Oliver Stone's W Teaser Poster

One of the more talked about films this year will certainly be Oliver Stone's W. As filming continues in Louisiana for a quick October release, we get our first look at some of the artwork behind the project from IONCINEMA.com. In discussing the film, Stone has often said it will be a fair portrayal of the 43rd President. Seeing this material and the many "Bush-isms" is pretty much the writing on the wall for how this will pan out. That's not to say Oliver's previous statements were wrong; portraying the facts can certainly be considered a fair account. But I imagine any hope for a positive light is quickly dwindling. Was anyone really holding their breath?

The teaser artwork can be seen below in full. We hope you get a kick out of this like we did.

It's amazing to think these remarks came out of the mouth of our President. Democrat or Republican, this is quite embarrassing. Culling all of these wacky quotes into one place definitely makes me think the W instead stands for "What!?!". I'll definitely be seeing the film and will probably enjoy it seeing as that Bush will be out and gone only a few months past its October 17th release.

W. is directed by Oliver Stone (Platoon, Wall Street, JFK, Nixon, Alexander) with a screenplay written by Stanley Weiser (Project X, Wall Street). Lionsgate recently picked up the distribution rights to W. and will be releasing it this fall before the election.

John Moore Reimagining NASA's Capricorn One

Filmmaker John Moore, of Behind Enemy Lines, Flight of the Phoenix, The Omen, and Max Payne, has been attached to direct a remake of Capricorn One. The original film is a 1978 sci-fi thriller about a group of astronauts who were supposed to be sent on NASA's first manned mission to Mars. When their rocket's life support fails last minute, NASA pulls them and the ship is launched unmanned, but NASA requires them to fake the landing and stay in hiding to prevent public humiliation. Elliott Gould and James Brolin starred in the original. Moore's version is described as an updated, reimagining written by Eragon and Jurassic Park III writer Peter Buchman. Not much more is known, but it sounds like a fun project.

Although I'm not at all familiar with the original film, I usually take an interest in anything sci-fi given my love for the genre. The premise sounds promising and I'm curious whether Moore will be better at sci-fi than anything else. So far he's been rather mediocre when it comes to war (Behind Enemy Lines), action (Flight of the Phoenix), and horror (The Omen). Hopefully he didn't get caught up in the video game movie stigma with Max Payne either. The idea sounds so cool that I want this to be good, but right now I'm just not sold on Moore. He needs to really show me he is actually capable of making something entertaining. Until then, I'll wait and hope that he learns some tips from Ridley Scott.

Source: FirstShowing.net

Sci-Fi Viking Flick Outlander Gets a Slick Poster

So get this - two aliens crash on Earth during the time of the Vikings. One is a human-like creature with good intentions who helps the Vikings. The other is a nasty alien creature who wants to kill them. That is Outlander. This reminds me of Dragon Wars, in the sense that it is some sort of odd creature flick that no one really knows about but sounds pretty awesome. It also reminds me of Pathfinder, which was the biggest pile of crap I've ever seen. Thankfully early reports from Cannes confirm that this is definitely better than both of those. Courtesy of STYD we've got our first look at the poster for Outlander. I wish we had a trailer, but alas, The Weinstein Company is holding this one hostage.

Other than James Caviezel, who plays the human alien named Kainan, John Hurt, Ron Perlman, Jack Huston, and cutie Sophia Myles all star as Vikings. The film apparently showed up in the film market at Cannes, where a few people happened to catch some screenings of it. Fightfest said it was an "absolute joy to watch," adding that "there's gore aplenty, the thrills are many and the CGI monster is pretty good too." That's all the convincing I need to add this to my list of films to check out!

During the reign of the Vikings, Kainan (James Caviezel), a man from a far-off world, crash lands on Earth, bringing with him an alien predator known as the Moorwen. Though both man and monster are seeking revenge for violence committed against them, Kainan leads the alliance to kill the Moorwen by fusing his advanced technology with the Viking's Iron Age weaponry.

