From ComingSoon.net:
"Producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald have bought an untitled action-comedy pitch from writers Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly.
According to The Hollywood Reporter the idea came from research Trevorrow had done into the practice of police departments recruiting improv actors to help with low-level stings.
Trevorrow and Connolly's storyline involves three actors who are brought in to help bust a DVD-bootlegging operation. When it turns out to be a front for much more nefarious activities, the comedy trio ends up on the run from crooks and cops alike with only their ad-lib skills as weapons."
Cut from the cloth of The Hangover
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Shawn Levy talks more on REAL STEEL
From ComingSoon.net:
"While speaking exclusively to Shawn Levy about his new comedy Date Night, which stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey, the director told ComingSoon.net about his next project, Real Steel, the futuristic action movie he's directing for DreamWorks, scheduled for release on November 2011.
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), it stars Hugh Jackman as an ex-fighter who becomes a promoter in a new form of Robot Boxing involving 2,000 pound cyborgs, but we haven't really learned too many other details for the look or feel of the movie. In our exclusive interview, we learned that the robots would be motion-captured, that boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard would be involved in the fight choreography and more.
ComingSoon.net: 'What's the vibe of the movie going to be? Will it be like the original Rollerball?'
Shawn Levy: It's like Rocky. It's basically a father/son drama set in the future. Hugh Jackman is a boxer, but in the 2020s, people have gotten bored with watching human fighters fight each other so they built robots to basically whale on each other for human spectacle. Hugh is a boxer. He can't do the only thing he was ever good at anymore. So he travels the United States buying and selling these robots looking for fights. Into his life comes the son he walked out on at birth. It's about a return to grace. It's about father, son and this robot they find in the junkyard getting a shot at redemption. It's my first non-comedy. It's big special effects. We're creating this pantheon of robots not based on toys, not based on comic books--based on nothing but our own animation. Steven Spielberg is executive producer, me directing and producing and it's really cool doing my first drama. It's very different. It's with Hugh Jackman who is an awesome guy.'
CS: 'Who else besides Hugh Jackman is in the film?'
Levy: 'Right now it's just Hugh and this kid we discovered out of Toronto named Dakota Goyo.'
CS: 'So the story is mostly centered on Hugh, Dakota and the robots?'
Levy: 'That's right. It's in the landscape of America and it's in the fight venues some of which are gritty underground robot fight clubs others are Madison Square Garden. It literally shows the journey from underground --no rules, everything is allowed vicious fights--and as they rise through the ranks they get a shot at a big time fight at a major venue.'
CS: 'Have you brought anyone in to consult or appear in the movie from the boxing world?'
Levy: 'Sugar Ray Leonard is our boxing consultant and he's done a lot with the choreography so I've been working a lot with Ray on these fights. It's been incredible because you work all day and then at lunch he tells you awesome stories of the glory years. Me and all the fighters are around the lunch table with our jaws on the table just listening to this legend share his stories.'
CS: 'What's the look of the movie going to be like?'
Levy: 'The look is gritty naturalistic. The robots are motion-captured, but the look of the movie is Training Day. It's gritty, natural, beautiful, but unvarnished.'
CS: 'You have such an extensive background in comedy so what's it like for you to transition into a movie like this?'
Levy: 'Honestly, I've kinda been loving it. I will be right back [in comedy]. I'm just stepping away from the table for a second. In all my movies, there's always a kind of heartfelt element, to be able to do a drama and to be able to spend more time in the emotional stuff with no pressure to get back to the funny that's very liberating for me. I'm also giving the movie a much grittier edgier look than I could ever give a comedy so I'm finding it really interesting. It's using muscles I haven't used ever as a professional. I'm finding it very, very stimulating.'
CS: 'Since Hugh Jackman is playing a boxer, does that mean he's getting into shape for the part?'
Levy: 'Yes, he's not in Wolverine shape because in the movie he hasn't boxed in 10 years. Hugh got super-shredded two months ago and we took a bunch of black and white vintage looking pictures of him fighting other fighters and those will be like vintage newspapers showing a sport that no longer exists. In the movie, he'll still be awesome looking and big, but not quite his Wolverine six pack and not quite in the shape he could be because this is a guy who lives out of his truck traveling the American landscape working out a living.'"
"While speaking exclusively to Shawn Levy about his new comedy Date Night, which stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey, the director told ComingSoon.net about his next project, Real Steel, the futuristic action movie he's directing for DreamWorks, scheduled for release on November 2011.
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), it stars Hugh Jackman as an ex-fighter who becomes a promoter in a new form of Robot Boxing involving 2,000 pound cyborgs, but we haven't really learned too many other details for the look or feel of the movie. In our exclusive interview, we learned that the robots would be motion-captured, that boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard would be involved in the fight choreography and more.
ComingSoon.net: 'What's the vibe of the movie going to be? Will it be like the original Rollerball?'
Shawn Levy: It's like Rocky. It's basically a father/son drama set in the future. Hugh Jackman is a boxer, but in the 2020s, people have gotten bored with watching human fighters fight each other so they built robots to basically whale on each other for human spectacle. Hugh is a boxer. He can't do the only thing he was ever good at anymore. So he travels the United States buying and selling these robots looking for fights. Into his life comes the son he walked out on at birth. It's about a return to grace. It's about father, son and this robot they find in the junkyard getting a shot at redemption. It's my first non-comedy. It's big special effects. We're creating this pantheon of robots not based on toys, not based on comic books--based on nothing but our own animation. Steven Spielberg is executive producer, me directing and producing and it's really cool doing my first drama. It's very different. It's with Hugh Jackman who is an awesome guy.'
CS: 'Who else besides Hugh Jackman is in the film?'
Levy: 'Right now it's just Hugh and this kid we discovered out of Toronto named Dakota Goyo.'
CS: 'So the story is mostly centered on Hugh, Dakota and the robots?'
Levy: 'That's right. It's in the landscape of America and it's in the fight venues some of which are gritty underground robot fight clubs others are Madison Square Garden. It literally shows the journey from underground --no rules, everything is allowed vicious fights--and as they rise through the ranks they get a shot at a big time fight at a major venue.'
CS: 'Have you brought anyone in to consult or appear in the movie from the boxing world?'
Levy: 'Sugar Ray Leonard is our boxing consultant and he's done a lot with the choreography so I've been working a lot with Ray on these fights. It's been incredible because you work all day and then at lunch he tells you awesome stories of the glory years. Me and all the fighters are around the lunch table with our jaws on the table just listening to this legend share his stories.'
CS: 'What's the look of the movie going to be like?'
Levy: 'The look is gritty naturalistic. The robots are motion-captured, but the look of the movie is Training Day. It's gritty, natural, beautiful, but unvarnished.'
CS: 'You have such an extensive background in comedy so what's it like for you to transition into a movie like this?'
Levy: 'Honestly, I've kinda been loving it. I will be right back [in comedy]. I'm just stepping away from the table for a second. In all my movies, there's always a kind of heartfelt element, to be able to do a drama and to be able to spend more time in the emotional stuff with no pressure to get back to the funny that's very liberating for me. I'm also giving the movie a much grittier edgier look than I could ever give a comedy so I'm finding it really interesting. It's using muscles I haven't used ever as a professional. I'm finding it very, very stimulating.'
CS: 'Since Hugh Jackman is playing a boxer, does that mean he's getting into shape for the part?'
Levy: 'Yes, he's not in Wolverine shape because in the movie he hasn't boxed in 10 years. Hugh got super-shredded two months ago and we took a bunch of black and white vintage looking pictures of him fighting other fighters and those will be like vintage newspapers showing a sport that no longer exists. In the movie, he'll still be awesome looking and big, but not quite his Wolverine six pack and not quite in the shape he could be because this is a guy who lives out of his truck traveling the American landscape working out a living.'"
Bryan Singer leaves X-MEN franchise... sort of
From ComingSoon.net:
"According to Deadline's Mike Fleming, [Bryan] Singer's obligations to begin production on Jack the Giant Killer, his 3D version of the classic fairy tale for Warner Bros., will have to take precedence and Singer will now only be producing X-Men: First Class.
According to Fleming, Fox is already in talks with a few directors they've short-listed who may be able to start production on the proposed first movie in a new prequel trilogy as early as summer or fall for a 2011 release, while Singer is locked into making the other CG-heavy movie through his contract with Warner Bros. Some may remember that WB snagged Singer to direct Superman Returns, preventing him from directing X-Men: The Last Stand."
"According to Deadline's Mike Fleming, [Bryan] Singer's obligations to begin production on Jack the Giant Killer, his 3D version of the classic fairy tale for Warner Bros., will have to take precedence and Singer will now only be producing X-Men: First Class.
According to Fleming, Fox is already in talks with a few directors they've short-listed who may be able to start production on the proposed first movie in a new prequel trilogy as early as summer or fall for a 2011 release, while Singer is locked into making the other CG-heavy movie through his contract with Warner Bros. Some may remember that WB snagged Singer to direct Superman Returns, preventing him from directing X-Men: The Last Stand."
Friday, March 26, 2010
Orson Welles rises from the dead?
From Slashfilm:
"How appropriate that a studio called Drac might be the latest group to suck some life out of Orson Welles. The effects company has done good work on films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.... Christmas Tails will be a 3D live-action/CG hybrid film narrated by Orson Welles. Yes, he’s been dead for twenty-five years.
THR reports that Drac will use recordings made in 1985, the year of Welles’ death. On the tapes, Welles narrates Robert X. Leed’s book 'Christmas Tails', about 'how Santa’s dog saves Christmas.' So as if it weren’t enough that Welles’ final screen appearance was as a voice in the Transformers animated movie, now he’ll have a coda narrating a heroic dog movie.
(More plot: 'Santa’s reindeer fall ill, forcing him to consider canceling Christmas. Meanwhile, his dog gathers other canines in the North to help save the day.')"
So it's like "What if... Orson Welles was involved with Snow Buddies?" Might pass if I'm not impressed.
"How appropriate that a studio called Drac might be the latest group to suck some life out of Orson Welles. The effects company has done good work on films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.... Christmas Tails will be a 3D live-action/CG hybrid film narrated by Orson Welles. Yes, he’s been dead for twenty-five years.
THR reports that Drac will use recordings made in 1985, the year of Welles’ death. On the tapes, Welles narrates Robert X. Leed’s book 'Christmas Tails', about 'how Santa’s dog saves Christmas.' So as if it weren’t enough that Welles’ final screen appearance was as a voice in the Transformers animated movie, now he’ll have a coda narrating a heroic dog movie.
(More plot: 'Santa’s reindeer fall ill, forcing him to consider canceling Christmas. Meanwhile, his dog gathers other canines in the North to help save the day.')"
So it's like "What if... Orson Welles was involved with Snow Buddies?" Might pass if I'm not impressed.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD fights a trailer
From ComingSoon.net:
"Universal Pictures has debuted the teaser trailer for Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World...
Opening August 13, the big screen adaptation stars Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh and Jason Schwartzman. Here's the plot:
Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera). A bass guitarist for garage band, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams...literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker's quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It's getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who [broke his heart]--and now is back in town--to the teenage distraction he's trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn't been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.
As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues' gallery from her past--from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsomely identical twins. And if he hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over."
"Universal Pictures has debuted the teaser trailer for Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World...
Opening August 13, the big screen adaptation stars Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh and Jason Schwartzman. Here's the plot:
Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera). A bass guitarist for garage band, the 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams...literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead)? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him. Genre-smashing filmmaker Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) tells the amazing story of one romantic slacker's quest to power up with love in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Scott Pilgrim has never had a problem getting a girlfriend. It's getting rid of them that proves difficult. From the girl who [broke his heart]--and now is back in town--to the teenage distraction he's trying to shake when Ramona rollerblades into his world, love hasn't been easy. He soon discovers, however, his new crush has the most unusual baggage of all: a nefarious league of exes controls her love life and will do whatever it takes to eliminate him as a suitor.
As Scott gets closer to Ramona, he must face an increasingly vicious rogues' gallery from her past--from infamous skateboarders to vegan rock stars and fearsomely identical twins. And if he hopes to win his true love, he must vanquish them all before it really is game over."
From INCREDIBLE to IMPOSSIBLE?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Heat Vision is reporting that [two time Academy Award-winning] The Incredibles helmer Brad Bird is a contender to direct Mission: Impossible IV, to again star Tom Cruise and to be produced by J.J. Abrams and Cruise.
Paramount Pictures is targeting a summer start for a May 27, 2011 release.
Cruise and Abrams have been meeting with helmers including Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World director Edgar Wright.
Bird's credits also include The Iron Giant and Ratatouille. While he's never directed a live-action movie before, he has long been developing 1906, set around the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. That project is set up at Warner Bros. and is reportedly stalled because of budgetary reasons.
Plot details for Mission: Impossible IV are being kept a secret but Abrams worked on the story with screenwriters Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum, who have written the script."
SOUNDS WONDERFUL!!! Maybe after this one, he'll do 1906.
By the way, notice the shirt he's wearing reads "Slusho!" "Slusho’s" origins go back to being mentioned in the second episode of J.J. Abrams' television series Alias. "Slusho" was also referenced again in Star Trek, another J.J. Abrams project. So maybe it is true?
"Heat Vision is reporting that [two time Academy Award-winning] The Incredibles helmer Brad Bird is a contender to direct Mission: Impossible IV, to again star Tom Cruise and to be produced by J.J. Abrams and Cruise.
Paramount Pictures is targeting a summer start for a May 27, 2011 release.
Cruise and Abrams have been meeting with helmers including Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World director Edgar Wright.
Bird's credits also include The Iron Giant and Ratatouille. While he's never directed a live-action movie before, he has long been developing 1906, set around the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. That project is set up at Warner Bros. and is reportedly stalled because of budgetary reasons.
Plot details for Mission: Impossible IV are being kept a secret but Abrams worked on the story with screenwriters Andre Nemec and Josh Appelbaum, who have written the script."
SOUNDS WONDERFUL!!! Maybe after this one, he'll do 1906.
By the way, notice the shirt he's wearing reads "Slusho!" "Slusho’s" origins go back to being mentioned in the second episode of J.J. Abrams' television series Alias. "Slusho" was also referenced again in Star Trek, another J.J. Abrams project. So maybe it is true?
BUCK ROGERS gets a director!
From ComingSoon.net:
"Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil films) has signed to direct Buck Rogers, to be released in 3D. Iron Man co-writers Art Marcum and Matt Holloway will write the script.
According to Deadline New York, the big screen adaptation is 'a new version of the classic tale of a fighter pilot who quickly acclimates to the future and puts his skills to use defending the planet against invaders.'
