Cage Nixes Ghost Rider 3 Return

Last year's "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" pulled in $132 million worldwide. Shot on a fairly modest $57 million, it made a profit but it wasn't enough for Sony Pictures to want to make another one.

Nicolas Cage tells MTV News that if a third film does go forward, it will do so without him: "I think the ship has sailed on that one. At least with me involved. I've done what I had to do with that part. You never say never, but right now, today, I would say that I'm done."

In fact, Cage says he'd find it interesting if they moved forward with a female Ghost Rider.

This as Sony has been slapped with a lawsuit filed by a stuntman for a DVD promo gone wrong.

Ruffalo Responds To Hulk Stand-Alone Talk

Having been asked about the recent stand-alone "Hulk" film chatter being included in phase three of Marvel's master plan, actor Mark Ruffalo took to Twitter and said:

"A lot of folks have been asking about the Next Hulk. The next time you see my Hulk it will be in "The Avengers 2. No plans for stand alone. I am not giving up on another stand alone HULK. But it’s not in the works right now. One never knows what the future will bring.Just to be totally clear. I did not say there was not going to ever be a stand alone Hulk film. I said there wasn’t one in the works now."

The rumor suggested that we would see Ruffalo's Hulk lost in space. This would allow for the character's solo feature film that would be based on the 2006 comic fan favorite storyline - "Planet Hulk". The story has already been adapted for the small screen in 2010 The plot has Hulk becoming a gladiatorial champion on an alien world..

Meanwhile--Joss Whedon spoke with Deadline recently about the character, calling it "the most difficult Marvel property" to adapt:

"It's always about balance. Is he a monster? Is he a hero? Are you going to root for a protagonist who spends all his time trying to stop the reason you came to the movie from happening? It’s always a dance.I don’t think the first two movies nailed it, but I don’t envy them the task. It was easier to have him in a group than to build everything around him. I don’t think there would be any problem getting a movie together that had enough Banner, even if there was also Hulk.But if he was only Hulk for the entire movie I think Mark at some point would go, why am I here? I would be less inclined to pursue a storyline where the Hulk is only ever the Hulk."

"The Avengers 2" is expected to be in cinemas in 2015.

Evil Dead Sequel & Army Of Darkness 2 Chatter

The "Evil Dead" remake was unviielled at SXSW 2013 over the weekend--the early word from critics is generally positive--even the hesitant ones, are commenting on the high amount of gore and violence in the pic.

Fede Alvarez directs the pic and like the 1981classic, the story centers on five friends who journey up to a remote cabin where they discover the Book of the Dead and unwittingly unleash demonic forces.

Jane Levy plays the lead female role of Mia who is ecovering from a recent overdose, and is in a particularly vulnerable place. Shiloh Fernandez nabbed the male lead. While Lou Taylor Pucci ("Thumbsucker") will play an academic whose intellectual curiosity gets them into trouble. Jessica Lucas will play Mia's best pal who is also a nurse. Elizabeth Blackmore is playing the fiancée of Fernandez's character and is new to the group.

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The studio suits are bullish on the film's chances and it seems as though director Alvarez and writer Rodo Sayagues are apparently already at work on a sequel following the first film's main character playrd by Levy.

Sayagues adds that the sequel will continue further down the dark and horrific direction that this first film takes, rather than switch to a more comedic tone of 1987's "Evil Dead II" :

"She [Levy] is in for a lot more punishment. Fede and I are writing it now, and it's not going to be a remake of Evil Dead 2. It's going to directly follow this one and is going to be a whole different story. It's going to be more like the second half of this film. It's going to be more over-the-top; the escalation is going to continue."

The film is set for an April 12th 2013 release.

Meanwhile, original series producer Rob Tapert and star actor Bruce Campbell are talking more to
Bloody Disgusting about a fourth film in the original incarnation of the series. To avoid confusion, they're calling it "Army of Darkness 2". Tapert:

"This would be Army Of Darkness 2. Everybody calls [the potential new continuation]
Evil Dead 4, but Army Of Darkness wasn't called Evil Dead anywhere except by the fans."

Campbell meanwhile seems unconvinced the film will happen at all: "[Sam Raimi] threatens this every six months. I've heard it a thousand times. It may happen, who knows? I'm never going to say no. It'll be me and a walker fighting some other old guy."

Trek 2 Poster: "Are You Planning To Take A Swim?"

A FAN MADE teaser one sheet poster thar would look great on my living room wall--has been released for J.J. Abrams’ sequel "Star Trek Into Darkness"--Showimg the beloved Starship U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 in the drink...Time to launch the Captain's yacht???

Seriously some hefty SPOILERS were revealed recently as well--read them at your own risk.

