Who watches the SUPERMAN? Zack Snyder does.

From ComingSoon.net:

"Zack Snyder (Watchmen, 300) has been officially confirmed as the director of the upcoming Superman reboot, reports Heat Vision.



Snyder's name recently appeared as a rumored candidate for the position and one of several directors on the Warner Bros. short list. Snyder himself revealed in 2008 that he was originally in line to direct Superman Returns, but that he was not interested in taking the job.

'They asked me to direct a Superman movie, and I said no,' was Snyder's response more than two years ago, 'He's a tricky one nowadays, isn't he? He's the king daddy of all comic-book heroes, but I'm just not sure how you sell that kind of earnestness to a sophisticated audience anymore.'

Whether it is Snyder's view of the project or the new tone itself that has changed remains to be seen, but what is known is that the film will move forward with a script from David Goyer and Jonathan Nolan. Christopher Nolan will 'godfather' the production, aiming for a late 2012 release.

Snyder's Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole is currently playing in theaters and his next film, Sucker Punch, opens March 25th.

UPDATE: Deadline has just spoken with Snyder, who both confirmed his involvement and made the following statement:

'I've been a big fan of the character for a long time, he's definitely the king of all superheroes, he's the one. It's early yet, but I can tell you that what David [Goyer] and Chris [Nolan] have done with the story so far definitely has given me a great insight into a way to make him feel modern. I've always felt he was kind of awesome. I'll finish Sucker Punch and get right at it.'"

HE'S PERFECT!!!!!!!

As long as he doesn't make it too violent.

Robert Zemeckis' TIMELESS return to live-action

From ComingSoon.net:

"Robert Zemeckis will be returning to live-action films with a sci-fi tentpole called Timeless.

Details are scarce, but Timeless is said to have come from a time travel pitch at Warner Bros. and is confirmed to be the director's first live-action project since 2000's Cast Away. Beginning with 2004's The Polar Express, Zemeckis has worked exclusively with performance capture animation on films like I and the upcoming Yellow Submarine.

A frequent subject in Zemeckis' films, time travel is most famously associated with the Back to the Future trilogy, but also plays a storytelling role in his most recent film, A Christmas Carol. Stylistic elements of time travel (particularly an examination of characters from two distinctive eras) are visible in nearly all of the director's works, particularly Forrest Gump."

BUGS BUNNY to return to the big screen

From ComingSoon.net:

"Warner Bros. is planning to bring Bugs Bunny to the big screen in a live-action film.

David Berenbaum, the screenwriter of Elf and The Spiderwick Chronicles has been hired to draft the film which, like the studio's upcoming Yogi Bear, will blend live action with computer animation.



Bugs Bunny, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, has not appeared on the big screen since 2003's Looney Tunes: Back in Action. Other 'Looney Tunes' characters [Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner] recently made a theatrical resurgence with a CGI short before Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. Two more [3D] shorts are planned before WB family films [(Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole and Yogi Bear)] later this year."

If they do this right, this will work. If not, Warner Bros. will ruin Bugs Bunny like Disney ruined Herbie the Love Bug! The Love Bug was the highest-grossing film of 1969! And they stuck him with a dumb redhead who can't keep herself out of jail! (not to assume all redheads are dumb - see Emma Stone).

By the way, Looney Tunes: Back in Action wasn't all bad. It was okay, Brendan Fraser did fine. The animation should've been 2D like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.

YOGI BEAR steals a trailer

From ComingSoon.net:

"The unlikely pairing of Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake provide voices to the classic animated characters Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, respectively, in a big screen adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series.

'When Jellystone Park is found to be losing business, greedy Mayor Brown decides to shut it down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors -- and, even worse, Yogi and Boo Boo will be tossed out of the only home they've ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove that he really is 'smarter than the average bear' as he and Boo-Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith to find a way to save Jellystone Park from closing forever.

The film also stars Tom Cavanagh as Smith and Anna Faris as Rachel. Yogi Bear hits theaters on December 17, 2010."