The Weinstein Company has the domestic distribution rights to Outlander, but currently is keeping it hidden under their bed. In fact, I hadn't even ever heard about it until today. The film is directed and co-written by up-and-coming filmmaker Howard McCain, of The Unspeakable previously. There's a website for the film that can be found right here, which includes a plethora of photos as well as all the information you could ever need. Hopefully these minor mentions here (and on SlashFilm) will kick start the buzz on this creature feature, because I definitely want to kick back and enjoy some sci-fi Viking mayhem

Ryu and Ken out of Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li

The boys over at the “Streetfighter: Legend of Chun Li” movie blog has updated the blog once again, this time addressing questions sent in by fans about the upcoming movie. The first big question they tackled was the appearance (or lack thereof) of Ryu and Ken. The answer, alas, is that No, neither men will be showing up. At least, not in this first movie. They’re hinting that they might show up later, if sequels are warranted.

The other question concerns the movie’s tone and those silly came costumes. Here’s what the blog had to say:

I’m pleased to say we are certainly not going for camp or cheese or any kind of laughs. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the making of this film, and, you’re gonna see a lot of those ON film as well.

Now, as a result of this approach, it’d be silly to put Neal McDonough’s Bison in a bright red suit and captain’s hat with a pair of humongous shoulder pads. It works great in the video game, but in real life, it just wouldn’t look intimidating. The same can be said for Balrog. He’s an enforcer. A killer. A take-no-shit brawler to the core. And so, how scary would he be on screen if he beat people up with boxing gloves and a pair of blue short-shorts?

They also have a link to Joblo.com, where they have an interview with “Streetfighter” scribe Justin Marks.

And oh, one last thing, the blog mentions that Chun Li (Kristin Kreuk) does, eventually, sport buns in her hair at one point. Happy now?

Lionsgate packs up 'Transporter'

Lionsgate has spirited away domestic and Canadian rights to the third “Transporter” movie starring Jason Statham (“Crank”).

Actioner also stars Robert Knepper (“Prison Break”) and returning cast member Francois Berleand (“Place Vendome”). Principal photography in France and Russia wrapped in early May, and the movie is in post-production.

Helmed by Olivier Megaton (“The Red Siren”), pic was scripted by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen and produced jointly by Besson’s EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Prods., Grive Prods. and Apipoulai Production, in association with Current Entertainment.

Lionsgate has announced a Thanksgiving release, with Canada’s Maple Pictures distributing in the Great White North. Lionsgate’s Jason Constantine, acquisition veep Eda Kowan and legal exec VP Wendy Jaffe negotiated the deal with Le Pogam on behalf of the producers.

Combined worldwide box office for the franchise thus far exceeds $130 million.

Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley Join Prince of Persia!

Finally we're getting some solid casting confirmations for Prince of Persia! A couple of weeks ago we announced that Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton had been cast as the two leads in the film. Confirmed today, both Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley will join the cast as well. Molina will play Sheik Amar, who becomes a mentor to the prince, and Kingsley's role hasn't yet been revealed yet but we can guess that it's probably the Vizier, the main villain in the film. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing and Mike Newell is directing this video game adaptation, with filming slated to begin in July in Morocco and England.

In the fantasy adventure, Jake Gyllenhaal will play Dastan, a young prince in 6th century Persia who must join forces with Tamina (Gemma Arterton), a feisty and exotic princess, to prevent a villainous nobleman from possessing the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

I think this is actually great news. I don't necessarily believe that Gyllenhaal is the perfect choice, but I think the addition of Molina and Kingsley means that this could possibly be incredible. Bruckheimer is smart enough to realize that by bringing names like this on, it could really have the potential to break the bad video game movie mold. And both Molina and Kingsley are incredibly strong actors who should bring a definite depth to the film. This is one of the few upcoming blockbusters that I'm genuinely very excited for and interested in and will be following very closely. Is Prince of Persia starting to sound better?

New Hancock Clip Revealed

Smith appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and showed this new Hancock clip that gives away a spoiler about his character in the film, opening in theaters on July 2nd.

Photos from Pixar’s WALL-E + New Wall-E's Love is in the Air Video!

Disney has provided /Film with some images from Pixar’s WALL-E. You might recognize some of these images, as a couple leaked onto the interwebs last month in a low res.

For more WALL-E photos, click here

Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are Reshooting All June!

Despite all of the fuss that we (and everyone else) made in February when news hit that Spike Jonze's adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are was being entirely reshot, our worst nightmares have been realized. Bloody Disgusting reports that Warner Brothers will start reshooting Where the Wild Things Are on June 5th and will work all the way through June 30th. A full 25 days of reshoots is not a good sign for this film. We originally reported that the film was "too weird" and "too scary" for Warner Brothers' taste and was being taken out of Jonze's hands in order to be made they way the execs want it.

