Summer of 2008: My Most Highly Anticipated Films

1 - Indiana Jones 4
Before I even grew up, I was an Indiana Jones fan. He has been my hero all throughout my childhood and now even still remains one. Only Indiana Jones can kick so much ass with only a whip and a fedora and still look good doing it. While the footage for this just doesn't have me fully excited it for it (above the four other movies mentioned), I do think it will definitely deliver. If Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg both came back to make this, then I don't think there is any way it could be that bad. What excites me the most is the absolute secrecy with this and I'm looking forward to finally seeing a new adventure unfold.

2 - Wall-E
Yes, Wall-E is above The Dark Knight and I don't care. I have this feeling, from all the footage I've seen, that Wall-E could, just maybe, be one of the great movies I've ever seen in my entire life and replace Return of the King as the top spot in my all-time top 10. But then again, too much hype means it could end up being a big let down, so I'm trying to keep that thought out of my mind. However, when it comes to actually laying down a list of my most anticipated films, I can't help that thought from creeping back into my mind. Combine my love for great science fiction, a cute, innocent romantic robot, and my love for Pixar - and that's Wall-E.

3 - The Dark Knight
This really needs no introduction. Not only is Batman Begins already one of my favorite superhero movies, but also a recent viewing has made me realize even more how incredible Christopher Nolan truly is. You take that bit of hype, combine it with Nolan's brilliant intermission movie The Prestige, add Heath Leger as the Joker, show me some phenomenal trailers and footage, and lastly, film actual scenes completely on IMAX - and you've got a movie that surpasses my excitement that I had for Spider-Man 3. I have that same feeling as Wall-E - The Dark Knight could be one of the greatest movies in a long time and I'm looking forward to it just about as much as I was looking forward to Return of the King in 2003.

4 - Hellboy II: The Golden Army

I'm a huge Hellboy fan - everyone knows that! Ever since the first Hellboy in 2004, I come to love Guillermo del Toro even more. That's enough to prove to you that I am genuinely excited for Hellboy II simply based on the director and the fact that I love the Hellboy universe. However, I'm sure you're wondering why it's only #3 on here and not #1? Well, the other movies have just beaten out the hype on this one, and Hellboy is much more of a guilty pleasure than anything major. I just hope this one really builds upon the first movie!

5 - Iron Man

I think I've been excited for Iron Man since Comic-Con in July of last year. Now one year later I'm still holding onto that hype, hoping it will kick off the summer in style, and replace Spider-Man as the Marvel superhero franchise to follow for many years to come. Favreau has quickly stepped up to become one of my favorite directors because he's such a down-to-earth and cool comic book fan like 300's Zack Snyder. I believe he was the perfect guy to bring Iron Man to the big screen in the same way that Michael Bay was perfect for Transformers. I'm excited for one hell of a fun start to the summer movie season with this one.

6 - Pineapple Express
Ever since Superbad last year, I've been anxiously awaiting Judd Apatow's next supremely placed summer comedy. When I heard about Pineapple Express and what it was all about, I knew this was already it. Its got James "Harry Osborn" Franco and Seth "Knocked Up" Rogen playing two mega-stoners who end up getting chased by the mob. Really, I don't think it can get any better than that! It's easily the one comedy I am looking forward to more than all others and I am ridiculously excited to see what sort of insanity goes down.

7 - The Incredible Hulk
If it weren't for the recent footage and new trailer that I saw at the New York Comic Con a few weeks ago, this probably wouldn't be here at all. I'm starting to feel like this could turn out pretty damn good - and I think it has a lot to do with Edward Norton. Although he lost the battle to turn it into the movie he really wanted it to be, I still think Marvel is cultivating a solid Hulk flick that will deliver more action than just about any other movie on this list. I've got a feeling that it may be a big sleeper hit that no one will see coming but in the end will shock everyone by how damn good it is. Only time will tell, but I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

8 - Get Smart
At this point, all that's left are comedies. Get Smart is one of the others that I'm very much looking forward to. I haven't seen a good action-comedy since, shit, maybe Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999? This time I think Steve Carell is going to hit another career high, embodying a character that he will be know for forever. Plus Pete Segal is finally going to come out of his hole with a solid comedy that I think could end up becoming one of the most loved summer movies. Get Smart has summer event movie written all over it and I'm looking forward to one hell of a fun opening weekend!

9 - Tropic Thunder
I was sold on this with the latest trailer. Not only do the war scenes look incredibly epic, but the comedy looks genuinely hilarious. Oddly, I'm not a fan of Zoolander, which is the last film Ben Stiller directed, but this time I've got a good feeling about Tropic Thunder. I think it's going to be one of those great movies to wrap up the summer on and, although it will be good, won't exactly be at the top of any "best of" lists by September. However, I could be wrong, and we could be in for a wild ride that will have me regretting I put it this low on the list, but I'm trying to prevent that hype from taking away what this could become.

10 - Speed Racer

Although technically I've already seen it at this point, I'm including it because I'm truly excited to see it again and relive the experience in the midst of the summer movie season. Something about the energy and excitement of high speed car races combined with the brilliant imagery that the Wachowskis have dreamt up has me giddy for Speed Racer. I'm not worried about the story at all, in fact, I'm looking forward to simply sitting back and enjoying the one-of-a-kind experience that only the Wachowskis can deliver. There's nothing more I can say besides - Speed Racer was and still is one of my most anticipated summer films that I definitely know won't be forgotten at all.

It Only just readjusted the top 10 from Alex at firstshowing.net.

Let Know your preferences.

Dragonball Teaser Poster

Both a domestic and international version of the new teaser poster for 20th Century Fox's Dragonball have made their way online. Opening on April 3, 2009, the big screen adaptation stars Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Jamie Chung, Emmy Rossum, Eriko Tamura, Joon Park, Chow Yun-Fat, Texas Battle, Randall Duk Kim and Ernie HudsonSource: ComingSoon

Judge to Direct Bateman in Extract

Mike Judge will direct and Jason Bateman will star in the comedy Extract, the first project to be produced under Judge's new company, Ternion Productions, which he formed with writer/producers John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky.

Written by Judge, Extract explores what it's like to be the boss when everything seems to be shifting around you.

Miramax will distribute in North America. Altschuler is producing alongside Michael Rotenberg. Tom Lassally and Krinsky executive produce.

MRC has also preemptively acquired Altschuler and Krinsky's spec script Brigadier Gerard. The comedy is set in the Napoleonic era and is based on a short story by Arthur Conan Doyle. Ternion is attaching a director to shoot in 2009.

Judge, who wrote and directed Office Space, is the creator of "Beavis and Butthead" and "King of the Hill," which he produced with Altschuler and Krinsky.

Altschuler and Krinsky wrote Blades of Glory and are penning Brothers of Invention in addition to finishing work on The Jetsons.

5 new The Dark Knight International Posters

Omelete.com.br has posted five new international posters for The Dark Knight, opening in conventional theaters and IMAX on July 18.

I’ve included the one other below. The final one, which is a variation on the Batman “World Without Rules” featuring The Joker might be a fan creation.

New 'Indiana Jones' TV Spot!

Who cares about mythical cities, ancient secrets, and unlimited power? As much as those things need to be there for the plot of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it's the man and the music that really counts. And of course, this new television spot for the film has both of those, but that's not all. There's Cate Blanchett's Agent Spalko, with a strategically placed black bar that is Hitleriffic, but the gem is in the slapping. There's nothing quite like seeing slaps in tune to Indie's classic theme, and for this spot, it's just like a Sissy-Boy Slap-Party.

This is a short television spot, so there's not much more to see, but luckily we don't have much longer to wait. After all this time, the film is almost here, itching to pop up in theaters on May 22. Harrison Ford, Karen Allen ... this is sure to be a fun blast from the past. Or at least, I hope!

Summit enters 'Arena'

Summit Entertainment has snapped up sci-fi action thriller "Arena," penned by tyro scribes Toby Wagstaff and Darren Howell. Benderspink, along with the writers' manager, Jim Thompson, set up the project.

Story centers on a group of modern-day soldiers who are mysteriously transported from the thick of battle to a terrain-shifting landscape where they must fight the best warriors of all different eras and histories in a gladiatorial fight to the death -- or be killed by the all-powerful operators of the "Arena."

Project is the second set up by Benderspink at Summit, where the shingle's also producing the comedy "Sensei." Benderspink's also set up several projects in the wake of the WGA strike's end including "Shell Game," "Leap Year," "Emma," "Cutlass Islands" and "Spydust."

Thompson most recently produced "War" and the hip-hop documentary "Diamonds in the Rough."

Howard talks Iron Man sequels

Terrence Howard can look forward to a prosperous future in superhero movies, it seems, with the actor claiming you’ll see a lot more of Rhodes/War Machine in future “Iron Man” movies (maybe even a spin-off).

Talking to IESB, the actor said he’ll likely get his own movie after “Iron Man” chalks up a coupla more sequels.

“If they do a 2 I know they'll do a 3, and this is just speculation on my behalf, and if they do a 3 then they'll spin-off into War Machine 'cause War Machine seems to have its own little following. Which, you know, galvanizes my own personal interest in it, I've never really signed on to be a sidekick.”

As for what the next “Iron Man” movie will be about, all indications point to not only an appearance by comic villain The Mandarin but the return of the agents from S.H.I.E.L.D.

“There's been a great deal of introduction about The Shield and where that will lead to. I think we're falling into the tradition of Marvel keeping up with the truth in how they wrote the comics initially”.

In an interview with IGN, Howard said he’d like to see a battle between Rhodes and Tony Stark/Iron Man.

"I think it should be [a battle between them]," he says. "I think it should start that way. I'm supposed to don his suit, be affected neural net-wise, have my brainwaves changed, then [it would be] Tony having to put his suit on and take it from me. And then I come and put the suit back on later -- you know, we build another suit later."

As for why Rhodes would take over as Iron Man in the first place, the actor says it's "because Tony refuses to put it on for a time. And S.H.I.E.L.D. calls and I end up doing it, according to the comic b

Juno 2 Movie Trailer

This One is just to wish you a good Week. ;)

From the irritatingly quirky mind of Oscar Award winning Diablo Cody comes the sequel that half the country has been violently waiting for. Juno kills a homeless man and has conversations full of inane pop-cultured nonsense.



Source: MadTV

First 007 Now G.I. Joe

WOW... It seems Like this bad lock is spreading. Just yesterday we reported the Quantum Solace doom and Now this.

Yhea... According to AFP seven people were injured Saturday in a collision between a bus and several cars during the filming of G.I. Joe in the center of Prague.

Video seen on the private Nova television channel showed the bus, and then other vehicles, being hit by an all-wheel-drive vehicle that appeared to have braking problems.


"It happened in a closed area that was rented out to the filmmakers for the weekend," said Prague police spokeswoman Eva Brozova.

Jirina Ernestova, spokeswoman for the emergency services, said the injured were treated in hospitals in the Czech capital.

"According to my information, there were only slight injuries," said David Minowski from the local production house Stilling Films.





G.I. Joe is scheduled for an August 7, 2009 release.

Source: AFP

Airmen Wanted Again for Transformers 2

Want to have a role in the next “Transformers” movie? The Air Force is looking for airmen to appear as extras this summer in the sequel to 2007’s “Transformers.

The production company wants to use service members as much as possible and is forming two teams.

Projected dates for the Shanghai Team are June 2-4 and July 22-25. Projected dates for the Forrest Team are June 16-17, June 23, Aug. 22 and Sept. 15-16. Volunteers must be available for all the dates the team is scheduled to shoot.

Military volunteers must take leave, fill out an off-duty employment form and provide two head-and-shoulders photos of front and side views, according to Senior Master Sgt. Vincent Aragona, an Air Force liaison for the movie. Additionally, volunteers need to be familiar with weapons and ground combat operations.

While airmen anywhere can apply, Aragona said airmen who live outside the Los Angeles area will have to provide their own transportation to Southern California and lodging there. Once filming starts, lodging, meals and transportation to movie sites outside of Los Angeles will be provided by the production company.

E-mail contact information, photos and team preference to: Vincent.aragona@afnews.af.mil and Vincent.aragona@losangeles.af.mil. For more information, call Senior Master Sgt Vincent Aragona at (310) 235-7532.

Portions of the first “Transformers” were filmed at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The movie featured real and computer-generated F-22A Raptors, MH-53 Pave Lows and CV-22 Ospreys.

Source: IESB

Walpaper By: Stuart (Thankx Stu ;))

First Look: Alejandro Amenábar's Agora Set

Agora is an English language film described as a historical drama set in early Egypt concerning a slave who turns to the rising tide of Christianity in the hopes of pursuing freedom while also falling in love with his master, a female philosophy professor and atheist. The TimesofMalta.com website adds a bit more detail to the story: Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz plays astrologer-philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria who fights to save the collected wisdom of the ancient world. Her slave Davus (Max Minghella of Syriana) is torn between his love for his mistress and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity. In addition to Weisz and Minghella, Agora also stars Rupert Evans, Michael Lonsdale, and Homayoun Ershadi.

Agora is written and directed by Oscar winning filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar (The Others ,The Sea Inside).

The film doesn't even have a US distributor yet, but is shooting for 15 weeks and should wrap by June. Local Maltese workers are being employed in roles and crew positions, which is rare for Malta, and the production is giving new life to the city. It's great to see a small project like this slowly building buzz because it sounds like something special that the Maltese are supporting. In actuality, it sounds like a movie that definitely captures my interest but I can't say I'm sold until I really get a feel for the atmosphere Alejandro Amenábar is creating and more details about the story.

In fact, this reminds me a lot of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. That movie featured a phenomenal recreation of an eighteenth century Paris yet was highly underrated. I'm hoping Agora gains some more traction than Perfume at the least. We'll be following this project as it develops and let you know once we hear more or get any more new photos.

Babylon A.D. pics

With such a summer of huge movies, some flicks get a bit lost in the shuffle -- aside from the rumors of hatcheted runtime, we haven't seen much on BABYLON A.D., Vin Diesel's return to sci-fi action.

The movie's getting a less-than-prestigious late-August release, which is when we normally see stuff like ANACONDAS: HUNT FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID.

It's a big Euro-flavored futuristic traveling tale in the vein of CHILDREN OF MEN, about a mercenary with cool tatts hired to escort a woman from Russia to New York.

Here are a few pics, with a couple of new images in the bunch.

Extra Tidbit: The Movie is based on the novel "Babylon Babies" by Maurice Georges Dantec.

Source:joblo.com

Quantum of solace, Doomed?!?

Production has had to shut down on the 22nd James Bond adventure, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, after a series of dangerous accidents occurred both during and in between filming, one of which has left a stuntman in critical condition at a local hospital in northern Italy, leading many to speculate on exactly what the f**k is going on. Are these simply a series of coincidences? Is this divine intervention for the filmmakers sticking to such a frustratingly cryptic title? Or has the film joined the ranks of similar productions deemed "cursed" - THE CROW, for example, which claimed the life of Brandon Lee. Read the details over HERE.

Bond continues his intense brood on November 7th.

Source: Times Online

20th Century Fox 2008 Summer Preview

20th Century Fox has provided ComingSoon.net with its summer preview, which includes new photos from Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher's comedy What Happens in Vegas, M. Night Shyamalan's thriller The Happening, with Mark Wahlberg, Eddie Murphy's sci-fi comedy Meet Dave, the animated comedy Space Chimps, anticipated The X-Files: I Want to Believe, Rainn Wilson comedy The Rocker, Alexandre Aja's horror flick Mirrors, with Kiefer Sutherland, and the Vin Diesel sci-fi action-thriller Babylon A.D..Click on the 'View Pics' links to see the galleries and on the movie titles for info, trailers and more on coming soon.

