Spierig Brothers To Direct Power of The Dark Crystal

It's been officially announced that the Spierig Brothers (Undead, Daybreakers) will direct Power of The Dark Crystal. The long awaited sequel to the 80's classic Henson Company film The Dark Crystal. I have to say I'm shocked they've hired directors most known for graphically violent films to make a child's film. I'm just glad it's finally going into production. Growing up on films like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth I hate CGI being used instead of puppetry. So this news sort of excites me, too bad this wasn't done in the early 90's where it could have been more magical. The film will have a mix of live-action puppets, CGI and 3D elements. I'm curious to see if they'll be able to keep the film's theme as dark as it was in the 80's.

"Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie when the world has once again fallen into darkness, Power of the Dark Crystal follows the adventures of a mysterious girl made of fire who, together with a Gelfling outcast, steals a shard of the legendary Crystal in an attempt to reignite the dying sun that exists at the center of the planet."

David O. Russell To Direct Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune?

LA Times is reporting that Sony is looking at David O. Russell (Three Kings) to direct Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune based on the best selling video game franchise. While the legacy of video game films has been cursed for the most part. The difference with Uncharted is that is actually it has a cinematic type story and well written in game dialog. While I haven't played the game I get the impression it's pretty much a contemporary Indiana Jones. Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer who previously worked on Conan and Dead of Night wrote the film's script.

Jack Thompson Playing Thorin In The Hobbit?

AICN caught wind of Australian actor Jack Thompson confirming he's in the running for the role of dwarf Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit. It didn't hurt the actor was sporting a very long natural beard as well.

J.J. Abrams Secret Project To Get Trailer This Week?

I'm not sure how this went under the radar but it looks like we'll be seeing a teaser trailer to a secret project produced by J.J. Abrams attached to Iron Man 2. It's really up in the air what the project is since details have been kept hush. There is talk of it being the Cloverfield sequel/prequel yet it could be something completely original. HitFix is the first to report on the project Super 8 and they revealed it's teaser trailer shot by J.J. will be shown this week.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Starring In Looper?

There has been excitement for Rian Johnson's (Brick, Brothers Bloom) time travel film Looper. HeatVision reports that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick, Inception, Lookout) could be eyeing the lead in the film. Johnson's rebuttal of the plot via Twitter "hit men are sent their victims from crime orgs in the future". It seems like the film could be mix of Terminator, Inception and Timecop. Rian has started an odd blog for the film which is sort of interesting.

Winter Soldier Coming To Captain America Sequels?

CHUD has got another great tidbit from the Captain America production. They report Marvel is trying to see if they can leave the door open for the Winter Soldier storyline and possibly bring in the brainwashed assassin for sequels. The move could be a saving grace for the future of the Cap franchise. Considering his rouges gallery isn't that great compared to other heroes. It seems that his better villains in the present are just villainous versions of SHIELD and not too many actual villains he can go toe to toe with.

Daniel Dae Kim Wants To Play Namor?

Lost's Daniel Dae Kim was recently asked by UGO which comic book character he'd like to play. He went on to name Namor who could end up getting his own film. There is even the possibility which seems unlikely he could appear in Captain America as one of the Invaders. Previously Dwayne Johnson had been lobbying for many comic book hero roles which included Namor. Jason Statham has also been rumored for the role because of his extensive background in Olympic diving.

"Sub-Mariner. Living in Hawaii, I’m always in the water – and I think Sub-Mariner looks Asian. So I feel like if there’s any one I could play, it would be him."

"I’ve met with Marvel about a few other things, but if and when it becomes appropriate – sure, if they’d have me!"


The two Marvel characters that come to mind that I could see Kim playing would be Iron Fist and Wong from Doctor Strange.

Sam Rockwell Joins Cowboys & Aliens

HeatVision reports that Sam Rockwell will re-team with director Jon Favreau for the western/sci-fi Cowboys & Aliens. Rockwell joins the cast which includes Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde and Harrison Ford. I'm hoping Sam gets more screen time with this film but he's great in any dose.

The American Trailer

Vaughn Back In Talks With Fox For X-Men First Class

Previously there had been talk of 20th Century Fox reaching out to director Matthew Vaughn to helm X-Men First Class. It would be later reported s being an old offer with new a list of possible directors surfacing. Now Deadline is mixing things up with news that Matthew Vaughn is back to the table. Fox is currently working things out with his reps. While they might have bad blood it's Hollywood and things change over time. I'm sure it doesn't hurt Vaughn's Kick-Ass managed to open number one with the modest budget of $30-35 million. Success can always change things and fans deserve to see Vaughn's take on the X-Men universe. Let's just hope Jane Goldman ends up also getting hired to rework the film's script.

