FINAL DESTINATION 5 hits cinemas in August.
What do you guys think? Fun, right? No? But Tony Todd’s back! Still no? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}
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Following in the footsteps of Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling and James Franco, Keanu Reeves is the latest to have officially passed on the role.
And that’s not the only blow for this long in development project – Warner Bros. has also shut down the film’s pre-viz department, and screenwriter Steve Kloves has been charged with the task of re-writing a draft of the script that would bring the budget down from the current $140,000,000 budget(!)
When contacted however, they remained positive, issuing the following statement:
“Production on AKIRA has not
halted or been shut down, as the film has not yet been greenlit and is still very much in the development stage. The exploratory process is crucial to a project of this magnitude, and we will continue to sculpt our approach to making the best possible film.”
Hmmm. Sounds a bit suss to us.
While we all wait for updates on the movie – UK readers will get another chance to see the 1988 original when it’s re-released in cinemas for a limited run on the 17th of June, and available to buy on Blu-Ray from the 27th.
Previously, on AKIRA-watch….
08/05/11
Last draft
April 26th
2011
Nice try, many of us thought. Who the hell are you anyway, @agenttrainee? Yeah, we’ve all seen before that this is how he sometimes likes to decorate his manuscripts – QT ain’t gonna be Courier 12’s bitch – but it doesn’t take a master art forger to replicate that serial killer scrawl. Anyone who’s followed this filmmaker’s career knows his penchant for procrastination (he’d been talking up Inglourious Basterds since 1994!) there’s no way a new Tarantino picture could be upon us so soon…
Well, we’re very happy to report that we were wrong – the pic was verified as genuine and the screenplay soon began to do the rounds, with noted film guru Harry Knowles being one of the trusted few granted access, gleefully providing a Twitter commentary as he read it:
“page 47, I have tears of joy”
“Christoph Waltz’s character in DJANGO UNCHAINED 56 pages in is the best character in QT’s history. no spoiler in that. just when i knew”
“DJANGO UNCHAINED is an operatic southern… this is my favorite QT script. & I’ve read them all. This I absolutely love at every level”
While chuffed he had a good time, I have to wonder why anybody would want to deny themselves the experience of seeing a new Quentin Tarantino film unspoiled, in a cinema, the way God intended, is beyond me! But the same thing happened with Basterds and Kill Bill, and it’ll continue on as long as the guy writes. I’ll never understand it, even in the name of movie journalism. Count me out.
Anyway, what do we know so far…
While the title refers directly to Sergio Corbucci’s series of spaghetti westerns starting in 1966, it isn’t yet clear whether this will follow the same character (as originally portrayed by Franco Nero), or is simply being used to pay homage to the cult movie, much the same way QT borrowed the title of his last film from a little seen, unrelated WWII movie from 1978.
The plot revolves around a former slave teaming up with a bounty hunter (the aforementioned Christophe Waltz?) on a mission to liberate his wife from a vicious slave owner.
Today comes news that the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith, is in talks to play the titular character after Tarantino apparently wrote the role with him in mind. While this rumour may prove to be just that, I for one would love to see Big Willie step up and stop being so calculated in his film choices – if he’s not punching aliens in the face in that summers biggest, dumbest blockbuster, he’s getting teary-eyed in some desperate, Oscar-chasing drivel (THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS; SEVEN POUNDS). A protect like this would give him a chance to showcase acting chops not seen since Michael Mann’s ALI.
Expect DJANGO to go before cameras later this year, and to be released sometime in the first half of 2012.
Smith can next be seen punching aliens in the face in this year’s MEN IN BLACK III.
What do you folks think? Is Smith a good choice? If not, who would you rather see in the role? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}
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Eight years on, it’s time to have another crack, with the news that GK Films have hired writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Otsby (IRON MAN; COWBOYS & ALIENS) to pen the screenplay, with the aim to explore the character’s origins.
Fans of the character might be in for a long wait however, with a projected release date of 2013 (plenty of time to have fun with the casting rumours though!) Until then, Croft is getting similar treatment (albeit in pixel form) with a new video game reboot by Crystal Dynamics, due late this year.
Who would you cast as Croft? Excited about the prospect of a new TOMB RAIDER franchise, or couldn’t give a monkeys? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}
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The directing duo responsible for last years compelling yet controversial “documentary” CATFISH – Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman – have signed on to direct PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 for Paramount Pictures.
Having seen their interesting debut (and being one of the few PA2 apoligists) I’m genuinely pleased at the choice – the franchise needs somebody who can skillfully create that reality feel from the fictional subject matter… something they proved to be masters at during the first two thirds of CATFISH.
Details are – as usual with this franchise – scarce, but we do know that it will continue the story introduced in Parts 1 & 2, with original protagonist Katie (Katie Featherstone) already signed on to reprise her role.
The film is slated for release this coming Halloween, giving the guys a mere five months to turn the film around in time.
At least the workload will take their mind off the long-running lawsuits.
Is there still life in this franchise? Would you rather have another director at the helm? Let us know with your comments below!
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{mov}ConantheBarbarian{/mov}
Nifty stuff indeed, though director Marcus Nispel has a lot to prove after destroying not one, but two cult classics already (see THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE; FRIDAY THE 13TH). Let’s hope he’s not going for the hat trick.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN is released in theatres this August.
Annoyed this project isn’t the long-mooted KING CONAN? More annoyed that it looks like THE MUMMY? Could they have cast an uglier Conan?! Let us know in the comments below!
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Already confirmed are James Franco (YOUR HIGHNESS; this years OSCAR train-wreck) as the wizard himself (actually a shady snake-oil salesman transported to Oz via enchanted balloon), and the beautiful but bulbous-eyed Mila Kunis (BLACK SWAN) as Evanora’s sister Theodora.
OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL is just one of six(!) Oz projects heading to our screens over the next few years, facing competition from Drew Barrymore’s SURRENDER DOROTHY; Leigh Scott’s THE WITCHES OF OZ; and comic book adaptation DARK OZ to name but a few of the main contenders (direct-to-video TOM AND JERRY AND THE WIZARD OF OZ shouldn’t be causing Disney any sleepless nights.)
With Raimi at the helm expect this to film to deliver in a big way – his dynamic shooting style and visual perfectionism making him an inspired choice to bring L. Frank Baum’s world back to life.
Are you ready to Return To Oz? Frustrated Raimi isn’t just getting on with EVIL DEAD 4 dammit? Let us know with your comments below!{jcomments on}
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