Wednesday, February 27, 2008

JL(M) Is A Go For 2009



According to the juggernaut that is Variety "Justice League Mortal", which is the rumored new title, is fast tracked to drop in 2009. This is a almost a complete 180 to recent news floating around the internet the last couple days speculating that JLM might be pushed back to 2010 and moved to Canada. Even George Miller, the JLM director, called the movie's status "precarious". Exerpts from the Variety article below:


Now that the writers strike has been resolved, Warner Bros. is pushing ahead with its plans to make "Justice League" in time for a 2009 debut. Warners tried to get "Justice League" into production earlier, but put it on indefinite hold in January, allowing the cast options to expire. At the time, the studio said it didn't want to move ahead until the scribes had another shot at the script.

Scribes Kieran and Michele Mulroney are busy polishing up the script, which is expected back at the studio in several weeks, and the cast has been advised to keep training for their superhero roles. Director George Miller is in pre-production in Australia.

Now from all reports Adam Brody is playing The Flash, Common is playing Green Lantern, Megan Gale has won the role of Wonder Woman, and Arnie Hammer may or may not be playing Batman. What about Superman? As of now the actor who is supposed to strap on the cape as Superman seems to be shrouded in mystery. DJ Controna and Scott Porter seem to be the front runners to pull on the tights but I can already hear the Welling Rumors being whispered in my ear again.

What does this mean for Man of Steel, the sequel to Superman Returns? I assumed this might mean that a sequel to Superman Returns is completely dead. From what I am hearing that might not be so. There are now rumblings that Man of Steel may have finally found their writer(s). Interesting.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Monopoly The Movie?


Fox News is reporting Hasbro and Universal have reached a deal to develop four movies based on board games such as Monopoly and Battleship...


Monday, February 18, 2008

"On Broadway" March 12th in Boston

As you know I love when local talent takes a shot at the film industry and this is no exception. I received the below email this afternoon and wanted to pass the word around. Please check out the On Broadway official site and myspace page along with Dave McLaughlin's myspace page and the IMDB page. All links and synopsis in blue below. I hope to see you there on March 12th.



On Broadway tells the story of Jack O'Toole, a 30-something Boston everyman, who writes a play about his dead uncle as a way to reconnect with his hard-nosed dad. With no money and just his gut to guide him, Jack quits his job as a carpenter so that he can mount a production of his play on the only stage he can afford: in the back room of his neighborhood pub, on a little street called Broadway.

Hello all,

How would you like to help support a couple of local guys with their Boston-based film? The movie is called “On Broadway”. My friend Lance Greene (Cambridge) is an actor/producer starring in this movie. And Dave McLaughlin (Boston) is the writer and director. I was out with Lance and Dave over the weekend and we were chatting about the future of the film. It turns out the movie will be back in circulation for a few weeks in and around Boston.

On Wednesday March 12th
On Broadway will have its Theatrical release at either the AMC Regal Fenway or the AMC Loews Boston Common. The movie will also be running at 5 other local theaters, including the Somerville Theater located in Davis Square starting on Friday March 14th (check theaters for listings & times).

Lance and Dave are very talented, hard working, family guys who sacrificed so much of themselves to make this thing happen. Please help move this film to the next level. The best way to do this is to sell out the theaters. Go see the movie and spread the word to EVERYBODY. Check out the links below for more info on the movie.

Thanks much!
DT


http://www.onbroadwaythemovie.com/boston/

http://www.myspace.com/onbroadwaythemovie

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796339/

http://www.myspace.com/davemacboston

The Signal



At last year's Sundance Film Festival, "The Signal" was hailed as sure to end up a cult classic. The picture is the latest in a growing subgenre of horror movies that use the media as their source of fear and loathing. The film is about an electronic transmission that, for unexplained reasons, changes people into deranged murderers. The signal might come from your TV, your cell phone, or any medium. But the result is always bloody mayhem.

"The Signal" is also unusual in that it was written and directed by three young filmmakers, each of whom handled one of the film's three segments. The sections differ in tone and are meant to highlight various aspects of the story.

Selma Blair Revolted By Movie


http://www.wazthemovie.com/

Selma Blair was so revolted by the gore in new movie WAZ, the director was forced to cut her facial expressions out of the horrific scenes. The actress admits she's unlikely to appear in another horror movie again after her recent role as Jean Lerner in the scary film left her feeling sick. She says, "They kept having to cut away from my face. I couldn't be disgusted in the movie. This was a difficult movie to shoot. You're talking to someone who couldn't even dissect a little pig in seventh grade, and that was after all the blood had been drained out of it. "I just need to appear in a period piece really soon. A lavish, beautiful non-gory period piece."

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/blair%20sickened%20by%20movie%20role_1059811

Rhode Island's Animated Horror

This seems like a very interesting project. I am always proud to see film news originating from the Northeast.




Rhode Island firm, students to create animated horror movie.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) --

A local animation studio is teaming with students from the Rhode Island School of Design to create a first-of-its-kind computer-animated horror movie. The Providence-based studio, The Story Hat, is planning to begin preproduction this week on the movie called Bloodline, according to the Providence Journal.

