Thursday, February 25, 2016

2-25-16 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)


        Following a round of casting announcements earlier today, Deadline brings word that Billy Crudup has entered talks for a mystery role in director Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant. The outlet also reports that Bill Crudup has signed on to star in director Pablo Larrain’s Jackie. The biopic of Jackie Onassis Kennedy is set to feature Academy Award winner Natalie Portman in the title role. Should he officially sign on, Billy Crudup will join an Alien: Covenant cast set to include Michael Fassbender (reprising hisPrometheus role) Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice), Danny McBride (Eastbound and Down), Demián Bichir (The Hateful Eight), Jussie Smolett (Empire), Amy Seimetz (Upstream Color), Carmen Ejogo (Selma) and Callie Hernandez (Machete Kills). Set as the second chapter in a prequel trilogy that began with Prometheus, Alien: Covenant connects directly to Scott’s 1979 seminal work of science fiction. It begins with the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy. There, the crew discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David, survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition. Jack Paglen (Transcendence) and Michael Green (Green Lantern) are providing the Alien: Covenant screenplay. The project is entering production in Australia with 20th Century Fox set to distribute the film in theaters on October 6, 2017. Billy Crudup, whose genre credits include films like Zack Snyder‘s Watchmen and Tim Burton’s Big Fish, starred last year in both Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight and Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s The Stanford Prison Experiment.

        This is really great casting. Billy Crudup is a really fantastic actor and he's been great in a lot of the roles he's been in. My personal favorite of his was in Watchmen as Dr. Manhattan and he just brought so much life to the character that my inner comic book geekdom was please. I like the cast that Ridley Scott is putting together because it's a mix of really talented actors yet one who are stepping  out of there comfort zone to be in this film. I'm a huge fan of the Alien franchise (mainly the original two films) and I'm really looking forward to seeing Ridley Scott get back into making a true Alien film compared to where he basically lied about Prometheus being apart of the franchise and I'm glad he's back to embracing the franchise. 



        Director James Mangold is gearing up for a trip 20,000 leagues under the sea. Deadline today brings word that The Wolverine helmer has signed on to direct Disney‘s Captain Nemo movie. In development for some time, the Captain Nemo movie is designed to serve as an origin story for the Jules Verne antihero. Originally published in a serialized form beginning in 1869, Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea tells the story of Captain Nemo and the crew of his submarine vessel, the Nautilus, as they embark on incredible adventures and encounter fantastic sea life beneath the surface. Multiple takes on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea have hit the big screen over the years, with director Richard Fleischer delivering Walt Disney Pictures’ 1954 version. Arguably the best known film adaptation, it stars Kirk Douglas and won two Academy Awards (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Effects, Special Effects). The Captain Nemo movie has come close to production in the past. A few years ago, David Fincher was attached to direct the film with reports suggesting that Brad Pitt was close to signing on for the title role. That iteration of the project boasted a screenplay that had been worked on by Scott J. Burns (The Bourne Ultimate, Contagion) and Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en, Sleepy Hollow). The most current draft of the project hails from Sebastian Gutierrez (Snakes on a Plane, Gothika). Disney’s Captain Nemo project is one of several feature films currently in development based on Verne’s classic science fiction tale. Mangold’s fellow X-Universe director, Bryan Singer is attached to direct his own version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. That project has a bit of a head start as it is planned to begin shooting this fall. Mangold’s take is likely a bit further off as he’ll first take on the third Wolverine film, which is said to feature Hugh Jackman‘s final performance as the Marvel mutant. Look for it to hit theaters March 3, 2017.

        I really like this choice. James Mangold is fantastic director and his most recent Wolverine film was really good and I'm excited to see him take on Hugh Jackman's last appearance as Wolverine. I think he's a great fit for film because I look at 20,00 Leagues Under the Sea as western under water and Mangold has proven he can doe westerns (see 3:10 to Yuma). I'm lookng forward to both Mangold's version as well as Singer's version and hopefully they both can great adaptations of this brilliant novel.



        Back in January, directors Anthony and Joe Russo put out a very specific number of characters that they’ll be juggling in Avengers: Infinity War and we may have another idea of who one of those 67 characters will be. Speaking with Den of Geek, Stellan Skarsgard (star of both of the previous “Thor” and “Avengers” films) says he’s not returning for the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok, but could make his way into “Infinity War.” “I have a five-film deal with them, and they still have one option,” he tells the outlet. “Thor 3 is not on my slate, but maybe the next Avengers.” By Skarsgard’s own admission, his character, Dr Erik Selvig, has the powers of super-exposition, so when the characters learn about Thanos or his Infinity Gauntlet, it could be from him. Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely will pen the scripts for the two-part feature which will also see Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War directors Anthony and Joe Russo returning. Both parts of the film will be filmed entirely in IMAX. “The intent with the Infinity War films is to bring ten years of accumulative storytelling to an incredible climax,” Joe and Anthony Russo previously said. “We felt that the best way to exploit the scale and scope required to close out the final chapter of these three phases, was to be the first films shot entirely on the IMAX/ARRI Digital camera.” Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 is slated for release in theaters on May 4, 2018; Part 2 will open on May 3, 2019.

