Deadline reports that Matt Bomer (White Collar, Magic Mike) is on board Shane Black's Nice Guys. The 70's era thriller features Ryan Gosling as a private detective hired by a gangster played Russell Crowe to find a missing girl. Bomer is said to be possibly playing the villain of the film, while newcomer Margaret Qualley (Leftovers) will play the female lead. Black's wheelhouse has been noir-like subject matter, getting his start creating the Lethal Weapon franchise. I just want this film to exclude Black's usual Christmas setting for once.
TheWrap reports that Shane Black's next film will be setup at Warner Bros. Titled The Nice Guys, the film is set in the 1970s, and is a noir thriller. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are linked for being in the mix for the leading roles. Shane co-wrote the script with Anthony Bagarozzi, the pair previously worked together on Doc Savage. Here is the film's synopsis via TheWrap.
Set in smoggy 1970s Los Angeles, story follows Jackson Healy (muscle-for-hire, recovering alcoholic) and Holland March (private eye, practicing alcoholic), who are brought together by the suicide of a fading porn star. However, the dead girl's aunt is convinced she saw her niece alive and well after the highly publicized incident. March needs money, takes the case, and within days, it's blossomed into a far-reaching murder conspiracy, bizarrely rooted in smog and the U.S. auto industry.
The last time Shane played in the noir genre we got Robert Downey Jr.'s career resurrector Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Black is best known for creating the Lethal Weapon franchise, not to mention directing the billion-dollar box office success Iron Man 3. He also wrote 90s action classics The Last Boy Scout and The Long Kiss Goodnight. The writer-director is currently working on a Doc Savage film, and helping Fox with a new Predator film, which is said to be more of a sequel to the original. He is also rumored to be consultant on the story development for Die Hard 5. Post-Iron Man 3, Black has been in high-demand and it's not surprising.
ThePlaylist adds that the studio has set the release date for June 17th, 2016.
Deadline reports that Warner Bros. has found a director for Harker starring Russell Crowe. Eli Roth who is best known for directing his own original projects will have his first large studio project with Harker. The new spin on the classic tale of Dracula features Jonathan Harker a Scotland Yard detective following a string of grizzly murders which turns out are being carried out by the Count (Crowe). Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way is also producing the film.
British actor Ray Winstone (Departed, Sexy Beast) has been offered the villain role in Darren Aronofsky's (Black Swan, Requiem For A Dream) Noah. The film was scripted by John Logan (Gladiator, Last Samurai) stars Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman, Douglas Booth and Emma Watson. Other actors that have been circling the project include Jennifer Connelly, Julianne Moore, Saorise Ronan and Liev Schreiber.
Variety reports that the very busy Harry Potter actress Emma Watson (Bling Ring, End of The World) has taken a role in Darren Aronofsky's (Black Swan) Noah. The rest of the cast includes Russell Crowe, Logan Lerman and Doulgas Booth. Noah has three daughters in the film so it's looking like Ronan might be still in the mix.
Variety states that Liam Neeson is no longer in the running for the villain role but could go to Liev Schreiber instead. The role of Noah's wife isn't entirely confirmed for Jennifer Connelly as Julianne Moore (Hannibal, Boogie Nights) is now in the mix for role as well.
Collider reports that Logan Lerman (Gamer) and Douglas Booth have joined the cast of Darren Aronofsky's bible epic Noah. The rest of the cast includes Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Saoirse Ronan. Noah is based on the graphic novel by Darren and Ari Handel with a script written by John Logan (Gladiator, Last Samurai).
It was announced during an interview with Craig Ferguson that Rza's film The Man With The Iron Fists would be released sometime in October 2012. The film shot on location in China stars Rza (American Gangster, Funny People), Russell Crowe (Robin Hood, Gladiator), Pam Grier (Jackie Brown), Lucy Liu (Kill Bill), Gordon Liu (Kill Bill), Jamie Chung (Hangover 2, Sucker Punch), Rick Yune (Die Another Day, The Fast And The Furious) and Byron Mann (Street Fighter, The Corruptor).
