30/07/10 - Total Recall remake gets a director

Columbia Pictures has officially announced that Len Wiseman [pictured] (Live Free or Die Hard, Underworld franchise) has signed on to direct a remake of 1990's Total Recall.

The new film, like the original, will be based on the story, We Can Remember it for You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick.

Commenting on the news Wiseman said: "I've always been fascinated with Philip K. Dick's short story, and I'm excited at that prospect of diving even deeper into the type of world it evokes and the questions it asks. I love that the most crucial mystery our character is trying to solve is the one of his own soul."

 

29/07/10 - Lost co-creator tackles Alien prequel

Lost's co-creator, Damon Lindelof [pictured], has been brought onboard the new Alien prequel movie to rewrite the script.

According to the Deadline website this will be Lindelof's first work on a big screen movie and it's not even guaranteed that it will be turned into the next Alien movie. Apparently, depending on what he turns in, it may end up being a standalone film set outside the Alien franchise.

 

28/07/10 - More Battlestar Galactica on the way

Work has started on a new Battlestar Galactica series that will follow William "Husker" Adama during the Cylon War.

According to reports in the Chicago Tribune, the show is to be called Blood & Chrome and will be an online series with around 10 episodes, each around 9 minutes long.

Mark Stern, Syfy's executive vice president of original programming said that Blood & Chrome is "about a young man's initiation into war: both the realities of war as fought by soldiers on the ground (and in Battlestars and Vipers), and the somewhat less real version portrayed in the media."

It's hoped that if the show is successful it could lead to another TV series.

 

27/07/10 - The Avengers cast finally announced

Marvel has confirmed the final cast for The Avengers movie:

Iron Man (Tony Stark) - Robert Downey Jr.
Agent Phil Coulson - Clark Gregg
Black Widow - Scarlett Johansson
Thor - Chris Hemsworth
Captain America (Steven Rogers) - Chris Evans
Nick Fury - Samuel L. Jackson
Hawkeye - Jeremy Renner
The Hulk (Bruce Banner) - Mark Ruffalo

The Avengers will be released in cinemas on 4 May 2012 and is directed by Joss Whedon.

 

26/07/10 - Lex Luthor to return to Smallville

In a recent interview with the Movieweb news site, Tom Welling [pictured], who plays Clark Kent on Smallville, has confirmed that Lex Luthor will be returning for the show's final season.

When asked if Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor will be returning for the final season of the show, Welling said: "It's imperative that Lex return for the climax of the series."

 

23/07/10 - Joss Whedon to direct The Avengers

Director Joss Whedon [pictured] has confirmed that he we will sit in the director's chair for the big screen version of The Avengers.

The movie, which will bring together iconic superheroes including Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor and many more, will be released in cinemas on 4 May 2012.

The film will star Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Clark Gregg and Tom Hiddleston.

 

22/07/10 - Is Gordon-Levitt up for The Riddler?

The First Showing website is reporting that The Riddler will make an appearance in Christopher Nolan's sequel to The Dark Knight, and that Joseph Gordon-Levitt [pictured] is currently favourite for the role.

Studio sources, however, are warning that nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

The next Batman movie, currently called Batman 3, will be released in cinemas from 20 July 2012.

 

21/07/10 - Dollhouse comic to fill in the blanks

For fans of Joss Whedon's cancelled sci-fi show Dollhouse there is some good news. The characters will continue to live in a new limited edition comic miniseries.

When released in America (on 12 October) the comic will also include a Blu-ray or DVD of season two of the series.

Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, joined by longtime Buffy the Vampire Slayer artist Cliff Richards, take us on an intricate trip through the precise moment when the Active technology went global, and how the protagonists from Epitaph One and Two narrowly avoided death, and worse.

Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen wrote the Epitaph episodes of Dollhouse: Seasons One and Two, and currently write for the Starz series Spartacus.

 

20/07/10 - Pegg may be back for another mission

According to trade paper The Hollywood Reporter, Simon Pegg [pictured] is currently in negotiations to return as Benji Dunn in Paramount's Mission: Impossible 4.

