Friday, March 29, 2013

‘The Wolverine’: Hugh Jackman on Jean Grey’s Return

News on The Wolverine has come fast and furious this week, culminating in the release of the film’s first trailer. That footage, of course, confirms that the plot will center largely on Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) trip to Japan as he comes to grips with his immortality and potentially loses his mutant healing factor.

However, the new footage also revealed that Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) will make an appearance in some form. Jackman had previously teased that The Wolverine would feature an X-Men cameo, and Janssen herself has played coy when addressing rumors that her character – despite her death at Wolverine’s hands in X-Men: The Last Stand – would return to the franchise.

Prana to Acquire Rhythm & Hues

A court hearing on confirmation is scheduled for Friday.

A holding company associated with Prana Studios has submitted the winning bid to acquire visual effects studio Rhythm & Hues at a bankruptcy auction that started Wednesday morning at the offices of its reorganization counsel Greenberg Glusker.
A court hearing on confirmation of the winning bidder is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.

Prana Studios is a VFX and animation studio with bases in Los Angeles and Mumbai. It is currently providing animation for Disney’s upcoming 3D feature Planes.

Christopher Nolan Wants Matthew McConaughey for ‘Interstellar’

Since his breakout role in 1993′s Dazed and Confused, Matthew McConaughey has been a Hollywood star, but the 43-year-old actor has been on an especially impressive run over the last two years. In 2011, McConaughey won praise for performances in three critically-acclaimed films: The Lincoln Lawyer, Bernie, and Killer Joe. Then, in 2012, McConaughey continued his streak with two well-received indie films (The Paperboy and Mud) and the box office hit Magic Mike.

Now, as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors, McConaughey will have the opportunity to take his career to yet another level in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar.

Director Jon Chu Says ‘He-Man’ Reboot Will Be ‘Serious,’ Not ‘Campy’

If you were ever holding your breath for the new Masters of the Universe movie to be released, chances are you probably passed out a long time ago. The rights were in Warner Bros’ hands for a long time before the studio finally gave up on the project altogether. The film was later picked up by Sony Columbia Pictures, and Predators screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak were hired to write a new script. Now, almost three years later, they’re apparently still writing it.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation director Jon Chu was brought on last summer to direct the film, presumably because his experience adapting a 1980s Hasbro toy line to the big screen made him a top candidate for adapting a 1980s Mattel toy line (plus, he’s already proved himself a hit with the kids by directing Justin Bieber documentary Never Say Never). Chu spoke about Masters of the Universe very recently, explaining that he and the writers are currently “experimenting” and are planning to “throw out all the things that don’t work – which is most of it.”

Steve Carell And Tina Fey's Mail-Order Groom Gets Pushed Back

Both Steve Carell and Tina Fey are some of the busiest comedic stars in Hollywood. While the former just saw the release of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and has Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, Despicable Me 2, and the indie The Way, Way Back due out later this year, the latter was just seen alongside Paul Rudd in Admission, is currently filming The Muppets...Again! in Europe, and will soon start production on the ensemble dramedy This Is Where I Leave You. The duo is so busy, in fact, that they've been forced to postpone their post-Date Night reunion.
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Martin Scorsese's Restored King Of Comedy Will Close Tribeca

I’m not sure what it means that the most exciting news I’ve heard about this year’s Tribeca Film Festival is the programming of a brilliant film that’s been around for three decades. Perhaps it says something about the Tribeca slate revealed so far, but mainly, it speaks to the incredible power of Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, which will close this year’s festival with a Saturday screening on April 27. (Click here for tickets if you think you’ll be in Manhattan and want to attend.)

Scorsese’s magnificent commentary on our society’s crippling need to be “famous” (and the pitch-black cynicism that infects most who’ve become famous) will be restored through a partnership with The Film Foundation, Regency Enterprises and 20th Century Fox. The 1983 comedy stars Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin, a mild-mannered nobody who dreams of hosting a talk show modeled after the “great” Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis, playing a slightly distorted version of himself). The movie was ahead of the curve when it comes to today’s everyone-is-a-celebrity culture. But The King of Comedy is simply worth seeing because De Niro is blisteringly sympathetic and Paul D. Zimmerman’s screenplay is nothing short of genius.

James Spader Joining Tommy Lee Jones, Meryl Streep in 'The Homesman'

Jones co-wrote the script and is directing the period drama, which also stars Hilary Swank and John Lithgow.

Three-time Emmy winner James Spader will reteam with his Lincoln co-star Tommy Lee Jones for another movie set in mid-1800s America, The Homesman.
Jones co-wrote the script and is directing the movie, assembling a cast that includes Hilary Swank, John Lithgow, Tim Blake Nelson and Meryl Streep.