The movie tells the story of tattoos that grow and change, wreaking havoc on the people who bear them. Director Michael Corrente says he hopes the movie puts Rhode Island on the map as an animation headquarters. The studio estimates that the film could give jobs to as many as 200 people at peak production.
Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/

Friday the 13th Shooting This Spring



Friday the 13th Films is reporting that the the reboot of the slasher franchise will launch this Spring deep in the heart of Texas.

With the writer's strike now over (yay, more Lost!), it's time to get on with the New Friday.

"We received word that Platinum Dunes' remake of Friday the 13th will now shoot on April 21 in Austin, Texas. No casting has been announced thus far, but expect some updates once the untitled David Goyer projects gets rolling. This shouldn't effect the planned February 13, 2009 release date by New Line Cinema."

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Indiana Jones Trailer!



The new trailer for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull dropped on Good Morning America this morning.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

JLA: Death of Superman Arc?



Rumors are circulating that the Justice League script features the Death of Superman by the hands of Doomsday! I for one am shocked that WB would be using this storyline after it just dropped as an animated film, in fact, I have been saying for years that there is no way WB would return to this story arc. Isn't my face red.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Warner Bros Targets New Line



The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Warner Bros is considering the elimination of New Line Cinema. Link and article highlights below.


New Line Cinema, the studio behind the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has spent the best part of a decade fiercely protecting its turf within Time Warner Inc. Now, barely a month into his new job, Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes is looking to dismantle one of the company's longest-standing fiefdoms.

Moving swiftly to streamline Time Warner's movie business, Mr. Bewkes has flagged New Line as an immediate target for cost-cutting, forcing the studio to confront the scenario it has always fought against: being folded into Time Warner's main movie division, Warner Bros. Entertainment.

People familiar with the New Line situation say Time Warner is considering two options: folding the studio into the Warner Bros. division or keeping it separate and having Warner Bros. handle certain areas such as home video and international distribution. In both scenarios, New Line would be considerably scaled back and given a mandate to go back to its roots of primarily making lower-budget movies.

Selling New Line isn't an option currently being explored. The library, which in addition to the "Rings" trilogy includes the "Austin Powers" movies, the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series and the "Rush Hour" movies, is too valuable for Time Warner to give up, people familiar with the situation say.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Roy Scheider


Roy Scheider 1932 - 2008

Friday, February 8, 2008

Superman Not Taking Flight In 2009



Now I for one enjoyed Superman Returns, the movie had its flaws, and I can understand the criticism the movie has received from some fans. It obviously did not perform the way that WB projected. That being said I was optimistic when I heard a seasoned screenwriter was coming in to take over the reigns with either a Superman Returns sequel or another Superman movie. Not because I didn't like what Mike Dougherty and Dan Harris did with the Superman Returns script, but because I want to see Superman on the big screen again. I urge anybody who hasn't read the Superman Returns script to check it out, in my opinion, it flows much better than the movie did in some respects.

Anyway, this is what the Hollywood Reporter has to say about the possibitlity of a Superman Returns sequel.

There are at least nine more projects that are not dated but could be slated for 2009, according to one source. But one studio tentpole, the sequel to "Superman Returns," is not so lucky. There apparently are no current plans to add the project to the slate, according to a studio source.

Read the rest here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i09f751dd163aa4110d36b46a59d23839?pn=2

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

New Superman Screenwriter?



Some rumors are circulating that the WB is preparing to bring a "famous screenwriter" in to discuss a possible Superman Returns sequel or a totally different Superman movie. Right now of course this is just a rumor. However, with the strike seemingly winding down and the latest news before the strike being WB was bringing in various writers to meet with, one has to wonder.

Thanks to Super Kal of Superherohype for the above manipulation.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

It's Happening...A New M. Night Shyamalan Film



The teaser to M. Night's new scare flick The Happening has dropped and from the looks of it, M. Night has some more tricks up his sleeve. Check out the teaser below.

M. Night Shyamalan directs this thriller about a father (Mark Walhberg) who tries to escape with his family after an apocalyptic event. The Happening costars Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwyNsic-iDk

Monday, February 4, 2008

Venom...The Movie?



IESB is reporting that there is a stand alone Venom film on the horizon and I for one agree with Rob in regards to the horrible misrepresentation of the character in Spiderman 3. I hope this happens.

One of the biggest disappointments from Spider-Man 3 was how they developed the villains, or actually how they didn't develop the villains, but between the three baddies that we had to contend with the biggest let down was Eddie Brock A.K.A. Venom.Venom, by far one of the coolest villains in the Spider-Man universe, was played poorly by Topher Grace and was definitely one of the biggest let downs in the entire Spider-Man trilogy. Not to say Topher Grace was the wrong man for the job, but with poor material and a badly put together movie, you just weren't going to get any stellar performances. I mean, asking God to kill Peter Parker is one of the lamest lines I've ever heard.But Venom fans rejoice, Marvel is moving forward with a new stand alone film, yep you heard right, Venom is coming back to the big screen.

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4249&Itemid=99