In the new film the Enterprise crew will face off with Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch's baddie "John Harrison" who might just be a version of Khan Noonien Singh in the film. Or is it perhaps Gary Mitchell instead? Someone else. All involved are still saying Harrison is the name of Cumby's character. I say hogwash--If that's the truth why the secrecy?...And why tell us early on that the big bad was someone we know from Trek lore?

Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin John Cho and Bruce Greenwood have all returned to the Final Frontier in their respective roles as Kirk Spock Uhura Dr. McCoy Scotty Chekov Sulu and Admiral Pike.

The Supporting Cast Includes Alice Eve as Carol Marcus. Nazneen Contractor who will play the wife of Noel Clarke’s family man character And former "Robocop" star Peter Weller playing Admirial Marcus, actor/stuntman Joseph Gatt. Original "A Nightmare on Elm Street" star Heather Langenkamp has a small part in the film as well.

Leonard Nimoy's return as Spock Prime following his larger cameo from "Star Trek" '09 had been walked back yet not fully denied...Klingons will be making an appearance in the Star Trek sequel as will their home world. The adversaries were left on the cutting room of the last pic.

Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelofwrote the script for director Abrams.

The sequel will be produced by Abrams, Kurtzman, Orci, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, and David Ellison.

The film will be released May 17, 2013 in 3D and IMAX in the US. May 10th in UK , Germany, Australia & other countries.

Bateman, Day, & Sudeikis Return For "Bosses 2"

Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis are now confirmed to return for the upcoming sequel Horrible Bosses 2" says THR.

The original Horrible Bosses saw Bateman, Day and Sudeikis star as harried workers who, in Strangers on a Train meets Nine to Five fashion, try to off each other's boss (played by Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrel and Kevin Spacey).

The sequel apparently will have a new set of bosses, but there is as yet no word yet whether any of the original bosses will reprise their roles.

Jamie Foxx is also expected to reprise his role as hitman Motherf--er Jones.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the screenwriters behind the first film are penning the sequel from which Seth Gordon will helm omce again.

Productiob aims to begin this Summer.

Bosses cumed a worldwide gross of $209 million from a $35 million budget.

Kinnaman Will "Run All Night" With Neeson

"RoboCop" remake star Joel Kinnaman is in final talks to co-star in director Jaume Collet-Serra's thriller "Run All Night" says THR. 

Written by Brad Ingelsby ("The Low Dweller"), the story follows an over the hill contract killer (Liam Neeson) who is forced to go after his old boss in order to protect his wife and estranged son (Kinnaman). He soon winds up on the run, with the son, from both the cops and his old colleagues.

Roy Lee and Brooklyn Weaver will produce the film.

Production will kick off in the Fall.

Box Office Update: Oz Proves Powerful

Sam Raimi's prequel to The Wizard of Oz called Oz The Great and Powerful (read my mostly positive review here) ignited the worldwide box office and has Disney clicking its heels with glee over the birth of a new family friendly franchise...The Colin Farrell actioner  Dead Man Down was DOA.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Breathing life back into the beleaguered box office, Sam Raimi's 3D fantasy-adventure Oz the Great and Powerful hit a mighty $80.3 million in its North American debut and $69.9 million overseas for a global opening of $150.2 million.

Disney and producer Joe Roth hope to launch a new franchise with Oz, which scored the top North Amerian debut of 2013, as well as the third-best March opening of all time after last year's The Hunger Games ($152.5 million) and fellow Disney fantasy-adventure Alice in Wonderland, which debuted to $116.1 million in early March 2010.

The Wizard of Oz origins pic tells the story of how a fast-talking Kansas circus worker (James Franco) became the Wizard of Oz. The three witches central to the story are played by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams.

Raimi's Oz did solid, but not spectacular, business internationally, where the original 1939 film Wizard of Oz isn't as well-known. Russia led with $15 million, followed by the U.K. ($5.7 million), Mexico ($5.1 million) and Australia ($5 million). Oz opened to $4.2 million in Germany, where it was in a close battle with holdover Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.

Oz opened in a total of 46 territories, roughly 80 percent of the international marketplace.

In North America, Oz saw a hefty 35 percent as families turned out in force, making up 41 percent of the audience. Couples made up 43 percent, while teenagers made up 16 percent. The movie skewed slightly female (52 percent).

"The families absolutely came out, but we also did great business during the evening," said Disney distribution chief Dave Hollis."This has become a water-cooler movie and gets people back in the mood to see movies."

Disney spent north of $300 million on Oz, between the $215 million production budget and a hefty worldwide marketing campaign. It is opening in the same corridor as Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp. Alice received an A- CinemaScore from moviegoers, versus a B+ for Oz.