B.J. Novak Transfers from ‘The Office’ to ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2′

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is almost two months into production, and director Marc Webb hasn’t been shy about sharing teaser material on Twitter. We’ve already had a glimpse of Colm Feore in The Ravenscroft Institute, as well as an ambiguous image of a new mask that will be seen in the film, which was later confirmed by the above image to be part of Spider-Man’s new look.

Very little is currently known about the film’s plot, however, though there are an abundance of rumors going around, including the possibility that Norman Osborn will fall prey to the Venom symbiote and that Peter Parker has moved on to college. Aside from the villain reveals and the hints at a significant Ravenscroft setpiece, official plot details have been scant and it’s unclear whether The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be based on a particular arc from the comics, or whether it will be a collage of different stories.

Chevy Chase And Beverly D'Angelo To Return In Vacation Reboot

Over the course of a 45-year-career, Chevy Chase has starred in a number of classic comedies, including Caddyshack, Fletch and Three Amigos!. But his most beloved role is undoubtedly that of Clark Griswold, the frazzled family man at the center of National Lampoon's Vacation movies. From a cross-country road trip to Christmas mayhem, Europe and Vegas, Clark, his loving wife Ellen and their kids couldn't get a break, and audiences couldn't get enough.

It's been 16 years since the last Vacation movie and Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin is getting the band back together with a new movie. When word of this reboot spread, fans were quick to declare a reboot without Chase and his co-star/onscreen wife of four funny features Beverly D'Angelo would be a travesty. Thankfully, it's looking like travesty will be avoided as Dobkin, in producer mode, has been courting Chase and D'Angelo hard. Variety reports both are in early talks to join the film.

Tobey Maguire's Material Pictures Expands with New Backer Onboard

Richard Weinberg invests in Material, which is adding Ben Tierney to its staff as VP of production.

Tobey Maguire has secured independent financing to expand his production company, Material Pictures. Richard Weinberg is investing in Material, which is adding Ben Tierney to its staff as VP of production.
Additionally, Anastasiya Kukhtareva has been upped to creative executive. Tierney and Kukhtareva will report to Material Pictures’ senior VP of production, Matthew Plouffe.

"This is an exciting time for Material Pictures," Weinberg said. "There is a really strong slate of projects in development and a talented team of executives and filmmakers at the helm." Added Maguire: "I’m thrilled to welcome Rich and Ben into the fold. Alongside Anastasiya, I feel like we’ve assembled a great team to lead Material Pictures into its next chapter."

‘Shame’ Director Steve McQueen’s ’12 Years a Slave’ Gets a 2013 Release Date

Steve McQueen (no, not the Hollywood icon, he passed away in 1980) previously directed the critically-acclaimed dramas Hunger and Shame, both of which feature physically-demanding central performances from Michael Fassbender (of X-Men: First Class and Prometheus fame) and have established McQueen’s reputation as a skilled and artistically-motivated cinematic storyteller.

This year, the filmmaker returns with his third feature-length effort: 12 Years a Slave, which is based on the memoir titled “Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853″ (you can even read Northup’s original writings online).

Thursday, March 28, 2013

‘Prometheus 2′: In Space No One Can Hear Ridley Scott and Fox Scream at Damon Lindelof

Update: Lindelof has responded to Slashfilm. We are including his response below the jump. He sheds some interesting light on the situation – but that doesn’t change the fact that Fox and Scott have no idea what to do now in regard to Prometheus 2.

Exclusive: Watching the 18 hours of extra features on the Prometheus Blu-ray I learned that Twentieth Century Fox didn’t trust screenwriter Jon Spaihts enough to run with his script, so they hired a big name to “clean up” Spaihts’ vision. This big draw was none other than “Lost,” Cowboys & Aliens and Star Trek Into Darkness writer Damon Lindelof, pictured.
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Tyler Perry and the Cast of Temptation

Hitting theaters this Friday, Tyler Perry's Temptation is the latest from the creative multihypenate with Perry behind the camera this time, directing and adapting his own original stage play.

Featuring a cast that includes Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lance Gross, Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Williams, Robbie Jones, Renйe Taylor, Ella Joyce and Brandy Norwood, Temptation follows a young woman, Judith (Smollett-Bell), who dreams of becoming a marriage counselor. Married at a young age, Judith is beginning to feel distanced from her husband, Brice (Gross) and things only get more complicated when she's asked to work alongside a charismatic millionaire, Harley (Jones). Caught between the pursuit of her dreams and her fidelity to her husband, Judith sets out on a path that could cost her everything.

