Movie News
EDITOR'S NOTE: FIRST UP, A FUN BATQUIZ TO PREP FOR THIS WEEKEND'S BIG OPENING ----
A FUN BATQUIZ:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8173264/
EDITOR'S NOTE: GIVEN THAT YOUR QOTD IS A CHICK AND DIDN'T REALLY GROW UP WITH THE BAT MYTHOS DRILLED INTO HER LITTLE BRAIN, I THINK I DID PRETTY WELL. I ONLY MISSED TWO OF THESE. (OF COURSE, SOME WOULD SAY THIS IS A FURTHER SIGN OF MY DWEEB-INSANITY...BUT I AM QUITE PROUD).
Radcliffe finds home with Aussie 'Boys'
Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to star in "December Boys," his first project outside the "Harry Potter" franchise that brought him worldwide fame.
The long-nurtured project, based on the novel of the same title by Michael Noonan, revolves around four young orphan boys in 1960s Australia. Having all but given up hope of ever being adopted, the tight-knit friends are on a seaside holiday one summer when they find themselves competing for a place in the home and family they all long for.
Los Angeles-based television director Rod Hardy ("The Practice") will return to his Australian homeland to direct the film, and Richard Becker ("The Real Macaw"), managing director of entertainment production and distribution outfit the Becker Group, will produce.
The screenplay was adapted by Marc Rosenberg
EDITOR'S NOTE: ANOTHER REPORT, WITH SOME ADDED INFO....
Dan Radcliffe to appear in new movie
Quite a few news sources have reported today that Daniel Radcliffe would play a part in a new movie right after the release of GOF.
The movie, entitled December Boys, is based on a novel by Michael Noonan.
This is the first movie Dan will have appeared in since he got the part of Harry Potter five years ago.
Variety has provided the following synopsis of the movie:
"Radcliffe will play the oldest of four orphans competing for the affections of a childless couple keen to adopt a son. Late '60s-set drama unfolds at an isolated beach resort, where Radcliffe's 16-year-old character also has his first love affair."EDITOR'S NOTE: I'M GOING TO A BAD PLACE NOW, AND I FEAR ODDBOB IS THERE WITH ME.......
Scoops from Around the Net: BATMAN and SMALLVILLE
Sci Fi Wire is reporting Christian Bale and Gary Oldman are definitely signed for a BATMAN BEGINS sequel but that Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman and director Christopher Nolan are not.
Bale told Sci Fi "I did enjoy making this one. It's a fascinating character." He also added, "We got a sense of who he is, but there's so much [more]."
Freeman said that he is unsure whether the filmmakers feel his character (Lucius) is "an integral part of the series" or not.
Michael Caine told the Wire in reference to himself and Katie Holmes, "No, no. We're not signed." But Holmes suggested they'd do the film again.
In related "comic book" character news, Krypton Site is reporting that John Schneider (Pa Kent) might soon exit the series SMALLVILLE. According to rumors, the producers could have his character die of a heart attack, as in the comics. EDITOR'S NOTE: NO NO NO. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE COMICS SAY (SEE CHICK-NON-COMICS-DISCIPLE COMMENT, ABOVE), JOHNATHAN AND MARTHA ROCK. AND THEY ARE CUTE TOGETHER. AND FOR THOSE OF US OVER THE AGE OF 15, THEY ADD SEASONING TO THE TEEN-ANGST SPIN. SAVE JOHNATHAN KENT!!! (CHANT IT WITH ME).
Schneider is apparently urging fans to speak out against this
Jackman Plants Seed at Fox, Sets up WOLVERINE
Hugh Jackman and producing partner John Palermo will set up their company Seed Productions on the 20th Century Fox Lot.
One of their projects will be WOLVERINE, which David Benioff has been set to write. Jackman and Palermo will produce the film along with Lauren Shuler Donner and Marvel's Avi Arad.
Not only will Jackman's company produce features but they will also look to produce TV shows as well. They will focus on a variety of genres including comedies, romantic comedies and dramas. EDITOR'S NOTE: I'M SORRY....THINKING PRETTY THOUGHTS OF HUGH JACKMAN. WAS THERE OTHER INFO IMPARTED HERE?
Peter Jackson bringing Wolf Totem to screens?