Okay. It's a step-up from Alvin and the Chipmunks. The character design is a bit better than Scooby-Doo, which didn't even remotely LOOK like Scooby-Doo. Both Yogi and Boo-Boo look like CG versions of The Country Bears. Hopefully, it won't end up BEING The Country Bears (which has since faded into obscurity).

Yogi sounds like a cross between his normal self and Space Ghost. If they ever made a live-action Space Ghost movie, Dan Aykroyd would be a good voice.

Justin Timberlake was my biggest concern before the trailer came out. I used to think he'd be a terrible voice for Boo-Boo. After seeing the trailer, he sounded eerily like Boo-Boo. It was uncanny! I'd go so far as to say he actually nailed it!

Warner Bros. declares WORLD WAR X

From ComingSoon.net:

"Warner Bros. Pictures has bought Colin Trevorrow's script World War X and has set it up with Silver Pictures.

The trade says the story is 'centered on a man recruited by a team of government agents to stop a terrorist from the future who is using time travel to reshape history'

Joel Silver and Andrew Rona are producing. Chris Bender, JC Spink, Alex Heineman and Jake Weiner are executive producing."

Sounds like a great story. Original even! I love time travel stories and this sounds like a new take on the concept.

The game's afoot again December 2011

From HeatVision Blog:

"Warner Bros. has scheduled Sherlock Holmes 2 for a mid-December 2011 release and is getting close to giving the go-ahead for a movie about beloved DC Comics superhero 'Flash'.

The Dec. 16 release date next year for the Sherlock sequel was shown on a slide during a presentation here Thursday by Warner chairman and CEO Barry Meyer. The first Sherlock was released this past December.

Meyer said the 2011 film slate will have roughly 25 movies.

As other big releases already set, he mentioned:
-- Red Riding Hood: April 22, 2011
-- The Hangover 2: May 26
-- Green Lantern (3D): June 17
-- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (3D): July 15
-- Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 (3D): Sept. 23
-- Happy Feet 2 (3D): Nov. 18
-- New Year's Eve: Dec. 9

Given that 2011 will be the last year with a Potter release, Meyer said he guesses that the most successful franchise in motion picture history will have exceeded $7.5 billion in worldwide boxoffice once the final installment ends its theatrical run. And he said his team has been preparing for the franchise's end.

Meyer particularly highlighted that DC Comics characters are key parts of Warner's future, mentioning a July 20, 2012 release date for the latest 'Batman' film by Christopher Nolan and a holiday season 2012 'Superman' film.

He added that the studio is also 'nearing' a greenlight for a Flash movie, with films featuring Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Mad magazine characters also in development."

UPDATE:

The film is coming December 16, 2011. Up against Alvin and the Chipmunks 3D and Mission: Impossible IV. SOMEBODY'S gonna move.

IMAX and Warner Bros. unite

From ComingSoon.net:

"IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures announced a deal today good for up to 20 movies from 2010 through 2013:

IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures, a unit of Time Warner Inc., announced today that they have completed an agreement to release up to 20 Warner Bros. films in IMAX's format over the course of the next three and a half years (from 2010 through 2013). The agreement strategically aligns Warner Bros.' tent-pole business with the increasing worldwide popularity of The IMAX Experience in both 2D and IMAX 3D, providing the studio with an added distribution platform that consistently delivers strong box office returns. The agreement underscores the excitement around the studio's future films which are anticipated to be among the best Hollywood event titles slated for release in the coming years.

Under the agreement, Warner Bros. movies that will be released in IMAX are: Legends of the Guardian: The Owls of Ga'Hoole 3D (September 24, 2010); Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (3D) (November 19, 2010); Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (3D) (July 15, 2011); Happy Feet 2 (3D) (November 18, 2011); and The Hobbit (December 2012). Warner Bros. and IMAX also plan to release an additional 15 films over the course of 2011, 2012 and 2013, including Gravity, Dark Shadows, [the non-Mel Gibson Mad Max movie] Fury Road, Batman 3, and [the next] Superman [film]."

