Lyzsi SinclairSome Movie News Snippets for April 2010...
Time for a selection of the big news stories and happenings in cinemaland…
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Let’s start with the big one. Pixar have announced “Monsters, Inc 2” - a long-awaited sequel to the huge 2002 animated children’s film. It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since the brilliantly funny and clever characters of Mike and Sulley hit our screen, so hopefully this sequel will bring back all the same magic and more! Pixar have also announced another new film with “Brave” (previously titled “The Bear And The Bow”) which is also an animated film for children. The voice talent cast so far includes Billy Connelly (“Muppet Treasure Island”, “The Last Samurai”), Reece Witherspoon (“Legally Blonde”, “Monsters and Aliens”), and Emma Thompson (“Nanny McPhee”). For Pixar’s first fairy tale film director Brenda Chapman leads and she describes it as a combination of her love for the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, as well as reflections on bringing up her own daughter.
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Onto another fairy tale film, but this time it comes in the form of the dark Gothic Horror “The Girl With The Red Riding Hood”. The film’s cast currently include Amanda Seyfried (“Mean Girls”, “Mamma Mia”) as Red Riding Hood; Gary Oldman (“The Fifth Element”, “Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban”) as ass-kicking witch hunter Father Soloman; and Julie Christie (“Finding Neverland”, “Troy”) as a knitting obsessed grandma. The story follows a series of bad things happening in Red’s medieval village, caused by a terrifying werewolf; and is directed by Catherine Hardwicke of “Twilight” fame.
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Now to get the prequels, sequels and remake’s out of the way - honestly does Hollywood not care about being new and original anymore?! Remakes announced include a “Mighty Mouse” remake, and also the remake of the classic 1981 Dudley Moore comedy “Arthur”. Set to include Russell Brand as the rich playboy who finds himself cut off from his parents, and Helen Mirren as his longtime nanny. Only time will tell if this was a film best left alone.
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Also in the works are a possible “Wizard Of Oz” prequel, and a confirmed “Alien” prequel. Ridley Scott has released a few details about it saying that it’s going to be set in 2085 - roughly 30 years before Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley - and that it’s going to explore just where exactly things came from. Could be a big hit if done well, and not too self-indulgent. As for the “Wizard Of Oz” prequel, that’s another film I think is best left alone.
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Now onto the big sequel news. “Wanted 2” is set to hit screens in 2011, but unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts Angelina Jolie won’t be back as the kick-ass pouting beauty that was Fox. It’s been announced that “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart is now cast as a new young assassin set to work with James McAvoy’s Wesley Gibson. Talking of awesome assassins, bad news for fans of the James Bond franchise as production on “Bond 23” has now been halted. It’s all down to serious financial problems down at MGM, but lead star Daniel Craig is confident that production will get back on track soon.
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Another big action star Will Smith is set to be a busy bunny over the next couple of years too. As well as signing on for two “Independance Day” sequels and a sequel to the 2008 smash “Hancock”; there’s now confirmation that both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are both hooked in for “Men In Black III”, which will be the franchise’s third (and possibly final) installment. Expect a lot of Will Smith coming to your screens soon!
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Back to non-sequel/preqel/remake movie news, and unfortunate news for those looking forward to seeing Seth Rogan’s “Green Hornet” this year. After Sony’s first viewing of the film footage, they were reportedly unhappy with it calling it campy, and stating that Seth Rogan just didn’t look the part of a superhero. Now drastic action has been taken and the film is being converted into 3D. Since the film was shot on normal film it’s going to take a bit longer, therefore pushing back it’s release date from December 22nd 2010, to January 14th 2011. I am looking forward to this film actually, so I hope the conversion doesn’t hurt the film’s chances by jumping on the 3D bandwagon!
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Now, some snippets of horror news. First is the news that Paramount still have an interest in adapting the brilliant Max Brook’s book “World War Z”, into a film. It’s been circulating for some time that people have been submitting scripts and working on the adaption, but lately that’s all but ground to a halt. However Paramount are still keen to bring this zombie flick to the big screen, so I hope that someone soon comes out with a suitable script. I’ll keep you informed as I know more.
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And finally, onto more horror announcements from two of the previous directors in the Saw franchise. Darren Lynn Bousman (“Saw II”-“Saw IV”) is set to helm horror thriller “Ninety”. The story follows a serial killer out to set a record for murdering victims - aiming to get 90 altogther - so it sounds like it’s going to be a major gore-fest. David Hackl (“Saw V”) is also going for gore with an adaptation of “The Butcher Bride”; a supernatural thriller novel originally written by Vince Churchill. The story follows a crazed woman, who 30 years after witnesses a gruesome and horrific murder, goes on murdering rampage of her own at a Halloween ball. Dressing in a blood-soaked wedding dress and assuming the enigmatic identity of the butcher bride, she kills anyone she finds trepassing in Silas Mansion where she resides.
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So that’s my pick of some of the latest cinema news. I shall return with more news in a few weeks. Flix out.
