Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Lindsay Lohan

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lindsay Lohan has reportedly just been cast in the independent film Inferno, in which she will play the part of an adult film star. The movie’s story takes place during the 1970s and centers on Lohan’s role as adult industry legend Linda Lovelace (real name Linda Susan Boreman) and her emotional turmoils during her time in front of the camera.

Wali Razaqi, producer for the film, told the Los Angeles Times that, “I would say it’s probably one of the most challenging roles any actor could play – and not because of the sexual content, necessarily – but more because she was so battered and beat up emotionally, that I think it’s gonna take everything Lindsay has to really be able to pull it off.”

He continued, “Not that Lindsay’s life is similar in any way – but she’s been through a lot of ups and downs. A lot of times you’re loved and then you’re hated, and I think she can relate to those emotions and feelings.”

Starring opposite of the 24 year old actress will be Bill Pullman as adult industry icon and Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner.

Quick Opinion: I’m certain that many people across the country will find this casting to be humorously fitting, based on Lohan’s off-screen antics and paparazzi-formed persona. Her reputation in the industry is not nearly as unforgiving, however, as the great Meryl Streep reportedly said that she was impressed with Ms. Lohan’s talent and professionalism during their time together filming A Prairie Home Companion (2006). Judging from the young starlet’s past achievements there isn’t much reason to be overly excited about her newest venture, but I’m personally very intrigued to see if she uses this opportunity to really show off her abilities (and no, I do not mean sexual abilities). If she does well, then there may be hope for her career yet.

Jon Favreau (center) gives direction to Robert Downey Jr. (left) and Don Cheadle (right). *IGN images

For those of you itching to see Iron Man 2, which opens this Friday, we suggest you take a look at a video available at movies.IGN.com that shows multiple snippets from interviews taken with the film’s various stars. Director Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlet Johansson, and Don Cheadle each share interesting nuggets of information about the film and the direction its story decided to take. For those trying to avoid spoilers, have no fear. No major plot points are given. Instead you learn things like Favreau’s intentions, such as that he tried his hardest to avoid what he called “villainitus,” which he claims is the overabundance of bad guys. After Spider-Man 3 received heavy criticism for this, it’s nice to see that Favreau and Paramount can learn from the past.

In other news…

A release date for the next Batman movie has been announced, which will reportedly be July 20th, 2012. The working title is simply Batman 3, which is expected to change once production begins. Chris Nolan is reportedly not officially signed on to direct the project, but is currently working on writing the film’s script with the help of his brother Jonah and writer David Goyer. Stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman are expected to return.

Source: IGN.com

Writer/Director Bill Condon

The fourth film in the Summit Entertainment series, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, has now hired Bill Condon as its director. Condon is perhaps the series’ most respected director to date, helming the Oscar nominated films Dreamgirls (Nom. Best Supp. Actor Eddie Murphy, Won Best Supp. Actress Jennifer Hudson) and Kinsey (Nom. Best Supp. Actress Laura Linney).

Commenting on the opportunity to direct a film that’s part of such a huge franchise, Condon said, “I’m very excited to get the chance to bring the climax of this saga to life onscreen,” said Condon. “As fans of the series know, this is a one-of-a-kind book — and we’re hoping to create an equally unique cinematic experience” -HR.

Summit Entertainment production president Erik Feig expressed his delight with the decision to hire Condon, saying, “Bringing Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn to the screen requires a graceful and intelligent hand, and we believe Bill Condon is exactly the right steward, having shown equal and abundant talents of immense creativity and subtle sensitivity” -HR.

Condon also won an Oscar for writing the adapted screenplay for Gods and Monsters.

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The next installment in the Twilight series, Twilight Saga: Eclipse, is directed by David Slade (Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night) and is set to release June 30th.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

The online video rental giant Netflix has grown even stronger

After signing new, separate deals, Netflix will have access to more 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios‘ films. Under their new deals, Neflix will agree to wait 28 days after any of their films release on DVD to offer them through their website. Also, Universal agreed to license more of their films for streaming (online viewing) and Fox has agreed to a first-time license that will allow Netflix to stream certain Fox TV shows.

Netflix also made a similar 28 day delay deal for new releases with Warner Bros. earlier this year.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in October studios were wrestling with declining DVD sales as the rental market has been modestly growing and that some studios are considering introducing a DVD retail sales-only window for a few weeks. – Hollywood Reporter

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Quick Opinion: The 28 day delay deals certainly make sense for the studios, particularly 20th Century Fox because they own the distribution rights to James Cameron’s Avatar (which in case you’ve been living under a rock has become the most successful film in history). Having that 28 day window will allow the studio to grab all the money they can from those who don’t wish to wait 28 extra days to rent the movie – and you can bet that will be a lot of people. On the flip side, Netflix’s side of the deals only make sense because they’re getting something in return, and good enough for them it’s something that will actually improve their profits. With more streaming movies and wider selections the company will have an even firmer grasp on the video renting market. And, even though they have 28 day delays for the 3 biggest Hollywood studios, they don’t have to wait that long to make every new DVD available, as they can still provide newly released DVDs from everyone else.