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.

SPEEDY George?

From ComingSoon.net:

"New Line/Warner Bros. is developing a big screen version of Speedy Gonzales, to be voiced by George Lopez.

Garfield writers Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen will adapt the classic animated Looney Tunes character into a live-action/CG hybrid feature. The movie will reportedly take place in present day.

Lopez, Anne Lopez and Lynette Ramirez are producing for George Lopez Presents, along with Ocean's Eleven producer Jerry Weintraub, Tracy Ryerson and Jill Arthur.

Known as 'The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico', there have been 46 cartoons made either starring or featuring the character.

'Speedy's going to be a misunderstood boy who comes from a family that works in a very meticulous setting, and he's a little too fast for what they do,' said Anne Lopez. 'He makes a mess of that. So he has to go out in the world to find what he's good at.'

That path becomes clearer once Speedy befriends a gun-shy race-car driver."

I wasn't expecting a movie on this character but George Lopez fits perfectly (if he can imitate Mel Blanc).

"Case reopened!"

From ComingSoon.net:

"Producer Joel Silver told the Los Angeles Times that Guy Ritchie is no longer attached to direct Warner Bros. Pictures' adaptation of the DC Comics title Lobo because the studio is moving forward with Sherlock Holmes 2.


'I don't think he's going to do it now,' Silver, who is producing both properties, said. 'The studio wants us and Guy to focus on making another Sherlock Holmes... So we're trying to see if we can do something quickly with another Sherlock Holmes movie. We have some ideas and some good story points.' Silver added that they'll likely go with another director for Lobo.

He expects everyone to come back for Sherlock Holmes 2. 'Downey loves the experience of playing Sherlock and would love to play him again, and I'd love to see him play it again. Jude and all of them will be back and it will be great.'

Silver was also asked about the [rum]or that Brad Pitt would appear in the Holmes sequel as Professor Moriarty. 'Well, I mean, we talked about that at one point, but you know as of right now we're not sure what we're going to do. We'll see what happens,' he said."

I know a lot of people are going to be very, very happy!

No New SUPERMAN?

From ComingSoon.net:

"With the formation of DC Entertainment, many thought a new film in the Superman franchise would be one of the big things the company would concentrate on. Not so, DC Entertainment Diane Nelson told MTV:

'We actually don't have any current plans for Superman,' said Nelson when asked if the new environment (and the recent legal decision regarding the character) made a 'Superman' movie more or less likely in the near future... We've obviously done a lot of great things behind the property in our history, and it's a key part of the family, but we don't have current plans behind Superman,' she said.'"

Don't worry. One's gonna get made. If the United States legal system has to actually dissemble Warner Bros., DC Entertainment and DC Comics itself to do it!

Separate Ways (UNIVERSES Apart)

From ComingSoon.net:

"Variety reports that Warner Bros. and Mattel are parting ways on Masters of the Universe, the new live-action adaptation of the Mattel toy line that the studio and producer Joel Silver have been developing since 2007.

The trade says that Mattel and WB didn't see eye to eye over the direction of the project and made a mutual decision to let the option lapse this month.

Mattel will take back the property and set it up elsewhere. The expectation is that director John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda) will remain with the project, but not Silver, who is exclusive to WB."

Maybe Fox or Universal can handle this. Who knows? Only Skeletor knows.

DC Comics gets new life?

From ComingSoon.net:

"Deadline Hollywood is reporting that a lot of DC Comics film properties may get a new life as Warner Bros. is restructuring DC Comics. If an official announcement is made, we'll post that later, but here is an excerpt from Nikki Finki's report:

