Imagi Animation Studios Shut Down; Is the Adaptation of GATCHAMAN Dead?

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Tom Cruise Will Return for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 4

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 2:57 pm

Darth Vader’s Voice Before Voice Over

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 2:10 pm

Have you ever wanted to hear what Darth Vader originally sounded like on the set of Star Wars…before George Lucas got James Earl Jones to provide his voice?  If you have, hit the jump for some awesome behind the scenes footage.

Jeffrey Blitz and Producer Sean Welch Exclusive Video Interview LUCKY

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 12:27 pm

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to win the lottery?  Do you think all your problems would disappear?  After watching Jeffrey Blitz’s (Rocket Science, Spellbound) new documentary Lucky, I’ve learned what people go through when they come into a ton of new money and it isn’t always easy.

Lucky premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and the film features interviews with both lottery winners and regular folks hoping to win.  What’s interesting is how some of the winners have changed dramatically, and others are almost the exact same people.  It’s a fascinating movie about something millions of people play every week, and by the end, you’ll probably want to buy a ticket.

While at the Festival, I was able to talk with Jeffrey Blitz and producer Sean Welch.  They talked about being back at Sundance, how hard it was to find people to be in the film, the editing process, what will be on the DVD, and they tell some great behind the scenes stories.  Watch what they had to say after the jump:

Screenwriter Craig Titley Interview; Talks STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, PERCY JACKSON and 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 11:57 am

With director Chris Columbus’ Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief opening this Friday, I was able to talk with screenwriter Craig Titley (Scooby-Doo, Cheaper by the Dozen) about his involvement in the project yesterday afternoon.  During the interview, we talked about writing Percy Jackson, his involvement in Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon (he’s written two episodes), and what’s up with 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  And just to clarify the 20,000 Leagues story, two competing projects were going at the same time last year, one was at Disney with McG helming, and one was being developed at New Line with Sam Raimi’s company.  Titley wrote the New Line one.  During the interview he talks about his take on the material and what it’s about.

Watch the interview after the jump:

Christopher Nolan On Board to Direct DARK KNIGHT Sequel and “Godfather” the SUPERMAN Franchise

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 9:48 am

Yesterday, we reported on David Goyer leaving his showrunning duties for ABC’s FlashForward focus on his film career, which included a mention of the inevitable Batman 3. At the time, it seemed like a continuation of the logical but as-of-yet unconfirmed rumor that director Christopher Nolan and screenwriter Goyer would return to Gotham.  A new report Deadline, advances said heresay and ups the ante by about a million chips.  Not only has Nolan cracked the story of the sequel to The Dark Knight and committed to participate, but Warner Bros. has recruited the modern auteur to “godfather” the newest film in the Superman franchise.  It’s unlikely that Nolan will direct the Superman sequel, but any portion of the reins handed to the man indicates a serious effort on the studio’s part to make the best Superman while they still have the time.

For speculation on the future of two of the biggest superhero franchises on the planet, hit the break.

24 Movie Might be Happening as Fox Has Hired Billy Ray (State of Play) to Write Feature Film Script

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 9th, 2010 at 8:54 am

24 might be heading to movie theaters, as Twentieth Century Fox has hired Billy Ray (State of Play, Breach, Shattered Glass) to write the script for the feature version.  According to Variety, Ray pitched taking Jack Bauer to Europe, and his take met with enthusiasm with Fox execs and producers of the television series.

For a long time Kiefer Sutherland has talked about making a 24 feature film, as a year ago he told me the movie “would lose the real time aspect, which would be a huge freedom for the writers.” He went on to say the film “would be a two hour representation of a twenty-four hour day.”

More after the jump:

TERMINATOR Rights Sold to Pacificor. Sony and Lionsgate Lose the Auction

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Katherine Heigl Counts ONE FOR THE MONEY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 11:09 pm

Katherine Heigl plus a best-selling book series plus a character who is a lingerie buyer/bounty hunter adds up to a very promising prospect for Columbia Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment.  According to Variety, the Grey’s Anatomy star is attached to play the role of Stephanie Plum in the adaptation of Janet Evanovich’s One for the Money.  The book spent 75 consecutive weeks on USA Today’s best seller list and has spawned 15 novels, each of which have a number theme.

While she has yet to make a smash box office hit stateside (Knocked Up’s success is generally attributed to Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow), Heigl’s romantic comedies have done well proportional to their budgets.  Her most recent film, The Ugly Truth, grossed $205 million worldwide off a $38 million budget.  This was a much greater succcess than her 2006 film, Zyzzyx Road, which cost $2 million but only made $30.  That’s $30.00, not $30 million.

Heigl will next appear alongside Ashton Kutcher in the action-comedy Killers, which is set to hit theaters on June 4th.

Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher, and Topher Grace Interview VALENTINE’S DAY

by Sara Wayland    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 11:01 pm

The romantic comedy Valentine’s Day is a veritable who’s who of Hollywood, with a cast that includes Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Anne Hathaway, Topher Grace, George Lopez, Shirley Maclaine, Hector Elizondo, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner and Emma Roberts, just to name a few. And the man responsible for getting all that talent together is director Garry Marshall, who the all-star ensemble was excited to work with.

