Thursday, August 6, 2015

8-6-15 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)


        Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures’ Ready Player One – the already much-anticipated sci-fi action adventure, to be directed by Steven Spielberg—has been slated for release on December 15, 2017. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution; Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and Distribution; and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President, Worldwide Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. A three-time Academy Award winner, Spielberg (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) is directing Ready Player One, based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. The film is being produced by Spielberg; Donald De Line, under his De Line Pictures banner; Dan Farah; and Spielberg’s longtime colleague Kristie Macosko Krieger; with Bruce Berman serving as executive producer. De Line and Farah originally brought the project to Warner Bros. Ready Player One marks a return to Warner Bros. for Spielberg, who previously directed the studio’s Empire of the Sun, The Color Purple and A.I. Artificial Intelligence, in addition to producing the hits Gremlins and The Goonies. In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “Any film from Steven Spielberg is an event film, so it felt right to date this thrilling new project from one of our greatest filmmakers for the holiday season.” Sue Kroll added, “From the success of the book, ‘Ready Player One’ already has a devoted following, and we’re excited for its fans and moviegoers everywhere to see this fantastically innovative story come to life. We know it couldn’t be in better hands, and look forward to working with Steven and the producers to bring it to the big screen.” Kwan Vandenberg said, “There are few directors with the global stature of Steven Spielberg, so we are thrilled to be delivering his latest adventure to audiences worldwide.” A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures, Ready Player One will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

        This is great news to hear. For a long time a lot of people in my circles the one movie we have all been talking about Ready Player One possibly being a movie and to finally know that it is getting made gets me excited. It also gets me excited to know that Stephen Spielberg is directing because he is a sci-fi genius and this film is perfect for him. It also has a great release date for families to go see the film and right now it doesn't have any competition but that will soon change. 



        With Legendary Pictures and Universal Studios still rounding out the cast for Kong: Skull Island, following the departure of J.K. Simmons and Michael Keaton, Deadline reports they’ve zeroed in on their potential replacements. Nick Fury himself, Samuel L. Jackson, is said to be in early talks for the role that Simmons previously vacated with John C. Reilly (“Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule,” Chicago) at the top of the wishlist for Keaton’s replacement. In addition, the outlet notes that Tom Wilkinson (Batman Begins, “John Adams”) has also been offered a lead role in the film. The cast for the film currently includes the god of mischief himself, Tom Hiddleston, along with Short Term 12 star Brie Larson and Straight Outta Compton‘s Corey Hawkins. A previous report indicated that Russel Crowe was in talks for the film as well, though this now appears to no longer be the case. Set for release on March 10, 2017, Kong: Skull Island aims to fully immerse audiences in the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island. Legendary’s story honors the foundations of existing King Kong lore, but places it in an entirely new, distinct timeline. Previously, Simmons revealed a surprise setting for the film, saying it would take place in Detroit in 1971; however, given the title of the movie, it’s a safe bet that the jungles of King Kong’s homeland will be the primary setting. The Kings of Summer‘s Jordan Vogt-Roberts will direct the film from a script by John Gatins and Max Borenstein. Thomas Tull (Godzilla, The Dark Knight, Pacific Rim) and Jon Jashni (Godzilla, Warcraft) will produce and Alex Garcia (Godzilla) will executive produce. The film will be released in 3D and IMAX 3D by Universal Pictures.

        These would all be great additions to the film. Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most recognizable actors on the planet and putting him in the film is a great choice to help market the film. John C. Reily is an amazing actor and I think he would fit in well with Hiddelston and possible Jackson. My only fear if he joins is that the film might become more of a comedy, but he has show in the past that he can do dramatic. Tom Wilkinson a multi-generational actor and he just elevates every film (other than Unfinished Business) and he would do that with this film. I was really disappointed that Keaton and Simmons dropped out, but if these are their replacements then I think I'll be ok. 



