I really loved the first Speed movie. You had Keanu before he became Keanu, and Bullock before she became Sandra Bullock -- it was simply a nice, refreshing on-screen duo featuring two actors we didn't quite know yet and a villain played by one we already loved. Speed 2: Electric Cruise Ship Boogaloo? Not so much. And even though the sequel wasn't nearly as successful as the first (partly because the story was absurd, and partly because Keanu was replaced by Jason Patric), folks still talked about a third installment in the series -- so much so that The Guardian even announced last year that Dennis Hopper had a role in it. Weird, I know, considering the ending of the first flick, but who knows what these Hollywood types have up their sleeves.
Which brings us to today and yet another Speed 3 rumor. This time, AICN has received a message from one of their sources that says a scriptment for the sequel is floating around and it reintroduces the Jack Traven character, played by Keanu Reeves. And yes, the studio would like to talk Reeves back into starring. No word on whether Bullock would play leading lady (what else does she have to do?), but something tells me folks would rather Keanu if they had a choice between the two, hence Speed 2: Keanu-less Water Park Nightmare.
What say you? Speed 3 with Keanu? You down for it? And did the film Crank already give us the best possible Speed 3 premise?
When Cinematical visited the set of Sherlock Holmes last month, we certainly wanted to learn a lot more about this much-anticipated film (which we did), but we also wanted to find out once and for all whether the classic Holmes villain Moriarty would make an appearance. Up until this point, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) was the only villain on record, and so far folks behind the scenes have managed to successfully dodge the big Moriarty question. That is, until now.
Note: Watch for spoilers below ...
While we received a number of shady answers (followed by evil smirks) from the cast and crew regarding Moriarty during our set visit, IGN managed to get someone to talk: Mr. Mark Strong. At the British Independent Film Awards over the weekend, Strong said this about Moriarty's involvement: "Moriarty's in it ... but you don't really see him. I think he's there because if the franchise carries on, there's a possibility that he will appear in a larger guise. But for the purposes of this one and the detective narrative, I'm the guy that Sherlock's after, Lord Blackwood. And he's a cultist/Satanist lord who is the ultimate cad." So he's there, but you don't see him? Hmmm. I guess we'll take that as solid confirmation ... until we find out who's playing him (ahem, Russell Crowe?).
It never fails to amuse me whenever parents get all worked up about an occasional f-bomb or a flash of boob, but show 'em a story about child genocide peppered with mild misogyny and presto -- you've got a children's classic! Almost two years ago, it was announced that Guillermo Del Toro and Alfonso Cuarón would be taking on an update of Roald Dahl's The Witches, and it was originally reported that Cuarón was going to direct. Now, though, it seems like things have changed, and Empire has broken the news (in an interview with Cuarón) that Del Toro has not only finished the screenplay, but will also be taking the helm for the fantasy update.
Dahl's original story centered on a conspiracy of witches looking to rid the world of children (great bedtime story, huh?), and received the feature film treatment once before. But, that hasn't stopped the studio from going ahead with a brand new version of the dark children's tale, and by the sounds of it, there are going to be plenty of changes in Del Toro's update. Cuarón told Empire, "It won't be like the original Nicolas Roeg version, which was a beautiful film," because (and this is the very exciting part), Del Toro plans to "do it completely in stop-motion animation."
When Nicolas Roeg's version was released back in 1990, a few changes were made to make the story a little less disturbing for the kiddies (including a much lower body count). But for you purists out there, at least we can rely on the fact that at least Del Toro isn't afraid to play rough with kids on the big screen.
Sound off below, and tell us what you think about Del Toro's plan for the 'kiddie-killing' update...
Looks like Summit Entertainment isn't wasting any time with the next Twilight movie, New Moon, based on the second book in Stephenie Meyers' ultra popular series. Not only has it been reported that both Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are receiving a giant pay raise for the sequel (somewhere around $12 million each), but while appearing on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, Stewart said New Moon would start shooting in March, 2009. Is Summit trying to turn the next flick around in time for Christmas, 2010 ... or do you think they're eying a major Summer 2010 spot?
As far as budget is concerned, according to Stewart the production value should be going up. She says, "A lot of the book takes place in Italy, and I think we're going to get to go to Italy, which is so cool. For a while there, they were like, Oh, we don't know if we have the money, but now I think we may have the money!" Um, yeah, I think they have the money.
For those who saw Twilight, what would you like to see the sequel do differently?
If a comedy troupe like Broken Lizard or The Whitest Kids U Know had made Lars and the Real Girl, it might have turned out like Happy Birthday Harris Malden, a sweet, funny, and very odd comedy about growing up and accepting reality. It's the work of a Philadelphia filmmaking quintet called Sweaty Robot, and the opening credits are no more specific than that: "Written and directed by Sweaty Robot." I like that. The film is about friendship, and it was made by a group of friends.
