Peter Jackson Also In The Running For STAR WARS EPISODE VIII?

During a recent Hobbit video FirstShowing spotted a possible script or outline for Star Wars: Episode VIII in Peter Jackson's desk with his name scrolled across it. It could have been a bit of joke since the video was released yesterday on April Fools. Disney/LucasFilm might be actually looking at Peter to tackle the second film. Previously, Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men, Gravity) had been rumored for talks to make Episode VIII. There is a bit of speculation LucasFilm could be aiming to have different directors handle the new trilogies. Similar to how the original three films worked as Lucas (Abrams now) directed the first one and godfathered the other two productions. Considering that Paramount is talking about Star Trek 3 possibly coming out in 2016, it's unlikely that Abrams will be able to make both Trek 3 and Ep. VIII.

Jackson is currently doing post-production on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug with some added Battle of The Five Armies scenes to be shot for There And Back Again this Summer. It's possible that LucasFilm could be aiming for a 2017-2018 release date for Episode VIII which could allow Jackson to clear his other projects including the upcoming sequel to Tintin which begins production sometime this year. Peter has personal and work relationships with Steven Spielberg which might have led to at least talk of him considering the project. Jackson hasn't exactly made a straight up science fiction film yet but was at one point producing the Halo movie. Not to mention producing Neill Blompkamp's stunning sci-fi sociological thriller District 9. Jackson did briefly talk about the new Star Wars films with MTV back in December. You never know making a Star Wars film could be on Peter's bucket-list or just a clever April Fools joke. Considering Jackson has always worked with both Weta Workshop and Weta Digital for his films. While ILM has provided the special effects for basically all of the LucasFilm projects. I don't think Jackson would direct but could help write/produce the film.

"Obviously if he (Lucas) had interest in doing himself, then that's what we would all like to see," he said. "But it's better to have more 'Star Wars' films than no 'Star Wars' films."

"The one thing that Tolkien said is that the wonderful thing with mythology — and George Lucas has created a mythology of his own — is that it keeps getting handed from one person to the next, and each person embellishes it and expands it," Jackson added. "It actually keeps mythology alive, because it should be a living, breathing organic thing where it expands over time. It doesn't just stay stagnant. So I think what George is doing with 'Star Wars' is terrific."

Could PACIFIM RIM And GODZILLA Help Resurrect The Live-Action NEON GENESIS EVANGELION Film?

Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures are single-handily resurrecting the kaiju (giant/robot monster) genre with upcoming films Pacific Rim and the Godzilla reboot. The studio has strong ties with the Japanese market understanding the massive demand for these type of films. They also have tried to adapt films with Appian Way based on iconic anime/manga material with Akira (scrapped due Americanization) and Ninja Scroll. There is plenty of existing material involving kaiju and giant robots that could end up heading to Hollywood in the next couple of years.



One project within this genre that really deserves another shot is Neon Genesis Evangelion. Back in 2003, there was development on a live-action film which saw ADV Films hire Weta Workshop (Avatar, Lord of The Rings, King Kong, Rise/Dawn of The Apes, The Hobbit) to create a slew of concept art. The project was originally announced at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival with ADV looking to provide fifty percent of the estimated $100-120 million budget. Nothing seemed to happen even with hiring John Woo to pitch it to other producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Spielberg. The company would eventually fold and the live-action film rights have been in dispute since 2011.

Other giant robot projects such as Robotech (Warner Bros.) and Gaiking (Valhalla Entertainment) have also been put into development in the last couple of months. It seems like it would be a smart move for other studios to get a hold of their own kaiju/giant robot flicks. Sony/Columbia, 20th Century Fox, Disney, Dreamworks, Wingnut and Universal should really consider trying to get a hold the film rights to Evangelion.

CASTING SUGGESTIONS

Olivia Thirlby (Dredd, Juno), Dane DeHaan (Lawless, Chronicle, Amazing Spider-Man 2) and Jane Levy (Evil Dead).



WETA WORKSHOP CONCEPT ART

Paul Verhoeven Open To Direct THE LEGEND OF CONAN Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger

TheArnoldFans were able to speak with legendary action director Paul Verhoeven (Starship Troopers, Robocop, Black Book, Flesh+Blood) and if he'd want a crack at direct Legend of Conan. It's shocking that Universal or Arnold haven't contacted him yet. The project could see Paul re-teaming with Schwarzenegger previously making the original Total Recall. Verhoeven seems optimistic if they offered it to him. Many consider Verhoeven a pioneer of the 80's action genre bringing in a element of satire to his extremely violent projects. Ending up with films that are still considered classics in the sci-fi action genre. If anyone could re-capture the magic of the Conan The Barbarian it would be Verhoeven. Arnold has recently revealed the studio is looking to shoot in New Zealand (possibly by the end of the year) and could have Weta Workshop involved in the production.

