Thursday, May 9, 2013

Lionsgate Taps Jack Thorne To Adapt Bestselling YA Novel Wonder

Even though the horizon of cinema’s future is dotted with highly fantastical young adult novel adaptations like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Maze Runner, there is more than enough room in film for children who don’t spend their novelized lives within dystopian worlds sharing space with mythological creatures. If Judy Blume can finally get the Tiger Eyes adaptation she’d been waiting for, then let’s open the floodgates for more humanized YA fare.

Deadline reports Lionsgate is doing just that by hiring English screenwriter Jack Thorne to adapt the critically adored Wonder, the heart-unraveling debut from author Raquel Jaramillo, under the pseudonym R.J. Palacio. Though the only produced script Thorne has written was 2009’s The Scouting Book for Boys, he’s been all over British television, writing several episodes of the teen drama Skins and the apocalyptic horror The Fades. He also created the mockumentary reality series Cast Offs.

Fox Orders J.J. Abrams’ ALMOST HUMAN, Cop Drama GANG RELATED, RAKE Starring Greg Kinnear, and Modern-Day SLEEPY HOLLOW to Series

    Almost Human - Karl Urban, Michael Ealy, and Lili Taylor star in the police drama set 35 years in the future, “when police officers are partnered with highly evolved human-like androids.”  J.J. Abrams will executive produce alongside creator J.H. Wyman (Fringe).
    Gang Related – Ramon Rodriguez, Terry O’Quinn, and RZA play members of the gang task force who team up to take down three of Los Angeles’ most dangerous gangs.  Allen Hughes (Broken City) directed the pilot, created by Chris Morgan (Fast Five).
    Rake - Greg Kinnear stars as a “brilliant and frustratingly charming criminal defense attorney” in the legal drama based on the Australian series created by Peter Duncan.  Duncan will executive produce the adaptation with Peter Tolan (Rescue Me).  Sam Raimi directed the pilot.
    Sleepy Hollow - A modern retelling of the story of Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison), “resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to find that the world is on the brink of destruction and that he is humanity’s last hope.”  Co-created by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek).
Read More (Sourse) >>

Tom Cruise's The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Finds Its Female Lead

The adaptation of the 1960's spy series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. is finally picking up steam again. The project looked as though it was going to completely fall apart when director Steven Soderbergh decided he was no longer interested in helming, but now Guy Ritchie is attached to direct, both Tom Cruise and Armie Hammer are set to star, and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the project has found its female lead.

Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, who has recently landed roles in high-profile films like the young adult adaptation The Seventh Son and the Julian Assange biopic The Fifth Estate, is now in negotiations to play " a British agent who has a thing for cars." The trade says that she is a brand new character that was featured on neither the 60s series nor the spin-off The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. Cruise and Hammer will be playing the lead roles of Napoelon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, agents for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (also known as U.N.C.L.E.). Unfortunately there's no information regarding when the movie is planning to start production.

Shanghai Festival to Screen Hitchcock's Early Silent Films

Nine of the British director’s earliest surviving productions will be shown in the 20-year-old event’s annual showcase of late masters.
After recruiting the British Oscar-winning filmmaker Tom Hooper to preside over its competition jury next month, the Shanghai International Film Festival is now bringing in another famed British cineaste to star in its 16thedition – Alfred Hitchcock.

Nine of the thrill-master’s black-and-white silent films from the 1920s will be screened at the festival as part of its annual Tributes to Masters showcase, which has previously featured the works of Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Krzysztof Kieslowski and Chang Cheh.

Short Film From 'Robopocalypse' Author’s Gets Kickstarter Campaign

The producers of a project based on Daniel H. Wilson’s “The Nostalgist” are seeking a little more than $46,000 for post-production.
Fans of Robopocalypse author Daniel H. Wilson now have the opportunity to give his work the kick start it needs to hit the big screen.

The filmmakers behind a short film adaptation of Wilson’s short story “The Nostalgist” have launched a Kickstarter page seeking funds to complete the film, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

Marvel Willing to Replace Robert Downey Jr; No Plans for ‘War Machine’ or ‘Falcon’ Solo Films

It’s been a roller coaster ride of a week for Marvel movie fans. First, Iron Man 3 launched with the second largest opening in U.S. box office history – despite a mixed response from some die-hard comic book fans. Then, we got word that the contract negotiations between star Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel Studios were expected to be “challenging” – since the Disney-owned production company is known for low-balling its cast members (while at the same time raking in record-breaking revenue).

