weekly movie news

FH · 10-20-2003, 02:57 AM

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sequel Already in the Works Source: Variety Sunday, October 19, 2003

With The Texas Chainsaw Massacre topping the weekend box office, producers Mike Fleiss and Michael Bay have begun early talks about a sequel to director Marcus Nispel's film, a remake of the 1974 Tobe Hooper hit.

Meanwhile, Fleiss' future film slate includes a high-concept comedy that would be directed by Brett Ratner. He's also preparing to a new take on another classic horror pic, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, penned by Steve Niles, writer of the classic vampire comic "30 Days of Night."

As for television, Fleiss continues to move into scripted series. He and thesp-producer Dave Sheridan (Ghost World) have snagged a pilot commitment from the WB for a half-hour comedy that will mix a few reality elements into an otherwise scripted series. Sheridan will write, star and executive produce with Fleiss.

The WB has also officially greenlit a third season of Fleiss' High School Reunion, which snagged solid ratings in its first run last spring. He has also set up a new reality project at ABC, but details of that are slim.

FH · 10-20-2003, 02:59 AM

Regency Adapting Fantasy Bagloria Source: The Hollywood Reporter Sunday, October 19, 2003

Regency Enterprises has acquired Kirby Atkins' fantasy script Bagloria with helmer Robert Lederman attached to direct and Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca on board to produce.

The project, described as a cross between "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Harry Potter," centers on a group of kids who find a portal in their classroom closet to a fantasy world called Bagloria. When their teacher is pulled inside, the kids must brave the inhabitants of this world to rescue their teacher and save the school.

Atkins previously wrote Spooks, which sold to Miramax Films, and has been working on TV episodes of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

FH · 10-20-2003, 03:01 AM

Carmen Electra Takes a Trip to Monster Island Source: The Hollywood Reporter Sunday, October 19, 2003

Carmen Electra has been cast as herself in the upcoming MTV original movie Monster Island.

A satire of classic monster movies, the film will feature Electra as the celebrity host of a fictional MTV beach concert that goes awry when a giant creature crashes the party and flies away with her in its beak. The teen cast tries to rescue her with the help of a mad scientist, who will be played by Adam West, star of the 1960s TV series Batman.

The cast includes Daniel Letterle, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Harrison, Chelan Simmons, Case Beddow and Joe MacLeod. The film, directed by Jack Perez (Wild Things 2), is scheduled to air in first-quarter 2004.

FH · 10-20-2003, 03:05 AM

William Goldman on Captain Marvel, Spidey & More! Source: Icepick Sunday, October 19, 2003

'Icepick' sent Superhero Hype! this great scoop from this weekend's Screenwriting Expo 2!

I just saw William Goldman speak at the Screenwriting Expo 2 in Los Angeles. He said some things that might be of interest to your readers.

When asked about the Captain Marvel movie, he said that he's finished his screenplay, but he has no idea whether the movie will be made, and if so, whether they will use his script.

He said that they are trying to keep the true cost of Spider-Man 2 a secret, but a source told him that the cost could be as high as $225 million.

He was originally asked to write the first Superman movie, but he turned it down because he never thought they would be able to find a star to do it. If he'd known they would hire an unknown, he would have done it.

He loved Spider-Man, but was glad The Hulk did poorly, so that it will be more likely that Hollywood will make more serious films. He generally hates sequels.

He's a big comic book fan, but his mother gave away his comic book collection when he was young. For revenge, he would send his mother news clippings about the price some of his old comics sell for at auctions.

FH · 10-20-2003, 08:49 AM

Star Wars: Episodes 7-9: Rumours of George Lucas following up his original trilogy with another down the track have been around for years - some were solid information, most were just wishful thinking. As a result unless something solid comes through on them I'm not touching speculation on the topic with a ten foot pole. Well today came word which whilst not solid, is from an insider source whose regularly provided totally accurate intel so far for over two years on a variety of projects so I tend to take his word for it. If true, its also good news for fans let down by the prequels: "One of my pals at ILM told me a few days back that another trilogy 'might' happen. This is the sequel trilogy that Lucas said he'd never do. It's very very early days yet, but apparently there is some talk, even to the point of Mr Spielberg - who was interested in doing 'Clones' at one point - stepping in for Lucas, who may want to write, but probably won't want to direct. If Lucas doesn't they'll probably work out a deal for say Frank Darabont to pen (ala the current "Indiana Jones IV" arrangement). This one would be the three films following Return of the Jedi, Han Solo, Skywalker, post-Darth etc. How hard of a time are they going to have on their hands getting some of those original players! ha ha! finally a fitting use for CGI hey? The deal is everyone wants the sequels, except Lucas, who is apparently exhausted [Personally I'd say studio pressure]. If Spielberg directs, it could be ok. Better than those terrible prequel movies".