Following the intertwining storylines of a diverse group of Los Angelenos as they navigate their way through romance and heartbreak over the course of one Valentine’s Day, the film showcases new love, young love, long-time love, the love between best friends and the heartbreak that can result.

During a press conference for the film, co-stars Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace talked about love, romance and living in Los Angeles.

Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Rachel Weisz Joins Daniel Craig and Naomi Watts inside Jim Sheridan’s DREAM HOUSE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 10:43 pm

The lovely and talented Rachel Weisz will be joining equally lovely and talented Daniel Craig and Naomi Watts in Jim Sheridan’s upcoming thriller Dream House.  According to Variety, the story centers on a, “successful publisher (Craig) who quits his Gotham job and relocates his wife (Weisz) and two daughters to a quaint New England town, only to discover that their perfect new home was the murder scene of a mother and her two children.”  And that’s why they got such a good price on it.  You can get a great price on a home if you’re cool that the previous inhabitants were slaughtered in their sleep.  Remember: Location, location, location.  Watts will play a neighbor who was close to the slain family.  Variety does not specify if this closeness relates to geography and/or emotional connection.

First Image from Mitch Glazer’s PASSION PLAY Starring Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox

by Laura Kelley    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 9:55 pm

EW has released the first still from the upcoming Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox film Passion Play, the directorial debut of Mitch Glazer.  The shot reveals little about the film other than the fact that as usual, Megan Fox is stunning.  The synopsis sounds pretty cool: Rourke will play a troubled musician while Fox is a winged sideshow attraction and they “rescue each other from dangerous circumstances.”  Coming off The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke has reemerged as one of Hollywood’s best actors, and certainly one of the most unique.  I’m also excited to see Megan Fox get to play a role where she’s given more to do than run from robots, because she’ll have the chance to really prove herself as an actress rather than just an endlessly quotable sex symbol.  Rourke recently called her “probably the best young actress I’ve ever worked with,” which is high praise indeed.

Click on the image to see a larger version.

Casting News: Cate Blanchett Meets HANNA, Amber Tamblyn Counts Down 127 HOURS, and Mia Wasikowska Brings JANE EYRE to Life

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 9:42 pm

‘Tis a very good night for Hollywood actresses, as we learn from Deadline Hollywood that three of the loveliest leading ladies in show business scored high profile roles.  Cate Blanchett will join Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana in Joe Wright’s Hanna, the story of a 14-year-old girl trained by her father to assassinate a high-ranking government official.  Amber Tamblyn will play the female lead opposite James Franco in Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours, the story of the mountain climber Aron Ralston, who survived being trapped under a boulder by cutting off his own arm.  Finally, Mia Wasikowska will help bring literary classic Jane Eyre to the big screen under the guide of Sin Nombre writer/director Cary Fukunaga.

For more details on each project, please hit the jump.

Tim Robbins to Play the Less-Than-Proud Papa of GREEN LANTERN’s Villain

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

If you always thought that Tim Robbins could produce offspring bent on world domination, then you’re probably a far-right conservative.  You’re also correct about his character in Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern as Heat Vision reports that Robbins will play Senator Hammond, the disapproving pops of the movie’s villain, Dr. Hector Hammond, who will be played by Peter Sarsgaard.  Dr. Hammond has psychic powers and, in the comics, a comically-oversized noggin.  I imagine Senator Hammond’s purpose is to humanize Hector by showing that daddy issues may not be a good reason to become a supervillain, but it’s an understandable one.

Ryan Reynolds will star as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern with Blake Lively as Carol Ferris (aka, the love interest).  The film is set to begin filming this March in Louisiana where hopefully by then they’ll have cleaned up all the Saints Super Bowl-win confetti.  Green Lantern is slated to hit theaters on June 17, 2011.

Aaron Johnson and Director Sam Taylor Wood Video Interview NOWHERE BOY

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 6:37 pm

If you haven’t heard of Aaron Johnson yet…I promise you will very soon.  That’s because in director Sam Taylor Wood’s Nowhere Boy, Johnson gives an amazing performance as a teenage John Lennon.  And in a few months,  Johnson will be everywhere, as he’s one of the leads in director Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass.  Trust me, this guy is going to be huge.

Anyway, at this year’s Sundance Film festival, I was able to speak with Aaron Johnson and Director Sam Taylor Wood about Nowhere Boy and our conversation is after the jump.  We talked about the delicate balancing act of trying to make a movie that’s based on such a famous person.  We also covered being at Sundance, what was it like on set, how did they prepare for the movie, and a lot more.  It’s a great interview so take a look.

Also, while Nowhere Boy has already been released in the UK, it’s still opening around the world.  I saw the film at Sundance and it’s great.  If you’re a Beatles fan, or just curious what Lennon’s life was like as a teenager, it’s really worth your time.

Steven Soderbergh to Spread CONTAGION With Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Marion Cotillard

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 8th, 2010 at 4:27 pm

The Playlist reports that Steven Soderbergh, the hardest working man in show business, has once again lengthened his to-do list.  Soderbergh will re-team with The Informant! scripter Scott Z. Burns for Contagion, an “action-thriller about the outbreak of a deadly virus.”  The film doesn’t have a distribution deal yet, but with such heavy hitters as Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Marion Cotillard attached to star, you can expect a bidding war for the rights.  More on the origins of Contagion and the rest of Soderbergh’s slate after the break.

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