NEWS/RUMORS (Nov 26th)

Empire Magazine talked to Hurt Locker actor Jeremy Renner and he reveled a possible role in the upcoming films from Marvel Studios. He spoke about the possibility of playing Clint Barton also known as Hawkeye and member of the Avengers. If he ends up being cast as the superhero it could lead to appearances in Thor, Avengers and possibly a small cameo in Iron Man 2. Hawkeye had been rumored to be apart of Iron Man 2. It makes sense that Marvel Studios is slowly introducing the supporting members in the films leading up to the Avengers. There is also the fact Marvel Studios is hoping supporting characters could get spin-offs after Avengers is released. We could see a Hawkeye movie along with Nick Fury, Black Widow and Warmachine getting their own films in the future.

"Hawkeye could be interesting....They're going to send me some stuff on it, see what it is, but I think they're pretty awesome, trying to make superhero movies almost plausible and not just some fantasy thing."


Some story details from Thor and Avengers are being leaked online. I'll try to keep these as non-spoiler as possible. The films won't be including the character Donald Blake who is Thor's human alter-ego. Thor is now being considered an alien-god-being from a planet that Norse mythology is based on. Having Thor a humanoid alien makes the character a bit more grounded. I like that Blake is being removed, since to explain his involvement and his screen time would take away from the film and the action pieces. There is also talk that Loki will be the one or the main villain in Avengers. He'll somehow get hold of Bruce Banner to gain control of Hulk for his own use.


Sam Worthington told Total Film during an interview that he could return for Avatar 2 and Avatar 3. Although he thinks that it might be awhile before the trilogy actually is made. James Cameron originally had ideas that avatar would end up becoming a trilogy. Producer Jon Landau teased that the second film could focus on other areas on Pandora. My hope is that they'll travel to another planet using the avatar program yet again. While I do like Pandora it would be interesting to see Jake save another planet from RDA.

"We're signed for a trilogy. But I think I'll be 94 by the time it finishes, to be honest. I know Jim's got some ideas in his big head."




Here are the first images from Luc Besson's Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec.



Here are the first stills from The Losers (April 9th). I was expecting Warner Bros. to release a trailer for the film this week along with a teaser for Jonah Hex (June 18th) but I guess that's not happening.

UPDATE: Insiders (2011)

Jessica Alba and Robert Rodriguez have teamed up to buy the rights for the comic book Insiders. They've done so in the hopes to develop a live-action film based on the comic. This could make for a great action franchise that might be setup at Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios.

The story follows heroine Najah Cruz, a Columbian who is as deadly as she is beautiful. She has the weapons expertise and combat skills of a James Bond. At the secret request of the White House she infiltrates a worldwide mafia-like organization composed of businessmen and politicians and becomes the bodyguard of the organization’s leader. Jessica Alba of course will play Najah Cruz.


UPDATE: French-Algerian director Mabrouk El Mechri has been hired to helm the project. He's best known for directing the impressive JCVD, which brought Jean Claude Van Damme back into the spotlight.




Jessica Alba (Sin City, Machete) will of course play Najah Cruz. Some may remember Alba played a kick-ass super solider on James Cameron's Dark Angel. For most of her career after the show she's mostly shied away from action heavy films. Alba at least started her career as an action star. So I can take her more seriously in a role like this unlike Angelina Jolie.

NEWS/RUMORS (Nov 23rd-24th)

It looks like the trailer for Iron Man 2 might be playing in front of Sherlock Holmes on December 25th. I'm hoping that we'll be seeing more action than we did in the Comic-Con footage. Which basically showed stretched out talking scenes and only a glimpse of action.


We already know that Zombieland 2 is in the works. There is now talk of the sequel being filmed in 3D. While some may find this gimmicky, this is the type of film that would actually benefit from the format.


Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Defendor) has also joined the growing cast of Thor. Kat's role is unknown at the moment but it's interesting to see another Apatow alumni in a Marvel film. Her role could be The Enchantress Amora or Hela The Goddess of Death.