The previously plump and the outrageously busy Peter Jackson is set to follow his "Kong" retool up with another animal-adorned feature.
"The Wolf Totem", based on the novel of the same tag by Jiang Rong, is something the New Zealand filmmaker's WETA troupe is considering teaming with the Beijing Forbidden City Film Co. to jointly-produce, says Monkey Peaches. EDITOR'S NOTE: I'M SORRY....'MONKEY PEACHES'? QUE??? (THIS IS NOT A GIVEN NAME, I PRESUME?)
"Totem" tells the yarn of a pack of wolves struggling to survive the Mongolian Prairie.
Both CGI and real wolves will be used for the flickeroo. EDITOR'S NOTE: MAYBE THEY CAN BORROW SOME OF THE FERAL SOCK-PUPPETS FROM THE STAGE PRODUCTION OF "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST"!
Jackson has an outline of the pic in his lap and is pondering whether to add producer to his IMDB filmography.
The $48 million dollar project will take no less than three years to complete - so at least PJ hasn't got a tight deadline.
Insider Scoop on SPEED RACER
After a recent discussion with a key member of the SPEED RACER team, our scooper passed this unconfirmed information on to us:
- The script will be handed in this week.
- Vince Vaughn is still locked in as Racer X. No other casting has happened.
- There are four major race scenes. Each one getting bigger than the last. They will map to video games quite well and that tie in is in the works.
- The universe will be slightly futuristic to capture some of the fantastic aspects of the racing.
- The racing world will have a pro wrestling kind of feeling (good racers driven by good corporate sponsors, bad guys driven by evil corporate sponsors.) EDITOR'S NOTE: OF COURSE, THE MOVIE WILL BE PRODUCED BY SOME EVIL CORPORATE SPONSOR. AN IRONY NO DOUBT COMPLETELY LOST ON MOST OF THE TARGET AUDIENCE. (AND THE MOVIES....THE LAST PLACE THE CORPORATE ENTITIES ACTUALLY LOSE. ON-SCREEN, THAT IS).
- The ending is an obvious setup for sequel. (i.e. didn't tie up all the loose ends) - All of the racer's names are synonyms of speed (swift, dash, etc.)
- Speed's brother, Rex, has left because of the guilt and fallout of his being ordered to run a popular racer off the track.
- Rex is thought to be dead. He faked his own death and came back as Racer X.
Owen is Ready to SHOOT'EM UP
Clive Owen has signed on to star in the hard-core action project, SHOOT'EM UP.
EDITOR'S NOTE: OH...LOOK. A PICTURE OF CLIVE OWEN. BECAUSE WE CAN. (BECAUSE WE PROBABLY ALWAYS SHOULD).
The script, written by Michael Davis, begins with a woman having a baby during a shootout. The man who delivers the baby, called simply Mr. Smith, is entrusted with protecting it from an army of gunmen.
Don Murphy, Susan Montford and Rick Benattar will produce.
Jennifer Connelly talks Hulk sequel
EDITOR'S NOTE: WHY, GOD, WHY???!!! IS THERE ANYONE BESIDES MS. CONNELLY...AND OUR DWEEBPAL DAVID H......WHO COULD POSSIBLY WANT THIS TO HAPPEN? HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING?
It doesn't sound like the Green Machine's going to be smashing his way back onto screens anytime soon. Or if he is, it could very well be without Mrs Bettany.
Jennifer Connelly told Coming Soon that she's heard nothing about the sequel to "The Hulk".
"I don't know. I haven't heard any talk of a sequel unfortunately," she told the site. "I'm sorry to say that I don't have any insight that I can give you. I think [Ang Lee] made a really interesting film of it, so we'll see what happens." EDITOR'S NOTE: OK, SO THE HEADLINE WAS A FALSE ALARM, CRUEL TEASE. SORRY.
Is it possible that Bruce Banner's going to have a new squeeze in the follow-up?
Avi Arad seems to think it's happening, he recently told About.Com that they're talking story ideas.
“Right now we are meeting with writers to discuss the sequel. I think the key thing is come up with the right story.” Arad commented on the sequel’s tone. “It’s going to be Hulk-lite,” Arad said. “It’ll be the end of movie one, the beginning of movie two. Now he’s come to terms with his life and who he is and we can let him be now Hulk the hero. Movie one seemed to have been tough on some people, but some of us think it is one of the more courageous depictions of a comic book character.”EDITOR'S NOTE: IF BY 'COURAGEOUS' YOU MEAN TEDIOUS, BORING, AND SILLY....THEN YES, THAT WOULD BE ACCURATE.
