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Movie News
Galifianakis Joins Vegas and G-Force
November 5, 2007
Comedy veteran Zach Galifianakis will play Ashton Kutcher's best
friend (and Cameron Diaz's nemesis) in What Happens in Vegas and also has been cast as a scientist overseeing an animal commando
program in G-Force.
In Tom Vaughan's "Vegas," for Fox, the actor plays Dave the Bear,
an anti-marriage guy who wigs out after his best bud, Jack (Kutcher), marries Joy (Diaz) during a wild, drunken night in Sin City.
In Hoyt Yeatman's G-Force, for Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer Productions,
he stars as the lead government scientist in charge of a guinea pig commando program, helping send the highly trained elite
agents on a dangerous mission.
Sylvester Stallone Makes Death Wish
November 5, 2007
Sylvester Stallone (Rambo, Rocky Balboa) is in talks to direct
and star in MGM's remake of the 1974 Charles Bronson movie Death Wish.
Stallone will play an ordinary man who goes vigilante after his
wife and daughter are attacked. Set to write the script are Michael Ferris and John Brancato, whose credits include Terminator
3: Rise of the Machiens and Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.
Paramount Pictures controls some Death Wish rights and has an
option to partner. Variety says MGM will make the film whether or not Par opts in, and if a writers strike is settled in short
order, MGM will try to start production before March. Stallone's partner, Kevin King, will be a producer.
Newell Approached for Prince of Persia
November 8, 2007
Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have made an offer to Mike
Newell to direct Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the live-action feature based on the video game, reports Variety.
The trade says that Newell, who last ventured into franchise fare
with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, met executives at the studio to discuss the project this week, and negotiations
are expected to begin shortly.
The game has spawned six installments and several spin-offs, prompting
studio hopes that the project will have tentpole potential.
"Prince of Persia"
has a script by Jeffrey Nachmanoff (The Day After Tomorrow) and video game creator Jordan Mechner.
Mark Wahlberg is Max Payne
November 9, 2007
20th Century Fox has signed Mark Wahlberg to star in Max Payne,
a live-action adaptation of the bestselling Rockstar video game that will begin shooting early next year. John Moore will
direct.
Variety says Wahlberg is negotiating to play the titular cop who
is haunted by the tragic loss of his family and has little regard for rules as he investigates a series of mysterious murders.
He finds himself up against an adversary bent on destroying Max and the streets he protects.
The script was written by Beau Thorne. Julie Yorn is producing
through Firm Films, along with Scott Faye.
Marcus Nispel to Direct Friday the
13th
November 14, 2007
ShockTillYouDrop.com reports that Marcus Nispel is reteaming with
Platinum Dunes to direct the new Friday the 13th movie, written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift.
Nispel directed 2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake. Shannon
and Swift previously penned 2003's successful Freddy vs. Jason.
Shooting on the New Line and Paramount/MTV project is expected
to start soon.
Rogen and Banks Make a Porno
November 16, 2007
The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films have announced that
Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Superbad) has signed on to play the lead in writer/director Kevin Smith's and producer Scott Mosier's
Zack & Miri Make a Porno. Elizabeth Banks (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Invincible) will star opposite Rogen as Miri. The movie
will begin shooting in January 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The announcement was made today by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films.
"Getting Seth in this flick is like suddenly growing an extra
six inches in the crotch," said Smith. "And as if that wasn't awesome enough, we scored the comedically and aesthetically
gifted Elizabeth, too. Cast-wise, I'm now extremely well-hung."
Smith added "I wrote the part expressly for Rogen because he's
a funny as f-ck comedy god and we're insanely lucky he said 'yes.' Dude coming on board is a total mitzvah. And in order to
show my appreciation, as well as fit in better with Seth, Harvey and Bob, Scott and I will be converting to Judaism. Bar Mitzvah
invites are in the mail."
Seth Rogen will top-line this comedy as Zack and Elizabeth Banks
will play Miri. Zack and Miri are two lifelong platonic friends who are deep in debt and enlist the help of their friends
to make a porno movie for some quick cash. But as everybody starts "doing" everybody, Zack and Miri realize that they may
have more feelings for each other than they previously thought. Additional cast will be announced soon.
Bob and Harvey Weinstein stated, "We could not be more thrilled
that Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks are on board for this movie which is certain to be the next great chapter in our long
and successful relationship with Kevin and Scott. Once again, Kevin has written a daring and entertaining screenplay that
has attracted some of the most talented comedic actors working today. We look forward to working with Kevin, Scott, Seth and
Elizabeth in creating another fantastic film for their millions of loyal fans and movie lovers everywhere."
Zack & Miri Make a Porno marks the latest collaboration between
Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier who have created many successful and popular films over the
past 13 years including Clerks, Clerks II, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Michael Cole, co-head of production, and Carla Gardini, senior
vice president of production, will oversee the project on behalf of TWC and Dimension Films.
Michael Cole and Eric Roth, executive vice president of business
and legal affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of TWC and Dimension Films.
Tim Burton to Direct Alice and Frankenweenie
November 16, 2007
Tim Burton is pairing up with Disney to direct two 3-D films,
Alice in Wonderland and Frankenweenie.
Variety says the two-movie deal with Walt Disney Studios begins
with Alice in Wonderland, which will combine performance-capture
imagery, currently seen in Beowulf, with live-action footage.
The script by Linda Woolverton (The Lion King, Beauty and the
Beast) is based on the Lewis Carroll classic.
Burton, who is wrapping Sweeney
Todd at Paramount and DreamWorks, will tackle Alice
in Wonderland early next year, with production set to wrap by May.
After "Alice," Burton will helm and produce Frankenweenie, based on his 1984 short film about a pet dog
brought back to life by his loyal owner. The movie will be shot in stop-motion animation and shown in digital 3-D.
McG Set to Direct Terminator Salvation
November 16, 2007
While it's been hinted in previous Hollywood
trade articles, Moviehole now says it's a done deal - McG will direct Warner Bros. Pictures' Terminator Salvation: The Future
Begins, the fourth installment in the popular franchise.
Expected to hit theaters in the summer of 2009, "Terminator Salvation"
will reinvent the cyborg saga with a storyline to be told over a three-movie span. The film is set in the future, in a full-scale
war between Skynet and humankind.
McG directed We Are Marshall for WB and also helmed the "Charlie's
Angels" films.
Bruce Willis to Face The Surrogates
November 19, 2007
Bruce Willis will star in The Surrogates, a sci-fi thriller that
Jonathan Mostow will direct for Disney's Touchstone Pictures, reports Variety. The studio is eyeing a February production
start in Boston.