As expected, Oz is making life impossible for Bryan Singer's 3D fantasy-adventure Jack and the Giant Slayer, which fell 63 percent in its second weekend to $10 million for a domestic total of $43.8 million. The tentpole, from New Line and Legendary Pictures, came in No. 2 domestically.

The weekend's other new wide release, romantic thriller Dead Man Down, fell flat in its opening, coming in No. 4 with roughly $5.5 million. Marking the English-language debut of Niels Arden Oplev, Dead Man Down reteams the filmmaker with his The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace.

Colin Farrell, Terrence Howard and Dominic Cooper also star in the movie, which is being distributed domestically by FilmDistrict. IM Global, Original Films and Frequency Films are partners on the film.

Next Up: Steve Carell is The Incredible Burt Wonderstone; Halle Berry gets The Call to save Abigail Breslin's life; And James Franco competes with himself as he entices Spring Breakers Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens Selena Gomez and Rachel Korine to kill an arch rival

Not Quite "Great" But Solid Return To Oz

I went to the theater to see Sam Raimi's The Wizard of Oz prequel  Oz The Great and Powerful last night--and while I thought it was a solid fantasy adventure that looked fantastic--some of the principal casting really dragged the film down for me.

As the film opens we meet Oscar Diggs (James Franco) a small-time magician and con artist who works as a performer in a traveling circus. He is also a womanizer who tricks women by giving them a music box which he claims to have belonged to his dead grandmother, though in reality he has quite a stockpile of them. With his assistant Frank (Zach Braff), Oscar does a magic show where he mesmerizes the audience, but he is revealed to be a fraud when he is unable to heal a young girl (Joey King) who is unable to walk. Soon after Annie (Michelle Williams), the woman Oscar is genuinely be in love with, visits the circus to tell him that another man has proposed to her. Oscar, caring for her and realizing that he is a bad man, tells her she should accept.

As a storm approaches the circus, the circus strongman (Tim Holmes) attacks Oscar after finding the music boxes he had given to his girlfriend. Oscar escapes in a hot air balloon with his top hat and a sack of supplies but is sucked into a tornado. As the balloon breaks apart, Oscar promises God that if he survives he will become a better man.

Oscar finds himself in the land of Oz. The witch Theodora (Mila Kunis) finds him and explains she believes he fulfills the prophecy after he does a few simple magic tricks It was for told that a great and powerful wizard by the name of Oz would descend from the sky, save the land, and become their new king. The duo follow the Yellow Brick Road to the capital--Emerald City. During the trip, Oz gives Theodora a music box; she has clearly fallen in love with him but he rebuffs such commitment. The duo encounter Finley (voiced by Braff), a flying monkey. Oscar saves him from a lion using magical illusion. Finley pledges a life debt to Oscar.

In the Emerald City, another witch (Rachel Weisz) Evanora guards the throne until the prophecy wizard arrives. She is skeptical of Oscar being the wizard, but claims he can have all the power and wealth of the king if he kills the evil Glinda (Williams) by stealing and destroying her wand, the source of her power.

As Oscar and Finley travel to the Forbidden Forest, they see smoke coming from "China Town", where the inhabitants are all made of porcelain. Everyone is dead save for a young, un-named girl whose legs are broken (voiced by King). Oscar fixes her legs with glue. She explains that the bad witch destroyed the city with her flying baboons because they celebrated Oscar's arrival to the land of Oz.

The trio continue to make their way to the Forbidden Forest to find Glinda...

Since the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by author L. Frank Baum is in the public domain, writers Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire, could use anything established in that book. However, they could not use any of the changes depicted in the Warner Bros. 1939 classic film such as Dorothy's ruby slippers..The script hits all of the expected beats that are almost "required" in a film like this--hero loses way presented with a task and the odds stacked against him must summon courage and fortitude to beat the evil around him.

Raimi nods the classic film by filming the first reel in black and white; Several characters we meet in Kansas will take form as someone else in the technicolorful land of Oz--And the final confrontation uses a big callback from the classic film.Given the nature of the story--once the action shifts to Oz the CGI candy is on full display--working best for our first glimpse and the big finale. Is it overkill with the effects? I say no. Others will disagree.

One quick aside to parents reading this--even though ads warn that some scenes may be too intense for some kids in the PG rated film--I was surprised by just how intense the action got-The Motion Picture Association of America usually rates stuff like this PG-13 but whateves.

Braff's monkey provides the film's comic relief--Williams is fine as Glinda--Weisz is perfect as Evanora--The witch with the plan. My favorite character? King's delicate yet tough China Doll was the best realized on screen through CG and vocal talent.