May 9
What Happens in Vegas (View Pics)

June 13
The Happening (View Pics)

July 11
Meet Dave (View Pics)

July 18
Space Chimps (View Pics)

July 25
The X-Files: I Want To Believe (View Pics)

August 1
The Rocker (View Pics)

August 15
Mirrors (View Pics)

August 29
Babylon A.D. (View Pics)

Angelina Jolie Wanted Teaser Poster!

Ain't It Cool News has premiered the new Angelina Jolie teaser poster for Universal Pictures' Wanted, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and co-starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann and Common. Based on Mark Millar's explosive graphic novel series, the thriller hits theaters on June 27.

The Dark Knight AMAZING Poster

They've done it again! The fans have uncovered the official new poster for The Dark Knight. Where was it found in the viral marketing? On the Joker's WhySoSerious.com, of course! The page that lead to the poster also says "Four days," presumably how long we have to wait for the new trailer?

Click the poster for a bigger version!

The Dark Knight is again directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins, The Prestige) and co-written by Nolan, his brother Jonathan Nolan (The Prestige), and David S. Goyer (Blade, Batman Begins). The movie arrives in theaters worldwide on July 18th this summer!

New Hancock Trailer - Actually Looks Good?

Hancock Trailer

I hope you remember the first Hancock teaser trailer? An extended trailer for Hancock debuted last night on American Idol and has showed up online for our viewing pleasure. Whether you're enjoying the trailers for this or not, you better accept what it is - it's the only movie opening this July 4th so far (no Transformers this year). Anyway, now for my own take on this new Will Smith superhero comedy or parody or whatever you want to call it. This time with this trailer - I'm honestly actually a bit intrigued. I still hate the ridiculously bad wire work and stupid lines, but I'll be damned, could this movie be good?! No, no, I can't get ahead of myself…

Don't get me wrong, I still am not looking forward to this, but maybe, just maybe, this could actually turn out good. I think my biggest problem is that it's in the 4th of July spot - one that should be reserved for exciting blockbusters like Transformers and Independence Day, not this awful superhero parody. I hope I'm wrong but so far I'm still not sold - this isn't going to be an exciting 4th of July.

Watch the new trailer for Hancock:


Hancock is directed by Peter Berg, of The Rundown, Friday Night Lights, and The Kingdom previously. The film's script was written by over five different writers, including John August, Vince Gilligan, Akiva Goldsman, Vincent Ngo, and Peter Berg. Hancock arrives in theaters on July 2nd this summer - Will Smith's own 4th of July weekend spot. The teaser poster is featured below.

Hancock Poster

Confirmed: Del Toro to Direct the Hobbit

Guillermo del Toro has officially signed on to direct the New Line/MGM's The Hobbit and its sequel, reports Variety.

The widely expected announcement came Thursday afternoon jointly from executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, New Line president Toby Emmerich, and Mary Parent, newly named chief of MGM's Worldwide Motion Picture Group.

Del Toro's moving to New Zealand for the next four years to work with Jackson and his Wingnut and Weta production teams. He'll direct the two films back to back, with the sequel dealing with the 60-year period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the first of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. (You can read what he told ComingSoon.net about the preparation he'll be doing for this in our exclusive interview here.)

New Line is overseeing development and will manage production. Both films are being co-produced and co-financed by New Line Cinema and MGM, with Warner Bros. distributing domestically and MGM handling international.

Del Toro won't leave for New Zealand immediately as he's still in post-production on Universal's "Hellboy II," due out in July.

The official signing of Del Toro comes four months after New Line settled a lawsuit with Jackson over "The Lord of the Rings" and announced that it had agreed with MGM to turn J.R.R. Tolkien's "Hobbit" into two live-action films.

The studios didn't give a start date on production and don't yet have a script. Though no screenplay deal's been set, it's expected that the LOTR scripting team of Jackson, Walsh and Philippa Boyens will collaborate with Del Toro.

With Del Toro blocking out four years for the project, it's likely that the studios are aiming at starting shooting next year and releasing the films in late 2011 and 2012.

Jackson's WETA stages, post-production and visual effects facilities -- built for "The Lord of the Rings" -- will be used for both films. And New Zealand will again be the site of Middle-earth, with the story centering on Bilbo Baggins taking the Ring of Power from Gollum.

Source: Variety

Harland Williams: From acting to directing

Serial support actor Harland Williams (“Sorority Boys”, “Bachelor Party 2”) will make the transition from acting to directing with “Wing Man”, a new $10 million dollar comedy from Producers Justin L. Levine and HowieCo, we were informed today.

The production shingle behind the flick, Stardust, had just worked with Williams on the comics’ comedy special ‘Wild Child’ in Toronto.

"Wing Man" shoots Summer 2008 in Toronto.

Nothing else is known about the project at this stage.

Source: MovieHole

You Don't Mess with the Zohan trailer

A new full trailer for Sony's You Don't Mess with the Zohan is now online. Opening June 6, the Dennis Dugan-directed comedy stars Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson and Rob Schneider. In the pic written by Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel (Triumph the Insult Comic Dog), and Judd Apatow, Sandler stars as Zohan, an Israeli commando who fakes his own death in order to pursue his dream: becoming a hairstylist in New York.

Final Sex and the City: The Movie Poster

FirstShowing.Net Received the an exclusive 'Sex in the City' Poster. Its Not like... something Beyond... But I think it will do great among female public that cant wait to see this Movie.

Sex and the City: The Movie is both written and directed by Michael Patrick King, a long time "Sex and the City" member who has produced, written, and directed a number of TV series episodes. The movie arrives in theaters everywhere this summer on May 30th. You can also watch the full trailer for the film if you haven't already seen it yet.

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Tom Cruise's Son to Appear in Wil Smith Movie

Connor Cruise, the 13-year-old adopted son of Tom Cruise and ex-wife Nicole Kidman, has a minor, non-speaking part in the upcoming Will Smith drama Seven Pounds.

Connor Cruise shot his part over two days more than a month ago, playing Smith as a young man and mostly shown in photographs.

The movie, which is still in production, co-stars Rosario Dawson and is directed by The Pursuit of Happyness filmmaker Gabriele Muccino. The drama follows the story of a man who affects the lives of seven strangers.

'Kill Bill,' Anime, and the Whole Bloody Affair

The only thing more annoying than double-dipping DVDs is refraining from buying the first release of a film you really love, and then waiting, waiting, waiting, and more waiting for a better version to come out. Of course, as soon as you finally cave in, eager to see the film again, that's when it will happen. I'm beginning to think that I should just go out and buy the old Kill Bill releases, just to get this whole production up and running.

Last June, it seemed like we were finally getting the Whole Bloody Affair, but November came and went without that super-tasty disc release. Almost a year later, we're getting teased again. In a talk with MTV, Uma Thurman says that Quentin Tarantino's animated stuff is really on the way, and she teased that the long-awaited and desired big DVD release could actually arrive soon.

One anime companion film has been made, and Thurman says: "It has nothing to do with me. It has to do with another character. You'll have to see." This, as MTV points out, probably means an extra helping of Bill himself. But she also says that this short could be part of a larger re-release, sort of Grindhouse style. "Right now he's putting the two films together with an intermission with an added anime sequence he had already written. So additional stories are in there, in animation."

Anime or not, just get us the damned DVD set, QT. I'm sick of waiting! I need my geysers of blood and Elle Driver.

Igor Poster

The Weinstein Co has released the movie poster for their latest animated effort Igor. The film promises to bring a new twist to the classic monster genre. In a world filled with Mad Scientists and Evil Inventions, one talented evil scientist’s hunch-backed lab assistant has big dreams of becoming a Mad Scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair.

Igor features the voice talents of Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno, Jennifer Coolidge, Molly Shannon, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, John Cusack and Sean Hayes. TWC doesn’t have a good history on the animation side, and this appears to be the production company Exodus Film Group’s first animated production. Their usual television work includes EcoOdyssey and Around Along: The Brad Van Liew Story. Yeah, it doesn’t sound promising.

Igor will hit theaters on September 19th 2008.

Wanted poster

The last few posters that have been released recently (with the exception of the beautiful Hellboy II poster), have been fairly unimpressive... Now it's time to talk about the new Wanted poster. I really don't know what is going on with Universal. They seem to have set dates a mere two to three months from a film's release to introduce a poster (is this testing a new marketing strategy?). We barely got The Incredible Hulk poster a few weeks back, we don't yet have a Mummy 3 poster yet, and finally we have the very first poster for Wanted.

This poster debuted at the New York Comic Con last weekend as an exclusive. This isn't the final poster you'll see in theaters but was a one-time thing for attendees of the Con. I've got the same question to ask with this one - how excited for Wanted are you? Does this poster fulfill your desires for something energetic as we lead into the summer? Is this movie destined to flop or is it going to hit as big as the other four comic book movies this summer?

Based upon Mark Millar's explosive graphic novel series and helmed by stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov—creator of the most successful Russian film franchise in history, the Night Watch series—Wanted tells the tale of one apathetic nobody's transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice. In 2008, the world will be introduced to a hero for a new generation: Wesley Gibson.

Wanted is directed by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, of Night Watch and Day Watch previously. The movie is based on a comic book series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones published by Image Comics. Wanted hits theaters full force this summer on June 27th.

The calm before the summer storm

I just wanted to let everyone know that the reason there is a lack of updates this week is because there literally is nothing new. There is no major news coming out of anywhere and it's all quiet on every front. I suppose this could be called the calm before the summer storm. Iron Man hits theaters in just over a week and will officially kick off the 2008 summer movie season. Studios and producers and directors are all working fiendishly to finish their big blockbusters and prepare an enormous amount of marketing and publicity to reign down beginning in May.
It'll pick up again soon, that's a guarantee…

Second Full Prince Caspian Trailer Hits!

We have the latest Prince Caspian trailer for you kids today. Not much is new, but I enjoy the quicker pace and favor it to the previous trailer - check it out!

Paramount Pictures 2008 Summer Preview

Paramount Pictures has provided ComingSoon.net with its summer preview, which includes new photos from comic book adaptation Iron Man, the return of The Man With the Hat in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda, Mike Myers comedy The Love Guru and Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder.
Click on the 'View Pics' links to see the galleries and on the movie titles for info, trailers and more on comingSoon.

May 2
Iron Man (View Pics)

May 22
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (View Pics)

June 6
Kung Fu Panda (View Pics)

June 20
The Love Guru (View Pics)

August 15
Tropic Thunder (View Pics)

Story details and new pics for Indy 4 online

It's refreshing to see that the two most anticipated films of the Summer - "Indiana Jones" and "The Dark Knight" - have kept their publicity to surprisingly modest levels so far (although most of their serious spoilers can be found online with only minor digging).

Well to add to those spoilers comes a swag of new pics along with some new information from the next Indy adventure - what looks to be segments of the press kit have leaked online. Of course Lucasfilm spreads disinformation like rabbits breed (ie. copiously and quickly), so be cautious. On the whole though, this does seem to match everything we've heard so far though.

First up, the official synopsis - some spoilers ahead:

"This newest adventure begins in the desert Southwest in 1957 - the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) have barely escaped a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents on a remote airfield.

Now, Professor Jones has returned home to Marshall College - only to find things have gone from bad to worse. His close friend and dean of the college (Jim Broadbent) explains that Indy's recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him.

On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who carries both a grudge and a proposition for the adventurous archaeologist: If he'll help Mutt on a mission with deeply personal stakes, Indy could very well make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history - the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear.

But as Indy and Mutt set out for the most remote corners of Peru - a land of ancient tombs, forgotten explorers and a rumored city of gold - they quickly realize they are not alone in their search. The Soviet agents are also hot on the trail of the Crystal Skull.

Chief among them is icy cold, devastatingly beautiful Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), whose elite military unit is scouring the globe for the eerie Crystal Skull, which they believe can help the Soviets dominate the world ... if they can unlock its secrets.

Indy and Mutt must find a way to evade the ruthless Soviets, follow an impenetrable trail of mystery, grapple with enemies and friends of questionable motives, and, above all, stop the powerful Crystal Skull from falling into the deadliest of hands."

Other pertinent facts revealed in the notes include that the map with the red line element is definitely back. Also John Hurt's character is named Professor Oxley and is inspired by Ben Gunn in the Robert Louis Stevenson classic Treasure Island. This comes as a surprise as he was previously listed as Abner Ravenwood on the official site awhile back.

Meanwhile a gushingly positive review of the film has gone up at Hollywood Elsewhere, claiming it's "the best of the Indy sequels". Editor Jeff Wells admits he's hesitant about running the review (as its a 'friend of a friend' style comments). The review also comes a few days after Variety's best columnist Anne Thompson wrote an article which indicates that the first screenings for the film will be both at Cannes and for press in the US on May 18th.

Also reports of a 140 minute runtime for "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" are now said to be in error. Producer Frank Marshall confirmed to Paramount publicity (via HE) that the film is just a tad over two hours - making it about equal with the 127 minute runtime of 'The Last Crusade'.

Finally comes all the new photos. Just click on the thumbnails below:

First Look: Disney's Rapunzel

Largely because there is a lack of anything else newsworthy so far this week, I thought I should throw this out there before we hit the summer movie season anyway. We first mentioned Rapunzel in the announcement of Disney and Pixar's Full Animated Line-Up Through 2012, although the film has been in the works for quite a long time. The animated film is now slated for release in December of 2010 after recently being revamped at Disney. You can check out a few new concept art photos below.

In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel, audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair… lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010 holiday.

Directors Glen Keane and Dean Wellins want Rapunzel to look and feel like a traditional hand-drawn animated Disney film, but in 3D. They're using a certain rendering technique that will make the surface look painted while still maintaining the depth and dimensions of 3D animation. Some test footage was originally screened at Siggraph in 2005, which is where the concept art of Rapunzel to the left originally came from. Since then the project has revamped and we can't confirm whether that's still the same design we'll eventually see. The visual style for this film is based on French Rococo artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard's painting "The Swing." Stay tuned for more on this Disney project as it develops.

WALL•E Meet a Magnet

First he encountered a vacuum (see previous clip), and now WALL•E has met a magnet. Walt Disney Pictures has given us a first look at the second vignette for Pixar's June 27 release, written and directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo). The animated adventure features the voices of Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, John Ratzenberger and Kathy Najimy.

Watch the clip in QuickTime or Windows Media format:
QuickTime, Hi-Res
QuickTime, Med-Res
QuickTime, Lo-Res
Windows Media Player, Hi-Res
Windows Media Player, Med-Res
Windows Media Player, Lo-Res

Wolfgang Petersen No Longer Directing Ender's Game

Somehow we missed the original announcement for this project, but here's a recap. German filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen was originally set to direct an adaptation of Orson Scott Card's sci-fi novel Ender's Game. Now word comes from io9 that Petersen is no longer attached the project and that it's currently seeking a new director. Originally slated to be released this year, the project is now hoping to shoot by early 2009 as long as they find a new director and suitable cast. I'm not too familiar with Ender's Game, but after reading into it a bit more, I'm ashamed to have missed this the first time around!