What is discouraging about the last bit of news is this: With the rental market slowly rising and DVD sales somewhat declining, is there any reason to assume that this is not because of the current recession? With less money to play with, of course people are going to forgo spending $20+ on a new DVD and spend $5, $6 or $7 on a rental instead. It’s smart consumerism, especially if you’re not head over heals for a particular movie or haven’t seen it before (regardless of what some people might think there are some people who have yet to see Avatar, so why should studios expect people who haven’t seen it to spend $20+ to own it?). If the studios decide to make up for their losses with DVD sales by creating a sales-only window after releases there could possibly be some serious consequences. Ma and Pa video stores, already barely getting by (as the switch from VHS to DVD nearly wiped them out as it is), would no longer be able to provide their hottest commodity, which is new releases. Most of these stores at this point get by through offering great selections and immediate service (as opposed to Netflix’s 2 to 3 days wait period), but any more hits to this small market and I fear they’ll start disappearing for good. Creating a sales-only window might help studios beat the current lull in DVD sales, but the lull is only temporary and the window’s possible effects could be permanent. It would be a step towards getting rid of all video rental stores period instead of just the one rental giant Blockbuster, which looks like it will soon file for Chapter 11.

Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. are teaming up to produce another entry to the Godzilla library, and hope to release it sometime in 2012.

“Godzilla is one of the world’s most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise,” said Thomas Tull, chairman and CEO of Legendary. “Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop culturally relevant for as long as it has.”

… Added Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, “Godzilla is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which Warner Bros. and our partners at Legendary are best known.” – Hollywood Reporter

The films Robinov is referring to are such films as Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Superman Returns, and the soon to release Clash of the Titans.

Nothing is known about the possible plot at this point, as things have yet to reach any sort of pre-production. Dan Lin (Sherlock Holmes), Roy Lee (The Strangers, Quarantine), and Brian Rogers are producing.

Sources: Hollywood Reporter, ComingSoon.net

Quick Opinion: It will be curious to see whether Legendary and Warner Bros. will try to seriously revive the Godzilla brand in the United States (where its popularity has been demoted to cult status) like they did for Batman and tried to do for Superman, or if they will make it a self-aware romp that pokes fun at itself. The 1998 Godzilla directed by Roland Emerich made close to $400 million worldwide despite terrible reviews, so even if they model the next film after it perhaps they feel the monster is still popular enough to enjoy the same type of success. I have my doubts, though.  

Brad Bird is now being considered to direct the next "Mission: Impossible"

Star of the hit Mission: Impossible franchise Tom Cruise has pegged the series’ next installment as his next picture, which has meant that him and fellow producer J.J. Abrams (director of M:I 3) have been on the hunt for the fourth film’s director.

Candidates include but are not limited to Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), and now Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, Pixar’s The Incredibles, Ratatouille). What makes Bird an unorthodox candidate is the fact that he’s never directed a live-action film before, although his two Pixar films have both won Oscars for Best Animated Picture. For these movies Bird has been praised by critics for his storytelling skills and choreographing skills for stunts and chase sequences.

Details about M:I 4’s story are being kept under wraps, but J.J. Abrams is said to have worked with writers Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum (who Abrams knows from working with them on TV’s Alias) to formulate the script.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Quick Opinion: If Bird is hired to direct M:I 4 it would obviously mean that he would have the blessing of J.J. Abrams, which should be exciting news for fans of the series. Although M:I III didn’t do as well at the box office as Paramount would have liked (which many attribute to negative publicity regarding Tom Cruise’s television antics about his wife Katie Holmes and professed allegiance to Scientology), many fans (such as myself) regarded the film as the best yet in the series. If this is in fact the case, then J.J. Abrams’ involvement should only be considered positive, as well as the news about whoever is hired to direct the fourth film. As proficient as Bird might be at storytelling (I’m assuming this compliment is regarding his prowess with narrative construction, pacing, and emotional wherewithal) I would suggest there be concerns about his ability to direct the type of gritty project that M:I 4 is likely to be. Aside from having to be more hands-on with actors and the whole filming process (as opposed to primarily using computers and voice recordings), he’ll be tested to expand is aesthetic style into the realm of visceral violence and visual maturity. This isn’t all to say that Bird would be a poor choice, but because of these reasons he would definitely make an unusual one.