When the script for "Great & Powerful" was making the rounds Robert Downey Jr was eyed for the Wizard role--he declined and then Raimi turned to his Spider-Man Trilogy co-star to fill the vacancy...Franco seemed to relish the chance...Sorry to say the end result seemed very uneven. Some sequences he came across as just there while other times he was fine. RDJ woulda most likely been more consistent. The biggest disappointment for me though as a fan was Kunis who seemed really miscast considering Theodora's arc. A real letdown.

In the end I still think this latest trip to Oz is worthwhile and not quite the disaster others make it out to be. And hey a sequel is already in the works

Raimi Nixes Oz Return For Sequel

Director Sam Raimi told Bleeding Cool that even though Disney has plans to return to the world he helped create in Oz The Great and Powerful he won't be coming back to call action.

"I haven’t planned on directing the sequel. I did leave some loose ends for another director if they want to make the picture... I was attracted to this story but I don’t think the second one would have the thing I would need to get me interested."

The Mouse House has already hired screenwriter Mitchell Kapner to start working on the sequel script.

Trek 2: Teaser #2 & A SPOILER ALERT!!!

A second  teaser trailer for J.J. Abrams’ sequel "Star Trek Into Darkness" has been transmitted to Earth on the Net via subspace.

After you watch that things get SPOILERY

In the new film the Enterprise crew will face off with Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch's baddie "John Harrison" who might just be a version of Khan Noonien Singh in the film. Or is it perhaps Gary Mitchell instead? Someone else. All involved are still saying Harrison is the name of Cumby's character. I say hogwash--If that's the truth why the secrecy?...And why tell us early on that the big bad was someone we know from Trek lore?

Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin John Cho and Bruce Greenwood have all returned to the Final Frontier in their respective roles as Kirk Spock Uhura Dr. McCoy Scotty Chekov Sulu and Admiral Pike.

The Supporting Cast Includes Alice Eve as Carol Marcus. Nazneen Contractor who will play the wife of Noel Clarke’s family man character And former "Robocop" star Peter Weller playing Admirial Marcus, actor/stuntman Joseph Gatt. Original "A Nightmare on Elm Street" star Heather Langenkamp has a small part in the film as well.

Leonard Nimoy's return as Spock Prime following his larger cameo from "Star Trek" '09 had been walked back yet not fully denied...Klingons will be making an appearance in the Star Trek sequel as will their home world. The adversaries were left on the cutting room of the last pic.

Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelofwrote the script for director Abrams.

The sequel will be produced by Abrams, Kurtzman, Orci, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, and David Ellison.

The film will be released May 17, 2013 in 3D and IMAX in the US. May 10th in UK , Germany, Australia & other countries.



30 minutes of the film screened in the UK last night  and as Slash Film notes, reaction to the early, incomplete cut peek has been positive for the most part. I have read some very spoiler heavy posts about what attendees witnessed and it sounds great. 

Here are the highlights of the screening

DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW--I MEAN IT...

SPOLERS START

From the extended beginning of the film…

• Opening sequence (previewed at IMAX theaters in December) has been reordered to have Nibiru Volcano sequence now opens the film followed by title card and then the scenes in London and at the hospital
 
• Nibiru mission ends with Kirk rescuing Spock by violating the prime directive by revealing the Enterprise to Nibiru natives so he can beam Spock out of the Volcano
 
• Kirk has a scene in bed (back in San Francisco) in bed with two "cat women"
 
• Kirk makes mention of hoping to get assigned to a "five year mission" (implying that the famed five year mission hasn’t started yet for the time he has been captain)
 
• Kirk is demoted for violating prime directive on Nibiru, loses command of Enterprise with Pike to take over command Kirk as first officer
 
• Pike wanted to send Kirk back to Academy but was convinced (possibly ordered?) to make Kirk first officer of Enterprise by Admiral Marcus
 
• Spock assigned to another ship
 
• The "father" character uses his Starfleet ring as a bomb (dropping it into water for a reaction) and destroys a facility (in London)
 
• London attack leads to big meeting of Starfleet captains which itself is attacked by John Harrison, resulting in Pike being injured…Harrison transport away

Later scenes in the film….

• Enterprise severely damaged falling to Earth with Spock in command ordering evacuation
 
• Kirk and Scott seen in Engineering trying to stabilize ship
 
• Later Spock scene beaming down to San Francisco and starting long chase with Harrison 
 
• Eventually Spock meets up with Harrison and engages in a fight
 

SPOILERS END

More as it comes....

Duhamel Might Pop Up In Transformers 4

Josh Duhamel told THR that director Michael Bay is trying to ensure an appearance for his  military hero character, Major Lennox as in the as yet "Untitled Transformers Sequel".

