weekly movie news

[FH]

Sarah Michelle Gellar to Hold a Grudge Source: Variety Monday, December 15, 2003

Sarah Michelle Gellar will topline The Grudge, the English-language remake of the Japanese horror thriller Ju-On. Columbia Pictures has secured domestic distribution rights for the film, which is being produced by Ghost House Pictures, a genre division of Senator Intl. launched with Sam Raimi.

Shooting will begin at Tokyo's Toho Studios in late January. Takashi Shimizu, who wrote and directed the original film, will helm the remake.

The Grudge is about a murderous supernatural curse born of a grudge held by someone who dies angry. The curse passes like a virus to its victims.

Gellar recently wrapped Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed for Warner Bros. and is gearing up for Romantic Comedy, a spoof on the cliches of the romantic comedy genre at MGM.

[FH]

Spider-Man 2 Teaser Trailer Now Online! Source: Sony Pictures Monday, December 15, 2003

It's here, your first look at Spider-Man 2! Sony Pictures has unleashed the new teaser trailer for the highly-anticipated sequel, opening July 2, in high-quality Macromedia Flash format.

You can check it out for yourself by clicking here!

[TopJimmy78]

[ QUOTE ]
FH said:
Spider-Man 2 Teaser Trailer Now Online! Source: Sony Pictures Monday, December 15, 2003

It's here, your first look at Spider-Man 2! Sony Pictures has unleashed the new teaser trailer for the highly-anticipated sequel, opening July 2, in high-quality Macromedia Flash format.

You can check it out for yourself by clicking here!

[/ QUOTE ]


Awesome, that is the best way I can describe it, I can't wait for July 2! [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img] Spidey Rules!! [img]images/smilies/rock.gif[/img]

That looks awesome. Can't wait till Jully now. [img]images/smilies/rock.gif[/img]

[FH]

Super producer Lauren-Shuler Donner ("X-Men" 1 & 2) is hard at work on a variety of projects as of late including the Keanu Reeves-led adaptation of "Constantine" and took a little time out of her schedule to talk with DH and a few others about what's going on with a third "X-Men" movie.

Are you getting many X3 questions?

Sure, mostly which character would you want to see in X3? [From others] I'm getting Beast, I'm getting Gambit - I have a great idea for Gambit but I can't say what it is.

When do you think it'll start shooting?

Ideally I would love to come out Summer of 2005 which means we'd better get going, but it's going to take a while to make the deals and all that.

What about writers?

Writers we're going to use Dan Harris & Mike Dougherty (the writers for "X2"), and then we're also going to develop a "Wolverine" movie at the same time but it won't come out until after "X3"

Are any of the actors signed on like Anna?

Some of our younger cast are. Shawn [Ashmore, aka. Iceman]...Anna [Paquin] is not. What we did was made everybody two-picture deals, so anybody who was in the first two are not but Shawn is and Colossus and Kitty Pride...

Will Colossus have a bigger role?

We'll see, probably.

Will the Dark Phoenix storyline be used?

We have to, we kind of left that out there so we have to follow that thread along with some other stories.

Ian McKellan told us he's keen on doing X3?

I can't imagine doing it without him or Patrick [Stewart] or any of the main cast...and Halle [Berry]. We have to make sure that she's used well and we have a great great storyline for her, or maybe we do a Storm movie...who knows.

[FH]

Is The Reaper a Batman Villain? Source: sjets Monday, December 15, 2003

New scooper 'sjets' sent this in about the possible Batman villian...

I have just received a call from a friend who works for DC Marketing. Take this with a grain of salt, as he admitted that the rumours he hears early are not always accurate, but the main villain in the next Batman movie is the Reaper. Apparently, this is the dark and not-so-cartoony villian that Chris Nolan really likes. While I don't like to believe everything I hear, this is the same guy who told me about Matthew Bomer being a contender for Superman long before I read it anywhere online.

While this should be taken with a grain of salt for now, in the comics, Judson Caspian was The Reaper and his daugther's name was Rachel. Katie Holmes was recently announced as playing Rachel in the film, which could be the same character. Cillian Murphy is playing "a" villain in the film, but he would be too young to be Holmes' father.