One of the first pop-culture vehicles to tackle the issue of space exploration, the story of Buck Rogers began life as a comic serial in the late 1920's and early '30's and has seen numerous film and television versions over the years.
The rights to the property are controlled by Paradox, the company behind the new Conan movie that is currently filming in Bulgaria. Paradox will finance and Anderson's partner, Jeremy Bolt, will produce with Fredrik Malmberg, Larry Abramson and George Furla."
"Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil films) has signed to direct Buck Rogers, to be released in 3D. Iron Man co-writers Art Marcum and Matt Holloway will write the script.
According to Deadline New York, the big screen adaptation is 'a new version of the classic tale of a fighter pilot who quickly acclimates to the future and puts his skills to use defending the planet against invaders.'
One of the first pop-culture vehicles to tackle the issue of space exploration, the story of Buck Rogers began life as a comic serial in the late 1920's and early '30's and has seen numerous film and television versions over the years.
The rights to the property are controlled by Paradox, the company behind the new Conan movie that is currently filming in Bulgaria. Paradox will finance and Anderson's partner, Jeremy Bolt, will produce with Fredrik Malmberg, Larry Abramson and George Furla."
Robert Culp passed away...
From ComingSoon.net:
"Robert Culp, best known for playing a secret agent alongside Bill Cosby in the '60s hit series 'I Spy,' died on Wednesday after a fall near his home. He was 79.
Culp, who also starred alongside Natalie Wood, Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon in the 1969 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and in the '80s starred as FBI Agent Bill Maxwell in 'The Greatest American Hero', was pronounced dead at a Los Angeles hospital where he was rushed after falling during a morning walk, a police spokeswoman said.
"It appears that the individual (Culp) had fallen down and struck his head. It's still a preliminary investigation and we're still waiting on the official cause of death," she said, adding there was no indication of foul play."
I added a fan video of "The Greatest American Hero" to commerate this man. I thought the trailer to I Spy would be a bit disrespectful.
"Robert Culp, best known for playing a secret agent alongside Bill Cosby in the '60s hit series 'I Spy,' died on Wednesday after a fall near his home. He was 79.
Culp, who also starred alongside Natalie Wood, Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon in the 1969 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and in the '80s starred as FBI Agent Bill Maxwell in 'The Greatest American Hero', was pronounced dead at a Los Angeles hospital where he was rushed after falling during a morning walk, a police spokeswoman said.
"It appears that the individual (Culp) had fallen down and struck his head. It's still a preliminary investigation and we're still waiting on the official cause of death," she said, adding there was no indication of foul play."
I added a fan video of "The Greatest American Hero" to commerate this man. I thought the trailer to I Spy would be a bit disrespectful.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
From ALICE to MALEFICENT?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Heat Vision has confirmed a report that said Tim Burton is interested in making a live-action feature based on Maleficent from Disney's 1959 adaptation of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.
The trade Blog adds that Alice in Wonderland screenwriter Linda Woolverton will write the script for Disney. Maleficent might reunite Woolverton with Burton, but it's not a done deal as the movie is one of a handful of projects the filmmaker is circling.
The movie would tell the classic fairy tale from the point of view of the self-proclaimed 'Mistress of All Evil.'
Woolverton's credits also include Disney's Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King."
Cue Helena Bonham Carter as Maleficent.
UPDATE:
"Now the Los Angeles Times adds that actress Angelina Jolie had been rumored to be circling the long gestating project last spring and is still 'keen on the film and would like to sign on to play the titular villain.'"
That'll be interesting seeing Angelina Jolie doing a Disney movie (considering the closest things she's down to family-friendly movies are Shark Tale and Kung Fu Panda).
"Heat Vision has confirmed a report that said Tim Burton is interested in making a live-action feature based on Maleficent from Disney's 1959 adaptation of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.
The trade Blog adds that Alice in Wonderland screenwriter Linda Woolverton will write the script for Disney. Maleficent might reunite Woolverton with Burton, but it's not a done deal as the movie is one of a handful of projects the filmmaker is circling.
The movie would tell the classic fairy tale from the point of view of the self-proclaimed 'Mistress of All Evil.'
Woolverton's credits also include Disney's Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King."
Cue Helena Bonham Carter as Maleficent.
UPDATE:
"Now the Los Angeles Times adds that actress Angelina Jolie had been rumored to be circling the long gestating project last spring and is still 'keen on the film and would like to sign on to play the titular villain.'"
That'll be interesting seeing Angelina Jolie doing a Disney movie (considering the closest things she's down to family-friendly movies are Shark Tale and Kung Fu Panda).
Will Smith decides...
From ComingSoon.net:
"Variety says Will Smith is looking at two possible options for his next project - Sony's Men in Black III and 20th Century Fox's The City That Sailed.
The first film in the Men in Black franchise earned $587.8 million worldwide in 1997, and the second took in $441.8 million in 2002.
Smith's production company Overbrook Films developed The City That Sailed and brought it to Fox.
The fantastical drama follows a New York City street magician whose daughter, because of family circumstances, lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Pond. Andrew Niccol wrote the script."
Ooh. I wish he didn't have to choose between the two of these. I would love to see him do both.
"Variety says Will Smith is looking at two possible options for his next project - Sony's Men in Black III and 20th Century Fox's The City That Sailed.
The first film in the Men in Black franchise earned $587.8 million worldwide in 1997, and the second took in $441.8 million in 2002.
Smith's production company Overbrook Films developed The City That Sailed and brought it to Fox.
The fantastical drama follows a New York City street magician whose daughter, because of family circumstances, lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Pond. Andrew Niccol wrote the script."
Ooh. I wish he didn't have to choose between the two of these. I would love to see him do both.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
3D December
From ComingSoon.net:
"Earlier today, a rumor started circulating the internet that 20th Century Fox will release both The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Gulliver's Travels in 3D this December. ComingSoon.net has confirmed through our source that it is indeed the case - the studio will be adding a third dimension to those two holiday films.
The Michael Apted-directed third installment of the Narnia franchise is scheduled for a December 10 release, followed by the Jack Black-starring fantasy action adventure Gulliver's Travels on December 22.
It will be a 3D-filled holiday season, which kicks-off with DreamWorks Animation's Megamind on Nov. 5. Disney will then release the Rapunzel film Tangled in 3D on Nov. 12, followed a week later by Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 on Nov. 19. The other 3D release scheduled for December is Disney's Tron Legacy on the 17th, right in between Narnia and Travels."
"Earlier today, a rumor started circulating the internet that 20th Century Fox will release both The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Gulliver's Travels in 3D this December. ComingSoon.net has confirmed through our source that it is indeed the case - the studio will be adding a third dimension to those two holiday films.
The Michael Apted-directed third installment of the Narnia franchise is scheduled for a December 10 release, followed by the Jack Black-starring fantasy action adventure Gulliver's Travels on December 22.
It will be a 3D-filled holiday season, which kicks-off with DreamWorks Animation's Megamind on Nov. 5. Disney will then release the Rapunzel film Tangled in 3D on Nov. 12, followed a week later by Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 on Nov. 19. The other 3D release scheduled for December is Disney's Tron Legacy on the 17th, right in between Narnia and Travels."
POPEYE returns to the big screen in 3D
From ComingSoon.net:
"Sony Pictures is developing a CG Popeye feature to be released in 3D. Avi Arad is producing and Mike Jones is in negotiations to write the script.
The storyline is being kept under wraps, but Popeye's love interest Olive Oyl, nemesis Bluto and adopted child Swee'Pea will be part of the adventure, says Variety.
Arad says the new version will cover the themes of friendship, love, greed and life, and focus on human strengths and human frailties.
Popeye will be made by Sony Pictures Animation, with Sony Pictures Imageworks handling the CG. The companies are currently working on The Smurfs, coming to theaters on August 3, 2011.
Created by E.C. Segar, Popeye first appeared in the already established 'Thimble Theater' comic strip in 1929. Introduced as a walk-on character, Popeye eventually became the strip's star.
Popeye was last seen on the big screen in 1980 when Robin Williams starred in director Robert Altman's live-action version."
Which was completely terrible because it took itself too seriously. Hopefully it is better than that CG Christmas special on TV a while back.
"Sony Pictures is developing a CG Popeye feature to be released in 3D. Avi Arad is producing and Mike Jones is in negotiations to write the script.
The storyline is being kept under wraps, but Popeye's love interest Olive Oyl, nemesis Bluto and adopted child Swee'Pea will be part of the adventure, says Variety.
Arad says the new version will cover the themes of friendship, love, greed and life, and focus on human strengths and human frailties.
Popeye will be made by Sony Pictures Animation, with Sony Pictures Imageworks handling the CG. The companies are currently working on The Smurfs, coming to theaters on August 3, 2011.
Created by E.C. Segar, Popeye first appeared in the already established 'Thimble Theater' comic strip in 1929. Introduced as a walk-on character, Popeye eventually became the strip's star.
Popeye was last seen on the big screen in 1980 when Robin Williams starred in director Robert Altman's live-action version."
Which was completely terrible because it took itself too seriously. Hopefully it is better than that CG Christmas special on TV a while back.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tim Burton starting work on FRANKENWEENIE?
From Slashfilm:
"Last week there was some confusion when a Deadline report suggested that Tim Burton would shortly begin work on a stop-motion animated film based on The Addams Family. That report was quickly denied by Burton’s publicist (in a way that still leaves us wondering if it is a film that will happen) but there’s another animated movie that Burton has been gearing up to make: an update of his early short Frankenweenie. Now, word from SXSW is that Burton is ready to go with that update.
AICN caught Waking Sleeping Beauty director Don Hahn at a SXSW Q&A session, where he said that 'the puppets are ready, the script is done and now that Tim Burton is clear of Alice in Wonderland… he’s set to helm Frankenweenie in 3D.' (Quote is from Harry Knowles at AICN, who was paraphrasing Hahn.) Hahn is executive producer of Frankenweenie 3D, so is in a position to know where that film stands. Besides, there was word about voice casting last December, so we knew that things were happening on the movie.
That’s pretty telling info, and in any world other than one where Alice in Wonderland was a monster hit [one would] figure it means that, yes, Burton is going right into Frankenweenie. But he may be in a position now that is stronger than any post-opening he’s seen in his career. When you’re riding the wave of something like Alice, even with grosses inflated by 3D, is the logical next move to update a short film made when you were just starting out? Then again, if Burton is really the 'true to his dreams' counterculture guy fans would like to think he is, this is exactly the logical move to make.
The original Frankenweenie was a black and white short made in 1984. Disney shelved the film at the time, thinking it wasn’t quite right for children, but finally released it years later. The deal to make a feature-length version of Frankenweenie came up at the same time Burton made a deal with Disney to do Alice in Wonderland, and always seemed a bit like the director playing with the studio. Essentially, 'OK, I’ll make this one for you, but I want some cash to re-do the movie you screwed me on 25 years ago.'
But perhaps this is just going to be a quick bit of fun for Burton — at least, quick as far as stop-motion goes. He’s said before that this one would be really low budget, and despite being bumped up to feature length, it could be something he directs while prepping another live-action feature."
"Last week there was some confusion when a Deadline report suggested that Tim Burton would shortly begin work on a stop-motion animated film based on The Addams Family. That report was quickly denied by Burton’s publicist (in a way that still leaves us wondering if it is a film that will happen) but there’s another animated movie that Burton has been gearing up to make: an update of his early short Frankenweenie. Now, word from SXSW is that Burton is ready to go with that update.
AICN caught Waking Sleeping Beauty director Don Hahn at a SXSW Q&A session, where he said that 'the puppets are ready, the script is done and now that Tim Burton is clear of Alice in Wonderland… he’s set to helm Frankenweenie in 3D.' (Quote is from Harry Knowles at AICN, who was paraphrasing Hahn.) Hahn is executive producer of Frankenweenie 3D, so is in a position to know where that film stands. Besides, there was word about voice casting last December, so we knew that things were happening on the movie.
That’s pretty telling info, and in any world other than one where Alice in Wonderland was a monster hit [one would] figure it means that, yes, Burton is going right into Frankenweenie. But he may be in a position now that is stronger than any post-opening he’s seen in his career. When you’re riding the wave of something like Alice, even with grosses inflated by 3D, is the logical next move to update a short film made when you were just starting out? Then again, if Burton is really the 'true to his dreams' counterculture guy fans would like to think he is, this is exactly the logical move to make.
The original Frankenweenie was a black and white short made in 1984. Disney shelved the film at the time, thinking it wasn’t quite right for children, but finally released it years later. The deal to make a feature-length version of Frankenweenie came up at the same time Burton made a deal with Disney to do Alice in Wonderland, and always seemed a bit like the director playing with the studio. Essentially, 'OK, I’ll make this one for you, but I want some cash to re-do the movie you screwed me on 25 years ago.'
But perhaps this is just going to be a quick bit of fun for Burton — at least, quick as far as stop-motion goes. He’s said before that this one would be really low budget, and despite being bumped up to feature length, it could be something he directs while prepping another live-action feature."
Zack Snyder talks LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS
From ComingSoon.net:
"[Zack] Snyder was at ShoWest last year to accept his award as ShoWest Director of the Year, and this year, he was there to talk up one of his upcoming movies, the 3D animated adventure Legend of the Guardians, based on the books by Kathryn Lasky. Arriving in theaters in late September, it's an action-adventure about an owl named Soren trying to find the legendary winged warriors, the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, to help save his people from the evil Pure Ones, whom the Guardians defeated once before. Working with Australia's Animal Logic (Happy Feet) on the animation, Snyder has pulled together an amazing voice cast for his first animated movie including Emilie de Ravin, Ryan Kwanten, Jim Sturgess, Helen Mirren, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill and Richard Roxburgh. It will be his first movie produced and projected in 3D.
ComingSoon.net: 'Legend of the Guardians is your fourth adaptation but it's been a little more under the radar than your previous movies.'
Zack Snyder: 'I'll say that the animation process has been really interesting for me in that I'm used to this process where you shoot the actors and that's the moment, you got them. And in this animation process, the movie is never done. You can tinker with it and mess with it deep into the process. It's liberating on one hand, but it's also a really different experience on the other, because you constantly are refining a moment over and over and over rather than a simple... I guess the point is that when you think about it as an adaptation--not to say that it's far away from the books--I feel like it does take on a life of its own. It's about the first three books is what we're doing.'
CS: 'With 300, you did have a lot of CG to deal with in post-production but for this one, you're actually making another movie while they're doing the animation so you're not able to be there physically all the time. How have you managed that?'
