilitary leader with numerous alien kills under his belt. Robinson beat out Tye Sheridan ("Mud") and newcomer Mitchell Hope for the role.

Newcomer Alex Roe (“The Calling") has also joined the cast as Evan, who may hold the key to defeating the extraterrestrial scourge.


The studio hopes the pic will serve as a potential franchise launcher.

Filmmaker J Blakeson ("The Disappearance Of Alice Creed") will direct using Susannah Grant's adapted script.

Tobey Maguire, Graham King, Tim HeadingtonDenis O'Sullivan and Matt Plouffe are producing.

Benjamin Bratt Gets New Beat In "Ride Along 2"

Benjamin Bratt has been cast in the action comedy sequel "Ride Along 2" at Universal Pictures says Variety.

 

Ice Cube and Kevin Hart are going to reprise their roles as the quick-witted security guard (Hart) who has his eye on an an Atlanta cop's (Cube) sister. The new film has Cube and Hart's characters traveling to Miami.

Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi will be back to pen the script for director Tim Story

Shot for just $25 million, the first Ride Along opened mid-January of 2014 to a record-breaking $41.5 million and stayed in the top spot for three weeks. It remains as one of the year's top films having  strong staying power and has made a highly impressive $117 million at home and more than $150 million dollars worldwide.

 Cube, Matt AlvarezLarry Brezner and Will Packer return to produce.

 Production hopes to begin soon to meet a January 15, 2016 release date.

Stacy Martin Gets A Space In "High Rise"

Stacy Martin has joined the cast of Ben Wheatley's film adaptation of author J. G. Ballard's 1975 satirical novel "High Rise" says Screen.

Ballard also wrote the book that was turned into Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" and the novel that became David Cronenberg's "Crash".

Set in a luxury ultra-modern high-rise building, the story follows a group of affluent tenants who revert to barbarism. Cocktail parties degenerate into attacks on 'enemy' floors and once-luxurious amenities become an arena for primal and violent mayhem.

Martin will play Fay in the film.



Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons,Elisabeth Moss, James Purefoy, Reece Shearsmith, Peter Ferdinando Luke Evans and voice over artist Dan Renton Skinner also star. 

Producer Jeremy Thomas has been trying to get a film adaptation of High Rise off the ground for ages. Nicolas Roeg almost turned the tale into a film in the '70s. Then, in 2010, Vincenzo Natali was going to direct a pic using a script by Richard Stanley.  The rights lapsed, however, and now a new writing and directing team has come aboard and it seems like they're actually going to get this adaptation across the finish line.

Wheatley's regular writing partner Amy Jump is writing what is being labelled a "faithful" adaptation

Production gets underway in July in Belfast.

Kevin Bacon Bosses Joel Edgerton Around In "Black Mass"

Kevin Bacon has joined the crime biopic "Black Mass" says Boston Globe.


The story follows South Boston criminal James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) who was betrayed by the FBI after he became an informant to bring down a rival crime family. Bulger was captured in June 2011 in Santa Monica following a 16-year manhunt.

Tom Hardy was in talks to co-star as FBI handler John Connolly who was also a childhood friend of Bulger. In the 1970s, the pair joined forces with Bulger turning in his rivals to consolidate his power while Connolly scored the professional benefits of being the man who helped dismantle the mob. Eventually, Connolly was convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice, and second-degree murder. Australian actor Joel Edgerton was attached to play Connolly at first. Now, Hardy isn't involved and Edgerton has come back to the role.

Bacon will play FBI special agent Charles McGuire who is in charge of the Boston field office and Connelly's boss.

Guy Pearce will play Connolly's brother and former President of the Massachusetts State Senate who also aided Bulger in his plan to systematically wipe out his competition. Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson will play Lindsey, his girlfriend and the mother of his 6-year-old son Douglas, who dies tragically. Juno Temple will play Deborah Hussey--a prostitute and the stepdaughter of Whitey's lieutenant Flemmi. Jesse Plemons will play Kevin Weeks, a blue-collar man who is part of the inner circle. Benedict Cumberbatch as Massachusetts state senator and Whitey's brother Billy Bulger, while Adam Scott is playing FBI agent Robert Fitzpatrick.

The film is based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth. worked on  the adapted the screenplay, before Russell Gewirtz took over. Cooper is said to be working on a rewrite of the script

Brian Oliver, Tyler Thompson, Nigel Sinclair, Tobin Armbrust, John Lesher and Christi Dembrowski will produce the pic.

 The movie is currently being shot on location in Boston.

Birgitte Hjort Sørensen Added To "Pitch Perfect 2" Roster

Danish actress Birgitte Hjort Sørensen has joined the highly anticipated sequel "Pitch Perfect 2" says Deadline.



The film will follow Becca and Fat Amy (Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson) through their senior year of college and graduation.

Sorensen will play a member of a competing a cappella group
 
Brittany Snow, Elizabeth Banks, Alexis Knapp, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee are all back. Skylar Astin and Ben Platt will reprise their roles of Jesse and Benji in the sequel. Anna Camp has inked a deal to return as once uppity a capella leader Aubrey Posen. Her return is a bit unexpected since she was a graduating senior in the first film. German YouTube sensation Flula Borg.  Real-life a cappella singing group Pentatonix signed on to the film. The quintet will be perform as a new rival group to the Barden Bellas. They were reportedly on the set for just one twelve-hour day Comedian and actor Adam Devine who is set to reprise his role as Bumper Allen, and Kelley Jakle also star. Hailee Steinfeld is one of the few new high-profile additions to the cast as is Katey Sagal who will play the mother of Steinfeld's character.

Banks is directing the sequel using a script by returning writer Kay Cannon.

Paul Brooks and Max Handelman will produce the sequel.

"Pitch Perfect 2" is currently filming in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is scheduled to hit theaters May 15, 2015.

The first Pitch Perfect made $115 million worldwide from a $17 million budget, and was one of the top-performing DVD and VOD titles of 2013.