Even before the reports of the arduous contract renegotiation process, studio head Kevin Feige once again prepared fans for the possibility that Marvel will (eventually) part ways with Robert Downey Jr. – claiming that the filmmakers could simply re-cast the character (a la James Bond).

Dominic Cooper May Join DRACULA, Alicia Vikander in Talks for THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and Pierce Brosnan Leads HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE AN ENGLISHMAN

Hit the jump for more on each casting announcement.

Variety reports that sarah gadonCooper is in negotiations to join Dracula.  Evans stars in the title role and Sarah Gadon (A Dangerous Method) also stars.  The story, a blend of history and myth, tells the origins of Prince Vlad, a young patriarch who makes the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect his family from a bloodthirsty sultan.  The Universal picture will open August 8, 2014.

Variety also reports that Vikander is in talks to join The Man from U.N.C.L.E. for Warner Bros.  The 1960s TV series followed two agents of the United Network Command for Law Enforcement as they fought the evil agents of Thrush using only their wits and an array of weapons and gadgets.

Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes Reveals Official Synopsis, Adds Toby Kebbell

As Matt Reeves' Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has been moving through production we've picked up a few details here and there about the plot. We know that the focus of the story will remain on Caesar, the brilliant chimpanzee played by Andy Serkis. We know that the story will be set 15 years after the end of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. And we've learned that part of the movie will be dedicated to a group of San Francisco-based scientists who work to try and stop the apes uprising. But these are all just tidbits. Now we have a full-fledged official synopsis.

/Film has received a press release from 20th Century Fox announcing that cameras have begun to roll on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and within it the studio included the first description of the plot. You can read it below.

BBC America’s ‘In the Flesh’: Undead Life After Zombie Cure

Until recently, Channel 4 has had the market cornered on gripping zombie TV in the UK. In 2008 they produced the excellent Charlie Brooker-penned satirical horror miniseries Dead Set, which told the story of a group of Big Brother contestants hiding out from the zombie apocalypse. More recently, they aired a gripping reality show created by illusionist Derren Brown, who managed to trick a directionless young man into genuinely believing that zombies had taken over Britain by building an elaborate military compound set around him and filling it with zombie extras and character actors. This year, however, the BBC has decided to enter the fray by making their own significant addition to zombie TV.

BBC America has announced that zombie drama In the Flesh is coming to the channel this summer, and have launched an official page for it that includes cast and crew interviews, photos, and guides to the episodes and characters.

Christopher Smith's Jim Broadbent Starrer 'Get Santa' Added to Marche du Film

U.K. banner Altitude Film Sales to tout the title produced by Liza Marshall of Scott Free London to international buyers next week.
British director Christopher Smith's Get Santa, starring Jim Broadbent and produced by Liza Marshall of Scott Free London and executive produced by Ridley Scott, is among five fresh titles to be touted to international buyers at the upcoming Marche du Film by Altitude Film Sales, the U.K. based company launched just before Cannes last year.

Get Santa tells the story of a father and son who must team-up to save Christmas when they discover Santa Claus sleeping in their garage after crashing his sleigh and finding himself on the run from the police.
Read More (Sourse) >>

‘Captain America 2′: Robert Redford Reveals MASSIVE Potential Spoiler

The team assembled for Captain America: The Winter Soldier just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Already boasting a cast rivaling that of The Avengers, Robert Redford is without question the most distinguished of the pack. It certainly came as a surprise when Redford was signed not only to appear in Captain America 2, but in what appeared to be a relatively small role. A great get for Marvel, and an actor capable of playing the head of a shadowy government organization with plenty of class and grandeur.

But as actors unfamiliar with the spoiler-sensitive nature of comic book films often do, Redford has opened up about his role in the next Captain America, revealing more than Marvel likely wishes he had.

Mud Director Jeff Nichols Sells Follow-Up Film To Warner Bros.

Writer-director Jeff Nichols has been drawing steady acclaim since his debut in 2007 with Shotgun Stories, which won notice on the fringes of the film festival circuit then earned a John Cassavetes Award nomination for the Independent Spirit Awards. With a growing reputation, Nichols next awed audiences at more prestigious festivals like Sundance and Cannes with his chilling thriller Take Shelter. Now hot on the heels of his third feature Mud, theatrical debut, Deadline reports Nichols has sold his next venture to Warner Bros, meaning his first studio project is on the way.

'Burlesque' Director to Helm 'The Girlfriend' for Gold Circle

The project is described as a female-centric version of "The Odd Couple."
Steve Antin, who directed the Cher-Christina Aquilera dance movie Burlesque, is set to direct The Girlfriend, a comedy from Gold Circle.

