February 27, 2009

Superman: Man of Steel/Unleashed (2011)



The next Superman film will be a darker film than the previous one as promised by the studio. Along with the recent revlations of the J.J. Abrams script and concept artwork. Which features Krypton and a massive Kryptonian battle suit equipped with kryptonite missiles. While the script has many epic battles it also has many problems that could be re-worked. From what I know a majority of the script never made it into Superman Returns. If the studio decides to use the material the best parts of the Abrams script could be recycled into the next film. Abrams himself could actually end up taking the directing chair if Singer doesn't return. It would be a great choice considering what Abrams has done with revitalizing the Star Trek franchise. We could look forward to the large scale threat that was missing in the last film. Having the planet in complete jeopardy rather than just a city.




Some of the concept artwork that didn't end up being used.



Of course it goes without saying that the talented Brandon Routh will return as Superman. On the other hand it's unknown if Kate Bosworth and James Marsden will. It was rumored a while back that East Indian actress Priyanka Chopra would play a love interest for Clark Kent. I for one would enjoy severing the love connection between Kent and Lane for at least one film.



Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor will more than likely also return but hopefully will end up a smaller role. It's been way too often that the character has been the main villain. It's time for a villain who can match and become a real threat to the planet and Superman. Doomsday is one of the most popular choices. In Abrams' script Superman fights other Kryptonians who would make for better villains.

February 24, 2009

Fair Game (TBA)



Based on the autobiographical novel by Valerie Plame Wilson. Which focuses on her being outed as a CIA agent. The film will be directed by Doug Liman (Bourne Identity) with Sean Penn and Naomi Watts starring. Naomi will play Valerie Plame Wilson and Penn her husband Ambassador Joseph Wilson.

February 19, 2009

Dead At 17 (TBA)



Josh Howard the creator of the comic series recently did an interview and said Vanessa Hudgens (Highschool Musical) was being pushed to star as Nara Kilday. The live-action adaptation revolves around a 17 year old girl who is killed, resurrected , then is given the task to kill evil monsters. Slightly a mix of La Femme Nikita meets Buffy, I can't say I've heard or even read this comic to comment. Although it sounds very similar to Hack/Slash another comic to film project that features a female monster slayer.

Rodriguez's Jetsons (TBA)



It's been rumored for years that Robert Rodriguez was developing a live-action Jetsons movie. Now there has a bit information of things moving forward. According to AICN he's shot some test footage for the studio and is "gitty" about it. He's known for shooting test scenes even before getting his projects greenlit to get studios interested. It's happened with Sin City and Barbarella previously so it's promising news.

February 18, 2009

Nerverackers (April 16th 2010)



Variety is confirming that Robert Rodriquez's next film with neither be Predator 3 or Sin City 2. Instead we'll be treated to a futuristic thriller by the genre master. The film will focus on Joe Tezca who is part of an elite unit dispatched to quell a crime wave. Set in a theoretically perfect future society in the year 2085. Sounds to me like a mix of Judge Dredd and Escape From New York. It's unknown at this point if this will be another extreme action flick.

February 17, 2009

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (TBA)




The better sounding of the two genre adaptations of Jane Austen's novel. This one involves zombies which seems a bit more interesting. A rumor being started by Production Weekly claims that Natalie Portman is in talks to star. Although it hasn't been outright dined the people involved say others are also interested. I believe that Portman could add the class needed along with her experience in genre/action films.

February 10, 2009

Lexx (FTSBM)



One of the most original science fiction series in a long time was Lexx. It was a mix of action, horror, science fiction, eroticism and humor. The adult oriented show was like a live-action version of Heavy Metal which made it very interesting. I would be very surprised if this property isn't adapted into a feature in the future.

Casting Thoughts:



Scarlett Johansson as Zev the brilliant sex slave.




Steve Buscemi as Stanley Tweedle who's only mission is to get laid.




Javier Bardem as Kai the living dead alien assassin.

Ridley Scott's The Kind One (TBA)



With Ridley Scott set to direct and Casey Affleck in talks to star. The film based on the novel by Tom Epperson. Set in the 1930s Los Angeles and follows Danny Landon, an amnesiac who works for a violent mobster (a.k.a. "The Kind One"), while he falls in love with this man's girlfriend.