While the film has yet to be given the green light, plans are already in motion to begin principal photography in September.

Tom Cruise is also coming back as agent Ethan Hunt.

If the movie gets the go ahead, then it will be released in cinemas on 16 December 2011.

 

19/07/10 - Flash Gordon film may spawn a series

Director Breck Eisner [pictured], who is currently working on a new Flash Gordon movie, has revealed that he's planning for his ideas to be part of a larger franchise.

In an interview with the Airlock Alpha website, Eisner explained that he's writing the film as an origin story that will be the start of a new Flash series of movies.

"It'll be a franchise for sure," said Eisner. "It will be a standalone story, it definitely won't be left open for more, but the ultimate goal is to turn it into a franchise. It will be an origins story for Flash. He's going to Mongo, he's gonna save the planet and it will have a superhero buy in and will be unique. It is very much a superhero origins story."

 

16/07/10 - First look at Green Lantern costume

The first official image of Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern has been released exclusively for Entertainment Weekly's latest cover.

The reason images haven't been unofficially leaked before now is that the costume isn't a physical object that appears on set - it's designed on computers and added later.

In the movie, which is to be released on 17 June 2011, Reynolds plays Hal Jordan, a cocky test pilot who becomes a ring-wearing intergalactic superhero whose power ring can conjure virtually anything he can dream up.

 

15/07/10 - Is a Hercules movie in the works?

According to trade paper The Hollywood Reporter, Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand) is currently looking into making a live-action Hercules movie.

Industry insiders are claiming that Ratner is in talks to direct producer Avi Lerner's "long-developed tale of the mythological god (Hercules to the Romans, Heracles to the Greeks)."

Lerner's project has been in development for more than three years.

 

14/07/10 - It's all change for the role of the Hulk

Marvel has revealed that it won't be asking Edward Norton [pictured] to star as Bruce Banner in The Avengers movie, a role he played in The Incredible Hulk (2008).

In a recent press briefing Kevin Feigeall, Marvel Studio's President of Production said: "We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks."

In response, Norton's agent retaliated: "This offensive statement from Kevin Feige at Marvel is a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light.

"Here are the facts: two months ago, Kevin called me and said he wanted Edward to reprise the role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. He told me it would be his fantasy to bring Edward on stage with the rest of the cast at Comic-Con and make it the event of the convention. When I said that Edward was definitely open to this idea, Kevin was very excited and we agreed that Edward should meet with Joss Whedon to discuss the project. Edward and Joss had a very good meeting (confirmed by Feige to me) at which Edward said he was enthusiastic at the prospect of being a part of the ensemble cast. Marvel subsequently made him a financial offer to be in the film and both sides started negotiating in good faith.

"This past Wednesday, after several weeks of civil, uncontentious discussions, but before we had come to terms on a deal, a representative from Marvel called to say they had decided to go in another direction with the part. This seemed to us to be a financial decision but, whatever the case, it is completely their prerogative, and we accepted their decision with no hard feelings.

"We know a lot of fans have voiced their public disappointment with this result, but this is no excuse for Feige's mean spirited, accusatory comments. Counter to what Kevin implies here, Edward was looking forward to the opportunity to work with Joss and the other actors in The Avengers cast, many of whom are personal friends of his. Feige's statement is unprofessional, disingenuous and clearly defamatory. Mr. Norton's talent, tireless work ethic and professional integrity deserve more respect, and so do Marvel's fans."

 

13/07/10 - Brian Cox to join Rise of the Apes cast

The Wrap website is claiming that Brian Cox [pictured] is currently in final negotiations to secure a role in 20th Century Fox's reboot of The Planet of the Apes franchise, Rise of the Apes.

If everything goes as planned, Cox will play the nefarious owner of a primate sanctuary who runs the facility with no compassion for the animals that live there.

Set in present day San Francisco, Rise of the Apes is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man's own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

Rise of the Apes is due to open in cinemas from 24 June 2011.