        I'm not surprised by this news. Stellan Skarsgard is a great actor and his character of Dr. Erik Selvig has been some good comedic relief in the MCU and I've really enjoyed his performances in both Thor film. I'm not surprised in the sense that this film feels more like it will be taking place on Asgard and Erik Selvig probably won't be on Asgard during the film so it's understandable to not see him in the film. I think he is coming back for both Infinity War films because those films will be a culmination of what the MCU has been building to since 2008 with Iron Man and I'm excited to see Erik Selvig in future MCU films.



        Filming continues on Paramount Pictures’ upcoming Baywatch movie, and now Pamela Anderson has talked to ET Canada, about possibly making an appearance. The 48-year-old Pamela Anderson said: “I haven’t turned it down completely yet. But I have turned down what they offered me. But we’ll see what happens…I haven’t even read the script. I have no idea what it’s about… ‘Baywatch’ was such a huge part of my life. And really they’re trying to do an homage and you know it’s an honour to have them to want me to be a part of it so bad.” The Baywatch cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Alexandra Daddario, Kelly Rohrbach, Priyanka Chopra and Hannibal Buress. Look for the film to hit theaters on May 19, 2017. Baywatch offers a big-screen take on the television series that originally premiered on NBC in 1989. The original Baywatch cast included David Hasselhoff, Parker Stevenson, Shawn Weatherly, Billy Warlock, Erika Eleniak, Peter Phelps, Brandon Call and Holly Gagnier. The series was initially not a success and was cancelled after a single season. Plans were made, however, to move Baywatch into first-run syndication and, in 1991, Baywatch returned to the airwaves where it continued for a full decade, bringing in new cast members like Yasmine Bleeth and Pamela Anderson. The show also received a short-lived spinoff, Baywatch Hawaii. Although several writers have been attached to the Baywatch movie, the most recent draft hails from the Friday the 13th pair of Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Horrible Bosses and Identity Thief director Seth Gordon is helming the new Baywatch film, which is being produced by Dwayne Jonson alongside Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia, Ivan Reitman and Douglas Schwartz.

        I would be ok if this happened. I don't really like Pamela Anderson as a person or as an actress so I really wouldn't like seeing her in the film. However the show is what made her famous so it makes sense if she wants to return for a possible cameo. I think she would probably end up being someone the new cast would save or she would be a woman that tries to hit on Zac Efron's character. This movie is going to be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to seeing how campy and cheesy they'll make the film compared to the tv show, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing how the film will turn out. 



        CBS Films and Lionsgate have today announced that Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Zootopia) will join Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg (The Departed, Lone Survivor) in the upcoming Patriots Day movie. The film will be directed by Peter Berg (Deepwater Horizon, Lone Survivor) and is set to be produced by Scott Stuber, Mark Wahlberg, Hutch Parker, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson and Michael Radutzky. The Patriots Day movie chronicles the events surrounding the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. Simmons will play Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese of the Watertown Police Department who distinguished himself in combat with Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Wahlberg will play a composite Boston Police Department officer who is central to the investigation and manhunt. The title Patriots Day references an official public holiday, although it may sound unfamiliar to those who have not lived in Massachusetts, Maine and/or Wisconsin. In those three states, Patriots Day is observed on April 19 in recognition of the Battle of Lexington which, in 1775, signaled the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The Boston Marathon is held in conjunction with the city’s annual celebrations. “Beyond his considerable talents, J.K. Simmons is a person who respects the solemn trust that these real life heroes are putting in our hands,” commented Berg. “This is an actor who will represent the role in the best way possible.” The Patriots Day movie will be co-financed by CBS Films and Lionsgate with the former handling production and marketing and the latter handling distribution. Production will begin on Patriots Day this fall in Boston. Check back for further updates on the project as they become available.

        I love this casting. Early on I wasn't a big fan of J.K. Simmons, but recently I've become a big fan of his I think he is perfect for this film. I think he's got the gravitas to play this character and I'm excited to see what he brings to the film. This is one of the many films that is coming out based off of the Boston Marathon bombings and I think this one could be the best one. I like the group that's been assembled to make this film come to life and I'm really looking forward to 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

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