Remakes and Sequels »
'Death at a Funeral' Trailer Causes Death to Fun
Filed under: Comedy, Remakes and Sequels
Oh, Screen Gems, Screen Gems, Screen Gems. You guys just can't crank 'em out fast enough, huh? Last year, you managed to be in the process of remaking [REC] while it was still making the festival rounds, and this year, we see the trailer for next year's more multi-cultural remake of 2007's Death at a Funeral. (It's after the jump.)Neil LaBute of Lakeview Terrace fame replaces Frank Oz to direct a cast that includes Chris Rock, Danny Glover, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Columbus Short, and a handful of white people - including James Marsden in Alan Tudyk's under-the-influence funeral guest role (inspired casting, I'll admit) and Peter Dinklage in the part last played by... Peter Dinklage. Hell, even the same screenwriter is credited, because the screenplay would appear to be almost identical, save for a few more race-related remarks.
Far be it from me to judge from just two minutes, but the tone of this seems far more broad and slapsticky than its bawdy British predecessor. Oh, well, a black comedy has now become a black comedy in a completely different sense of the word.
DAAF 2.0 lands April 16, 2010.
Review: Brothers
Filed under: Drama, New Releases, Lionsgate Films, Theatrical Reviews, Remakes and Sequels, War
Susanne Bier's 2005 melodrama, Brothers, was just that, a simple soap opera between a war vet, his wife and his brother, and while Jim Sheridan's update isn't terribly different at its core, its all-American setting quietly places a firmer emphasis on the toll of our current war at home.
Just as Tommy Cahill (Jake Gyllenhaal) is getting out of another stint in jail, his brother Sam (Tobey Maguire) is about to ship off to Afghanistan for another tour of duty. His wife, Grace (Natalie Portman), wishes him well, as does everyone, but soon enough, his helicopter is taken down by enemy fire and news comes that Sam was among the casualties - although he is actually a prisoner of war. Tommy, out of guilt, and Grace, out of need, draw closer to one another, close enough to rile up the suspicions of a changed Sam once he returns home...
'The Hobbit' May Be Pushed to 2012
Filed under: Classics, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, MGM, Warner Brothers, RumorMonger, Fandom, Family Films, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Peter Jackson, Remakes and Sequels
The journey back to Middle Earth is taking longer than anyone anticipated, even its filmmakers. Peter Jackson revealed in an interview with Movie Reporter * that they're hoping to complete the second draft of The Hobbit script by the beginning of next year. Once that's done, they can calculate budget and set a start date, but even the most enthusiastic estimates mean that filming would begin in middle to late 2010. That's not even factoring in the MGM money woes, and how that could affect budgeting, though signs point to Warner Bros picking up the entire tab. Jackson was silent as to whether the original release dates would hold, but I think we're all familiar enough with the magic of movie making to know that we're unlikely to see The Hobbit in December 2011. Remember, that was the date given for the first half of the film. It's more likely you'll see Part 1 in December 2012, and Part 2 in December 2013.
If you contemplate those numbers with a sinking heart, you're not alone. For me, it's not that 2012 or 2013 are particularly far away (you know how the years speed by the older you get!), but that so much can happen to a film, its writers and directors, and its potential cast members. I'm certain The Hobbit will happen, but it can't hurt to send some geeky good vibes its way, and hope it gains some speed and cast announcements very soon.
[*I've linked to TheOneRing.net, which translated the German interview for the rest of the Internet, and allowed the story to be subsequently picked up in Variety.]
The International 'Iron Man 2' Poster Subtracts a Suit
Filed under: Action, Paramount, Movie Marketing, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, Images, Posters
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Given the frenzy that surrounded the release of the first Iron Man 2 poster and the early stills, I thought it was fitting that we should end the week with a trilogy of marketing material. Empire has debuted the international version of the Iron Man 2 poster which you can see to the right in mini form. If you click on the link, it'll take you to a larger version.While our poster gave you two Iron Man suits for the money, the international audience only gets one -- and Tony Stark isn't even wearing his helmet! We should pity the overseas people who will be denied that awesome look at War Machine. On the other hand, they get the soulful eyes of Robert Downey Jr. I feel like there's some kind of commentary on the difference between American audiences and international ones here. They're sold by an intense, human gaze whereas we're sold by big metal suits that hint at the promise of explosions.