Michael Ferris and John Brancato wrote The Surrogates based on
a graphic novel from Top Shelf Comix. They collaborated with Mostow on the last film he directed, Terminator 3: Rise of the
Machines. The writers also wrote Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, the Halcyon-financed sequel that McG will direct
at Warner Bros.
The Surrogates is being produced by Mandeville's David Hoberman
and Todd Lieberman, along with Max Handelman and Elizabeth Banks.
The story is set in the near future, where humans live in isolation
and interact vicariously through surrogate robots who are better-looking versions of themselves. Willis plays a cop who, through
his surrogate, investigates the murders of others' surrogates. The cop is forced to venture from his own home for the first
time in years and unravels a conspiracy.
Friday the 13th "Not a Remake"!
November 28, 2007
Platinum Dunes' Friday the 13th project. What do you lable it?
Remake? Re-launch?
After speaking to a source close to the project who wishes to
stay outside of the spotlight (for now), we're striking the former term out of future reports on the film.
"It's not a remake," says our insider. Don't even expect an origin
tale - as some production listings around Hollywood are pegging
it as. Imagine if there was a story to be told somewhere between parts two and four, just add water (from Camp Crystal Lake,
duh), insert a leaner, meaner, faster Jason Voorhees, set to "blend" and you've got the recipe for what Dunes, writers Damian
Shannon and Mark Swift and director Marcus Nispel got cookin'.
Samuel
L. Jackson Rocks the Cradle
November 29, 2007
New Line is developing Man That Rocks the Cradle as the first
star vehicle for Samuel L. Jackson since the studio signed a deal with the actor's Uppity Films.
Bought as a spec script by Josh Cagan and based on a story by
Cagan and Rob McKittrick, the film revolves around an overworked husband and father of four who decides the solution to all
his problems is a live-in nanny. Jackson will play the nanny,
Marion Delacroix, a reputed "kid whisperer" from the South.
Jackson
will produce the film with Michael Nash through the Uppity Films. Chris Fenton and McKittrick will be executive producers.
Sequel News
Confirmed: Salva Writing & Directing
Jeepers Creepers 3
November 8, 2007
The Creeper is ready to take flight again.
Victor Salva, we have learned via a number of highly reliable
sources, is officially on board to write and direct Jeepers Creepers 3, the latest installment in MGM's monstrous franchise
that he created in 2001 and carried through with a sequel subsequently released in 2003. Both films introduced audiences to
The Creeper, an ancient creature that comes out of hibernation for 23 days to feed.
Early rumblings on the web pegged Salva solely as a writer with
the potential to direct, however, we have learned he is committed to overseeing the third chapter (shall we call it Jeepers
Threepers?) himself. Whether it will fly straight-to-DVD or into theaters remains to be seen. Our contacts add that "Jeepers
3" may pave the way for a television series Salva is discussing with MGM and American Zoetrope (both mainstays in the franchise
to date).
The initial Jeepers Creepers opened at $13 million, breaking Labor
Day weekend box office records at the time. Its follow-up was met with a $15 million bow two years later during a similar
holiday release period. Together, the films have pulled in a little over a $100 million, not counting DVD sales.
Shooting will begin on the threequel either before he begins production
on or after he completes Entity, not to be confused with the Barbara Hershey-starring ghost story of the same name. Salva
has stated on several occasions that Entity is the closest he will ever get to a sequel to his 1995 film Powder - he wrote
it shortly after Powder as part of three films he refers to as his "alien trilogy."
Verhoeven to Direct Thomas Crown Sequel
November 10, 2007
Paul Verhoeven (Black Book, Basic Instinct, Total Recall told
Dutch radio program "Met Het Oog Op Morgen" ("With the Eye on Tomorrow") this week that he will direct the sequel to 1999's
The Thomas Crown Affair.
The follow-up, again starring Pierce Brosnan, is titled The Topkapi
Affair and will draw on material from 1964's Topkapi, an MGM film, and the Eric Ambler novel which it was based on, called
"The Light of the Day."
More Thomas Crown Affair 2 Details
November 13, 2007
Following up on the earlier announcement that Paul Verhoeven is
set to direct Pierce Brosnan sequel The Thomas Crown Affair 2, Variety adds that the sequel will begin shooting in January.
Rene Russo will not return as Crown's love interest. Instead,
the follow-up to the 1999 film will feature an uncast character named Nadia Badri as the new female lead.
The follow-up is set in Europe and the Middle
East and centers on Crown, who becomes entangled in a centuries-old feud and must decide how much he's truly willing
to risk for love.
Brosnan is producing alongside Beau St. Clair and Dino Conte.
A Few Tidbits about Crank 2
November 14, 2007
ComingSoon.net was just down in Albuquerque, New Mexico where we got to spend some time
on the set of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's follow-up to the 2006 action hit Crank, their second movie being a sci-fi
action thriller starring Gerard Butler that has been using the working title of Game. (We'll have lots more on the movie soon!)
While there, we had a chance to talk to Lakeshore Entertainment
producers Robert Burke and David Rubin, and the latter answered a few questions about the impending sequel to Crank that Neveldine
and Taylor will start prepping shortly after finishing the filming of their current project. The script has been finished
for some time, and since the story takes place in L.A., they'd like to shoot back in L.A. in April.
(Note: The next paragraph contains a spoiler for Crank so if you
haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and stop reading about its sequel. Instead, go buy or rent it on DVD before reading on.)
The big question on everyone's mind is how they're going to deal
with continuing the story of Jason Statham's character Chev Chelios, who (2nd spoiler warning!) died at the end of the first
movie. "It's cool. That's the central question and the way they've answered it is really exciting and fun," Rubin told us
in between takes of an intense action sequence, "It's really funny and really clever. I remember when we made 'Crank' how
we were shooting the scene where he died, and we all laughed because 'there would never be a sequel to this movie.' Those
guys are just so unique and their vision is just so specific to them that if you are excited about their vision than you'll
love the way they solve and answer that question." He also debunked the early rumors that Chev has a "robotic heart." "That
was a real stretch," he chuckled.
When asked about other rumors that people who died in the first
movie might be back, Rubin would only respond quizzically with, "You never know with those guys. Are they really alive or
are they not? And are they those people or are they related to them?"
There could be some new actors joining for the sequel as well.
"We have a lot of ideas right now about 'Crank 2' and a lot of really exciting stuff that the fans are really going to dig,
and it's just about the process of fantastic idea elimination," Rubin continued. "Neveldine-Taylor like to start with a lot
of ideas and they're constantly exploring them and taking them to their fullest potential and then seeing which ones are going
to live. We're still processing all the ideas for this movie, and with 'Crank 2' it's the same. The great thing with Neveldine-Taylor
is the smallest idea they might have some times that we think is not really that prominent, can sometimes blossom into this
huge thing. We're still with this movie discovering all those things and working them out, and 'Crank 2', those guys are making
a lot of notes and the ideas are still percolating. The script is great but it's interesting because there's Neveldine-Taylor
as a writing team and there's Neveldine-Taylor the directing team and the transformation happens when we're actually in our
office prepping the movie and when they become the directors of the movie, the ideas just transform and have a life of their
own."