Snyder: 'I have an HD video conference I do with the guys every day, that's kind of my way I do it. My set-up looks like the Enterprise basically. I have an HD video monitor, I have a color correct monitor over, and I have a Wacom tablet that has the actual scenes we're working on where I can draw on the actual shots, and then I have two other computers that have the shots that we're going to talk about during the day.'
CS: 'I know you wanted to do something that your kids could see, but why this particular project bringing these books to the screen?'
Snyder: 'Grant Freckleton is the guy who works at Animal Logic and was the visual effects art director on 300 and really, it was that relationship, because he's the production designer on this movie. We had done a lot of fun stuff together on 300 and he really helped define the visual FX look of 300 with me. He and I got talking about the potential of this, and I saw some early paintings that they had done, and I said, 'Man, this is cool. This could be great.' Literally, it was that that seduced me more than anything, the potential of these... I was really into this idea that the movie took place at nights, but their moon is our sun, and those are the kinds of images. I'm easy to get excited when you start talking about pictures like that. 'Oh, okay, that can be awesome!' and the next thing I knew, we were deep in it and Soren was on his journey to find the Guardians.'
CS: 'Did you feel that this was more low-key where you don't have a lot of fans watching what you're doing under the microscope?'
Snyder: 'Yeah, 100%, and that way, I don't want to say it's more fun, but it's interesting to not have this huge pressure on the movie from a fan's standpoint. I think in a lot of ways, it makes the movie more enjoyable for fans in a general sense, because they're not having to scrutinize the movie, they allow the movie just to be whatever it is. I think that's interesting, and I've never had an experience like that. '
CS: 'It will also be interesting to see if the older guys who like Watchmen or 300 bring their kids to introduce them to your films.'
Snyder: 'Yeah, 'cause that's the whole thing. The movie is definitely my movie. It's definitely a kid-friendly PG movie and it's all about this super-archetypal journey of this young hero who finds... it's got a lot of an Arthurian vibe to it because you can think about the Guardians as the Knights of the Round Table, and he's like a young knight and he's going to find Camelot, only if you can imagine that in his world, he's not sure if Camelot is real.'
CS: 'Were you able to do the voicework for the movie in L.A. or Vancouver?'
Snyder: 'Oh, we did it all over the place. Some in L.A., I've been in Australia--I go to Australia like once a month--then I did a lot wherever the actors were. I'd Skype them, and we'd do it.'"
"[Zack] Snyder was at ShoWest last year to accept his award as ShoWest Director of the Year, and this year, he was there to talk up one of his upcoming movies, the 3D animated adventure Legend of the Guardians, based on the books by Kathryn Lasky. Arriving in theaters in late September, it's an action-adventure about an owl named Soren trying to find the legendary winged warriors, the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, to help save his people from the evil Pure Ones, whom the Guardians defeated once before. Working with Australia's Animal Logic (Happy Feet) on the animation, Snyder has pulled together an amazing voice cast for his first animated movie including Emilie de Ravin, Ryan Kwanten, Jim Sturgess, Helen Mirren, Geoffrey Rush, Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill and Richard Roxburgh. It will be his first movie produced and projected in 3D.
ComingSoon.net: 'Legend of the Guardians is your fourth adaptation but it's been a little more under the radar than your previous movies.'
Zack Snyder: 'I'll say that the animation process has been really interesting for me in that I'm used to this process where you shoot the actors and that's the moment, you got them. And in this animation process, the movie is never done. You can tinker with it and mess with it deep into the process. It's liberating on one hand, but it's also a really different experience on the other, because you constantly are refining a moment over and over and over rather than a simple... I guess the point is that when you think about it as an adaptation--not to say that it's far away from the books--I feel like it does take on a life of its own. It's about the first three books is what we're doing.'
CS: 'With 300, you did have a lot of CG to deal with in post-production but for this one, you're actually making another movie while they're doing the animation so you're not able to be there physically all the time. How have you managed that?'
Snyder: 'I have an HD video conference I do with the guys every day, that's kind of my way I do it. My set-up looks like the Enterprise basically. I have an HD video monitor, I have a color correct monitor over, and I have a Wacom tablet that has the actual scenes we're working on where I can draw on the actual shots, and then I have two other computers that have the shots that we're going to talk about during the day.'
CS: 'I know you wanted to do something that your kids could see, but why this particular project bringing these books to the screen?'
Snyder: 'Grant Freckleton is the guy who works at Animal Logic and was the visual effects art director on 300 and really, it was that relationship, because he's the production designer on this movie. We had done a lot of fun stuff together on 300 and he really helped define the visual FX look of 300 with me. He and I got talking about the potential of this, and I saw some early paintings that they had done, and I said, 'Man, this is cool. This could be great.' Literally, it was that that seduced me more than anything, the potential of these... I was really into this idea that the movie took place at nights, but their moon is our sun, and those are the kinds of images. I'm easy to get excited when you start talking about pictures like that. 'Oh, okay, that can be awesome!' and the next thing I knew, we were deep in it and Soren was on his journey to find the Guardians.'
CS: 'Did you feel that this was more low-key where you don't have a lot of fans watching what you're doing under the microscope?'
Snyder: 'Yeah, 100%, and that way, I don't want to say it's more fun, but it's interesting to not have this huge pressure on the movie from a fan's standpoint. I think in a lot of ways, it makes the movie more enjoyable for fans in a general sense, because they're not having to scrutinize the movie, they allow the movie just to be whatever it is. I think that's interesting, and I've never had an experience like that. '
CS: 'It will also be interesting to see if the older guys who like Watchmen or 300 bring their kids to introduce them to your films.'
Snyder: 'Yeah, 'cause that's the whole thing. The movie is definitely my movie. It's definitely a kid-friendly PG movie and it's all about this super-archetypal journey of this young hero who finds... it's got a lot of an Arthurian vibe to it because you can think about the Guardians as the Knights of the Round Table, and he's like a young knight and he's going to find Camelot, only if you can imagine that in his world, he's not sure if Camelot is real.'
CS: 'Were you able to do the voicework for the movie in L.A. or Vancouver?'
Snyder: 'Oh, we did it all over the place. Some in L.A., I've been in Australia--I go to Australia like once a month--then I did a lot wherever the actors were. I'd Skype them, and we'd do it.'"
Michael Bay updates TRANSFORMERS III
From ComingSoon.net:
"Michael Bay has made a big announcement about Transformers III on his official website! We'll let him do the talking..
'Hey, it's been a long time since I've posted. Just been a little busy.
Transformers III has been going very well. We are going to shoot in LA, Chicago, Washington DC, Florida, Texas, Africa, Moscow, and China. On the talent front, we just locked in Frances McDormand and John Malkovich. Both amazing actors I've always wanted to work with. We also just got Ken Jeong, he is the super funny actor stuck in the trunk from Hangover and the Doctor from Knocked Up.
We start shooting pre-shoots in about one month.
I also was at a Ferrari charity event this week raising money for a hospital being built by Ferrari in Haiti. I announced that night the newest Autobot to join Transformers: the Ferrari 458 Italia.
I also want to thank everyone on this site that donated to the Make -A-Wish charity. We raised $20,000 which I will personally be matching. This is a great charity where they make wishes come true for kids who are very ill. We have had many Kids from Make-A-Wish visit us on our Transformers sets and this time we will be posting video of their visits on Transformers III.'
Michael Bay'"
"Michael Bay has made a big announcement about Transformers III on his official website! We'll let him do the talking..
'Hey, it's been a long time since I've posted. Just been a little busy.
Transformers III has been going very well. We are going to shoot in LA, Chicago, Washington DC, Florida, Texas, Africa, Moscow, and China. On the talent front, we just locked in Frances McDormand and John Malkovich. Both amazing actors I've always wanted to work with. We also just got Ken Jeong, he is the super funny actor stuck in the trunk from Hangover and the Doctor from Knocked Up.
We start shooting pre-shoots in about one month.
I also was at a Ferrari charity event this week raising money for a hospital being built by Ferrari in Haiti. I announced that night the newest Autobot to join Transformers: the Ferrari 458 Italia.
I also want to thank everyone on this site that donated to the Make -A-Wish charity. We raised $20,000 which I will personally be matching. This is a great charity where they make wishes come true for kids who are very ill. We have had many Kids from Make-A-Wish visit us on our Transformers sets and this time we will be posting video of their visits on Transformers III.'
Michael Bay'"
Jerry Bruckheimer updates ON STRANGER TIDES
From ComingSoon.net:
"In February, we learned that both Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz were joining Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It was reported that McShane would play the villain Blackbeard, but it wasn't clear which role Cruz would take on.
In talking with MTV, producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that Cruz is playing Blackbeard's daughter. 'She's the daughter of the bad guy,' he said. You can expect 'a little romance between Captain Jack and the new character that Penelope plays.' He said 'she brings a lot of humor to it. And the fact that she's so feisty.'
Bruckheimer added that Blackbeard is 'the nastiest pirate ever.'
The producer also confirmed that Geoffrey Rush, who played Barbossa in the first three Pirates films, is indeed returning.
As for more roles to be cast, Bruckheimer said they they are 'looking for some new kids to be in it, we're testing right now.'
Asked how different this film will be, he said 'we're going to take a whole new direction,' but he did mention that 'it is a continuation of what you saw last time, he's in search for the Fountain of Youth.'
The... film is scheduled to start filming in June for a May 20, 2011 release."
I just wanna know if Kevin McNally (aka Mr. Gibbs) will return. That guy is funny!!
"In February, we learned that both Ian McShane and Penelope Cruz were joining Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. It was reported that McShane would play the villain Blackbeard, but it wasn't clear which role Cruz would take on.
In talking with MTV, producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed that Cruz is playing Blackbeard's daughter. 'She's the daughter of the bad guy,' he said. You can expect 'a little romance between Captain Jack and the new character that Penelope plays.' He said 'she brings a lot of humor to it. And the fact that she's so feisty.'
Bruckheimer added that Blackbeard is 'the nastiest pirate ever.'
The producer also confirmed that Geoffrey Rush, who played Barbossa in the first three Pirates films, is indeed returning.
As for more roles to be cast, Bruckheimer said they they are 'looking for some new kids to be in it, we're testing right now.'
Asked how different this film will be, he said 'we're going to take a whole new direction,' but he did mention that 'it is a continuation of what you saw last time, he's in search for the Fountain of Youth.'
The... film is scheduled to start filming in June for a May 20, 2011 release."
I just wanna know if Kevin McNally (aka Mr. Gibbs) will return. That guy is funny!!
Friday, March 19, 2010
From Human Torch to CAPTAIN AMERICA?
From ComingSoon.net:
"THR is reporting that Marvel Studios has offered The First Avenger: Captain America to Chris Evans, who played Johnny Storm/Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies.
Marvel Studios would not confirm the development... saying they don't comment on rumors.
The Hollywood trade says the offer would include starring in up to three Captain America movies plus The Avengers and appearances in several other Marvel movies.
Evans does have a scheduling conflict, however. He is committed to co-starring in the Anna Faris romantic comedy What's Your Number?. Both are scheduled to shoot this summer.
Joe Johnston will direct The First Avenger: Captain America in England for a July 22, 2011 release."
As much as I love Chris Evans doing comedy (come to think of it, I haven't seen Chris do any comedy movies - I've seen him in the Fantastic Four movies and Cellular; both films show him being funny and serious) but he would be the PERFECT Captain America!! I'm usually very good at predicting these sort of things (*cough* Ryan Reynolds *cough* Green Lantern *cough), so let's hope I'm right in saying Chris Evans is Captain America.
UPDATE:
Once again, as Stephen Colbert would say, "I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT!"
From the Hollywood Reporter:
"Chris Evans will play Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America.
Sources tell us the actor has not only accepted Marvel's offer, first detailed on Friday, but that the dealmaking moved so fast it's now all about dotting the i's and crossing the t's.
Marvel would not comment on the development, and CAA, which reps the actor, declined comment.
Evans was offered the role in Marvel Studios' production last week, but there was some question of whether he would accept. Factoring in to the choice was the fact that Evans played Johnny Storm, the flame-covered superhero known as the Human Torch in Fox's Fantastic Four movies. Was he ready to play another superhero and take on the trappings that come with such a high-profile part?
Evans took a few days to think it over, and once he decided he was willing to wield the shield, negotiations moved quickly over the weekend."
"THR is reporting that Marvel Studios has offered The First Avenger: Captain America to Chris Evans, who played Johnny Storm/Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies.
Marvel Studios would not confirm the development... saying they don't comment on rumors.
The Hollywood trade says the offer would include starring in up to three Captain America movies plus The Avengers and appearances in several other Marvel movies.
Evans does have a scheduling conflict, however. He is committed to co-starring in the Anna Faris romantic comedy What's Your Number?. Both are scheduled to shoot this summer.
Joe Johnston will direct The First Avenger: Captain America in England for a July 22, 2011 release."
As much as I love Chris Evans doing comedy (come to think of it, I haven't seen Chris do any comedy movies - I've seen him in the Fantastic Four movies and Cellular; both films show him being funny and serious) but he would be the PERFECT Captain America!! I'm usually very good at predicting these sort of things (*cough* Ryan Reynolds *cough* Green Lantern *cough), so let's hope I'm right in saying Chris Evans is Captain America.
UPDATE:
Once again, as Stephen Colbert would say, "I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT!"
From the Hollywood Reporter:
"Chris Evans will play Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America.
Sources tell us the actor has not only accepted Marvel's offer, first detailed on Friday, but that the dealmaking moved so fast it's now all about dotting the i's and crossing the t's.
Marvel would not comment on the development, and CAA, which reps the actor, declined comment.
Evans was offered the role in Marvel Studios' production last week, but there was some question of whether he would accept. Factoring in to the choice was the fact that Evans played Johnny Storm, the flame-covered superhero known as the Human Torch in Fox's Fantastic Four movies. Was he ready to play another superhero and take on the trappings that come with such a high-profile part?
Evans took a few days to think it over, and once he decided he was willing to wield the shield, negotiations moved quickly over the weekend."
Can you believe it? He beat out John Krasinski ("The Office"), Scott Porter (Speed Racer, "Friday Night Lights", "Caprica"), Mike Vogel (She’s Out of My League, Cloverfield) Michael Cassidy ("Smallville") and Patrick Flueger ("Brothers", "The 4400"), Chace Crawford ("Gossip Girl") and Garret Hedlund (Tron Legacy). The list narrowed down to Mike Vogel (Cloverfield) and Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy), as well as Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) and Wilson Bethel ("Generation Kill"). Ryan Phillippe (MacGruber) also joined the party, as well as Channing Tatum (GI Joe: Rise of Cobra).
Thursday, March 18, 2010
THRILLER to come in 3D?
