Tuesday, April 14, 2015

4-14-15 Movie News

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is some movie news with some of my thoughts and opinions (which will be in BOLD print). So without further ado...


(NOTE: All of these stories come from comingsoon.net)


        Although she became officially attached to the DC Comics adaptation late last year, the news has just gone out that “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” director Michelle MacLaren has departed Wonder Woman as a director. “Given creative differences,” reads the official statement from the studio, “Warner Bros. and Michelle MacLaren have decided not to move forward with plans to develop and direct ‘Wonder Woman’ together.” Gal Gadot remains attached headline Wonder Woman with the character planned to make her first cinematic appearance in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. She may even make additional appearances across DC’s new cinematic universe before her solo film sees release on June 23, 2017. It’s pretty much a guarantee, too, that Wonder Woman is also going to play an important role in Justice League Part One, hitting theaters November 10, 2017. Elsewhere in the big screen DC Universe, Scott Eastwood has joined the cast of David Ayer’s Suicide Squad in what is rumored to be the role of Steve Trevor. If accurate, those rumors suggest that Eastwood is likely to appear in Wonder Woman as well. MacLaren’s directing credits include episodes of “Game of Thrones,” “The Leftovers” and “Better Call Saul.” She’s also well-known for serving as co-executive producer on the final two seasons of FOX’s “The X-Files.” Charles Roven and Zack and Deborah Snyder are attached to produce Wonder Woman.

        I really hate to hear this news. When I first heard that MacLaren was selected to direct the film I got really excited because of the episodes she directed of Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead and I thought she was the perfect fit. We probably won't ever know the full story, but I'm curious to see what went down. DC isn't in panic mode just yet, but they need to find a director fairly soon if they want to complete the film in time for the June 23, 2017 release date.



        The ensemble cast of Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Apocalypse expands today as the director reveals that Olivia Munn (“The Newsroom,” Magic Mike) will be playing Betsy Braddock (aka Psylocke) in the upcoming franchise sequel! Like quite a few Marvel mutants, Psylocke’s comic book history is a bit strange. Elizabeth Braddock first appeared in 1976’s “Captain Britain” #8 as the twin sister of the UK book’s title hero. It wasn’t until a decade later in the pages of “New Mutants Annual” #2 that Braddock, a telepath, took over the body and abilities of a Japanese ninja, Kwannon, becoming the X-Men member known as Psylocke. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult will lead the cast of X-Men: Apocalypse, which will also see the return of Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Evan Peters as Quicksilver and newcomers Alexandra Shipp, Sophie Turner, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ben Hardy and Tye Sheridan as young versions of Storm, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Angel and Cyclops. Oscar Isaac is also starring as the film’s title antagonist with Simon Kinberg scripting from a treatment by Mike Dougherty, Dan Harris and Kinberg. Said to be the conclusion of a trilogy started with X-Men: First Class and continued with X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse is set for release on May 27, 2016.

        I think this is great casting. She has the body type for the part I think she is a very talented actress. Plus it doesn't hurt to be one of the most beautiful women on the planet. I think she'll bring a lot to the role and I can't wait to see her performance. So far this film has knocked it out of the park when it comes to casting the new faces and I look for more names to be added soon.



        Things have been pretty active on the terrestrial side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe between new episodes of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” Netflix’s “Daredevil” and next month’s much-anticipated Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was on the red carpet for the latter that Guardians of the Galaxy‘s James Gunn caught up with Vulture and spoke a bit about what’s on the way on the other side of the MCU. “At its heart, Guardians is a story about families,” says Gunn, “and if the first film was about him and his mother, this is a story about fathers. So it’s exciting to go there… Listen, I’m still excited about Star-Lord’s character and where he goes.” Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is targeted to begin production at Pinewood Atlanta in February of 2016 and is then slated to hit the big screen May 5, 2017. That’s not stopping Gunn from already making plans for a bit further down the line. “I knew for a long time what the story of the second one was gonna be,” Gunn explains, “And the third one!” Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will once again feature Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper as unlikely heroes who must team up in order to defeat a cosmic force of epic proportions.