FH · 10-20-2003, 08:51 AM

Superman/Wonderwoman: 'Turncoat' is back again with more on two DC Comic adaptations long in development over at Warner Bros - some old rumours confirmed/denied, along with some new ones brought up. "Superman" - "Still trying to find a cast [flash forward to Thanksgiving 2009...still casting]. As with Superman, there is about 5 candidates for the Lois Lane role at the moment. They are: Selma Blair ("Hellboy"), McG's friend Drew Barrymore, Claire Forlani ("The Medallion"), "Friends" starlet Courteney Cox, and "Buffy"/"Angel" babe Charisma Carpenter. I think they might be looking at Sydney for the shoot [this week]". "Wonder Woman" - "I think there's some movement which seems to be coming along nicely with Joel Silver still doing it and "Birds of Prey" creator Laeta Kalogridis penning. Early rumors of Sandra Bullock being roped into it again, also heard names like Ashley Scott and Eliza Duskhu as potential WW's. They're writing it really dark, and not campy, something along the lines of Batman and the new Catwoman. A 'name' male will co-star [they need a new franchise ...Catwoman sounds like it doesn't have the whiskers]". There's also some further Supes rumours up at AICN, more stuff about Brendan Fraser and talk of shooting in Sydney. With the film not heading out till about 2006, all this location talk is just that - talk. With US film production in Australia in the near future looking the bleakest it has been in years (about the only feature shooting here in the next few months is the Mask sequel), the room is available for the project but all this premature speculation may in fact harm the chances of it ending up Down Under.

FH · 10-20-2003, 08:52 AM

Westworld: A short update on the remake of Michael Crichton's classic 70's tale of a theme park where human androids go haywire and attack the visitors has appeared in an article of The Economist. For a while now Arnold Schwarzenegger has been attached, but thanks to his new governor's position it was expected this project would go on hold. But like the T4 rumours, it seems its going ahead after all with someone else, someone we're all familiar with: "According to a studio insider, the project may now have fallen on fellow action star Sylvester Stallone's lap. In a recent interview Schwarzenegger sounded enthusiastic about doing the film. "I am very excited to be working on Westworld. I loved the original film when I saw it in 1973 and have wanted to remake it for several years. After following the project for some time, I am really thrilled it has finally come together at Warner Bros.". Ironically, the 'thrill' might now lie with Schwarzenegger's main competition at the box office in his hey-day. Might Schwarzenegger have indirectly saved Sly's career?"

FH · 10-21-2003, 02:51 AM

Back-to-Back Pirates of the Caribbean Sequels Coming? Source: Variety Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the second film this year to gross $300 million in domestic box office, may earn a distinction that's even more uncommon: back-to-back sequels shot in one simultaneous production. Recent successes which have followed the same format are Warner Bros.' "Matrix" sequels and New Line's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Sources close to the film say the producers are pondering the possibility of back-to-back sequels, and talks have begun to secure the cast should Disney pursue that avenue.

Returning for at least one sequel are producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Gore Verbinski, writers Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott (who haven't completed the script), and talent Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.

No start date has been set yet.

FH · 10-21-2003, 02:53 AM

Robert De Niro Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer Source: Reuters Monday, October 20, 2003

Academy Award winner Robert De Niro, 60, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but his prospects for a full recovery are good.

"Doctors say the condition was detected at an early stage because of regular checkups," his publicist said. "Because of the early detection and his excellent physical condition, doctors project a full recovery."

De Niro won an Oscar as best actor in 1981 for Raging Bull, and was named best supporting actor in 1975 for his role in The Godfather: Part II.

It is uncertain how this news will affect the shooting of his latest film Hide and Seek, in which De Niro stars opposite Famke Janssen and Dakota Fanning. The thriller was filming in New York.

FH · 10-21-2003, 02:57 AM

Alien vs. Predator Story Details!! Source: J-MAN Monday, October 20, 2003

The J-MAN sends us this tidbit about the upcoming Alien vs. Predator film... Be warned there are spoilers!

This past weekend I attended the LA Comic Book Convention. There was a short video presentation on the upcoming Alien vs. Predator, the presentation included a 10-minute short with the director (Paul Anderson) where he were showed storyboards, and tons of production illustrations from the film. The film we were told starts shooting in Prague next week.

Anderson described some of the artwork and hinted at the plot of the film. He told us the film opens 5000 years ago at an Aztec temple... we are told the temples throughout the world were created for the purpose of welcoming "aliens" to earth... and a team of teenaged Predators are at the temple for a "becoming a man" ritual, where if they survive a host of deadly Aliens they will become men, well PREDATORS...

Well everything goes wrong and the three Predators face literally an army of thousands of aliens at the temple and faced with certain death they activate their self-destructs, completely destroying the aliens, the temple and any of the local inhabitants. Guess know we know now what happened to the Aztecs!

Fast forward to the present day as a band of scientists in the Arctic find a very similar temple and are soon caught in the middle of another "ritual" with five young Predators and a bunch of nasty Aliens.

Anderson tells us there is plenty of knock down action, alien & predator deaths to keep everyone happy. He mentioned that he is the biggest Alien & Predator freak in the world, that he's seen them more than anyone and knows everything there is to know about the films. From what we saw (a video montage of clips from all the predator & alien films) this looks to be the best fan favorite team up since Freddy vs. Jason...