Neveldine and Taylor's current movie, The Untitled Gerard Butler
Action Thriller just started shooting but they're probably shooting for late '08 for release and it should have a title by
then. In the meantime, look for a write-up on our set visit sometime in the next few days.
Da Vinci Code Sequel Pushed Back
November 16, 2007
Sony Pictures said Friday it is postponing production on Angels
& Demons, the prequel to last year's megahit The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks.
According to Variety, "Da Vinci Code" screenwriter Akiva Goldsman's
script was rushed to meet the WGA's Nov. 1 deadline for reaching a new contract with producers, and came in with insurmountable
problems. Furthermore, no cast had signed on beyond Hanks.
The Vatican-set thriller was scheduled to begin shooting in February,
with Ron Howard at the helm. The studio had set a Christmas 2008 release date.
"While the filmmakers and the studio feel the screenplay is very
strong, we do not believe it is the fully realized production draft required of this ambitious project," a Sony spokesperson
said. "At this time, there is no new start date for 'Angels & Demons,' but we are setting a release date of May 15, 2009,
and are hopeful to deliver the movie worldwide to theaters on that date. We do not expect any other film on our 2008 slate
to be affected."
Twohy Still Interested in Riddick Sequel?
November 19, 2007
Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick director David Twohy
has updated the "News" section of his official website with some potentially good news for Riddick and Vin Diesel fans:
Okay, okay, now on to the really important stuff like "What the
f**k is happening with RIDDICK?" Yes, I get your emails demanding another movie; yes, I keep bumping into you guys in airports
and at conventions and I take your pleas to heart. All I can say now is "We're talking about it." The DVD numbers were really
good – we know that, and some potential financiers know that. But if another movie surfaces, it probably won't be a
Universal movie and probably will be an independent movie. Which means we'll have to make it for substantially less than the
last installment. But that's okay. PITCH BLACK was $22 million all in. Maybe it's time to go back to our roots – as
we go on to The UnderVerse.
Stay tuned for more on this as it comes in.
Ellis Returns for Final Destination
4
November 20, 2007
David R. Ellis (Final Destination 2) has signed to direct and
develop Final Destination 4, the latest installment of New Line's popular horror series, which the studio plans to shoot in
3-D.
While plot details for "FD4" are being kept under wraps, the movie
will stand alone: It will feature new teens facing new forms of death.
The script was written by Eric Bress, who co-wrote Final Destination
2.
The "Final Destination" films have been solid performers for New
Line since they debuted in 2000. The first film grossed $53.3 million, the 2003 sequel made $46.5 million and the third, released
in 2006, collected $54 million.
Brewster to Go Fast and Furious Again?
November 21, 2007
Moviehole is reporting that Jordana Brewster is in talks to reprise
her role of Mia Toretto in The Fast and the Furious 4.
Mia was the sister of Dominic (Vin Diesel) and the love interest
of undercover agent Brian (Paul Walker).
The site says that in the film, set to be directed by Justin Lin,
Brian is freed from prison (the authorities found out that he let Diesel go at the end of the first film) to help the feds
stop a heroin importer known as Braga.
With the help of an informant named James Park, Brian –
and ultimately Dominic Toretto – wins a place on the criminal's team, where he – and his flashy Nissan –
plan to catch the man red-handed.
Christian Bale to Star in Terminator
Salvation?
November 21, 2007
Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, Batman Begins) has been cast
as John Connor in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, says Ain't It Cool News.
McG is directing the summer 2009 release, which has an early 2008
production start and seeks to reinvent the cyborg saga with a storyline to be told over a three-movie span. Warner Bros. will
distribute domestically.
The screenplay was written by Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
duo John Brancato and Michael Ferris.
The film is set in the future, in a full-scale war between Skynet
and humankind.
The Full Mummy Synopsis
November 27, 2007
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor director Rob Cohen has posted
the official synopsis for the anticipated third installment on his Blog for the production:
The blockbuster global "Mummy" franchise takes a spellbinding
turn as the action shifts to Asia for the next chapter in the adventure series, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Brendan
Fraser returns as explorer Rick O'Connell to combat the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li) in an epic that races from the catacombs
of ancient China high into the frigid Himalayas.
Rick is joined in this all-new adventure by son Alex (newcomer Luke Ford), wife Evelyn (Maria Bello) and her brother, Jonathan
(John Hannah). And this time, the O'Connells must stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge
the world into his merciless, unending service.
Doomed by a double-crossing sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) to spend
eternity in suspended animation, China's
ruthless Dragon Emperor and his 10,000 warriors have laid forgotten for eons, entombed in clay as a vast, silent terra cotta
army. But when dashing adventurer Alex O'Connell is tricked into awakening the ruler from eternal slumber, the reckless young
archaeologist must seek the help of the only people who know more than he does about taking down the undead: his parents.
As the monarch roars back to life, our heroes find his quest for
world domination has only intensified over the millennia. Striding the Far East with unimaginable
supernatural powers, the Emperor Mummy will rouse his legion as an unstoppable, otherworldly force...unless the O'Connells
can stop him first. Now, in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," the trademark thrills and visually spectacular action
of the "Mummy" series will be redefined for a new generation.
"The Mummy: Tomb of the
Dragon Emperor" is helmed by director Rob Cohen ("The Fast and the Furious," "xXx") and written by Alfred Gough & Miles
Millar ("Spider-Man 2," television's "Smallville"). Reprising their roles as producers in the series are Bob Ducsay, Sean
Daniel, Stephen Sommers and James Jacks.
Superhero News
David Fincher Helming The Killer
November 2, 2007
Paramount Pictures has acquired graphic novel The Killer and will
develop it as a directing vehicle for David Fincher. The movie will be produced by Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment and Alexandra
Milchan.
Allesandro Camon will write the script, about a top assassin suddenly
plagued by his conscience and a highly competent cop hot on his tail.
The graphic novel was written by Matz, whose real name is Alexis
Nolent. The author works for Ubisoft, one of France's biggest video game companies.
Luc Jacamon illustrated the novel, which was originally published in France
in 1988 by Casterman and debuted in the U.S.
as a 10-issue series published by Archaia Studio Press.
Starkweather is Coming to the Big Screen
November 9, 2007
Variety says that Benderspink has optioned the rights to the comic
book series "Starkweather" from Archaia Studios Press.
