weekly movie news

[FH]

A Major Spider-Man 2 Spoiler? Source: Ain't-It-Cool-News Sunday, September 7, 2003

Ain't-It-Cool-News has a potential spoiler that you may not want to know yet for Spider-Man 2. Click the back button if you don't want to find out.

The article says that there was an interview with prosthetic and animatronic effects artist Steve Johnson in which he revealed...

I've just read an interview of steve Johnson in the french magazine Mad movies where he discusses his work on "the league of extraordinary gentlemen". he told the magazine taht it was the biggest film he worked on until Spider man 2 came in where his crew work on the Doc ock tentacle effects and on THE LIZARD!! first time i hear confirmation of the presence of dr curt connors alter-ego. (the magazine says elsewhere that johnson will supervise the transformation effects on the lizard).

[FH]

New Batman and Superman Updates Source: Variety Sunday, September 7, 2003

Warner Bros. and director Christopher Nolan are readying Batman 5 (with the working title "Batman: Intimidation Game") for a production start in early 2004. And the long-delayed Superman is showing new signs of life.

Last week, the studio and Nolan tested several actors - including Jake Gyllenhaal, Christian Bale, Joshua Jackson, Cillian Murphy and Eion Bailey - to determine who will next play the Dark Knight. A casting decision is expected as early as this week.

The film, developed from a script by David Goyer, should hit theaters in 2005.

Meanwhile, the studio has just received a new draft of the Superman script and is going through the budgeting process with helmer McG, following the departure of Brett Ratner.

Though no deals are in place with McG and the film does not have a greenlight, if the studio can get to a budget that works, the next step could be casting. If all goes well, it could see a 2005 or spring 2006 release.

Even the much-talked about Batman vs. Superman is still possible, but the studio is determined first to breath life into the characters as separate entities.

[FH]

The Amityville Horror is Coming Back Source: Variety Monday, September 8, 2003

Emmett/Furla Films, Barstu Productions and Integrated Films and Management will produce a feature based on the myth of the haunted house immortalized in the book and film The Amityville Horror.

Daniel Farrands, who wrote and directed the TV documentary Amityville 2000, will write the script. He also wrote the 1995 Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.

In 1974 in a house in Amityville, N.Y., Ronald DeFeo murdered his parents and four siblings while they slept. What made the house infamous was a 1977 account written by Jay Anson that claimed the family who bought the house after the DeFeos' demise was tormented by a series of bizarre and bloody supernatural events.

The Anson book was adapted into the feature The Amityville Horror, released by MGM.

[FH]

Star Wars: Episode III: 'Kenny' is back with more tidbits garnered from recent online chats with crew members. The shooting schedule for March next year does not require any of the principle actors to come in for pickups. However, as the film is edited some new ideas and angles may rise up, so they may have yet to appear. The shoot is entirely studio based, no outdoor scenes for now but about 1/3 of the movie takes place on new planets. Christian Bale is not playing governor Tarkin and has no connection to this film. The Death Star has no real importance in this film, the reason for Obi-Wan's name change to Ben is in the movie, and Obi-Wan's actions are pivotal to events that end the Clone War. Force Ghosts and the fate of the younglings is explained (the kids with Yoda), Darth Sidious has much more screen time (and he will remove his hood). We will see proto-type Tie-Fighters, we will see rebel craft - the Jedi Starfighters are of a different design though. Finally, its been revealed that the big duelling sequence scheduled for last week will instead be done in the next few days - the delay due to a leg injury sustained by Hayden Christensen, however it shouldn't affect the schedule of principal photography which wraps very soon.

[FH]

Dominic Purcell Nemesis in Blade: Trinity Source: The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday, September 9, 2003

Dominic Purcell (TV's John Doe) will play Wesley Snipes' vampire nemesis in New Line Cinema's Blade: Trinity.

Purcell is the latest addition to a cast that includes Kris Kristofferson, Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds.

The third installment of the Marvel Comics-based franchise is being written and directed by David Goyer. The production is scheduled to start this month in Vancouver.

[FH]

Rodriguez Still Wants to Do Madman Adaptation Source: Zap2it Monday, September 8, 2003

Zap2it talked to "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" director Robert Rodriguez who says he's still up for the comic book adaptation...

Although some might argue that his "Spy Kids" movies are already comicbook-ish -- and, by the way, Rodriguez wouldn't disagree -- the "El Mariachi" director is still planning to bring Mike Allred's classic "Madman" comics to the big screen.

"'Madman' is a really funny comic because you could kind of spoof comic book movies and do a really great one all at the same time," Rodriguez tells Zap2it. "I think it would really catch on and be funny and fun."

[FH]

WASHINGTON - Cartoonist Berkeley Breathed is resurrecting Opus the penguin from the 1980s comic strip "Bloom County" for a new series to appear in Sunday comics this November.