'I've learned that the announcement may be made as soon as later today. The restructuring of the stand-alone DC Comics business is being described to me as Warner Bros Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov's first priority since having his contract re-upped by Time Warner. I know what everybody is thinking: that this move is in response to the announcement August 31st that Disney is buying Marvel. You can think that, but you would be wrong. This change has been in the works quietly for two years ever since Robinov moved into the top slot. 'It was Jeff's idea to have DC Comics reporting to him, and DC will be his direct responsibility with Diane Nelson,' an insider confided to me. I've also learned that Robinov for months has quietly gone to producers like Chuck Roven and Joel Silver and Akiva Goldman 'call back' all their existing high profile DC titles in development like The Flash and Wonder Woman. Not only was that shocking to the producers, but even more so when they found out this was part of Robinov's strategy to severely limit the number of gross players on the projects. Producers were told that they may get the titles back to develop, but with far less rich deals. 'Jeff always wanted some kind of oversight of DC, and now he wants Warner's to hold onto ownership,' my insider explains. (My understanding is that Joel Silver, who is buddies with Robinov, was told he can continue to develop low profile The Losers under the Dark Castle banner. But his 10 years of developing Wonder Woman is history now.)"

Whatever happened to Green Lantern?

UPDATE:

In the words of Jason Lee from Clerks II, "Well, that was fast!"

"Warner Bros. has officially announced the restructuring of DC Comics into a new company:

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI) has created DC Entertainment Inc., a new company founded to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms, to be run by Diane Nelson, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, and Alan Horn, President & COO, Warner Bros.

DC Entertainment, a separate division of WBEI, will be charged with strategically integrating the DC Comics business, brand and characters deeply into Warner Bros. Entertainment and all its content and distribution businesses. DC Entertainment, which will work with each of the Warner Bros. divisions, will also tap into the tremendous expertise the Studio has in building and sustaining franchises and prioritize DC properties as key titles and growth drivers across all of the Studio, including feature films, television, interactive entertainment, direct-to-consumer platforms and consumer products. The DC Comics publishing business will remain the cornerstone of DC Entertainment, releasing approximately 90 comic books through its various imprints and 30 graphic novels a month and continuing to build on its creative leadership in the comic book industry.

In her new role, Nelson will report to Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, in order to best capitalize on DC Entertainment's theatrical development and production activities and their importance to drive its overall business with each of the divisions of Warner Bros.

Nelson will bring her expertise and more than 20 years' experience in creative brand management, strategic marketing and content development and production to ensuring DC Entertainment's dual mission of marshalling Warner Bros.' resources to maximize the potential of the DC brand while remaining respectful of and collaborative with creators, talent, fans and source material. Additionally, Nelson will continue to oversee the franchise management of the Harry Potter property, which she has done since 2000, and also continue to represent the Studio's interests with the author of the Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling. Nelson will segue from her post as President, Warner Premiere but maintain oversight responsibilities of that division. (An executive succession plan for Warner Premiere will be announced shortly.)

Paul Levitz, who has served as President & Publisher of DC Comics since 2002, will segue from that role to return to his roots as a writer for DC and become a contributing editor and overall consultant to DCE. This transition will take place as expeditiously as possible without disrupting DC's business operations.

In his new role, Levitz will be called upon for his deep knowledge and more than three-decade history with DC Comics, both as a comic creator and an executive. Besides serving as a writer on a number of DC Comics titles, he will be a contributing editor and consultant to DC Entertainment on projects in various media. Additionally, he will consult as needed on the transition and integration of the DC Comics organization into DC Entertainment and will utilize his unique experience, knowledge and relationships with the comics industry's creative community to help achieve DC Entertainment's goal of maximizing the value of DC properties. Further, Levitz will advise DC Entertainment on creative and rights-holder relationships, in particular regarding the legacy relationships that have been a part of DC Comics for decades.

Widely recognized and respected for his support of writers, artists and creators in the comics industry, Levitz is best known creatively for his work with DC Comics, having written most of the classic DC characters, including Batman, Wonder Woman and the Superman newspaper strip. At Comicon International in 2008, Levitz was awarded the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award as part of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the only industry executive ever so honored.