The property, created by David Rodriguez, revolves around a young
boy who comes from a line of sorcerers but doesn't learn about his supernatural abilities until he's a twentysomething slacker
who's attacked by a mysterious coven.
"Starkweather" is the latest book from Archaia to be optioned;
David Fincher recently signed to helm a film version of "The Killer" at Paramount
for Plan B to produce.
New Justice League Cast Members?
November 19, 2007
Keep in mind that Warner Bros. has yet to reveal any cast members,
but this is a list of names Superhero Hype! received over the weekend as to who might be cast in Justice League. Yes, we realize
the much rumored Adam Brody is not listed here as The Flash. Our answer? We just don't know what's up, plain and simple:
Superman - D.J. Cotrona
Batman - Armie Hammer
Wally West/The Flash - Anton Yelchin
Aquaman - Santiago
Cabrera
Iris - Zoe Kazan
Wonder Woman - Megan Gale
Talia al Ghul - Teresa Palmer
Green Lantern - Common
We must repeat, the above names are not confirmed. They might
not be confirmed for a while, because a new article talking about the writers strike at The Hollywood Reporter says that Justice
League might not be as sure of a thing as it seems:
At Warner Bros., "Justice League of America" finds itself without a shooting script and has options expiring on potential
actors who recently were screen tested. As a result, it might have to postpone production.
Seth
Rogen on The Green Hornet
November 28, 2007
MTV caught up with Seth Rogen and asked him about his planned
adaptation of The Green Hornet comics at Sony. In the interview, he says "there's a more comedic version and less comedic
version," and they're not sure what will be the right one yet. Here's a clip:
"Just a few weeks ago, [co-writer Evan Goldberg and I] laid out
our outline for the movie to the studio, and before the phone call, Evan and I were like, 'This is not like any superhero
movie — they might just hate that,' " Rogen recalled. " 'It's not using any of the normal superhero movie formats. It's
not an origin story. It's more like a regular action movie.' [But] they really liked it and told us to go for it."
Director
Louis Leterrier Talks Hulk
November 28, 2007
Wizard magazine has published a new interview with The Incredible
Hulk director Louis Leterrier in which he talks about the villains in the film. Here's a clip:
"Obviously, General Ross is the villain, so he had to be in it,"
added Leterrier. "But the Abomination, Emil Blonsky, was who Marvel wanted to put in this chapter—the first chapter
of our new saga—because he's the most famous. He's an enemy that can actually threaten the Hulk. It's very important
for me that there is a danger. When Bruce Banner is Hulk, I didn’t feel in Ang Lee's 'Hulk' that there was any threat.
He was invincible. So with Abomination there's actually a monster that can, you know, kill him when he's in the Hulk form."
Raimi
says Spider-Man 4 is Up to Writer
November 28, 2007
Comic Book Resources has posted an interview with "Spider-Man"
franchise director Sam Raimi in which he reiterates that what happens in the fourth installment will be up to the writer they
are hiring, including the villain(s). Here's a bit from the piece:
Sam: If I was writing it I would have a very strong opinion about
that, but we're hiring a writer to come up with his own take. Sony was willing to go either way, we'll just have to wait and
see what the writer comes up with. I think anything's possible, though.
I mean, there's been so many different versions, it doesn't have
to follow the movies that we've made. I'd very much like to see Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, so I have a personal interest
in that, but certainly anything's possible. Spider-Man's such a big character in the comic books that he could endure a lot
of different interpretations. You could start over or you could start with a different aspect of the story than I've focused
on in the pictures I've made, we'll just have to wait and see what the writer comes up with.
UPDATE:
Francis Lawrence Would Do Constantine 2
November 30, 2007
Director Francis Lawrence said today at the I Am Legend junket
that he would love to helm a Constantine sequel. He said that
the sequel will depend on them finding the right story.
In a one-on-one interview with ShockTillYouDrop.com, Lawrence added a follow-up could be a sequel or a prequel. "I like origin
stories, that would be cool. What worked for me is the film came from the 'Dangerous Habits' storyline - he had cancer and
he was dying. To me that was the core of the story. It's why the movie works for me, because the story couldn't be more personal.
People have thrown concepts around [for a sequel] and I go 'Why does he give a f**k?' In the first film he's trying to save
his own skin. Everything else, you can come up with these stories where he goes to different lands and fight the bad guys
or witch doctors, but I think it all falls flat. Until someone comes up with a great idea, whether it's earlier [in his life]
or later, we'll just have to see."
2005's Constantine,
which starred Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, Gavin Rossdale, Djimon Hounsou, Shia LaBeouf and Peter Stormare,
earned $230.8 million worldwide.
Based on the DC Comics/Vertigo "Hellblazer" graphic novels, the
film starred Reeves as John Constantine, who was born with the ability to recognize the half-breed angels and demons that
walk the earth in human camouflage. Constantine was driven
to take his own life to escape the tormenting clarity of his vision. But he failed.
Resuscitated against his
will, he found himself cast back into the land of the living where he patrols the earthly border between heaven and hell,
hoping in vain to earn his way to salvation by waging war on the earthbound minions of evil.
Teasers & Trailers
Semi-Pro Teaser Hits!
October 4, 2007
The teaser trailer for New Line's Will Ferrell comedy, Semi-Pro, is now online and can be watched here! The teaser also flashes a phone number, which you can call to hear Jackie Moon
(Ferrell) talk about what all is included with season tickets.
Opening February 29, the movie also stars Woody Harrelson,
André Benjamin, Will Arnett, Jay Phillips, Josh Braaten, Rob Corddry, DeRay Davis, Maura Tierney and Jackie Earle Haley.
The Sweeney Todd Trailer Hits!
October 4, 2007
The trailer for Tim Burton's highly-anticipated
musical thriller, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, is now online.
Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jayne Wisener and Sacha Baron
Cohen, the Paramount
film hits theaters on December 21.
Click here to watch the trailer and for more info!
Doug Liman's Jumper Trailer Hits!
October 9, 2007
20th Century Fox has
brought online the new trailer for sci-fi thriller Jumper, opening in theaters
on February 15. Directed by Doug Liman (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity), the movie is based on the Steven Gould novel and stars Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson
and Rachel Bilson.
You can watch the trailer via this link!
Kung Fu Panda Promo Teaser Online!
October 29, 2007
A new promo teaser for DreamWorks
Animation's Kung Fu Panda, opening June 6, 2008, is online! The animated comedy
is voiced by Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman and Jackie Chan. The teaser, which apparently is included
on the Shrek the Third DVD, features Jack Black talking about the movie along
with the first footage from the pic.
You can watch the teaser via this link!
