I Blog About Movies So That You Do Not Have To...Posting industry news opinion our film reviews & trailers. Comments are always welcome and appreciated. Send them to thelastreel@comcast.net
Andy Serkis will be working his motion capture magic-ala The Lord Of The Rings films and the King Kong remake-- for the prequel "Rise of the Apes " Fox revealed the news on their Twitter page, saying Serkis will play the lead ape Caesar--who leads a simian insurrection against humanity.
Serkis joins a cast that includes James Franco, Freida Pinto and John Lithgow.
Shooting kicks off shortly under the helm of Rupert Wyatt for release next Summer.
Comedian-turned-filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait ("World's Greatest Dad") has written a script and will direct a film based on the 1970's album Schoolboys in Disgrace by The Kinks says The Hollywood Reporter.
The story follows a troublesome schoolboy and his posse who are humiliated by the headmaster and vow to fight back against "the Establishment." He later becomes a supervillain named Mr. Flash.
Goldthwait describes it as "a realistic high school musical for all the kids who hate sugary, sweet, unrealistic high school musicals."
The original songs will be re-recorded by the eventual cast members.
Howard Gertler and Tim Perell will produce the pic
Remember how I noted that Josh Hutcherson's name was abscent from the latest list of contentenders to play the lead in Marc Webb's Untitled Spider-Man Reboot?An offer was apparently made and has been accepted by the actor who won the role after several extensive test shoots.
Of said audition Hutcherson told MTV:
"You can't prepare for that, you know? It's so big," the actor told MTV. "To be considered on the list with some of the people I'm being considered with is like an honor. These actors are so good. I mean, it's such a big movie."
Aaron Johnson Anton Yelchin Logan Lerman Andrew Garfield Jamie Bell Alden Ehrenreich. Frank Dillane and Michael Angarano had all made the latest cut..
Waiting for official word...And if true what about that Journey to the Center of the Earth Sequel?
The History Channel's top-rated reality series "Ice Road Truckers" is being adapted for the big screen- and big surprise--in 3-D no less says Deadline.
The series follows a group of truckers who drive 18-wheelers over a 350-mile highway made of ice to supply diamond miners working in the tundra of Canada's Northwest Territories.
John Moore ("Max Payne," "Behind Enemy Lines") is planning to direct and is currently working on a The Wages of Fear"-esque 'mission' storyline for the film with an unnamed writer.
"It is very much a tough guy movie. Here's a bunch of characters who tackle problems by getting in there and getting things done. We'll turn it into a mission movie that harkens back to The Towering Inferno, Jaws or The Guns of Navarone You got a problem, go solve it" says Moore.
While I have no issue with a film based upon a reality series--Here comes a familiar refrain that I get tired of typing--Does it have to be in 3-D? I say the premise is exciting enough without having to use the fall back gimmick
Angela Bassett has joined the ensemble comedy "Jumping the Broom" says The Hollywood Reporter.Arlene Gibbs and Elizabeth Hunter's script is set around a weekend wedding in Martha's Vineyard and follows the class struggle between two quite different African-American families.
Bassett will play a Washington heiress and the mother of Paula Patton's wealthy family matriarch character.
Also staring Romeo Miller as Patton's Yale University student cousin and Laz Alonso as Patton's love interest and Loretta Devine
Elizabeth Hunter will perform a re-write of Arlene Gibbs' script.
Salim Akil makes his feature film directorial debut on the project which begins shooting this summer.
Gore Verbinski will direct the long-gestating remake of "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" says Reuters. The story centers on a quintessential daydreamer whose vivid imagination allows him to escape from the mundane constraints of his ordinary life.
In 1947 the great Danny Kaye starred in the title role
Steve Conrad ("The Pursuit of Happyness," "The Weather Man") was hired to write a new draft of the script back in April.
Verbinski will direct from that script with shooting to begin as early as next spring. It's presently unsure if either Mike Myers or Sacha Baron Cohen are still attached to star.Meanwhile Verbinski also talked to Dark Horizons about his reunion with Johnny Depp for the March 4, 2011 animated feature Rango.
Colin Farrell and Eric Bana are in early talks to team for the indie drama By Virtue Fall. says Deadline. The drama "charts a professional and personal relationship between two characters that evolves from friendship to betrayal and retribution".
Up in the Air screenwriter Sheldon Turner makes his directorial debut on the film and will produce with Nicolas Chartier and Jennifer Klein.
Negotiations are still in early stages though with Bana closer to signing on than Farrell.
Tyler Hoechlin and Agnes Bruckner will star in the indie film noir "Open Gate" says The Hollywood Reporter. Hoechlin plays a rodeo clown and bull fighter in a small East Texas town, who discovers that the bulls are being used to smuggle drugs.
It's hard to believe that Hoechlin is all grown up--He was great as a little kid in Road to Perdition
Dan Jackson calls action.