"[Bay] said he wants to put me in it someplace. I don’t know if he was just saying that because he had me on the phone and he felt obligated or what, but you know what? I got to do three of those. It changed my career, it changed my life getting to be a part of something that big, so I’m grateful for even doing the first three of them," Duhamel said.

The new film folows a high school student, and daughter (Nicola Peltz) of Mark Wahlberg's character, and her racecar driver boyfriend--Jack Reynor--who is expected to be signed for three-picture deal.

Ehren Kruger ("Transformers: Dark of the Moon") is writing the script for the Bay directed fourth film which starts production in May and hits theaters on June 27th, 2014

Roach Helms A 2nd Lance Armstong Biopic

Jay Roach ("Meet the Parents") will direct an untitled film biopic about disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong says Deadline.

Scott Z. Burns wrote the script. The producers have secured life rights to Armstrong's racing partner Tyler Hamilton who was one of the first insiders to testify under oath and come forward publicly to break the code of silence about Lance's doping up

Charles Roven and Alex Gartner will produce the pic.

This is NOT to be confused with the untitled film adaptation of The New York Times reporter Juliet Macur's upcoming work "Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong" in development over at Paramount and J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot .

Heathcote Gets Taught By Grant

Bella Heathcote has joined Marc Lawrence's new as yet Untitled romantic comedy says Variety.

The story centers on an Oscar-winning British screenwriter (Hugh Grant) now creatively washed up, divorced and broke. He takes a job teaching screenwriting at a small East Coast college, and ends up in a romance with a single mom (Marisa Tomei) who has gone back to school.

Heathcote will play one of Grant's students

Martin Shafer and Liz Glotzer are producing.

Production kicks off in New York in the spring,

Lawrence and Grant previously worked together on 3 films "Music and Lyrics," "Two Weeks Notice" and "Did You Hear About the Morgans?".

Fonda Leads "I Leave You" Family

Jane Fonda is in talks to join the comedy "This Is Where I Leave You" says Deadline.

Based on Jonathan Tropper's novel, the story centers on a father who dies and requests that his highly dysfunctional and non-religious family sit Shiva for seven days.

Tina Fey will play Jason Bateman's older sister, a woman who is married and whose first love now has brain damage.  Corey Stoll will play the brother of Bateman and Fey. Kathryn Hahn will likely play Bateman's sister-in-law. Fonda will play the matriarch Ari Graynor is rumored as well

Tropper has written the adapted script.

At one point Goldie Hawn, was to play the family matriarch while Bateman, Zac Efron, and Leslie Mann were poised to be playing siblings. While Malin Akerman would play Bateman’s wife whose affair with his boss (Jason Sudeikis) goes public.

Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum") replaced Adam Shankman as director on the pic last November.

Jennifer Gibgot, Paula Weinstein Shankman and Jeff Levine are producing the film.

 Shooting kicks off in late Spring in New York.

Helen Slater Lives In "Downers Grove"

Helen Slater has joined the indie thriller "The Curse of Downers Grove" says Variety.

Based on author Michael Hornburg 2001 novel, the story centers on a paranoid high school senior (Bella Heathcote) who's worried about an apparent curse that takes the life of one student every year at the school.

Slater will play the mother of Heathcote’s character

"Hick" director Derick Martini calls action from a script he co-wrote with author Bret Easton Ellis.
.
Aimee Teegarden, Jill Hennessy Lucas Till ("X-Men: First Class") Penelope Mitchell Zane Holtz and Kevin Zegers also star.

Oren Segal, Jason Dubin and Chiara Trento are producing the picture.

Production aims to begin this spring.

Prom Night remake director Nelson McCormick and stars Hayden Panettiere, Nikki Reed and Rebecca De Mornay were set to work on this in 2010.

Taylor-Johnson Finds "Reliable" Work"

Nowhere Boy's Sam Taylor-Johnson (wife of actor Aaron Johnson) is in early talks to direct "The Reliable Wife" says Variety.

Based on author Robert Goolrick's novel, the story is set in 1908 and follows a widower who places a newspaper ad for an "honest, reliable wife". Instead, he ends up with devious, dishonest women.

Semi Chellas and Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en) wrote the adapted  script.

Michael De Luca and Jami Gertz will produce the film

Vergara Generates A Lot Of "Heat"

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is in negotiations to join the remake of Heat says THR.

No, director Simon West is not redoing Michael Mann's 1995 crime thriller classic. This film is based on the Burt Reynolds-led 1986 action film of the same name about an ex-mercenary turned Vegas bouncer.

William Goldman, who wrote the original film, is also writing the remake.

The updated pic will see a tough recovering gambling addict (Jason Statham) who makes a living providing protection. When a dear friend (Vergara) is brutally beaten by a high-rolling mobster, he helps her get her revenge and he ends up in more trouble than he ever imagined.