From Slashfilm:
"Director John Landis‘ was asked during his appearance at the BFI in London if the one-hour documentary The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller would ever be released on DVD or Blu-ray. CHUD reports that the director confirmed that the doc, along with the remastered longform video, would be coming soon. Apparently the lawsuits and royalty issues that had been holding up such a release have been resolved following the death of the pop star.
Landis also dropped the news that the owners of Jackson’s estate want to convert the music video into 3D. Landis is apparently fine with the idea even though he might not be a fan of the technology.
Also, Movieweb is reporting that Ian Halperin, author of 'Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson', is bringing his 88-minute documentary Gone Too Soon to the bigscreen. The documentary was created using 300 hours of footage shot from inside Michael Jackson’s camp. The film is set for a theatrical run in Canada and France, via Transit Medias, on June 25 — the first anniversary of Jackson’s death. In addition to the previously recorded video, the doc is said to include interviews with Jackson’s personal manager, chef, spiritual adviser, hairstylist, trainer, protective agent and attorney."
"Director John Landis‘ was asked during his appearance at the BFI in London if the one-hour documentary The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller would ever be released on DVD or Blu-ray. CHUD reports that the director confirmed that the doc, along with the remastered longform video, would be coming soon. Apparently the lawsuits and royalty issues that had been holding up such a release have been resolved following the death of the pop star.
Landis also dropped the news that the owners of Jackson’s estate want to convert the music video into 3D. Landis is apparently fine with the idea even though he might not be a fan of the technology.
Also, Movieweb is reporting that Ian Halperin, author of 'Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson', is bringing his 88-minute documentary Gone Too Soon to the bigscreen. The documentary was created using 300 hours of footage shot from inside Michael Jackson’s camp. The film is set for a theatrical run in Canada and France, via Transit Medias, on June 25 — the first anniversary of Jackson’s death. In addition to the previously recorded video, the doc is said to include interviews with Jackson’s personal manager, chef, spiritual adviser, hairstylist, trainer, protective agent and attorney."
Fess Parker has passed...
From E!Online:
"The King of the Wild Frontier is gone.
Fess Parker, the strapping star who played Davy Crockett in the hugely popular Disney television show of the 1950s, died today of natural causes at age 85, his family announced.
The actor, whose classic roles also included the son-consoling dad in Old Yeller and another 'coonskin cap-favoring frontiersman in NBC's 'Daniel Boone', had retired from showbiz in the 1970s and founded a hugely successful winery and resort in Santa Barbara.
He was 85."
"The King of the Wild Frontier is gone.
Fess Parker, the strapping star who played Davy Crockett in the hugely popular Disney television show of the 1950s, died today of natural causes at age 85, his family announced.
The actor, whose classic roles also included the son-consoling dad in Old Yeller and another 'coonskin cap-favoring frontiersman in NBC's 'Daniel Boone', had retired from showbiz in the 1970s and founded a hugely successful winery and resort in Santa Barbara.
He was 85."
Tim Burton joins THE ADDAMS FAMILY
From ComingSoon.net:
"Tim Burton is going to keep his love for stop-motion animation and going...
Coming off the success of Alice in Wonderland for Disney, he's aligning himself with Universal's Illumination Entertainment and producer Chris Meledandri to resurrect The Addams Family.
The goal is to create a stop-motion animated film in 3D, similar to what Burton is doing with Frankenweenie right now. A writer for The Addams Family is currently being sought (the rights were recently purchased so the deal is still fresh) and... it will hold no relation to the television series or the two feature films starring Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston.
Burton will provide the visual palette for the picture which will invoke creator Charles Addams' original drawings. The director is also developing Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp."
Well, he's missing out on this (but I suppose if anybody can do The Addams Family, it's Tim Burton):
"Tim Burton is going to keep his love for stop-motion animation and going...
Coming off the success of Alice in Wonderland for Disney, he's aligning himself with Universal's Illumination Entertainment and producer Chris Meledandri to resurrect The Addams Family.
The goal is to create a stop-motion animated film in 3D, similar to what Burton is doing with Frankenweenie right now. A writer for The Addams Family is currently being sought (the rights were recently purchased so the deal is still fresh) and... it will hold no relation to the television series or the two feature films starring Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston.
Burton will provide the visual palette for the picture which will invoke creator Charles Addams' original drawings. The director is also developing Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp."
Well, he's missing out on this (but I suppose if anybody can do The Addams Family, it's Tim Burton):
MEGAMIND launches his evil and fun trailer
From ComingSoon.net:
"DreamWorks Animation has brought the teaser trailer for Megamind online.
In the November 5 release, super villain Megamind (Will Ferrell) defeats his archrival Metro Man (Brad Pitt) and the world should be his oyster. But instead, Megamind falls into total despair. It turns out that life without a rival is life without a point for him. So, he creates a new superhero rival, Titan (Jonah Hill). Unfortunately, the new hero wants to be a super villain, too. Caught in the middle, star reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) asks the tough questions: Who can we turn to? Who has what it takes to stand up to this menace? Who will defend the innocent? Megamind! That's who."
UPDATE:
New trailer!
UPDATE 2:
Final trailer!
"DreamWorks Animation has brought the teaser trailer for Megamind online.
In the November 5 release, super villain Megamind (Will Ferrell) defeats his archrival Metro Man (Brad Pitt) and the world should be his oyster. But instead, Megamind falls into total despair. It turns out that life without a rival is life without a point for him. So, he creates a new superhero rival, Titan (Jonah Hill). Unfortunately, the new hero wants to be a super villain, too. Caught in the middle, star reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) asks the tough questions: Who can we turn to? Who has what it takes to stand up to this menace? Who will defend the innocent? Megamind! That's who."
UPDATE:
New trailer!
UPDATE 2:
Final trailer!
Bryan Singer updates on X-MEN franchise
From ComingSoon.net:
"In an interview with Bryan Singer and producer Lauren Shuler Donner at the Los Angeles Times about the first two X-Men movies, the discussion veered to Singer directing X-Men: First Class and possibly even X-Men 4.
Talking about why he thinks the X-Men movies are suited for him, Singer said:
'I genuinely like the people, and my personality meshes more with this universe than it does with other universes, I think; I see that now at this point... I feel a connection to the X-Men characters and also the ensemble nature of the films. If you look at Usual Suspects or my last film, Valkyrie, I feel especially comfortable with ensemble juggling. In the space between all the characters you can disguise a central thought that's hidden in all the discourse. I missed that with the singular relationship story of Superman. And, well, it always gives you something to cut to...'
According to the article, Singer says X-Men: First Class will find its axis in the relationship between Professor X and Magneto and the point where their friendship soured. It will also detail the beginning of the school for mutants and have younger incarnations of some characters with new actors (He shrugged when asked if Hugh Jackman might appear as Wolverine).
Just doing younger mutants is not enough. The story needs to be more than that. I love the relationship between Magneto and Xavier, these two men who have diametrically opposite points of view but still manage to be friends -- to a point. They are the ultimate frenemies.'
Shuler Donner also has pitched Singer on doing a fourth installment of the previously established X-Men franchise and Jackman had lunch with Singer to coax him into a project as well, which may or may not be Wolverine 2. Jackman has said the sequel will be set in Japan and released in 2011.
In the interview, Singer turned to Shuler Donner and said of X-Men 4: 'Hold that one off for just a little, I'm fixated on the other one right now.' She nodded and answered, 'I will, I will ... I'm holding it open with high hopes. It's totally different [from First Class] and it will be so interesting for you.'"
"In an interview with Bryan Singer and producer Lauren Shuler Donner at the Los Angeles Times about the first two X-Men movies, the discussion veered to Singer directing X-Men: First Class and possibly even X-Men 4.
Talking about why he thinks the X-Men movies are suited for him, Singer said:
'I genuinely like the people, and my personality meshes more with this universe than it does with other universes, I think; I see that now at this point... I feel a connection to the X-Men characters and also the ensemble nature of the films. If you look at Usual Suspects or my last film, Valkyrie, I feel especially comfortable with ensemble juggling. In the space between all the characters you can disguise a central thought that's hidden in all the discourse. I missed that with the singular relationship story of Superman. And, well, it always gives you something to cut to...'
According to the article, Singer says X-Men: First Class will find its axis in the relationship between Professor X and Magneto and the point where their friendship soured. It will also detail the beginning of the school for mutants and have younger incarnations of some characters with new actors (He shrugged when asked if Hugh Jackman might appear as Wolverine).
Just doing younger mutants is not enough. The story needs to be more than that. I love the relationship between Magneto and Xavier, these two men who have diametrically opposite points of view but still manage to be friends -- to a point. They are the ultimate frenemies.'
Shuler Donner also has pitched Singer on doing a fourth installment of the previously established X-Men franchise and Jackman had lunch with Singer to coax him into a project as well, which may or may not be Wolverine 2. Jackman has said the sequel will be set in Japan and released in 2011.
In the interview, Singer turned to Shuler Donner and said of X-Men 4: 'Hold that one off for just a little, I'm fixated on the other one right now.' She nodded and answered, 'I will, I will ... I'm holding it open with high hopes. It's totally different [from First Class] and it will be so interesting for you.'"
No Ivan Reitman for GHOSTBUSTERS 3?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Vulture is reporting that Sony's Columbia Pictures is looking to make Ghostbusters 3 without the first two films' writer-producer, Ivan Reitman. The site says:
'The studio's strategy is to revitalize the franchise for next year by having the original 'busters train a dramatically younger crew in Ghostbusters III, while a correspondingly younger director handles things behind the camera. However, Reitman's old contract — made at the height of his and Ovitz's powers — still gives him exceptional creative control over the series, including director approval.'
The site adds that, along with Reitman, original stars Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis have deals in which they can single-handedly veto and kill the project if they don't like something. The studio would like to have the actors on board, however.
A second draft of the script by 'The Office' writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky will be turned in in May.
According to Vulture, Columbia had hoped that Reitman's new project would conflict with Ghostbusters 3, but Reitman thinks he can do both. He'll next direct the comedy Friends with Benefits, starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. It's a sex comedy wherein two friends in a purely physical relationship begin to develop true romantic feelings for one another. That movie is scheduled to hit theaters on January 7, 2011."
This is not good.
"Vulture is reporting that Sony's Columbia Pictures is looking to make Ghostbusters 3 without the first two films' writer-producer, Ivan Reitman. The site says:
'The studio's strategy is to revitalize the franchise for next year by having the original 'busters train a dramatically younger crew in Ghostbusters III, while a correspondingly younger director handles things behind the camera. However, Reitman's old contract — made at the height of his and Ovitz's powers — still gives him exceptional creative control over the series, including director approval.'
The site adds that, along with Reitman, original stars Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis have deals in which they can single-handedly veto and kill the project if they don't like something. The studio would like to have the actors on board, however.
A second draft of the script by 'The Office' writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky will be turned in in May.
According to Vulture, Columbia had hoped that Reitman's new project would conflict with Ghostbusters 3, but Reitman thinks he can do both. He'll next direct the comedy Friends with Benefits, starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. It's a sex comedy wherein two friends in a purely physical relationship begin to develop true romantic feelings for one another. That movie is scheduled to hit theaters on January 7, 2011."
This is not good.
Wilson and Harrelson are TURKEYS
From ComingSoon.net:
"Cary Granat and Ed Jones' new company Bedrock Studios announced on Wednesday that its first project will be the animated buddy film Turkeys, to be directed by Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2).
Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson will voice the turkeys that discover a time machine and travel back to the first Thanksgiving to take themselves off the menu. Luke Wilson is also voicing a character.
Targeted for a 2011 release, the film is written and produced by John J. Strauss (There's Something About Mary) and David I. Stern (Open Season 2). Peter Farrelly will executive produce."
So basically, this movie's a cross between There's Something About Mary and Open Season? I like the casting, the plot's a bit odd, but if Brannon can inject the Woody-and-Buzz buddy comedy into Turkeys, then I'll go for it.
"Cary Granat and Ed Jones' new company Bedrock Studios announced on Wednesday that its first project will be the animated buddy film Turkeys, to be directed by Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2).
Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson will voice the turkeys that discover a time machine and travel back to the first Thanksgiving to take themselves off the menu. Luke Wilson is also voicing a character.
Targeted for a 2011 release, the film is written and produced by John J. Strauss (There's Something About Mary) and David I. Stern (Open Season 2). Peter Farrelly will executive produce."
So basically, this movie's a cross between There's Something About Mary and Open Season? I like the casting, the plot's a bit odd, but if Brannon can inject the Woody-and-Buzz buddy comedy into Turkeys, then I'll go for it.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
TRON LEGACY: Set Visit Part I
From ComingSoon.net:
"'We're in uncharted territory right now. I mean this is a little bit like Rip Van Winkle.'
Those are the words of filmmaker Steven Lisberger, who 28 years ago heralded in a new era of computer-assisted filmmaking when he made his cult classic sci-fi picture TRON. The 1982 Disney feature integrated computer generated imagery into live-action footage to create a world that, both within the story and in reality, existed entirely in a computer. Many thought the film would be a breakthrough on its initial release, but both the industry and general public proved reticent, as it took in a mere $33 million at the box office and the Academy refused to allow it to be nominated for a visual effects Oscar because it considered the use of computers 'cheating'.
Nearly three decades later, time has not only vindicated Lisberger's vision, with nearly every major motion picture now employing the same techniques he used in their infancy for TRON, but has given a second-life to the franchise itself.
We caught up with Lisberger as he was filming a cameo appearance in the sequel Tron Legacy, a major motion picture being shot in stereoscopic 3D for a December 17. The new chapter is neither a remake nor a reboot, but a genuine direct sequel, and while some series such as Indiana Jones or Star Wars had major gaps between releases, this film boasts the longest time between chapters in history. Lisberger was beaming in his crazy futuristic get-up that made him look like a pale Vegas-era Elvis dipped in neon, and very aware of the long road it had been to be on that set in June.
'The sequel has been in development at Disney now for about 10 years,' said Lisberger. "I've watched some Disney executives go from brown to grey in that time. So it's been a long time, and I think that it couldn't happen until the right group of people were in place. And that had to include people that were really ready to champion the film and get totally into it.'
Those 'right people' include Joseph Kosinski, a director with a Masters in architecture from Columbia University and a body of commercial work that includes everything from Chevrolet to Nike to video games like 'Gears of War.' Add it all up and you have the ideal director to take the world of Tron into the 21st century… and beyond.