Molly Mayeux will produce the pic.
Filming has started in Atlanta, Texas
Pajiba reports that Zynga's strategy-based game app Mafia Wars is being turned into a feature film
30 million Facebook users each month play the game. which allows users to build a crime empire. The action is mostly set in New York but also takes place in international cities like Moscow and London.
Not so fast though
Inside Social Games got in touch with Zynga whose reps denied the report, saying the story is "untrue".
If it's true this film adapting thing is getting ridiculous! What' next Phone Book App The Movie?
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs co-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller has been hired to write and direct the LEGO ® movie says Variety.
Combining live action and animation, there's no word yet on what kind of plot or story they intend to follow other than it will feature the popular toy building blocks extensively.
Whatever they have decided though it has certainly taken time as producers and Lego executives have been criss-crossing the Atlantic for over a year coming up with the concept.
Hotel Transylvania scribes Dan and Kevin Hageman had worked on the script previously.
Dan Lin Roy Lee and Doug Davison will produce the film.
Lord and Miller are still attached to direct the film adaptation of TV series 21 Jump Street early next year.
Based on Magnar Johnsgaard's novel "Black Rain" about a Norwegian roustabout who tangles and then bonds with a redneck American driller as they attempt to stop a building oil rig explosion in the frigid North Sea.
Hans Petter Moland ("The Beautiful Country") directs from a script by Petter Skavlan. The title itself is slang for an oil field of immense size.
Casting is currently under way for three American stars. Shooting will kick off either in late Fall or early 2011.
Since Guillermo del Toro's exit from the "The Hobbit: Part 1 and The Hobbit: Part 2 everyone wants to know what he will do next
Chatting with Collider and Sci-Fi Wire during the recent Saturn Awards, the director says he hasn't yet picked what's next for him.
“I want to be, if possible, shooting in May next year…So I need something that is ready to go into preproduction immediately”--He's deciding between three different scripts.
It's likely the choice will be made very soon and then announced at Comic-Con 2010 in a few weeks, leading the way is a film he started to develop back in the mid-90's but couldn't get it going. "It went completely into a beautiful roundabout way and came back to me" says del Toro.
He's also been linked to both another "Hellboy" pic and a new "Frankenstein" adaptation which he confirmed are both still in the works, but neither will ready to head into production until after his next project.
Frankenstein would be my pick if del Toro let me make the choice for him
As for his dream of adapting H. P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness That is still a long way off.
"I would love to be doing ‘Mountains Of Madness,’ but still, even now, it’s very difficult for the studios to take the step of an R-rated, tentpole movie, with a tough ending, no love story" says del Toro.
Alice Eve is in negotiations to join the cast of X-Men: First Class says Heat Vision. Emma Frost is a telepathic character, also known as the White Queen, and started out as one of the X-Men's most dangerous foes to one of its most central members.
Rosamund Pike (An Education, Surrogates) was originally up for the role. As Eve tried out for Captain America: The First Avenger, and lost out on that pic to Hayley Atwell. First Class is not a bad consolation prize...
Eve, who was just great in the better than expected comedy She's Out of My League, joins the already cast James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Benjamin Walker.
Matthew Vaughn directs the comic book prequel reboot
Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan is in talks to star in the family drama Stoker reports 24 Frames.
Former "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller wrote the script which follows an eccentric teenager "whose enigmatic and estranged uncle returns to the family after the death of the girl's father".
Jodie Foster is in talks to co-star.
Spike Lee is in negotiations to direct the thriller "Nagasaki Deadline" says Deadline.
Jon Landau, Rae Sanchini, Andrew Kosove, Kira Davis and Broderick Johnson will produce the pic
Shooting will take place on the East Coast next year.
Lee's thriller Inside Man was a top notch piece of film making I expect Deadline to be the same kind of affair
And hey find out if Denzel Washington's busy wouldja?
As July 16th's promo push begins for "Inception", co-star Tom Hardy talked to First Showing about "Mad Max: Fury Road in which he takes over playing one of Mel Gibson's most iconic roles "It's a relaunch and revisit to the world, an entire restructuring. That's not to say that it's not picking up or leaving off from the 'Mad Max' you know already, but it's a nice re-take on the entire world using the same character, depositing him in the same world, but bringing him up to date by 30 years. You can expect the same amount of grit and rawness and authenticity [to my] performance".
Hardy confirmed that Weta Digital will be doing the CG effects, but expect more old school style action stuff - "I think it's going to be much more like Chris [Nolan], how he deals with action - these things are going to be really there. Big rigs, big explosions, big car crashes, big violence."
The actor confirmed he's in Australia this week to start stunt training for the film and will then start fight training soon after.
Hardy also says he has to drop 30 pounds for the role and that the shooting schedule will last a long nine months.