The
Trailer You've All Wanted!
October 31, 2007
Universal Pictures has revealed
the first trailer and official site for Russian filmmaker Timur (Night Watch)
Bekmambetov's action flick based on the Mark Millar-J.G. Jones graphic novel Wanted,
starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie and Common. The movie hits theaters on March 28, 2008.
McAvoy
plays Wesley Gibson, a pathetic young man, who suddenly finds himself caught up in a deadly world of intrigue after the murder
of his father. Not long after, he's approached to join a secret society of assassins called The Fraternity, who train Wes
to be a super-assassin using the latent powers he never knew he had.
You can see the first trailer via this link! The official site is live at Wantedmovie.com. We've also received a ton of new photos, which you can view here.
Box Office & DVD Charts
Box Office
Bee Movie Stung by American Gangster
November 4, 2007
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio
estimates for the weekend. Be sure to check back on Monday for final figures based on actual box office.
Going into the weekend, two new movies were vying for $40 million
opening, mirroring last year when George Miller's Happy Feet took on the James Bond relaunch Casino Royale. This weekend,
director Ridley Scott's R-rated crime drama American Gangster (Universal) proved that putting two bonafide box office stars
into a movie with a strong premise can get a lot of people into theatres, and Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe helped American
Gangster win the weekend over DreamWorks' animated Bee Movie from the mind of Jerry Seinfeld, which had to settle for second
place despite opening in 900 more theatres.
After an impressive opening day of nearly $16 million, American
Gangster grossed an estimated $46.3 million over the weekend, averaging more than $15,000 per theatre, while Bee Movie didn't
quite make its projected $40 million, instead averaging less than $10,000 in 3,928 theatres to gross $39.1 million its opening
weekend. American Gangster becomes the biggest opening movie for both Washington and Crowe, as well as the second highest
opening movie for Scott after the 2001 Silence of the Lambs sequel, Hannibal.
After a strong opening weekend, Lionsgate's fourth installment
in the horror franchise Saw IV crashed down 65% in its second weekend, adding another $11 million to its cumulative gross
of $51 million to make it the third Lionsgate movie in the last two months to gross $50 million.
Dropping to #4, the Steve Carell romantic comedy Dan in Real Life
(Touchstone) grossed $8.1 million in its second weekend, dropping just 31% from its opening weekend, the smallest drop for
any movie in the Top 10. It has grossed just under $23 million in ten days.
The graphic novel inspired vampire thriller 30 Days of Night (Sony)
dropped to 5th place with $4 million and a total gross of $34 million after three weeks, compared to its production budget
of $30 million.
The Disney family comedy The Game Plan, starring The Rock, continues
its strong run despite the opening of Bee Movie, grossing $3.8 million and dropping out of the Top 5 for the first time in
six weeks. It has grossed $81.9 million to date.
The John Cusack drama Martian Child (New Line) opened in 7th place
with a disappointing $3.6 million in 2,020 theatres, followed by Tony Gilroy's Michael Clayton (Warner Bros.) starring George
Clooney, which dropped to #8 with $2.9 million, having grossed $33 million to date.
After four weeks in theatres, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?
(Lionsgate) has grossed $51.2 million, adding another $2.7 million this weekend after suffering another 51% drop.
Opening in limited release, the Don Cheadle produced doc Before
the Devil Knows You're Dead (THINKFilm) added 41 theatres in select cities and added another $400 thousand to its solid opening
weekend take.
The Top 10 grossed an estimated $124 million, an increase of 15%
over the same weekend last year when Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy Borat topped the box office with $26.4 million in just 837
theatres.
Fred Claus Gets a Lump of Coal
November 11, 2007
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio
estimates for the weekend. Be sure to check back on Monday for final figures based on actual box office.
There was a shake-up in the Top 2 films at the box office, but
it didn't come in the form of either of the star-studded debuts, as both Fred Claus (Warner Bros.) starring Vince Vaughn and
Lions for Lambs (United Artists) starring Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep failed to beat either of last week's big openers. And
yet, this weekend, the top spot went to DreamWorks' animated Bee Movie, which moved into the #1 position with an estimated
$26 million. Its $72 million gross is still a long way from its $150 million production budget, but it brings it closer to
the $80 million made by Ridley Scott's American Gangster (Universal) after ten days, as it dropped 44% with $24.3 million
in its second weekend.
The family holiday comedy Fred Claus underperformed with $19.2
million in 3,603 theatres, settling for third, although the holiday themes guarantee that it will maintain strong business
over the next month and a half.
Tom Cruise and Robert Redford teamed for the political drama Lions
for Lambs (United Artists) but their combined star power with that of Meryl Streep failed to make more than $6.7 million in
2,215 theatres as it opened in fourth place.
The romantic comedy Dan in Real Life (Touchstone) starring Steve
Carell dropped one place to #5 with $5.9 million in its third weekend, once again having a minimal drop-off of 25%. So far,
it has grossed $30.7 million.
Part four of the horror franchise Saw IV continues to falter as
it dropped another 52% in its third weekend to add $5 million to its cumulative take of $58.1 million.
The other horror movies didn't fare much better with newcomer
P2 (Summit) just narrowly defeating 30 Days of Night (Sony)
for 8th place, although P2's $2.2 million in 2,131 theatres isn't particularly impressive.
For a second year in a row, After Dark Films showed "8 Films to
Die For" in their After Dark Horror Fest 2007, but it failed to find the success of its predecessor, grossing just $512 thousand
in 323 theatres.
Joel and Ethan Coen's first movie in over three years, their adaptation
of Cormac McCarthy No Country for Old Men, opened in 28 theatres in select cities where it scored an impressive $1.2 million,
opening in 15th place with a terrific per-theatre average of nearly $43 thousand per theatre.
Two Bollywood films opened in select cities this weekend but Eros'
Om Shanti Om beat the Sony-funded Saawariya by $1.5 million to $600 thousand.
Regardless, the $95.6 million made by the Top 10 was down by 10%
from the same weekend last year.
Beowulf Defeats Box Office Opponents
November 19, 2007
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio
estimates for the weekend. Be sure to check back on Monday for final figures based on actual box office.
Paramount's
Beowulf earned an estimated $28.1 million from 3,153 theaters to easily top the box office over the three-day weekend. The
Robert Zemeckis-directed epic, written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, features the performances and voices of Angelina Jolie,
Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, John Malkovich, Brendan Gleeson, Dominic Keating, Alison Lohman, Robin Wright Penn and Crispin
Glover. The film marks the widest release yet of a digital 3-D film, with 40% of the total coming from ust 740 3-D screens.
The movie was made for about $150 milion.
Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie, also carrying a price tag of $150
million, continues to do well, coming in at second place in its third weekend with $14.3 million. The DreamWorks Animation
comedy has collected $93.9 million so far.
Universal's American Gangster, directed by Ridley Scott and starring
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, crossed the $100 million mark after grossing another $13.2 million. The crime-drama was
made for $100 million and has earned $101 million.
Warner Bros. holiday comedy Fred Claus, starring Vince Vaughn
and Paul Giamatti, dropped a spot to fourth with $12 million. The movie is up to $35.8 million after two weeks.
20th Century Fox's new fantasy-comedy Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
rounded out the top five, making $10 million from 3,164 theaters. Written and directed by Zach Helm, the film stars Dustin
Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman.
Miramax increased the theater count for No Country for Old Men
to 148, in which it earned a strong $3.1 million, averaging $20,932 per location. The Coen brothers thriller, with Tommy Lee
Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson and Kelly Macdonald, has earned $4.9 million in two weeks.
Javier Bardem's other new drama, Love in the Time of Cholera,
didn't fare as well, collecting just $1.9 million from 852 theaters, an average of $2,247.
Moviegoers stayed away from Ricard Kelly's Southland Tales, which
saw sales of just $117,000 from 63 theaters. On the other hand, Paramount Vantage's Margot at the Wedding, starring Nicole
Kidman, Jack Black and Jennifer Jason Leigh, made $83,000 from just 2 theaters.
The weekend was down 30% from last year, when Happy Feet and Casino
Royale earned $41.5 million and $40.8 million, respectively.
New Movies Gobble Up Thanksgiving Box
Office
November 25, 2007
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio
estimates for the weekend. Be sure to check back on Monday for final figures based on actual box office.
Two new movies dominated the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing in
more business than the other new movies combined: Disney's Enchanted, a combination of animation and live action starring
Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey, and Sony/Screen Gems' ensemble holiday film This Christmas.
While Enchanted went into the weekend as the projected victor
by opening in over 3,600 theaters, its estimated five-day take of $50 million surpassed most expectations, as it becomes the
second highest grossing movie to open over Thanksgiving weekend after Disney's own Toy Story 2 in 1999. The fantasy-comedy
opened with over $8 million on Wednesday, itself the second-highest gross for the day before Thanksgiving, and after grossing
another $6.5 million on Thursday, it would go onto make $35.5 million over the post-Thanksgiving weekend, the sixth largest
amount grossed in that time frame.
This Christmas opened in the fewest theaters of the new openers,
just over 1800, yet it claimed the largest per-theatre average in the top 10, averaging over $10,000 in the three days, compared
to Enchanted's $9,472, to bring in $27.1 million in its first five days and $18.6 million over the three-day weekend, a definitive
second place win.
Fox's action thriller Hitman starring Timothy Olyphant kicked-off
the five day with an impressive $4.5 million, but by the weekend, its business had tapered off to the point where it only
grossed $13 million over the three-day weekend and $21 million total. It wound up in fourth place behind last week's #1 Beowulf
(Paramount), which brought in $16.2 million over the three-day
weekend, down 41% from its opening, bringing its total gross up to $56.3 in ten days.
The other two new movies opening in wide release, the musical
drama August Rush (Warner Bros.) and Stephen King's The Mist (Dimension Films), each grossed between $9 and 9.5 million over
the three-day weekend and just over $13 million for the five days, with August Rush gaining an advantage over the weekend
to take 7th place.
Both new movies opened behind returning family films, Jerry Seinfeld's
animated Bee Movie (DreamWorks) and Vince Vaughn as Fred Claus (Warner Bros.), which took advantage of the demand for family
fare over Thanksgiving for a minimal drop from last weekend. Bee Movie brought in $12 million compared to the holiday comedy's
$10.7 million weekend take, bringing their grosses to $112 million and $53 million respectively. Bee Movie also pulled closer
to the total gross of Ridley Scott's crime drama American Gangster (Universal), with which it had been competing since they
both opened four weeks ago. Gangster added another $9.2 million to its take of $115.7 million to drop down to eighth place
over the weekend.
The entrance fee into the Top 10 this weekend was an astounding
$8 million, compared to the $2 or 3 million of past weeks, and Joel and Ethan Coen's acclaimed No Country for Old Men (Miramax)
was able to remain there, as it expanded nationwide into 860 theaters to make $8.1 million over the three-day weekend, bring
its gross to $16.6 million.
It knocked Fox Walden's Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium starring
Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman out of the Top 10 even though that added another $8 million, a minimal drop of 17%.
Opening in 130 theaters in select cities, Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan
tribute I'm Not There took in roughly a million dollars in its first five days, averaging $5,823 over the three-day weekend
to open in 17th place.
Although the Thanksgiving weekend helped the box office pick up
from the last few weeks, it was still down a tiny bit from the same period last year where the combination of George Miller's
Happy Feet and James Bond in Casino Royale helped the box office take in a whopping $200 million over the five days.
DVD Charts
Knocked Up Rules DVD Charts
October 4, 2007
Universal Home Entertainment sold an estimated 3.5 million copies
of Knocked Up for the week ending Sept. 30, sending the comedy straight to No. 1 on the national home video sales chart.
Knocked Up also proved a rental powerhouse, topping Home Media
Magazine's rental chart for the same week with estimated earnings of $10.1 million.
Paramount's
Next debuted at No. 2 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert chart but sold a little more than 10% as many copies as Knocked
Up. The film fared better in rental stores, generating $6.9 million in its first week out.
The previous week's top seller and renter, Warner's We Are Marshall,
slipped to No. 3 on both charts.
Knocked Up bowed at No. 1 on the HD DVD chart in its first week
out, while Warner's 300 regained the top spot on the Blu-ray Disc chart. Knocked Up is not available on Blu-ray.
Fox's Four are Fantastic on DVD
October 11, 2007
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment's Fantastic Four: Rise of
the Silver Surfer became the top-selling and top-renting DVD its first week in stores, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Another new DVD release, Walt Disney Studios' Platinum Edition
of The Jungle Book, bowed at No. 1 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart for the week ending Oct. 7, but "Silver
Surfer," which debuted at No. 2, also was available in a two-pack with the original Fantastic Four. Combined sales numbers
put the summer theatrical hit slightly ahead of The Jungle Book.
"Jungle Book" and "Silver Surfer" bumped the previous week's top
DVD seller, Universal's Knocked Up, to No. 3 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart.
On Home Media Magazine's national DVD rental chart for the same
week, "Silver Surfer" easily took the top spot in its first week, generating an estimated $9.5 million in rental revenue.
Knocked Up got knocked down to No. 2, though it still generated a healthy $8.4 million, a drop of just 17% from its first-week
take.