Brian De Palma was previously linked to helm but has vacated.

Statham is producing the movie with Steve Chasman

West and Statham previously worked together on another remake, 2011's "The Mechanic" and the action sequel The Expendables 2 .

A Pair Of Lovely Ladies Fly To "Birdman"

Two actresses have joined the cast of the dark comedy "Birdman"

Andrea Riseborough.will play the role of Laura says Deadline. While Screen Daily has Oscar nominee Amy Ryan ("Gone Baby Gone") signing on as well.

The story follows a former actor (Michael Keaton) who once played an iconic superhero. He is busy mounting a Broadway play based on author Raymond Carver's short story in a bid to reclaim past glory. However, the play’s egotistical leading man (Edward Norton) threatens to throw everything into chaos.

Ryan will play Keaton’s character’s long suffering ex-wife.

Emma Stone will play Keaton's fresh from rehab daughter and assistant. Naomi Watts will be an actress in the play, and Zach Galifianakis will play the production's conniving producer.

Alejandro González Iñárritu will direct using a script he co-wrote with Nicolás Giacobone.

Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo. Inarritu, Robert Graf and John Lesher will produce the film

Production kicks off in early April.

McAvoy Talks X-Men, The Crow, Wanted 2

Out on the stump for the late March  London-set crime thriller "Welcome to the Punch," actor James McAvoy recently talked with Getty Images Entertainment about his upcoming film work and in the process cleared up one or two rumors.

Asked about reports that he is in talks to star in the upcoming-long in development reboot of The Crow he says:

"It's not for real. I don't think it's materialized into anything truthful yet... it's just been rumor mill stuff."

On "X-Men: Days of Future Past" he says that his current schedule has kept him from sitting down and reading the film's script:

"It's in my inbox. I've still got to read it. I'm very excited about it, but I've just been doing so much of this and working at night so I'm starting work at 9 and don't finish until midnight so I'm not being flippant. I honestly can't wait to read it and find out what I'm doing, but I've just got no time right now."

He also says Wanted 2 could still happen, but not until the script is there:

"They're doing the right thing. They won't go ahead with it unless they get a story that feel totally and utterly 100% passionate about. If they don't have that, then frankly they shouldn't go ahead. But if they get a story together that they feel that way about then great, yeah."

Box Office Preview: Oz Eyes Win

After Bryan Singer's super-sized epic fantasy Jack the Giant Slayer fizzled out last weekend--It's Sam Raimi's turn to reinvent a classic fairy tale with Oz The Great and Powerful (reviews)-a prequel to The Wizard of Oz starring James Franco; Colin Farrell is a Dead Man Down (reviews) for director Niels Arden Oplev--who made the original film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Pamela McClintock of THR:

Disney's 3D epic Oz the Great and Powerful should transform quickly into a box office wizard when opening around the globe this weekend.

The Wizard of Oz origins story is clicking with all demos -- including families -- and could debut anywhere between $80 million and $100 million in North America, according to prerelease tracking. Disney is predicting a more cautious $75 million, considering the bleak performance of the domestic box office so far this year.

Director Sam Raimi's Oz should score the third-best March opening of all time after last year's The Hunger Games ($152.5 million) and fellow Disney fantasy-adventure Alice in Wonderland, which debuted to $116.1 million in 2010.

Costing $215 million to produce and rated PG, Oz begins playing in many North American theaters at 9 p.m. Thursday before opening everywhere on Friday morning.

Raimi's Oz also gets its start in much of the world this weekend, beginning with Russia, Germany, Australia, Korea and Italy on Thursday. On Friday, it expands to a total of 46 territories, including the U.K., Spain, Mexico, Japan and Brazil.

The film tells the story of how a fast-talking Kansas circus worker (James Franco) became the Wizard of Oz. The three witches central to the story are played by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams.

The weekend's only other new wide release is Dead Man Down, starring Colin Farrell, Terrence Howard and Noomi Rapace. Directed by Niels Arden Oplev, who helmed the original Swedish version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo that starred Rapace, the R-rated thriller is looking at a soft opening in the $6 million to $8 million range.

FilmDistrict acquired rights to Dead Man Down from IM Global, Original Films and Frequency Films.

Oz is the second tentpole of the year after New Line and Legendary Pictures' Jack the Giant Slayer, which opened to a troubling $27.2 million last weekend at the domestic box office. Oz will make life tough for Jack, which could decline more than 50 percent in its second outing.

Disney -- hoping for another Alice in Wonderland, which grossed north of $1 billion worldwide -- has spent north of $300 million on Oz when accounting for marketing costs.