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is humanity's last hope. He doesn't know it, but he will have to prevent and counter-attack an extra-terrestrial species called the Formic, or "Buggers" informally. After a fight with a bully, he gets drafted into Battle School, where the best of the best wind up to become highly trained combatants. Ender faces many challenges in this school, makes friends and enemies, and must learn to survive alone in order to save earth, but he's also in danger of losing his sanity throughout the entire story. This is Ender's Game. The first book is actually part of a series written by Orson Scott Card. You can pick them up on Amazon.com.

Despite Petersen is no longer directing, the series' author Orson Scott Card is still writing the script. He's already finished a draft and is "already working to make it even better," according to producer Lynn Hendee. They're also looking for someone to cast as Ender, but haven't settled on anyone because they're waiting for the new director. "We all have our favorites, but it is crucial for the new director to weigh in on that." And of course, the earlier the better, because this isn't going to be a low budget sci-fi flick. "Ender's Game requires an extended pre-production due to the many visual effects."

Wolfgang Petersen has directed films like Poseidon, Troy, The Perfect Storm, Air Force One, Enemy Mine, and Das Boot previously. He actually didn't seem like a bad choice, but now the search is on to find someone else. The only problem - let's hope they find someone who can direct a big-budget summer blockbuster on the scale of those films from Petersen's past. I do think this could become an awesome sci-fi film in the end and I hope it keeps moving forward! There's a lot to look forward to with this and I really hope they don't screw it up - although it sounds like Lynn and Chartoff Productions has it under control.

'Wonder Woman' Underway?

It is no end of strange that with all the superhero movies being greenlit, one of the biggest comic book icons has languished in development hell for years. How is it that the Hulk managed to get remade before Wonder Woman landed a single movie?

We've heard it before, but she may finally be on her way. IESB.net caught up with Joel Silver at the Speed Racer press junket, and to everyone's surprise, Silver mentioned the future of the Amazon superheroine. Silver says he has two new writers working on the script -- Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland, authors of the WWII Wonder Woman script that Warner Bros bought last year.

The two are writing a whole new script, shying away from any origin story, but instead one looking at her background, and her homeland of Paradise Island. I don't know, that sounds like an origin story to me. No word on what has happened to the WWII spec.

No director has been named, but apparently the project came up in discussion with the Wachowski Brothers, and Silver mentioned that Andy has an idea how to open the Wonder Woman film. He refused to comment further, so this could just be a director offering some helpful advice to two writers. Silver also says that the Wonder Woman of that embattled Justice League Mortal and this film would be completely unrelated -- no surprise there.

I admit, I lost interest in the Wonder Woman movie when Joss Whedon dropped out -- and I'm not the biggest WW fan in the world (as a kid, I thought she was "too naked") but I think it's long past time for her to get a movie. Little girls need her! How cool would it be to see a few little Wonder Womans trick-or-treating along with all those Disney Princesses? Make it happen, Silver. She might even make that 2009 release date if you hurry.

Moon Bloodgood cast in Terminator

On the weekend, there were rumours that "Terminator 4" had shut down.

Today, Reuters announces the female lead.

If I were a betting man, I'd put my lung on the table and say the film is safe - no cancellation, not if they're announcing cast.

So who is the actress they've announced? She's Moon Bloodgood (gotta love that name), fresh from the short-lived series "Journeyman".

According to the aforelinked site, 32-year-old Bloodgood will play "a survivor of the nuclear holocaust perpetrated by that rascally SkyNet".
Not sure whether she's playing Kate (the character played by Claire Danes), John Connor's crush from "Terminator 3" (who would become his wife), or a new character. Probably a new character, since there was nothing remotely Dutch, Irish or Korean about the character of Kate in the previous film - and Bloodgood is a combination of all three.

According to the trade, "Terminator 4" (It was to be titled "Terminator Salvation : The Future Begins", but producers have reportedly scrapped that title) is still set to shoot from May 5. McG directs; Sam Worthington, Christian Bale, Anton Yelchin and (possibly) Josh Brolin star.

Forbidden Kingdom Fights Off Sarah Marshall

Lionsgate's The Forbidden Kingdom, the first team-up of Jackie Chan and Jet Li on the big screen, fought off a new Judd Apatow-produced comedy to take first place with an estimated $20.9 million. The Rob Minkoff-directed opened in 3,151 theaters and averaged $6,623 per location. The film also stars Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Crystal Liu Yi Fei and Li Bing Bing.

Universal's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, with Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand, debuted in the second spot with an estimated $17.3 million from 2,798 theaters, an average of $6,200 per site. Written by Segel, directed by Nick Stoller, and produced by Judd Apatow, the "romantic disaster comedy" cost about $30 million to make.

Last week's champ, Screen Gems' Prom Night, dropped a hefty 56.3% in ticket sales to bring in $9.1 million in its second weekend for a total of $32.6 million. The horror remake, starring Brittany Snow, was budgeted at $20 million.

TriStar thriller 88 Minutes, starring Al Pacino, opened with $6.8 million from 2,168 theaters in fourth place. The Jon Avnet-directed pic averaged $3,136.

Fox Walden's Nim's Island rounded out the top five with $5.7 million and has pushed its three-week total of $32.9 million. Starring Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler, the fantasy-adventure cost $37 million to produce.

Sony's 21 added $5.5 million in its fourth weekend and has collected $69.98 million so far, while Fox Searchlight Pictures' Street Kings made $4 million and has earned $19.9 million after two weeks.

Also new in theaters, Ben Stein's Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed earned $3.2 million from 1,052 theaters.

In limited release, Morgan Spurlock's Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? received $143,000 from 102 theaters, thriller Pathology took in $50,000 from 46 locations, and Willem Dafoe's Anamorph got $3,000 from just one theater.

Ticket sales were up for the first time in a month as the top 12 movies earned $82.1 million, up 12 percent from the same weekend last year.

Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films.

Source: Box Office Mojo

"Terminator4" Terminated???

"Terminator 4" canceled? Has Warner Bros decided to throw it all in just weeks out from principal photography? And Why?

According to UGO's The Movie Blog, Sam Worthington's going to be pissed he passed on "G.I Joe".

Its the weekend, so nobody's going to be around to confirm or deny the story, but first thing Monday we'll get straight on the C.B and see if someone's out there that can give us some dirt.

The Spirit Trailer

Lionsgate has revealed the teaser trailer for writer/director Frank Miller's big screen adaptation of Will Eisner's comic, The Spirit, starring Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons, Louis Lombardi. The classic action-adventure-romance hits theaters on January 16, 2009.



You can also watch the teaser here in High Definition QuickTime and Flash (international users will have to use the QuickTime option to watch the clip).

Confirmed: Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk Crossover Scene!

It's been rumored (and supposedly confirmed) for months now - Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk will each have crossover scenes, as in, each character will show up in each other's movies (somehow). Now today live from the New York Comic Con we have confirmation. After an impressive presentation for The Incredible Hulk, director Louis Leterrier and star Tim Roth presented the final trailer that will debut online in the next few weeks. And as a special treat, at the very end, we got to see the scene where Tony Stark shows up in a bar and talks with General Ross.

If you want to stay surprised, stop reading, but there's been so much buzz about this, that they just decided to show it to everyone early and confirm it. But I bet you there is a lot more to this scene than we know… Can anyone say Hulkbuster Iron Man (at least maybe sometime in the future)?

The scene shows a completely drunk General 'Thunderbolt' Ross (William Hurt) sitting in a bar when Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) walks in. He says "I hear you've got an unusual problem." "You should talk," Ross slurs. Stark replies, "you should listen." That was all we got to see, but there could be more because it cut rather quickly at the end.

This most likely will not show up in the full trailer, but you will eventually see it in the movie. The full trailer itself was pretty impressive. I've got a good feeling now that this could be that hidden gem this summer that pops up in June and surprises all of us. I think Louis Leterrier was the perfect guy to direct it and Edward Norton the perfect guy to star in it. It's going to be the Hulk we always wanted but never got until now! The new image at the top comes from the latest issue of Empire - check it out!

We were also shown one of the first fight scenes before Emil Blonsky was fully Abomination. The military gases Bruce Banner in a building and forces him to become Hulk, in which he then goes chasing after them and eventually fights a fairly skilled and acrobatic Emil. It honestly looked great and I've got high hopes now. And to see the Marvel universe completely coming together really gets me excited. Marvel has really got their shit together!

Source: FirstShowing

Justice League has been 'tabled', says Silver

A bunch of fellow webmasters had to chance to interview uber-producer Joel Silver at the Long Beach Speedway for the junket of "Speed Racer" this week. Naturally, as we do, the site captains hit Silver with questions about his upcoming projects ("fuck ya current movie!, tell us what's next!").

Though Silver remained tight-lipped on his long-gestating "Wonder Woman" movie (he did tell IESB however that Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland, the guys behind the Wonder Woman Spec script that Silver snapped up a year or so ago, are working on a script for it - albeit not one set in WWII, like their spec was - and hinted that the Wachowski's might somehow be involved in the film; apparently Larry Wachowski has a terrific idea for the opening, one which Silver wouldn't reveal), he did let slip some interesting news about the terminally-troubled "Justice League" movie.

According to Silver - who isn't involved in the film, but does work for the same crowd, Warner Bros, so he probably would be privy to such info - the film has been put on ice.

Says CHUD, ''I briefly cornered producer Joel Silver to ask him how the Justice League movie would affect Wonder Woman. The answer: it won't. According to Silver, who would be in the know, Justice League has been 'tabled.''

ow, I believe that doesn't mean the cast and crew of the film have been seated at a restaurant, nor does it mean they've been coded into tables for a web page, it actually means the film is 'off' for the time being. With all the troubles they've had trying to get thing up - and now, with director George Miller having to fight to get Australian tax credits to film it in Sydney - I'm not surprised it's gone belly-up. It's need to be put bake in the oven to cook for a while longer.

When the film does get up, Silver said, it'll likely be without any of the currently attached cast members (Common as Green Lantern, Adam Brody as The Flash, Megan Gale as Wonder Woman, Teresa Palmer as Talia Al Ghul). I'm all for that... this thing is need of some friggin' 'stars' for crying out loud... even just one...

Source: MovieHole

X-Files 2 plot revealed?

Uh Oh, Chris Carter's gonna be pissed.

Check this... (and click thru if you dare!)

Hey folks

The X-files plot has been revealed, from the back cover of the novel!

Read more here www.xfilesnews.com

Hope ya like

Holly

I knew it! Mulder and Scully Vs. Dracula!!

Hellboy II: The Golden Army Poster!

It's finally here in all of its beautiful glory. Artist Drew Struzan has finished drawing a gorgeous Hellboy II: The Golden Army poster and it's launching at the New York Comic Con this weekend. Thanks to CHUD we have our first look at it and damn is it bad ass. This thing gives me fantastic shivers - I can't wait for Hellboy II this summer. Check out this beauty and if you're in New York this weekend (like me) make sure to pick one up!

After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it’s up to the planet’s toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it’s time to call in Hellboy (Ron Perlman).

Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense—pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), aquatic empath Abe (Doug Jones) and protoplasmic mystic Johann—the BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal. And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who’s accepted by neither, must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army is both written and directed by visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro of Blade II, Hellboy, and Pan's Labyrinth previously. The film is based off of Mike Mignola's comic book series that was first published by Dark Horse Comics in 1993. Hellboy II arrives in theaters this summer on July 11th. Mark down that day in your calendars now!

Rogue Trailer

There is an exclusive new trailer for the film Rogue over at Shocktillyoudrop. The film is set for limited release April 25th and looks to be a crocodile assault film!

To check out the new trailer please go here:

For your viewing pleasure, I have also included a previously release trailer that was available form the You Tube!

I love huge animal/monster horror films. Getting eaten is among the creepiest ways to go, and watching a feature film where humans are on the menu suits me just fine. I will certainly try to find this one when it is released and look forward to reviewing it for all of you.

Ford would consider fifth Indiana Jones movie

Though the most likely possibility is Shia LaBeouf carrying on the series, "Indiana Jones" star Harrison Ford tells USA Today that "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" might not be the character's final film appearance - if George Lucas and Steven Spielberg can get get their asses in gear and have a fifth "Indiana Jones" film ready soon - rather than in another twenty years - Ford says he'd consider playing the Man in the Hat again.

Ford tells the stone tablet that Indiana Jones, as a character, hasn't changed much since we first met him in 1982. "He's a guy who is pretty clear from the beginning," the actor says. "He has not changed so much between films. But we've learned more about him, through various plot devices, such as the introduction of his father. And we'll learn something more about him in this film. I think it's required. If you're going to bring back a character, you'll have to supply the audience with something more and different.''

Indiana Jones 140 Min Movie!

From the desk of Jeffrey Wells comes a report that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has a total running time of 140 minutes or more - which comes out to around two hours and twenty-something minutes. First things first, we need to do some comparison. Raiders of the Lost Ark is 115 minutes, Temple of Doom is 118 minutes, and Last Crusade is 127 minutes. That would make Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the longest Indiana Jones movie? Instead of waiting a few more weeks for the running time to become official, it's time to discuss the positives and negatives of this reveal.

The buzz on Indiana Jones 4 is pretty immense right now. This is what I love about it - no matter how much possibly negative material gets out there, there are still concrete fans who will stand their ground and see it. I'm one of them. Despite what I may hear about how bad it might be, I'm still an Indiana Jones fan to the core and will be lining up opening day to see it. It's not in my best interest to try and tear apart a movie that is a continuation of some of my most beloved childhood memories. With that being said - 140 minutes does seem a tad lengthy. All I know is that I remember Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade being long enough and that was 13 minutes shorter.

The argument over a movie's length is always a heated one. I remember two glaring discussions in recent years: Superman Returns being too long and Spider-Man 3 being way too short. I'd actually agree with both of those assessments, however Indiana Jones 4 seems to fit nicely in between both of those extremes - not too long and not too short. If anything, I'd be a lot more concerned if it came out to around 90 or 100 minutes. However, we can't forget that length was one of the big factors that killed Grindhouse at the box office. But then again, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was 168 minutes, too. All I know is that now I'm even more excited for this summer's blockbuster line-up!

Is 140 minutes too long for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Or are we blowing up a simple bit of data into something way too big?

WALL-E Four Minute Featurette

Disney has released a new WALL-E featurette on the STARZ movie channel to help promote the channel’s big Pixar premiere on April 22nd. Cars will air at 6pm, followed by Ratatouille at 8pm, followed by the premiere of Leslie Iwerks’ documentary The Pizar Story, followed by a Starz feature The Pixar Story Continues which includes scenes from Ratatouille and WALL-E. Writer/director Andrew Stanton hosts this four-minute WALL-E featurette, which features a bunch of never-before-seen footage. We get to see what has become of Earth, what has become of the other WALL-E units, and a lot of new interaction between WALL-E and EVE.

M. Night Shyamalan Talks About Avatar: The Last Airbender

No, not that Avatar - the hotly anticipated James Cameron project. M. Night Shyamalan's similar sounding project is actually called Avatar: The Last Airbender and is actually a children's cartoon that aired on Nickelodeon for a time. Considering the animated series' rather interesting storyline, the sneakily creative Shyamalan decided this is some great material he could work with "as the template for putting storytelling on a new level." He sat down with Empire to talk more about the upcoming production and why a children's cartoon is actually so compelling. Ready to be convinced?