*******
Let’s start with the big one. Pixar have announced “Monsters, Inc 2” - a long-awaited sequel to the huge 2002 animated children’s film. It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since the brilliantly funny and clever characters of Mike and Sulley hit our screen, so hopefully this sequel will bring back all the same magic and more! Pixar have also announced another new film with “Brave” (previously titled “The Bear And The Bow”) which is also an animated film for children. The voice talent cast so far includes Billy Connelly (“Muppet Treasure Island”, “The Last Samurai”), Reece Witherspoon (“Legally Blonde”, “Monsters and Aliens”), and Emma Thompson (“Nanny McPhee”). For Pixar’s first fairy tale film director Brenda Chapman leads and she describes it as a combination of her love for the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson, as well as reflections on bringing up her own daughter.
*******
*******
Onto another fairy tale film, but this time it comes in the form of the dark Gothic Horror “The Girl With The Red Riding Hood”. The film’s cast currently include Amanda Seyfried (“Mean Girls”, “Mamma Mia”) as Red Riding Hood; Gary Oldman (“The Fifth Element”, “Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban”) as ass-kicking witch hunter Father Soloman; and Julie Christie (“Finding Neverland”, “Troy”) as a knitting obsessed grandma. The story follows a series of bad things happening in Red’s medieval village, caused by a terrifying werewolf; and is directed by Catherine Hardwicke of “Twilight” fame.
*******
Now to get the prequels, sequels and remake’s out of the way - honestly does Hollywood not care about being new and original anymore?! Remakes announced include a “Mighty Mouse” remake, and also the remake of the classic 1981 Dudley Moore comedy “Arthur”. Set to include Russell Brand as the rich playboy who finds himself cut off from his parents, and Helen Mirren as his longtime nanny. Only time will tell if this was a film best left alone.
*******
Also in the works are a possible “Wizard Of Oz” prequel, and a confirmed “Alien” prequel. Ridley Scott has released a few details about it saying that it’s going to be set in 2085 - roughly 30 years before Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley - and that it’s going to explore just where exactly things came from. Could be a big hit if done well, and not too self-indulgent. As for the “Wizard Of Oz” prequel, that’s another film I think is best left alone.
*******
Now onto the big sequel news. “Wanted 2” is set to hit screens in 2011, but unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts Angelina Jolie won’t be back as the kick-ass pouting beauty that was Fox. It’s been announced that “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart is now cast as a new young assassin set to work with James McAvoy’s Wesley Gibson. Talking of awesome assassins, bad news for fans of the James Bond franchise as production on “Bond 23” has now been halted. It’s all down to serious financial problems down at MGM, but lead star Daniel Craig is confident that production will get back on track soon.
*******
Another big action star Will Smith is set to be a busy bunny over the next couple of years too. As well as signing on for two “Independance Day” sequels and a sequel to the 2008 smash “Hancock”; there’s now confirmation that both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are both hooked in for “Men In Black III”, which will be the franchise’s third (and possibly final) installment. Expect a lot of Will Smith coming to your screens soon!
*******
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Back to non-sequel/preqel/remake movie news, and unfortunate news for those looking forward to seeing Seth Rogan’s “Green Hornet” this year. After Sony’s first viewing of the film footage, they were reportedly unhappy with it calling it campy, and stating that Seth Rogan just didn’t look the part of a superhero. Now drastic action has been taken and the film is being converted into 3D. Since the film was shot on normal film it’s going to take a bit longer, therefore pushing back it’s release date from December 22nd 2010, to January 14th 2011. I am looking forward to this film actually, so I hope the conversion doesn’t hurt the film’s chances by jumping on the 3D bandwagon!
*******
Now, some snippets of horror news. First is the news that Paramount still have an interest in adapting the brilliant Max Brook’s book “World War Z”, into a film. It’s been circulating for some time that people have been submitting scripts and working on the adaption, but lately that’s all but ground to a halt. However Paramount are still keen to bring this zombie flick to the big screen, so I hope that someone soon comes out with a suitable script. I’ll keep you informed as I know more.
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And finally, onto more horror announcements from two of the previous directors in the Saw franchise. Darren Lynn Bousman (“Saw II”-“Saw IV”) is set to helm horror thriller “Ninety”. The story follows a serial killer out to set a record for murdering victims - aiming to get 90 altogther - so it sounds like it’s going to be a major gore-fest. David Hackl (“Saw V”) is also going for gore with an adaptation of “The Butcher Bride”; a supernatural thriller novel originally written by Vince Churchill. The story follows a crazed woman, who 30 years after witnesses a gruesome and horrific murder, goes on murdering rampage of her own at a Halloween ball. Dressing in a blood-soaked wedding dress and assuming the enigmatic identity of the butcher bride, she kills anyone she finds trepassing in Silas Mansion where she resides.
*******
So that’s my pick of some of the latest cinema news. I shall return with more news in a few weeks. Flix out.