'DC Comics and its super hero characters are truly touchstones of popular ure, and the formation of DC Entertainment is a major step in our company's efforts to realize the full potential of this incredible wellspring of creative properties,' said Meyer. 'Diane knows our studio as a creative executive, a marketer and a senior manager, and this varied background will help her effectively and creatively integrate the DC brand and properties across all our businesses. We're also thrilled that Paul will remain involved with DC and we'll be able to tap his expertise to help us reach our goals for this new business.'

'It's no secret that DC has myriad rich and untapped possibilities from its deep library of iconic and lesser-known characters,' said Horn. 'While we've had great success in films and television, the formation of DC Entertainment will help us to bring more DC properties across additional platforms to fans around the world, while maintaining brand integrity and authenticity. Diane is a terrific choice to lead DC Entertainment, and with Paul in his new role as a valued consultant and contributing editor, both our company and comic fans win.'

'Based on the great success we've had working with DC Comics to create some of the most popular and successful super hero films of all time, I've long believed that there was much more we could do across all of Warner Bros.' businesses with this great body of characters and stories' said Robinov. 'The prioritization of DC and the creation of DC Entertainment is a great opportunity that reaches far beyond the film group. There are endless creative possibilities to build upon the many significant successes already achieved by my colleagues Kevin Tsujihara and the Home Entertainment Group in the videogame, home video and direct-to-platform arenas and Bruce Rosenblum and the Television Group in live-action, animated and digital series. Collectively, we have the ability to grow a body of properties highlighting the iconic characters and the diversity of the creative output of DC Comics.'

'The founding of DC Entertainment fully recognizes our desire to provide both the DC properties and fans the type of content that is only possible through a concerted cross-company, multi-platform effort,' said Nelson. 'DC Entertainment will help us to formally take the great working relationships between DC Comics and various Warner Bros. businesses to the next level in order to maximize every opportunity to bring DC's unrivalled collection of titles and characters to life.'

'After so many roles at DC, it's exciting to look forward to focusing on my writing and being able to remain a part of the company I love as it grows into its next stage,' said Levitz. 'It's a new golden age for comics and DC's great characters, and I hope my new position will allow me to contribute to that magic time.'

DC Comics will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2010 (NEW FUN COMICS #1, the first DC comic, began publishing in 1935), at which time more explicit details regarding DC Entertainment's corporate and management structure, film and content release slate, creative roster and business objectives will be unveiled at a multi-faceted anniversary celebration and press conference in the first quarter of the year.

Current DC properties in development and/or production at Warner Bros. Entertainment include:

-- 'Human Target' is being produced by Warner Bros. Television for a mid-season debut on Fox.

-- 'Midnight Mass' is in series development at Warner Bros. Television for consideration for the 2010-11 season.

-- Jonah Hex, Warner Bros. Pictures' supernatural Western starring Josh Brolin, Megan Fox and John Malkovich, recently wrapped production in Louisiana.

-- The Losers, Dark Castle/Warner Bros. Pictures' action-adventure drama starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana and Chris Evans, began principal photography mid-July in Puerto Rico.

-- Green Lantern, Warner Bros. Pictures' next big superhero tentpole release, recently cast Ryan Reynolds as the titular character. The film has a projected second quarter 2011 release date.

-- Lobo, based on the DC Comics anti-hero, has Guy Ritchie attached as a director; Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona are producing for Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures.

-- Warner Premiere's direct-to-platform DVD animated release of Green Lantern: First Flight debuted July 28.

-- Warner Bros. Animation currently produces 'Batman: The Brave and the Bold,' which airs on Cartoon Network.

-- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released 'Batman: Arkham Asylum' on August 25, a dark, action packed videogame adventure for Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows.

Prior to being named President, DC Entertainment, Nelson most recently served as President, Warner Premiere since its founding in 2006. Warner Premiere is a Studio-based production company which develops and produces high-quality, direct-to-DVD and short-form digital content, including the highly successful line of DC Universe animated DVD titles, and also pioneered the development of the motion comics category. Under Nelson's leadership, Warner Premiere functions as a full-service production entity with its own resources and release schedule, furthering the Studio's mandate of being a destination for both established and up-and-coming talent to create stand-alone properties as well as experiment in new media.