The Sunday-only strip, to be called "Opus," begins Nov. 23, the Washington Post reported Tuesday. It will be syndicated by The Washington Post Writers Group.

A 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winner for editorial cartooning, Breathed stopped drawing the daily "Bloom County" in 1989 when it was running in nearly 1,300 papers. He began a Sunday strip, "Outland," with many of the same characters — including the penguin's hairball-hacking sidekick, Bill the cat — but quit that in 1995.

Partly chalking it up to artistic burnout, Breathed said at the time that cartoonists "die and go to cartoon hell for working beyond that magic intersection of art and fun."

He has since written children's books and sold the rights to an Opus movie that could start filming by the end of the year.

[FH]

The Hulk DVD Coming on October 28 Source: Universal Studios Home Video Tuesday, September 9, 2003

The Hulk expands his bulk on October 28, 2003 with the release of the explosive action adventure on DVD and VHS from Universal Studios Home Video with an incredible industry milestone: For the first time ever, audiences can experience both the film and the related video game on the same DVD. The ground-breaking inclusion of Vivendi Universal Games' "The Hulk" for the Xbox(r) video game system from Microsoft creates a singular entertainment experience exclusively showcased on the DVD.

Centering on one of Marvel Comics' most powerful characters, The Hulk is brought to thrilling life via groundbreaking 3-D animation from visual effects powerhouse Industrial Light & Magic and the formidable talents of director Ang Lee and stars Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte. The 2-disc special edition DVD release is priced at $26.98 suggested retail ($19.95 MAP) and the VHS sells for $22.98 SRP ($14.95 MAP). The pre-order close date is September 9, 2003 for the DVD and September 23 for the VHS.

Exclusive to The Hulk DVD, the demo provides one playable level for Xbox which showcases the title's fully interactive environments, and the awesome power of the Hulk. Picking up a year after the events of the film, the game follows the plight of troubled scientist Bruce Banner and his enraged alter ego, Hulk, as they battle against the terrifying forces of the Leader - a villain intent on using the Hulk's gamma energy to unleash a relentless army of gamma creatures on the world. Players can master two types of game play as either Bruce Banner or The Hulk as they battle lead characters from the film, familiar enemies from the Marvel Universe(tm) or new villains created specifically for the game.

The Hulk DVD delivers breakthrough special features, in keeping with the movie's astounding, never-before-seen technology. Still frames pieced together create a comic book feel to the live action as frames fill the screen and come to life when selected. Among the bonus features on the DVD:

The Making of The Hulk - A featurette containing fascinating interviews with cast and crew and a behind-the-scenes look at the amazing action stunt work in the film.

Enhanced Viewing - Viewers can access immediate information about select scenes to enliven their viewing experience as they view the film . A split-screen effect allows viewers to learn about 3-D technology allows 360 degree still images of each scene where the Hulk appears to be viewed at will.

Anatomy of the Hulk - ILM developed this exclusive feature in which a 3D Hulk model can be manipulated through the viewer's remote control. By clicking on various body parts, viewers can watch mini-featurettes of scenes containing footage and production stills that compare the Hulk's powers to an ordinary man.

Hulkification- A fascinating look at different artistic conceptions of the Hulk created by diverse illustrators representing the Marvel Comics, Manga (Japanese) and European styles of animation rendering the same scene from the film in comic book form while matched with footage from the film.

Other features include storyboards showing side by side comparisons with actual scenes from the film; a Digital Incarnations feature revealing the visual process of director Ang Lee in bringing the larger-than-life character to the big screen, including Ang acting out stunts in a motion capture suit and reviewing storyboards with artists; the remarkable Dog Fight feature showing how the scene was created from storyboards to filming the CGI to the finished scene and deleted scenes, audio commentaries; and "The Making of THE HULK" interactive game.

Universal's marketing campaign for The Hulk includes a multi-million dollar national media campaign. The Hulk ads will appear in over five million Marvel and D.C. comic books in October.

Adding to the campaign's visibility will be support from promotional partner Kraft Foods. Millions of packages will feature special offers ranging from cut-out trading cards and masks to $5 DVD rebates. Over 20 Kraft brands are participating, including such all-time favorites as Jell-O(r), Oreo(r), Ritz(r), Taco Bell(r), Tombstone(r) and Cool Whip(r).

In addition, a two-page FSI reaching 45 million circulation will contain offers for a free 3-D poster from ACT II and a free watch from Crunch 'n Munch. The Hulk will also appear on over five million packages of ACT II.

A promotion with Sunny "D", supported by a multi-million dollar TV campaign, features The Hulk DVD on packaging and offers a $3 rebate when a consumer buys two Sunny "D" products and The Hulk DVD.

[FH]

EXCLUSIVE: You Might See Spider-Man 2 with the Hobbits! Source: Superhero Hype! Tuesday, September 9, 2003

First we heard that Sony Pictures would be showing the Spider-Man 2 teaser trailer with their upcoming "The Missing" on November 19, then a rumor surfaced that the studio instead moved up the trailer release with "Radio" on October 24.