Inside the Canadian Motion Picture Productions Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia, where such large-scale productions as Watchmen had taken place, we found the main nerve center of the production known affectionately as the 'War Room.' The walls of this war room were covered head-to-toe with production art, storyboards, digital pre-vis, and blueprints of set layouts with cryptic descriptions like 'Rectifier Interior.' Also visible were small foam core models of sets which, unlike the smooth geometrical surfaces of the original film's environment, featured many organic, rock-like surfaces to augment the cold smoothness and rigid lines of these new buildings.
Returning from the original film will be familiar sights such as the famed light cycles, gladiatorial disc battles, and imposing recognizers, all brought up to date by a team of concept artists brought in from all different engineering & design disciplines, most of them the tops in their field. There are new toys at play as well (think CARS) and the guiding principal seems to have been that over the decades the Tron program has been upgrading itself to match the increasing sophistication of the times. Think about the evolution between an old Apple II and a modern day iMac.
According to Lisberger, 'The first film was sort of the bridge from analog to digital and they've met in the middle. And now it's Gonzo digital, just Gonzo digital. And that's another reason why I think it's better that the next generation take it over. Because I have too much analog in my blood from the old days, you know? I get nervous if I don't see some paint brushes in a sink somewhere.'
While Lisberger has conceded the reigns of this production to Kosinski, helping to bridge the gap will be returning star Jeff Bridges, who originated the role of programmer Kevin Flynn. A much-loved actor known for his affable charm in films going back to The Last Picture Show through The Fabulous Baker Boys and into his legendary turn as 'The Dude' in The Big Lebowski, Bridges has managed to skirt true superstardom until recent roles in blockbuster Iron Man and an Academy Award-winning turn in Crazy Heart have catapulted him into the highest ranks of the A-list. It is only fitting that headlining Tron Legacy, his biggest film to-date, should come about at this auspicious time. He seemed pleased to be back in the saddle, and to be working alongside both his old director and his new one.
'It seems like we had a long weekend,' commented Bridges, 'basically because Lisberger who directed the first one is involved, very involved in this one which is great. You know, having the source of the material still engaged. I think it gave us all a lot of pressures because he's such a wild cat but it's also kind of grounded in that first movie that was so unique and everything.'
'Jeff's contribution to Tron means a lot to me,' added Lisberger. 'He's sort of my alter ego, and for a long time I don't think he thought this would happen. I think he's a little surprised, to tell you the truth, but it's worked out well timing-wise. It's like he was the crazy fool and now he's the Obi-Wan.'
'Joe, our director, was an architect,' says Bridges. 'That's where he's coming from. It's interesting, different filmmakers, where they come from and what they bring to the film and he's an architect and so the film has a very heightened design feel to it. By the way, this is his first film. Can you imagine? I don't know if it's the most expensive ever made but it's right up there. To have a first-time guy... Got to give Disney credit for taking that risk. They were smart because he's such a calm, can-do guy. He's gonna pull this off. He's out of commercials, and I saw some of the technology that he had available to him that he could use. It was basically the same reason that I did the first one.'
Kosinski pitched the studio on a story which involved Flynn's son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund) being informed by Alan Bradley (an also-returning Bruce Boxleitner) that a new transmission had been received from his long-missing father. When Kevin goes back to his father's old arcade to investigate, he gets inadvertently sucked into the Tron world on a quest to find Kevin.
Essentially taking over Jeff's original role as the film's protagonist, newcomer Hedlund had to maintain a certain degree of perspective while trying to create his character amid a world of bluescreen that will be filled in later by CGI wonders.
'I have an extreme amount of curiosity to see what this is all going to look like,' said Hedlund, 'because for now when you look at playbacks in the monitor it's just, you know, your mug and a blue screen. You can become critical, you're like oh I flinched there, or I blinked there. Man I shouldn't blink so much and then it's like [LAUGH] but there's going to be all this glorious stuff back there that's going to be taking a lot of focus off yourself as well.'
Hedlund took on the lead role eager to take on the various physical challenges, including motorcycle and parkour training, but relished the chance to work alongside Bridges.
'I've always been such a fan of him,' he said, 'and his kind of self-character and his charisma and everything. And I knew I'd really get along with him and, you know, we did. He's got a very big portion of him that's still just a kid.'
One relationship that proved not-so-comfortable for Hedlund on this film was between him and his skin-tight suit, which is covered with paper-thin lighting. Part of the practical ethos to do as much in-camera as possible for Tron Legacy is exemplified by these suits; even in the original TRON the suit circuit lights were achieved on a computer. These new suits are controlled by radio, with safe wiring, and in order for the lights to pop onscreen much of the shooting in the Tron world has been done with extra low-light.
Hedlund discussed the troubles with these costumes in detail:
'Once you have to put it on for the first day it seems like the longest day in the world. Your body is doing different things. They got foot straps down here to keep the pants low enough so they don't raise up. You got this on and you got the boots and the top holds this one up but this has to hold the top down. And so when I raise my right arm I'm feeling a tug on my left foot. [LAUGHTER] And it's all these different things and your shoulders go out. Had a lot of chiropractic readjustments, to the point where I had both shoulders out and three ribs out, both hips. It's all just from when you can't sit down and the lower back is going.'
Sam Flynn will be led down the rabbit hole of the Tron world, experiencing many of its most dangerous and exotic places, in his quest to find his dad. When they do meet up, we were promised by the producers that the elder Flynn's role would take on a dimension that, much like Kurtz in 'Heart of Darkness,' would exist very much in the grey area between good and evil. Lisberger said that this transition into a slightly more cynical story is in keeping with the theme how things become not as clear-cut as we age...
'Naturally I relate to Jeff's character, and I'm the same age as the character in the film and my son is the same age as the character in the film. So the father son story is particularly close to my heart. And I always like the idea of making people fight to the death on the game grid.'
Whatever becomes of both Flynn the elder and Flynn the younger at the conclusion of this new film, it is clear that a circle is completed and a torch has been passed to a new generation, while respect for TRON and its effect on the movie industry is being treated with a gentle awe by both the new and returning filmmakers.
Said Bridges, 'The first one was cutting edge technology at that time and this one certainly is for this time. And it's a whole different way of making movies I hadn't experienced. A little bit in Iron Man, but nothing like this.'"
The folks at ComingSoon.net have at least two more parts to their set visit that they will release later. How much later, I have no idea.
"'We're in uncharted territory right now. I mean this is a little bit like Rip Van Winkle.'
Those are the words of filmmaker Steven Lisberger, who 28 years ago heralded in a new era of computer-assisted filmmaking when he made his cult classic sci-fi picture TRON. The 1982 Disney feature integrated computer generated imagery into live-action footage to create a world that, both within the story and in reality, existed entirely in a computer. Many thought the film would be a breakthrough on its initial release, but both the industry and general public proved reticent, as it took in a mere $33 million at the box office and the Academy refused to allow it to be nominated for a visual effects Oscar because it considered the use of computers 'cheating'.
Nearly three decades later, time has not only vindicated Lisberger's vision, with nearly every major motion picture now employing the same techniques he used in their infancy for TRON, but has given a second-life to the franchise itself.
We caught up with Lisberger as he was filming a cameo appearance in the sequel Tron Legacy, a major motion picture being shot in stereoscopic 3D for a December 17. The new chapter is neither a remake nor a reboot, but a genuine direct sequel, and while some series such as Indiana Jones or Star Wars had major gaps between releases, this film boasts the longest time between chapters in history. Lisberger was beaming in his crazy futuristic get-up that made him look like a pale Vegas-era Elvis dipped in neon, and very aware of the long road it had been to be on that set in June.'The sequel has been in development at Disney now for about 10 years,' said Lisberger. "I've watched some Disney executives go from brown to grey in that time. So it's been a long time, and I think that it couldn't happen until the right group of people were in place. And that had to include people that were really ready to champion the film and get totally into it.'
Those 'right people' include Joseph Kosinski, a director with a Masters in architecture from Columbia University and a body of commercial work that includes everything from Chevrolet to Nike to video games like 'Gears of War.' Add it all up and you have the ideal director to take the world of Tron into the 21st century… and beyond.Inside the Canadian Motion Picture Productions Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia, where such large-scale productions as Watchmen had taken place, we found the main nerve center of the production known affectionately as the 'War Room.' The walls of this war room were covered head-to-toe with production art, storyboards, digital pre-vis, and blueprints of set layouts with cryptic descriptions like 'Rectifier Interior.' Also visible were small foam core models of sets which, unlike the smooth geometrical surfaces of the original film's environment, featured many organic, rock-like surfaces to augment the cold smoothness and rigid lines of these new buildings.
Returning from the original film will be familiar sights such as the famed light cycles, gladiatorial disc battles, and imposing recognizers, all brought up to date by a team of concept artists brought in from all different engineering & design disciplines, most of them the tops in their field. There are new toys at play as well (think CARS) and the guiding principal seems to have been that over the decades the Tron program has been upgrading itself to match the increasing sophistication of the times. Think about the evolution between an old Apple II and a modern day iMac.
According to Lisberger, 'The first film was sort of the bridge from analog to digital and they've met in the middle. And now it's Gonzo digital, just Gonzo digital. And that's another reason why I think it's better that the next generation take it over. Because I have too much analog in my blood from the old days, you know? I get nervous if I don't see some paint brushes in a sink somewhere.'
While Lisberger has conceded the reigns of this production to Kosinski, helping to bridge the gap will be returning star Jeff Bridges, who originated the role of programmer Kevin Flynn. A much-loved actor known for his affable charm in films going back to The Last Picture Show through The Fabulous Baker Boys and into his legendary turn as 'The Dude' in The Big Lebowski, Bridges has managed to skirt true superstardom until recent roles in blockbuster Iron Man and an Academy Award-winning turn in Crazy Heart have catapulted him into the highest ranks of the A-list. It is only fitting that headlining Tron Legacy, his biggest film to-date, should come about at this auspicious time. He seemed pleased to be back in the saddle, and to be working alongside both his old director and his new one.
'It seems like we had a long weekend,' commented Bridges, 'basically because Lisberger who directed the first one is involved, very involved in this one which is great. You know, having the source of the material still engaged. I think it gave us all a lot of pressures because he's such a wild cat but it's also kind of grounded in that first movie that was so unique and everything.'
'Jeff's contribution to Tron means a lot to me,' added Lisberger. 'He's sort of my alter ego, and for a long time I don't think he thought this would happen. I think he's a little surprised, to tell you the truth, but it's worked out well timing-wise. It's like he was the crazy fool and now he's the Obi-Wan.'
'Joe, our director, was an architect,' says Bridges. 'That's where he's coming from. It's interesting, different filmmakers, where they come from and what they bring to the film and he's an architect and so the film has a very heightened design feel to it. By the way, this is his first film. Can you imagine? I don't know if it's the most expensive ever made but it's right up there. To have a first-time guy... Got to give Disney credit for taking that risk. They were smart because he's such a calm, can-do guy. He's gonna pull this off. He's out of commercials, and I saw some of the technology that he had available to him that he could use. It was basically the same reason that I did the first one.'
Kosinski pitched the studio on a story which involved Flynn's son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund) being informed by Alan Bradley (an also-returning Bruce Boxleitner) that a new transmission had been received from his long-missing father. When Kevin goes back to his father's old arcade to investigate, he gets inadvertently sucked into the Tron world on a quest to find Kevin.
Essentially taking over Jeff's original role as the film's protagonist, newcomer Hedlund had to maintain a certain degree of perspective while trying to create his character amid a world of bluescreen that will be filled in later by CGI wonders.
'I have an extreme amount of curiosity to see what this is all going to look like,' said Hedlund, 'because for now when you look at playbacks in the monitor it's just, you know, your mug and a blue screen. You can become critical, you're like oh I flinched there, or I blinked there. Man I shouldn't blink so much and then it's like [LAUGH] but there's going to be all this glorious stuff back there that's going to be taking a lot of focus off yourself as well.'
Hedlund took on the lead role eager to take on the various physical challenges, including motorcycle and parkour training, but relished the chance to work alongside Bridges.
'I've always been such a fan of him,' he said, 'and his kind of self-character and his charisma and everything. And I knew I'd really get along with him and, you know, we did. He's got a very big portion of him that's still just a kid.'
One relationship that proved not-so-comfortable for Hedlund on this film was between him and his skin-tight suit, which is covered with paper-thin lighting. Part of the practical ethos to do as much in-camera as possible for Tron Legacy is exemplified by these suits; even in the original TRON the suit circuit lights were achieved on a computer. These new suits are controlled by radio, with safe wiring, and in order for the lights to pop onscreen much of the shooting in the Tron world has been done with extra low-light.
Hedlund discussed the troubles with these costumes in detail:
'Once you have to put it on for the first day it seems like the longest day in the world. Your body is doing different things. They got foot straps down here to keep the pants low enough so they don't raise up. You got this on and you got the boots and the top holds this one up but this has to hold the top down. And so when I raise my right arm I'm feeling a tug on my left foot. [LAUGHTER] And it's all these different things and your shoulders go out. Had a lot of chiropractic readjustments, to the point where I had both shoulders out and three ribs out, both hips. It's all just from when you can't sit down and the lower back is going.'
Sam Flynn will be led down the rabbit hole of the Tron world, experiencing many of its most dangerous and exotic places, in his quest to find his dad. When they do meet up, we were promised by the producers that the elder Flynn's role would take on a dimension that, much like Kurtz in 'Heart of Darkness,' would exist very much in the grey area between good and evil. Lisberger said that this transition into a slightly more cynical story is in keeping with the theme how things become not as clear-cut as we age...
'Naturally I relate to Jeff's character, and I'm the same age as the character in the film and my son is the same age as the character in the film. So the father son story is particularly close to my heart. And I always like the idea of making people fight to the death on the game grid.'
Whatever becomes of both Flynn the elder and Flynn the younger at the conclusion of this new film, it is clear that a circle is completed and a torch has been passed to a new generation, while respect for TRON and its effect on the movie industry is being treated with a gentle awe by both the new and returning filmmakers.
Said Bridges, 'The first one was cutting edge technology at that time and this one certainly is for this time. And it's a whole different way of making movies I hadn't experienced. A little bit in Iron Man, but nothing like this.'"
The folks at ComingSoon.net have at least two more parts to their set visit that they will release later. How much later, I have no idea.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Robert Rodriguez: Yes, SPY KIDS; No, JETSONS
From MTV Movie Blog:
"Last September we learned that The Weinstein Co. is planning another installment of Robert Rodriguez' family sci-fi franchise Spy Kids and that it would be shot in the new digital 3D format (unlike Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, which used a form of the old anaglyph type of 3D). Well, the fact that there will be a new Spy Kids was correct, but it won't be 'Part 4' of the initial series.