No official word from Universal Pictures concerning a release date since that original reveal from Rza. However, the recent move of 47 Ronin from November 2012 to a 2013 release date could explain this. Iron Fists could be getting some heat during Cannes with producers Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino already there promoting their own films. The studio could feel that Fists would be the stronger of the two films opting to release it first. Rza (Wu-Tang Clan) who scored Kill Bill will also provide the film's music. I'm sure Rza's recent cameos in G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Django Unchained has also helped slow down the film's release.
A few behind the scenes images of the production have been floating online. Not a single image of the main cast has been revealed. Besides, one that seemingly features kung fu legend Gordon Liu in a classic costume as the Abbott. The rest of the pictures feature Rza hard at work with producer Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever), production designer Drew Boughton (Expendables, On Stranger Tides, Domino) and his Chinese crew. I have to admit the sets here are impressive so far. SOURCES:PushingPixels, MartialArtsMovieJunkie, DailyGrindhouse, KungFuMagazine
TrackingBoard reports that actress Jennifer Connelly (Requiem For A Dream, Little Children) is now in talks to take the female lead in Darren Aronofsky's (Black Swan) Noah which stars Russell Crowe. Prevouisly Jennifer played the wife of Russell Crowe's character in A Beautiful Mind which earned her an Oscar for best supporting actress. They also report that Paramount wants Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, Hanna) to take a role as well, which is assumed to be the one of the wives of Noah's three sons. The studio has set a release date of March 28th 2014 for the biblical epic.
Deadline reports that British actress Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Albatross) has beat out a slew of other actress for the lead in Winter's Tale. Garrett Hedlund and Aaron Johnson are the current frontrunners for the male lead. It's been previously reported that Russell Crowe and Will Smith will have small roles as well. The film centers around a dying young woman who falls in love with a thief who breaks into her home, a palatial West Side mansion, in a drama that takes place in 19th Century and contemporary Manhattan. Shooting will start on October 15th in New York.
Deadline is now confirming that Russell Crowe will indeed play the title role in Darren Aronofsky's Noah. The biblical epic is based on the graphic novel co-written by Darren himself and was adapted by John Logan (Last Samurai, Skyfall, Gladiator). It will start production this July but has yet to cast any of the other roles even though Liam Neeson had been wanted for a role.
Variety reports that Russell Crowe is now in negotiations with Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) to take on the lead role in his bibical epic Noah. Crowe had been rumored for the part for weeks along with a unnamed role being eyed for Liam Neeson. The Gladiator has had a few bumps with the last couple of films but I would shocked if Noah doesn't end up getting Russell back in the awards race.
Back in 2001, it was announced by Variety that Warner Bros. and David Fincher were going to be adapting the much praised and visually stunning graphic novel Hard Boiled from Frank Miller and artist Geof Darrow. Nicolas Cage was in talks to play the lead character Nixon. This ultimately didn't happen and everyone involved walked away from the film. The comic is similar to a mix of Fifth Element/Heavy Metal meets Blade Runner/Sin City. It features the setting of an over populated gritty futuristic L.A. littered with violence. The main character Nixon seems to live a double life but is unaware of it. Believing he's just an average family man.
During the height of the successful releases of Sin City and 300 it was back in development. Frank Miller talking to MTV mentioned he was in talks to direct it. The project quickly went into limbo when Miller's directing debut The Spirit tanked. If Warner Bros. is dying to make more comic book films Hard Boiled should be on the top of their list since the material if prime for an adaptation. The studio is currently beginning production on the sequel/prequel to Miller's 300 in the next couple of months which is somewhat inspired by his new graphic novel Xerxes.
THOUGHTS ON A DIRECTOR:
My first thoughts went to Luc Besson mainly because of the design and scope of his film The Fifth Element. That film borrowed a lot of from the original Hard Boiled artwork by artist Geof Darrow. Yet it looks like he's got enough projects in development along with another original science fiction blockbuster on the way.