Eric Schade wrote the screenplay, which centers on a successful career woman who discovers that her "perfect" husband is having an affair with a woman who is her opposite in every way. Upon learning that the mistress is looking for a roommate, the wife decides to move in with her enemy, sabotage the affair and win her husband back.
The project is described as being in the tone of The Odd Couple.

‘Jurassic Park 4′ Temporarily on Hold – Should This Movie Happen?

There’s disagreement over whether or not Jurassic Park IV should be made, now that more than ten years have passed since the third installment, Jurassic Park III, turned a satisfying profit at the box office ($369 million worldwide on a $93 million budget); however, it also suggested this dino franchise should probably quit before it jumps the shark completely (cough, A Good Day to Die Hard, cough).

JP4 is being written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver - the couple that breathed fresh life into the Planet of the Apes series - and directed by promising filmmaker Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed); that’s made it easier to maintain a positive outlook towards the whole thing. Nonetheless, troubling new rumors, which concern behind the scenes developments on the fourth Jurassic Park movie installment, might change that.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Italy Supreme Court Denies Request to Move Berlusconi Trials

The media tycoon says he was not able to receive a fair trial in his "hostile" home town of Milan, where he is being tried on two separate sets of charges.
Lawyers for Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday restarted the process of defending the billionaire media tycoon and political power broker against charges of abuse of power, paying to have sex with a minor and tax fraud in Berlusconi’s hometown of Milan, after the Supreme Court denied a request to have the trials moved.

The controversial Berlusconi was born and grew up in Milan and his television, cinema and media empire is based in the city. But Berlusconi’s attorneys said the city had become “hostile” to the 76-year-old magnate, making it difficult for him to receive a fair trial there. They requested the trials be moved to nearby Brescia, but the country's highest court ruled that evidence seeking to show that the location would have a bearing on the outcome of the trials was insufficiently convincing.

Watch Leonardo DiCaprio Scream His Way Through His Career

Who knew that when you cast Leonardo DiCaprio in a role, it’s advised that you get him to scream in at least one scene? From “I’m the king of the world!” to a series of unrelated “No!” shouts, this fantastic supercut simply titled “Leo DiCaprio Yelling” landed on Huffington Post. Give it a spin.

Personal preference, but I think the clip hits its stride during what can only be described as the “Fuck You” montage. The way DiCaprio holds his “F” sound while revving up a “Fuck you” is pretty awesome, and previously undetected. Now it’s all that I hear.
Now, we’re not trying to say that DiCaprio’s in danger of becoming the next Al Pacino, who works himself into such a lather at inopportune times that his on-screen screaming tirades have become a bit of a pop-culture joke…

Stu Gets Serious on the Latest Poster for The Hangover Part III

Following quite a few posters featuring supporting characters, Warner Bros. Pictures has released a new design showcasing Ed Helms' Stu alongside the enigmatic tagline, "I told myself I would never come back." Check it out below!

Opening in theaters on May 24, the comedy also stars Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong, Sasha Barrese, Gillian Vigman and Jamie Chung.

The Hangover Part III is the third and final film in director Todd Phillips' record-shattering comedy franchise. This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

Michelle Rodriguez Confirms ‘Fast & Furious 7′ Villain?

Fast & Furious 6 opens in a matter of weeks, but lately we’ve spent a lot more time discussing the next installment, Fast & Furious 7. That’s because Universal has decided to fast-track the movie to begin shooting this summer – with James Wan (Saw) in the driver’s seat rather than Justin Lin (who’s been directing the franchise since Tokyo Drift) – so it can open in theaters by next year.

Similar to how Fast Five included a mid-credits scene that laid the groundwork for the next installment, Fast & Furious 6 is rumored to feature a credits sequence that introduces the villain for the the seventh movie. We have confirmation that the mystery star in question will appear in Fast & Furious 7; whether or not they will play the antagonist, remains (officially) unverified for the time being.

James Franco to Star in Wim Wenders' 'Everything Will Be Fine'

In the 3D film, the actor will play a writer who accidentally causes the death of a child.
James Franco has signed to star in director Wim Wenders’ 3D project Everything Will Be Fine.
Franco will play a writer who accidentally causes the death of a child in the story that follows him over the next 12 years as he looks for the footprints of the accident on his life, as well as on the life of the child’s mother.

Gian-Piero Ringel will produce the 3D movie through his and Wenders’ production banner Neue Road Movies.
Production is scheduled to begin on location in Montreal in August.