"If they asked me, I’d certainly love to – let’s put it that way," he says. "But I don’t know what the script is. I don’t know what Arnold wants. I’m a big fan in fact of Conan. That’s a great movie and I found that the composer, Basil Poledouris, basically inspired many of my movies [the soundtracks] like Flesh and Blood, RoboCop, Starship Troopers and Total Recall. The score of Conan is great. The style of editing that Milius used was very beautiful, and Arnold does a great job. He was really the perfect choice."

'AVATAR 4' A Possibility, So What Happens With 'BATTLE ANGEL'?

It's starting look like James Cameron might be putting hold Battle Angel: Alita to focus on a numerous amount of Avatar sequels. As he recently talked to NewYorkTimes revealing that he wants to make Avatar 4. He confirms that his main focus will be the Avatar franchise and won't be developing or producing any new projects. James is currently writing Avatar 2 and Avatar 3 which is expected to start production in a year or two.

"I’ve divided my time over the last 16 years over deep ocean exploration and filmmaking. I’ve made two movies in 16 years, and I’ve done eight expeditions. Last year I basically completely disbanded my production company’s development arm. So I’m not interested in developing anything. I’m in the 'Avatar' business. Period. That’s it. I’m making 'Avatar 2,' 'Avatar 3,' maybe 'Avatar 4,' and I’m not going to produce other people’s movies for them. I’m not interested in taking scripts," Cameron said about his future plans. "And that all sounds I suppose a little bit restricted, but the point is I think within the 'Avatar' landscape I can say everything I need to say that I think needs to be said, in terms of the state of the world and what I think we need to be doing about it. And doing it in an entertaining way. And anything I can’t say in that area, I want to say through documentaries, which I’m continuing. I’ve done five documentaries in the last 10 years, and I’ll hopefully do a lot more. In fact, I’m doing one right now, which is on this, the Deep Sea Challenge project that we just completed the first expedition. So that’ll be a film that’ll get made this year and come out first quarter of next year."

Last month Cameron told MTV he still intends to direct Alita but with three time-consuming sequels to Avatar can we really believe he'll be able to fit it in? On the other hand, with Avatar 2's 2014 release date being changed could Alita (with a completed script) end up going into production first? Cameron did shoot test-footage for Alita a while back and was finishing rewrites on the script while Avatar was originally shooting (wearing a Battle Angel tee on set in the above image), so anything is possible.

Ruairi Robinson To Direct The Last Days On Mars

ComingSoon reports that Ruairi Robinson will finally make a big studio film. After being attached to direct Akira for Warner Bros. and leaving the project. The sci-fi horror thriller film The Last Days On Mars will be Ruairi's first full big movie after making some impressive short films. They also report that WETA Digital will handle the special effects. Hopefully this means WETA Workshop will also handle the props for the film too. WETA's credits include Avatar, King Kong, District 9 and Rise of The Planet of The Apes.

"As their last day on Mars draws to a close, the astronaut crew is on the verge of a major breakthrough – collected rock specimens reveal microscopic evidence of life. Meanwhile, communication is underway with AURORA, the approaching spacecraft that will relieve the crew of their operations. In their last hours on the planet, two astronauts go back to SITE 9, a cavernous valley on the surface of Mars, to collect further evidence of their discovery. But a routine excavation turns deadly when one of them falls to his death and his body taken host and re-animated by the very life form they sought to discover."

Cate Blanchett & Others Join The Hobbit

New Line/Warner Bros. has announced more cast members for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. Cate Blanchett will reprise her role of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) will play wizard Radagast The Brown who had been rumored for role for months. Along with Mikael Persbrandt as shape-shifter Beorn, Ken Stott as the Dwarf Lord Balin, Lord of The Rings alum Jed Brophy will play Nori, newcomer Ryan Gage will be Drogo Baggins who is Frodo's father and William Kircher as Bifur.

The film also stars Martin Freeman, James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner, Rob Kazinsky, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton and Adam Brown. It's a decent mix of seasoned and new talent which could launch many future acting careers.

Peter Jackson Will Shoot The Hobbit With 3D & RED EPIC Cameras

There is some interesting technical information being released toady from the set of the The Hobbit. While director/writer/producer Peter Jackson was able to stomp out some serious issues that plagued the production for months. He's now starting to get ready to shoot the two films by choosing his cameras. There is word from Engadget that Jackson will shoot most of the film with 3D and will include the use of 30 Red EPIC Digital cameras. The RED digital format is beyond stunning on the big screen and could help boost the visuals of the films.

John Carpenter To Direct Darkchylde

Months back Weta Workshop (Lord of The Rings, King Kong, District 9, Avatar, Hobbit) posted test footage of their work on a Darkchylde adaption based on the popular comics. It looked like it was put together to help investors and directors commit to the project. The footage is somewhat promising but they didn't have a director at the time. Now ComicBookMovie has the official press release naming John Carpenter as the film's director. Carpenter is a legend in the world of horror making films like The Thing, Halloween, Escape From New York, Big Trouble In Little China, They Live, The Fog, Vampires, Starman, Prince of Darkness, Christine, In The Mouth of Madness, Assault On Precinct 13 and Ghosts of Mars.