Granted, making a movie with a bunch of your friends isn't always a good idea -- Adam Sandler, I'm looking at you -- but Harris Malden benefits from Sweaty Robot's familiarity and camaraderie. While it has some jokes that probably only the guys themselves think are funny, the film is so good-natured and charming, almost innocent, that even when I wasn't laughing I was content. It's a movie that wants to be your pal, and hey, doggone it, what's not to like?
It's a bird, it's a plane ... no wait, it's Bryan Singer dodging more Superman sequel questions!
Pretty soon Bryan Singer will be doing a big publicity push for Valkyrie, and when that time comes look for folks to be bombarding him with Superman sequel scenarios ("Well what if you half-produced it and starred as a villainous mutant Hitler who wears an eye patch -- is that an option?"). After all, things are still way up in the air regarding further installments for a franchise that's ... let's just say stalled at the moment. MTV managed to snag a quick chat with Singer regarding Valkyrie and you betcha they snuck a Supes question in there. On whether he'll be directing, Singer says, "At the moment, I can't really talk about that. I wish I could. From my perspective, I'm going to take a brief pause. This movie has taken a long time, so I'm going to take a pause. A movie like that takes some time to do right. That's all I can say about that."
The good news? Singer "can't" talk about it, which means something is brewing and he'd love to share his opinion. Most likely the studio has him on "shut the hell up" watch, which probably means we won't get anything more with regards to Superman until a decision on where exactly they're going with this sucker is made. Interestingly enough, he does admit to having dinner with The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan. Says Singer, "We had dinner, and [Marvel Studios founder] Avi Arad ran into us. Isn't that strange? It was such a moment. The three of us were just sitting there thinking, "Isn't this bizarre?" I should have called ["Spider-Man" director Sam] Raimi up and said, "We've got sushi. Get over here!" Tom Cruise meets Hitler after the jump!
Now that we've all had a chance to see some of the video footage that has been leaking from the set of Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds (footage that has since disappeared), you might have noticed that the man himself was nowhere to be found in most of the clips. But, according to The Quentin Tarantino Archives, one man who has been behind the camera lately is Mr. 'Torture Porn' himself, Eli Roth. Rumor has it Roth is directing a Nazi propaganda film to be included in the story of "...a group of prisoners-turned-soldiers whose mission is to take down a group of Nazis, and the other follows a young Jewish woman who seeks to avenge the death of her parents by this Nazi group."
The horror director first signed on to the project back in August to play Sgt. Donnie Donowitz, "a baseball bat swinging Nazi hunter". But, I guess Roth wasn't content with just being in front of the camera this time around. QT Archives reports that Roth is directing the story of "Daniel Brühl as a Nazi sniper and GIs on a suicide mission." -- presumably while Tarantino was off teaching Til Schweiger how to do a spit take.
You almost have to feel sorry for Tarantino with the amount of scrutiny surrounding his WWII epic -- think about it, when was the last time a headline about an orchestral score got this much attention? So far, Tarantino and company have managed to keep a few details from spilling with the help of the odd water cannon. So, you may be wondering: why all the mania? Well, maybe it's because Tarantino has been talking about making Basterds for so long -- or maybe it's just because for a lot fans, Grindhouse wasn't the comeback they had been hoping for. Either way you cut it, we may not like what the guy has come up with, but at least it will be like nothing else we've seen before.
Here are some stuff and things for your Tuesday (or shall we call it Almost But Not Quite Twilight Friday Yet Day):
Just Added: We don't have a Captain America just yet, but the film has two writers: The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian) are in negotiations to write The First Avenger: Captain America. The film is currently due in theaters on May 6, 2011.
-- Screw Heath Ledger and The Dark Knight getting nods come Oscar time, we've got one better: How about Miley Cyrus? Yup, The Envelope's Gold Derby shows us how Hannah Montana herself could be up for an Oscar for Best Song due to her writing and singing I Thought I Lost You in Disney's Bolt. Since Disney always owns this category, there's a pretty good chance Cyrus will nab at least a nod -- though, if you want my opinion, Peter Gabriel's Down to Earth (from WALL-E) should take it.
-- The Los Angeles Times spoke to South Park co-creator Trey Parker recently, and found out that the boys might be looking to end the series with another film. While they're contracted until 2011, Parker claims a big-screen finale could be the way to go: "We talked about maybe some day doing a movie to sort of end it all, and that seems like the best idea. That's been a big thought to do the last show as a movie." During the same interview, Parker also says that what eventually became the three-part Imaginationland episode was originally supposed to be their second feature film ... until the guys realized they needed more content for the season. The Imaginationland episode eventually went on to win an Emmy.