To give you the quick and dirty, Avatar surrounds a boy named Aang who lives in a world filled with martial arts and magic that is primarily comprised of four tribes of people, each who control a particular element (i.e. fire, air, water and earth). Within those tribes are folks called "Benders" that can manipulate their native element; and throughout the land, there is one person capable of bending all four elements called the Avatar, who helps to balance the world and elemental powers. Aang is the latest in the long line of Avatars and shortly after his birth goes missing. Seeing an opportunity, the Fire Nation destroys the Air Nomads in hopes of killing Aang and therefore reigning supreme, since the Avatar won't be around to restore balance. Aang reappears after the world has gone to shit and is confronted with the responsibility of restoring order. The story goes on from there, but you get the idea

If you happen to catch the show on DVD, you'll get a better feel for the storyline and some of the Hindu and Buddhist philosophical undercurrents that Shyamalan is drawn to. Despite being a cartoon, Avatar has some surprisingly approachable depth.

One wonders, though, why Shyamalan might latch onto a project like this given his past work; all of the auteur's previous films have been written and director by him. To now adapt someone else's material - Shyamalan, however, did write the script - is an interesting move on his part, but to do so with a project so focused on visual spectacles is even more interesting. To his credit, Shyamalan states that, "It can't be special effects for the sake of special effects." However, Avatar doesn't really have the 'prize in the cereal box' like his other projects.

Is this a new direction for Shyamalan - work that is less flirting and discovery and more conspicuous and stunning? I really enjoy the guy and the storyline seems pretty intriguing, so I'm all for it. If you're curious to learn more, be sure to read the entire interview with Shyamalan over at Empire.

Milla Jovovich Boards The 4th King

Milla Jovovich ("Resident Evil" movies) will star in Gold Circle Films' thriller The 4th Kind. Olatunde Osunsanmi, a former assistant to filmmaker Joe Carnahan, is making his directorial debut on the film, which he also wrote.

The Hollywood Reporter says that although project details are being kept under wraps, it is described as a fact-based thriller involving an ongoing unsolved mystery in Alaska, where one town has seen an extraordinary number of unexplained disappearances during the past 40 years and there are accusations of a federal cover-up.

Jovovich plays a woman investigating the disappearances in the town.

A late-June start is being eyed.

Source: ComingSoon

Brad Bird Wins a lifetime achievement prize

The WGA West's Animation Writers Caucus has awarded its animation writing award for lifetime achievement to writer-director Brad Bird.

Bird will be honored at the WGA West's Honorary Awards Luncheon on April 23 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.

"Brad's work has put him in the pantheon of animation creators for whom the art and craft of animation writing are elegantly (and sometimes literally) drawn together," Verrone said.

Bird wrote and directed "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles," both of which won Oscars for animated feature. Bird also received Oscar noms for writing "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles." Neither pic was covered by the WGA, which has limited oversight of feature animated writing.

Bird's TV credits include serving as executive consultant on "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill."

Bird is prepping his next project, the live-action feature film "1906."

Source: Variety

Wildly Popular 'Iron Man' Trailer To Be Adapted Into Full-Length Film

Looking to profit off the millions of folks who want to see more of the trailer, the Onion has decided to adapt it into a full-length film. (Unfortunately, out of the 758 Iron Man trailers currently available online, they do not say which one will be getting the feature treatment. One assumes, however, it will be the seventh international teaser extended intro scene.)

Luckily, those crazy cats at The Onion were all over this story -- debating whether or not it's smart to extend what most people felt was an excellent trailer 179 more minutes. Good news is Robert Downey Jr. has decided to reprise his role from the trailer (fans would've freaked if they re-cast the character) and reporters from The Onion do hope they bring back that pretty red head played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Amen to that! Says The Onion, "The studio has tried to reassure the public that everything they love about the trailer will be incorporated into the movie, right down to the actual lines from the trailer."

Awesome. Could go either way here -- but what do you think: Would you pay to go see a feature-length trailer?

Source: Cinematical

The Incredible Hulk Poster Revealed!

With a mere 60 days to go until its debut, Universal has finally put out a poster for The Incredible Hulk. The poster features a puny Edward Norton and a giant Hulk standing back-to-back and all the other standard advertising fare. To be honest, it's quite unimpressive - at least, it's not that eye-catching. Whether or not we'll see more posters before its release is still unknown, but it's my guess that this is the one and only Hulk poster there is. Check it out below and chime in with your thoughts as well.

Thanks to IGN for initially debuting this - we'll update it with a full size clean version once we pick one up.

In this new beginning, scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him: The Hulk. Living in the shadows—cut off from a life he knew and the woman he loves, Betty Ross (Liv Tyler)—Banner struggles to avoid the obsessive pursuit of his nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt), and the military machinery that seeks to capture him and brutally exploit his power.

As all three grapple with the secrets that led to The Hulk’s creation, they are confronted with a monstrous new adversary known as The Abomination (Tim Roth), whose destructive strength exceeds even The Hulk’s own. And on June 13, 2008, one scientist must make an agonizing final choice: accept a peaceful life as Bruce Banner or find heroism in the creature he holds inside—The Incredible Hulk.

The Incredible Hulk is directed by French filmmaker Louis Leterrier of The Transporter, Unleashed, and The Transporter 2. The script for the film was originally written by Zak Penn (Behind Enemy Lines, X-Men 2, X-Men 3), but after joining the film as the lead character Bruce Banner, Edward Norton himself took over the reigns and re-wrote the screenplay. The Incredible Hulk arrives in theaters on June 13th.

Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua One-Sheet

Walt Disney Pictures has provided a new one-sheet director Raja Gosnell's Beverly Hills Chihuahua, coming to theaters on September 26.

The adventure comedy stars Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona and Jamie Lee Curtis, and features the voices of Andy Garcia, Placido Domingo, George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Cheech Marin, Piolin and Drew Barrymore.

You can view a bigger version of the poster by clicking it below, and for more on the movie, go here.

Source:Walt Disney Pictures

Spielberg Adapting Ghost in the Shell into Live-Action 3D!

After 19 years since its debut in 1989, DreamWorks has finally secured the rights to adapt the Japanese manga and anime series Ghost in the Shell into a 3D live-action feature film. Both Universal and Sony were also chasing the rights, but Steven Spielberg himself took a personal interest in it and made sure it ended up in the hands of his company - DreamWorks. Spielberg says that Ghost in the Shell is one of his favorite stories and is "a genre that has arrived and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks." This plays off of the announcement from February that Akira, one of the other heralded Japanese anime properties, is being adapted by Warner Brothers as well.

Street Kings screenwriter Jamie Moss has been hired to write the adaptation. Ex-Marvel CEO Avi Arad and Steven Paul, who originally brought the project to the studio, will both produce. A director has not been announced yet. DreamWorks president of production Adam Goodman enthused that Ghost in the Shell is a property "that epitomizes 3-D live-action motion picture possibilities." A production schedule has not been announced, however it's likely DreamWorks will be aiming to get this together to follow Akira's debut in the summer of 2009.

Created by Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell was first published in 1989. It went on to generate two additional manga editions, three anime film adaptations, an anime TV series and three videogames. Ghost in the Shell is a futuristic police thriller dealing with the exploits of Motoko Kusanagi, a member of the covert operations section of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission, Section 9, which specializes in fighting technology-related crime. Although supposedly equal to all other members, Kusanagi fills the leadership role in the team, and is usually referred to as "the Major" due to her past rank in the armed forces. She is capable of superhuman feats, and bionically specialized for her job - her body is almost completely mechanized; only her brain and a segment of her spinal cord are organic.

I'm a huge fan of the two Ghost in the Shell anime movies and am incredibly excited to see this finally come together under Spielberg's discretion. It looks like the new trend in Hollywood definitely is adapting anime and it looks like both Paramount (Ghost in the Shell) and Warner Brothers (Akira) have their big properties. I only hope that Jamie Moss is a talented enough screenwriter to maintain the brilliant subtleties and undertones of the Ghost in the Shell series and not turn it into a steaming pile of Hollywood crap. For now I'll remain confident and maintain my excitement as this project develops.

Source:FirstShowing

First Look: Hugo Weaving in The Wolfman

Though not as awesome or as polished as the previous photos we brought of Benicio Del Toro as the Wolfman, the latest snaps from the Gazette and Herald are still pretty exciting. We at least get a first glimpse of the wickedly talented Hugo Weaving sporting period attire and a rare, relaxed grin; Weaving plays stern and serious like no other and is an actor I can wait to see on screen again.

The photos come from the quaint village of Lacock in Wilshire, England where filming of the 1941-remake is currently taking place. The upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince actually filmed in this location as well earlier this year, given the village's attractive, historically intact appearance.

Apparently a lot of the filming took place inside the 14th Century Tithe Barn. That scene is definitely one I would want a sneak peak at, being described as containing "huge blocks of ice and models of dead bodies were strewn across the floor and hanging by metal hooks." Hints of grisly scenes like this and the fearful trio of Anthony Hopkins, Del Toro and Weaving clearly makes this film a list-topper for sure.

Del Toro plays Lawrence Talbot, who is bitten by a werewolf and turns into one. His human love interest is played by Emily Blunt (Devil Wears Prada), while Hopkins plays his father, Sir John Talbot. Weaving is Detective Aberline who investigates the Wolfman's murders. That top hat has detective written all over it.

The Wolfman is currently scheduled to hit theaters on April 3rd, 2009.

Source: FirstShowing

'Batman: Gotham Knight' Trailer!

Not long after we got our first look at the Star Wars: The Clone Wars trailer, Yahoo has debuted the first preview for Batman: Gotham Knight (watch it there or above via YouTube). Unlike the Clone Wars look, this one comes with better quality and it won't be pulled in a matter of minutes (at least not from Yahoo). In the spirit of the Animatrix, Batman: Gotham Knight is very similar in that it utilizes several acclaimed directors (Yasuhiro Aoki, Futoshi Higashide, Toshiyuki Kubooka, Hiroshi Morioka, Jong-Sik Nam, Shoujirou Nishimi) over the course of six interlocking stories that are meant to serve as a bridge between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

Kevin Conroy will once again don the voice of Batman, and some of the villains rumored to be making an appearance include Deadshot, Killer Croc and the Scarecrow. Batman: Gotham Knight will be released directly to DVD on July 8. I totally dug the Animatrix when it came out, and the animation on Gotham Knight looks pretty ridiculous based on this trailer. Of course, I have to ask: What do you think about this one? Is this a DVD you simply must own?

Source: Cinematical

Spielberg screwing with 3-D

There's currently a crisis in the theater industry and apparently it's all Steven Spielberg's fault. According to Variety coverage of Sunday's National Association of Broadcasters Show's Digitial Cinema Summit, the filmmaker was named as a constant obstacle in the transition to digital cinema.

Spielberg's insistence against releasing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull digitally was overruled last month when Paramount announced that it would indeed open the summer blockbuster on some digital screens, but the fact that it won't be a full digital release, coupled with the fact that Spielberg still doesn't "get" the fact that digital is superior to film, is a problematic issue for an industry having difficulties installing a necessary amount of digital projectors by 2009.

John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners spoke at the summit, warning of a "potential train wreck" next year when all those monumental 3-D releases we've been hearing about (James Cameron's Avatar; DreamWorks' Monsters vs. Aliens; Pixar's upgraded rereleases of Toy Story and Toy Story 2) are met with an inadequate amount of 3-D-equipped screens. For more than a year now, both Hollywood and NATO have been in agreement that by 2009 there will need to be anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 screens with 3-D capability in order to handle the full-digital-3-D releases, beginning with the March 27 opening of Monsters vs. Aliens. Unfortunately, since this time last year, the reality has been a mere doubling from around 500 screens to slightly more than 1,000.

The main issue is that while studios and theater owners are in agreement about the need for so many digital projectors (which then also need to be equipped with digital 3-D add-ons), the two parties still can't agree on the deals that will put such substantial upgrades in place. Fithian said that if these deals aren't finalized in the next month or two, there won't be enough time for the transition to occur before the 3-D movies start coming out (Fithian claims there are currently 10 3-D films scheduled for 2009).

Obviously the studios will be in as much trouble as the theater owners, so making quick arrangements would seem to be a major priority. Yet they still can't seem to agree on fair Virtual Print Fees, which have to do with how much studios will contribute to the theaters' costs in upgrading to the digital projectors. Fithian also noted the need for more of Hollywood's elite to be on board with the transition, which is where Spielberg's name came in, mainly because his DreamWorks partner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, is "one of the great priests of digital cinema."

So, what I'm wondering is, if Spielberg is directing the first Tintin movie, and the whole trilogy is expected to be shot digitally and shown in 3-D, shouldn't the man "get it" already?

Source: Cinematical

New International Speed Racer Trailer!

Warner Bros. Pictures has updated the official website for the Wachowski Brothers' Speed Racer along with a full new international trailer for the May 9 release and 7 mini-clips. Coming to both conventional theaters and IMAX, the action pic stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Hiroyuki Sanada, Richard Roundtree, Ji Hoon Jung, Benno Furmann, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt and Roger Allam.

You can watch and download the new trailer in the adults section and the mini-clips in the kids section at the site. We've included direct links to the trailer below:

QuickTime, High Definition (1080p)
QuickTime, High Definition (720p)
QuickTime, High Definition (480p)

Shia LaBeouf Cast in Alan Glynn's The Dark Fields

Shia LaBeouf has got to be one of the busiest, and most popular, young actors work in Hollywood at the moment. He's currently finishing Eagle Eye with D.J. Caruso, after which he will then move on to promote Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull until its release in late May, then I'm guessing he will be back on Transformers 2 for the rest of the summer (pending the actors' strike). And after that it seems like he'll probably move on to The Dark Fields next after also filming a part in Shekhar Kapur's segment of New York, I Love You. The Dark Fields is his latest announcement - a "techno thriller" from Universal.

The film is based on Alan Glynn's novel of the same name first published in 2002. Well-known screenwriter Leslie Dixon (Mrs. Doubtfire, The Thomas Crown Affair, Just Like Heaven, Hairspray) will write the adaptation for Neil Burger, of The Illusionist and upcoming The Lucky Ones, to direct. Apparently Dixon took less than her usual pay to write the script "in exchange for having more control over the project." I'm hoping that's a good sign, although her past films don't say much about any "control" she's had.

Imagine a drug that makes your brain function with perfect efficiency, tapping into your most fundamental resources of intelligence and drive, releasing all the passive knowledge you'd ever accumulated. A drug that made you focused, charming, fast, even attractive. Eddie Spinola (LaBeouf) is on such a drug. It's called MDT-48, and it's Viagra for the brain–a designer drug that's redesigning his life. But while MDT is helping Eddie achieve the kind of success he's only dreamed about, it's also chipping away at his sanity-splitting headaches, spontaneous blackouts, violent outbursts. And now that he's hooked and his supply is running low, Eddie must venture into the drug's dark past to feed his habit. What he discovers proves that MDT, once a dream come true, has become his worst nightmare. You can pick up a copy of the book on Amazon.com.

As is always the case, I'm usually interested in any sci-fi or "techno" movies (especially when they use that word to describe them). This sounds intriguing and I'm excited to see what Neil Burger can do with it. He did an exquisite job of jumping into the past with The Illusionist and I'm curious to see how he handles current day Iraq war issues in The Lucky Ones. There's a certain finesse required for pulling off unforgettable sci-fi movies and I really hope Neil has it - I don't want a story with potential like this one becoming the next Jumper. At least Shia LaBeouf, who I actually appreciate, will lead the way.