Jennifer Garner has Christmas in Wisconsin
"13 going on 30" duo Jennifer Garner and Gary Winick are set to buddy-up again, as star and director, respectively, for another fluffy romantic comedy - this time, "Christmas in Wisconsin". EDITOR'S NOTE: THEY SAY 'FLUFFY ROMANTIC COMEDY' LIKE IT'S A BAD THING? (WHO DOESN'T WANT A LITTLE FLUFFY IN THEIR LIVES?)
Niels Mueller, who did re-writes on "13", is penning the script for the film, eyeballing a late 2006 release.
Meantime, Winick - who's producing - is putting the finishing touches on "Flakes", a Michael Lehmann directed comedy starring Christopher Lloyd. In the film, an old hippie (Lloyd) starts making some dough from a cereal shop he's got up and running. Because he's a bit of a cereal expert and seemingly knows the perfect cereal to milk ratio, folks flock there for their morning wheat-bix. When a competitor opens up across the street and rips off the hippies concept - the manager's utopian state is disrupted. EDITOR'S NOTE: IF IT DOES WELL, THEY COULD DO A SECOND ONE....A CEREAL SERIAL, AS IT WERE. (SORRY)
Weaving explains his Vendetta
We visited the London set of "V for Vendetta" last week, so you can expect this and more in the coming months, but meantime star Hugo Weaving caught up with The Herald Sun to discuss why James Purefoy was shown the door from the production and the Aussie replacement was given his keys.
"It just wasn't working out with him and the directors", says Weaving. "It was a kind of mutual thing, I think. In a way it was quite lucky for them that Eucalyptus had fallen through because I wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise".
When "Eucalyptus" was canned, Weaving was one of the few actors who spoke out about the reasons behind it's collapse - seemingly pointing the finger at Russell Crowe. He was asked if that was a misinterpretation.
"I meant precisely what I said. I just wanted to say how good the script was and that was a commonly held view. I just wanted to right what I thought was the imbalance". EDITOR'S NOTE: BUT BE SURE AND DUCK, WHEN YOU SAY IT.
Portman on Leon, Lois and Looking Fine
Moviehole recently invaded the London set of "V for Vendetta", catching up with stars Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, as well as its dandy director, James McTiegue.
Natalie Portman was as gorgeous and gracious as ever, discussing everything from "Superman Returns" to a sequel to "Leon".
Nat hasn't heard whether one's going to happen, but the dazzler behind Queen Amidala's buns said a "Leon" sequel is something she's interested in. She wants to take this opportunity to raise her hand now, signalling her interest.
"I'd jump at the chance", Portman says, with regard to continuing her famed character Mathilda.
It was revealed that a UK based writer had recently written a spec outline for a sequel and she has had a chat about it, with the writer, but that's as far as its gotten.
As for rumours that Portman was close to snagging the Lois Lane gig in "Superman Returns" there for a while - totally untrue, she was never in the running. EDITOR'S NOTE: ALTHOUGH SHE'D BE AN INTERESTING CHOICE.
More on "V for Vendetta" later on in the year.
McMahon still in the running for 007
Former Summer Bay Resident turned Superhero scoundrel Julian McMahon returned to Australia this week to plug the bejesus out of "The Fantastic Four".
Naturally, he dropped the 007 numerals in most conversations.
It's been reported that McMahon's out of the race for Bond, but according to the actor, he's still in talks with EON about donning the Tux.
"I have been in talks but I don't know what's going to happen," he told The Australian yesterday. As The Daily Telegraph added, Speculation about the new Bond is a perennial publicity stunt. "But it works to my advantage too," McMahon says. "Even if I hadn't spoken to them, the press that I've got has been enormous. But I have spoken to them."
Had a chat to an insider about McMahon and his Bond dream and although they say he's still in with a chance - someone else's name is gaining more steam.
"Rumor circling round here - and what ive been told to put a bet on - is James Purefoy left 'V' to be Bond. I was also told McMahon is next in line if Purefoy declines. Purefoy did screentest for 'Golden Eye' back in 95 and McMahon did last Summer".