At SXSW, where Robert Rodriguez just premiered footage from Predators, he revealed he's actually rebooting his own franchise and that this new Spy Kids will be his next project as a director. The Playlist shares the news from Austin, relaying that the Grindhouse co-director has set the story 10 years later and will cast all new kids for the leads.
'That maybe doesn't sound as good as it sounds,' Rodriguez acknowledged to the SXSW audience, 'but when you read the script it's very funny. It's not like we're going back to the well for a fourth time. It feels actually completely new. It's the Casino Royale to For Your Eyes Only.'
The filmmaker also noted that kids are his most loyal audience, even more than the geek crowd. This... explains why a Spy Kids redo is hitting theaters before the highly anticipated Sin City sequel, which Rodriguez simply claims 'quite possibly' is still happening....
What isn't happening, though, at least not for Rodriguez, is The Jetsons. Despite telling MTV last summer that his planned adaptation of the future-set animated series would shoot in 2010, the director confirmed that he's no longer doing it at all."
Well, I'm waiting on SOMEBODY to do this in live-action:
.
"Last September we learned that The Weinstein Co. is planning another installment of Robert Rodriguez' family sci-fi franchise Spy Kids and that it would be shot in the new digital 3D format (unlike Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, which used a form of the old anaglyph type of 3D). Well, the fact that there will be a new Spy Kids was correct, but it won't be 'Part 4' of the initial series.
At SXSW, where Robert Rodriguez just premiered footage from Predators, he revealed he's actually rebooting his own franchise and that this new Spy Kids will be his next project as a director. The Playlist shares the news from Austin, relaying that the Grindhouse co-director has set the story 10 years later and will cast all new kids for the leads.
'That maybe doesn't sound as good as it sounds,' Rodriguez acknowledged to the SXSW audience, 'but when you read the script it's very funny. It's not like we're going back to the well for a fourth time. It feels actually completely new. It's the Casino Royale to For Your Eyes Only.'
The filmmaker also noted that kids are his most loyal audience, even more than the geek crowd. This... explains why a Spy Kids redo is hitting theaters before the highly anticipated Sin City sequel, which Rodriguez simply claims 'quite possibly' is still happening....
What isn't happening, though, at least not for Rodriguez, is The Jetsons. Despite telling MTV last summer that his planned adaptation of the future-set animated series would shoot in 2010, the director confirmed that he's no longer doing it at all."
Well, I'm waiting on SOMEBODY to do this in live-action:
.
Jango Fett... a Green Lantern?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Kiwi filmmaker/actor Taika Waititi and Kiwi actor Temuera Morrison, Jango Fett from the Star Wars movies, have joined the cast of Warner Bros. Pictures' Green Lantern.
Production begins this week in New Orleans on the 3D feature, which has Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye) directing Ryan Reynolds as the superhero.
Waititi plays the best friend of Hal Jordan, the test pilot who comes to wear the super-powered ring of the interplanetary police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.
Morrison is playing Abin Sur, a member of the Corps who is instrumental in Jordan becoming the superhero.
The studio has set a June 17, 2011 release the comic book adaptation."
Sounds neat! Can't wait to see what it all looks like!
"Kiwi filmmaker/actor Taika Waititi and Kiwi actor Temuera Morrison, Jango Fett from the Star Wars movies, have joined the cast of Warner Bros. Pictures' Green Lantern.
Production begins this week in New Orleans on the 3D feature, which has Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, GoldenEye) directing Ryan Reynolds as the superhero.
Waititi plays the best friend of Hal Jordan, the test pilot who comes to wear the super-powered ring of the interplanetary police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.
Morrison is playing Abin Sur, a member of the Corps who is instrumental in Jordan becoming the superhero.
The studio has set a June 17, 2011 release the comic book adaptation."
Sounds neat! Can't wait to see what it all looks like!
Peter Graves has passed...
From ComingSoon.net:
"Peter Graves, who starred in 'Mission: Impossible' and films including Stalag 17 and Airplane! died of natural causes in Pacific Palisades, California, on Sunday. He was 83.
Graves played leader Jim Phelps in the 'Mission: Impossible' series for six seasons, and then returned in 1988 for ABC's remake of the series. He also starred as Capt. Clarence Oveur in the 1980 comedy Airplane! and its sequel.
Born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, Graves entered showbiz at an early age -- he was a radio announcer at age 16. Following a stint in the Air Force, he studied drama at the U. of Minnesota. Upon graduation he came to Hollywood, where his older brother James Arness was already starring in 'Gunsmoke'. Graves' first film was 1951's Rogue River. A host of smaller roles in films, mostly Westerns, and TV followed, including horror films such as Killers From Space.
Among his film credits were a German spy in 1953's Stalag 17, directed by Billy Wilder, and The Yellow Tomahawk.
In the 1960s, he turned to TV and played the lead in NBC series 'Fury', as well as 'Whiplash' in 1960-61. He had recurring roles on 'The Love Boat', 'Fantasy Island' and '7th Heaven'.
In later years, Graves was the host of 'Biography' on A&E."
He was also in a cameo appearance in Men in Black II.
"Peter Graves, who starred in 'Mission: Impossible' and films including Stalag 17 and Airplane! died of natural causes in Pacific Palisades, California, on Sunday. He was 83.
Graves played leader Jim Phelps in the 'Mission: Impossible' series for six seasons, and then returned in 1988 for ABC's remake of the series. He also starred as Capt. Clarence Oveur in the 1980 comedy Airplane! and its sequel.
Born Peter Aurness in Minneapolis, Graves entered showbiz at an early age -- he was a radio announcer at age 16. Following a stint in the Air Force, he studied drama at the U. of Minnesota. Upon graduation he came to Hollywood, where his older brother James Arness was already starring in 'Gunsmoke'. Graves' first film was 1951's Rogue River. A host of smaller roles in films, mostly Westerns, and TV followed, including horror films such as Killers From Space.
Among his film credits were a German spy in 1953's Stalag 17, directed by Billy Wilder, and The Yellow Tomahawk.
In the 1960s, he turned to TV and played the lead in NBC series 'Fury', as well as 'Whiplash' in 1960-61. He had recurring roles on 'The Love Boat', 'Fantasy Island' and '7th Heaven'.
In later years, Graves was the host of 'Biography' on A&E."
He was also in a cameo appearance in Men in Black II.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Disney Studios are the real Scrooges
From Slashfilm:
"Very unexpected news from the Disney camp today: the studio has just issued a press release saying that, after production finishes on Mars Needs Moms!, the Robert Zemeckis studio ImageMovers Digital will be closed in 2011.
We don’t have a lot of details on the closing right now, but a statement from Walt Disney Studios president Alan Bergman says it all:
'Bob and the entire IMD team successfully built a state of the art studio and produced an amazing film, A Christmas Carol, at a time when the dynamics of the industry are rapidly changing. But, given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and IMD no longer fits into our business model.'
In other words, the movies from IMD are quite expensive, and if A Christmas Carol is any indication, they’re not making the sort of money the new Disney regime would like. The press release says that a new production deal may be formed to continue work on the Yellow Submarine remake.
The LA Times reports that 450 people will be laid off as operations at the studio wind down."
Here's the full press release:
"BURBANK, Calif. – March 12, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios and ImageMovers Digital (IMD) today announced that they will close operations at IMD’s Marin County facility after production is completed on Mars Needs Moms. The IMD facility is expected to be closed by January 2011.
'Bob and the entire IMD team successfully built a state of the art studio and produced an amazing film, A Christmas Carol, at a time when the dynamics of the industry are rapidly changing,' said Alan Bergman, President of The Walt Disney Studios. 'But, given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and IMD no longer fits into our business model.'
'I’m incredibly proud of the talented team that we assembled at IMD and the fantastic work they have accomplished,' said Robert Zemeckis, one of the co-founders of ImageMovers Digital. 'Their pride and dedication to making quality movies is evident in everything we have produced.'
The Studio is hoping to create a new long-term production deal with Zemeckis and his IMD partners, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey, which will include the continued development of the Yellow Submarine project."
Maybe they'll go back to Paramount (distributor of Beowulf) or Warner Bros. (distributor of The Polar Express) or Columbia Pictures (distributor of Monster House). I'm sure after the massive success of the mo-cap epic Avatar, they'll be welcome back with open arms.
"Very unexpected news from the Disney camp today: the studio has just issued a press release saying that, after production finishes on Mars Needs Moms!, the Robert Zemeckis studio ImageMovers Digital will be closed in 2011.
We don’t have a lot of details on the closing right now, but a statement from Walt Disney Studios president Alan Bergman says it all:
'Bob and the entire IMD team successfully built a state of the art studio and produced an amazing film, A Christmas Carol, at a time when the dynamics of the industry are rapidly changing. But, given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and IMD no longer fits into our business model.'
In other words, the movies from IMD are quite expensive, and if A Christmas Carol is any indication, they’re not making the sort of money the new Disney regime would like. The press release says that a new production deal may be formed to continue work on the Yellow Submarine remake.
The LA Times reports that 450 people will be laid off as operations at the studio wind down."
Here's the full press release:
"BURBANK, Calif. – March 12, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios and ImageMovers Digital (IMD) today announced that they will close operations at IMD’s Marin County facility after production is completed on Mars Needs Moms. The IMD facility is expected to be closed by January 2011.
'Bob and the entire IMD team successfully built a state of the art studio and produced an amazing film, A Christmas Carol, at a time when the dynamics of the industry are rapidly changing,' said Alan Bergman, President of The Walt Disney Studios. 'But, given today’s economic realities, we need to find alternative ways to bring creative content to audiences and IMD no longer fits into our business model.'
'I’m incredibly proud of the talented team that we assembled at IMD and the fantastic work they have accomplished,' said Robert Zemeckis, one of the co-founders of ImageMovers Digital. 'Their pride and dedication to making quality movies is evident in everything we have produced.'
The Studio is hoping to create a new long-term production deal with Zemeckis and his IMD partners, Jack Rapke and Steve Starkey, which will include the continued development of the Yellow Submarine project."
Maybe they'll go back to Paramount (distributor of Beowulf) or Warner Bros. (distributor of The Polar Express) or Columbia Pictures (distributor of Monster House). I'm sure after the massive success of the mo-cap epic Avatar, they'll be welcome back with open arms.
Steven Spielberg rises up through a ROBOPOCALYPSE
From ComingSoon.net:
"...Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, upcoming The Cabin in the Woods) has been hired to write the script for the adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson's Robopocalypse, which explores the fate of the human race following a robot uprising. The project is a serious candidate for Steven Spielberg's next directing job."
That's funny. He does a "good robot" movie, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and produces both Transformers films and now he's doing a movie where the robots are the clear bad guys? Maybe he'll make a better movie than Terminator Salvation.
"...Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, upcoming The Cabin in the Woods) has been hired to write the script for the adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson's Robopocalypse, which explores the fate of the human race following a robot uprising. The project is a serious candidate for Steven Spielberg's next directing job."
That's funny. He does a "good robot" movie, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and produces both Transformers films and now he's doing a movie where the robots are the clear bad guys? Maybe he'll make a better movie than Terminator Salvation.
Weaving to play Red Skull
From ComingSoon.net:
"Hugo Weaving (The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies) is reportedly in talks to play the villain Red Skull in Marvel Studios' The First Avenger: Captain America.
If he takes on the role, Weaving would be reuniting with The Wolfman director Joe Johnston.
Johnston and the studio are currently casting Steve Rogers/Captain America.
The film is expected to hit theaters on July 22, 2011."
"Hugo Weaving (The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies) is reportedly in talks to play the villain Red Skull in Marvel Studios' The First Avenger: Captain America.
If he takes on the role, Weaving would be reuniting with The Wolfman director Joe Johnston.
Johnston and the studio are currently casting Steve Rogers/Captain America.
The film is expected to hit theaters on July 22, 2011."
James Cameron talks TITANIC 3D
From ComingSoon.net:
"There's been talk about a 3D version of Titanic for a while, but now James Cameron has given USA Today an estimated release frame.
'We're targeting spring of 2012 for the release (of a 3D version of Titanic), which is the 100 year anniversary of the sailing of the ship,' Cameron said in an interview about 3D technology at theaters and in the home.
He added that Avatar may return to 3D theaters this fall with extra footage.
When asked about when we may see the 3D Blu-ray, Cameron said: 'We're not officially announcing it right now but I'm hoping for fall. The wildcard is that we might be re-releasing the movie this fall. It's kind of gotten stomped out (in theaters) because of Alice in Wonderland. The word we're getting back from exhibitors is we probably left a couple of hundred million dollars on the table as a result. The question is the appetite still going to be there after the summer glut of movies. We're going to assess that. We're talking about maybe adding in additional footage and doing something creative.'
Avatar has grossed $2.6 billion in theaters worldwide so far."
"There's been talk about a 3D version of Titanic for a while, but now James Cameron has given USA Today an estimated release frame.
'We're targeting spring of 2012 for the release (of a 3D version of Titanic), which is the 100 year anniversary of the sailing of the ship,' Cameron said in an interview about 3D technology at theaters and in the home.
He added that Avatar may return to 3D theaters this fall with extra footage.
When asked about when we may see the 3D Blu-ray, Cameron said: 'We're not officially announcing it right now but I'm hoping for fall. The wildcard is that we might be re-releasing the movie this fall. It's kind of gotten stomped out (in theaters) because of Alice in Wonderland. The word we're getting back from exhibitors is we probably left a couple of hundred million dollars on the table as a result. The question is the appetite still going to be there after the summer glut of movies. We're going to assess that. We're talking about maybe adding in additional footage and doing something creative.'
Avatar has grossed $2.6 billion in theaters worldwide so far."
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Let There Be... 3D?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Paramount Pictures and former Walden Media co-founder Cary Granat are reportedly developing In the Beginning, a 3D version of the creation story. The film is using The Book of Genesis as its primary resource.
David Cunningham is set to direct from a script by John Fusco (Hidalgo).
The visual effects are being handled by Reel Fx. Paramount will co-finance and distribute the $30 million project."
Okay, that's interesting. Most people will probably go to see Eve in 3D. But, she was the mother of all human kind so what's that say about us?
"Paramount Pictures and former Walden Media co-founder Cary Granat are reportedly developing In the Beginning, a 3D version of the creation story. The film is using The Book of Genesis as its primary resource.
David Cunningham is set to direct from a script by John Fusco (Hidalgo).
The visual effects are being handled by Reel Fx. Paramount will co-finance and distribute the $30 million project."
Okay, that's interesting. Most people will probably go to see Eve in 3D. But, she was the mother of all human kind so what's that say about us?
TRON LEGACY beams itself a trailer!