Confirmed : Adkins is Weapon 11 in Wolverine

MovieHole Confirmed today that Scott Adkins has jettisoned down under to join the cast of “Wolverine”.

Adkins, who played the Russian jailbird who pummels Michael Jai White in the “Undisputed” sequel, will take on a similar role in this (um, someone who fights). He’ll play Weapon 11, one of the many mutants of the X-world, whose main objective is to rip the claws from Wolverine. He no doubt doesn’t succeed in his mission – Wolvie’s the hero, after all! – but I’m sure we can expect a good scuffle anyway. The bulk of his scenes will appear in the last reel of the film.

“X-Men Origins : Wolverine” is currently filming in Sydney – and the reason a few of you, in transit to the home palace, will be sitting in your car an hour longer tonight.

Source: MovieHole

Zack Snyder to Direct Guardians

Zack Snyder (300, upcoming Watchmen) is set to direct Guardians of Ga'Hoole, an animated feature film based on the series of children's books by Kathryn Lasky.

Village Roadshow is making the film and Warner Bros. will distribute.

The film is set in the Forest of Tyto, where Barn Owls live in peace until their kingdom is threatened by an evil that could destroy their home.

The script was written by John Orloff (A Mighty Heart) and John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World). The pic will be produced by Zareh Nalbandian, with Donald DeLine, Deborah Snyder and Lionel Wigram executive producing.

The intention is to execute in Sydney, Australia, through Animal Logic, which worked with Village Roadshow and WB on Happy Feet. The film is on a fast track and is likely to be ready by 2009 or 2010.

Harvey Dent's Press Conference Interrupted by Hostage Situation

Yesterday e-mails were sent to Harvey Dent followers alerting everyone of a 3:00PM EST live press conference on ibelieveinharveydent.com. However, instead of hearing a press conference, the audio was of an ongoing hostage situation involving Frank Notaro and Harvey Dent. Notaro is a decorated Gotham Police Officer (photo) who went crazy and started yelling about keeping his kids and wife safe and going under witness protection. You can listen to the audio below and we'll update this as hear anything new. The latest we heard - Dent bargained to replace himself with the girl who has being held hostage.

If you haven't been following the viral, Notaro initially publicly acknowledged that Dent offered him money to testify against an innocent cop although that was later disproved by The Gotham Times reporter James Levine. After his partner was killed in a car bombing, the already paranoid Notaro snapped and took hostages at Rossi's Deli (rossisdelicatessen.com) which is where the audio today picked up. Dent's official site says currently that: "In a selfless move, Mr. Dent entered the premises, exchanged himself for a woman who was being held at gunpoint, and negotiated the successful release of the remaining patrons in the restaurant." It sounds like Harvey Dent is still Notaro's hostage as of this moment but the audio has cut off.

Listen to the press conference by downloading the MP3:

Other reports I've heard say that Harvey Dent has been declared the "hero of the day" which means this now solidifies his win (for District Attorney) in the upcoming election. However, I can't figure out whether this means the hostage situation is over or whether the audio just cut off. We'll try and find out an answer and get back to you on that as soon as possible.

Frank Notaro has actually been the focus of the viral this last week. After discovering email messages exchanged between him and internal affairs officer Glenn Barhyte, a meeting was set to take place at the Gotham Ferry System (gcferries.com) at 8PM. Calls were made to the ferry hotline and a message played that said the 8PM ferry had been disrupted. Apparently the ferry had been bombed but no further information on that has since been discovered. You can follow these elements of the viral on the SuperHeroHype forums.

We'll update this with anything we hear regarding The Dark Knight's viral campaign. A trailer is expected to show in front of Speed Racer, but until then, it's anyones guess as to if it'll show up online in any form or in relation to this viral campaign.

Prom Night takes the lead

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.

Screen Gems' new horror remake Prom Night opened better than expected, earning an estimated $22.7 million from 2,700 theaters, an average of $8,407 per location. The Nelson McCormick-directed pic, starring Brittany Snow, is the 12th highest April debut ever, coming in just behind Denzel Washington's Man on Fire ($22.75).

Fox Searchlight Pictures' crime-drama Street Kings, starring Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie and Chris Evans, debuted in second place with $12 million from 2,467 theaters. Directed by David Ayer, the film averaged $4,864 per site.

Champ of the last two weekends, Sony's 21 dropped to third but still only 28.3% in ticket sales. The blackjack drama added $11 million in its third weekend and has collected $62.3 million so far. The film, with Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Spacey, cost about $35 million to make.

Likewise, Nim's Island performed well its second weekend, dipping just 31.9% to make $9 million in fourth. Starring Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler, Fox Walden's fantasy-adventure has earned $25.3 million total and was budgeted at $37 million.

On the other hand, Universal's Leatherheads took a 51.1% tumble in its second weekend. Directed by and starring George Clooney, as well as Renée Zellwegger and John Krasinski, the comedy garnered $6.2 million for a total of $21.9 million. The film carried a budget of about $58 million.

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who, from Fox, earned $6 million this weekend in sixth place and has made $139.6 million in five weeks. The big screen adaptation cost $85 million to make and is the highest-grossing movie of the year so far.

Opening in 1,106 theaters, Miramax dramedy Smart People earned $4.2 million, an average of $3,797 per location. Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church star in the Noam Murro-directed film.

DreamWorks/Paramount's The Ruins took a big hit its second weekend, dropping $59.4% in sales and to eighth place. The horror-thriller made $3.3 million and has collected $13.4 million.

Both opening in just four theaters, Thomas McCarthy's The Visitor, starring Richard Jenkins, earned $88,000, and Young@Heart made $63,600.

Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films.

Who's Who in Transformers 2?

IESB has just been given the following human character/casting breakdowns

[CHUCK] 19-25 yrs., Sam's roommate at Princeton. He runs a conspiracy theory website. Funny in an irreverent, edgy way, he is shocked to see his conspiracy theories come to life. (2nd Lead)

[U.S. MILITARY LEADER] Late 20s/early 30s, African American with a great sense of humor and a tough military presence. (Supporting lead)

[UK SPECIAL FORCES LEADER] British, in his early to mid 30s, smart and capable. Can be Caucasian, Black, East Indian. (Supporting lead)

[GALLOWAY] Early 40s-early 50s, male, National Security Advisor and presidential liaison. A curt man who is tightly wound. (Supporting Lead)

[PROFESSOR COLAN] 40s, Sam's physics professor at Princeton. He's a self-satisfied intellectual who compares himself to Einstein, and is arrogant enough to wear leather pants to look cool. (1 Scene)

[THERESA] Early 30s; she's Sgt. Epps' wife, has 4 kids, sassy and sexy, good with comedy. Submit African American actresses only

[MOMMA SIMMONS] This NY Momma is in her late 60s / early 70s. She runs a deli/ butcher shop with her son in Brooklyn. Tough and sarcastic. (1 Scene)

[MASSIVE DYNAMICS CEO] 50s, male, this Corporate CEO appears in front of congress to testify. (1 speech/scene)

[TEXAS CONGRESSMAN] 55-65 yrs., on a Congressional Committee investigating the purpose of the "Automated Defensive Initiative" developed by Massive Dynamics.

[FBI DIRECTOR] Mid 50s, male, giving a press release assuring the public they will be safe against attacks. (1 speech/scene)

[CNN REPORTER] Reporting on missile strikes and bombings in various cities. Submit male / female, all ethnicities (1 speech)

Rick Yune replaced by Robin Shou?

Its the weekend, so there's nobody with an 'All Access Pass' around to verify this in phone distance, but MovieHole heard an unconfirmed whisper today that Rick Yune may have left "Street Fighter - The Legend of Chun-Li" and Robin Shou, of "Mortal Kombat" fame, may have replaced him.

About Gen Wikipedia says: He was a master assassin and friend of Chun-Li's father; he briefly trained her in her youth. However, he was forced to kill another assassin in front of the young girl, and blamed himself for what he saw as the violent path her life had taken since then. He swore never to assassinate again, and instead settled down in Hong Kong, opening his Genhanten restaurant and continuing to perfect his fighting skills, using them on Shadaloo punks whenever possible. Gen's Ansatsuken incorporated various Kung fu styles, such as Mantis, Crane, Bear, and Tiger. He has refined his strikes to target an adversary's vital parts to deliver quick, deadly blows. Gen entered the first World Warrior tournament alongside his friend Lee, hoping to find a worthy opponent. Dissatisfied, he returned to Hong Kong. Gen then took on the responsibility of raising Lees nephews, Yang and Yun Lee, and trained them in martial arts.
Sometime during the tournament Gen discovered he had developed leukemia and had to withdraw from the tournament. Not wanting to die on a death bed he started to search for fighters to give him a "deathmatch". The only opponent Gen had ever considered to be truly worthy of one was Akuma. When the two fought, however, Gen withstood Akuma's most brutal technique, the Shun Goku Satsu, by emptying his own heart and mind. He then struck back with his Zan'ei shadow fist attack, but Akuma was also unaffected (When Gen encounters Akuma during Street Fighter Alpha 3, the match begins with a reenactment of this battle). After a grueling match Akuma was in position to deliver a fatal blow but he left after discovering Gen had leukemia. Disappointed that he did not get his deathmatch, Gen went on a search to find Akuma. Once Gen tracked Akuma down they battled once more, the results of which are unclear, but either he died fighting Akuma or died after the fight as he has not been in the continuity since.

So Shou as GEN, hey?

I think there's some truth in this. Why? Firstly, Yune's name is no longer listed as part of the official production blog for the film that kicked off this week - everyone else in the cast is listed there; Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein, Michael Clarke Duncan, Vega, and so on - and secondly, at the bottom of that same blog, the webmaster notes that "One [role] that’s not mentioned in the cast breakdown but one who’s surely an integral part of the film" has not been mentioned on the site yet. "And so now, for your first exclusive scoop, allow me to present you faithful readers with some brand spankin’ new casting you’re surely not aware of. The integral role of GEN will be played by none other than……tune in next week to find out!".

The choice is yours - either wait for the big reveal, or believe this bit of gossip.

Source: MovieHole

Bündchen the Fourth Austin Powers Girl?

The Boston Globe is reporting a rumor that supermodel Gisele Bündchen, who has played roles in The Devil Wears Prada and Taxi, is being considered for the female lead in Mike Myers' fourth "Austin Powers" movie, following in the footsteps of Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham and Beyoncé Knowles.The newspapers says the 27-year-old Brazilian beauty already has been given the script, and her agent will meet soon with Myers and director Jay Roach.About a year ago, Myers was quoted as saying that the next "Austin Powers" film would be done entirely from Dr. Evil's point of view. It is unknown if that is still the case.Myers' next comedy, The Love Guru, opens in theaters on June 20.

Source: The Boston Globe

Bartha Joins Zeta-Jones in The Rebound

Justin Bartha ("National Treasure" films) will star opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones in Bart Freundlich's romantic comedy The Rebound at Mark Gill's the Film Department.

The film centers on a 25-year-old man (Bartha) who starts an unlikely romance with his single-mother neighbor (Zeta-Jones). It will begin shooting this month in New York.

Bartha starred in a previous Freundlich movie, Trust the Man.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

New 2 min Iron Man Clip

Nickelodeon has aired a new 2-minute clip from Iron Man which you can now watch using the player below! Directed by Jon Favreau, the May 2 release stars Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges

New X-Files Photos

Three new photos from Fox's Untitled X-Files Motion Picture have turned up online featuring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the anticipated July 25 release.

The film takes the complicated relationship between Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson) in unexpected directions. Mulder continues his unshakable quest for the truth, and Scully, the passionate, ferociously intelligent physician, remains inextricably tied to Mulder's pursuits.

Megan Fox Has Gone Nude in Jennifer's Body?!

There is more than one reason why I love Jason Reitman. Besides being a brilliant filmmaker, its his ideals, like passing on the Justice League movie and outspoken appreciation for American Teen. And now I've got one more thing to add to that list - he's giving us a nude Megan Fox! As I hope you know, Reitman is producing his first film - Jennifer's Body. The story, scripted by Oscar winning Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody, is about a newly possessed cheerleader who turns into a killer that specializes in offing her male classmates. Guess who the cheerleader is? Yep - Megan Fox!
After talking about Justice League on the Howard Stern Show recently, Reitman went on to mention one of the scenes they had just filmed for Jennifer's Body. Apparently Megan Fox, who plays Jennifer, seducees a guy to come into the forest where she can kill him. Following that she is then apparently chased around topless before she ends up killing him with an axe (I think?).

Here's the bad part - while Fox actually filmed topless, her hair is covering all the important parts. Damn! This scene is already going down in history and the movie isn't even done filming!
Described as a Heathers-type dark comedy, it tells the story of a seemingly-perfect cheerleader whose life is thrown into disarray when she gets possessed by a demon, begins eating boys in her small Minnesota town, then faces off against her best friend and the Satan-worshipping band that made her evil. The film is being directed by Karyn Kusama of Girlfight and Aeon Flux previously. Only a creative team consisting of two smart women - Diablo Cody and Kusama - plus the brilliance of Reitman could actually convince Fox that it was worthwhile to go nude. I was already interested beforehand, but now I'm definitely there!

Fox Atomic will be distributing Jennifer's Body, but a date for its release hasn't been set yet. While I'm not expecting this to have an Oscar winning script like Juno, I do think it'll be another interesting and rather ambitious movie courtesy of Cody and Reitman (again). I've been hoping for the best and now with this sort of news, I will admit that I'm even more excited. Plus, we couldn't pass up another opportunity to share a few of our favorite Megan Fox photos with you to brighten up your Friday!

Spoiler Pics of Shia LaBeouf in New York

On Thursday, it was announced that Shia LaBeouf would star with Julie Christie and John Hurt in the late Anthony Minghella-scripted segment of New York, I Love You. Shekhar Kapur is directing the segment.Now, TheBadandUgly.com has posted spoiler pics of LaBeouf filming his scenes. New York, I Love You is an anthology of 12 short films that follows the format of Paris, je t'aime.

Babylon A.D. Rumors Debunked

A rumor has surfaced on many sites this past week saying that director Mathieu Kassovitz's Babylon A.D., starring Vin Diesel, would get a shorter cut here in North American and be shown as a 2 hour and 40 minute movie overseas. Production company MNP Entreprise has addressed the rumor:

The last days have been busy with news about the length and the rating of Babylon AD. I always find it amazing to see rumors grow from other rumors or misunderstanding. Therefore I think the time is good to give you some updates.

Babylon AD has never had a 2h40min cut. This rumor came from a joke Mathieu did in front of some journalists last september. Apparently some of them didn't understand it... The approximate length of the film is 1h40min and this is what has been delivered to our partner, FOX. So I can reassure you, FOX is not chopping up the film and cutting 70min like I read on Rotten Tomatoes ! :-)

Oh and about the PG13, that was a contractual agreement between Fox and us, so there is no surprise on that end.
The truth is Fox - like any other studio - will have their final cut on their territories and Mathieu Kassovitz has his on the European ones. So there will naturally be a few differences between the two versions.

Now about the film, StudioCanal is working on teasers and the poster for the European territories as I speak. A French teaser should be released on the web quite soon!

In the sci-fi action-thriller, opening Stateside on August 29, a veteran-turned-mercenary (Diesel) agrees to escort a woman from Russia to Germany, not realizing that she's the host for an organism that a cult wants to harvest into a genetically-modified Messiah.