Director Jon M. Chu Provides ‘Masters of the Universe’ Update

It seems like just yesterday that director Jon M. Chu became attached to the long-gestating Masters of the Universe reboot. At the time, the move seemed more than a bit odd, given the filmmaker’s previous directorial efforts included two films in the dance-centric Step Up series and a documentary feature about Justin Bieber. True, Chu was already in production on G.I.: Retaliation, but with that film’s reception up in the air, it remains to be seen whether or not Chu is the right man to bring He-Man and the kingdom of Grayskull to life.

Like G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe is a franchise near and dear to an entire generation of children who grew up with the 1980s animated series, its numerous action figures and the 1987 big-screen adaptation starring Dolph Lundgren. Can Chu successfully update the franchise to appeal to longtime fans as well as younger viewers who may not even be familiar with the likes of Skeletor, Man-At-Arms and Orko?

Longtime Disney Editor Norman Palmer Dies at 94

He worked on several True-Life Adventure nature documentaries, live-action films and TV shows during his 45-year stay at the studio.

Norman “Stormy” Palmer, who worked at Disney for 45 years and became closely associated with the studio’s acclaimed True-Life Adventure short-subject series of documentaries, died March 23 at his home in Northridge from natural causes, Disney announced Wednesday. He was 94.

Palmer also edited the Disney live-action films Ten Who Dared (1960), The Legend of Lobo (1962), The Incredible Journey (1963), The Gnome-Mobile (1967) and The Shaggy D.A. (1976) and had almost two dozen credits on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color and other TV shows from the mid 1950s to the early ’80s.

‘Tomb Raider’ Reboot Moving Forward as MGM Acquires Distribution Rights

Square Enix’s latest reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise saw the video game series’ heroine taken back to her roots in an origin story that showed a naïve, untrained young scholar begin on the path towards becoming the fearless explorer/warrior that players (and moviegoers) have seen portrayed before. The reboot might best be considered a calculated risk that mostly paid off – the game reportedly sold over a million copies within two days of its release (though still undersold according to Square Enix’s expectations) – and received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Previously, the film rights were acquired by GK Films a couple of years ago, but things have gone very quiet on that front since then. Until, recent developments.

Fox “Freaking Out” Over PROMETHEUS Sequel? Not Exactly, Says Damon Lindelof

Quite a hubbub occurred earlier today over 20th Century Fox’s supposed difficulty in developing a sequel to Prometheus, and now screenwriter Damon Lindelof has provided a statement on the matter.  Talk of a follow-up to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi film has been around ever since Scott and Co. were doing press for the first film, with both Scott and Lindelof offering up plenty of details regarding where Prometheus 2 might lead.  The first film was developed with an eye towards possibly moving forward with a full trilogy should audiences spark to Prometheus, and with a global box office haul of $403 million, Fox is understandably keen on getting a sequel going soon.

Lindelof opted not to come back and pen the script for the follow-up due to scheduling issues, and a new report today claims that Fox and Scott are “freaking out” over trying to figure out the story for Prometheus 2 after Lindelof “abandoned” the project.  Hit the jump for much more, including Lindelof’s comment on the matter.

‘Dredd’ Movie Sequel ‘Highly Unlikely’; Producer Promises ‘Dope’ Short Film Instead

For action fans, one of 2012′s biggest surprises was also one of its biggest box office bombs. After a campy and oft-maligned adaption of Judge Dredd in 1995, starring Sylvester Stallone, director Pete Travis rebooted the character in Dredd. Despite strong reviews from comic book fans and critics alike, Dredd only made $13 million at the domestic box office for a total haul (including international ticket sales) of $35 million – $15 million short of its production budget.

Word of mouth helped the film bring in extra sales when Dredd hit DVD and Blu-ray but, despite the success at retail, the film’s producer, Adi Shankar, is now saying that a sequel is unlikely. The official word from Shankar will be disappointing news for fans – especially those hoping to see star Karl Urban take-on the Dark Judges. However, the producer offered one piece of consolation: he intends to shoot a Judge Dredd short – in the vein of last year’s viral Punisher fan-flick “Dirty Laundry”.

'The Place Beyond the Pines': What the Critics are Saying

Ryan Gosling drives again as a motorcycle-riding bad boy in “Blue Valentine” director Derek Cianfrance’s feature.

Focus Feature's The Place Beyond the Pines follows biker daredevil Luke (Ryan Gosling), who turns to bank robbery to provide for an old flame (Eva Mendes) and his newly born son. Also featuring Bradley Cooper as a rising police officer on Luke's tail, their stories entangle to show the paths they travel when dealing with fate.
Gosling's Blue Valentine director, Derek Cianfrance, helmed the project.