If McMahon does get the gig - and personally, I hope he doesn't, nice guy, but no JB - he'll be headlining "Casino Royale". EDITOR'S NOTE: WHATEVER. WAKE ME WHEN THEY FINALLY PICK SOMEONE.
Weinsteins Want ROONE Fantasy
Producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein have acquired the pitch THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURES OF PHINEAS ROONE from writers Adam and Melanie Wilson.
The family fantasy story centers on a 13-year-old Brooklyn boy who sets out to find the anonymous author of a popular fantasy-adventure book series when the publisher offers a million-dollar prize to whomever can find the mysterious scribe. He discovers that the fantastical tales in the books are real. EDITOR'S NOTE: SOUNDS FUN. (BROKEN RECORD, BUT WHY CAN'T THE ADVENTURING KID EVER BE A GIRL? YEAH, I KNOW. BURN YOUR BRA ON YOUR OWN TIME, QOTD!)
Weinstein brothers will develop the pitch via their Weinstein Co. shingle.
Seems Spider-Man is the Quiet Type
Tobey Maguire will ditch the red tights - the one's he wears in "Spider-Man", that is, not behind closed doors - for "Quiet Type", a new New Line project set to soar after "Spider-Man 3" lands at cinemas.
Maguire is in negotiations to star in and join Michael London as a producer on the romantic comedy which story centers on an unassuming mute from a small town who moves to New York to pursue his dreams of conducting an orchestra, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Richard LaGravanese has just completed a short rewrite of "Quiet Type," which New Line acquired in 2002 as a spec script from writer Rob Perez for London to produce. Martin Hynes followed on from Perez to write the draft, which got Maguire on board.
"It's a light, magical fable about a man able to get along without speaking because he doesn't need to, and what happens when he goes to the noisiest city on Earth, where everyone communicates by yelling and screaming," London said. "Metaphorically, it's about what it means to get by in a world with no voice when everyone has one; everyone feels at times like they don't have a voice."
Adding a twist to the story and a special draw for Maguire, the character remains mute throughout the film. EDITOR'S NOTE: MAGUIRE SURE HAS THE (LOVELY) EXPRESSIVE EYES TO GO A WHOLE MOVIE WITHOUT SPEECH.
Maguire will most likely shoot the film after he finishes "Spider-Man 3," which is scheduled for a summer 2007 release.
This fall, he is due to shoot the Steven Soderbergh-helmed "The Good German" in which he plays a seemingly innocent soldier drawn into a murder mystery. He also recently signed on to star in and produce an adaptation of the Isaac Adamson novel "Tokyo Suckerpunch" for Columbia Pictures.
Searchlight Sees SUNSHINE for Yeoh, Murphy and Evans
Fox Searchlight is in talks with Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy and Chris Evans to star in the sci-fi thriller SUNSHINE.
The story centers on a team of astronauts who are sent to discover what became of a space mission crew gone AWOL. EDITOR'S NOTE: NEAT CAST. BUT HAVEN'T WE SEEN THIS STORY DONE A FEW TIMES BEFORE?
Danny Boyle will direct from a script by Alex Garland.
SWISS on Mostow's List
U-571 and T3's Jonathan Mostow has signed to direct, of all things, the remake of the SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON.
Mostow, along with Sam Montgomery, will rewrite the script by Greg Poirier.
Though the director was considering setting the film in a contemporary setting, Buena Vista has pushed to have the film set during the 19th-century period as in the book and original film.
The original was "Mostow's favorite film as a child. That was the allure that got him interested," said producer David Hoberman.
Fox Hires Diesel as HITMAN
20th Century Fox has signed Vin Diesel to star in the big screen version of HITMAN, which is based on Eidos Interactive's videogame franchise of the same name. EDITOR'S NOTE: PHEW. I'VE BEEN ON PINS-AND-NEEDLES WONDERING WHAT VINNIE'S NEXT FLICK WOULD BE. (SO...."HITMAN"? NOT "HAMLET"? SURPRISE SURPRISE).
The story centers on an international assassin known as Agent 47 who works for a mysterious org dubbed the Agency.
Chuck Gordon and Adrian Askarieh will produce. Diesel will executive produce.