Horror hit 1408, which grossed $71.9 million in theaters, bowed
at No. 4 on the sales chart and No. 3 on the rental chart its first week. The film generated $6.2 million in rental revenue.
"Silver Surfer" also topped the Blu-ray Disc charts its first
week out, while Knocked Up remained at No. 1 on the HD DVD charts for the second straight week. Both titles are exclusive
to their respective high-def formats.
Surf's Up DVD Rides Wave to Dual Wins
October 17, 2007
Sony's Surf's Up topped both the national sales and rental charts
last week.
The animated comedy outperformed Evan Almighty, which grossed
nearly twice as much in U.S. theaters.
"Evan" debuted at No. 2 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart and at No. 4 on Home Media Magazine's video rental
chart.
The previous week's top sellers, Disney's The Jungle Book and
Fox's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, slipped to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, on the sales chart.
On the rental chart, Surf's Up generated an estimated $8.1 million,
while "Silver Surfer" logged a second week at No. 2 with $7.3 million. "Evan" collected $6.4 million.
On the high-definition
disc front, Evan Almighty easily captured the top spot on the HD DVD sales chart in its debut week, while "Silver Surfer"
remained atop the Blu-ray Disc charts. Both titles are only available in their respective formats.
Transformers
Huge on DVD and HD DVD
October 23, 2007
The blockbuster hit from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, Transformers,
is the year's top-selling week one DVD so far with North American sales reaching 8.3 million units since the title's debut
on October 16, it was announced today by Paramount Home Entertainment.
The biggest original film of the year from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg,
in association with Hasbro, Inc., is also the best-selling DVD day one for the year with over 4.5 million units sold on Tuesday.
Additionally, the smash hit has exploded into the high definition market, selling
over 100,000 HD DVDs its first day of release, rocketing past previous releases to become the best-selling day one high definition
title on either format since their inceptions. Transformers has sold over 190,000 HD DVDs in its first week making it the
fastest and best-selling week one release on either high definition format as well as the best selling HD DVD ever. The Transformers
DVD is also the top-selling October DVD release in the history of the home entertainment industry.
"The performance of the 'Transformers' DVD and HD DVD has demonstrated the
phenomenal success of this global franchise," said Kelley Avery, president, Worldwide Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures.
"We're happy to be kicking off the fourth quarter with a title that clearly shows home entertainment releases are still an
event that drives consumers into stores—which is a win for both content providers and retailers."
Earning over $700 million at the global box office, the live-action feature
film Transformers is the latest success in a worldwide franchise that has emerged as one of the most successful properties
in action figure history, spawning numerous television series and comic books and a wealth of toys, games and other licensed
merchandise. In 2007, Transformers has become one of the hottest properties for boys in a variety of categories, including
toys, publishing, video games, apparel and back-to-school. Hasbro's licensing arm, HPG, has signed more than 250 licensees
in 70 countries around the world.
The first live-action film based on the enduringly popular "Robots in Disguise",
Transformers features the ultimate battle between good and evil, as the peace-loving Autobots seek to protect humanity from
the evil forces of the Decepticons. The Transformers Special Edition two-disc DVD and HD DVD sets provide an incredible experience
with an arsenal of bonus material that delivers excitement and fun for long-time fans, as well as for viewers who are new
to the Transformers universe. Further, the HD DVD includes a host of highly advanced web-enabled features that will continue
to roll-out through the rest of the year.
Transformers
Rule DVD Charts Again
November 1, 2007
Paramount Home Entertainment's DVD release of DreamWorks' Transformers remained
at the top of both the national sales and rental charts for a second consecutive week.
On the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert chart for the week ending Oct. 28, Transformers
beat back a strong challenge from Walt Disney Studios' Meet the Robinsons, which debuted at No. 2.
Two other new releases finished third and fourth for the week, respectively:
MGM's Mr. Brooks and Sony Pictures' Hostel 2. Disney's "Jungle Book" remained at No. 5.
HBO's "The Sopranos: Season 6 Part 2," the final installment in the mob drama's
hugely successful initial DVD run, bowed at No. 8
On Home Media Magazine's rental chart, Transformers posted a revenue drop of
just 14% from the previous week to remain at No. 1, with $8.6 million in revenue. Mr. Brooks came in at No. 2, with rental
earnings of $7.4 million, while Meet the Robinsons came in at No. 3, with $6.5 million.
Spider-Man
3 Dominates the DVD Charts
November 7, 2007
The Hollywood Reporter says Spider-Man 3 ruled the national DVD sales and rental
charts for the week ending November 4.
The third installment in the hugely successful superhero series, which grossed
$336.5 million in theaters during the summer, ended the two-week reign of Transformers on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert
sales chart.
Spidey's pull was so great that a boxed set of all three "Spider-Man" movies
debuted at No. 5 despite a $40 price tag.
On Home Media Magazine's rental chart, Spider-Man 3 generated estimated revenue
of $9.7 million. Transformers slipped to No. 2 with $7 million.
On the high-definition disc charts, "Spider-Man 3" was an easy victor on Blu-ray
Disc. On the HD DVD side, "Transformers" remained at No. 1 for the third consecutive week. Both titles are available only
in their respective formats.
According to Video Business, the Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray Disc sold 130,000 units
in its first six days on shelves.
The studio shipped about 400,000 Spider-Man 3 Blu-ray Disc units to retail
for the title's Oct. 30 bow, making first-week sell-off about 30%. Sony said that does not include units bundled with the
new $399 PlayStation 3.
That street week sell-off bested the comparable kick-off frame for Casino Royale
on Blu-ray by more than three times. Casino Royale, which sold 40,000 Blu-ray copies in week-one sales, had been Sony's No.
1 performer in the format to this point.
The top-opening Blu-ray title across studios is believed to be Warner Home
Video's 300, which the studio reportedly sold 250,000 units on the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats combined. It's believed about
two-third, or 165,000, of 300 units were Blu-ray.
Shrek
the Third Dominates DVD Charts
November 21, 2007
DreamWorks Animation's Shrek the Third topped the national DVD sales and rental
charts the week ending Nov. 18, with first-week sales so strong that the Paramount Home Entertainment release is already among
the year's top 10 DVD sellers, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The previous week's top seller, Disney/Pixar's Ratatouille, hung strong and
finished second, while Warner Bros.' Ocean's Thirteen debuted at No. 3.
On Home Media Magazine's video rental chart for the week, Shrek the Third handily
won the top slot with estimated rental revenues of $11 million. Ocean's Thirteen bowed at No 2, with estimated earnings of
$7.9 million.
The previous week's top renter, Universal Studios' I Now Pronounce You Chuck
& Larry, slipped to No. 3, generating an additional $7.7 million its second week, down just 17% from the previous week.