We've now received solid word that Sony may be going bigger... A LOT bigger. Sources tell us that the studio may now give us a first glimpse of Spider-Man 2 with New Line's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" on December 17.

Sure, it would be a little longer wait, but what would be better than to go see the final installment of Peter Jackson's trilogy while getting a Spidey treat beforehand?!

The release date of the trailer isn't set in stone yet and many things might change, but that is definitely what we're hearing at this very moment.

[FH]

Finally, Meg Ryan Nekkid!

Reporters in Toronto can't seem to stop talking about Meg Ryan's steamy sex scenes in ''In the Cut,'' which had its world premiere Tuesday at the Toronto Film Festival. At a press conference, they kept asking her about the skin shots, despite her repeated contention that they weren't that big a deal. ''There are some things in the movie that were much more difficult than the sex scenes,'' said the romantic comedy queen, ''like playing a character who doesn't talk much, which is something new for me.''

In the movie, directed by Jane Campion (who famously coaxed daring nude scenes from Harvey Keitel and Holly Hunter in ''The Piano''), 41-year-old Ryan plays a professor drawn into an affair with a kinky homicide detective (''You Can Count on Me'''s Mark Ruffalo) who may himself be guilty of the brutal serial killings he's investigating. Talking to reporters, Ryan insisted that ''In the Cut'' wasn't a huge departure for her, even though she's best known for her America's sweetheart roles in movies like ''When Harry Met Sally'' and ''You've Got Mail.'' She said: ''I've done 30 movies and I've done seven romantic comedies. So I don't know what the typical Meg Ryan movie is.'' Besides, she's done nudity before in a handful of movies, including ''The Doors'' and ''Flesh and Bone.''

Still, she proved bolder than the oft-nude Nicole Kidman, who was initially offered the part but who said she found it too emotionally wrenching in the wake of her divorce. (Kidman did produce the movie, though.) Jennifer Jason Leigh, who plays Ryan's sister, said that, for Ryan's fans, ''it's a shock for [Ryan] to do this. But she does it like nobody's business. She's jaw-droppingly good.'' Leigh added: ''I think it was actually kind of easy for her [to do the sex scenes]. It just wasn't asked of her before.''

It was not so easy for Ruffalo, who suffered from some performance anxiety. He said Campion ''wanted the character to be such a competent and confident lover that she kept shouting things like, 'You're not at school anymore. You know what you're doing.' It was very stressful.'' Plus, there was Ryan's romantic past to contend with. ''I was scared. I was really scared. And she was with Russell Crowe. All I could think of is 'what am I going to be like compared to Russell Crowe?"'

Besides ''In the Cut,'' there's been a lot of unexpected nudity this week in Toronto. William H. Macy, who has a similarly explicit love scene with Maria Bello in ''The Cooler,'' did a striptease at the movie's premiere on Tuesday, showing off his blue boxers, the Ottawa Citizen reports. And Nicolas Cage got an eyeful at the premiere of his ''Matchstick Men'' over the weekend, where a female fan flashed him during his stroll down the red carpet.

(Posted:09/10/03)

[FH]

Just announced: Christian Bale will be playing Batman!

[FH]

Christian Bale is the New Batman!! Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Thursday, September 11, 2003

Christian Bale has been cast in the starring role of Bruce Wayne in Warner Bros. Pictures' upcoming Batman movie, to be directed by Christopher Nolan and produced by Emma Thomas. The announcement was made today by Jeff Robinov, President of production for Warner Bros. Pictures.

Principal photography on the film is expected to begin in early 2004. The movie is written by David Goyer and Nolan, and will follow the early career of The Dark Knight.

Said Nolan, "What I see in Christian is the ultimate embodiment of Bruce Wayne. He has exactly the balance of darkness and light that we were looking for."

Robinov stated, "Now that we've found the best person to play Batman, we are really looking forward to moving ahead with the rest of our casting, and are excited about the exceptional group we are assembling."

Bale, who first drew critical attention for his starring role in Empire of the Sun, has starred in such diverse motion pictures as Little Women, Portrait of a Lady, Metroland, American Psycho and Laurel Canyon.

[FH]

Cheech & Chong Project Pushed Back Source: Variety Thursday, September 11, 2003

The start date for New Line Cinema's new Cheech & Chong movie has gone up in smoke with Tommy Chong facing a nine-month jail sentence for selling bongs.

But the studio plans to continue development on the new feature, based on the pot-smoking personas that Cheech Marin, 57, and Chong, 65, developed during a 16-year comedy partnership. The studio's original plan had the film shooting next year, during Marin's hiatus from his Fox Network series The Ortegas.

Marin and Chong are expected to write the script for their untitled film with a third writer. Chong's daughter Robbi Chong is a producer on the project.