Guardians Of Ga'Hoole (July 23rd 2010)



Zack Snyder will be bringing a animated film based on the popular owl tales to the screen. John Colle of Happy Feet has wrote the script so I'm expecting it to a be a family film. This will both be the first family and animated feature for Snyder. "Soren, a young barn owl, is kidnapped by owls of St. Aggie's, ostensibly an orphanage, where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. He and his new friends escape to the island of Ga'Hoole, to assist its noble, wise owls who fight the army being created by the wicked rulers of St. Aggie's. The film is based on the first three books in the series."



Hugh Jackman, Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten will lend their voices to the animated film.



Update: The film seems to be in production and there has been more casting. Rachel Taylor, David Wenham, Geoffrey Rush and Jim Sturgess have all joined the cast.

February 5, 2009

Electric Slide (TBA)



Based on the true story of Eddie Dodson a furniture salesman who turned to robbing banks. The twist is that his first bank robbery was to impress his girlfriend. Dodson went on to rob more than 72 banks in the Los Angeles area in the 1980s. I'm all for true stories involving crime so hopefully it's not a reason to make another rom-com.



Ewan McGregor will play Eddie Dodson and Carey Mulligan (Public Enemies) will play his girlfriend.

February 3, 2009

Taken 2 (FTSBM)



Liam Neeson's new film has proven he can play the lead action star. There have been other examples such as The Phantom Menace. With it's success we could end up seeing sequels and it becoming a franchise. I felt this way the first couple of times I saw the film last year. While I don't think the story would revolve around Maggie Grace who played Neeson's daughter. The story could focus on the client Neeson and his bodyguard team are protecting getting kidnapped in a foreign country. If we thought Bryan Mills was tough solo imagine what he and his team could do together. Along with Neeson, Leland Orser who played Sam and Xander Berkeley who played Stuart could end up returning. Let's hope Luc Besson and director Pierre Morel want to make a sequel.



Possible Locations:



-Bangkok, Thailand



-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil



-Moscow, Russia

February 2, 2009

G.I. Joe Vs Transformers (FTSBM)



Paramount Pictures released two impressive trailers for G.I. Joe and Transformers 2 during the Super Bowl. This made me think, if Paramount is helping Marvel Studios with the Avengers movie couldn't they develop a G.I. Joe/Transformers crossover? It would all depend on the success and fan reaction to the G.I. Joe movie. Which has been mixed even with the greatly cut teaser trailer. In the comic books the Autobots allied with the Joes and Cobra allied with the Decepticons. Michael Bay would be the first choice to direct Joes & Bots in a massive worldwide battle.



While there are only a few actual human characters in Transformers that could end up making the crossover. Shia Labeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro most likely would be in the film. Also the large cast of G.I. Joe of course would need to return. Which includes Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sienna Miller, Marlon Wayans, Rachel Nichols, Dennis Quaid, SaĂŻd Taghmaoui, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ray Park, Christopher Eccleston, Byung-hun Lee, Karolina Kurkova and Arnold Vosloo. The chances of returning characters would depend on who is killed off in their respected films.



Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen (June 26th 2009)



G.I. Joe Rise Of Cobra (August 7th 2009)

Pod (TBA)



The second film in development for Marcus Nispel (Friday The 13th) is one more to my taste. It will involve the seven sub-levels in Manhattan a very interesting setting for a film. While digging deep there is a discovery of something they shouldn't have. The name of the film "Pod" gives the impression of an alien/monster movie.

Immaculate Conception (TBA)



Marcus Nispel (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) has a few new movies in development. One features a story that involves a girl who gets pregnant without knowing how it happened. She later discovers that she is part of an experiment to clone Jesus Christ. An interesting concept that will need strong writers.

Martin Scorsese's Silence (2010)



There has been talk of another Departed film but it doesn't look like that project is moving fast enough. Scorsese's next film will be a period piece based on the novel by Shusaku Endo. While I highly enjoyed Gangs Of New York the film did drag on an extra 40mins. I'm hoping Scorsese is willing to do a lot more editing this time around. The cast so far is very impressive and I hope the Japanese cast is just as strong. "Set in the 17th century and focuses on two Jesuit priests that face violence and persecution when they travel to Japan to locate their mentor and to spread the gospel of Christianity."



Daniel Day-Lewis, Benicio Del Toro and Gael GarcĂ­a Bernal (Motorcycle Diaries) are attached to star.