3-30-15 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)

        As production nears, Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad has enlisted two more cast members for the film. The Toronto Sun reports that boxer Raymond Olubowale (who also appeared in two “Resident Evil” films as the “Axeman”) will appear in the film, and eTalk reveals that Scott Eastwood (son of Clint) has a role as well. It’s unclear who either will be playing in the film. Written and directed by Ayer, Suicide Squad is set to star Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as The Joker, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. The film will hit theaters on August 5, 2016. Originally created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru back in 1959, the group was retooled into its current iteration as villains working off their sentence by John Ostrander. The team has included countless DC villains (and heroes) among its ranks throughout the years. It’s also been a staple of recent DC media. “Arrow” introduced their own version of the team in the most recent season of the series and the recent animated film, Batman: Assault on Arkham, offered another version of the team.

        This is pretty interesting casting. These are two relatively unknown actors and I think this is what the film needs. I think they'll have pretty small parts and not very important parts. They'll probably be Arkham inmates something director David Ayer teased over the weekend. This film shaping up to be really great and I can't wait to see the film.

        Following the first official photo that debuted last week, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds posted a new picture on his Twitter showing off his “guns” for the role. In addition, a user asked if the film would be rated R or PG-13, to which Reynolds responded: “I want Deadpool to be R. Always have. Fighting the good fight still. Lotta yelling today.” Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life. Ryan Reynolds will star in the title role of the film along with Ed Skrein, TJ Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, and Morena Baccarin as Copycat. The film will also feature the mutant Colossus, though Daniel Cudmore has confirmed he will not appear as the character. Tim Miller is set to direct the movie from a script by Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Deadpool is currently scheduled for a release on February 12, 2016.

        I completely agree with Reynolds on this. Deadpool is an R rated character in the comics and he is a violent one at that. I still think the film can work with a PG-13 rating and it just won't be the same character without an R rating, but I can see why the studio will probably go with an PG-13 rating. I've been looking forward to this film for a really long time and I can't wait to see it next February.

        Another live-action take on a Walt Disney Pictures animated feature is on the way today as The Hollywood Reporter reveals that plans are underway for a new big screen take on Mulan! Mulan, released by the studio in 1998, adapted the ancient Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, a female warrior who disguises herself as a man in order to take the place of her aging father in the military. Disney has had quite a lot of success lately with live-action versions of some of its animated classics. Currently in theaters, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella has already grossed more than $335 million worldwide. It was recently preceded by Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (a quasi-sequel to the 1951 animated feature) and Robert Stromberg’s Maleficent (a retelling of 1959’s Sleeping Beauty). On the way soon are also Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book (arriving April 15, 2016), Beauty and the Beast (March 17, 2017) and, currently without a release date, Tim Burton’s Dumbo. There’s also an Alice in Wonderland sequel, Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, that is being directed by The Muppets‘ James Bobin and is set to arrive May 27, 2016. Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin are providing the screenplay for Mulan, which has Chris Bender and J.C. Spink attached to produce.

        This news isn't that surprising. After the recent box office success of Maleficent and the critical/financial success of Cinderella, this film is no surprise. The animated film was a huge financial success and I expect this live-action remake to do just the same. I'm really interested in who they get to play Mulan and to voice Mushu.

        Deadline reports that writer Jay Basu, who is helping Universal with their monster-focused cinematic universe, has been tapped by Sony Pictures to write their adaptation of Metal Gear Solid. The Konami video game series follows Solid Snake, a retired soldier who infiltrates a nuclear weapons disposal facility to neutralize the terrorist threat from Foxhound, a renegade special forces unit. He attempts to liberate their two hostages, the head of DARPA and the president of a major arms manufacturer, and stops the terrorists from launching a nuclear strike. Created by Hideo Kojima, the series has produced 10 games in the franchise and sold over 30 million copies. Spider-Man‘s Avi Arad and his son Ari Arad are attached to produce with The Kings of Summer and Kong: Skull Island‘s Jordan Vogt-Roberts set to direct.

        This is a pretty interesting choice. First off I just want to say that I am glad to see that this film is finally getting made. The one thing I'm curious about is the writer himself. He hasn't done much and what he has done has been mostly small budget B and C level movies. I'm interested to see his take on the film and I'm really curious to see who they get to play Solid Snake.

        Bob and Harvey Weinstein announced today that they have acquired the mining drama Gold, inspired by the true story about the 1993 Bre-X Mineral Corporation mining scandal wherein large amounts of gold were reportedly discovered in the Indonesian jungle. The film will be released under their TWC-Dimension banner. Directed by Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana), Gold stars Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club) as a failing businessman and prospector that teams up with a luckless geologist/explorer played by Edgar Ramirez (Zero Dark Thirty, Deliver Us From Evil). The duo heads into the Indonesian jungle on the trail of undiscovered gold. Written by Patrick Massett & John Zinman, Gold is being produced and financed by Black Bear Pictures. Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman (The Imitation Game) will produce alongside Hwy61’s Michael Nozik (Quiz Show, Syriana), Massett, Zinman and McConaughey. Hwy61 partner Paul Haggis (Crash) will executive produce with Richard Middleton (Hitchcock, The Artist) and Black Bear’s Ben Stillman. “We are beyond thrilled to partner with the Weinsteins on ‘Gold,’ and so appreciate their tremendous passion for this film,” said Schwarzman and Nozik. “Harvey and I were so intrigued by the unique and compelling story behind ‘Gold’ and couldn’t be more excited to work with this highly esteemed group of filmmakers and artists,’ adds Bob Weinstein. “We loved working with Teddy on ‘The Imitation Game’ and we see this movie having the potential to be both a commercial and artistic success.”

        This is really great to here. First off the cast is really impressive so far and I hope they are able to add more talent. As for the film itself it sounds really interesting and it could very well be an Oscar contender. The Weinstein's are known for producing Oscar-caliber movies and this could be another one. I love the cast and the film sounds so great and I can't wait to see it. 

        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