Sunday, May 31, 2015

Weekend Movie News 5-29-15 to 5-31-15

        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 previous reports suggested that Walt Disney Pictures had plans to move forward with TRON 3, The Hollywood Reporter now brings word that the planned return to the Grid will not be happening. Both Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde were set to reprise their respective roles as Sam Flynn and Quorra with TRON: Legacy helmer Joseph Kosinski back at the helm. Sadly, the studio has elected not to go into production on the sequel. At least for the time being, the future of the TRON franchise has been derezed. Released in 1982, the original TRON underperformed at the box office, but it nonetheless managed to find an important place in pop culture over the next few decades. The sequel was scripted by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz from a story they developed with Brian Klugman and Lee Sternhal, based in turn on characters created by Bonnie MacBird and original TRON helmer Steven Lisberger. That film’s worldwide box office exceeded $400 million. There was never an official title or plot revealed for TRON 3, although today’s trade report suggests that Kosinski was keen on casting Academy Award winner Jared Leto in a key role.

       
        I'm not surprised by this news. TRON: Legacy was a financial success, but not a huge one at that and critics didn't seem to like it either (I know I didn't) so it makes sens for them not to go forward with it. Right the film might need more time and Disney does have a lot of irons in the fire with other films so we still may see the film just not in the immediate future. I think the only thing you can do with the franchise and reboot it. 


        Deadline brings word that character actor William Fichtner (The Lone Ranger, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) has joined the cast of Independence Day 2 as top general, an upgrade from his “Colonel” position in Armageddon. The outlet also notes that Fichtner will have a larger presence in two planned follow-up films to the 2016 release. It had been previously reported that the follow-up to the 1996 film was being conceived of as a two-part sequel, but now it appears that a fourth film could also be in the cards. Again directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day 2 will also see the return of stars Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum Vivica A. Fox, Judd Hirsch and Brent Spiner as well as a cast of franchise newcomers that includes Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Travis Tope, Joey King, Maika Monroe and Sela Ward.Set to hit theaters June 24, 2016 (almost exactly 20 years after the original), Independence Day 2 features a script by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin and James Vanderbilt, James A.Woods & Nicolas Wright. The original Independence Day opened on July 3, 1996 and earned an impressive $817.4 million worldwide. Emmerich is also set to produce the sequel alongside Devlin and Harald Kloser.

        This is great casting. William Fichtner is a tremendous actor and he is very underrated and hopefully he gets a chance to shine in this film. As for two more sequels after the next film is stretching it for my tastes. I mean the first film was a financial success, but it's been almost 20 years since that films release and I just don't know if the general movie going audience will go out in droves to see the film, so I think that Fox needs to step on the brakes and just wait and see what happens. 



        The cast and crew of Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Jurassic World have started their global press tour, and BadTaste.it tells us they got a chance to ask director Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) at the Paris, France World Premiere about helming another installment. The answer was no. “Jurassic Park is like Star Wars. Different directors can give a different taste to each movie,” Trevorrow told the site. “I would be involved in some way, but not as director.” With the Jurassic Park sequel tracking to open over $100 million at the domestic box office, another film is almost guaranteed. If it happens, who would you like to see direct the next movie? Opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX theaters, Jurassic World offers a terrifying sci-fi adventure set 22 years after the events of Steven Spielberg’s original 1993 Michael Crichton adaption, Jurassic Park. According to Trevorrow, a huge part of what sparked his take on the blockbuster franchise was the image of a teenager texting, unimpressed with the T. Rex behind the glass in front of him. Jurassic World, which hits theaters on June 12, 2015, stars Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, The LEGO Movie), Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help, Spider-Man 3), Ty Simpkins (Insidious, Iron Man 3), Jake Johnson (Let’s Be Cops, “New Girl”), Nick Robinson (The Kings of Summer), Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, The Amazing Spider-Man), Vincent D’Onofrio (“Daredevil,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”), BD Wong (Jurassic Park, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”), Omar Sy (X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Intouchables), Judy Greer (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Tomorrowland), Katie McGrath (NBC’s “Dracula,” “Merlin

        This is pretty disappointing news to hear. I haven't seen Jurassic world yet, but form everything I've heard so far is nothing but good things and a lot of people are attributing that to Colin Trevorrow. I do however agree with his comments on the fact that Jurassic Park needs to have other directors inputs, but the last someone besides Stephen Spielberg directed a Jurassic Park film it turned out to be a really bad film. Hopefully that doesn't happen now that Trevorrow isn't returning and we can get some good films.



        Following the previously-reported frontrunners last month, The Hollywood Reporter has an update on which actors actually participated in screen tests in Atlanta today for the role of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to the trade, both Asa Butterfield (Hugo, Ender’s Game) and Tom Holland (The Impossible) are still in the mix. The site adds: The other four hopefuls included: Judah Lewis (a relative newbie who will be seen in the Jean Marc-Vallee’s fall drama Demolition), Matthew Lintz (who will be seen with Adam Sandler in this summer’s Pixels), Charlie Plummer (who had a recurring gig on Boardwalk Empire), and Charlie Rowe (a British actor who appeared on Fox’s short-lived Red Band Society). Present for the tests were Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, producer Amy Pascal, and Joe and Anthony Russo, the duo that is directing Captain America: Civil War, the film which is expected to feature the first appearance of the new Spidey. After the May 6, 2016 release from Marvel Studios, Spider-Man will then get his own solo film from Sony Pictures, set for release on July 28, 2017. “There is a young kid [already] running around New York City in a homemade version of the Spider-Man costume in the MCU,”  Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige previously told CraveOnline. “You just don’t know it yet… In Spider-Man’s very specific case, where there have been two retellings of that origin in the last whatever it’s been – [thirteen] years – for us we are going to take it for granted that people know that, and the specifics.” The Reporter says that the producers have looked at over 1,500 boys from around the world. The narrowed-down list of actors tested in Atlanta because that is where “Civil War” is currently filming. A decision on the actor is expected to be made early this week.

        My only question is why? Now granted contrary to the reports Asa Butterfield hasn't technically been confirmed, but all signs point to him taking over the mantle of Peter Parker. The only reason why I think these actors were brought in and this list getting leaked is so that Marvel can make it seem like they haven't made their decision just yet when I believe they already have. All i can say is that by the end of the month we will officially know who the new Spider-Man is.



        Following the set photos we posted yesterday, the Daily Mail has managed to get a hold of even more photos from the set of the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 which confirm that none other than WWE superstar Sheamus has joined the cast as the villain Rocksteady.  Megan Fox and Will Arnett lead the cast for the film that also includes William Fichtner as Eric Sacks and newcomers Tyler Perry as scientist Baxter Stockman, and Stephen Amell as the sports-themed vigilante Casey Jones. Alan Ritchson, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, and Noel Fisher will reprise their roles as Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo (Johnny Knoxville did the voice), and Michelangelo. The original film, which grossed more than $485 million at the worldwide box office, also starred Danny Woodburn and Tony Shalhoub. Directed by Earth to Echo‘s David Green, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is set for release on June 3, 2016.

        I'm a little surprised by this news. Now some of you may know that I watch wrestling from time to time and I've seen what this guy can do on scripted television and he's decent. I figured they would go in a different direction for Rocksteady, but I don't know who I would've gotten. While I am happy to see that Bebop and Rocksteady on the big screen, I'm just a little disappointed at who they have cast in the parts. 

        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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