Before that, Nelson served as Executive Vice President, Global Brand Management, Warner Bros. Entertainment, with the primary responsibility of working cross-divisionally and throughout Time Warner to maximize and optimize all the various windows and outlets available to the Studio's signature franchises, brands and event properties on a global basis. In this post, Nelson's primary focus was the management of the Harry Potter brand, which she has overseen since the brand's launch at the Studio in 1999. These efforts have helped drive the success of the brand to become the most successful film franchise of all time, as well as a respected consumer property that has generated billions of dollars for the Studio.

At Global Brand Management, Nelson and her team of more than 15 employees worked in all media and platforms to support a number of other key franchise properties, including The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Happy Feet, The Polar Express and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory among others.

Prior to overseeing Global Brand Management, Nelson had served as Executive Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures. Nelson rose quickly through the ranks, having also served as Senior Vice President, Domestic Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures and prior to that, Senior Vice President, Family Entertainment, Warner Bros. Corporate Worldwide Marketing and Planning. She was also Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Promotions, a post to which she was promoted in March 1998, after joining the Studio in September 1996 as Director of Worldwide Corporate Promotions.

Nelson came to the Studio from Walt Disney Records, where she served as Director of National Promotions. She is a graduate of Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications."

Three down for GREEN LANTERN

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Hollywood Reporter says that Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake are the three frontrunners for Warner Bros. Pictures' Green Lantern.

Along with director Martin Campbell and producers Donald De Line and Greg Berlanti, Warner Bros. has spent the past five months searching for the actor to play Hal Jordan, the hot-shot Air Force pilot who is chosen by a dying alien to be his successor in an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern.

The trade adds that De Line, Campbell and the studio each had a different favorite among the three finalists, making it difficult to come to a consensus.

The studio is targeting a June 17, 2011 release."

My choice:

definitely not Justin Timberlake (even if he is a Memphian), he has no business whatsoever being a superhero.

Ryan Reynolds - the obvious choice (to me, he is one of the epitomes of wit, charm and humor, otherwise known as cool) but there's one little problem: Deadpool (how's he's gonna balance two superheroes from two rival comics companies?)

Bradley Cooper - seriously, I don't know enough about this guy. How's he getting all these movie offers when I haven't heard of him? He makes The Hangover and KABOOM! He's getting movie deals up to his head!

UPDATE:

As Stephen Colbert would say, "I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT! I PREDICTED IT!"


Summer 2011, Ryan Reynolds is the Green Lantern of Sector 2814.

Can you hear it?

"In brightest day, in blackest night
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil's might
Beware my power - Green Lantern's light!"

THE DARK KNIGHT breaks the $1 Billion Mark

From ComingSoon.net:

"The Dark Knight has become the fourth film to take in more than $1 billion in worldwide box office.

Warner Bros. Pictures made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying that the combined domestic and international gross had totaled $1,001,082,160 to date -- about $533 million domestically and $567 million overseas.

The Dark Knight had been about $4 million short of the 10-figure mark when Warner Bros. re-released it into IMAX screens on Jan. 23, the day after its eight Oscar nominations were announced.

Grosses from Ecuador also helped nudge the film over the mark, a spokeswoman said. Only Titanic ($1.842 billion), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ($1.119 billion) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest ($1.066 billion) have topped the billion-dollar worldwide mark previously. Knight also is the second-highest domestic grosser of all time, trailing only Titanic."

The only thing I have to say? ABOUT TIME!! Let's tip over Titanic shall we?

Superman gets UNLEASHED

From ComingSoon.net:

"/Film snuck into Legendary Pictures' password protected company site, which lists Superman Unleashed as one of the company's upcoming films in development. Legendary Pictures was one of the companies responsible for bringing director Bryan Singer and Warner Bros. Pictures' Superman Returns to theaters in 2006.

