Wednesday, September 16, 2015

9-16-15 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)


        In a story that appears to still be breaking, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Gambler) has exited his role as helmer of the upcoming X-Men spinoff feature, Gambit. Both Channing Tatum and Lea Seydoux remain attached to the feature, which had planned to shoot in New Orleans next spring.  “I was very much looking forward to working with my friend Channing and the team at Fox,” says Wyatt, “but regrettably a push in the start date now conflicts with another project. I thank them for the opportunity, and I know that Gambit will make a terrific film.” Wyatt’s departure isn’t the first setback to befall Gambit. Back in July, it was revealed that leading man Channing Tatum was dropping out of the project, although the 21 Jump Street star ended up working out a deal to headline the following month. Created by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee in 1990, Gambit, a New Orleans native mutant, quickly became a fan favorite due to his kinetic energy manipulation abilities and penchant for stealing. The character’s only big screen appearance to date (outside his name being featured as an Easter egg in X2) was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, played by Taylor Kitsch. Gambit features a script by Josh Zemuter, based on a treatment by Chris Claremont. Tatum, Reid Carolin, Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg are producing. The film was previously scheduled for a release on October 7, 2016 and is set to follow both the X-Men spinoff Deadpool on February 15, 2016 and Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Apocalypse on May 27, 2016.

        This is pretty disappointing news to hear. I'm a huge fan of Rupert Wyatt and I was looking forward to seeing his take on the character of Gambit. I completely understand why he left because as a director you have to attach yourself to multiple projects just in case somehting happens such as a production delay. I kind of blame Fox for dropping the ball on this one because this film was supposed to be in production almost a month ago, but they hadn't finalized the deal with Tatum and where that ordeal took so long production was pushed back a significant amount. I'm very curious to see who they get to replace Wyatt on the project because that director will immediately have to get to work on the film without much preparation. 



        The titans of DC Comics will finally all meet on the big screen in next year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but a number of other high-profile characters from the pages of comics will also appear, and they’re aiming to make you rethink what you think you know about them. Speaking with the Toronto Sun, Jeremy Irons, who plays Bruce Wayne’s trusted butler Alfred Pennyworth in the film, opened up about his version of the character and what makes him unique this time around. “Zack Snyder, the director, wanted to create a completely different Alfred. So I felt I didn’t have to carry any baggage from previous ones. It’s sort of a reincarnation if you’d like. I had a feeling I was creating my own Alfred, more of a man who can actually do anything if he has to.” Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stars Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane returning from Man of Steel, and Holly Hunter in a role newly created for the film. Jason Momoa will also be making an appearance as Aquaman. The film is set to open worldwide on March 25, 2016.

        I really like these comments. It was kind of obvious that Jeremy Irons's version of Alfred Pennyworth was going to be vastly different from the Michael Gough and Michael Caine because if he was the same then it would be just pretty bland and boring. I feel that this version of Alfred will be more active than the previous incarnations and I say that by him being able to fight people and be brutal just like he was in different variations of the Batman comics. I think Jeremy Irons is the perfect choice for the role and I can't wait to see his performance. 



Warner Bros. Pictures has just revealed a new trailer for director Ron Howard’s upcoming In the Heart of the Sea, starring Chris Hemsworth (Rush, Thor), Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Flags of Our Fathers), Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, Inception), Ben Wishaw (I’m Not There, Cloud Atlas), Tom Holland (Captain America: Civil War, The Impossible), Brendan Gleeson (Edge of Tomorrow, The Company You Keep) and Jordi Molla (Riddick, Bad Boys 2). You can check out the In the Heart of the Sea trailer below. Set in the winter of 1820, In the Heart of the Sea follows the New England whaling ship Essex as it is assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Melville’s Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story. In the Heart of the Sea reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down. In the Heart of the Sea hits 2D theaters and IMAX on December 11, 2015.