A FUN BATQUIZ:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8173264/
EDITOR'S NOTE: GIVEN THAT YOUR QOTD IS A CHICK AND DIDN'T REALLY GROW UP WITH THE BAT MYTHOS DRILLED INTO HER LITTLE BRAIN, I THINK I DID PRETTY WELL. I ONLY MISSED TWO OF THESE. (OF COURSE, SOME WOULD SAY THIS IS A FURTHER SIGN OF MY DWEEB-INSANITY...BUT I AM QUITE PROUD).
Radcliffe finds home with Aussie 'Boys'
Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to star in "December Boys," his first project outside the "Harry Potter" franchise that brought him worldwide fame.
The long-nurtured project, based on the novel of the same title by Michael Noonan, revolves around four young orphan boys in 1960s Australia. Having all but given up hope of ever being adopted, the tight-knit friends are on a seaside holiday one summer when they find themselves competing for a place in the home and family they all long for.
Los Angeles-based television director Rod Hardy ("The Practice") will return to his Australian homeland to direct the film, and Richard Becker ("The Real Macaw"), managing director of entertainment production and distribution outfit the Becker Group, will produce.
The screenplay was adapted by Marc Rosenberg
EDITOR'S NOTE: ANOTHER REPORT, WITH SOME ADDED INFO....
Dan Radcliffe to appear in new movie
Quite a few news sources have reported today that Daniel Radcliffe would play a part in a new movie right after the release of GOF.
The movie, entitled December Boys, is based on a novel by Michael Noonan.
This is the first movie Dan will have appeared in since he got the part of Harry Potter five years ago.
Variety has provided the following synopsis of the movie:
"Radcliffe will play the oldest of four orphans competing for the affections of a childless couple keen to adopt a son. Late '60s-set drama unfolds at an isolated beach resort, where Radcliffe's 16-year-old character also has his first love affair."EDITOR'S NOTE: I'M GOING TO A BAD PLACE NOW, AND I FEAR ODDBOB IS THERE WITH ME.......
Scoops from Around the Net: BATMAN and SMALLVILLE
Sci Fi Wire is reporting Christian Bale and Gary Oldman are definitely signed for a BATMAN BEGINS sequel but that Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman and director Christopher Nolan are not.
Bale told Sci Fi "I did enjoy making this one. It's a fascinating character." He also added, "We got a sense of who he is, but there's so much [more]."
Freeman said that he is unsure whether the filmmakers feel his character (Lucius) is "an integral part of the series" or not.
Michael Caine told the Wire in reference to himself and Katie Holmes, "No, no. We're not signed." But Holmes suggested they'd do the film again.
In related "comic book" character news, Krypton Site is reporting that John Schneider (Pa Kent) might soon exit the series SMALLVILLE. According to rumors, the producers could have his character die of a heart attack, as in the comics. EDITOR'S NOTE: NO NO NO. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE COMICS SAY (SEE CHICK-NON-COMICS-DISCIPLE COMMENT, ABOVE), JOHNATHAN AND MARTHA ROCK. AND THEY ARE CUTE TOGETHER. AND FOR THOSE OF US OVER THE AGE OF 15, THEY ADD SEASONING TO THE TEEN-ANGST SPIN. SAVE JOHNATHAN KENT!!! (CHANT IT WITH ME).
Schneider is apparently urging fans to speak out against this
Jackman Plants Seed at Fox, Sets up WOLVERINE
Hugh Jackman and producing partner John Palermo will set up their company Seed Productions on the 20th Century Fox Lot.
One of their projects will be WOLVERINE, which David Benioff has been set to write. Jackman and Palermo will produce the film along with Lauren Shuler Donner and Marvel's Avi Arad.
Not only will Jackman's company produce features but they will also look to produce TV shows as well. They will focus on a variety of genres including comedies, romantic comedies and dramas. EDITOR'S NOTE: I'M SORRY....THINKING PRETTY THOUGHTS OF HUGH JACKMAN. WAS THERE OTHER INFO IMPARTED HERE?
Peter Jackson bringing Wolf Totem to screens?
The previously plump and the outrageously busy Peter Jackson is set to follow his "Kong" retool up with another animal-adorned feature.