Faran Tahir (Star Trek) who played Raza in the first Iron Man is hinting his character may return as The Mandarin. You might remember Raza was the leader of the "Ten Rings", a reference to the power rings Mandarin wears. Raza was thought to be wearing one of these rings in the film. The Mandarin is Tony Stark's most reconzible villain and has yet to be used. Faran wasn't too clear if he would appear in Iron Man 3 or Avengers. I think it would be interesting to see Hulk, Loki and Mandarin as the villins in Avengers.


Robert E. Howrd's characters are getting a major revamp lately. The first Solomon Kane film is getting some buzz. There are also reboots of Conan and Red Sonja in the works. Kull is yet another character from Howard that is getting remade. I expect the reboot to be a massive improvement from the Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) film.

“Native to Atlantis, Kull grows up with his family in Tiger Valley until a flood wipe his clan out. Another clan bring him up, but he stands up for a woman destined to burn alive and ends up banned from Atlantis. He sails for the continent and take up the mercenary way. He'll become king, just as Conan will do thousands of years later. Under his influence, Valusia ends up as the most powerful kingdom of the time.”


It looks like there is finally movement on Jackass 3. The third film may start filming in early 2010 and could be in 3D. While I assume that most of controlled stunts can be done in 3D, the random stunts will be in 2D shot with hand held cameras.


Milla Jovovich has said there is a possibility that Maynard the lead singer of Tool and A Perfect Circle could do a few tracks on the Afterlife soundtrack. The assumption is that he would re-team with Danny Lohner. The pair worked together on the most memorable tracks on the Underworld and Underworld 2 soundtracks.


Francis Lawrence (I m Legend) might be directing In The Small before Sgt. Rock.


Micheal Bay says there will be bigger role for Megan Fox in Transformers 3 and he will not kill her off.

Films That Should Be Made: Uncharted

The widely well received second installment in the game series is more than enough reason to think that it's ripe for adaptation. It doesn't hurt that the game actually looks and feels like an action adventure film. A mix of Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible, James Bond and Bourne the game seems to be an explosion of action. I expect to see this become a new franchise. Since there are already two games released and the eventual third installment in the works.






Louis Leterrier would be the perfect choice for directing. Leterrier's visual style and thrilling pace of his films is a great fit for an Uncharted film.



CASTING THOUGHTS


Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Red Dawn, Watchmen, The Losers) as Nathan Drake


Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man 1-3, Zack & Miri) as Elena Fisher


Lena Heady (300) as Chloe Frazer




UPDATE: It looks like Sony Pictures and Marvel's super producer Avi Arad are working together to make a film based on Drake's Fortune, the first game. Kyle Ward (Hitman) was originally hired to work on script but because of his commitment to writing Hitman 2 has left. Now Sony has hired the writing team Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer who recently wrote the Conan reboot. The reason for the change up was to move the project into production sooner.

Future of The Resident Evil Franchise

The Resident Evil franchise has been the most successful video game film series as of now. While many feel the films lack a certain quality the comic book films have, they still do very well with audiences. The films have been increasing their box office numbers with each film. I feel the success is due to the developing fanbase with the games, which are released on a regular basis. Along with the rabid DVD/Blu Ray market for the series. My personal opinion is that while I didn't find the sequels very impressive I do like the world Anderson has created. Hopefully with Anderson back directing it will bring new life and talent to the franchise in the future.

Resident Evil: $103.2 Million (Budget $35Mill)
Resident Evil 2: $129Million (Budget $50Mill)
Resident Evil 3: $146.1Million (Budget $45Million)
DVD Sales: $50+ Million

Paul W.S. Anderson, who directed the best film in the series is back to helm Resident Evil: Afterlife. I'd hope they would hire someone like Christian Alvart (Antibodies) who did an amazing job with Pandorum to take over, if Anderson doesn't return. While the budget hasn't been revealed it's been quoted as the most expensive film of the series mostly due the inclusion of the 3D cameras. I expect the more money they put into the production the more they'll get back in profits. The one issue I've had with the films is the cheap looking computer effects. While it wasn't as noticeable in the first film the sequels had their problems. Hopefully they will up the special effects budget or at least go practical when possible.