        This idea makes sense. One of the things that is a major story when it comes to the comics is who Star-Lord's father is. This is something I've known for a while that they would do for GOTG 2 and I think it's a great idea. There is also a possibility of Star-Lord having a kid (I'm not for dure if he has one in the comics) which could lead into the father aspect. I loved the first Guardians movie and I'm really excited to see what they will do for number 2. 



        Although there are still no plans in the works for a feature film based on the hit video gamefranchise Grand Theft Auto, the true story behind the game is another matter altogether. “Black Mirror” director Owen Harris is taking on a big screen adaptation of David Kushner’s nonfiction bestseller “Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto,” which already has Harry Potter franchise star Daniel Radcliffe attached to play Sam Houser, the co-founder and president of Rockstar Games. Today, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Bill Paxton is in talks to join the film as well. On Kushner’s official site, “Jacked” is described as follows: Grand Theft Auto is one of the biggest and most controversial videogame franchises of all time. Since its first release in 1997, GTA has pioneered the use of everything from 3D graphics to the voices of top Hollywood actors and repeatedly transformed the world of gaming. Despite its incredible innovations in the $75 billion game industry, it has also been a lightning rod of debate, spawning accusations of ethnic and sexual discrimination, glamorizing violence, and inciting real-life crimes. Jacked tells the turbulent and mostly unknown story of GTA’s wildly ambitious creators, Rockstar Games, the invention and evolution of the franchise, and the cultural and political backlash it has provoked. Explains how British prep school brothers Sam and Dan Houser took their dream of fame, fortune, and the glamor of American pop culture and transformed it into a worldwide videogame blockbuster. Written by David Kushner, author of Masters of Doom and a top journalist on gaming, and drawn from over ten years of interviews and research, including firsthand knowledge of Grand Theft Auto’s creators and detractors. Paxton, who recently starred in both Nightcrawler and Edge of Tomorrow, will play a Miami-based attorney named Jack Thompson who repeatedly went after Rockstar Games, attacking the company for the degree of sex and violence featured in its games. Featuring a script by James Woods, the still-untitled project will begin shooting next week.

        This is terrific casting. Bill Paxton is a tremendous actor who is very underrated and he's been in so many different films. The character he could possibly be playing sounds like a role that he would fit into nicely. I'm really curious to see how this film turns out because I'm huge GTA fan and I would really love to know the backstory of the game. 



        Happy Madison Productions has today debuted the teaser trailer for their upcoming comedy sequel Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser, which stars David Spade, reprising his role from the 2001 original. Billed as the first ever made-for-digital sequel to a major motion picture, Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser will premiere on Crackle beginning July 16. Spade returns as the mullet-wearing, rock and roll loving, down on his luck white-trash-hero who embarks on another epic journey, this time through the recent past, the heartland of America – and his own mind – to get back to his loved ones. Joe Dirt is back with a vengeance, and a mop. Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser also stars Academy Award winner Christopher Walken (Pulp Fiction, Seven Pyschopaths), Brittany Daniel (“The Game”), Dennis Miller, Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers). Patrick Warburton (“Rules of Engagement”), Mark McGrath (Sharknado 2), Charlotte McKinney (“Dancing with the Stars”) and Kevin Farley (The Waterboy). It is written, directed by Fred Wolf (Joe Dirt, Grown Ups), who also produces alongside Spade through Happy Madison Productions and Lifeboat Productions.


        I'm going to be perfectly honest with everyone... this trailer sucked. Now let me state while it isn't the greatest film in the world the first film is actually pretty funny, but this feels really forced. It didn't even feel like a trailer. It felt like it was a movie that was going straight to VOD and technically it is. At least Happy Madison Productions is smart enough to realize that this film would bomb at the box office and it would be better for it to come out on Crackle. Hopefully I'm wrong about the film, but I don't think I will be.

        So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, which of these stories peaked your interest or was there another story that interested you? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                         Jonah Sparks

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