Since we first posted the news in February, I've heard various reports both confirming and denying the rumors. I most recently heard that while Warner Brothers is a bit upset, Spike Jonze is still involved and is putting the finishing touches on his creation. Now we get this news from Bloody Disgusting that seems to say the project is headed in the entire opposite direction. They say that "it is unclear how much is being reshot, but there are new casting calls out for various stand-in roles." While it wouldn't be right to start guessing what this means exactly, it at least seems clear that Warner Brothers is reworking this and won't be leaving it the way it was originally shot by Jonze.

On a related note, Kim Voynar at Cinematical recently caught up with Tom Noonan at Cannes, who voices one of the wild things, and questioned him on all things Where the Wild Things Are. Noonan spoke briefly about the involvement of the book's author Maurice Sendak, saying he "was involved. We'd do these video conferences with him where he'd be like, 'if you can't be children, don't be in the fucking movie.' He'd say, 'I want to see children. I don't know any adults who are able to be children,' and he'd give us these pep talks where he'd say, 'don't do what you always do, do what you've always needed to do." I'm not exactly sure what to make of that, but it's good to hear Sendak is involved and is pushing strongly to maintain the original vision of the book.

It's my understanding that Where the Wild Things Are is being edited to be more family friendly. If I may take a moment to warn Warner Brothers - you've got another Speed Racer on your hands! I love Warner Brothers and usually praise them for their marketing efforts, but if you recall, Speed Racer was one of the few times where they screwed up. The studio made a brilliant decision in choosing Spike Jonze to direct the adaptation, but is ruining the film that he created all because they want this to be a kids movie! At this point, everyone knows that it would do much, much better if it was just released the way Jonze intended it to be seen, because if they start messing with the balance between appealing to kids and genius filmmaking, it's guaranteed to flop.

Let's hope these reshoots aren't part of a new plan to completely redo most of the movie. Our original report said that Warner Brothers wasn't happy with Max Records, the kid actor playing Max, and that they didn't like the tone and wanted to all the way back to the script for revisions. I'm fearing for the worst and guessing that this means the execs have finally worked things out the way they want and are now reshooting it in order to actually get the footage they need to make it family friendly. Considering the release date is still set for 2009, I'm guessing they're expecting us to forget about all of this in 16 months time. And from what I can tell, they'll regret this decision 16 months from now when the film flops.

Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. in The Soloist

How many of you saw Resurrecting the Champ last year? In the film, a struggling newspaper journalist comes across a homeless man who claims to be a famous boxer. He writes an article about him and finally gets his break. The story in Joe Wright's The Soloist is similar, but about a cellist instead. In this film, Jamie Foxx plays Nathaniel Ayers, a musical prodigy who developed schizophrenia during his second year at The Juilliard School. Ayers became homeless and played the cello and violin in downtown Los Angeles before being discovered by LA Times journalist Steve Lopez, played by Robert Downey Jr, who wrote a few articles about Ayers. USA Today has our first look at the two in the film that arrives this December.

It might be appropriate to call The Soloist this year's Pursuit of Happyness. Both films were released in November and are about the struggles of a homeless genius. However, The Soloist seems much more like an emotional combination of Dreamgirls and Pursuit of Happyness than anything else. The film is being directed by Joe Wright, of Atonement and Pride & Prejudice previously. If you saw Atonement last year, you know Joe Wright can definitely direct. Maybe this will finally be his chance for Oscar glory?

If you're curious, you can read Steve Lopez's actual articles written about Nathaniel Ayers over on LATimes.com. A few photos from the set of The Soloist hit back in February as well. DreamWorks is releasing The Soloist on November 21st later this year. Stay tuned for the first trailer and more coverage on this film as we near the release date.

Source: FirstShowing.net

New Lost Boys Images Online

Warner has released some images showing some of the main characters, Corey (Frog) Feldman, Tad Hilgenbrink, Angus Sutherland and Autumn Reeser.

What you guys about this?
It says NOTHING to me...

Universal Studios In Flames

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hundreds of firefighters are battling a large blaze that broke out on Sunday on a back lot at Universal Studios, site of movie and television production, a spokesman for a neighboring fire department said.

