Film News Roundup: 15

Three weeks ago Sony Pictures Entertainment Co-Chairman Amy Pascal hinted that the studio wanted to expand their “Spider-Man” film franchise by planning spin-off films based of Spider-Man supporting characters.

            Well, those indications came to fruition as Sony Pictures sent out a press release outlining the future plans for their “Spider-Man” movie universe. Deemed as the franchise “brain trust,” writers Alex Kurtzman Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinker, Ed Solomon, and Drew Goddard will collaborate with producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, alongside current “Spider-Man” director Marc Webb to develop the new films.

Kurtzman, Orci and Pinker will be writing     the screenplay for “The Amazing Spider-Man 3,” which is set for a June 10, 2016 release. This past summer it was also announced that “The Amazing Spider-Man 4” will hit theaters on June 17, 2018.

However, the huge news is that two films are in development regarding Spider-Man villains: Venom and The Sinister Six.

The “Venom” film will be written by Krutzman, Orci and Solomon with Kurtzman directing,

Goddard will write and potentially direct “The Sinister Six,” concentrating on the villains that are being introduced in the “Spider-Man” films

This is a truly an ambitious move by Sony Pictures. Up to this point in comic book film history, the stars have been the eponymous superheroes. To have a film from the perspective of the villain is almost blasphemous, but truly exciting. Maybe this move will open the door for other film studios to give their villains a shot to make it big on their own. But let’s wait and see if these films pan out; I know I don’t go into a theater wanting to see a bad film.

In other news, the newly titled “Terminator: Genesis” has found its leading lady. Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”) has signed on to play Sarah Connor in the “Terminator” reboot.

The role of Sarah Connor was famously portrayed by Linda Hamilton in James Cameron’s “The Terminator” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”

While part of me was hoping Brie Larson (“Short Term 12”) was cast in the role, I see no problem with Clarke. She’s a great actress who will certainly bring the same bravado to Connor as she does to Daenerys Targaryen on “Game of Thrones.”

Also, “Zero Dark Thirty’s” Jason Clarke (no relation to Emilia) is in negotiations to play John Connor, Sarah’s son. John is the leader of the rebel resistance against the Skynet (artificial intelligence that serves as the franchise’s main antagonist).

The film is still looking to cast an actor in the role of Kyle Reece, a young resistance fighter sent back in time by John Connor to protect his mother, who ultimately ends up fathering John in the past. Now, that’s what I call a mind bender.

“Terminator: Genesis” is scheduled for release on July 1, 2015.

RIP Paul Walker

Much to the dismay of countless film fans, on Saturday, Nov. 30, actor Paul Walker passed away in a tragic car accident. He was 40 years old.

The actor was a passenger in a friend’s vehicle; both lost their lives in the deadly single-car accident. Earlier in the day Walker was attending a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide, a non-profit organization he founded for disaster relief; funds were being raised for the victims of the typhoon that recently hit the Philippines.

Walker gained recognition for his role of Brian O’Conner in “The Fast and the Furious” film franchise. He currently was working on the subsequent seventh installment, due to be released in theaters Jul 11, 2014. Sadly, it will be one of last times that audiences will get to enjoy Walker’s presence.

Over the course of his career, Walker was widely regarded as a gracious individual, much of that attitude permeating onto his onscreen performance. While not regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, Walker undoubtedly brought joy to his array of fanatics. His effortless charm wooed audience in film like “Pleasantville, “Varsity Blues,” “Eight Below,” and “She’s All That.”

Walker will be missed for all those nuances that made him one of the genuine good guys in Hollywood. One can only remember him by re-watching his films; I know that I will.

He survived by his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow.

Film News Roundup 13

            The 2015 film slate just got a little bigger. George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” is now set to be released on May 15, 2015. The release date will come almost 30 years to date since the last installment of the film series. Tom Hardy stars as Max Rockatansky, (the role made popular by Mel Gibson) a police officer of a dystopian future. Joining him is Academy Award winner Charlize Theron.

            It hasn’t been an easy road (no pun intended) for “Mad Max: Fury Road.” The film has had many setbacks since pre-production began in 2009. Filming was set to begin in the summer of 2010 but torrential rain caused major flooding in Australia were the film was set to film. Official filming began last summer but concerns about going over budget and lengthy reshoots have delayed the film’s release. But with a set release date, it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing our favorite “road warrior” on the big screen sooner rather than later.

            Lending their support in the film are Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Zoe Kravitz, and Riley Keough.  

            Other films receiving release dates this past week include Universal’s “The Purge 2,” Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland 2,” “The Jungle Book,” and Warner Bros. “Heart of the Sea.”