Ultimately the best director for this would be Paul Verhoeven who has tackled this satirical science fiction material previously with Robocop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers. Yet, the Dutch director has stated many times his distaste for sci-fi. It's extremely assuming since he's one of the best directors of the genre. Personally, I'd love to Verhoeven return for one more crazy genre outing like Hard Boiled.
I wouldn't rule out a studio loyalist like Christopher Nolan tackling the material. Since someone like Fincher was originally interested I wouldn't dismiss Nolan taking on the subject matter. He's long stated that he's a massive a fan of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and has dabbled with science fiction elements with both Prestige and Inception. This film explores similar elements used in Blade Runner and other films based on Philip K. Dick stories. Nolan is exiting the Batman franchise but hasn't announced for sure what his next film will be. He's notorious for not committing to another film until the one before it is released, focusing his entire attention to one film at a time. Given that fact we have no clue what he'll do next.
Snyder has already proven he can handle large scoped projects and delivered somewhat successful comic book adaptations with 300 and Watchmen. The way Zack recreated a 1980's Manhattan could work when a super stylized future L.A. is the setting. It helped earn him the coveted directing gig on Man of Steel. If the studio does end up for an R-rated rating Zack seems like one of the best directors to pull this off. The only problem here is that it's expected if successful he'll be asked to make the sequel to Man of Steel. If a sequel happens I assume a trilogy will be worked out during the development of Man of Steel 2.
Newcomer directors James Mather and Stephen St. Leger seem like they could do big things with a large budget film like Hard Boiled. The pair are about to release their smaller budgeted science fiction actioner Lockout in April which they both directed and wrote with producer Luc Besson. This Hollywood-like film was made on the cheap and has some impressive sets/effects all things considering. I feel if Lockout is successful big studios will be knocking down their door very quickly. I get the impression that they could make a plausable adaptation and without a massive bloated budget. Along with writing a tailor-make script to fit both a low budget and their visual style.
WHO SHOULD PLAY NIXON?:
When the news first surfaced I originally had Bruce Willis in mind but that doesn't possible as the role seems more psychical than I believe he can handle stunt-wise at his age. This is something I picture a younger 90's Willis being perfect for. With that in mind a few names come to mind. They include Russell Crowe (Gladiator, American Gangster), Michael Shannon (Man of Steel, Take Shelter, Boardwalk Empire) and Clive Owen (Sin City, Children of Men) who are able to play the everyman but can be highly action driven as well when needed.
Vulture reports on yet another project Aussie actor Russell Crowe could be joining. This time it's for Warner Bros' new take on the classic Stoker tale of Dracula titled Harker. Instead of Jonathan Harker being a lawyer he's a Scotland Yard detective investigating Dracula's murders in London. It seems to be a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Jack The Ripper which could be worthwhile reason to make another Dracula film. Crowe is in early talks to take the title role of Detective Harker. It's not a done deal yet as Crowe is also looking at starring in Darren Aronofsky's Noan this summer. However, a production start for Harker hasn't been announced so he could be able to do both.
Jaume Collet-Serra, (Unknown) who was originally attached to the project before agreeing to direct Akira has seemly come back to helm. Akira had a long string of problems from casting, budgets, directors and scripts. Warner Bros. put the project on hold. It looks the studio has given Jaume another task while they figure out what to do with Akira. I'm not shocked as Harker is a more viable/profitable project with an interesting take on the classic Dracula tale. Apparently the studio still wants to make Akira but Harker will go first.
HeatVision reports that Jose Padilha's (Elite Squad 1-2) Robocop has another writer working on it's script. Nick Schenk (Gran Tarino) has been brought on to beef up the existing screenplay. Another interesting tidbit comes from Variety/ShowBlitz's Jeff Sneider teasing via Twitter that Russell Crowe is also being linked with Robocop. Just yesterday Crowe was linked with Darren Aronofsky's massive bible epic Noah. He recently filmed scenes for Zack Snyder's Man of Steel cameoing as Superman's biological father Jor-El. It looks like Crowe might be aiming for Micheal Fassbender's leftovers as he was linked to both Noah and Robocop at one point.