Burbank firefighter David Ortiz said that about 200 firefighters and two helicopters had been deployed to assist the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

A spokesman for the L.A. County Fire Department was not immediately available, but Capt. Frank Reynoso told CNN that at least one explosion had been heard at the scene.

Universal Studios, operated by NBC Universal Inc, is a unit of General Electric Co.

Universal Studios Hollywood spans hundreds of acres and includes a theme park and a working movie and television back lot.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Photos

Remarkably we're in the thick of the summer only five months away from the theatrical arrival of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and we haven't seen any official photos or a teaser trailer or poster or anything. I'm sure that will all change as we near the release date and the buzz begins to pick up, but for now we've got the only three photos available for the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series. Director David Yates, of Order of the Phoenix, returns to direct this film as well. I won't attempt to try and decipher when or where these scenes depicted below take place to save any of you from being spoiled. However, we most certainly hope you enjoy our first glimpse at the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Update: We've added four more photos that were officially released from Warner Brothers.

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information.

Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And then there's Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is again directed by David Yates, of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix previously, and written by Steve Kloves, who also wrote Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and Goblet of Fire but NOT Order of the Phoenix. The film currently arrives in theaters on November 21st.

Source: FirstShowing.net

Autobot Jazz Returning for Transformers 2?

At the beginning of the year, director Michael Bay said that Jazz wouldn't be back for Transformers 2, but it looks like things have changed. TFW2005.com writes:

The Pontiac Solstice vehicle prop of Autobot Jazz arrived on the set of Transformers 2 earlier today. In addition we've received confirmation from a second tipster that Darius McCrary, the voice of Movie Jazz, is now on set as well.

Filming for the sequel is now taking place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at the former Bethlehem Steel site.

Wallpaper by Stuart

Wall-E Meets Bouncy Balls!

I can't help myself with Wall-E - I've always got to post everything related to the little guy. I'm sure by now those of you who are going to go already know you will and don't need any more convincing, but oh well. Because each and every new little vignette is still as wonderfully cute and entertaining as the one before it. This is the sixth vignette after Wall-E met a vacuum, a Magnet, a Headphone and a Hula Hoop. This film is already destined to be a huge success no matter how many more vignettes I post, but I still don't care, because these deserve to be seen! We hope you enjoy and make sure to leave a comment if you're as excited for Wall-E as me.

I can't wait for Wall-E and thankfully we've only got a few more weeks until it arrives!

Wall-E is both written and directed by Pixar's own Andrew Stanton, who wrote and directed A Bug's Life and Finding Nemo. The movie will arrive in theaters everywhere this summer on June 27th.

Walled In Trailer

We have the trailer for Mischa Barton’s Walled In to show you today. Thanks to moviesonline for the hookup!

Russell and Hart to Wake the Dead

ShockTillYouDrop.com has learned that Jay Russell (Ladder 49, The Water Horse) will direct Wake the Dead, an adaptation of Steve Niles' ("30 Days of Night") modern-day Frankenstein graphic novel. James V. Hart (Sahara, Bram Stoker's Dracula) will write the script.

In the IDW series, Niles introduces his readers to a young man named Victor who works to reverse death, even if it means using spare parts from some of his friends.

To read what Niles has to say about the project, and to watch a video montage created by Russell that evokes the tone of the film, click here!

Zack and Miri Make a Porno Teaser

For those who worry about trailers giving too much away,
/Film quotes Smith who had the following to say:

“Don’t call it a trailer, ’cause it’s not a trailer; it’s a teaser,” warns Smith. “There ain’t a frame of footage in this puppy that’s in the actual flick, so feel free to watch it without fear of ‘spoilers’. This is just a little something to give you a bit of a feel for the flick.“

Michael Bay gets Board

The 'insane' (Rachael Taylor's words, not mine) Michael Bay will bring Hasbro's supernatural game "Ouija Board" to the big screen. The project is set up at Universal, where Hasbro has a six-year partnership set up.

Although the specific log line for the film is being kept under wraps, the film will be a supernatural adventure with the Ouija board playing an integral part of the story.

More on this here

Hellboy 2 Big Baby Poster

This may have been out for a while already, but I just got my hands on this now, so I’m sharing it with yall.