***Also, Chris Cooper is being eyed for the role of Gordon!

[FH]

Lion, Witch and Wardrobe a Go for Early 2004 Source: NZPA Thursday, December 18, 2003

Stuff.co.nz reports that The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, based on the popular book in The Chronicles of Narnia, is a go for production in New Zealand, Industry Development Minister Jim Anderton said in a statement today.

The film will be directed by Andrew Adamson, a New Zealander best known as the co-director of the Oscar-winning computer-animated feature Shrek.

The movie is expected to start preparations, including obtaining stage space and personnel, in Auckland early in 2004. "We are extremely happy and excited to be starting work on the film in New Zealand," Adamson said.

The production in New Zealand of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a significant proportion of which is expected to be filmed in the South Island, is expected to qualify for expense grants under the LBSPG scheme.

[FH]

Shyamalan's The Village Teaser Trailer to Debut Source: Touchstone Pictures Thursday, December 18, 2003

Tune in this Friday night, December 19, for the exclusive broadcast premiere of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. Access Hollywood will debut the teaser from the Academy Award-nominated creator of The Sixth Sense and Signs.

The Village is the chilling tale of a close-knit community that lives with the frightening knowledge that creatures reside in the woods around them and the courage of one young man who challenges the unknown. Check your local listings for the correct channel and time!

On December 24, you can watch the teaser trailer again at www.TheVillage.Movies.com.

[FH]

Disney Adapting The Three Pigs Source: Variety Friday, December 19, 2003

Writers Grant Calof and Greg Lee have been signed by Disney Feature Animation to adapt the children's book The Three Pigs. The film is expected to combine computer and traditional animation.

The award-winning book, written by David Wiesner, updates the traditional tale and follows the pigs' adventures into other fairy-tale worlds.

Calof and Lee are currently rewriting the comedy Blind Sided as a starring vehicle for Rob Schneider. That film concerns a man who regains his sight after being blind most of his life only to find out the world is a very different place from what he had imagined.

[FH]

Fantastic Four vs. Indiana Jones 4 on July 1, 2005 Source: ComingSoon.net Thursday, December 18, 2003

You're never going to believe this fans, but Fox has just put Marvel's Fantastic Four in the July 1, 2005 spot. At the current time, Paramount has "Indiana Jones 4" scheduled for that date and it was rumored that Warner Bros. was eyeing that date for Batman: Intimidation as well.

Will one of projects blink and move to another date? This is some serious competition,

[FH]

JANE'S ADDICTION Singer Cites 'Exhaustion' As Reason For Tour Cancellation - Dec. 19, 2003

JANE'S ADDICTION frontman Perry Farrell has issued a statement citing "exhaustion brought on by a rigorous tour schedule" as the reason for the cancellation of the group's co-headlining tour with MARILYN MANSON. According to Pollstar, however, there is speculation that "less-than-enthusiastic" ticket sales were to blame for the change in plans.

Only a handful of high-profile shows were planned, including a New Year's Eve bash at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

[FH]

IGN FilmForce reports that Focus Features' long-planned biopic of the late "Superman" star George Reeves is aiming to begin filming in Los Angeles this March or April under the helm of Allen Coulter.

Benicio Del Toro is apparently awaiting further script revisions before committing to play Lamar Moglio - described as "the fictionalized private eye hired by Reeves' mother to investigate her son's curious death". If Del Toro passes then Sopranos star James Gandolfini is expected to step in.

Sharon Stone and Annette Benning are tipped to portray Reeves' spurned lover Toni Mannix, whilst Aussie actress Naomi Watts ("The Ring") is up for Lenore Lemmon, the thesp's younger squeeze.

So now that leaves the big question as to who'll portray Reeves himself? Hugh Jackman, Ben Affleck, Dennis Quaid have all been approached for the part at different times and seemingly turned it down. Now both Keanu Reeves and Viggo Mortensen have apparently been offered the part.

Location scouting, production design work, and further casting is currently underway in LA.