Source: ComingSoon

James Cameron on 3-D, Avatar & New Project

Variety has published a fascinating and technical interview with Titanic director James Cameron talking about filming in 3-D, his highly-anticipated Avatar, and a smaller movie he will shoot in 3-D as well. Here's several clips;

I plan to shoot a small dramatic film in 3-D, just to prove this point, after "Avatar." In "Avatar," there are a number of scenes that are straight dramatic scenes, no action, no effects. They play very well, and in fact seem to be enhanced by the stereo viewing experience. So I think this can work for the full length of a dramatic feature. However, filmmakers and studios will have to weigh the added cost of shooting in 3-D against the increased marketing value for that type of film.

In the future world shown in "Avatar," all display devices, including handheld devices and even photos, are all in 3-D.You can read the full interview here!

Avatar, due out December 18, 2009, tells the story of an ex-Marine, thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.

Source: Variety

Colin Farrell will star in Triage

Colin Farrell will star in Triage, the next film by Bosnian director Danis Tanovic, reports Variety.

Paz Vega and Christopher Lee also star in the dark tale of a photojournalist who returns home following a dangerous assignment without his colleague and best friend.

The film will shoot on location in Ireland and at the Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante in Spain from April to June.

Source ComingSoon.net

Natalie Portman Joins Wuthering Heights

Natalie Portman is attached to star as romantic fiction icon Catherine Earnshaw in a new adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, being produced by Ecosse Films.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ecosse's Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae will produce from a script by Olivia Hetreed (Girl With a Pearl Earring). John Maybury will direct.

Brontë's "Heights," one of the classics of English literature, tells of the intense, elemental and yet ultimately thwarted passion between Earnshaw and Heathcliff.

Several screen versions have been made over the decades, and the 1939 version with Merle Oberon as Earnshaw and Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff has long been considered the definitive version.

No start date has been set.

Columbia Pictures Prepares for Battle

Columbia Pictures has preemptively picked up Battle: Los Angeles, a sci-fi script from screenwriter Chris Bertolini, for Neal Moritz to produce via his Original Films, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The story follows one Marine platoon's encounter in the battle against an alien invasion on the streets of Los Angeles.

"I love the idea, and I love the script. I like it all," Moritz said. "We are going to be in production within six months. What's attractive to me is that it's a huge event movie that can be done at a modest scale."

Bertolini wrote The General's Daughter.

Moviefone has posted new photos and a character guide for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, opening in theaters on May 16. At the site, you can learn more about each character pictured along with comments by director Andrew Adamson. Click on Aslan below to view the feature.

production blog for Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li

20th Century Fox has launched an official production blog for Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li. The live-action feature, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, is based on Capcom's video game and focuses on female fighter Chun-Li and her journey for justice. Kristin Kreuk, Michael Clarke Duncan, Neal McDonough, Taboo, Chris Klein, Rick Yune, Moon Bloodgood, Edmund Chen, Cheng Pei Pei and Josie Ho star.

You can check out who is working on the film behind-the-scenes, what's been shot so far, and storyboards from the film here!

First teaser trailer for Quarantine

The first teaser trailer for Quarantine has launched and it's pretty damn thrilling. Quarantine is an American remake of the Spanish horror movie [Rec] and stars Jennifer Carpenter, Jay Hernandez and Jonathan Shaech. The movie is about a hazmat team that goes in to investigate an apartment complex that was shutdown and quarantined in LA. Let me be the first to say - this gave me some genuine chills. Yes, it's a bit like Blair Witch, but I feel there's something more to it. While we're arguing that the horror genre is in decline - this is the kind of movie that I feel could bring it back around. Take a look for yourself.

Another note: in March we posted a viral video from YouTube called Case 1017. It turns out this was 100% in connection with Quarantine - you can see by comparing the two CDC trucks in the videos. Thanks to UGO for originally debuting this trailer.

Joker Scene From The Dark Knight Getting Cut?!

I hate to be the bearer of even more bad news, but this time its affecting one of our most anticipated movies - The Dark Knight. Reports have started to spread on the internet of a particular scene, involving Heath Ledger as The Joker, being cut from the film due to Ledger's tragic death in January. While details are sketchy, this seems to have all stemmed from a Portuguese review of The Dark Knight written a few days ago (that we are not going to link to) - one that I hardly believe. It's a really rough review and doesn't seem all that legit, which is why I'm not too sure this entire rumor is real to begin with. However, whatever the case may be it's worth bring up just in case.

As Cinema Blend reports, the "scene involves Ledger's Joker character pretending to be dead and being pictured in a body bag. Apparently the aftershocks of Ledger's unfortunate death are such that many in the screening reacted rather badly to this moment and now execs are considering excising the scene altogether." I completely agree with Stuart Wood - this is an atrocity of the utmost proportions and (despite Where the Wild Things Are and I Am Legend) not something I would expect Warner Brothers to do!

If this turns out to be true, it would be disastrous decision on the part of Warner Brothers. It's entirely unnecessary to cut scenes from a movie just because of a few overly sensitive screening attendees. This is all part of why I don't believe the screening process works that well anyway! The countless fans and supporters of The Dark Knight will understand the true vision of the film and the importance of every last scene that Christopher Nolan put in. Apparently the early screening reports also claim that The Dark Knight is a more superior film than Batman Begins and that Ledger's role is as profound (and even Oscar worthy) as originally thought. Don't risk screwing that up Warner Brothers!

It seems one of the biggest problems in Hollywood nowadays is studios taking control of a movie and changing it to their liking, despite what the original filmmaker had created. This is why there is a small movement in support of "keeping true to the vision" of the filmmaker. It's art - the studios should know what they're getting into when they hire certain screenwriters and directors. If you get Spike Jonze, you're going to get a Spike Jonze movie. If you get Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger, you're going to get a brilliant movie. And don't change The Dark Knight just because of some emotional complainers! This is Christopher Nolan's true vision!

Whether this is true or not, I hope that the impact these articles have is enough to convince Warner Brothers to not even try. Like we did with both Where the Wild Things Are and I Am Legend before, its time we get all of your support. Voice your opinion below if you're in support of keeping the film the way it is!

Source: FirstShowing

The Day the Earth Stood Still Script Info!

Uncapie over at Ain't-It-Cool-News got a look at the "The Day the Earth Stood Still" script, a remake of the science-fiction classic starring Keanu Reeves in the title.

It would appear things aren't going so well for the film, being as Uncapie was so distraught over the script he threw it against the wall while reading it. You can check out the whole story here.

Here are some highlights:

A robot is in the film but its nothing like "Gort." It's called the "Totem" and apparently walks around on all fours, shoots a death-ray and stands upright like a totem pole when its finished. (LAME)

the immortal words, "Klaatu Barada Nicto" are never uttered. Ever

I had such high hopes for this remake. The original film is by far one of my favorite sci-fi flicks ever. This blows.

Source: MovieHole

Spy Pics! James Bond Hitches a Ride on a Bus!

Daniel Craig, the latest James Bond is caught jumping on a bus on the Italian set of The Quantum of Solace.


"Quantum of Solace" continues the high octane adventures of James Bond (Daniel Craig) in "Casino Royale."
Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (Judi Dench) interrogate Mr White (Jesper Christensen) who reveals the organisation which blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined.

Forensic intelligence links an Mi6 traitor to a bank account in Haiti where a case of mistaken identity introduces Bond to the beautiful but feisty Camille (Olga Kurylenko), a woman who has her own vendetta. Camille leads Bond straight to Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a ruthless business man and major force within the mysterious organisation.

On a mission that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond discovers that Greene, conspiring to take total control of one of the world's most important natural resources, is forging a deal with the exiled General Medrano (Joaquin Cosio). Using his associates in the organisation, and manipulating his powerful contacts within the CIA and the British government, Greene promises to overthrow the existing regime in a Latin American country, giving the General control of the country in exchange for a seemingly barren piece of land.

In a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit, Bond allies with old friends in a battle to uncover the truth. As he gets closer to finding the man responsible for the betrayal of Vesper, 007 must keep one step ahead of the CIA, the terrorists and even M, to unravel Greene's sinister plan and stop his organisation.

Click on the thumbnails below to check out the images hosted by iesb.net.

Quantum of Solace

Blue Sky Studios Adapting The Anubis Tapestry?

Blue Sky Studios has made quite a formidable dent in the animation genre since they arrived on the scene in 2002. Their first big feature, Ice Age, was a huge success and they've since followed it up with two more Ice Age sequels, Robots, and Horton Hears a Who. Peter over at SlashFilm has picked up an unconfirmed scoop regarding another one of their future projects - an adaptation of Bruce Zick's small press book The Anubis Tapestry. Apparently Zick was also recently hired by Blue Sky to "develop several of their future film concepts," which makes this seem oddly coincidental and all the more legitimate. Zick's illustrations are incredibly cool and would definitely be great inspiration for an animated film - take a look at some of his work below.

When a mummy's curse condemns Dr. George Henry's spirit to the Egyptian Underworld, his son Chance must try to free him. But Chance risks becoming a mummy himself when he binds himself in the wrappings of the mysterious Anubis Tapestry. Led by a comical creature named Blixx, Chance plumbs the depths of the Underworld and encounters a variety of horrible monsters. If Chance can't return by twilight, he and Blixx will be trapped forever in the dead's domain! You can pick up a copy of the book over at Amazon.com.

Bruce Zick has been a conceptual artist for countless films, including Finding Nemo, Titan A.E., A Bug's Life, The Lion King, and Wall-E. He's a very capable illustrator and I can only imagine his book is as wildly imaginative as his drawings are. Chris Wedge, the director of Blue Sky's Ice Age and Robots, wrote this quote which appears on the cover of The Anubis Tapestry. "Bruce Zick lives in a rich world of fantasy. Fortunately there is a portal into it — his effortless drawing style and his thoughtful, descriptive prose."

Blue Sky is currently finishing Ice Age 3, set for the summer of 2009, as well as The Fantastic Mr. Fox, due out in late 2009. If this rumor turns out to be true, it's likely that this is one of Blue Sky's 2010 films.

If you take a look at some of the drawings from the book, it's definitely obvious that this could easily be adapted into something fun. I hope Blue Sky studios doesn't turn this into a big pile of mush (I didn't like Robots at all), but I'm expecting with Zick involved, it won't go that way. You can see more examples of Zick's work at SlashFilm or check out the one I've included below.

Source: Firts

First Look: Pixar's Up

Last January we brought you a concept art photo from Pixar's summer 2009 movie Up. It wasn't much, but like the statue of Wall-E we had in January of 2007, it's the only thing we have until the teaser trailer shows in front of Wall-E. In connection with the Disney and Pixar press conference held yesterday announcing their entire line-up, a fully rendered version of that exact scene from the concept art photo has appeared - and it looks much better. Again, it's not much, but it's a start!

Thanks to our friends at Upcoming Pixar for finding this photo originally. The first teaser trailer for Up will play in front of Wall-E this summer.

From the Academy Award-nominated team of director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer — look "Up."

Up is co-directed by Pixar regulars Pete Docter, who directed 2001's Monsters Inc, and Bob Peterson. The screenplay for the film was also written by Bob Peterson, who wrote 2003's Finding Nemo. Up will float its way into theaters on May 29th, 2009.

Indy Solo Poster

The Adventure Continues. Just when we thought we had seen all of the posters for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, another new one shows up. As great of an artist as Drew Struzan is, this is probably the one I'd end up buying and framing more than the others. I just love the iconic Indiana Jones look and the rough edges and everything. In March we posted what was presumably the final poster for Indiana Jones 4, but apparently there are still more in the works. And don't forget we also have a Drew Struzan designed Hellboy II poster eventually as well! Let's hear your thoughts on this one.

You can check out the Drew Struzan designed first and second Indiana Jones 4 posters as well.

Update - After the gurus over at SlashFilm did a little snooping, they discovered that this was nothing more than a fan creation. Although I commend whoever made it - it looks brilliant! Definitely an impressive poster and still one I enjoy enough to leave up.

I'm posting these as a reminder to keep Indiana Jones 4 fresh in everyones mind as we lead up to the late May release. We'll have plenty of nostalgic Indiana Jones coverage coming in mid-May, but until then, these posters and photos will hopefully hold over all of the fans until May 22nd. Only 43 more days left!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg with a story by George Lucas and screenplay by David Koepp (Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds). The movie is the fourth in the Indiana Jones series and takes place in the 1950s, around 20 years after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull arrives in theaters this summer on May 22nd! If you haven't seen it yet, you should also watch the very first teaser trailer as well as the recently released TV spot.

Source: FirShowing

Disney and Pixar's Full Animated Line-Up Through 2012!

Disney and Pixar unveiled their complete animated movie line-up from 2008 to 2012 today at a press conference in New York. Featured in their announcement is a diverse and ambitious slate of 13 new animated feature films, most of which will be featured in 3D. As has been the case recently, Disney will be releasing two major animated movies per year - one Pixar and one Disney. Starting in 2009, however, we'll be treated to 2 Pixar movies per year: 3D versions of Toy Story (in '09) and Toy Story 2 (in '10) as well as Up (in '09) and Toy Story 3 (in '10) and Newt and The Bear and the Bow (in '11). In addition, Pixar also announced a new movie - Newt - for 2011. Disney also has a promising line-up of their own, including an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story titled King of the Elves.

The Philip K. Dick based movie King of the Elves, which everyone seems to be interested in the most, is about a gas station attendant in Mississippi who befriends a group of elves who can hide in the trees because they're covered with leaves and foliage. He allows them to seek shelter from the rain and they thus dub him their king. Anything Philip K. Dick is usually quite interesting, and based on that alone, I'm excited. Unfortunately they're probably going to change the focus to be more family friendly, but oh well. You can read more about the film at the very bottom.

Disney and Pixar's Complete 2008 to 2012 Line-up:

Pixar's Wall-E - June 27th, 2008

Directed by: Andrew Stanton (A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo). After hundreds of lonely years doing what he was built for, WALL•E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most incredible comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen.

Bolt - November 26th, 2008 (In 3D)

Directed by: Chris Williams and Byron Howard. For super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue — at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet — a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help of two unlikely traveling companions — a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball named Rhino — Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero. Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") brings her vocal talents to the role of Penny, Bolt's human co-star on the television series.

Pixar's Up - May 29th, 2009 (In 3D)

Directed by: Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc) and Bob Peterson. From the Academy Award-nominated team of director Pete Docter ("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer — look "Up."

Pixar's Toy Story in 3-D - October 2nd, 2009 (In 3D)

Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, "Toy Story" was the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar nominations for Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Original Screenplay, and earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award (Oscar) "for the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." The 3-D version of this landmark film is being personally overseen by Lasseter with his acclaimed team of technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion process.

The Princess and the Frog - Christmas 2009

Directed by: John Musker (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules) and Ron Clements (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules). A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, "The Princess and the Frog" marks Disney's return to the timeless art form of traditional animation. The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker, creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," with Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told … with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator.

Pixar's Toy Story 2 in 3-D - February 12th, 2010 (In 3D)

Originally released in 1999, "Toy Story 2" went on to become one of the most popular animated features of all time. The film picks up as Andy is heading off to Cowboy Camp and the toys are left to their own devices. When an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggin (owner of Al's Toy Barn) kidnaps Woody, and Woody learns that he's a highly valued collectable from a 1950s TV show called "Woody's Roundup," the stage is set for a daring rescue attempt by the gang from Andy's room. The film introduced such other memorable characters from "Woody's Roundup" as Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye the horse, and the Prospector.

