Lyzsi SinclairMovie News roundup 1st May 2010...
As the year begins to really pick up in terms of major film releases, so too does the amount of news heading your way. I bring you some more snippets of some of the big film stories...
Let's start with the news that a lot of fans will be disappointed to hear – Paramount have pulled the plug on "Anchorman 2". This news comes only a few days after it was reported that if a script could be penned by autumn this year, production could begin as early as February 2011. Even Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and the rest of the main cast had agreed to a substantial pay cut, a major budget help considering nearly all have gone on to be massive Hollywood property. Since Paramount own the rights to "Anchorman", it also means that there's no chance at all of another studio picking it up, and putting it into production. Director Adam McKay took to his twitter announcing the news saying: “So bummed. Paramount basically passed on Anchorman 2. Even after we cut our budget down. We tried.” It's a real shame that Paramount can't see a film gem when they have one, but also it makes a change for a studio to turn down a sequel, in what seems to me like an ever-increasing sea of sequels.
Now some huge superhero film news in the form of the sequel to the huge 2008 Batman film “The Dark Knight”. Warner Bros. have set a release date for it of July 20th 2012, four years since the last installment. Christopher Nolan returns to direct, and the script will be written by David Goyer and Jonah Nolan, (the guys behind "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight"). Not many more details have been announced, not even whether it could be released in 3D – although Nolan has openly expressed in the past that he is against going into 3D format. I have to say for me personally that "The Dark Knight" fell a little short for me as a film (although it was highly acclaimed), so I hope to be more impressed with this sequel.
A couple more snippets of superhero news now. The first comes with the news that "The First Avenger: Captain America" will begin filming on June 28th this year, with a release date currently set at July 22nd 2012 (two days after "The Dark Knight" sequel is set to be released). With Chris Evans taking the title role, the next big thing to find out is what exactly will that costume be like? Hopefully since it starts filming next month, we'll start to get some publicity shots to tantalise us all. The second bit of news is the possibility of Matthew Vaughn (director of “Kick Ass”) taking over the directing reigns for the fourth x-men film – "X Men: First Class". Fox have said that currently he is at the top of their list to take over, with previous director Bryan Singer taking on a producer role.
Some horror news next, although perhaps not the greatest. Paramount (the killers of the "Anchorman 2" dream..), are pushing ahead with "The Ring 3", and like all films of late that are the third installment - it's going to be shot in 3D. David Loucka is hired to come up with the story, and it's hoped that this sequel will revamp and inject some much needed life into the series.
More horror sequel news (I need a new word for sequel to keep me from getting bored of typing it!), in the form of "Scream 4" (or "Scre4m"). Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox-Arquette and David Arquette are all signed onto return, although fans of the franchise will perhaps be disappointed to hear that Jamie Kennedy will not be returning. The script is written by Kevin Williamson, and the great Wes Craven returns to direct – with news that he's on board for sequels 5 and 6 of the franchise. A classic Ghostface poster has been released, with the tagline “New Decade. New Rules” on it, and a release date currently standing at April 15th 2011.
Finally a few tiny bits of news and release dates. The first being the release date for the superhero extravaganza that is "The Avengers", which is set at May 4th 2012. Next the release dates for "Happy Feet 2", which is set for an IMAX release of November 18th 2011; and "The Hobbit" which as been set for sometime in December 2012. Finally some sequel news I'm actually really happy to hear – "How To Train Your Dragon" has been green-lit for a second film which should be heading your way in 2013. A little while to wait, but hopefully one to break the curse of multiple badly-received sequels from Dreamworks team.
So that's it for now...I shall return in a week (maybe less) with some more news stories from all the happenings in cinema land. Until then watch out for a few reviews coming your way, including some reviews of classic films, some gore films that maybe shouldn't have been made – and of course big film reviews of "Iron Man 2" and the upcoming remake of "A Nightmare On Elm Street". Flix Out.
Let's start with the news that a lot of fans will be disappointed to hear – Paramount have pulled the plug on "Anchorman 2". This news comes only a few days after it was reported that if a script could be penned by autumn this year, production could begin as early as February 2011. Even Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and the rest of the main cast had agreed to a substantial pay cut, a major budget help considering nearly all have gone on to be massive Hollywood property. Since Paramount own the rights to "Anchorman", it also means that there's no chance at all of another studio picking it up, and putting it into production. Director Adam McKay took to his twitter announcing the news saying: “So bummed. Paramount basically passed on Anchorman 2. Even after we cut our budget down. We tried.” It's a real shame that Paramount can't see a film gem when they have one, but also it makes a change for a studio to turn down a sequel, in what seems to me like an ever-increasing sea of sequels.
Now some huge superhero film news in the form of the sequel to the huge 2008 Batman film “The Dark Knight”. Warner Bros. have set a release date for it of July 20th 2012, four years since the last installment. Christopher Nolan returns to direct, and the script will be written by David Goyer and Jonah Nolan, (the guys behind "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight"). Not many more details have been announced, not even whether it could be released in 3D – although Nolan has openly expressed in the past that he is against going into 3D format. I have to say for me personally that "The Dark Knight" fell a little short for me as a film (although it was highly acclaimed), so I hope to be more impressed with this sequel.
A couple more snippets of superhero news now. The first comes with the news that "The First Avenger: Captain America" will begin filming on June 28th this year, with a release date currently set at July 22nd 2012 (two days after "The Dark Knight" sequel is set to be released). With Chris Evans taking the title role, the next big thing to find out is what exactly will that costume be like? Hopefully since it starts filming next month, we'll start to get some publicity shots to tantalise us all. The second bit of news is the possibility of Matthew Vaughn (director of “Kick Ass”) taking over the directing reigns for the fourth x-men film – "X Men: First Class". Fox have said that currently he is at the top of their list to take over, with previous director Bryan Singer taking on a producer role.
Some horror news next, although perhaps not the greatest. Paramount (the killers of the "Anchorman 2" dream..), are pushing ahead with "The Ring 3", and like all films of late that are the third installment - it's going to be shot in 3D. David Loucka is hired to come up with the story, and it's hoped that this sequel will revamp and inject some much needed life into the series.
More horror sequel news (I need a new word for sequel to keep me from getting bored of typing it!), in the form of "Scream 4" (or "Scre4m"). Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox-Arquette and David Arquette are all signed onto return, although fans of the franchise will perhaps be disappointed to hear that Jamie Kennedy will not be returning. The script is written by Kevin Williamson, and the great Wes Craven returns to direct – with news that he's on board for sequels 5 and 6 of the franchise. A classic Ghostface poster has been released, with the tagline “New Decade. New Rules” on it, and a release date currently standing at April 15th 2011.
Finally a few tiny bits of news and release dates. The first being the release date for the superhero extravaganza that is "The Avengers", which is set at May 4th 2012. Next the release dates for "Happy Feet 2", which is set for an IMAX release of November 18th 2011; and "The Hobbit" which as been set for sometime in December 2012. Finally some sequel news I'm actually really happy to hear – "How To Train Your Dragon" has been green-lit for a second film which should be heading your way in 2013. A little while to wait, but hopefully one to break the curse of multiple badly-received sequels from Dreamworks team.
So that's it for now...I shall return in a week (maybe less) with some more news stories from all the happenings in cinema land. Until then watch out for a few reviews coming your way, including some reviews of classic films, some gore films that maybe shouldn't have been made – and of course big film reviews of "Iron Man 2" and the upcoming remake of "A Nightmare On Elm Street". Flix Out.