"The Wolf Totem", based on the novel of the same tag by Jiang Rong, is something the New Zealand filmmaker's WETA troupe is considering teaming with the Beijing Forbidden City Film Co. to jointly-produce, says Monkey Peaches. EDITOR'S NOTE: I'M SORRY....'MONKEY PEACHES'? QUE??? (THIS IS NOT A GIVEN NAME, I PRESUME?)
"Totem" tells the yarn of a pack of wolves struggling to survive the Mongolian Prairie.
Both CGI and real wolves will be used for the flickeroo. EDITOR'S NOTE: MAYBE THEY CAN BORROW SOME OF THE FERAL SOCK-PUPPETS FROM THE STAGE PRODUCTION OF "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST"!
Jackson has an outline of the pic in his lap and is pondering whether to add producer to his IMDB filmography.
The $48 million dollar project will take no less than three years to complete - so at least PJ hasn't got a tight deadline.
Insider Scoop on SPEED RACER
After a recent discussion with a key member of the SPEED RACER team, our scooper passed this unconfirmed information on to us:
- The script will be handed in this week.
- Vince Vaughn is still locked in as Racer X. No other casting has happened.
- There are four major race scenes. Each one getting bigger than the last. They will map to video games quite well and that tie in is in the works.
- The universe will be slightly futuristic to capture some of the fantastic aspects of the racing.
- The racing world will have a pro wrestling kind of feeling (good racers driven by good corporate sponsors, bad guys driven by evil corporate sponsors.) EDITOR'S NOTE: OF COURSE, THE MOVIE WILL BE PRODUCED BY SOME EVIL CORPORATE SPONSOR. AN IRONY NO DOUBT COMPLETELY LOST ON MOST OF THE TARGET AUDIENCE. (AND THE MOVIES....THE LAST PLACE THE CORPORATE ENTITIES ACTUALLY LOSE. ON-SCREEN, THAT IS).
- The ending is an obvious setup for sequel. (i.e. didn't tie up all the loose ends) - All of the racer's names are synonyms of speed (swift, dash, etc.)
- Speed's brother, Rex, has left because of the guilt and fallout of his being ordered to run a popular racer off the track.
- Rex is thought to be dead. He faked his own death and came back as Racer X.
Owen is Ready to SHOOT'EM UP
Clive Owen has signed on to star in the hard-core action project, SHOOT'EM UP.
EDITOR'S NOTE: OH...LOOK. A PICTURE OF CLIVE OWEN. BECAUSE WE CAN. (BECAUSE WE PROBABLY ALWAYS SHOULD).
The script, written by Michael Davis, begins with a woman having a baby during a shootout. The man who delivers the baby, called simply Mr. Smith, is entrusted with protecting it from an army of gunmen.
Don Murphy, Susan Montford and Rick Benattar will produce.
Jennifer Connelly talks Hulk sequel
EDITOR'S NOTE: WHY, GOD, WHY???!!! IS THERE ANYONE BESIDES MS. CONNELLY...AND OUR DWEEBPAL DAVID H......WHO COULD POSSIBLY WANT THIS TO HAPPEN? HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING?
It doesn't sound like the Green Machine's going to be smashing his way back onto screens anytime soon. Or if he is, it could very well be without Mrs Bettany.
Jennifer Connelly told Coming Soon that she's heard nothing about the sequel to "The Hulk".
"I don't know. I haven't heard any talk of a sequel unfortunately," she told the site. "I'm sorry to say that I don't have any insight that I can give you. I think [Ang Lee] made a really interesting film of it, so we'll see what happens." EDITOR'S NOTE: OK, SO THE HEADLINE WAS A FALSE ALARM, CRUEL TEASE. SORRY.
Is it possible that Bruce Banner's going to have a new squeeze in the follow-up?
Avi Arad seems to think it's happening, he recently told About.Com that they're talking story ideas.
“Right now we are meeting with writers to discuss the sequel. I think the key thing is come up with the right story.” Arad commented on the sequel’s tone. “It’s going to be Hulk-lite,” Arad said. “It’ll be the end of movie one, the beginning of movie two. Now he’s come to terms with his life and who he is and we can let him be now Hulk the hero. Movie one seemed to have been tough on some people, but some of us think it is one of the more courageous depictions of a comic book character.”EDITOR'S NOTE: IF BY 'COURAGEOUS' YOU MEAN TEDIOUS, BORING, AND SILLY....THEN YES, THAT WOULD BE ACCURATE.