It's been awhile since we heard anything regarding Spike Jonze's adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are, and after the release date was pushed back a year, folks started to spew rumors that Warner Bros. didn't like Jonze's version of the flick, how it was "too adult", how test screenings were making kids cry, how there were reshoots ... and all that nonsense. Cut to today, and AICN has up a lengthy interview with Jonze and his editor Eric Zumbrunnen from their offices, as well as two brand new images from the flick (one of which you can see above). The interview itself is mega long, but fans of Jonze and of Wild Things should definitely read it in its entirety, if only to feel better about where this project is heading. Here are a few interview highlights:
Jonze on where the film is at now: "We just locked picture about three weeks ago, and we'll probably finish all the effects by, like, May or so. Then we mix in May and we have our dates in October, so..."
Jonze on who's scoring the flick: "Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She did some of the score and is doing some of the score. Her and Carter Burwell are sort of doing it together."
Jonze on problems with the studio: "And I think that's what freaked the studio out about the movie too. It wasn't a studio film for kids, or it wasn't a traditional film about kids. We didn't have like a Movie Kid in our movie, or a Movie Performance in a Movie Kid world. We had a real kid and a real world, and I think that's sort of where our problem was. In the end they realized the movie is what it is, and there's no real way to... it's sort of like they were expecting a boy and I gave birth to a girl. So they just needed their time to sort that out and figure out how they were going to learn to love their new daughter."
The Internets are saving independent film again! Often the biggest dilemma for small-time filmmakers is that distributing their movies, whether in theaters or on DVD, costs too much money. So we're seeing more and more films skip theaters, skip DVD, and go straight to the Internet, where movie downloads are becoming increasingly common.
The latest development is that a company called Cinetic Rights Management is releasing its catalog of indie films through Amazon's Video on Demand service and its CreateSpace DVD on Demand system. The arrangement will allow customers to rent or buy digital copies of films that aren't available anywhere else, many of which are just as worthy of being seen as the ones that were lucky enough to get theatrical distribution. (And that often really is the only difference between a movie that makes it to theaters and one that doesn't: luck.)
The new arrangement launches today with the featured title On Broadway (pictured), a gentle comedy about a Boston man who writes and stages a play in the back of his pub. The cast includes Eliza Dushku, Will Arnett, and New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre.
Seems our site, along with practically everyone else online, was a bit premature in declaring Brett Ratner director of the new Conan reboot. The original Hollywood Reporter article is what first threw folks off, since it claimed Ratner was committed to Conan, then changed their tune to say he's simply in "final negotiations." But even so, there's still a long way to go on the project, which, right now, is in the early stages of development. On whether or not Ratner will actually sign on, producer Avi Lerner (who sent out the original press release announcing Ratner's involvement) told The Los Angeles Times that they "still have a few obstacles. Brett is only committed if we agree on a budget, on how to do the special effects and exactly where we'd shoot the film."
Ratner, on the other hand, is pretty peeved news leaked out this early in the game. He says, "Let me make this very clear: I am not doing Conan now. This is totally premature. For now, Conan is only a development deal. I have a deal at Paramount and I'm doing Beverly Hills Cop first, no matter what. Avi shouldn't be telling you or anyone else in the press what I'm doing." Talk about getting off on the right foot.
Meanwhile, in happy-go-lucky land, Lerner says they're "looking for a younger Arnold Schwarzenegger" for the part of Conan; someone they "could sign to a three-or-four-picture deal." As to whether the Governor would take a role, Lerner claims he offered Ahnold $1 million to do a one-day cameo, but didn't get a 'yes' just yet. Schwarzenegger did say to "Wait two years for me -- I'll be coming back." Well, I guess we know who'll be showing up in the next Terminator flick, right?
I'm going to attempt to write this as spoiler free as possible, saddened that as a Cinematical blogger, I inevitably ruin every single movie for myself.
According to The Guardian, Baz Luhrmann was reportedly convinced to change the ending of Australia after "intense discussions" with 20th Century Fox. Early test screenings were quite negative towards the original ending which is, apparently, quite a downer. Now, you'll save on Kleenex, because it's being rewritten for everyone to live happily ever after. (You're probably saying "Just say what the ending is, it's not a spoiler if it's changed!" but I don't want to take the risk. Please don't blab it in the comments, either.)