            With the success of “The Purge”, there was no doubt that Universal would quickly move ahead to release a sequel for the horror film. The next chapter of “The Purge” will open in theaters on June 20, 2014. James DeMonaco returns as writer/director alongside producer Jason Blum.

            Disney is moving ahead with director James Bobin (“The Muppets”) in their return to “Wonderland.” Taking over the reins for Tim Burton, Bobin will be joined by Mia Wasikowska and Johnny Depp as they are set to reprise their respective roles of Alice and the Mad Hatter. “Alice in Wonderland 2” will be released on May 27, 2016.

            The live-action “The Jungle Book” is slated to open in theaters October 9, 2015. The film will be directed by Jon Favreau (“Elf, “Iron Man”).

            Finally, Ron Howard’s film adaptation of “In the Heart of the Sea” about the disaster of the whale-ship Essex (the inspiration for “Moby Dick”) is set to be released March 13, 2015. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, and Brendan Gleeson.

Film News Roundup:12

Earlier this week Disney released the first poster and trailer for the upcoming film “Maleficent”, starring Angelina Jolie in the titular role. The film retells the story of “Sleeping Beauty” from the point of view of the self-proclaimed “Mistress of All Evil.”

The poster puts Jolie front and center, teasing us with her malevolent eyes. The trailer only showcases a bit of Jolie, while mostly putting the focus on the young Princess Aurora portrayed by Elle Fanning. Probably the highlight of the trailer is the beautiful production design and the CG fantasy world that has been created for the film. First time director, Robert Stromberg’s forte has been production design and that clearly shows in the trailer; he previously worked as production designer for “Alice in Wonderland” and “Avatar”, winning Academy Awards for his efforts on the films.

Maleficent also stars Sharloto Copley, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Leslie Manville. The film opens in theaters on May 30, 2014. 

Another poster and trailer that landed this week was for Darren Aronofsky’s (“Requiem for a Dream,” “Black Swan”) “Noah.” The film is an adaptation of the Bible’s Great Flood story. Not since the golden age of Hollywood have we seen and epic Biblical story come to life.

However, it hasn’t been an easy road for Aronofsky and Paramount Pictures. In the recent weeks mumblings have surfaced that test screenings for the film haven’t done well with general, Jewish, and Christian audiences. This has led Paramount to request Aronofsky to make edits to the film.

That being said, the trailer for the films looks fantastic. Filming for the film took place in Iceland, which gives the film en even more epic look. There are plenty of great visuals ranging from the Great Flood to the animals embarking the ark. Overall, the ambitious film aims to capture mainstream audiences with its great visuals and character-centric narrative; count me in as one that has been sold on the film.

The film stars Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Ray Winstone, Douglas Booth, and Anthony Hopkins. “Noah” opens in theaters March 28, 2014. Check out the poster and trailer below.

Film News Roundup: 11

After much speculation of when or if “Star Wars: Episode VII” would arrive in theaters in 2015, Disney gave fans a fixed date for the film’s release; the J.J. Abram’s helmed film will open in 3D on Dec. 18, 2015.

            Just last month, Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan took over scriptwriting duties for Michael Arndt. All sings point to that the studio wanted to give the filmmakers more time to get a solid script finished before shooting begins in the spring.

            Traditionally, the previous “Star Wars” films were all released in the month of May. I would argue that the December date helps the studio get away from having to compete with other major summer blockbusters, including one of their own: “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

The “Star Wars” fandom is probably the most ravenous in pop-culture. Unquestionably, generations of people can’t wait for this movie to arrive sooner that later.  Let the countdown commence for Dec. 18, 2015!

It seems that the “Terminator” reboot is moving full steam ahead. Director Alan Taylor (“Game of Thrones,” “Thor: The Dark World”) is prepping to begin testing actors and actresses for the roles of Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese respectively.  

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the actresses testing for the role of Connor are Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”), Brie Larson, (“Short Term 12”) and Margot Robbie (“The Wolf of Wall Street”). Connor was originally played by Linda Hamilton in the first two “Terminator” films directed by James Cameron. Sarah Connor is the mother of John Connor, the leader of the human resistance against Skynet, a sentient artificial intelligence system.

For the role of Kyle Reese, Garret Hedlund (“Tron: Legacy’) and Boyd Holbrook (“The Host) are on the shortlist to play the time traveling father of John Connor.

Also, reports claim that Taylor is hoping to cast Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) as his new John Connor. However, there hasn’t been a meeting between the two to discuss the role.

Furthermore, Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to reprise his iconic role as the Terminator. His role is being describes as “a Terminator robot in a time-spanning story that sees him tasked to protect Sarah Connor as she grows up.”

            While there hasn’t been any confirmation from Paramount Pictures that these reports are factual, I would be pleased if they came to fruition. The actors and actresses that could be possibly involved in this film are extremely talented and would be a great addition to this film franchise.