Jennifer Garner has Christmas in Wisconsin
"13 going on 30" duo Jennifer Garner and Gary Winick are set to buddy-up again, as star and director, respectively, for another fluffy romantic comedy - this time, "Christmas in Wisconsin". EDITOR'S NOTE: THEY SAY 'FLUFFY ROMANTIC COMEDY' LIKE IT'S A BAD THING? (WHO DOESN'T WANT A LITTLE FLUFFY IN THEIR LIVES?)
Niels Mueller, who did re-writes on "13", is penning the script for the film, eyeballing a late 2006 release.
Meantime, Winick - who's producing - is putting the finishing touches on "Flakes", a Michael Lehmann directed comedy starring Christopher Lloyd. In the film, an old hippie (Lloyd) starts making some dough from a cereal shop he's got up and running. Because he's a bit of a cereal expert and seemingly knows the perfect cereal to milk ratio, folks flock there for their morning wheat-bix. When a competitor opens up across the street and rips off the hippies concept - the manager's utopian state is disrupted. EDITOR'S NOTE: IF IT DOES WELL, THEY COULD DO A SECOND ONE....A CEREAL SERIAL, AS IT WERE. (SORRY)
Weaving explains his Vendetta
We visited the London set of "V for Vendetta" last week, so you can expect this and more in the coming months, but meantime star Hugo Weaving caught up with The Herald Sun to discuss why James Purefoy was shown the door from the production and the Aussie replacement was given his keys.
"It just wasn't working out with him and the directors", says Weaving. "It was a kind of mutual thing, I think. In a way it was quite lucky for them that Eucalyptus had fallen through because I wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise".
When "Eucalyptus" was canned, Weaving was one of the few actors who spoke out about the reasons behind it's collapse - seemingly pointing the finger at Russell Crowe. He was asked if that was a misinterpretation.
"I meant precisely what I said. I just wanted to say how good the script was and that was a commonly held view. I just wanted to right what I thought was the imbalance". EDITOR'S NOTE: BUT BE SURE AND DUCK, WHEN YOU SAY IT.
Portman on Leon, Lois and Looking Fine
Moviehole recently invaded the London set of "V for Vendetta", catching up with stars Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, as well as its dandy director, James McTiegue.
Natalie Portman was as gorgeous and gracious as ever, discussing everything from "Superman Returns" to a sequel to "Leon".
Nat hasn't heard whether one's going to happen, but the dazzler behind Queen Amidala's buns said a "Leon" sequel is something she's interested in. She wants to take this opportunity to raise her hand now, signalling her interest.
"I'd jump at the chance", Portman says, with regard to continuing her famed character Mathilda.
It was revealed that a UK based writer had recently written a spec outline for a sequel and she has had a chat about it, with the writer, but that's as far as its gotten.
As for rumours that Portman was close to snagging the Lois Lane gig in "Superman Returns" there for a while - totally untrue, she was never in the running. EDITOR'S NOTE: ALTHOUGH SHE'D BE AN INTERESTING CHOICE.
More on "V for Vendetta" later on in the year.
McMahon still in the running for 007
Former Summer Bay Resident turned Superhero scoundrel Julian McMahon returned to Australia this week to plug the bejesus out of "The Fantastic Four".
Naturally, he dropped the 007 numerals in most conversations.
It's been reported that McMahon's out of the race for Bond, but according to the actor, he's still in talks with EON about donning the Tux.
"I have been in talks but I don't know what's going to happen," he told The Australian yesterday. As The Daily Telegraph added, Speculation about the new Bond is a perennial publicity stunt. "But it works to my advantage too," McMahon says. "Even if I hadn't spoken to them, the press that I've got has been enormous. But I have spoken to them."
Had a chat to an insider about McMahon and his Bond dream and although they say he's still in with a chance - someone else's name is gaining more steam.
"Rumor circling round here - and what ive been told to put a bet on - is James Purefoy left 'V' to be Bond. I was also told McMahon is next in line if Purefoy declines. Purefoy did screentest for 'Golden Eye' back in 95 and McMahon did last Summer".
