Thursday, April 18, 2013

Weird Science Is Getting A Remake

Even John Hughes films aren't immune to the remake treatment, it seems. As geekdom is practically revered in today's pop culture, it's really a wonder that Hughes' 1985 comedy Weird Science hasn't already been mined for a remake. Better late than never? Some would surely argue that point. "Leave it alone," thirty and forty-somethings will cry. But they may not be heard over the sound of the thudding hearts of those of us anxiously and optimistically hoping that maybe - just maybe - the remake all be good. Because maybe it will.

21 Jump Street turned out to be a winner, right? Deadline says Michael Bacall - who penned the script for the Jump Street feature film (and the planned sequel) - has been tapped to write the screenplay for Universal Pictures' Weird Science remake. In addition to having some experience turning a beloved piece of 80s pop culture into a funny movie with 21 Jump Street, Bacall also knows a thing or two about teenagers unleashed, as he also wrote the script for Project X. With that in mind, I already want to nominate Miles Teller for the role of Wyatt, if not Robert Downey Jr.'s character Ian. Deadline says the plan for the remake is to make an "edgier R-rated comedy in line with 21 Jump Street and The Hangover."

Watch Harrison Ford Confront Chewbacca On Jimmy Kimmel Live

There was drama on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, when 42 star Harrison Ford sat down at the ABC talk show to be interviewed. You have to figure that Harrison Ford gets asked Star Wars fans quite often when he's interviewed. He expressed some reluctance the moment Kimmel brought up the subject of Star Wars, which prompted Kimmel to send the interview out to the audience, where a few (amusingly staged) Star Wars fanatics were waiting to ask questions.

EW shared the above segment, which was lighthearted and fun until Han Solo's beloved sidekick Chewbacca stood up to ask a question. There's some bad blood (and fur) between these two guys, as Ford made evident the moment he saw the wookiee. "You son of a bitch," Ford growled, and then responded to one of Chewy's objections with, "You're the one who couldn't keep it in your furry pants!" Of course, Chewy doesn't have pants - a fact that Kimmel pointed out - but that only seemed to prove Ford's point.

Will Smith in Talks for Heist Flick ‘Focus’; Kristen Stewart No Longer Costarring

Crazy, Stupid, Love directors Glenn Ficarre and John Requa were hoping to work again with leads Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone on a heist-comedy titled Focus, but scheduling didn’t work out and the filmmakers ended up casting Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart instead; now, both those actors have left the project, and Will Smith has entered talks to come aboard.

Affleck dropped Focus in order to… uh, focus his attention on writing, directing and starring in the Dennis Lehane novel adaptation Live by Night. As for Stewart, the Twilight actress reportedly exited the project sometime over the past few weeks, perhaps to prepare for her role in The Big Shoe (since the only other major project on her docket, the Snow White and the Huntsman sequel, is a ways off from beginning production in the near future).

Julianne Moore and John Cusack Join David Cronenberg’s MAPS TO THE STARS

The cast is finally coming together for director David Cronenberg’s next film.  Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis star Robert Pattinson has long been attached to appear in Maps to the Stars, and now THR reports that Julianne Moore, John Cusack, and Sarah Gadon (A Dangerous Method) are set to round out the cast.  Written by Bruce Wagner (Wild Palms), the film is described as a ghost story that “offers a critique of celebrity-obsessed society in Los Angeles,” the latter of which is quite a popular topic in film culture at the moment with Sofia Coppola’s similarly-themed film The Bling Ring set to hit theaters this summer.

Man Of Steel Concept Art Is Almost As Amazing As The Latest Trailer

The recent Man of Steel trailer blew our minds, moving it from the middle of our Must See list for summer blockbusters right to the very top. It balanced Superman’s origin story (told in compelling fashion) with the Zack Snyder action that fans really are hoping to see on screen when the movie airs. The trailer sold the film, and this new concept art continues to get our pulses racing.

ComicBookMovie confirmed that a series of gorgeous images shared on GBPosters are official marketing materials for Snyder’s film. They don’t reveal much. But they are stylish as hell, and will make amazing wallpapers and screensavers for Superman fans waiting for Man of Steel to drop. Here are three of our favorites, but click this link to see the rest.

Jerry Bruckheimer Gives Update on ‘Pirates 5,’ ‘National Treasure 3′ & ‘Bad Boys 3′

Since the early 1980s, Jerry Bruckheimer has been responsible for producing some of the most recognizable action films Hollywood has had to offer. Top Gun, The Rock and Armageddon are just a few of the smash hits he’s had his name on.

However, a large chunk of Bruckheimer’s filmography consists of crowd-pleasing franchises, the kind of blockbuster entertainment that audiences will come back for again and again. His latest film – director Gore Verbinski’s take on The Lone Ranger (check out the new trailer) – aims to attract the same audience and potentially launch a franchise of its own.

2013 Cannes Film Festival Lineup Includes INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, ONLY GOD FORGIVES, NEBRASKA, BEHIND THE CANDELABRA, and More

The full lineup for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival was announced today, and it looks like a really great group of films will be screening in the south of France later next month.  Official selections include Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives, Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, Roman Polanski’s Venus In Fur, and James Gray’s The Immigrant (previously titled Low Life).  Additionally, the Robert Redford man vs. nature film All Is Lost will premiere out of competition, and Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring, James Franco’s As I Lay Dying, and the Sundance hit Fruitvale Station (previously titled Fruitvale) will screen Un Certain Regard.

A number of these titles are early awards contenders, and I’m particularly interested to hear the reaction for the Coens’ Davis and Payne’s The Descendants follow-up Nebraska, which is a black-and-white road trip movie starring Will Forte and Bruce Dern.  Hit the jump to read the full lineup.  The 2013 Cannes Film Festival runs from May 15 – 26th.

Joss Whedon Says ‘Awful’ Things Will Happen in ‘The Avengers 2′

Joss Whedon has long been a fixture in the geek community, thanks to his TV work on series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Of course, his notoriety exploded last year with the record-breaking success of Marvel’s The Avengers.

This led to Marvel signing him to write and direct the forthcoming sequel as part of an extensive three-year contract that includes overseeing all the studio’s Phase Two projects as well as starting up ABC’s planned S.H.I.E.L.D. (or is it Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?) TV series.

‘Doctor Who’ 50th Anniversary Brings Back Tennant’s TARDIS

Production on the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special is well-underway but, as is typically the case in the wibbly wobbly timey wimey world of The Doctor, each set photo, official announcement, and casting confirmation, seems to create more questions than answers. Showrunner Steven Moffat has been extremely tight-lipped about the anniversary storyline – only stating “It’s all about the next 50 years, not about the last 50 years. If you start thinking it’s all about nostalgia, then you’re finished. It’s about moving forward.”

However, just because the plot of the episode is still (mostly) a mystery, doesn’t mean that fans are entirely in the dark, in addition to a role for classic Who villains, the Zygons, we also know that Rose (Billie Piper) and the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) are set to return. Prior set photos gave us a peak at the fan-favorite actors on set but today, we’re getting our first look at 10 and 11 (Matt Smith) together in costume – along with a glimpse at Tennant’s TARDIS.
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