Meanwhile,actress Teresa Palmer tells Coming Soon that her reported involvement in Fury" is not happening. "I'm not [in it], actually. That's just a rumor that has been on the internet".
Her 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice co-star Jay Baruchel said earlier this year she'd been cast in a major role for rhe pic and other sources indicated she had talked about the casting before. In any case whether it was true or not, she's out now
Leonardo DiCaprio confirmed at a press conference over the weekend that he's in talks for the biopic of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover according to Hitfix.
“I am talking to Clint Eastwood about playing J. Edgar Hoover who had his hand in some of the most scandalous moments in American history. Everything from the Vietnam War to Dillinger to Martin Luther King, and JFK. So, it’s about the secret life of J. Edgar Hoover” said DiCaprio.
One aspect of Dustin Lance Black's script is said to cover Hoover's alleged homosexuality and penchant for cross-dressing.
Will we see Leo in drag?
"Will I wear a dress? Not as of yet. No, we haven't done the fitting for those. So, I don't think so."
Kevin Spacey is in advanced negotiations to join the cast of the comedy "Horrible Bosses says The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on Michael Markowitz's spec script revolves around three frustrated friends who conspire to murder each other's bosses with unexpected and rather calamitous results. The three bosses include a master manipulator (Spacey), a sexually aggressive dentist (Jennifer Aniston) and a weaselly scion (Colin Farrell).
Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, and Jason Bateman play the three friends.
Jamie Foxx plays a con artist who dishes out advice on how to pull off the murders.
Spacey's character is Bateman's boss.
Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley rewrote the script, while Seth Gordon is on tap to call action.
Brett Ratner and Jay Stern are producing that pic.
Great casting here for sure...!!
Filming kicks off next week in Los Angeles.
Out stumping for July 9th's Despicable Me producer Christopher Meledandri tells Coming Soon that the rumored new Addams Family 3-D movie first mentioned earlier this year is moving forward but is still in very early stages.
"It's all very, very early, but we are developing with [Tim Burton directing] in mind. We're just now at the story phase. Stuff has been written as though we are doing it in black and white, but that's not correct. It's not incorrect, but it's not correct. We haven't gotten to that point" says Meledandri.
Meledandri confirmed that the plan is to use a 3-D/stop-motion technique and base it on the original comics that appeared in The New Yorker magazine and inspired the live-action 1964 TV sitcom.
Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols is in talks to direct Great Hope Springs says The Wrap.
Written by Vanessa Taylor--Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep are closing deals to play a couple married for three decades who must decide whether to continue with the arrangement during an intense weekend of counselling
It was reported Jessie Nelson ("I Am Sam") was said to be attached as director, but the impressive cast apparently drew the interest of Nichols
The key role of the marital counselor has yet to be cast.
Guymon Casady, Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black and Steve Tisch will produce the pic.
Deadline reports that many of the actors on the shortlist to play Peter Parker in the Spider-Man Reboot have shot screen tests. The decision about who is playing the wall crawler should come very soon.
The final list includes Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell, Star Trek's Anton Yelchin, Aaron Johnson, Andrew Garfield (The Social Network), Logan Lerman and Alden Ehrenreich (Tetro).
Frank Dillane and Michael Angarano are also still on the list of candidates but don't seem to have been tested.
Note the absence of candidate Josh Hutcherson
Stay Tuned...
The story would revolve around the son’s memories of his dysfunctional relationship with his father, with Sly himself to play 'The Dapper Don'. Gotti, who took over the powerful Gambino crime family in the 70's, was convicted in 1992 of committing thirteen murders--passing away in 2002
"Junior" Gotti was convicted of racketeering and got out of prison in 2005. Stallone is out seeking someone to pen the screenplay.
Rising actress Jessica Chastain (The Fields "Coriolanus") has joined the cast of "The Help says The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on Kathryn Stockett's book the story explores the complicated relationships between the upper class matriarchs and their servants in the American South of the early 1960's.
Chastain will play Celia Foote, an insecure Southern lady constantly trying to fit in with the high society women who reject her
Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Chris Lowell, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard also star.Tate Taylor directs from his adapted script.
Taylor, Brunson Green, Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus and Mark Radcliffe are going to produce
Filming kicks off next month in Greenwood, Mississippi.
John Lasseter is set to co-direct the upcoming CGI 3-D sequel Cars 2 reports Jim Hill Media.
Lasseter, who helmed the first Cars, had all but stepped aside so that Brad Lewis, who produced Ratatouille could direct the sequel.
Now it seems the pair will be working together on the project, quieting months of speculation.
"Cars 2" sees Lightning McQueen and his new crew chief Mater around the world as part of the "Race of Champions."
This is Pixar Animation Studios' first sequel outside their Toy Story franchise
Matt Damon may team up with "Almost Famous" filmmaker Cameron Crowe for his film adaptation We Bought a Zoo says The Hollywood Reporter..