RDJ Confirms Starring Role In Gravity

Robert Downey Jr has also confirmed to MTV he will start production soon on Alfonso Cuaron's (Children of Men) Gravity. Which he'll shoot before the sequel to Sherlock Holmes.

Holmes 2 Headed To Paris & Switzerland

It looks like we'll be seeing Holmes and Watson globetrotting around the rest of Victorian Europe. RDJ confirmed to MTV the second film will take them to Paris and Switzerland. While I loved how Guy Ritchie showed London in the first film. It would be nice to see the director shoot in other locations for the sequel. It's still unknown if Brad Pitt will play Professor Moriarty with the film starting production in the next couple of months it should be official soon.

Captain America: Heroes, Villains & Costumes

Considering Iron Man 2 is coming out next week, Thor is in it's final strech of principle photography I figured I'd focus on Captain America. The movie starts production at the end of June and I was thinking about the world Marvel will be setting up in the WWII era. When it comes to allies and enmies who could we expect to see in the film. It's expected we won't be revisting the exploits of WWII. Marvel could be trying to include as many characters from the time period as possible.

HEROES



The Invaders were one of the first supporting groups confirmed. They could include Union Jack, Spitfire, Destroyer and Blazing Skull. It's unknown if they'll be able to use the Human Tourch or Namor considering they could conflict with other film rights. The aim of the Invaders is to have them cast with international actors.

When it comes the regular American soldiers The Howling Commandos have been brought up. It's unknown if Nick Fury will be leading them but Gabriel Jones has been mentioned. The group also included Happy Sam, Dum Dum Dugan, Izzy, Dino, Rebel and Pinkerton. I wouldn't be surprised to see other WWII characters thrown in like Combat Kelly and Cpt. Simon Savage.

VILLAINS


Red Skull has been confirmed as the main baddie but I'm sure they'll be including some other Nazi collaborators. Baron von Strucker would be needed to setup HYDRA which could end up important villains in future Marvel films. Baron Zemo is one of the most recognizable from the era and similar to Union Jack has lineage. Zemo has gone back and forth over the years from being villain to hero. Not as well known is Baron Blood which seemed to be one of the better villains from Invaders.

COSTUMES



One of the greatest things that Joe Johnston brings to the table is amazing character design background. Johnston for whatever you think of his directorial abilities. He has worked on films with incredible character designs. From Star Wars which he was instrumental in creating Boba Fett, working on Indiana Jones and directing both Rocketeer/Wolfman. If anything we'll end up with some iconic character designs that will stick in our minds.


I'm curious which angle they'll be going with the costumes in the film. While we didn't see much of them the regular costumed heroes Minutemen (Watchmen) really seemed to work well on screen for the era.


Yet I expect Marvel might go with less dramatic costumes for everyone besides Captain America. It's likely they'll go with something more similar to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

Stallone Says Rambo Is Done Fighting

Many Rambo fans were thrilled when Stallone wrote, directed and starred the last installment. Now it looks like the purposed 5th film has lost it's steam. Sly has confirmed to Empire that he's finished with the character. I believe he might have had issues getting financing for the film without a script. I'm not that disappointed as he could be working on more films like The Expendables. Which looks like it could put the rest of the team on mission films to shame. Let's just hope he also moves on from Rocky too.

"I think Rambo's pretty well done. I don't think there'll be any more. I'm about 99 per cent sure."

Daniel Espinosa Favorite To Direct X-Men First Class

It looks like Matthew Vaughan has already passed on the project. Deadline reports 20th Century Fox has reached out to other directors to helm X-Men First Class . They include Louis Leterrier (Incredible Hulk), Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted), Jonathan Mostow (Surrogates, Terminator 3), David Slade (30 Days of Night), Daniel Espinosa (Snabba Cash), commercial directors Carl Erick Rinsch and Rupert Sanders. Yet the favorite of the group according to HeatVision is Daniel Espinosa. It might be for his recent work on Swedish film Snabba Cash. The film has already been bought by Warner Bros. for the American remake which does speak volumes for the new director.