RUMOR: Could Harry Osborn Be Venom In AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2? Leading To VENOM Spin-Off Which Gary Ross And Josh Trank Were Linked To Direct?

A rumor has started online via CBM that Venom could be showing up or at the very least introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. This rumor stems from a recent set image that director Marc Webb tweeted to celebrate Dane Dehaan's birthday. The image is a possible lab locker which in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics (which the new films are based on) is where Parker discovers the Venom symboite. Could the rebooted version of Venom see Harry Obsorn the host instead of Eddie Brock?

This is speculation of course but Sony has been planning a Venom spin-off for years now. Exactly how Venom or the spin-off would fit into the new Spider-Man universe is unknown. A script exists from screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese best known for penning Zombieland along with upcoming projects G.I. Joe: Retaliation and Fox's Deadpool. At one point Hunger Games director Gary Ross was attached but eventually exited to focus on Games instead. Ross passed on making the next three Hunger Game sequels, so it's possible he could be back in the running. Josh Trank director of Chronicle (which stars Dehaan) recently landed the directing job for the Fantastic Four reboot but was also linked to direct Venom down the line too. Dane Dehaan is a rising star and quite possibly could be talented enough to pull-off his own Marvel franchise. You might be confused as both Eddie Brock and Flash Thompson (both unlikable characters at least in the comics) have been hosts to the Venom in the comics. Yet, to make it more cohesive with the Amazing Spider-Man franchise they might be looking at a stronger supporting character with a longstanding history and depth to be face of the new cinematic villain/anti-hero.

'VENOM' Spin-Off Update From Avi Arad

Sony hasn't revealed too much about their Spider-Man spin-off Venom concerning it's direction. What we do know is that it will have a script from Rhett Resse and Paul Wernick. The pair had previously wrote Zombieland and a promising script for the X-Men spin-off Deadpool. Josh Trank who make the small-budget superpower film Chronicle has been linked for director's chair. Some might remember that a pre-Hunger Games Gary Ross was originally attached to direct during it's early development. Topher Grace won't be reprising the role seemingly confirming that we'll see the anti-hero get a new origin separate from Spider-Man 3. Spider-Man producer Avi Arad has revealed that this movie will follow the classic story of Eddie Brock. I'm sure in the weeks leading up to and after the release of The Amazing Spider-Man we'll be hearing more from Avi and Sony on the project.

"It's an Eddie Brock story," said Arad. "We want to be as close to the comics as possible. Especially in Eddie Brock's story. But again, pseudo-sceince is becoming science. All these tidbits about webs, artificial webs, is a huge industry now. Spiderwebs have unique qualities that will be huge for communications, fibers, and so forth. So we have taken the approach that we want to make the huge amazing movie about Eddie." Tolmach adds, "He was a journalist. He had the wrong story, he got in trouble for it, he got fired. The whole essence to us for the Marvel characters. Stay close to the bible, stay close to the emotional story, and the rest is fun."

There had been some question to who would don the Venom symbiote since Brock hasn't been the only one and Sony would have access to other characters. Mac Gargan, the Spidey villain Scorpion had taken over the suit and was added to the lineup of the Thunderbolts. More recently Flash Thompson was re-envisioned as a disabled war hero given the Venom symbiote by the government. Flash is hired by the government to be a special agent wearing the Venom symbiote. Flash is only allowed to wear the suit for up to 48 hours, or risk a permanent bonding with the symbiote. The Government is also equipped with a "kill switch" designed to take Flash out if he loses control. That doesn't mean we won't see these characters explored eventually.

The symbiote sagas don't exactly fit into the Spider-Man franchise since they are traditionally dark material and include a body count. If anything a Venom film could benefit from a mature adaptation similar to Blade. Considering it would be hard to bring a serial killer supervillain like Carnage (a mass murderer) in a PG-13 franchise like Amazing Spider-Man. However, the sheer volume of characters involved could be enough to keep a mature franchise going. Carnage and Scream could end up becoming possible villains leading to more symobites and more mature Spider-Man universe villains making appearances. I could also see villains such as Sorpion (a little too similar to The Lizard for Spidey sequels) and possibly Morbius (apart of Marvel's Blade rights?) the living-vampire.



SOURCE: Hollywood

Gary Ross Won't Be Directing 'CATCHING FIRE', Lionsgate Has A Shortlist Of Replacements

Earlier this week it was announced that Gary Ross wouldn't be returning to direct the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. There had been rumblings of "problems" during the production which didn't help when Steven Soderbergh ended up offering his services as second unit director. Ross' shaky-cam shooting style was said to be the biggest flaw of the film. So it's not surprising to see the studio searching for a new visionary director. Hunger Games is now a franchise and needs to evolve that could mean different directors with each new film. The film has already earned for Lionsgate and they need to keep the production moving or risk losing Jennifer Lawrence to the X-Men First Class sequel.

24Frames reports the studio already has a shortlist of directing candidates which includes Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity),  David Cronenberg (Cosmopolis, Eastern Promises) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Biutiful, Babel). Alfonso seems like the best choice since he's come into an established franchise before with the Prisoner of Azkaban and is currently one of the best science fiction directors working today. Alejandro has the awards pedigree with multiple films earning Oscar nominations and wins. However, he's never made the jump to blockbusters so it could be interesting to see him take on Catching Fire, even more science fiction. Oddly enough, while Cronenberg seems the weirdest choice of this group he was previously offered to direct films like Return of The Jedi, Robocop (original) and Top Gun.

Lionsgate Looking At Slumdog Writer To Pen Hunger Games Sequel

Deadline reports that Lionsgate is moving quickly on the buzz from the recent Hunger Games trailer and are already looking at writers for the sequel. The next book in the series titled Catching Fire will likely be the installment to be adapted. They say the studio is looking at screenwriter Simon Beaufoy who is best known for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours. I'm sure the studio is waiting until the first film's release to move any further than the script phase. However, it's been Lionsgate's original plan to make a trilogy.

Jennifer Lawrence Is Officially Katniss Everdeen In Hunger Games

Lionsgate has officially cast Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone, X-Men First Class) as the lead role of Katniss Everdeen in Hunger Games.

Jennifer Lawrence Frontrunner For Hunger Games

Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone, X-Men First Class) is the frontrunner for the role of Katniss Everdeen in Gary Ross' Hunger Games. Deadline reports that the Oscar nominated actress is close to signing on for the lead. It's expected the studio is looking for an older actress so that they can feel safer developing a franchise. There is the possibility that she would have to sign a three-four picture deal.

10 Actresses In The Running For Katniss Everdeen Role In Hunger Games

It looks like Hunger Games is quickly becoming one of the biggest female-driven action roles currently in Hollywood. Ten actresses are in the running for the role of Katniss. The group includes Oscar-nominated actresses Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone, X-Men First Class), Haliee Steinfeld (True Grit), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, Zombieland) and Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, Lovely Bones, Hanna). Along with Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass, Let Me In), Emily Browning (Sucker Punch), Lyndsy Fonseca (Kick-Ass, Hot Tub Time Machine), Kaya Scodelario (Clash of The Titans, Moon, Skins), Emma Roberts (Scream 4) and Shailene Woodley (American Teenager).

It's expected the actress selected would be obligated to sign at least a four picture deal as there are four books in the series. Saoirse Ronan and Chloe Moretz are my favorites of the group but Lionsgate could be looking for a lesser known name.