From ComingSoon.net:
"The teaser trailer for Tron Legacy that debuted in front of Alice in Wonderland this weekend is now online!
Tron Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the anticipated film hits 3D theaters and IMAX 3D on December 17."
"The teaser trailer for Tron Legacy that debuted in front of Alice in Wonderland this weekend is now online!
Tron Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that's unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce programs and gladiatorial games where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the anticipated film hits 3D theaters and IMAX 3D on December 17."
Friday, March 5, 2010
Meet THE SMURFS
From ComingSoon.net:
"Jonathan Winters, George Lopez, Katy Perry and Alan Cumming are joining Neil Patrick Harris in Sony's live-action/animated The Smurfs.
The 84-year-old Winters, who voiced multiple characters on the long-running Hanna-Barbera cartoon version of "Smurfs," will play Papa Smurf. [Pop rock star] Perry is in talks to portray Smurfette, [Son of the Mask's] Alan Cumming is taking on Gutsy Smurf and [comedian/talk-show host] George Lopez is onboard as Grouchy Smurf.
Harris will play the lead live-action character.
Raja Gosnell is directing the Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation film from a screenplay by David N. Weiss & J. David Stem and Jay Sherick & David Ronn."
"Jonathan Winters, George Lopez, Katy Perry and Alan Cumming are joining Neil Patrick Harris in Sony's live-action/animated The Smurfs.
The 84-year-old Winters, who voiced multiple characters on the long-running Hanna-Barbera cartoon version of "Smurfs," will play Papa Smurf. [Pop rock star] Perry is in talks to portray Smurfette, [Son of the Mask's] Alan Cumming is taking on Gutsy Smurf and [comedian/talk-show host] George Lopez is onboard as Grouchy Smurf.
Harris will play the lead live-action character.
Raja Gosnell is directing the Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation film from a screenplay by David N. Weiss & J. David Stem and Jay Sherick & David Ronn."
Wow. I didn't know Jonathan Winters was still alive. I saw his guest appearance on "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" yesterday of him and Maude Frickert. I could most definitely see him be the voice of Papa Smurf.
I can't see George Lopez be Grouchy. Not cause of the voice but I just can't plain see Lopez himself be grouchy.
KATY PERRY. PERFECT CASTING. AS SMURFETTE. HOT HOT HOT!!!
Not a huge fan of Neil Patrick Harris
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or Alan Cumming
but they're funny I suppose. Now, if only they could get Danny Goldman to come back to play Brainy Smurf. Maybe Matthew McConaughey as Farmer Smurf.
UPDATE:
From ComingSoon.net:
"Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Hank Azaria ('The Simpsons') will voice evil sorcerer Gargamel in Sony's The Smurfs.
The magazine also says that Jayma Mays ('Glee') will play the pregnant wife to Neil Patrick Harris' character. The film centers on the happy expectant couple's lives being turned upside-down upon meeting these blue creatures. The movie will take place in New York City's Central Park and is set to begin production next month."
So wait, Gargamel is animated? Neil Patrick Harris has a wife?
UPDATE 2:
From ComingSoon.net:
"Neil Patrick Harris confirmed on Twitter that Gargamel won't be animated, the character will be live action. 'Hank Azaria will be PLAYING Gargamel for the Smurfs film, not just providing a voice. He'll be live action. Perfect casting, can't wait!'"
Thursday, March 4, 2010
LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS flies into a trailer
From ComingSoon.net:
"Warner Bros. Pictures has now brought online the trailer for director Zack Snyder's Legend of the Guardians, opening in 3D theaters and IMAX 3D on September 24.
The fantasy family adventure is based on the beloved 'Guardians of Ga'Hoole' books by Kathryn Lasky. Legend of the Guardians follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father's favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd's jealousy has terrible consequences--causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga'Hoole--Soren's only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms."
The film stars the voices of Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush and Helen Mirren.
UPDATE:
The movie has been officially renamed Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.
"Warner Bros. Pictures has now brought online the trailer for director Zack Snyder's Legend of the Guardians, opening in 3D theaters and IMAX 3D on September 24.
The fantasy family adventure is based on the beloved 'Guardians of Ga'Hoole' books by Kathryn Lasky. Legend of the Guardians follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father's favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd's jealousy has terrible consequences--causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians of Ga'Hoole--Soren's only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms."
The film stars the voices of Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, Geoffrey Rush and Helen Mirren.
UPDATE:
The movie has been officially renamed Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.
GREEN LANTERN in 3D!
From Slashfilm:
"Warner Bros is going 3D crazy. Post Avatar, the movie studio has announced post production 3D conversions of the last two Harry Potter films and Clash of the Titans. Rumors have been circulating that the studio was also considering 3D for the upcoming big screen adaptation of Green Lantern. A few weeks back, director Martin Campbell was asked about the possibility, to which he replied that the studio 'haven’t really talked about it.' What a difference a few weeks can make…
Box Office Mojo has confirmed that Warner Bros will be releasing the superhero film in 3D, when it hits screens on June 17th 2011. The film begins principal photography later this month, and was said to have been shooting some tests recently. It is unclear if it is too late for the production to shoot the movie using 3D cameras, or if the same post production process will be used."
AWESOME!!!
Here's a fan-made poster:
"Warner Bros is going 3D crazy. Post Avatar, the movie studio has announced post production 3D conversions of the last two Harry Potter films and Clash of the Titans. Rumors have been circulating that the studio was also considering 3D for the upcoming big screen adaptation of Green Lantern. A few weeks back, director Martin Campbell was asked about the possibility, to which he replied that the studio 'haven’t really talked about it.' What a difference a few weeks can make…
Box Office Mojo has confirmed that Warner Bros will be releasing the superhero film in 3D, when it hits screens on June 17th 2011. The film begins principal photography later this month, and was said to have been shooting some tests recently. It is unclear if it is too late for the production to shoot the movie using 3D cameras, or if the same post production process will be used."
AWESOME!!!
Here's a fan-made poster:
TRON to the small screen!
From ComingSoon.net:
"Disney Channels Worldwide is developing a 'Tron' animated series to follow the December 17 release Tron Legacy.
Geared towards kids age 6-14, the plan is to precede 'Tron' with another project, a 10-part 'Tron' micro-series premiering in fall 2011 on Disney XD.
'Tron is another example of how we can take advantage of the intellectual property that the studio unit pays tens, if not hundreds, of millions to develop and market,' Disney Channels Worldwide entertainment president and chief creative officer Gary Marsh said."
What would be cool (he'll never do it) is if they got Jeff Bridges to return as the voice of Kevin Flynn.
"Disney Channels Worldwide is developing a 'Tron' animated series to follow the December 17 release Tron Legacy.
Geared towards kids age 6-14, the plan is to precede 'Tron' with another project, a 10-part 'Tron' micro-series premiering in fall 2011 on Disney XD.
'Tron is another example of how we can take advantage of the intellectual property that the studio unit pays tens, if not hundreds, of millions to develop and market,' Disney Channels Worldwide entertainment president and chief creative officer Gary Marsh said."
What would be cool (he'll never do it) is if they got Jeff Bridges to return as the voice of Kevin Flynn.
Who knows what lurks in the hearts of 20th Century Fox?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Latino Review is reporting that the new version of The Shadow is no longer at Sony Pictures. According to the site, 20th Century Fox has picked up the property with Sam Raimi still attached to produce.
The site says the studio is eyeing David Slade to direct the film. Slade's credits include Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night (produced by Raimi) and upcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Universal Pictures previously brought the character to the big screen in 1994 when Alec Baldwin played the title role in the Russell Mulcahy-directed The Shadow."
Actually, The Shadow got voted least-worst superhero movie. It was also when Alec Baldwin wasn't the brain-sucking alien from Hulu.
"Latino Review is reporting that the new version of The Shadow is no longer at Sony Pictures. According to the site, 20th Century Fox has picked up the property with Sam Raimi still attached to produce.
The site says the studio is eyeing David Slade to direct the film. Slade's credits include Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night (produced by Raimi) and upcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Universal Pictures previously brought the character to the big screen in 1994 when Alec Baldwin played the title role in the Russell Mulcahy-directed The Shadow."
Actually, The Shadow got voted least-worst superhero movie. It was also when Alec Baldwin wasn't the brain-sucking alien from Hulu.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
A 3 hour tour... in a 2 hour movie.
From ComingSoon.net:
"Warner Bros. Pictures and production company Atlas Entertainment are developing a feature film based on CBS' 'Gilligan's Island'.
Charles Roven and Richard Suckle will produce for Atlas, with Brad Copeland writing the screenplay. Original show producer Sherwood Schwartz is on board to executive produce along with son Lloyd Schwartz.
Variety says that plans are for a contemporary take on the iconic show. They're hoping to start production next year but won't move forward on seeking a director or cast until Copeland's script is completed.
'The characters are so good,' Roven added. 'We think it's going to be a great story to transport these cultural icons to the modern day.'"
From Slashfilm:
"When Schwartz broke the news at the Beverly Hills induction ceremony of Television Academy’s Hall of Fame on December 9th 2008, he told TV Guide that he wanted Michael Cera to play Gilligan and Beyonce Knowles to play Ginger."
Michael Cera... maybe. Beyonce Knowles... (not that I'm racist) but no way. But the sad thing is if you cast Michael Cera as Gilligan (I honestly think he's too young), then you would have to cast Jonah Hill as the Skipper.
Maybe they'll pitch it as "'Lost' as a comedy", which they really shouldn't considering "Lost" came first. Interestingly, "Lost" was inspired by Cast Away.
"Warner Bros. Pictures and production company Atlas Entertainment are developing a feature film based on CBS' 'Gilligan's Island'.
Charles Roven and Richard Suckle will produce for Atlas, with Brad Copeland writing the screenplay. Original show producer Sherwood Schwartz is on board to executive produce along with son Lloyd Schwartz.
Variety says that plans are for a contemporary take on the iconic show. They're hoping to start production next year but won't move forward on seeking a director or cast until Copeland's script is completed.
'The characters are so good,' Roven added. 'We think it's going to be a great story to transport these cultural icons to the modern day.'"
From Slashfilm:
"When Schwartz broke the news at the Beverly Hills induction ceremony of Television Academy’s Hall of Fame on December 9th 2008, he told TV Guide that he wanted Michael Cera to play Gilligan and Beyonce Knowles to play Ginger."
Michael Cera... maybe. Beyonce Knowles... (not that I'm racist) but no way. But the sad thing is if you cast Michael Cera as Gilligan (I honestly think he's too young), then you would have to cast Jonah Hill as the Skipper.
Maybe they'll pitch it as "'Lost' as a comedy", which they really shouldn't considering "Lost" came first. Interestingly, "Lost" was inspired by Cast Away.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER?
From ComingSoon.net:
"Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland), Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and Jim Lemley are teaming to produce a big screen adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's new book 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter', which was released in stores today. Burton, Bekmambetov and Jim Lemley produced Focus Features' 9 together as well.
Lionsgate previously picked up the film rights to the author's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which Natalie Portman is attached to star in and David O.Russell is circling to direct."
Here is the synopsis of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter:
"Seth Grahame-Smith inserts a grandiose and gratuitous struggle with vampires into Abraham Lincoln’s life. Lincoln learns at an early age that his mother was killed by a supernatural predator. This provokes his bloody but curiously undocumented lifelong vendetta against vampires and their slave-owning allies. The author’s decision to reduce slavery to a mere contrivance of the vampires is unfortunate bordering on repellent, but at least it does distract the reader from the central question of why the president never saw fit to inform the public of the supernatural menace."
What I want to know, are these going to be comedies? Cause the idea of Abraham Lincoln as a hero in a horror movie is hilarious to me. If it is a comedy, I will buy tickets to it; if not, eh.
"Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland), Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and Jim Lemley are teaming to produce a big screen adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's new book 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter', which was released in stores today. Burton, Bekmambetov and Jim Lemley produced Focus Features' 9 together as well.
Lionsgate previously picked up the film rights to the author's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which Natalie Portman is attached to star in and David O.Russell is circling to direct."
Here is the synopsis of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter:
"Seth Grahame-Smith inserts a grandiose and gratuitous struggle with vampires into Abraham Lincoln’s life. Lincoln learns at an early age that his mother was killed by a supernatural predator. This provokes his bloody but curiously undocumented lifelong vendetta against vampires and their slave-owning allies. The author’s decision to reduce slavery to a mere contrivance of the vampires is unfortunate bordering on repellent, but at least it does distract the reader from the central question of why the president never saw fit to inform the public of the supernatural menace."
What I want to know, are these going to be comedies? Cause the idea of Abraham Lincoln as a hero in a horror movie is hilarious to me. If it is a comedy, I will buy tickets to it; if not, eh.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Marvel TV?
From BlueSkyDisney:
"Like Peter Parker changing into his secret identity, you can expect Disney XD to start morphing into a different place by the end of this year...
Well, it'll start to begin later this year, but that's more of just announcements and preparations. I'd say between 2011/12 you're going to quite a new line up of the cable network. Formerly Toon Disney, Disney XD is the male-centric cable channel that the Mouse wants to be the alternative to The Disney Channel, which is now predominately female/girl oriented. They've been attempting to duplicate the 'Hannah Montana' experience with shows and all, but the drive to get more boys and their toys will kick into overdrive soon.
Marvel characters are being evaluated for several slots on the daily line up and at least two characters have or will very soon get a greenlight to head into production. This is just the first offerings from the Mighty House of Marvel. More are said to be coming, with 2012 looking to cast this network as a very superhero focused place on the dial. Expect every property in Marvel's catalog to be combed through to find the right collection of men in tights to attract the young boy demographic. It's those that Iger actually paid for... he's trying to get instant or close to instant cred with this group. The male sector doesn't go for anything labeled 'Princess' too well and this the beginning of the company's attempt to win over these guys. Having them identify Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor and all the others with the Disney name is something that's going to be emphasised over the next few years as these characters make their home in their new house.
So if you need a hero, you're about to get one, or many actually... "
"Like Peter Parker changing into his secret identity, you can expect Disney XD to start morphing into a different place by the end of this year...
Well, it'll start to begin later this year, but that's more of just announcements and preparations. I'd say between 2011/12 you're going to quite a new line up of the cable network. Formerly Toon Disney, Disney XD is the male-centric cable channel that the Mouse wants to be the alternative to The Disney Channel, which is now predominately female/girl oriented. They've been attempting to duplicate the 'Hannah Montana' experience with shows and all, but the drive to get more boys and their toys will kick into overdrive soon.
