Thursday, October 1, 2015

9-30-15/10-1-15 Movie News

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, Since I didn't get to bring you news from yesterday I figured that I would combine today's and yesterday's news (3 stories from each day). So 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)


(9/21/15)

        Jennifer Lawrence has revealed the final The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 poster, which you can view below. With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) confronts President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale (Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Peeta (Hutcherson) – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Peter Craig and Danny Strong and features a cast that also includes Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone with Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland reprising their original roles from The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The lineup is joined by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 co-stars Academy Award-winner Julianne Moore, Mahershala Ali, Natalie Dormer, Wes Chatham, Elden Henson and Evan Ross. The film will be released in theaters and IMAX on November 20, 2015.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

        I really like this poster. It fits in well with the franchise as a whole and to be honest it's my favorite poster to date for the franchise. It shows Katniss's main ability as well as her growth as a character. I've been a fan of the franchise so far and after all of the build-up the last film leading into this one, I'm excited to see how everything plays out. From what I've heard, I'm going to be in for a treat and I hope so as this franchise comes to an end. 



        Production is underway today on Warner Bros. Pictures’ Captain “Sully” Sullenberger biopic, now officially titled Sully. It is set to star Academy Award winner Tom Hanks (Bride of Spies, Captain Phillips) as Captain Sully and it is being directed by Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood (American Sniper, Million Dollar Baby). On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain Sully (Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career. Sully also stars Aaron Eckhart (Olympus Has Fallen, The Dark Knight) as Sully’s co-pilot, Jeff Skiles, and Oscar nominee Laura Linney (The Savages, Kinsey) as Sully’s wife, Lorraine Sullenberger. Eastwood is directing the film from a screenplay by Todd Komarnicki, based on the book Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, by Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow. The project is being produced by Eastwood, Frank Marshall, Allyn Stewart and Tim Moore, with Kipp Nelson serving as executive producer. The film reunites Eastwood with several of his longtime collaborators, who most recently worked with the director on the worldwide hit American Sniper: director of photography Tom Stern and production designer James J. Murakami, who were both Oscar-nominated for their work on The Changeling; costume designer Deborah Hopper; and editor Blu Murray. Principal photography on Sully began on Monday, September 28, in New York, where the water landing that instantly made Sully a household name was achieved. Filming will also take place in North Carolina, Atlanta and Los Angeles. A Malpaso, Flashlight Films, Kennedy/Marshall Company production, Sully will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. A release date has not yet been revealed.

        This is great news to hear. When it comes to films, some can be announced but never get made leaving the entire situation in limbo and hearing news that the film has started production and principal photography makes the film seem like it is really happening. This is going to be a very interesting film to see simply because the event itself only lasted a few minutes so I'm very curious to see how Clint Eastwood will fill a two hour film with a story that lasted 15 minutes. Everything about this film seems like it will be an Oscar contender whenever it gets released and I cannot wait to see the final product.



        Variety reports that Paramount Pictures has pushed back its upcoming The Ring sequel, Rings, from its scheduled release date of November 13 to an unspecified 2016 release. Though unconfirmed, a first quarter release is likely for the film. Rings stars Alex Roe as Holt, a young man who begins to become distant from his girlfriend, Julia (Matilda Lutz), after watching the infamous deadly videotape the series is known for. “The Big Bang Theory” star Johnny Galecki will co-star in the film. Released in 2002, The Ring was an English-language remake of Hideo Nakata’s 1998 supernatural thriller, Ringu, which told the story of a videotape of ghostly imagery that causes anyone who watches it to die seven days later. Ringu was followed by three Japanese sequels, while the Verbinski version received its own 2005 sequel directed by Nakata, titled The Ring Two. We previously reported that a key character will be returning to the franchise. Click here to find out who, but please be aware of potential spoilers. F. Javier Gutiérrez, best known for helming Before the Fall, is directing Rings, with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman writing the script based on a draft by David Loucka.

        This is somewhat surprising news. On one hand it's makes sense because if this film is coming out on November 13th then the marketing campaign needed to be started right away because you're not really giving yourself a lot of time to market the film. On the other hand it makes sense since the film hasn't really had a marketing campaign and it gives the film a little more time to make sure everything is in order for the next release date. I really enjoyed the first Ring film and I didn't see the second film, but I thought there was a good mythology built in the first film and I'm really curious to see how this film will build upon it.