            The “Terminator” reboot is set to be released July 1, 2015.

Film News Roundup: 10

Reports surfaced last month that Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” was likely going to move to a Christmas date due to editing issues. Those rumors proved to be true. Earlier this week Paramount Pictures chairmen Brad Grey officially signed off to move the film to Dec. 25 after watching Scorsese’s new cute of the film.  Scorsese’s original running time was over 180 minutes; the theatrical release of the film will run at 165 minutes.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” will be facing off against “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “47 Ronin,” Grudge Match,” and the Justin Bieber documentary “Believe” on Dec. 25. The film faces steep competition to win the box-office but its Dec. 25 date puts it in the heart of Oscar contention.

Also, Paramount Pictures released a new trailer for the film. While the first trailer showcased the more eccentric tone of the film, the latest trailer presented more details of the film’s plot. The film is based of Jordan Belfort’s memoir. Leo DiCaprio stars as a Belfort, a hard-partying New York stockbroker convicted of security fraud and money laundering. One of the many highlights of the trailer is the chemistry between DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. The dynamic relationship between both actors will surely be a major part of the film that I can’t wait to see.

Check out the trailer below. The film also stars, Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Jon Bernthal, and Rob Reiner.

Warner Bros. released a new trailer for “The LEGO Movie.” The film is helmed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, directors of “21 Jump Street” and “Cloudy with a Change of Meatballs.” The film revolves around an ordinary guy named Emmet (Chris Pratt) who is thought to be the Special, the one who can save the LEGO universe from the evil President Business (Will Ferrell).

As surprisingly funny the first trailer was, this new trailer was a stroke of genius that raised my expectation for the film; it had multiple laugh out loud moments that required me to re-watch the trailer over and over again. One standout was the appearance of the LEGO Batman voiced by Will Arnett; you can never go wrong by adding Batman in your film, even in LEGO form.

The voice cast also includes Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Channing Tatum, Cobie Smulders, and Jonah Hill. “The LEGO Movie” hits theaters on February 7, 2014. Check out the trailer below.

In other news, Aaron Taylor-Johnson has officially signed of to play Quicksilver, aka, Pietro Maximoff in “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The Wrap reported that the deal took long to finalize because there was concern the filming schedule of the Marvel sequel would interfere with Taylor-Johnson’s promotional obligations for “Godzilla”; apparently that was sorted out.

            Taylor-Johnson joins James Spader as two of the new cast members to join the film; we’ve yet to hear official word of Elizabeth Olsen joining the cast.

You can see Taylor Johnson and the rest of the Avengers when “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” opens in theaters on May 1, 2015.

Film News Roundup: 9

Another one bites the dust; George Clooney’s “The Monuments Men” has been taken out of the running for the upcoming Academy Awards. Highly touted as an Oscar contender, the film was originally set to open Dec. 18; now it has moved to Feb. 7.

The LA Times reported that Clooney needed more time to complete the film. Clooney said, “We just didn’t have enough time … If any of the effects looked cheesy, the whole movie would look cheesy.  We simply don’t have enough people to work enough hours to finish it.”

While it’s disappointing that the film won’t content for any major awards, it certainly makes sense to delay the film to give audiences a better product. Regardless, the film looks to be a fun time at the movies when it finally opens next year.

In other news, there has been a shakeup regarding “Star Wars: Episode VII; Lucasfilm announced that director J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have take over screenwriting duties from  Oscar winner Michael Arndt.

The franchise is in competent hands; Abrams credits as a screenwriter include “Super 8,” “Cloverfield,” and, “Mission: Impossible 3.” Kasdan on the other hand has previously worked in the “Star Wars” universe, co-writing “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”

It’s not unusual that movies of this magnitude go through rewrites. However, rumors have been swirling that Abrams hasn’t been happy with much of the pre-production, to the point that he might drop from the project completely. One issue was the direction of the script. It’s unknown if Arndt will have any input moving forward.

The movie is slated for a summer release in 2015 and the current plan is to begin shooting in spring 2014. Let’s hope that this screenwriting shuffle doesn’t delay the release of the film.

Comic-book movie fans rejoice; the latest poster and the first full length trailer for Joe and Anthony Russo’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” have arrived. In the sequel, Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) team up with the Falcon (Anthony Mackie) to fight a villainous plot that threatens the safety of the world. However, they come across a formidable assassin- the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan).

The trailer gives us a look at the scale and scope of the film; the film’s action pieces look highly captivating and larger than ever. The film is described as a “political thriller”; from the look of it hits mark as Captain America begins to question how far S.H.I.E.L.D is willing to go to protect the security of the world.

The film also stars Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, Emily VanCamp, Cobie Smulders, and Frank Grillo. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” arrives in theaters April 4, 2014. Check out the poster and trailer below.