From a romantic story highlighting responsibilities of a father to a rookie cop that faces a corrupted detective, the film connects three stories throughout a period of 15 years. Most critics of the film felt that although there were strong moments, it wasn’t enough to tie the plot together into a cohesive and flowing drama.

‘Pushing Daisies’ Creator Estimates $10-15 Million Price for Kickstarter Movie

Ever since Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell made waves a couple of weeks ago with their highly successful Kickstarter page in aid of a Veronica Mars movie, speculation has been rife as to which cancelled TV shows might see a similar treatment in the future.

Joss Whedon has stated that he’s simply got too much on his plate to consider a Serenity sequel, but Bryan Fuller – who created such now-cancelled TV shows as Dead Like Me and Wonderfalls – has expressed a desire to follow in Thomas and Bell’s footsteps with a film continuation of his series, Pushing Daisies.

Robert Downey Jr. to Attend Beijing Launch of 'Iron Man 3'

The actor will be present at an April 6 event aimed at boosting the Chinese credentials of the film, which was partly shot in the city and features local A-listers Fan Bingbing and Wang Xueqi.

Robert Downey Jr. will attend an event set within Beijing’s Forbidden City complex on April 6 to launch a month-long promotional blitz of Iron Man 3 in China before its release in the country in early May.
A source close to the event told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor would be in the Chinese capital for the whole day, with his appearance at the evening event possibly preceded by meetings with the local press.

‘Deadpool’ Screenwriters Talk About Their ‘Venom’ Movie Treatment

Once upon a time, in the far-off days of ancient Hollywood (or, to be more accurate, about four years ago), there was talk that Sony Pictures was planning a movie all about comic book villain Venom, whom we last saw featured as one of the multiple bad guys in Sam Raimi’s Spiderman 3.

They had screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick onboard to write the script, and Sony was in talks with directors to helm the project. First came The Hunger Games’ Gary Ross - and later, after the Venom story changed from a Spiderman spin-off to a full reboot, Chronicle director Josh Trank. Towards the end of 2009 we started hearing rumors that the Venom project had been delayed, and these rumors were confirmed when any news of development on the project more or less died away completely.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Ford not 'yet' ready to talk 'Star Wars' sequels

Harrison Ford isn't ready - "yet" - to talk about his reported part in Disney's planned "Star Wars" sequel, but he praises its director, J.J. Abrams.

"I think he's fantastic," Ford said in a recent interview. "I did his first movie, 'Regarding Henry,' with Mike Nichols. A wonderful talent. Extraordinary guy."

The 70-year-old actor - who came to fame playing Han Solo in the "Star Wars" trilogy - is shrugging off questions about that character while promoting his role as Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey in the upcoming Jackie Robinson film "42."

Asked how he feels generally that the "Star Wars" sequel and Disney spinoffs are in the works, Ford responded: "I don't feel anything at the moment yet."
Read more (Sourse) >>

Movie review -- ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’

Note: This review does not take into account the 3D aspects of “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” as it was viewed in 2D.
It’s been nearly four years since “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” graced the big screen, grossing more than $300 million in worldwide box office grosses. That movie was successful enough, but suffered from poor acting on the part of lead actor Channing Tatum, as well as numerous edits. After multiple delays and pushed back release dates, the sequel, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” is finally here, and it improves on its predecessor in every way.

This time around, Tatum reprises his role as Duke, who has become the leader of the Joes since the closing of the first film. Cobra Commander and his lieutenant Destro are imprisoned in an undisclosed location, but Zartan is running the country, impersonating the President of the United States. When Zartan initiates a plan to free Cobra Commander and aid him in taking control of the world, it’s up to a new batch of Joes to foil the plot and save the world from the tyranny of Cobra.
Read more (Sourse) >>

New Movie: Coming of Age, Out of the Closet

Keeping a marriage together is difficult enough, but what do you do when you discover your husband of nine years is gay?

That awkward revelation and other romantic stumbles frame director Arvin Chen’s latest comedy of errors, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”

Richie Jen stars as a mild-mannered optical-shop manager named Wei-chung who’s approaching middle age. By all outward appearances, he’s leading a happy and quiet life in Taipei with his wife Feng (Mavis Fan) and their 6-year-old son. There’s just one obstacle: He’s gay. Wei-chung has managed to suppress those feelings throughout his married life until he reunites with a group of gay friends from his single days and later begins a tentative romance with a Hong Kong flight attendant.

Robert Pattinson And Kristen Stewart Enjoy Loved Up Golf Date

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have certainly been enjoying themselves since the British actor flew back into Los Angeles last week after two and a half months in Australia filming new movie The Rover and were spotted earlier this week playing golf in Los Angeles.