(10/1/15)

        The upcoming SPECTRE will be Daniel Craig’s fourth outing as the world famous 007, and the 47-year-old actor reflected on what his latest turn as the character has been like in an interview with Event. “It’s getting easier because I’m doing less [stunt work]. I’ve got so many good doubles.” Craig went on to contradict himself by saying that the training aspect of preparing for the role isn’t getting easier and said he’s not prepared to make a call about whether he’ll stick around once his contract is fulfilled. “I work myself to death… It’s getting harder. But such is life. I’ll keep going as long as I’m physically able. I’m contracted for one more – but I’m not going to make predictions. These movies don’t get made very often. It’s just the fourth time for me, a spit in the ocean. If you don’t get excited about making a movie of this size with this cast, with Sam Mendes… then go home.” With SPECTRE, Craig will tie his predecessor Pierce Brosnan at four appearances but he’s still sitting behind Sean Connery’s six and Roger Moore’s seven. In SPECTRE, a cryptic message from the past sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond’s actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot. As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns of a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz. Directed once again by Sam Mendes, SPECTRE is written by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade. The 24th Bond film hits theaters and IMAX on November 6, 2015.

        These are some really interesting comments. I completely see where Daniel Craig is coming from on the fact that these movies only get made every few years and he isn't getting any younger (he's 47). The face that he has been Bond for 9 years and has only done 4 films surprises me. The thing his though while he isn't making any predictions, if he is contracted to do another film then he is obligated to do that film no matter what. I've really liked Craig as Bond and when he decides to quit I'll be a little sad, but excited to see who the new Bond will be. SPECTRE looks absolutely amazing and hopefully it can top Skyfall as the best Bond film ever. 



        Back in August, a rumor popped up online that Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller was set to take on a Man of Steel sequel. Now, speaking with Digital Spy, Miller expressed a desire for his next film to be “very small” and “without any special effects and not many stunts.” When asked if that meant the rumors of him taking on a follow-up to Zack Snyder’s 2013 film weren’t true, he said: “There’s been some of that in the mix, but I’d say probably not true.” Despite no official release date being set for the film, Warner Bros. has mentioned that a sequel to the start of the DCEU is in development. Snyder himself recently said that the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is “in a way” a Man of Steel sequel but also noted “It’d be interesting to think about what a standalone Superman movie might be.” Man of Steel debuted in theaters in 2013 with Henry Cavill as the titular hero and went on to gross over $668 million at the worldwide box office. Cavill will reprise his role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which also stars Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane 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 hate to hear this news. George Miller is a fantastic director and his style would've been fun to see in a superhero film. I think he would be a welcomed addition and they should reward him especially with what he did with another Warner Bros. property Mad Max: Fury Road. There are only two superheros who would fit into George Miller's wheelhouse and one of those is Superman (the other is Batman, but Ben Affleck will have that distinction). I think he would also work because it would give Snyder more time to focus on the two Justice League films and let someone else take over a Man of Steel sequel. 



        The Hollywood Reporter brings word that 20th Century Fox is tentatively planning an April 2016 start date for the previously-confirmed Kingsman sequel. Two points to note about this, however, are that star Taron Egerton is set to begin work on Lionsgate’s Robin Hood: Origins in February, which could conflict with the sequel’s start date (though the outlet notes it will all likely be worked out), and in addition, the script for the follow-up has yet to be completed. Director Matthew Vaughn is currently penning a draft for the Kingsman sequel, which he previously revealed will feature an American version of the British Kingsman agency and that he might return to direct the sequel despite having never done so with his previous films. Based upon the 2012 Icon Comics miniseries by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius. The film stars Academy Award winners Colin Firth and Michael Caine alongside Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong and newcomers Taron Egerton, Sofia Boutella and Sophie Cookson. Scripted by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, Kingsman: The Secret Service grossed over $412 million at the global box office.

        This is fantastic news to hear. As a lot of you know I absolutely loved Kingsman: The Secret Service when it was released last year (and it still remains in my top 10 favorite films of the year and it very well may stay there). I was watching the box offcie numbers very closely becasue if the film made a certain amount of money then there was no way Fox couldn't greenlight a sequel and it manged to make more than it needed to to garner a sequel. I'm excited that they are starting production relatively quickly and that means we may have the sequel come out in 2017 which will only help build on the momentum from the first film.

        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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