 

12/07/10 - Lucas stops fans from meeting Vader

Dave Prowse [pictured], the actor who donned the Darth Vader suit in the original Star Wars trilogy, is being snubbed by Lucas Film at future key fan events.

Talking on his official website [www.darthvader-starwars.com] Prowse said: "It is with regret that I have been informed by my friends at C2 Ventures, Ben and Phillip, that I am not to be invited to C5 this year or any other Lucas Film associated events. After enquiring, the only thing I have been told is that I have 'burnt too many bridges between Lucas Film and myself' - no other reason given...

"I have also been advised by the promoter of Paris Manga in September that LFL (Lucas Film Limited) have requested no photo opportunities with the 501 Squadron, even though I am commander in chief of the 501."

 

09/07/10 - Is Columbus new Superman director?

The Supermanhomepage.com website is reporting that Chris Columbus [pictured] looks likely to sit in the director's chair for the new Superman reboot.

The new movie is to be produced by Christopher Nolan who was behind the recent Batman movies.

The script is being written by David Goyer, who wrote the scripts for Nolan's two Batman films as well as Alex Proyas's Dark City.

The as yet untitled Superman movie is due for release in cinemas in December 2012.

 

08/07/10 - MGM halt future James Bond plans

According to the Aint It Cool News website all development on the next James Bond movie has been halted.

It's long been known that MGM's financial status is not looking good, but until recently the 23rd movie in the Bond franchise has been put on hold. Now the entire production has been cancelled.

Daniel Craig had already signed onto the project to once again play Bond and Sam Mendes was gearing up to direct the project.

A spokesperson for EON Productions, the company behind the film, said: "We do not know when development will resume and cannot comment further at this stage."

 

07/07/10 - Sherlock Holmes 2 begins in October

In a recent interview with Empire film magazine Jude Law revealed that Sherlock Holmes 2 will start shooting this October.

"I don't know yet where the story will go," Law said in the interview, "but there are a lot of Sherlock Holmes novels to choose from."

Sherlock Holmes 2 will be released in cinemas on 16 December, 2011 and will once again star Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson. The film will be directed by Guy Ritchie.

 

06/07/10 - Harry Potter teaser poster released

The first teaser poster for the final instalment of the Harry Potter movies has been released by Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is set to open in cinemas worldwide on 19 November, with Part II being released on 15 July 2011.

The final chapter of the Harry Potter film series begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione leave Hogwarts behind and set out to find and destroy the Horcruxes, the secret to Voldemort's power and immortality.

 

05/07/10 - First look at Conan in action

The official Conan movie blog has posted the first image of Jason Momoa in action as Conan.

Conan will be released in cinemas some time in 2011 and stars Jason Momoa, Rose McGowan, Stephen Lang, Ron Perlman, Rachel Nichols, Leo Howard, Saïd Taghmaoui, Bob Sapp.

The movie is directed by Marcus Nispel.

 

02/07/10 - Andrew Garfield is Spider-Man

After yesterday's latest rumour about who is up for the dual role of Peter Parker and Spider-Man in the reboot of the movie series, Sony has now officially announced that Andrew Garfield will be the man for the job.

Announcing the news, director Marc Webb said: "Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor's work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker."

The movie will begin production this December and will swing into cinemas in 3D on 3 July 2012.

 

01/07/10 - Is this the new face of Spider-Man?

Unofficial reports have been circulating that Josh Hutcherson [pictured] will be the next Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sony's reboot of the movie franchise.

The 17-year-old Hutcherson, who previously starred in Journey to the Center of the Earth and Zathura, has been linked with the project since April.

In June Hutcherson himself confirmed that he had met with director Marc Webb but said he was in the dark as much as anyone else about his chances.

As well as Hutcherson, Sony has reportedly been looking at Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Olympians), Jamie Bell (King Kong), Anton Yelchin (Star Trek), Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass), and Frank Dillane (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) to play the dual role.

 

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