Andrew Garfield Set to Headline Silence

After years of planning, Martin Scorsese's Silence appears to finally be moving forward. Variety reports that The Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield has come aboard the project to headline.

The drama, based on the novel by Shusaku Endo, is set in the 17th century as two Jesuit priests face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity.

Garfield, who is currently shooting The Amazing Spider-Man 2, is also well-known for roles in films like The Social Network and Never Let Me Go.

Paul Solet to Direct Supernatural Horror Film 'Dark Summer'

Sales, finance and production banner Content will pitch the movie, written by Mike Le, to buyers at the Marche du Film.

LONDON – Paul Solet (Grace) is lined up to direct supernatural horror Dark Summer, based on a screenplay by K-Town web series creator Mike Le.
Billed as a stylized modern ghost story, Dark Summer follows the tale of a 17-year-old on house arrest for the summer. When his mother is away on business, a horrifying incident occurs, followed by an even more terrifying presence in the house.

The movie will be produced by Preferred Film & TV (PFT), a joint venture between Content Media Corporation (CMC) and Preferred Content’s Ross Dinerstein and Kevin Iwashina.

Ewan McGregor In Talks to Play the Villain in ‘Jane Got a Gun’

The indie feature Jane Got a Gun started out as a genre film with potential – a western starring Natalie Portman, with Lynne Ramsay (of We Need to Talk About Kevin fame) directing from a script that made the Hollywood Black List for best unproduced screenplays – but, over the past month, has evolved into the movie underdog story of the year. That stems from Ramsay’s departure as director, which most of the cast and crew didn’t learn about until the first scheduled day for principal photography.

Ramsay leaving also prompted Jude Law to back out from playing the film’s villain. He was going to be replaced by Bradley Cooper, until the Boston Marathon bombing delayed filming on director David O. Russell’s American Hustle (starring Cooper) and prevented the actor from having enough time to commit to Jane. For now, it seems the antagonist role has been filled (again), as Ewan McGregor has entered negotiations for the job.

Anne Hathaway Is Busy With Christopher Nolan, So Keira Knightley Replaces Her In Lynn Shelton's Laggies

There isn’t anything particularly wrong with director Lynn Shelton’s resume of post-mumblecore dramedies, such as Humpday and Your Sister’s Sister, which back up its quirky situations with strong characters and fitting tones. But no one is going to be mistaking them with Christopher Nolan movies anytime soon.

A couple of months ago, Anne Hathaway signed on as the lead in Shelton’s newest film, the dark comedy Laggies. Not long after that, she joined the upcoming production of Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic Interstellar. Now Entertainment Weekly reports Hathaway is having to drop out of Laggies due to scheduling issues. Not much is known about the plot or filming schedule for Nolan’s film, but we’ll assume it’ll be in constant secret production until its release late next year.

Phase Three: Will Doctor Strange & Hulk Get Solo Movies Before ‘Avengers 3′?

It was nearly three years ago when we learned that Thomas Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (Conan the Barbarian) had been hired to draft a screenplay for a live-action Doctor Strange feature film. The following summer they had reportedly turned in a draft for Marvel Studios to begin searching for a director to oversee the project’s development.

With the focus at the time being on Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor, both setting up for The Avengers the year after, Doctor Strange fell off the radar until recently when Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige namedropped the neurosurgeon alongside Ant-Man as Phase Three films coming after The Avengers 2.

Superman Takes To The Skies In New Man Of Steel Banner

Not only has the blockbuster season started, the superhero summer has also already arrived. With Iron Man 3 in theaters we're still looking forward to The Wolverine and Kick-Ass 2, but first we have what is easily one of the most anticipated movies of the season: Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. The marketing campaign has been going into full force recently, and the last few days alone have revealed two new TV spots and a poster. And now, for your viewing pleasure, we bring you this new banner, courtesy of the film's official Facebook page. Click on the above image to see it full size.

It's a fairly simple poster, and with that giant lens flair in the middle it almost looks like a product of J.J. Abrams instead of Snyder. Still, it does elegantly show off two of Superman's powers: his ability to fly and his super speed.

Tom Cruise to Star in ‘Mission: Impossible 5′; Christopher McQuarrie May Direct

There was never a doubt that Mission: Impossible 5 was going to become a reality in the near future, especially after Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol delivered one of the better caper films in recent years.

Now the movie has gotten perhaps the biggest piece of the puzzle in place, with Tom Cruise once again returning to star. Neither a writer or director has yet to be announced, but the buzz is that Cruise may once again team-up with Jack Reacher director, Christopher McQuarrie – assuming he has the time.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)