THR reports that actor Hugh Laurie (House, Black Adder) is in talks to play the villain in Brad Bird's Tomorrowland which stars George Clooney. Nothing is really known about the science fiction film besides having a link to the Disney theme park and mysterious box labeled 1952. Laurie had been previously linked for the villain role in the Robocop reboot which eventually went to Michael Keaton.
J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot is gearing up for a stake in the video game film genre. As Valve and Bad Robot announced (via Wired) a partnership that will lead to live-action Portal and Half-Life films. No word on when this will happen but it sounds like the material is in good hands. Bad Robot is currently producing franchises such as Star Wars, Star Trek and Mission Impossible. I wouldn't be shocked to see Paramount biding for distribution.
ComicBookMovie was able to chat with Prometheus writer Damon Lindelof (Lost, Star Trek 2, Cowboys And Aliens) about what superhero he'd love to take a shot at adapting. Damon reveals he would like to change the minds of comic fans turning a sort of an unknown lame character like Iron Fist into a badass on screen hero. He points to Matt Fraction's recent comics as his favorite run. Did you hear that Marvel? Damon Lindelof is putting it out there he'd want to write Iron Fist which would be a giant upgrade from xXx writer Rich Wilkes (who had previously worked on a script).
"I think I would rather do a character that not many people knew, and maybe saw as lame and couldn't carry their own movie. One character I've always loved is Iron Fist, and Matt Fractions incredible run with him a couple of years back. I always thought that would make a really cool movie. But I am hard pushed to think of me doing anything better than The Avengers which I just thought was phenomenal."
"Yeah well I mean I think it's because he's even more fringy than Iron Man was, and also because he's called IRON Fist they may be worried about some confusion with the Iron Man franchise, even though obviously they are very different characters. But I have to imagine that with the success of The Avengers, they are planning to give Black Widow and Hawkeye their own spin-offs, and there are many more characters on the fringe of the Marvel universe that I feel are equally worthy, like Iron Fist."
One giant issue concerning Iron Fist is that you're going to need an extremely good script that doesn't take itself too seriously. There's so much genre involved martial arts, Eastern settings, immortality, mystical powers, shoot em' ups, noir, terrorists and flashbacks to different time-periods. Damon could certainly pull these elements together. Marvel is aiming to make a film featuring a character outside of the Avengers' world for it's second 2014 release and Danny Rand fits that criteria. It would also be an excuse to bring in Luke Cage as a supporting character.
Idris Elba (Thor, Prometheus, Pacific Rim) and Dwayne Johnson have recently lobbied to play Cage. While fans have been championing actors like Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, Sons of Anarchy, Children of Men) and Ryan Gosling (Gangster Squad, Drive, Only God Forgives) for Danny Rand. Personally, I'd love to see Charlie and Idris re-team for something like this. Hunnam had been a Thor candidate so he's definitely on Marvel's radar and co-starred with Elba in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim.
Variety reports that Paramount's planned Jack Ryan reboot (which had the working titled Moscow) will have to look for another director. Jack Bender (Lost) had been hired with the intention to direct the film this summer with Chris Pine in the lead. Bender has dropped out because of commitments to his television projects. It's expected the studio will be quickly looking for a new director with the summer shoot still in place. I assume they'll be trying to move forward with the untitled film as soon as Pine wraps production on Star Trek 2. It will be interesting to see if they pursue another television director for the film.
I understand that the studio is thinking franchise here after the massive success with their other spy film Ghost Protocol giving new life to the genre. Personally, I don't see Pine as the Jack Ryan type as he's a bit too young. My favorite actors who have played the character included a young Alec Baldwin and a middle-aged Harrison Ford. I'm still rooting for Jon Hamm to swoop in for the role.
Marvel Studios has finally chosen a new director for Thor 2. Deadline reports Marvel has indeed picked television director Alan Taylor to replace Patty Jenkins (Monster). While I was shocked Jenkins exited the project I think hiring Taylor is a solid move by the studio. Alan has been directing episodes on some of the best shows ever airing on television. Those credits include Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Sopranos, Oz, Mad Men, Rome, West Wing and Deadwood. He's proven to be able to handle large casts which will be needed with the cast of Asgardians more than doubling in the next film. The Thor sequel will be released on November 15th 2013 with production expected to start in fall 2012.
Marvel has left the door open for Patty to perhaps direct another one of their budding franchises in the future. I'm hoping that Marvel ends up using Jenkins for projects like Doctor Strange, Black Panther or even Iron Fist. Since she seems more like the type of director to start a superhero franchise with her own vision, not just to continue another one.