Yes, I'm reading too much into it. Come on, I have to make my word count ... and I don't know what it says about me that this is the one I'd put on my wall. I'm a sucker for the man inside the suit, I guess.
Iron Man 2 hits American theaters on May 7, 2010, but the UK reportedly gets an earlier look on April 30, 2010. Truly devoted fans might want to book that plane ticket now.
Halcyon Auctions Off 'Terminator Salvation' Props & Costumes
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Remakes and Sequels
This is getting ridiculous, and I can only assume that James Cameron is shaking his head somewhere and muttering: "Jacka**es." We wondered if the Terminator franchise was in trouble back in August, and then learned that Halcyon -- the company who owns the rights to the franchise -- filed for bankruptcy and was gearing up to auction the whole thing off. Being a stand-up kind of guy, Joss Whedon then offered to buy the rights for ten G's. Now? Still in a crunch for money, IESB reports that The Halcyon Company has teamed up with Hollywood Parts online auction service to sell off all the movie props and wardrobes now that Terminator Salvation is out on DVD (guess we can wave goodbye to any sequel set in this world).Rather than doing this the eBay way, where awesome props start off cheap and work their way up, these items start with a price of a couple hundred dollars and then work their way up to $10,000 for a full John Connor costume. However, they do allow buyers to make an offer price and see what happens -- but you just know that no person who bids $100 on that Connor costume has a shot in hell of getting it even if no one else bid.
For any fans who like the film enough to fork over some cash, this should be a sweet deal, but it's just an added piece of embarrassment to a franchise that started off so wonderfully. I wonder what's next -- some cult company like Troma or Asylum turning it into cult pulp?
Disney Remaking 'The Black Hole' With 'Tron' Team
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, Disney, Scripts, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels
It's a new day at Disney with their new studio chief, Rich Ross, and everyone has been rather eager to see what new direction the studio moved in, and what projects they fast tracked. It turns out that their new vision is a rather old one. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has dug deep into the vaults and decided to remake The Black Hole. They've put Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski and producer Sean Bailey on the project, hoping that they can make The Black Hole as cool as they've made all things Tron. I feel terrible, but I have absolutely no memory of this film. I know I probably saw it at some point, but its lovable droids have been wiped out by multiple viewings of Star Wars, so allow me to recap. The 1979 original centered on a group of space explorers discover the lost USS Cygnus, floating dead on the edge of a black hole. Logically they haven't seen Event Horizon, so they happily board the ship to what's become of the crew. There they meet a scientist and his group of robot friends (some cute, and one mean, red, and named Maximilian), and he claims his crew deserted him when he tried to travel through the black hole. Of course, he's not telling the truth. The robots are the former Cygnus crew, and the scientist has no intention of letting them leave. Dun dun dun ...
Naturally, the remake won't be a straight-up retelling, and Disney is keeping the plot a secret. The only thing they're willing to reveal is that the menacing robot Maximilian will return, and that the black hole will be more of a plot point. Science will also be involved, and I imagine a little Star Trek too. Will it inspire the instant excitement of Tron: Legacy? Or will it be an entirely new concept to most moviegoers?
New 'Iron Man 2' Photos Have Everyone Thinking
Filed under: Action, Paramount, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, Images
On the heels of the first Iron Man 2 poster come a few official stills straight from Paramount. Everyone looks very serious. Whiplash is seriously working on something, surrounded by pictures of Tony Stark to keep his hate burning and his ethic cheerful. Black Widow is seriously up to no good, even if she looks slinky doing it. Even Tony isn't taking things lightly -- not the destruction to his house, and not whatever he's brewing in his latest science project.
There's nothing really new on display here -- the Black Widow photo has been around in varying degrees of resolution since before San Diego Comic Con -- but it's just nice to see the characters out and about, isn't it? If you're given to intense plot speculation, you can all give your take on just what Tony and Whiplash have brewing, and just who caused Tony's marble floor to shatter into a dozen pieces. Did he fly through the ceiling again? Is he building an access portal so that it doesn't ever happen again? Or did some nefarious individual blast a hole into his luxurious tile, hoping to get into his secret lair of Iron Man suits?
We'll know on May 7th, 2010. Until then, just spin your own stories, and delight in a peek at the finished product. The first stills from a film always remind me of the good old days of Disney Adventures when this is all you'd have to go on until summer rolled around.