If McMahon does get the gig - and personally, I hope he doesn't, nice guy, but no JB - he'll be headlining "Casino Royale". EDITOR'S NOTE: WHATEVER. WAKE ME WHEN THEY FINALLY PICK SOMEONE.
Weinsteins Want ROONE Fantasy
Producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein have acquired the pitch THE IMPOSSIBLE ADVENTURES OF PHINEAS ROONE from writers Adam and Melanie Wilson.
The family fantasy story centers on a 13-year-old Brooklyn boy who sets out to find the anonymous author of a popular fantasy-adventure book series when the publisher offers a million-dollar prize to whomever can find the mysterious scribe. He discovers that the fantastical tales in the books are real. EDITOR'S NOTE: SOUNDS FUN. (BROKEN RECORD, BUT WHY CAN'T THE ADVENTURING KID EVER BE A GIRL? YEAH, I KNOW. BURN YOUR BRA ON YOUR OWN TIME, QOTD!)
Weinstein brothers will develop the pitch via their Weinstein Co. shingle.
Seems Spider-Man is the Quiet Type
Tobey Maguire will ditch the red tights - the one's he wears in "Spider-Man", that is, not behind closed doors - for "Quiet Type", a new New Line project set to soar after "Spider-Man 3" lands at cinemas.
Maguire is in negotiations to star in and join Michael London as a producer on the romantic comedy which story centers on an unassuming mute from a small town who moves to New York to pursue his dreams of conducting an orchestra, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Richard LaGravanese has just completed a short rewrite of "Quiet Type," which New Line acquired in 2002 as a spec script from writer Rob Perez for London to produce. Martin Hynes followed on from Perez to write the draft, which got Maguire on board.
"It's a light, magical fable about a man able to get along without speaking because he doesn't need to, and what happens when he goes to the noisiest city on Earth, where everyone communicates by yelling and screaming," London said. "Metaphorically, it's about what it means to get by in a world with no voice when everyone has one; everyone feels at times like they don't have a voice."
Adding a twist to the story and a special draw for Maguire, the character remains mute throughout the film. EDITOR'S NOTE: MAGUIRE SURE HAS THE (LOVELY) EXPRESSIVE EYES TO GO A WHOLE MOVIE WITHOUT SPEECH.
Maguire will most likely shoot the film after he finishes "Spider-Man 3," which is scheduled for a summer 2007 release.
This fall, he is due to shoot the Steven Soderbergh-helmed "The Good German" in which he plays a seemingly innocent soldier drawn into a murder mystery. He also recently signed on to star in and produce an adaptation of the Isaac Adamson novel "Tokyo Suckerpunch" for Columbia Pictures.
Searchlight Sees SUNSHINE for Yeoh, Murphy and Evans
Fox Searchlight is in talks with Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy and Chris Evans to star in the sci-fi thriller SUNSHINE.
The story centers on a team of astronauts who are sent to discover what became of a space mission crew gone AWOL. EDITOR'S NOTE: NEAT CAST. BUT HAVEN'T WE SEEN THIS STORY DONE A FEW TIMES BEFORE?
Danny Boyle will direct from a script by Alex Garland.
SWISS on Mostow's List
U-571 and T3's Jonathan Mostow has signed to direct, of all things, the remake of the SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON.
Mostow, along with Sam Montgomery, will rewrite the script by Greg Poirier.
Though the director was considering setting the film in a contemporary setting, Buena Vista has pushed to have the film set during the 19th-century period as in the book and original film.
The original was "Mostow's favorite film as a child. That was the allure that got him interested," said producer David Hoberman.
Fox Hires Diesel as HITMAN
20th Century Fox has signed Vin Diesel to star in the big screen version of HITMAN, which is based on Eidos Interactive's videogame franchise of the same name. EDITOR'S NOTE: PHEW. I'VE BEEN ON PINS-AND-NEEDLES WONDERING WHAT VINNIE'S NEXT FLICK WOULD BE. (SO...."HITMAN"? NOT "HAMLET"? SURPRISE SURPRISE).
The story centers on an international assassin known as Agent 47 who works for a mysterious org dubbed the Agency.
Chuck Gordon and Adrian Askarieh will produce. Diesel will executive produce.
posted by QOTD (the Queen of the Dweebs) at 3:31 PM
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