Over at Rope of Silicon, they say Fox insists Luhrmann has the final cut, and his vision is being respected. If the ending has been changed, it's because he wanted to change it. So there's both sides, and I guess we'll be able to put two and two together after we see the film. To add a little extra credence to this story, the fact that The Australian was reporting as of Halloween that the film still wasn't done suggests the ending could be one of the final difficulties. The Guardian only mentions a rewrite, and not a reshoot, so let's hope they filmed some alternate versions in order to avoid further delay. Now that I've lost The Road, I'm counting on The Drover to brighten up Thanksgiving weekend.
A few new images from the film were also just released, and we've added them to our brand new Australia gallery below. The ending might be changed, but she certainly is a beauty to look at.
Have you always been interested in watching films, but only those featuring the eclectic works of Mr. Kevin Bacon? Trust me, I know how addicting watching Footloose at 3am can be -- and, yes, my neighbors get pissed off as well when I decide to re-enact the final number on my wood floor wearing a pair of loud black Bacon-esque shoes. But what can you do -- it's Kev! Luckily, us Bacon-ators finally have something to keep us busy: The Kevin Bacon Movie Club. For just twenty bucks a month, you'll receive a new Kevin Bacon film in the mail, along with a signed poster and -- wait for it -- Kevin Bacon himself will deliver it and watch the flick with you! Classic! Um, honey, cancel our plans for every weekend for the rest of our lives STAT! Check out the snazzy commercial below for more details, and in case you were wondering ... I've already signed up. Who knew they actually shot Apollo 13 in space? I sure as heck didn't!
At last, First Avenger: Captain America moves forward! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joe Johnston has landed the job of directing one of the most beloved superheroes in Marvel's canon. Get this -- he's been in talks for this for two years straight, and most of the plans currently swirling around Cap originated then, thanks to Johnston. So he's certainly put his time in on the character. At the present time, no writer has been hired, but the pitches are pouring in, so expect another announcement soon. The movie is still scheduled to be released May 6th, 2011.
Johnston probably isn't the most glamorous or obvious choice -- but, arguably, he's handled patriotic themes of Americana well in October Sky and the overlooked Hidalgo. But perhaps the biggest credit to his name when it comes to Captain America is The Rocketeer, which is nearly what a Captain America film should be. I liked what I saw of The Wolfman, and it could be that a big Marvel film is the one that Johnston's been gearing up towards. And that's exactly what Marvel's Kevin Feige thinks, too. Says the Man of Marvel: "This is a guy who designed the vehicles for Star Wars, who storyboarded the convoy action sequence for Raiders of the Lost Ark ... you can look at pieces of his movies and see how they lead to this one."
But we all know the truth -- the movie we want depends purely on who they cast as Cap. The man to wear the red, white, and blue is what will make or break this movie. Nevertheless, feel free to praise or criticize Joe Johnston, the man they call director, below. (Plus the guy did a pretty solid job on Jurassic Park 3! -- Weinberg)
So remember back in 2007 when no one could understand why Warner Bros. had chosen to hire Tim Story (Taxi) to direct a feature film version of Vertigo's The Losers? Well, it looks like WB might have come to the same conclusion as we did because Variety reports that Story has now been replaced by Sylvain White. Personally, I haven't been able to wrap my head around either of WB's choices for the comic book flick. It is nothing against either one of these guys, but keep in mind that White directed Stomp the Yard and I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer .
The Losers was originally a DC title about a group of WWII bad-a**es, but in 2003, Andy Diggle revived the title with a few minor changes for Vertigo. The 'new' Losers still centered on a Special Forces team, but the story was now set in the 1990's with the team reporting to the C.I.A. and a mysterious handler known as Max. When the team is betrayed by Max during a dangerous operation and left for dead, the group reunites for revenge.
White has already been setting up some other 'fan boy friendly' projects for 2009, and even though he won't be heading to Castlevaniaany time soon, there is still his adaptation of Frank Miller's Ronin for WB, and the futuristic thriller Static for Columbia Pictures. James Vanderbilt (Wolverine, Spiderman 4) has already completed the Losers script for Warner Bros, and even though the jury might still out on White's skills, at least Vanderbilt has enough comic book cred for the both of them.
Let's just keep our fingers crossed that White has left his mall sensibilities behind him for good, because I don't think I could take a teen version of The Losers -- could you?
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It never fails to amuse me whenever parents get all worked up about an occasional f-bomb or a flash of boob, but show 'em a story about child genocide peppered with mild misogyny and presto -- you've got a children's classic! Almost two years ago, it was 
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The Internets are saving independent film again! Often the biggest dilemma for small-time filmmakers is that distributing their movies, whether in theaters or on DVD, costs too much money. So we're seeing more and more films skip theaters, skip DVD, and go straight to the Internet, where movie downloads are becoming increasingly common. 
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