The studio received word on Thursday that Oz has been given a March 29 release date in China, a coveted territory for Hollywood blockbusters. That's only four days after Jack opens in that country.

Opening in a limited run is Matthew Fox and Tommy Lee Jones' historical drama Emperor. Directed by Peter Webber, the film is set in Japan immediately following World War II. Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate acquired U.S. rights to the film from Krasnoff Foster Productions.

Oz The Great and Powerful Sequel In The Works

With plans afoot  to see Oz The Great and Powerful real soon--there's word tonight that a sequel is already in the works.

 

Disney has already hired screenwriter Mitchell Kapner to start working on the sequel script. Kapner was one of the original writers on the new movie, sharing a writing credit with David Lindsay-Abaire, and was actually tapped by the studio a few months to start working on a follow-up. The screenwriter's previous credits include The Whole Nine Yards, the story of Romeo Must Die, and the direct-to-video Into the Blue 2: The Reef.

Sam Raimi's The Wizard of Oz prequel has The Wizard (James Franco) as a “snake-oil salesman” who enters the Technicolor world of Oz after escaping the vengeful husband of his latest sexual conquest. Once in Oz, he lies to the natives, claiming to be a wizard. This deceitful Casanova soon falls for Glinda the Good Witch (Michelle Williams), and spurns Theodora (Mila Kunis) prompting her to becomes a bad witch and team up with the downright evil Evanora (Rachel Weisz) to destroy Oz.

Zach Braff will play the role of Frank, the loyal but under-appreciated assistant to Oz. Abigail Spencer will play a young woman who is a willing subject of Oz’s magic tricks while Joey King will play China Girl in the pic.

No story details have been released for the sequel, but there are a few things that the writer legally cannot include in the story by author L. Frank Baum. The novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is in the public domain, which means the Kapner can use anything contained in that book. However, he cannot use any of the additions used in the Warner Bros. 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, such as Dorothy's ruby slippers.

Wyatt Vacates Big Chair On "The Equalizer" Movie

Rise of the Planet of the Apes helmer Rupert Wyatt has broken off talks to direct the film reboot of the classic 80's TV series "The Equalizer"--Starring Denzel Washington says Deadline.

Wyatt left due to scheduling issues. He joins "Drive" director Nicolas Winding Refn who also left the pic after the deal between Sony Pictures and Refn fell apart at the last minute back in January.

Edward Woodward starred in the 85-89 series about Robert McCall, a former operative of a covert intelligence organisation who seeks redemption for his dark past via offering his services to those being persecuted and in need of help. McCall brings justice to various baddies, killers, drug dealers, rapists on the streets of New York City. He also performed assignments for the head of his former organisation and dealt with his estranged son.

In the movie version, Washington's McCall is living a quiet life while working at a Home Depot, when one of his acts of kindness gets him snared with the Russian mob.

The film is to be scripted by Richard Wenk, whose credits include the actioners 16 Blocks, with Bruce Willis, and the recent Mechanic remake starring Jason Statham and Ben Foster, and The Expendables 2.

Budgeted at a lean $50 million, the project is being seen as a potential franchise launcher. Winding Refn beat out the likes of Pierre Morel ("Taken"), Gavin O'Connor ("Warrior") and Gareth Evans ("The Raid") for the gig.

Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Alex Siskin, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, Michael Sloan (the show’s original co-creator), and Washington are gonna produce.

Sony is hurrying to find a replacement. The film had an April 8th production start date

Kenan Takes "Poltergeist" Update

"City of Ember" and "Monster House" helmer Gil Kenan will direct the remake of the 1982 supernatural horror classic "Poltergeist" says Deadline,

Like the older film starring Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams, the story focuses on a family whose house was built on a sacred site and whose daughter is taken by ghosts.  The oeiginal film  was produced and co-scripted by Steven Spielberg (based on his story) and directed by Tobe Hooper. It spawned two sequels, "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" in 1986 and "Poltergeist III" in 1988.

David Lindsay-Abaire is writing the new script.

Sam Raimi Nathan Kahane (Juno) and Roy Lee (The Departed) are producing the redux.

Stoll Set To "Leave You"

Corey Stoll has joined the comedy "This Is Where I Leave You" says Variety.

 

Based on Jonathan Tropper's novel, the story centers on a father who dies and requests that his highly dysfunctional and non-religious family sit Shiva for seven days.

Tina Fey will play Jason Bateman's older sister, a woman who is married and whose first love now has brain damage.  Stoll will play the brother of Bateman and Fey. Kathryn Hahn will likely play Bateman's sister-in-law.Ari Graynor is rumored as well

Tropper has written the adapted script.