Pixar's Toy Story 3 - June 18th, 2010 (In 3D)

Directed by: Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo). The creators of the beloved "Toy Story" films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "Little Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings.

Rapunzel - Christmas 2010 (In 3D)

Directed by: Glen Keane and Dean Wellins. In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair … lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010 holiday.

Pixar's Newt - Summer 2011 (In 3D)

Directed by: Gary Rydstrom (Lifted). What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can't stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes of "newt," the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award winner for sound Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short, "Lifted." Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.

Pixar's The Bear and the Bow - Christmas 2011 (In 3D)

Directed by: Brenda Chapman (The Prince of Egypt). A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow." The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt," "The Lion King") and the storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this rich Highland tale.

Pixar's Cars 2 - Summer 2012 (In 3D)

Directed by: Brad Lewis. All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the "Cars" saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic escapades around the globe. "Cars 2" is being directed by Brad Lewis, producer of the Oscar-winning film "Ratatouille."

King of the Elves - Christmas 2012 (In 3D)

Directed by: Aaron Blaise (Brother Bear) and Robert Walker (Brother Bear). Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta, whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.

It's very interesting to see how Disney and Pixar grows its people. All of the directors have been with Pixar and Disney for at least 10 years and have been working in animation or special effects or sounds on numerous movies. It's also very interesting to see Pixar developing so many sequels when they used to say that was never in their consideration. Either way, I'm very excited for almost all of these. I'm looking forward to seeing Disney return to hand-drawn animation with The Princess and the Frog and, of course, anything Pixar does I'm always looking forward to!

Sisterhood sequel poster is here

Man... don't these girlies look hot in this one... especially Ms Tamblyn!

50 Cent to be executed

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson is negotiating, and Danny Huston, John Ortiz and Kelli Garner are set to star, in Spectacular Regret. According to Variety, the independently financed drama was scripted by Joshua Leonard, who will make his dramatic feature debut as director.

The film will shoot in July in L.A. Peter Sterling and Mary Pat Bentel are producing and Dolly Hall is executive producer.

Jackson will play a death row inmate whose imminent execution has made him a cause celebre. The drama interconnects with four Angelenos struggling to overcome past events.

High School Musical 4 Already in the Works

Even before High School Musical 3: Senior Year hits movie theaters on October 24, Disney Channel is starting work on High School Musical 4, says The Hollywood Reporter.

"We are writing 'High School Musical 4,' " Disney Channel Worldwide president Rich Ross confirmed Tuesday. It's likely to be a TV movie unlike "High School Musical 3," though that could change.

The news comes as the stars of the two smash hit TV movies are preparing for production on the third installment of the series, which will begin filming in two weeks in Utah. There's no word on whether the cast and behind-the-scenes talent will gather again for "HSM4," though some characters introduced in the third go-round likely will star in the fourth.

Justin Marks Adapting Hack/Slash Comic

After tackling Voltron, Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li, and He-Man, screenwriter Justin Marks will move on to adapt the comicbook Hack/Slash. The series revolves around Cassie Hack, a young woman who travels the country and takes on homicidal maniacs and serial killers along the way. Hack/Slash marks another high profile project for Justin Marks, which should say quite a bit about his talent, but then again most of his new projects haven't hit theaters yet. This was actually announced previously (around Comic-Con last year), but it seems Marks has been brought on to re-write the script.

Rogue Pictures is adapting with Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter, of 2007's Hitman, and upcoming flicks Spy Hunter, Kane and Lynch, and Jonny Quest, producing. Newcomer Todd Lincoln has been set to direct. The film is being described as an action movie that will be heavy on comedy and horror, which sounds about right considering the story. The focus of the series is on a horror victim, Cassie, who strikes back at the monsters, known as "slashers", with Vlad, a freakish man who frequently wears a gas mask. You can pick up a copy over at Amazon.com.

At Comic-Con last year, STYD reported that Megan Fox "is incredibly interested" in the role of Cassie. That's definitely the perfect choice and I truly hope she gets on board.

I'm not sure why, but I've heard of Hack/Slash enough (or maybe seen it on the show floor at comic conventions) to believe it might lend itself to a good film adaptation, but I could be wrong. Unfortunately I can never get The Covenant out of my mind when I think about lesser-known comic projects like this, and that's definitely not a good thing. Hopefully Marks keeps the cheese out and write a new script that Lincoln can turn into something enjoyable. We'll definitely be keeping our eye on this project as it develops.

Source: Variety

Behind-the-Scenes Hulk Clip in HD!

Universal Pictures has provided us with a better-quality QuickTime versions of the new behind-the-scenes clip for The Incredible Hulk, including a High Definition QuickTime version. Opening June 13, the Marvel Studios action-thriller directed by Louis Leterrier stars Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell and William Hurt.

Behind-the-Scenes Featurette:
QuickTime, High Definition (1080p)
QuickTime, Super Hi-Res
QuickTime, Hi-Res
QuickTime, Med-Res
QuickTime, Lo-Res

2nd Iron Man Clip Online!

Paramount Pictures has revealed a second clip from Iron Man, opening in theaters on May 2. Directed by Jon Favreau, the comic book adaptation stars Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges.

You can watch the clip, titled "Run Before You Can Walk," in High Definition QuickTime and standard QuickTime sizes by going here!


In related news, the studio has created a Widget for the film, which you can grab, embed, and view at the film's MySpace page. At the page, you can also befriend the movie and enter to win a chance to attend the premiere and meet Downey Jr.

Source: ComingSoon

Cloverfield DVD

With Cloverfield hitting DVD on April 22, ShockTillYouDrop.com has exclusively learned of a bonus disc that Best Buy will be offering that features 30 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage with T.J. Miller (Hud in the movie).
• Commentary: Commentary by Director Matt Reeves
• Featurette: The Making of Cloverfield
• Featurette: Cloverfield Visual Effects
• Featurette: I Saw It! It's Alive! It's Huge
• Featurette: Clover Fun
• Additional Scenes: Congrats Rob
• Additional Scenes: When You're in Japan
• Additional Scenes: I Call That a Date
• Additional Scenes: It's Going to Hurt
• Additional Scenes: Alt Ending #1
• Additional Scenes: Alt Ending #2
• Easter Eggs: Slusho!
• Easter Eggs: Person of Interest - JLVD Video 2
• Easter Eggs: Person of Interest - JLVD Video 5
• Easter Eggs: Person of Interest - JLVD Video 9
• Easter Eggs: Person of Interest - JLVD Video 11
• Easter Eggs: Rack 'Em & Pack 'Em
• Easter Eggs: Fighting the X

Various Casting News

None of these bits are very interesting on their own, and quite frankly my hand is sore (NOT from doing THAT, from doing THIS!), so here's a bunch of today's casting announcements all Sausage-Rolled together.

"Little Miss Sunshine" star Toni Collette will star alongside John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph in Sam Mendes' upcoming relationship comedy for Focus Features, says The Hollywood Reporter.Collette will play a college professor and close family friend of a couple (Krasinski and Rudolph) canvasing the country to find the best place to raise their unborn child. She's convinced that their kid will end up dysfunctional no matter where it's raised.








Tobey Magurie is set to ditch the Spidey Tights to star in Endgame Entertainment's “Hungry Rabbit Jumps” says Variety. The project is described as a dramatic thriller in the vein of David Fincher’s “The Game.”

Judd Apatow's foxy wife Leslie Mann ("Drillbit Taylor") is joining Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor in the black comedy "I Love You Phillip Morris", says The Hollywood Reporter. The story follows a married father (Carrey) who is sent to prison and falls in love with a cellmate named Phillip Morris. His love leads him to make several escape attempts. Mann will play Carrey's wife.

Former "Murphy Brown" star Candice Bergen has signed on to co-star opposite Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in the romantic comedy "Bride Wars" for Fox 2000 and New Regency, says Variety.The story revolves around best friends (Hudson and Hathaway) who are pitted against each other when their wedding dates clash. They compete for venues, services and guests. Bergen will play Marion St. Claire, the queen of all wedding planners.

Thandie Newton ("Run Fatboy Run") and Ioan Gruffudd ("Fantastic Four") have joined the cast of Oliver Stone's "W". She's playing Condoleezza Rice, he's in final talks to play former British prime minister Tony Blair. Reuters points out that Rice and Blair are the first non-Bush roles to be cast; Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, Elizabeth Banks and Ellen Burstyn had previously been cast as George W., George Sr., Laura and Barbara Bush, respectively.

Keanu Reeves might be reprising his role as Tom Ludlow in a prequel to "Street Kings". Director David Ayer tells JoBlo "I think a prequel is actually pretty interesting. Which is, what got these people into this situation. It may sound corny but, 99.9% of people get into law enforcement because they want to help people. And so you take that, bright eyed-bushy tailed rookie, and how does he become the Tom Ludlow."

Source: MovieHole

Wicker Man sequel cancelled due to finance difficulties

The long-planned sequel- though it's more of a remake - to "The Wicker Man", "Cowboys for Christ", based on a screenplay written by the director of the original 1973 horror Robin Hardy, has been scrapped. They just couldn't get the money together.

According to STV.TV, a statement from Dumfries and Galloway council confirmed producers had cancelled the shoot due to last minute difficulties with finance.

Councillor Gill Dykes described the news as "bitterly disappointing", adding that around 90 crew and cast had already booked into local accommodation for the four-week shoot.

The film was set to star Christopher Lee, Joan Collins and Paul Wesley. In it, young Christians Beth and Steve, a gospel singer and her cowboy boyfriend, leave Texas to preach door-to-door in Scotland . When, after initial abuse, they are welcomed with joy and elation to Tressock, the border fiefdom of Sir Lachlan Morrison, they assume their hosts simply want to hear more about Jesus. Not so.

Source: Moviehole

Futurama - The Beast With A Billion Backs. DVD

It's probably because Bender's Big Score was the first reunion with the Futurama crew that it was all so much fun -- but we've been promised three more DVD movies from the Planet Express gang, and I'm starting to get impatient! Fortunately, DVDActive.com has a press release regarding movie #2 (The Beast with a Billion Backs), and here's what it has to say! (I'm so proud of myself for not using the "Good news everyone!" gag, but there I just went and blew it.)
According to DVDA, the disc (which doesn't touch down until June 24 darnit) will offer a multi-participant commentary track, a 30-minute "Futurama Lost Adventure," a pair of featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers, storyboards, animatics, and all sorts of extra-geeky stuff. (And also a peek at the third Futurama flick!) Here's what the official plot synopsis sounds like: "In Futurama's latest and most tentacle-packed epic, space itself rips open, revealing a gateway to another universe. But what lies beyond? Horror? Love? Or maybe both, if it happens to contain a repulsive, planet-sized monster with romantic intentions! Nothing less than the fate of human and robot-kind is at stake as the Futurama crew takes on The Beast With A Billion Backs."

Source:Cinematical

Ackles Boards Bloody Valentine

"Supernatural" star Jensen Ackles is in final negotiations to play a lead in Lionsgate's My Bloody Valentine 3-D, according to The Hollywood Reporter.In director Patrick Lussier's remake of the 1981 horror film, Ackles will play Tom, a handsome, principled man who returns to his home in Harmony, Mo., 10 years after 22 people were murdered on Valentine's night. Back in Montana, Tom finds he still is smitten with his first love, Sarah (Jaime King), and is now a murder suspect.Zane Smith wrote the screenplay.Jack Murray, John Dunning and Andre Link will executive produce. Executive producers for Lionsgate are Mike Paseornek and John Sacchi.Production begins May 12 for a release on January 23, 2009.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

21 Doubles Down with 2nd #1 Weekend

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.The month of April kicked off with three new movies in wide release, but despite heavy marketing campaigns all around, none of them could stop Sony's blackjack caper flick 21 from remaining on top of the charts for a second weekend with $15.1 million, a 37% drop from its breakout opening weekend. Directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde) and with an ensemble cast including Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Spacey, the film has grossed $46.5 million in just ten days and should continue to do well based on word-of-mouth.Despite being trumped for the top spot, George Clooney's third film as a director, the football period comedy Leatherheads (Universal) was just barely able to hold off the Fox Walden family adventure Nim's Island for second place. Co-starring Renée Zellwegger and John Krasinski from "The Office", Clooney's film brought in $13.5 million in business in 2,769 theaters with the second best per-theater average in the Top 12 after 21. The Fox Walden family film starring Jodi Foster, Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler was predicted to edge ahead over the weekend based on Friday estimates, but instead it fell just short with $13.3 million in over 3,500 theaters. It's a pretty close race that might become more clear once actual box office is reported on Monday afternoon, but for now, Leatherheads is holding second place.Despite another substantial drop from last week, Fox's animated Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who continues to bring in business, adding $9.1 million this weekend to its gross of $131 million, still the highest grossing film of the year so far.Opening in fifth place, the DreamWorks horror flick The Ruins failed to make much of a mark with just $7.8 million grossed in 2,812 theaters, followed by Dimension Film's spoof comedy Superhero Movie with $5.4 million in sixth place and a total of $16. 9 million. With the largest drop-off in the Top 10, Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (Lionsgate) tumbled to seventh place in its third weekend with $3.5 million, less than $100,000 more than the Owen Wilson comedy Drillbit Taylor (Paramount). Tyler Perry's latest has grossed just $37.7 million after making $20 million its opening weekend allowing Drillbit to catch up with a gross of $25.6 million. The Top 10 was rounded out with 20th Century Fox's Shutter with $2.8 million and Roland Emmerich's 10,000 BC (Warner Bros.) with slightly less.Opening in 276 theaters in select cities including over 90 IMAX screens, Shine a Light (Paramount Classics), Martin Scorsese's documentation of a Rolling Stones concert, grossed $1.5 million, averaging $5,474 per venue.Wong Kar-Wai's English language debut My Blueberry Nights (Weinstein Co.) starring singer Norah Jones and Jude Law grossed just $73 thousand in 6 theaters in New York and L.A.The box office took another drastic tumble, down a whopping 27% from the same weekend last year, which saw four new releases opening over Easter weekend with none of them making a dent in the returning movies. Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films.

Source: Coming Soon

New Get Smart Pics

Warner Bros. has provided more pics from the June 20 action-comedy Get Smart, starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway. You can view them bigger by clicking on them below.

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Space Chimps and Planet 51 Videos Online

20th Century Fox has launched the official website for Space Chimps where you can watch the new trailer for the animated comedy, featuring the voices of Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Patrick Warburton, Kristin Chenoweth and Stanley Tucci. It's scheduled for a July 18 release.

Scheduled for a year later, Planet 51 is talked about in this new clip. That animated sci-fi tale, due out July 24, 2009, is voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long and Seann William Scott.

Source: ComingSoon.net

The Teaser for Fernando Meirelles' Blindness

The teaser trailer for Fernando Meirelles' Blindness has come online along with the new official website. The September 19 release stars Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Gael Garcia Bernal, Danny Glover and Alice Braga.The film is based on Jose Saramago's acclaimed novel that is set in motion when an epidemic of blindness sweeps through a contemporary city and pushes society to the brink of breakdown.



Source: ComingSoon

Denzel to be part of "The Matarese Circle"

While Universal try and twist Matt Damon's arm into doing a fourth "Bourne", another Robert Ludlum book-cum-film is gearing up.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "The Matarese Circle" has attracted Denzel Washington's interest, whose attached himself to the project.