The couple reportedly hit a crazy golf course together with a fellow golfer taken to Twitter to reveal his celebrity spot.

“Kristen Stewart and Rob Patterson just came to my golf course at our “super twilight” time…. What does this mean?!?” he wrote on Twitter.

Original GODZILLA Star Akira Takarada Will Appear in Gareth Edwards’ Reboot

Filming is currently underway in Vancouver on director Gareth Edwards’ new take on Godzilla, and the production has been rather generous to the legions of curious fans thus far, giving fans peeks behind-the-scenes of the pic.  Edwards previously shared a video greeting from the first day of filming a couple of weeks ago, and now Legendary Pictures has released a new set photo that reveals that OG star Akira Takarada will make an appearance in the upcoming redo.  Takarada was the lead in Ishiro Honda’s 1954 original film Godzilla, which spawned countless sequels, offshoots, spinoffs, and remakes.  It’s unknown how big of a role Takrada will have in Legendary/Warner Bros.’ new film, but it’s certainly neat to see Edwards paying tribute to the original Godzilla.

First Look at J.J. Abrams and J.H. Wyman’s Pilot for HUMAN Starring Karl Urban and Minka Kelly

A couple weeks ago, we reported that Karl Urban and Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights) were set to star in Human, a pilot from J.J. Abrams and J.H. Wyman (Fringe).  The series is described as “an action-packed buddy cop show set in a future where all LAPD officers are being partnered up with highly evolved human-like androids.”  Urban plays John Kennex, a respected police officer who has shut down emotionally after a tragic mission left him critically injured.  Even though this looks like an average police procedural with a couple of twists (the future, androids), it will be worth a look because of Urban.  Filming is now underway in Vancouver, and the first set photos show Kennex investigating a crime scene surrounded by slightly-futuristic vehicles.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The show also stars Michael Ealy, Lily Taylor, Michael Irby, and Mackenzie Crook.  Brad Anderson (The Call) is directing the pilot.

Nicola Peltz Confirmed for Transformers 4

She was rumored to be joining the cast back in December, but now Nicola Peltz has been confirmed as part of the Transformers 4 cast. She will be joining Mark Wahlberg and Jack Reynor in the Michael Bay-directed film.

The Twitter account for Michael Bay's official site was asked whether Megan Fox could come back for Transformers 4, to which they replied: "No. Female lead has been cast... Nicola Peltz."

Peltz is most known for starring in The Last Airbender and can currently be seen in A&E's successful new series, "Bates Motel."

Boardwalk Empire's Jack Huston Signs On For David O. Russell's ABSCAM Movie

David O. Russell's ABSCAM movie, formerly known as American Bullshit, may already be in production, but that doesn't mean it's not still adding to its already impressive ensemble cast. The film is already set to feature the likes of Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K. and Jennifer Lawrence, but now the project is adding a taste of Boardwalk Empire.

According to Deadline, Jack Huston, who stars as World War I vet Richard Harrow on the hit HBO gangster series, is the latest actor to sign up for a role in the upcoming drama. Based on true events, the new movie tells the story of how a con artist and his partner were forced to work with the FBI to help expose corrupt politicians and mobsters during the 1970s, including the mayor of Camden, New Jersey. Unfortunately the new report doesn't mention what role Huston will play in the project or how big his part is. Given that he's joining the cast so late in the game, presumably it isn't a crucial character that's going to be in every scene of the movie, but who is going to turn down the chance to work with David O. Russell?

Christian Kubsch to Lead VFX Studio Method

The Deluxe-owned company is expanding its Vancouver and London locations.

Christian Kubsch is the new president of Method Studios, the visual-effects unit of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group. The company has also been evolving with the addition of CTO Darin Grant and planned expansion in London and Vancouver.
VFX vet Kubsch most recently served as president of Prana Studios, a VFX business with bases in Los Angeles and India. Prior to that, he served as executive vp and general manager of ImageMovers Digital; and earlier as the first managing director of Lucasfilm Animation in Singapore.

‘Escape from New York’ Remake: Tom Hardy & Jason Statham on Shortlist?

John Carpenter’s dystopian action-thriller Escape from New York (1981) is commonly held up as a cult classic with an iconic protagonist – that of Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), an Old West-style outlaw who wears an eyepatch and has a propensity for gunfighting. In this day and age, it was only a matter of time before the film was remade.

Joel Silver (Die Hard, Lethal Weapon) and Studio Canal are producing the latest attempt at a remake, and if a recent report is to be believed, their top two choices for the role of the ultimate American badass are British actors Jason Statham (The Expendables 3) and Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises).