UPDATED: Paul Greengrass Quits 'Bourne 4'
Filed under: Action, Thrillers, Universal, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels
Everyone and their grandmothers seems to want a fourth Bourne film, and the question of "When, when, when?!" has dogged Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass for a long time. Shockingly, the answer may now be "never," as The Playlist is reporting that Greengrass has quit Bourne 4. Script problems and a fractious relationship with Universal are said to be the cause of the split.
Two scripts have been penned for the film, and reportedly no one is fond of George Nolfi's take. Josh Zetumer came aboard to write a new one, a decision that irked Greengrass as he wasn't consulted as to the choice of writer. But that's a relatively minor point, as the real problem seems to be Greengrass' free-wheeling style, which has cost Universal millions and millions on every film he's made. While Bourne turned a fine profit, the studio is concerned about Green Zone, which is now estimated to have cost $150 million due to all of Greengrass' famous tinkering. This is a film that doesn't carry the Bourne brand name, and deals with the very un-blockbuster topic of Iraq.
So, Greengrass and Universal have been butting heads, as he wants to continue his usual approach on Bourne 4, and they want him to keep the budget under control. Thus, he's upset at the way he's been treated, and has now walked away. Rumors swirl that he might return, but there's just as much feeling that the studio could hire a new director. This leaves everyone uncertain as to whether Damon would return since he's been famously loyal to Greengrass. For now, everyone is watching the trades to see what'll be announced (and with Damon doing Invictus press, maybe it'll come up unofficially), and hoping for the best. The last thing anyone wants is Bourne without the guys that made it great.
UPDATED: Head after the jump for a statement from Paul Greengrass
'Shakespeare in Love' Helmer Circles 'My Fair Lady'
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Deals, Remakes and Sequels
There is still no solid agreement for Keira Knightley to take on one Miss Eliza Doolittle, but it looks like the remake of My Fair Lady may finally have found a director. One who is not Joe Wright. Variety reports that the helmer behind The Debt -- John Madden -- is currently in talks to direct the film. Seeing that The Debt hasn't come out yet, let's be more clear: The director behind Shakespeare in Love, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Proof, and Killshot is the guy circling this feature.That should be pretty decent news for the film. While I can't say that his subsequent work has brought him the same acclaim, getting an Oscar nomination for Shakespeare proved that he's at his best when dealing with classic literary romance. And while I would've loved to see Baz Luhrmann take it on (he was previously linked to the shebang), I can't really argue with the directorial direction they're going ... although I would very much prefer a stab at the original Pygmalion. Alas, no music-free wordiness for me.
The plan is to retain the film's 1912 setting and score, shooting in a number of London locales. But the big question will be whether audiences will care. Can rain in Spain bring in box office numbers? And when will ANYONE officially sign on to this sucker? Stay tuned!
Chris Weitz to Direct Two-Part 'Breaking Dawn' Finale?
Filed under: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels
As The Twilight Saga: New Moon crosses $200 million, execs over at Summit Entertainment are quietly (or not so quietly) trying to figure out what to do about Breaking Dawn, the final (for now) adaptation in the Twilight movie franchise. According to a piece in Variety, only screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg is confirmed to finish out the series, and right now it looks like they're going to go the Harry Potter route and split Breaking Dawn up into two parts. Problem is, none of the actors have deals for a second part, and so like what happened with Harry Potter, there's a very good chance Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner could be looking at upwards of eight figures for their participation.The other big question mark (aside from how you adapt the predominately darker Breaking Dawn into a film that will appeal to the tween and teen set) is who will direct. David Slade is currently helming Eclipse, the third installment in the Twilight franchise, and from the sound of things that's the only segment he'll be directing. Right now it looks like Summit wants Chris Weitz to finish out the series, which is why -- according to Variety -- they haven't yet closed the deal on The Gardener, which is the smaller, more personal film he wanted to direct next. But will Weitz commit to the back-to-back films, which are sure to keep him away from his family for several months?
What's the alternative, though? To bring on a director new to the franchise to helm its big finale? That doesn't make sense, and I'm sure Summit is preparing to empty their wallets on this one in order to line up the correct pieces. Sources claim the studio wants Weitz to finish the job, though they haven't yet made him an official offer. What do you want to see happen?
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