On a related note, director Sandy Collora was on hand to show BATMAN: Dead End... the crowd loved it and went nuts!

FH · 10-21-2003, 02:59 AM

Blade to Battle Vampire Dogs? Source: Dark Horizons Monday, October 20, 2003

Dark Horizons has posted word on a possible scene from Blade: Trinity.

"Seems there will be Rotweiller vampire dogs in the upcoming sequel and apparently the dogs will be of the same type of super vampire (ie. The Reapers) as the ones in the last movie, you know the ones with the head splitting act. There is a scene where Kris Kristofferson is bound up and the dog wakes him up, at some point a command is given and the dog's head splits open as it feigns an attack at Kris. The script sounds pretty cool, and I can hardly wait to see the FX on the dogs".

FH · 10-22-2003, 02:50 AM

Dead Reckoning: 'J Smith' just got back from a Q & A session with Director George Romero ("Night of the Living Dead") that was held at Western Kentucky University and thought readers might like some of the tidbits he tossed out:
"He discussed the fact that Fox Searchlight does have the rights to the 4th zombie movie, but unfortunately they refuse to move ahead with it unless they can secure the Night of the Living Dead moniker. Apparently they also refused the titles Dead Reckoning, as well as Land of the Dead. An audience member mentioned the fact that they had heard Anchor Bay offered to foot the bill for the film and he confirmed this, stating that if the Fox thing fell through he would rework the script to fit an Anchor Bay budget. Also discussing the 4th film he gave out some plot points. Basically the film will take place in a city in where the remaining humans live and focus on the people who must leave the city in order to retrieve the "finer things in life" such as perfumes, fabrics, and the like. (he noted this was based on his home town of Pittsburgh and how city, being in the shape of a triangle, could easily be cut off from the rest of the world by one wall). He also made a later note that he would probably continue having the lead actor being african-american.
He also commented on another project he was working on and excited about involving the composer of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The film would focus on a rock band who return from the grave. He made mention of it possibly being a "Boy Band" who cause a building to fall on them as a result of an amp explosion. His take sounded hilarious and cracked up the entire audience. He noted he was hard at work on a script for a Dracula mini-series for ABC (or it may have been NBC, I couldn't tell). He noted that they were attempting to adapt the Bram Stoker novel without having the characters talk like they're from a Bram Stoker novel. Not sure if this meant it would be a modern retelling, or simply the original story using more modern dialogue. Overall, Mr. Romero is extremely accomodating to the fans, and answered questions until the staff made him stop. He was even nice enough to sign autographs before and after the show, take pictures, and simply talk with fans. Overall, it was a great experience".

FH · 10-22-2003, 02:53 AM

Jim Carrey is The Six Million Dollar Man Source: Variety Wednesday, October 22, 2003

Dimension Films will adapt the 1970s TV series The Six Million Dollar Man for a feature comedy to star Jim Carrey and to be directed by Todd Phillips. Phillips will team with his (Old School) writing partner Scot Armstrong to script a vehicle for Carrey to play the bionic man.

The project is based on the Martin Caidin novel "Cyborg" that was turned into the Lee Majors ABC drama series. Carrey pitched a take of the movie that persuaded Phillips to make a deal. He and Armstrong will begin writing as soon as they complete scripting the Dimension remake of School For Scoundrels, which Phillips plans to direct next.

After Carrey stars with Cameron Diaz in the Dean Parisot-directed Columbia Pictures remake Fun With Dick and Jane and Phillips completes "School," they hope to meet in fall 2004 to get The Six Million Dollar Man into production.

FH · 10-22-2003, 02:55 AM

Revolution Goes on Another Blind Date Source: Variety Wednesday, October 22, 2003

Revolution Studios has tapped the writing team of Peter Seaman and Jeffrey Price (Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat) to write the romantic comedy Blind Date.

The movie will be a re-imagining of Tri-Star Pictures' 1987 slapstick comedy of the same name which starred Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger about a yuppie workaholic's blind date who gets drunk and goes out of control at an important company function.

Revolution is keeping specifics of the new pic's plot under wraps. Columbia, which owns the rights to the original film, is also expected to come on board the project.

FH · 10-22-2003, 03:15 AM

Each time Sam Raimi comes out saying there’s going to be an “Evil Dead 4”, star Bruce Campbell is quick to say otherwise. Aint it Cool talked to Ash himself again today, who again dispelled rumours that a fourth “Evil Dead” film is moving swiftly ahead. But there is some good news. Says Bruce, “Because that's a franchise that is crying out for another chapter. Sam just does that to be inflammatory and get people's juices flowing. He's too busy with Spider-Man 2. What's more likely is the other rumor concerning Ash vs. Freddy vs. Jason. We have been talking about doing an Ash loan out, like actors used to do when they were under contract, loan out an actor to another studio. In this case, we'd loan the character of Ash. But it would have to be contractual that Ash would have to kick both their asses. He would have to win, or I wouldn't do it. The idea has been bandied about on a purely bullshit level by junior executives at New Line who may not have the sperm to kick it up to the decision-making level. If anyone was really serious, the franchises would have to talk.”