Kneel Before Zod! DC Comic Villains Are Getting Their Own Documentary

For almost 50 years, DC Comics has cinematically told tales of their heroes saving the world in a multitude of features, with the majority of them headed up by Batman – both campy and serious - and Superman, who will next be seen in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel later this summer. Even the anti-heroes of Watchmen got their due time onscreen. But what of the villains who always get shafted in the end? When will they get their time to shine, while no doubt smiling mischievously while palming the Doomsday Device?

Warner Brothers Entertainment and DC Entertainment will shine a spotlight on comic book baddies for a feature-length documentary titled Necessary Evil: Villains of DC Comics, according to a press release. The dastardly documentary isn’t just about the movie enemies, and will cover the entire span of DC’s history. The press release specifically names the Joker, Deathstroke, Darkseid, Bane and Lex Luthor as part of the film’s focus, but you can bet dozens more will at least appear, if not be spoken about at length. This is a vast and colorful list of characters, and the doc will feature interviews with some of their creators and the writers and artists that have carried on their twisted legacies over the years.

Buenos Aires Film Festival Unveils Lineup

The 15th edition of BAFICI features 400 films; retrospectives of Hong Sang-soo, Julio Bressane and Alfredo Aristarain; and a strong Chilean presence.

BUENOS AIRES – The Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival announced its full lineup Tuesday in a press conference that was held at the fest’s new headquarters at the Recoleta Cultural Center. Festival director Marcelo Panozzo and Buenos Aires Ministry of Culture Hernan Lombardi presented its 15th edition at the center.
“We’re very glad to celebrate the 15th anniversary of this cinephile meeting, which ensures a permanent renovation within continuity. A festival is defined by its films, and every year, BAFICI surprises, renews, challenges, and allows us to discover unknown talents," said Lombardi.

‘Independence Day 2 & 3′ Plot Details Revealed

The citizens of Earth have had almost 20 years of peace since their planet was rudely invaded by aliens on July 4th, 1996, but recently, there has been talk from director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin that the victory might not last much longer. Two sequels to Independence Day are currently in the works and awaiting a green light from 20th Century Fox. It may well be that the studio is keeping a close eye on the success of Emmerich’s most recent project, White House Down, before giving a thumbs up or thumbs down to Indendence Day 2 and 3, A.K.A. ID Forever Part I and II.

It seems that Emmerich himself is confident enough to start divulging details, or at least savvy enough to start generating hype for the Independence Day sequels by releasing a few intriguing snippets of information.

Supreme Court's Gay Marriage Hearing: What Hollywood is Saying

A number of marriage-equality memes, including one posted on the "True Blood" Facebook page, have popped up as stars tweet their support.

Hollywood is showing its support for marriage equality as the Supreme Court hears arguments in an historic case.
A number of members of the entertainment industry headed to Washington as the court heard arguments for and against Proposition 8, California’s gay marriage ban, which a federal appeals court ruled unconstitutional in February 2012. Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, Prop 8) and Rob Reiner attended, with Black tweeting he was “moved tears several times during arguments today" and that “history has been made.”

Adrianne Palicki Promises Badass Lady Jaye in ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’

Last month was rough for women in comic books. The internet had a public debate about if Shailene Woodley was “hot enough” to play Mary Jane in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and fan-made Wonder Woman short caused controversy after viewers argued that the footage was more focused on objectifying the character than showcasing action.

The timing is now, and needed, for a strong female superhero. Could that person be Adrianne Palicki’s Lady Jaye in G.I. Joe: Retaliation?

Sure, in the comics and cartoon, Lady Jaye was a weapons expert, but being smart and tough didn’t help Scarlett or Baroness when they transitioned into live action in 2009′s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Rachel Nichols’ Scarlett was saddled withtwo goofy, globular breast shields, and Sienna Miller’s Baroness had to do all her fight scenes in askin-tight suit - with built-in six-inch heels. Plus, don’t forget the official Rise of Cobra poster - which seemed to pose Miller solely to show off her body (Scarlett Johansson struck a similar pose in certain Avengers’ posters).

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Drew Barrymore Shows Us How to Wear Bold Red Lips

Clueless about how to pull off a bold red lip?

Many can find the attention-grabbing look a bit intimidating, so Drew Barrymore, who recently launched her Flower Beauty cosmetics collection, is offering advice on how to pull off the sultry look off as part of her new Tip Tuesdays video tutorial series, and today she's exclusively sharing one of her go-to tricks with us!

Given the fact that Barrymore has sat in countless makeup chairs, she's armed with plenty insider secrets that might surprise you.