Resident Evil: Begins the working title of the fifth film will be a reboot of sorts but also a sequel. Afterlife will include a new story arc to carry on a new trilogy. It's well known that Milla Jovovich's Alice will not be returning to the series. It's expected that new characters like Chris Redfied, Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine will carry on the series. There could also be an inclusion of fan favorites like Leon S. Kennedy and other characters from the games in the new trilogy. Capcom had made the producers aware they wanted the films to include more characters and stories from the games.


Producer Jeremy Bolt spoke to ShockTillYouDrop about the future of the franchise during a set visit.

"Yes, we are hoping [we can get the new characters seen in Afterlife back], that would be a dream to have another three [films]," I'm glad [Paul] is talking like that. Either he'd have to direct them or we'll have to find directors on his level. It's tough. But I hope that we can make a few more and his creative brilliance is essential to that. Every time we do it so if it is the last one we're very proud of it, but if it does well enough obviously we'll do another one."


POSSIBLE RETURNING CASTING


Ali Larter as Claire Redfield


Wentworth Miller as Chris Redfield


Shawn Roberts as Albert Wesker


Sienna Guillory as Jill Valentine

CASTING THOUGHTS


Jensen Ackles as Leon S. Kennedy


Maggie Q (Die Hard 4, MI3) as Ada Wong


Naomie Harris (Ninja Assassin, Miami Vice) as Sheva Alomar


Dominic West (300, The Wire) as Barry Burton


Michelle Ryan (Jekyll, Bionic Woman) as Excella Gionne


Columbus Short (Armored) as Josh Stone


Emmy Rossum as Rebecca Chambers


Amanda Righetti (Friday The 13th) as Mina Gere


Zach Levi (Chuck) as Kevin Ryman


Brian Austin Greene (Sarah Connor Chronicles) as Dave Johnson

NEWS/RUMORS (Nov 20th)

Idris Elba (The Wire, RockNRolla) has been cast as Heimdall in Thor. Elba will also be seen in The Losers and is looking for a role in 100 Bullets. It's nice to see such talented actors interested in making comic book films. Heimdall is the guardian of Asgard, who stands on the BiFrost Bridge ready to defend the city from intruders.


The Samurai Jack film has been talked about for years now. There is an update that J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot will co-produce the film for Paramount Pictures. Genndy Tartakovsky who created the cartoon series is working on the script.


Shield writer John Hlavin has been hired to write the screenplay for Underworld 4. While the details of the plot are tight-lipped, it won't be a prequel. Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman have yet to officially sign on.


Mandalay Pictures is developing an adaptation of the comic Unthinkable. The comic focuses on a best-selling author who's a brilliant man who was recruited just after 9/11 into a government think tank to generate terrorist scenarios for possible attacks on U.S. soil as part of the nation's security planning. Things go horribly wrong when the group gets disbanded and years after, their imagined scenarios start to happen in real life


Sam Worthington (Clash of The Titans) had been rumored as the new Max for Mad Max 4. It seems that Worthington was never even considered by director George Miller. Neither was fellow Australian action star Eric Bana (Hulk, Star Trek, Munich). It seems Sam would have been open to the role. Not surprising since a majority of his recent projects have been big action roles. The film would have been a perfect fit for Worthington.

"Like Eric (Bana), I've never been approached, I would have loved it. From what I've heard, it's going to be amazing."


Jackass 3 is rumored to be starting production in January and will have segments in 3D.


Rose McGowan has given an update on the production of Red Sonja. She hopes she'll be healed from her injuries so that they start shooting in 2010.