        Lionsgate has released the full new trailer for Vin Diesel’s potential franchise-starter The Last Witch Hunter, directed by Breck Eisner (The Crazies) and you can check it out below. The modern world holds many secrets, but the most astounding secret of all is that witches still live amongst us; vicious supernatural creatures intent on unleashing the Black Death upon the world. Armies of witch hunters battled the unnatural enemy across the globe for centuries, including Kaulder (Diesel), a valiant warrior who managed to slay the all-powerful Queen Witch, decimating her followers in the process. In the moments right before her death, the Queen curses Kaulder with her own immortality, forever separating him from his beloved wife and daughter in the afterlife. Today Kaulder is the only one of his kind remaining, and has spent centuries hunting down rogue witches, all the while yearning for his long-lost loved ones. However, unbeknownst to Kaulder, the Queen Witch is resurrected and seeks revenge on her killer causing an epic battle that will determine the survival of the human race. Also starring Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood and Michael Caine, The Last Witch Hunter hits theaters on October 23.


        This was a pretty decent trailer. It showed a lot of new footage and this looks like film that could fly under the radar. Now I say that it showed a lot of new footage and it also showed way too much. Now it didn't show enough of the plot to spoil the film, but I feel like it showed a lot of the big action set pieces of the film. However Vin Diesel is an action star and he is enough to sell this film himself.



        Following the lackluster reception and box office for the 2010 A Nightmare on Elm Street reboot starring Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, and Kyle Gallner, the bastard son of 100 maniacs, Freddy Krueger, went back to sleep. Now, Tracking Board reports that “The house that Freddy built,” New Line Cinema, is developing a new take on the film. David Leslie Johnson (Orphan, “The Walking Dead,” and The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist) will reportedly write the script for the film. Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, and Dave Neustadter will oversee the project for New Line. The outlet makes no mention of Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form’s Platinum Dunes being a production company on the reboot, having previously produced the 2010 film among other horror remakes, including Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The Wes Craven-created franchise debuted in 1984 with the first film, featuring Robert Englund in the role of Freddy Krueger. Englund would go on to star in the seven sequels to the film, including Freddy’s 2003 bout with Crystal Lake’s own Jason Voorhees. All told, the franchise has grossed over $450 million at the global box office, a major feat given the low budgets on the films.

        This is not surprising news. Look I'm a fan of The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and the franchise has pretty much downhill with every new film and that statement is justified with the most recent entry. This a recognizable franchise and it makes sense for a studio to try to make a new franchise with a new film and it will make money no matter how bad or good the film is. I'm curious to see who will be cast as Freddy Krueger because Jackie Earle Haley did an amazing job replacing Robert Englund and these will be big shoes to fill. 



        New Line Cinema‘s updated take on the senior citizen heist comedy Going in Style has entered production. Today, the Academy Award-winning trio of Alan Arkin, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman were spotted filming a sequence in New York City alongside director Zach Braff. Take a first look at the upcoming release with the below gallery of Going in Style set photos. Released in 1979, the original Going in Style was directed by Martin Brest and stars George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg as a trio of senior citizens who decide to rob a bank and take their winnings to Las Vegas. The remake was announced in early 2013 and will feature a screenplay by St. Vincent‘s Ted Melfi. Arkin won an Academy Award for his supporting performance in Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’ Little Miss Sunshine in 2007. Freeman took home his two years earlier for his own supporting role in Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby. Caine, meanwhile, has received two Oscars. His first was for his supporting performance in Woody Allen’s 1986 comedy drama Hannah and Her Sisters, while his second came in 2000 for his supporting role in Lasse Hallström’s The Cider House Rules. The new Going in Style marks the third feature film from Braff as a director, following 2004’s Garden State and 2014’s Wish I Was Here. It will also mark the third big screen teaming between Braff and 16-year-old actress Joey King. The two starred together in Sam Raimi’s Oz The Great and Powerful and Braff played her father in Wish I Was Here. Donald De Line is set to produce Going in Style with Tony Bill (who produced the 1979 original) set to executive produce.

        This is an interesting choice. First off this cast is amazing and when you have 3 Academy Award winning actors in a film you tend to have a pretty decent film, but these guys individaually are fantastic and putting them in the same film together gives the film a real good shot to be both amazingly dramatic and comedic. As for Zach Braff I'm on the fence of him directing the film. So far he's been 50/50 with me on his two films and I'm nervous about this film. I personally think that the cast will be the ones that save the film and that isn't always a good thing. 

        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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