TBS Renews COUGAR TOWN for 13-Episode Season 5

After three seasons on ABC, Cougar Town made the unorthodox move of switching to cable for season four on TBS.  I enjoy spending time with these characters, so I was happy they found a way to stay on the air.  I have wondered how the experiment worked out for TBS.  The verdict is in: TBS renewed Cougar Town for a fifth season with 13 episodes, expected to premiere in 2014.  Per TVBTN, this season averaged 2.8 million viewers (1.3 rating for the 18-49 demo) in Live + 7 ratings (which includes DVR views within 7 days after air).  That’s meager, but clearly sustainable for TBS.  Also, I imagine ABC Studios was motivated to find the right price point to get to 89 total episodes for a nice syndication package.

Forget business for a second.  We get to spend more time in Cougar Town, and that is a good thing.  Now back to business: Hit the jump for the press release with all the details.

Gale Anne Hurd Reflects on The Walking Dead Season 3

This Sunday is the Season 3 finale of AMC's "The Walking Dead" and ComingSoon.net's sister horror/genre site ShockTillYouDrop.com had a chance to talk with executive producer Gale Anne Hurd on one of the most exciting seasons of the show, which introduced Michonne and The Governor and the conflict between the survivors led by Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes who holed up at a large prison and those at Woodbury.

Over the course of her 30-year career, producer Gale Anne Hurd has been involved with many fan favorite genre properties from Terminator to Marvel's Hulk and The Punisher, but few could have seen that only her second foray into television as executive producer of an AMC TV show--based on Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's zombie comic The Walking Dead--would overshadow some of her previous achievements as a producer.

Is Lex Luthor In Man Of Steel After All?

Lex Luthor has been an integral part of Superman’s on-screen legacy, played by the brilliant Gene Hackman in Richard Donner’s two films, then re-imagined by Kevin Spacey in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns. And yet, fans wanting the Man of Steel to go in a different direction probably were happy to learn that Lex wouldn’t be part of Zack Snyder’s planned Man of Steel, meaning another villain would get the chance to shine.

But who ever said Lex Luthor wasn’t going to be part of Man of Steel?

Screenwriter David Goyer, who conceived his Man of Steel story with Christopher Nolan, sat down for an interview with I Am Rogue and was asked about the decision to leave Lex out of this incarnation of Superman’s story. But instead of explaining why, Goyer threw the journalist – and the Internet – a curveball.

Will the Success of 'Olympus Has Fallen' Hurt or Help 'White House Down'?

"This weekend demonstrates the audience appetite for this kind of material," says a spokesman for Sony, which is releasing "White House Down" in June.

Ask most Hollywood studio executives, and they'll shudder at the idea of being runner-up. What if moviegoers feel like they've seen the same movie already?
Yet Sony appears anything but concerned that the successful opening of FilmDistrict's action pic Olympus Has Fallen will dampen enthusiasm for the studio's similarly themed White House Down, which opens in theaters June 28. Both films follow roughly the same storyline -- terrorists overtaking America's most famous residence.

"This weekend demonstrates the audience appetite for this kind of material," Sony spokesman Steve Elzer says. "We are happy there is room in the marketplace for both films to be a success, and we couldn't be more excited about the prospects for White House Down."

Kevin Tsujihara on Studio Plans, Digital Critics and Lunch With Clint Eastwood

The new WB chief looks to navigate a hazy outlook as the digital space drives entertainment -- but not yet revenue: “We don’t want … to lose focus."

On the morning of March 5, Kevin Tsujihara addressed the Warner Bros. division heads for the first time since his January promotion to chief executive of the studio and successor to retiring chairman Barry Meyer. But anyone hoping for a glimpse into the future was disappointed.
Tsujihara, a 19-year studio veteran who had run its home entertainment division since 2005, told executives his top priorities include strengthening the studio’s international footprint and fostering greater cooperation between divisions. And he thanked his rivals for the top job, television chief Bruce Rosenblum and studio chair Jeff Robinov, for supporting him -- which they hadn’t, exactly. But Tsujihara did not address informed speculation that big changes are afoot at Hollywood’s most profilic studio, notably at Rosenblum’s highly profitable television unit, home to such programs as The Big Bang Theory and The Voice.

‘Vehicle 19′ Trailer: Paul Walker Is a Man with Nothing to Lose

In its set-up, new indie action-thriller Vehicle 19 sounds undeniably intriguing. It tells the story of a man who is given the wrong car as the result of a mix-up with the rental agency and, after deciding that he doesn’t mind the change in model, discovers a gun, a cell phone, and a tied-up prisoner in the trunk.