        This was an exciting trailer. It didn't much of the story like the previous ones did and  instead it focused more on the action of the film involving the crew and the whale. This is a film I was looking forward to back when it was originally supposed to come out back in March before getting pushed back to this December and I understand why the move was made. The film looks absolutely beautiful and it could very well be an Oscar contender which is what the studio hopes as well because they didn't move the film for any other reason and I hope it lives up to expectations. 



        Sony Pictures is developing a big screen Charlie’s Angels reboot, TheWrap reports. What’s more, they’ve got actress turned Pitch Perfect 2 helmer Elizabeth Banks in negotiations to take the reins on the franchise as the film’s director. If all goes according to plan, Banks will also produce the new film alongside her husband, Max Handelman. The original show focused on three women who worked as a team of private investigators, receiving their orders from the mysterious Charlie Townsend (voiced by John Forsythe, but whose face was never revealed). Although the lineup changed during the course of the series, the four key headlining actresses were Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Facett, Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd. The popular series ran for five seasons and, in 2000, launched a feature film franchise starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. That film also turned out a 2003 sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. A television Charlie’s Angels reboot was attempted in 2011 with Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, Rachael Taylor headlining. Airing on ABC, it only lasted eight episodes.

        I'm really confused about this news and I say that because of a couple of reasons. One is that while the first two films were somewhat successful at the box office, they weren't critically successful and then a tv show almost happened, but it didn't because nobody cares about this franchise anymore. Another reason is Elisabeth Banks and I say that with the best intentions because she is a tremendous actress, but as director she didn't impress me much with her debut in Pitch Perfect 2. She does know how to work with strong female lead, I just don't think this is the right property for her at this point in her career. 



        Gramercy Pictures has once again shifted the London Has Fallen release date, moving the Olympus Has Fallen sequel from its scheduled debut on January 22, 2016 to March 4, 2016. London Has Fallen again stars Gerard Butler as Secret Service agent Mike Banning alongside Aaron Eckhart as the President of the United States. Also returning are Morgan Freeman as Vice President Trumbull, Angela Bassett as Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs, and Melissa Leo as Defense Secretary Ruth McMillan. Babak Najafi (Snabba Cash II) directs the thriller from a screenplay by Creighton Rothenberger & Katrin Benedikt (Olympus Has Fallen) and Chad St. John. The story begins in London, where the British Prime Minister has passed away under mysterious circumstances. His funeral is a must-attend event for leaders of the western world. However, what starts out as the most protected event on Earth turns into a deadly plot to kill the world’s most powerful leaders, devastate every known landmark in the British capital, and unleash a terrifying vision of the future. Only three people have any hope of stopping it: the President of the United States, his formidable Secret Service head (Butler), and an English MI-6 agent who rightly trusts no one. Reprising their roles in support are Robert Forster as General Edward Clegg, Sean O’Bryan as NSA Deputy Director Ray Monroe, and Radha Mitchell as Leah Banning. Joining the returning cast members are Jackie Earle Haley, Alon Aboutboul, Charlotte Riley, and Waleed Zuaiter. The shift marks the second date change for London Has Fallen. It was originally planned to arrive in theaters October 2, 2015. The new date will see the film opening opposite Walt Disney Animation’s Zootopia, the Sacha Baron Cohen action comedy Grimsby, Terence Malick’s Knight of Cups and the Tim Burton’s children’s book adaptation Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

        This is pretty surprising news to hear. Seeing this film change release dates for the second time kind of concerns me and why the studio chose this date just baffles me. I don't even see why they changed from it's original October date because at that time The Martian was still scheduled for a November release so it could've made some decent money. Then on it's next date it didn't have that much competition and it would've been the number one film and probably would've made a lot of money. This new date puts it in a position where it is going to get absolutely destroyed by Zootopia. I honestly don't see how this film will make more than it's predecessor did on it's opening weekend (which was $30 million). This has to be one of the more baffling change of dates I have ever seen. 

        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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