On the high-definition disc front, Shrek the Third was the hands-down winner
on the HD DVD chart, outselling fellow debutante Oceans Thirteen by a 3-to-1 margin. On the Blu-ray chart, Ratatouille remained
at No. 1, while Ocean's Thirteen bowed at No. 2.
Die
Hard Shoots Up the DVD Charts
November 28, 2007
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment's Live Free or Die Hard topped the national
sales and rental charts for the week ending November 25.
New Line's Hairspray -- with $118.8 million in boxoffice revenue, compared
with $134.5 million for "Die Hard" -- finished second on Home Media Magazine's video rental chart with $9.6 million in revenue,
behind $12.4 million for the Fox action-thriller.
But Hairspray was outsold by Paramount/DreamWorks' Shrek the Third, which took
the No. 2 spot on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart in its second week. Hairspray debuted at No. 3 on the sales
chart, just ahead of Disney's Ratatouille, which in its third week was No. 4 on the sellers list.
The other new-to-DVD theatrical
release, Disney's The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, debuted at No. 5 on the DVD sales chart and No. 9 on the rental chart
with $4.7 million.
Buzz/News
Disturbia … Again
Oct. 11, 2007
Movieland's latest winning formula: the thriller/horror flick
with unknown stars and a shoestring budget that rakes in millions (or, er, hundreds of millions) at the box office. So it
should come as no surprise that DreamWorks gave the thumbs up to a sequel of this April's Disturbia, a loose remake of Alfred
Hitchcock's Rear Window, starring It Boy Shia LaBeouf. The first installment did $115 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.
No writers or actors are attached to the follow-up yet, but let's face it, they're secondary.
Q&A
Daniel Craig Talks Bond
22
November 25, 2007
This weekend, ComingSoon.net
has been in London for the international press junket for New Line's The Golden Compass based on the first book in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series, and we had a chance
to talk to Daniel Craig, who plays the evil Lord Asriel in the film. Of course, talk quickly turned to Craig's more famous
role as the newest James Bond 007, because everyone wants to find out what we can expect from the follow-up to the blockbuster
Casino Royale, which is scheduled to start shooting very soon.
ComingSoon.net:
How have you been coping with your post-Bond fame?
Craig: I run away. Having a sense of humor
is really key. You have to have a sense of humor with these things and I've just tried to remain who I am. My life has changed.
It's changed in the fact that I don't have the freedoms I did before, but I've also got a huge amount of other freedoms that
have come along.
CS: How apprehensive were you to take Bond on originally?
Craig: Very resignated.
I was against it, very much against it.
CS: What changed your mind?
Craig: The
script and the fact that it seemed to me that I would be able to sort of dedicate and get involved with and make something
of. I've always been a Bond fan. I've always wanted the films to be good. When it came along and I read the script I thought
there was genuinely an opportunity to make a good movie with one of the most classic icon figures in movies.
CS:
What sort of sensibilities does Marc Forster, a non-Brit, bring to the Bond franchise?
Craig:
If you look at Marc Forster's current body of work, that in itself makes me very excited. If you look at "Monster's Ball",
"Finding Neverland" and then "Kite Runner", which is just stunning, it's such a diverse look at the world, I'd want us to
have that. Marc is very solid. That for me is crucially important because this movie needs to jump on from "Casino Royale"
and take it somewhere else. Marc is totally inspired and is really just keen to get started.
CS: Is the next
script based on Ian Fleming's work at all?
Craig: There's nothing left as far as I know.
CS:
Have they decided not to adapt any of the John Gardner's novels?
Craig: I don't think they ever
would, because they don't own them. |I don't know what the deal is with that. We're taking the original idea. The funny thing
is if you read Fleming's (novels), which I try to plow through occasionally, there's an awful lot of story lines that have
never been used because obviously the films are based on the books. There are still ideas that we can sort of pluck from.
CS:
This new movie starts right after "Casino Royale" ends?
Craig: That's the plan.
CS: How difficult
for you as an actor to develop the character because of his iconic status?
Craig: Not difficult
at all really. Paul Haggis is involved. We've got someone who can take on story and take on a character and take them to a
different place. It's always a struggle, but you've got to find themes, you've got to find reasons for doing it and you've
got to put them all in the right place. The same rules apply.
CS: Will the writers' strike affect production
on the next film?
Craig: We'd basically have to start now. The SAG strike starts in July. The
writers' strike doesn't affect us because we have a script. As it stands at the moment, it doesn't affect us.
CS:
I read somewhere you're going to inject a bit more humor into the next movie.
Craig: I was lying.
I said, "Yes, it's going to be funny." I don't remember saying that, but if I did, I'm not going to shy away from the fact
the occasionally there should be humor. I just don't like gags. I don't like written gags. That's not the way I've ever liked
working and I don't think that's funny myself.
CS: "Casino Royale" marked a welcome return to the style and
sensibilities of the earlier Bond movies, rather than the jokey more recent movies.
Craig: The idea of having
jokes in Bond I don't think is completely wrong, but I think the jokes to need to come out tension. There needs to be moments
of humor because we've all been sitting on the edge of our seat. I don't think you should write gags in Bond.
CS:
I understand there's already a script for a sequel to "The Golden Compass." Have you read it yet?
Craig: There's
an outline. It's a pretty good outline. I haven't looked at it. I've seen bits of it, but haven't looked at it.
CS:
Assuming Golden Compass is a hit and they make a second film, and you're already signed up to do the next Bond, are you looking
ahead to work both into your schedule?
Craig: That will be the plan, but it just depends on
how well we do here. I try not to count chickens. I really do because there's no point. You'd go crazy. We're in good shape
and I'm very happy with the way this is working out. I'd love to get involved with it. If they do another movie, I'd love
to do it. We'll fit it in. It's not my job to make that work. I pay people fortunes to make that.
CS: How important
is it for you to have the freedom to do riskier projects?
Craig: Oh, completely. I've completed
a film this year with a close friend of mine called "Flashbacks of a Fool," a movie which he wrote about five or six years
ago and we've been trying to get it off the ground. I play a movie star who goes through a huge change in his life. It maybe
sounds a bit arrogant to sort of do something like that, but the story is about growing up and what we learn when we're children
and how we formed as adults. We shot it in South Africa.
It's a very simple story.
CS: What do you think will happen in July if SAG decides strike?
Craig:
That's a good question. Really, good question. I don't know what the latest news is on the writer's strike, but I know it's
not settling. It needs to be sorted and people need to come to the negotiating table.
Check back right here on ComingSoon.net
for more on The Golden Compass sometime next week, and more on Bond 22 as it becomes available.
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