You might not have picked up on this from watching the first two international trailers, but the experiment taking place in the film is that the camera never leaves the car (even though the protagonist might). Presumably, this is intended to communicate some kind of message about the protagonist being irrevocably tied to his unwelcome fate, but it’s a challenging choice that may succeed or fail depending on how well the director – and cinematographer – are able to pull it off.

The Third Hemsworth Brother Joins Jonathan LaPaglia In The Reckoning

If you’re a director with only a couple of low-budget, low-acclaim horrors to your credit, and you’re looking to break out with some attention-grabbing fare, chances are you want to grab actors whose recognition alone will be enough to sell theater tickets. Of course, sometimes you just have to settle with those actors' siblings.

For his third feature, The Reckoning, director John V. Soto has tapped Australian actors Luke Hemsworth - older brother of Thor actor Chris Hemsworth and The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth - and Jonathan LaPaglia - younger brother of Without a Trace star Anthony LaPaglia. Both men are already established television actors. LaPaglia’s latest roles were in 2011’s tense drama The Slap and 2012’s crime mystery Underbelly, while Hemsworth last starred in 2012’sBikie Wars: Brothers in Arms. It looks as if this may be Hemsworth’s first feature film role, as his other project, the war drama 34thBatallion, seems to be stuck is pre-production mode.

DIVERGENT Cast Adds Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Ben Lamb and Christian Madsen

Three new faces are set to join the cast of Neil Burger’s adaptation of author Veronica Roth’s popular YA novel, Divergent, starring Shailene Woodley (The Descendants).  The latest additions include Ben Lloyd-Hughes (Great Expectations) as Will, Ben Lamb (The White Queen) as Edward and Christian Madsen (Refuge from the Storm) as Al.  The story takes place in a dystopian future where people are divided into factions based on their personalities.  Tris Prior (Woodley) doesn’t fit neatly into any category and, as a Divergent, is subject to destruction.

Divergent also stars Theo James, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Zoë Kravitz, Ansel Elgort and Maggie Q and will open March 21, 2014.  Hit the jump for the full press release.

Millennium and Gravitas Acquire Rights to 'End of Love,' 'Hunky Dory'

The two outfits also will partner in releasing "Hell Baby" and "33 Postcards."
Millennium Entertainment and Gravitas Ventures have struck a deal to collaborate on the digital and theatrical release of a number of indie titles, acquiring the rights to films including Amanda Seyfried-Michael Cera starrer The End of Love and Minnie Driver musical dramedy Hunky Dory.

Gravitas will handle digital distribution duties, including VOD, while Millennium will oversee the theatrical release. They also are partnering on home entertainment.
The deal also includes Guy Pierce drama 33 Posters, directed by Pauline Chan, as well as the previously announced Millennium title Hell Baby, the 2013 Sundance Film Festival title written and directed by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon.

‘Iron Man 3′ Facebook App Unveils Silver Centurion & Shotgun Armors

Vast toy lines, epic trailers, spoilery TV spots, and insurmountable amounts of rumors and leaks have revealed much about Iron Man 3 but despite there being seemingly so much info out there, Marvel Studios is still holding back on revealing key plot points, character arcs and special appearances that comic book fans are only beginning to piece together.

Last year we shared the rumor that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) would command not only a new suit or two (or more) himself in Iron Man 3, but that he would lead an army of armored suits. The official Iron Man 3 prelude comics dubbed his expanded Hall of Armor the “Iron Legion” and it wasn’t long before Stark’s minions found their way into the official marketing.

Aubrey Plaza to Receive Breakthrough Performer of the Year Award

The "Parks and Recreation" actress will star in comedy "The To Do List," hitting theaters in August 16.

Aubrey Plaza will receive the CinemaCon Breakthrough Performer of the Year Award at this year's event, managing director Mitch Neuhauser announced Monday.
The Parks and Recreation actress will be honored at the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 18, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

CinemaCon, a convention for the motion picture theatre industry, will be held from April 15-18 in Las Vegas.

‘Deadpool’ Screenwriters Are Holding Out for R-Rated Antihero Action

It’s been a long, hard road for Deadpool, the comic book movie adaptation that first began its life as rumor in the lead-up to the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. During a development period that has gone on for four years without yet getting the official greenlight from Fox, we’ve seen Zombieland screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Rheese brought on to write the script and newcomer Tim Miller elected to make the film as his feature directorial debut.

A draft of Rheese and Wernick’s script was leaked back in 2010, and what could have been a minor PR disaster ultimately only served to increase hype for the film, when the script received glittering reviews from critics and fans alike. So, what’s the hold-up?
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