The site says the listing includes the following synopsis:
'Ramping up the action of its esteemed predecessor, the sequel to Superman Returns promises to raise the stakes and take the audience to heights of action that no other superhero movie can achieve.'"

Yeah, it'd better. So I'm guessing it's going to be a tug-of-war between the Wachowskis and Bryan Singer.

The Superman Matrix?

From IMDB.com:

"The Matrix filmmakers Andy and Larry Wachowski have been offered the chance to take over the Superman franchise and make a trilogy of movies about the Man of Steel, according to reports.

The superhero franchise has been on hold since 2006's Superman Returns, which was directed by Bryan Singer.

According to movie website Ain't it Cool News, Singer has turned down the chance to make another Superman movie, paving the way for studios bosses at Warner Bros. to offer the job to the Wachowskis.

The site was tipped off by a recent interview James McTeigue - who directed the brothers' film adaptation of comic V for Vendetta - gave to a German TV station.

McTeigue revealed the Wachowskis' plans to make a movie about comic character Plastic Man have been postponed, and that they are considering a three-part follow-up to Superman Returns.

A source tells Ain't it Cool News, "(The Wachowskis) are currently reviewing their options as it's like being asked to take the final play in a Super Bowl final.

'Making a Superman movie is unbelievable as they have grown up in the world of comic books and they would be ideal for the project.'"

Now, I didn't mind Speed Racer. I think it is a great film for people who haven't seen the anime the film is based on but unfortunately I saw the first season of the original before I saw the film and I don't think it completely measures up (Spritle's too old..."Freebird" in a Wachowski/Speed Racer movie... Speed cursing on the track at all). So you can see why I'm not sure Warner Bros. is wise to let the Wachowskis after an American icon. But then again, has anybody seen Superman Returns? Aside from Marlon Brando, this film didn't look anything like the Donner film.

Tom & Jerry make the leap to the big screen!

From ComingSoon.net:

"Warner Bros. is planning to bring 'Tom and Jerry' to life as CG characters that run around in live-action settings.
The studio-based Dan Lin, currently producing the upcoming Sherlock Holmes and executive producer on Terminator Salvation, will adapt the classic Hanna-Barbera property as an origin story that reveals how Tom and Jerry first meet and form their rivalry before getting lost in Chicago and reluctantly working together during an arduous journey home.
Warners owns the rights to Hanna-Barbera's slate of popular animated properties and has several of them in development for bigscreen adaptation. Those include Robert Rodriguez's version of The Jetsons and producer Donald De Line's Yogi Bear.
"Tom and Jerry" originated as a series of 114 animated shorts, produced by MGM's toon studio between 1940 and 1960, and won seven Academy Awards. New toons were produced after that."

Not bad, sounds like a CG version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This is the way I thought TMNT was going to be.

WATCHMEN has been saved!

According to ComingSoon.net:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=51975

Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox have resolved their dispute regarding the rights to the upcoming motion picture Watchmen in a confidential settlement. Warner Bros acknowledges that Fox acted in good faith in bringing its claims, which were asserted prior to the start of principal photography. Fox acknowledges that Warner Bros. acted in good faith in defending against those claims Warner Bros. and Fox, like all Watchmen fans, look forward with great anticipation to this film's March 6 release in theatres.

Good show, guys.

January 2009 - REPOST

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - - (January 16th)
Kevin James (Paul Blart)
Clumsy mall security guard Paul Blart has been rejected for the position of police officer several times, but now he must deal with a hostage situation in the West Orange Pavilion Mall.

Inkheart - - (January 23rd)
Brendan Fraser (Mo Folchart), Paul Bettany (Dustfinger), Helen Mirren (Elinor Loredan), Jim Broadbent (Fenglio), Jennifer Connelly (Roxanne)
A young discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books and must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook's hero.

UPDATE: Also on January 23rd, Warner Bros. is re-releasing the runaway hit sensation, The Dark Knight in IMAX and conventional theaters everywhere. I've heard rumors that they may be adding never-before-seen footage. Could this mean... MORE HEATH LEDGER AS THE JOKER?!