The script revolves around two secret agents -- an American and a Russian -- who must work together to fight a mysterious group of killers known as the Matarese. The twist: The agents, Bradley Scofield and Vasili Taleniekov, have been nemeses for years, with each responsible for killing someone close to the other. According to those familiar with the pitch, Washington would play Scofield.

Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, the scribes behind Lionsgate's "3:10 to Yuma" and upcoming Universal tentpole "Wanted," are attached as writers. Veteran producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler are on board as producers.

Nearly all the major studios have heard at least a version of the pitch, with several thought to be keenly interested; however, no deal had been struck.

Give it a week, it'll sell.

Source: MovieHole

Nicole Kidman scores a Nine

Nicole Kidman's on the hunt for a hit (she hasn't had one in a few years), might "Nine" be it?
Maybe. Possibly. It's likely.


It's a musical- and we know Nickers can sing and dance (via her work in "Moulin Rouge"), but more so, it's a musical from the director of "Chicago", Rob Marshall. He seems to know what it takes - coming from a musical theater background - to do a good-time movie musical. I'm sure it'll be done right. I'm sure it'll make a few more bucks than "The Invasion" did.


If Kidman agrees to star in the film - an adaptation of Federico Fellini's autobiographical opus "8 1/2," which revolves around a film director (Javier Bardem) juggling the demands of several women in his life - she'll be joining Dame Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz (ha! they'll have some stories to tell among them!), Marion Cotillard and Sophia Loren, so she'll be in good company.


The flick, which the late Anthony Minghella was slated to direct at one stage, is on for a September start.


Full story at The Hollywood Reporter

Tropic Thunder Posters and Banner

IESB.net has revealed the three new posters and banner for the Ben Stiller-directed Tropic Thunder, opening in theaters on August 15. The DreamWorks comedy stars Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Brandon Jackson, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Jay Baruchel, Matt Levin, Andrea De Oliveira, Reggie Lee, Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise.

Short Circuit Remake

Dimension Films has acquired rights to remake the 1986 film, Short Circuit, reports Variety.The original introduced Number 5, a robot built by the military to be a highly sophisticated weapon. It developed a conscience and a personality after being hit by lightning, and then needed the help of humans after it was targeted for destruction by its makers, once it became a peacenik.S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock, who created the characters and wrote both "Short Circuit" films, have been hired to write the remake.David Foster and Ryan E. Heppe will produce with John Hyde.

Camille Belle to Star in Adrift

Camilla Belle (10,000 BC) will shoot the Portuguese-language drama Adrift, which Heitor Dhalia is directing for Fernando Meirelles' O2 Films. Universal International is financing and distributing.Set in the 1980s, the movie, written by Dhalia, centers on a 14-year-old girl who struggles with her life when she learns of the infidelities of her father (Vincent Cassel) while undergoing her own sexual awakening.Belle will play a young woman having an affair with the father.The movie will be released in Brazil in 2009.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Constructicons in transformers-2

It's about that time of year. That time where for the next six to eight months while Michael Bay and company work on Transformers 2, we'll be hearing nothing but rumors, rumors, and more rumors about who is in it, what takes place, exactly how many explosions there will be, and every other last detail imaginable. IESB has the first of these rumors and while typically we probably wouldn't go about posting things like this, it's just too good to pass up. If you're a Transformers fan, once you read the rumor below, you'll agree - this was an awesome one that needed to be mentioned! Autobots roll out!

Robert over at IESB claims that the Constructicons - specifically Scrapper, Bonecrusher, Scavenger, Mixmaster, Hook and Long Haul - will join the Decepticon team in their fight for supremacy or the all spark or whatever it is this time. You heard that right, Devastator is coming to the big screen! This robot is frickin' HUGE. A fan art photo created by Rise Studio has been included below to spark your imagination. This massive bot is a fan favorite among many for his combined destructive power and enormous size. If this is true, this is going to make for some insane battles - that's for sure!

Of course, some of the names will have to be changed. Bonecrusher was the Buffalo H Mine-Protected vehicle that got demolished by Optimus Prime in the highway fight, and Devastator was the M1 Abrams tank that also got its ass kicked in the final fight. We'll see what they come up with.

Also included in their post is a list of possible character listings which include Chuck, Sam's conspiracy theory-obsessed roommate at Princeton; Professor Colan, Sam's physics teacher; the CEO of Massive Dynamic; an FBI director, a CNN reporter, a bunch of military personnel and a few more. It's all the standard fare and I've always believed casting charts really don't tell us much. It's best we hold out until we hear some solid details from Bay or someone else intricately involved in the production.

I think the great thing about this sequel is that Michael Bay already proved that he was the perfect director to bring Transformers to the big screen (at least most people agree) and now the door is open for almost anything. What I mean is that the question has changed from "can Bay actually do a good job translating our beloved 80's toy line to the big screen?" into "what awesome robots can we look forward to seeing next?" Transformers 2, being directed again by Michael Bay, is currently slated for release on June 26th, 2009 next summer and will begin production this July.

Full Hellboy II Trailer Now Online

.::Quicks::.

Billy Crudup Joins Public Enemies
Source: Variety

Billy Crudup has been set to play FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in Public Enemies, the Michael Mann-directed crime drama for Universal that stars Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, reports Variety.

Mann has also set Stephen Lang to play Winstead, the leader of the Texas Rangers who joins the manhunt for John Dillinger and his gang. Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard also star.



Church Has Eyes for Hudson
Source: Variety

Thomas Haden Church (Spider-Man 3) will star with Kate Hudson in Big Eyes.

According to Variety, Church will play Walter Keane, who became a celebrity in the 1950s and '60s because of a series of paintings of big-eyed children that became a mass-market phenomenon.

Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski will direct the fact-based drama from their own script.



New Harold and Kumar Clips Online
Source: ComingSoon.net

New Line Cinema has released more clips from Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo, its anticipated sequel opening in theaters on April 25. The comedy stars John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry, Roger Bart and Neil Patrick Harris. This time, the boys get themselves in trouble trying to sneak a bong onboard a flight to Amsterdam. Now, being suspected of terrorism, they are forced to run from the law and try to find a way to prove their innocence.

You can find links to the clips here!



First Look: Matt Damon in Green Zone

TheBadandUgly.com has your first look at Matt Damon on the set of the new untitled Paul Greengrass "Green Zone" thriller.

In the film, inspired by Rajiv Chandrasekaran's nonfiction book "Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone," Damon plays an officer who teams with a senior CIA officer to search for evidence of weapons of mass destruction. A "Green Zone" is a walled and fortified area where U.S. troops stay during the Iraq occupation. There, critics say, flawed decisions are made because leaders are separated from the realities of life in war-torn Iraq.

Without a Paddle 2

They still haven’t found a cure for that dreaded case of sequelitis, but word is it’s been sourced to a spring in Burbank.

Paramount have come down with a case of it this week, with word tickling in that they’re currently casting – wait for it… - “Without a Paddle 2”.

As far as I can tell, the sequel – which be going direct-to-DVD – has nothing to do with the original, so won’t feature the characters played by Seth Green, Dax Shepard and Matthew Lillard. Instead, it fixes on a character named Zach, who promises an old dying woman that he’ll track down her long-lost granddaughter so they can unite before the woman fades away. He, and two others (Nigel and Ben) head off in search of the lost girl – and get up to all-the-expected hijinks along the way.

I’m guessing a kayak will be involved in there somewhere.

O’Donnell Feeling the Payne

One-time TV veterinarian Chris O’Donnell (TVs "Grey's Anatomy") is stepping back into the shadowy world of big-screen blockbusters – terrain he’s only too familiar with, having starred in two “Batman” movies (the sucky ones). The Boy Wonder has joined the cast of “Max Payne”, the latest in a long line of unnecessary films based on video games.

Payne is the story of a cop (Mark Wahlberg), haunted by the death of his family, who's hot on the heels of a series of new murders. O'Donell will play executive Jason Colvin, says EW.

For you first look at Wahlberg at this Max Payne character click here.

Source:Moviehole

Dan Simmons's Hyperion Sci-Fi Series Being Adapted by Warner Bros

We're in dire need of some new sci-fi movies that involve space battles, alien creatures, universal heroes, everything. Thankfully Warner Brothers seems to up to the task, recently approving an adaptation of the Hyperion Cantos book series. Dan Simmons' award-winning science fiction series features a frame story structure and numerous smaller short stories all set around a planet named Hyperion. If you're unfamiliar with the popular series, then you're in for a treat - it's a very imaginative sci-fi collection that definitely seems like it could adapted into a wonderful sci-fi flick. Now we just hope Warner Brothers brings on a director that won't turn this into a pile of mush.

The Hyperion Cantos includes four individual books in total: Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion (published from 1989 to 1997). The first book, Hyperion, won the Hugo Award for best novel in 1990 and the second, The Fall of Hyperion, was nominated for a Nebula Award for best novel. You can find the first two individually on Amazon.com for pretty dang cheap. An article on the internet praises the series: "It is rare to find a series of books as imaginative, adventurous, and thought provoking as the Hyperion Cantos Series by Dan Simmons."

Hyperion deals with a space war, with most of the action taking place on a planet named Hyperion, known not only for its electricity-spewing trees but also for the Time Tombs, large artifacts that can move through time. The tombs are guarded by a monster called the Shrike, which impales people on metal trees. The series is inspired heavily by Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron and Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The cantos is highly complex, featuring multiple time-lines and characters whose behavior changes dramatically, which was a challenge to adapt and the biggest issue that was overcome before Warner Brothers picked it up.

Newcomer Trevor Sands has been hired to adapt the first two books, Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion, as one feature film with Graham King (The Departed, Blood Diamond, Bangkok Dangerous) producing. Apparently Sands won over the Warner Brothers execs by taking a selective approach to the two novels' multiple points of view in a way that managed to coherently and unconfusingly tell the story.

As was certainly apparent from the start, I'm looking forward to this primarily based on the fact that I'm desperate for some good science fiction movies. The Fifth Element is still one of the only good sci-fi flicks in recent years that had a grand scale and big budget and was still great. I've been waiting anxiously for another good sci-fi flick that I can pop in late on a Wednesday night when I'm in the mood to jump into the future. Dan Simmons' world in Hyperion seems grand enough to fulfill my desires, it will just come down to who they get as a director and whether Sands' script is any good.

Source:FirstShowing

Long and Panettiere Voicing Alpha and Omega

Animated family film Alpha and Omega, about two kidnapped wolves trying to get back their pack, has cast Justin Long and Hayden Panettiere as the two lupine lead voices, with Christina Ricci, Danny Glover, Dennis Hopper and Larry Miller also set.

Variety says the movie is directed by Anthony Bell (The Boondocks) and Ben Gluck (Brother Bear 2) from a screenplay by Chris Denk based on a story by Steve Moore (co-creator of Open Season).

The project marks the first team-up of Lionsgate and Crest Animation Productions for a multi-picture deal.

Production is under way in Los Angeles; key animation will be created at Crest's India-based studio with a debut anticipated for 2010.

Universal Developing Kill the Messenger

Universal is developing a feature called Kill the Messenger, based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb, reports Variety.

The San Jose Mercury News reporter committed suicide after being the target of a smear campaign when he linked the CIA to a scheme to arm Contra rebels in Nicaragua and import cocaine into California.

Peter Landesman will write the screenplay, based on the two books the studio optioned: "Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion," by Webb, and Nick Schou's "Kill the Messenger: How the CIA's Crack-Cocaine Controversy Destroyed Journalist Gary Webb."

Scott Stuber will produce with Nick Wechsler; Naomi Despres and Landesman will be executive

Source:MovieHole

Transformers 2 on the Move

Last week, it was Barricade, and this week Optimus Prime was spotted on L.A.'s 405 being moved to a new location. Is Michael Bay getting ready to start shooting Transformers 2 already? Or perhaps they are doing some early shots for the sequel? The last we heard is that Bay and DreamWorks/Paramount were targeting an early June start for the follow-up so that they could make the June 26, 2009 release date.

New Iron Man Pics!

Superhero Hype! has posted some excellent new shots from the Iron Man movie, opening in North American theaters on May 2. Directed by Jon Favreau, the anticipated comic book adaptation stars Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges.

Ben Stiller is King Doug

Ben Stiller is attached to produce and possibly star in The Return of King Doug, an adaptation of an upcoming Oni Press graphic novel whose film rights were picked up by DreamWorks, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Written by Greg Erb and Jason Oremland, "King" centers on a man who must return to the fantasy world which he abandoned 30 years earlier. Erb and Oremland will also write the screenplay.

Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld and Jeremy Kramer will produce through their DreamWorks-based Red Hour Productions.

Eric Gitter, one of the partners at Oni, will also produce through his Closed on Mondays Entertainment, the company which acts as Oni's production arm. Peter Schwerin is executive producing.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Hayden Panettiere on Fox's Kiss List

Fox Atomic is acquiring the novel "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" and will develop it as a star vehicle for "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere, reports Variety. Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer will write the script.

Published last year by Knopf, "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" takes place in Manhattan, where Naomi and her gay best friend Ely protect their soulmate friendship by creating a list of people deemed off limits for smooching. Their friendship is imperiled when Ely kisses Naomi's boyfriend.

Panettiere is currently playing the title role in the Chris Columbus-directed Fox Atomic comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper, and she is also planning to star in Daydream Nation, which Vogel and Gerson-Saines will produce.

Trailer for Jennifer Lynch's Surveillance

hockTillYouDrop.com has posted a new German trailer for Surveillance, the Jennifer Chambers Lynch serial killer thriller starring Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, French Stewart and Michael Ironside. In the film, executive produced by Lynch's dad, David, Ormond and Pullman star as FBI agents tracking a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims - all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.

Universal Puts First Man on the Moon

Universal has acquired nonfiction novel "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong" and will turn it into a film about the first person to set foot on the moon, says Variety.

NASA historian James R. Hansen got rare direct access to Armstrong, a test pilot-turned-astronaut who was so driven to reach the moon and play the role of American hero that he became known as "the Ice Commander."

Nicole Perlman will write the script. Temple Hill Entertainment partners Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey produce.

"The closer he got to the moon, the further away he became from his family," Perlman told the trade. "He had a family tragedy before Apollo that turned him into this driven astronaut, and he became such a perfect hero that while Buzz Aldrin was announced to be the first man on the moon, NASA reversed its decision because Neil was regarded as more heroic."

Armstrong returned from the moon as one of the most famous men on Earth but didn't capitalize on it with a political career or endorsements. He reconnected with his family, shut out the world and became an intensely private man.

Source: Comingsoon

Fox On the Move

Fox and Blum Will Adapt Anything
20th Century Fox has acquired rights to "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime," an article in the March edition of Men's Vogue about daredevil cargo pilots, reports Variety.

Michael Walker, who wrote the article, will write the script. Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions will produce.

The studio's intention is to use these cargo pilots -- called "freight dogs" -- as the centerpiece for an action thriller. Real freight dogs, whose job is sometimes dangerous, haul everything from exotic animals and cars to video games all over the world.Fox Acquires McElroy's Man and Wife

20th Century Fox has bought Alan McElroy's action-thriller spec Man and Wife.

Variety says the story of international espionage centers on a professional killer, who has to pretend to be an ordinary husband, and the wife who learns to love him in a totally unexpected way.

Ralph Winter, who produced the "X-Men" and "Fantastic Four" franchises for Fox, is producing through his studio-based company. Noah Rosen is executive producing.

McElroy wrote Left Behind: The Movie, which Winter also produced. His credits include Resident Evil, Spawn and Three.