At one point Goldie Hawn, was to play the family matriarch while Bateman, Zac Efron, and Leslie Mann were poised to be playing siblings. While Malin Akerman would play Bateman’s wife whose affair with his boss (Jason Sudeikis) goes public.

Shawn Levy ("Night at the Museum") replaced Adam Shankman as director on the pic last November.

Jennifer Gibgot, Paula Weinstein Shankman and Jeff Levine are producing the film.

There are plans to shoot it this summer in NYC

TMNT Creator On Fox Playing April

When asked by JoBlo to comment on the recent casting of Megan Fox as April O'Neil in the upcoming live-action "Ninja Turtles" reboot at Paramount, the comic's co-creator Peter Laird
did not sound all that happy:

"I think it is safe to say that there are probably hundreds of better choices for the role of April O'Neil. Of course, her name has promotional value, and maybe that's what they want. Who knows? I can't get myself too worked up about it."

Casting is currently underway with mostly relative unknowns, being tested for the four mo-cap turtle roles.

Jonathan Liebesman is directing from a script by Kevin Eastman, Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec.

Laird has also expressed disappointment over the choice of director Liebesman.

Brad Fuller Andrew Form, Galen Walker and Scott Mednick would co-produce with Michael Bay

The pic was delayed over script issues--originally slated for release in December 2013 it is now targeting a May 2014 release.

Norton Has A Big Ego In "Birdman"

Edward Norton has joined the cast of the dark comedy "Birdman" says Deadline.

The story follows a former actor (Michael Keaton) who once played an iconic superhero. He is busy mounting a Broadway play based on author Raymond Carver's short story in a bid to reclaim past glory. However, the play’s egotistical leading man (Norton) threatens to throw everything into chaos.

Emma Stone will play Keaton's fresh from rehab daughter and assistant. Naomi Watts will be an actress in the play, and Zach Galifianakis will play the production's conniving producer.

Alejandro González Iñárritu will direct using a script he co-wrote with Nicolás Giacobone.

Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo. Inarritu, Robert Graf and John Lesher will produce the film

Production kicks off in early April.

Neeson & Ribisi Saddle Up For A Million Ways To Die

Liam Neeson is in talks to join recent Oscar host Seth MacFarlane's "Blazing Saddles"-style western comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West says THR.

MacFarlane will direct and star in the film from a script he and his "Ted" collaborators Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild wrote,

Using MacFarlane’s signature adult humor, the script deals with just how dangerous and painful life really was in the late 1800s. The story follows a farmer (MacFarlane) who wimps out of a gunfight, causing his girlfriend (Amanda Seyfried) to leave him. He enlists the help of an outlaw's wife (played by Charlize Theron) to help him shoot, only to find himself falling for her. But trouble comes calling when her violent hubby (Neeson) returns.

Giovanni Ribisi (Ted) is also on board the comedy playing Seth's equally-spineless best friend

"Ted" producer Scott Stuber is set to reteam for the film

Production takes place this Summer (May)

Russell Takes On "Apes" Sequel

One of my all time favorite crushes Keri Russell has been cast in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, as its female lead says Variety.

The film will continue the action from last year's Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Set 15 years later and human society contiues collapsing after a viral outbreak and the highly intelligent simians now free, the story will follow the apes on their path to emerge as society’s new rulers.

"Rise" helmer Rupert Wyatt chose not to return reportedly due to the fact that the director wasn't comfortable with making the May 23rd 2014 release date the studio had announced. "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves takes over. By taking this tole it will reunite Russell with Felicity co-creator Reeves

Rise star James Franco may not be back--Zero Dark Thirty actor Jason Clarke Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman and Kodi Smit-McPhee also star

Mark Bomback ("Live Free or Die Hard," "Unstoppable") is set to rework Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa's script. Bombeck is expected to turn in something more suited to the new director's style. This is Deja Vu On 'Rise' Silver & Jaffa wrote the initial script and then Bomback did an uncredited script rewrite.

"Contagion" scribe Scott Z. Burns took a crack at the "Dawn" script as well

Peter Chernin Dylan Clark Silver and Jaffa will produce.

It's hoped that production starts by Spring.

Keaton--From Batman To "Birdman"

Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis have joined the cast of the dark comedy "Birdman" says THR.

The story follows a former actor (Keaton) who once played an iconic superhero. He is busy mounting a Broadway play based on author Raymond Carver's short story in a bid to reclaim past glory. However, the play’s egotistical leading man threatens to throw everything into chaos.

Stone will play Keaton's fresh from rehab daughter and assistant. Watts will be an actress in the play, and Galifianakis will play the production's conniving producer.

Alejandro González Iñárritu will direct using a script he co-wrote with Nicolás Giacobone.

Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo. Inarritu, Robert Graf and John Lesher will produce the film

Production kicks off in early April.