Based upon a memoir by Benjamin Mee, the story follows a man who used his family's life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside.
Mee and his children had to balance caring for his terminally ill wife and dealing with all the related animal issues including readying the zoo for a reopening.
Damon is in early talks to portray Mee
Aline Brosh McKenna wrote the original script adaptation which Crowe has been rewriting her to reflect his own film sensibilities.
Julie Yorn produces.
The film marks Crowe's first film since 2005's "Elizabethtown" and is already slated for a December 2011 release.
David Bowers ("Flushed Away") will make his live-action directing debut with Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules a sequel to Diary of A Wimpy Kid the movie says The Hollywood Reporter.
Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris will all all be back in their roles in the sequel once again based on the Jeff Kinney's young adult novel series.
Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah adapted the script while the story this time focuses on Gteg Heffley, who this time around must deal with the punishments inflicted by his older brother Roderick (Devon Bostick)
Made for a modest $15 million, the film had a quiet opening in mid-March and yet went on to gross almost $64 million domestically. Bowers replaces Thor Freudenthal who helmed the first film but opted not to return for the sequel.
Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Shooting aims to kick off this August in Vancouver for a March 2011 release. »
Lukas Haas has joined the cast of " Red Riding Hood (formerly The Girl with the Red Riding Hood) says Variety. This new spin on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale follows a young woman (Amanda Seyfried) in a medieval village being terrorized by a werewolf. Haas will play the village priest.
Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Michael Hogan, Julie Christie, and Gary Oldman also star.
Catherine Hardwicke directs from a script by David Johnson (Orphan)
Leo DiCaprio , Julie Yorn and Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Michael Ireland and Alex Mace are producing the pic for a release April 22nd, 2011
Since Guillermo del Toro's exit Jackson has seemed the most obvious choice to take over--denials aside
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's financial difficulties hang over the films, but with Jackson onboard officially as helmer the case will no doubt be made to MGM's owners to free up the necessary funds for the back-to-back shoot in New Zealand which would kick off at the very end of this year--most likely
Jackson and his writing/producing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens,have apparently scheduled a trip to London and Los Angeles in early July to continur casting.
Fred Ward has joined the cast of Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer 's comedy 30 Minutes or Less reports Reuters. Written by Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan the script revolves around a junior high history teacher (Aziz Ansari) and a pizza-delivery man (Jesse Eisenberg) forced to pull off a bank heist when one of them is strapped to a bomb vest.
Ward will play 'The Mayor', the father of Danny McBride's character.
Michael Peña and Nick Swardson also star.
Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld and Jeremy Kramer will produce. Shooting kicks off late next month in Grand Rapids, Michiga
Channing Tatum is attached to star in the sci-fi romantic epic "Ion" says Heat Vision.
Will Dunn's spec script centers on a man who travels to different Earths and dimensions in order to find his reincarnated lover.
Ridley Scott and his brother Tony Scott are attached to produce.
Comparisons to James Cameron's "Avatar". are already being made...and while no studio has picked up the project yet, it looks like Fox is showing an interest.
Neil Patrick Harris will return for "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" and comedian Patton Oswalt joins the cast according to The Wrap. Harris himself confirmed to Hollywood.com that he will re-team with John Cho and Kal Penn for the third feature in the comedy films despite being run over by Beverly D'Angelo's Madame Sally in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
Oswalt meanwhile is expected to play Todd Dennison, a high-strung friend of Harold's whose infant daughter gets accidentally high on second-hand pot smoke.
The story follows the pair on a hunt for a new Christmas tree for Harold's father-in-law after Kumar burns it down.
The third 'Kumar' film began production under the helm of Jon Hurwitz last week in Michigan for a 2011 bow
The first set photos have gone online over at Before the Trailer.
Toby Kebbell and Brian Cox will star in British indie drama The Veteran says The Hollywood Reporter. Matthew Hope calls the shots on the story which follows a young soldier returning from Afghanistan who becomes the target of a clandestine operative to monitor suspected terrorists in the UK. The film is said to explore Government's control and manipulation of the smaller players in the wars on terror and drugs.
Ashley Thomas, Adi Bielski i and Tom Brooke also star.
Hope, former SAS counter-terrorism specialist Robert Henry Craft andAdam Tysoe co-wrote the script.
Debbie Shuter and Debbie Shuter will produce the pic.
Filming kicks off later this month on location in London.
Danish company Dam Things has licensed its Troll doll for an animated film says The Hollywood Reporter. The fuzzy-haired dolls were originally created in 1959 and have seen several revivals over the years. The film is expected to expand the troll dolls' mythology as well as relaunch the toy line.
Adam Wilson and Melanie Wilson Labracio have been charged with writing the screenplay.
Ugh!!