Jennifer Connelly recently joined the cast of "Salvation Boulevard"

Jennifer Connelly (Blood Diamond) and Greg Kinnear (Green Zone) have been cast for the project Salvation Boulevard, funded by Mandalay Vision (a branch of Mandalay Entertainment Group). The two join a cast consisting of Pierce Brosnan, Jim Gaffigan, and Ed Harris.

The film is a comedy/thriller based on a book of the same name written by Larry Beinhart, and will be directed by George Ratliff (Joshua).

“[The film] centers on a former Deadhead turned born-again Christian who finds himself on the run from fundamentalist members of his mega-church who will do anything to protect their larger-than-life pastor.” – Variety

Marisa Tomei is also currently in negotiations to join the cast.

Source: Variety.com

The Predator is coming back, and he wont be alone

IGN.com recently attended the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX where writer/director/producer Robert Rodriguez gathered a small audience to show teaser material for the upcoming July release Predators.

Directed by Nimrod Antal, who accompanied Rodriguez at the event, the teaser material included a first edition trailer and a couple clips from the film. Aside from the presentations, though, the two also discussed some fun facts about the project, which include:

• The first Predator will be referenced as sort of ghost story
• There will be no CGI Predators – all FX regarding them are practical
• 20^th Century Fox supports the violence being to the hilt, based on sales of unrated DVDs
• Rodriguez and Antal have plans to make more Predator movies if this one is successful

Also, the story behind how this new Predators project came to fruition is explained (it has apparently been about 15 years in the making). For those anticipating the film, we recommend taking a look at all of what IGN found out (don’t worry, there is nothing really spoilerish).

View the whole article here.

Also…

Danny Trejo in the original "Machete" trailer

Check out IGN’s quick preview of Machete, set to release late this year. Based on the fake trailer made for Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse, the film brings back all main actors from the trailer, which includes Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, and Jeff Fahey. Some other actors brought on board for the project include Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, Michelle Rodriguez, Steven Seagal, and Don Johnson. It is directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis.

Star of the film Danny Trejo had this to say – “It is going to be awesome,” Trejo promises. “We duplicate scenes from the trailer in the movie. What that movie has is the three B’s, what I like to call the three B’s. And what that is is babes, bullets, and blood. And then it’s got machetes, too. The film takes off from the trailer and then it just gets so over the top. I think the movie really lives up to the trailer. I’m really, really proud of it.” – IGN.com

Read more here.

Director Robert Zemeckis, head of motion-capture animation company ImageMovers, has an uncertain relationship with Disney

ImageMovers, the motion-capture effects studio headed by Robert Zemeckis, is being dropped by Disney. The “shingle” is known for producing computer animated movies such as Monster House, Beowulf, as well as the recent Jim Carrey vehicle A Christmas Carol, which was produced by Disney. The Mouse House has only financed the last of those three, and began production of a remake of Yellow Submarine, but appears to consider such financial commitments as too costly with the current market. A Christmas Carol, directed by Zemeckis, had a budget of around $200 million but had a domestic gross of only $137 million (the film totaled $323 million all in all).

“Bob [Zemeckis] and the entire [ImageMovers] team successfully built a state-of-the-art studio and produced an amazing film, A Christmas Carol, at a time when the dynamics of the industry are rapidly changing,” Disney Studios president Alan Bergman said in a statement. “But, given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences, and [ImageMovers] no longer fits into our business model.” – Hollywood Reporter

Disney does not want to lose Zemeckis and his team, however, more or less saying that they want to keep such high-quality talent in house so they can continue to work on Yellow Submarine. As late as Friday, however, there has been no reported deal.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Quick Opinion: As disappointing as the news is, it doesn’t come as too big of a shock. Financially speaking from Disney’s standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For not only does a motion-capture film like A Christmas Carol cost a lot of money, but a lot of time as well. And being that any studio usually limits itself to financing so many projects at any one time, money used to produce such a supposedly fiscally unrewarding project as a motion-capture animated one might keep Disney from financing a project that would deliver better returns. So why would Disney continue production for Yellow Submarine? Well, the project is fully into pre-production, as it is already cast, has a workable script, and the FX team is no doubt already deep in focus to provide the film’s animation and 3-D effects. In other words, they’ve sunk too much money into the film to just scrap it at this juncture.

Walt Disney Productions has released a teaser trailer for their film Tron Legacy, scheduled to be released into theaters December 17th.

Click here to see it.

“Sam Flynn, the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant, father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.” – IMDb.com

The film will be released in 3-D as well as 2-D.