Marvel characters are being evaluated for several slots on the daily line up and at least two characters have or will very soon get a greenlight to head into production. This is just the first offerings from the Mighty House of Marvel. More are said to be coming, with 2012 looking to cast this network as a very superhero focused place on the dial. Expect every property in Marvel's catalog to be combed through to find the right collection of men in tights to attract the young boy demographic. It's those that Iger actually paid for... he's trying to get instant or close to instant cred with this group. The male sector doesn't go for anything labeled 'Princess' too well and this the beginning of the company's attempt to win over these guys. Having them identify Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor and all the others with the Disney name is something that's going to be emphasised over the next few years as these characters make their home in their new house.
So if you need a hero, you're about to get one, or many actually... "
Future of TRON is the Future of Disney?
From BlueSkyDisney:
"It's amazing how times change your perception of things...
Take the film Tron for example. When it came out it was a huge disappointment to Walt Disney Productions. They expected this to be their new Star Wars and when it was released not that many went and saw it. Over time, the storyline has proven to be ahead of its time (not the script, mind you). And as the passage of years goes by it's gathered more and more followers to where it's now a hit. Over the past decade there has been talk of finally making a sequel, but most of it was ors that never made it anywhere other that the whispers of fanboys in pop ure's hallway.
Then there was that concept trailer that Walt Disney Pictures snuck in as a surprise for Comic-Con attendees a couple years ago. The crowd's reaction was the final element needed to get the Suits to pull the trigger on the sequel. Soon with the release of Alice in Wonderland an actual 3D teaser for the film can be seen for the first time. This is the one many people got to check out last week when they followed that viral campaign to several locations across the country. And come late summer you can expect an actual trailer with more of the journey into the world of Tron. It's evolved a lot in a generation and this holiday season we're finally going to get to see it. We're a long way from the disappointment of 1982.
It's taken twenty-eight years to change this. 2010 will be a huge year for the sequel to Tron. Huge. And should the box office returns provide what Disney Suits with smiling faces then you can expect a whole lot more over the coming years. On the theatrical front, this could be the beginning of a new trilogy. And I'm not talking about including the original Tron. If all goes according to plan you could see this as the first in a trilogy of films that start with the word 'Tron' and end somewhere else... Legacy is only the beginning. There are preliminary plans to milk this into a franchise of Pirate proportions. And the buzz from it so far is very good.
And that's not the only Tron project they're planning on having for us in the possible future. The plans have been put into motion for a computer animated television series that could conceivably be up by late 2011/early 2012. This would be something of a placeholder to keep the fans interest still peaked in between this first film and the next one. No word yet on where it will wind up being broadcast. It's not known if it'll be staged for the Mouse's fledgling boy channel Disney XD or the more mainstream ABC network, but as of now the concept has been greenlit. We'll see how this project evolves down the development line as the film's release gets closer.
Then there is the merchandise that you're going to see flood the parks come this October/November. Expect Tomorrowland to be filled with all things Tron. And some of the areas are being talked about getting 'thematic' makeovers. If you're into Retro-Eighties with the Captain EO attraction back for a limited run, then prepare for more, albeit fictional nostalgia. Should it get approved, you might get to see the arcade next to Space Mountain turned into a variation of 'Flynn's Arcade.' We'll cross our fingers and see if the Suits make the call on this one.
Naturally, there's the talk of a Tron attraction at Disneyland and various other theme parks. WDI is working on concepts for a Tron experience, but don't expect a fully immersive Tron Legacy attraction by the time the film opens. Any attraction wouldn't be seen in Tommowland until 2012 at the earliest... but that doesn't mean there won't be surprises between now and then.
I've been told that nothing has been signed off on for an E-Ticket, but Imagineers are working to create an impressive addition to the already talked about elaborate expansion of Disneyland for the sixtieth anniversary. While my Bothans were spare with the details since they are in the embryonic phase, they none-the-less said that the concepts are pure, Disney spectacle and absolute techno-geek magic. There are many things that are being planned in this blue sky phase, but remember that it's early. Just like the Tron universe, these designs/plans are likely to evolve.
Box office results will factor into this so remember that mileage may vary depending on what the final tally is. Either way, the word for Disney's future is out there.
And it's spelled T-R-O-N..."
"It's amazing how times change your perception of things...
Take the film Tron for example. When it came out it was a huge disappointment to Walt Disney Productions. They expected this to be their new Star Wars and when it was released not that many went and saw it. Over time, the storyline has proven to be ahead of its time (not the script, mind you). And as the passage of years goes by it's gathered more and more followers to where it's now a hit. Over the past decade there has been talk of finally making a sequel, but most of it was ors that never made it anywhere other that the whispers of fanboys in pop ure's hallway.
Then there was that concept trailer that Walt Disney Pictures snuck in as a surprise for Comic-Con attendees a couple years ago. The crowd's reaction was the final element needed to get the Suits to pull the trigger on the sequel. Soon with the release of Alice in Wonderland an actual 3D teaser for the film can be seen for the first time. This is the one many people got to check out last week when they followed that viral campaign to several locations across the country. And come late summer you can expect an actual trailer with more of the journey into the world of Tron. It's evolved a lot in a generation and this holiday season we're finally going to get to see it. We're a long way from the disappointment of 1982.
It's taken twenty-eight years to change this. 2010 will be a huge year for the sequel to Tron. Huge. And should the box office returns provide what Disney Suits with smiling faces then you can expect a whole lot more over the coming years. On the theatrical front, this could be the beginning of a new trilogy. And I'm not talking about including the original Tron. If all goes according to plan you could see this as the first in a trilogy of films that start with the word 'Tron' and end somewhere else... Legacy is only the beginning. There are preliminary plans to milk this into a franchise of Pirate proportions. And the buzz from it so far is very good.
And that's not the only Tron project they're planning on having for us in the possible future. The plans have been put into motion for a computer animated television series that could conceivably be up by late 2011/early 2012. This would be something of a placeholder to keep the fans interest still peaked in between this first film and the next one. No word yet on where it will wind up being broadcast. It's not known if it'll be staged for the Mouse's fledgling boy channel Disney XD or the more mainstream ABC network, but as of now the concept has been greenlit. We'll see how this project evolves down the development line as the film's release gets closer.
Then there is the merchandise that you're going to see flood the parks come this October/November. Expect Tomorrowland to be filled with all things Tron. And some of the areas are being talked about getting 'thematic' makeovers. If you're into Retro-Eighties with the Captain EO attraction back for a limited run, then prepare for more, albeit fictional nostalgia. Should it get approved, you might get to see the arcade next to Space Mountain turned into a variation of 'Flynn's Arcade.' We'll cross our fingers and see if the Suits make the call on this one.
Naturally, there's the talk of a Tron attraction at Disneyland and various other theme parks. WDI is working on concepts for a Tron experience, but don't expect a fully immersive Tron Legacy attraction by the time the film opens. Any attraction wouldn't be seen in Tommowland until 2012 at the earliest... but that doesn't mean there won't be surprises between now and then.
I've been told that nothing has been signed off on for an E-Ticket, but Imagineers are working to create an impressive addition to the already talked about elaborate expansion of Disneyland for the sixtieth anniversary. While my Bothans were spare with the details since they are in the embryonic phase, they none-the-less said that the concepts are pure, Disney spectacle and absolute techno-geek magic. There are many things that are being planned in this blue sky phase, but remember that it's early. Just like the Tron universe, these designs/plans are likely to evolve.
Box office results will factor into this so remember that mileage may vary depending on what the final tally is. Either way, the word for Disney's future is out there.
And it's spelled T-R-O-N..."
Indy himself confirms story 5 is set!
From ComingSoon.net;
"Harrison Ford tells the BBC that there's a storyline for the fifth Indiana Jones film. The actor, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have come up with a rough outline for the follow-up to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
'Steven and George and I are sort of agreed on a germ of an idea and we're seeing what comes of it.'
He added that, despite coming up with an idea for the movie, people won't see the movie for some time.
'The process works like this,' he said. 'We come to some basic agreement and then George goes away for a long time and works on it. Then Steven and I get it in some form, some embryonic form. Then if we like it we start working with George on it and at some point down the line it's ready and we do it.'
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull earned $786.6 million worldwide."
"Harrison Ford tells the BBC that there's a storyline for the fifth Indiana Jones film. The actor, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have come up with a rough outline for the follow-up to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
'Steven and George and I are sort of agreed on a germ of an idea and we're seeing what comes of it.'
He added that, despite coming up with an idea for the movie, people won't see the movie for some time.
'The process works like this,' he said. 'We come to some basic agreement and then George goes away for a long time and works on it. Then Steven and I get it in some form, some embryonic form. Then if we like it we start working with George on it and at some point down the line it's ready and we do it.'
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull earned $786.6 million worldwide."
FAST FIVE and MACGRUBER get re-dated
From ComingSoon.net:
"Universal Pictures today announced that Fast Five, the fifth film in the Fast and Furious franchise, will hit theaters on June 10, 2011. There are no other films scheduled for that date yet. Director Justin Lin, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are returning for the action pic, in which Dom (Diesel) and Brian (Walker) are fugitives being pursued by relentless lawmen.
The studio has also moved MacGruber away from The Losers on April 23. The action-comedy based on the 'Saturday Night Live' sketch will now open on May 21, where it will face Shrek Forever After. MacGruber was directed by Jorma Taccone and stars Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig, Val Kilmer and Powers Boothe."
"Universal Pictures today announced that Fast Five, the fifth film in the Fast and Furious franchise, will hit theaters on June 10, 2011. There are no other films scheduled for that date yet. Director Justin Lin, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are returning for the action pic, in which Dom (Diesel) and Brian (Walker) are fugitives being pursued by relentless lawmen.
The studio has also moved MacGruber away from The Losers on April 23. The action-comedy based on the 'Saturday Night Live' sketch will now open on May 21, where it will face Shrek Forever After. MacGruber was directed by Jorma Taccone and stars Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig, Val Kilmer and Powers Boothe."
Monday, March 1, 2010
TRON LEGACY breaks new ground on IMAX
From ComingSoon.net:
"After the event in Los Angeles, /Film founder Peter Sciretta and FirstShowing's Alex Billington spoke to director Joseph Kosinski about the footage [from Tron Legacy] they saw and discovered he had shot five action sequences that will be displayed in the full-range IMAX format (similar to The Dark Knight) so that those who catch it on the larger IMAX screens will be able to view those scenes taking full advantage of the extended format. (Normally, IMAX show their films in a larger letter-boxed format.)"
The event was about the new Tron Legacy trailer premiere. I will not post what was said until the film trailer is finally released, sometime HOPEFULLY before the release of Alice in Wonderland. Here's the original article from Tron Legacy:
"Kosinski revealed to me that five action sequences from Tron Legacy will be shown in 1.7:1 aspect ratio, exclusively in IMAX Theatres.
If you’ve ever seen a theatrical 3D film on the IMAX screen, then you know that the movie doesn’t fill the whole screen, leaving huge bars to the top and bottom. With The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan shot a few sequences and establishing shots with IMAX cameras, allowing the screen image to switch aspect ratios and fill the entire huge IMAX screen. If you pay to see Tron Legacy in IMAX, you will see something similar.
Most of the film will be presented in widescreen, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, like it will be in your normal multiplex screen. But in the IMAX presentation, five special action sequences are being rendered at 1.7:1, which means that you will see a lot more on the top and the bottom. This makes a huge difference for a 3D presentation. As you know, an IMAX screen is up to eight stories high and are designed to extend to the edge of your peripheral vision, creating a more immersive experience.
I was also told that Disney would be releasing a special IMAX trailer online to show moviegoers the difference. Tron Legacy hits theaters on December 17th 2010.
SlashUpdate: Some people have been asking me this question, so maybe I wasn’t clear about it in my initial post. The IMAX presentation will not be zoomed in or cropped. Kosinski was very clear to me in saying that IMAX moviegoers would see more of the movie at the top and bottom of the frame. No, the movie was not shot on IMAX cameras — it was shot using Sony CineAlta Fusion 3D cameras. I know that camera has a native 16:9 frame, which is close to the 1.7:1 frame of the IMAX presentation. So its very possible that the extra hieght was captured in camera during the shoot, and cropped out for the theatrical presentation. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was shot on that camera series in 16:9 and cropped to 2.35:1 for the release. But the bottom line is: It's not zoomed in or cropped, you will see more in the IMAX release."
"After the event in Los Angeles, /Film founder Peter Sciretta and FirstShowing's Alex Billington spoke to director Joseph Kosinski about the footage [from Tron Legacy] they saw and discovered he had shot five action sequences that will be displayed in the full-range IMAX format (similar to The Dark Knight) so that those who catch it on the larger IMAX screens will be able to view those scenes taking full advantage of the extended format. (Normally, IMAX show their films in a larger letter-boxed format.)"
The event was about the new Tron Legacy trailer premiere. I will not post what was said until the film trailer is finally released, sometime HOPEFULLY before the release of Alice in Wonderland. Here's the original article from Tron Legacy:
"Kosinski revealed to me that five action sequences from Tron Legacy will be shown in 1.7:1 aspect ratio, exclusively in IMAX Theatres.
If you’ve ever seen a theatrical 3D film on the IMAX screen, then you know that the movie doesn’t fill the whole screen, leaving huge bars to the top and bottom. With The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan shot a few sequences and establishing shots with IMAX cameras, allowing the screen image to switch aspect ratios and fill the entire huge IMAX screen. If you pay to see Tron Legacy in IMAX, you will see something similar.
Most of the film will be presented in widescreen, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, like it will be in your normal multiplex screen. But in the IMAX presentation, five special action sequences are being rendered at 1.7:1, which means that you will see a lot more on the top and the bottom. This makes a huge difference for a 3D presentation. As you know, an IMAX screen is up to eight stories high and are designed to extend to the edge of your peripheral vision, creating a more immersive experience.
I was also told that Disney would be releasing a special IMAX trailer online to show moviegoers the difference. Tron Legacy hits theaters on December 17th 2010.
SlashUpdate: Some people have been asking me this question, so maybe I wasn’t clear about it in my initial post. The IMAX presentation will not be zoomed in or cropped. Kosinski was very clear to me in saying that IMAX moviegoers would see more of the movie at the top and bottom of the frame. No, the movie was not shot on IMAX cameras — it was shot using Sony CineAlta Fusion 3D cameras. I know that camera has a native 16:9 frame, which is close to the 1.7:1 frame of the IMAX presentation. So its very possible that the extra hieght was captured in camera during the shoot, and cropped out for the theatrical presentation. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was shot on that camera series in 16:9 and cropped to 2.35:1 for the release. But the bottom line is: It's not zoomed in or cropped, you will see more in the IMAX release."
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