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Which Director is Strongest With the Force?
Like many Star Wars fans, it took us a while to process the news that the creator and caretaker of the greatest sci-fi epic of all time, George Lucas, had sold Lucasfilm Ltd. to Disney. And, as if that news wasn't momentous enough, Disney concurrently announced that plans were already underway for an all-new Star Wars movie, a sequel to the original trilogy that would likely be the first movie in a new trilogy.
Minds thoroughly blown, we started to think about the future of the franchise. Jar Jar Binks and Hayden Christensen's horrible acting had really hurt the prequel trilogy and Lucas' constant meddling with the original trilogy tested our faith in ol' grey beard even further. With Lucas out of the picture, could the franchise regain its former glory?
In the days following the announcement, it was revealed that Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine) had been hired to write the screenplay for Star Wars: Episode VII, while rumors continue to swirl that Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class) is in the running to direct. Do you think that Vaughn is the right man for the job or would you like to see J.J. Abrams (Star Trek), Jon Favreau (Cowboys & Aliens) or someone else direct? Who do you think has the vision to chart the course of the future of the Star Wars franchise?
Rate the Top 10 Best Directors To Helm Star Wars: Episode VII >>
Posted 11.13.12 by BrentJS -
Yesterdays child actors, today's superstars!
We're all too familiar with the supposed "curse" of being a child actor. A darling child with a precocious knack for acting grows up with too much fame and fortune and too little (or the wrong kind of) parental supervision and they grow up to become a tabloid headline and late night talk show punchline. Or, worse yet, they don't make it to adulthood at all. Lindsay, Amanda, Corey, Macaulay, Demi, Miley...the list goes on and on. Just as we can't look away as we slowly pass by a terrible accident on the freeway, we often find ourselves compelled to stare at the wreckage so many child stars make of their adulthood.
Though the stories of tragic former child stars may make for juicier reading while standing in line at the check-out stand, the great majority of child actors grow up to become well-adjusted adults. Most leave acting behind and move on to "normal" careers as teachers, bankers or software engineers, but many remain in show business, finding even greater success as an adult. Hit the link below to find out the Most Successful Child Actors Still Working in Show Business today.
WHO DEFIED THE "CURSE?" >> Posted 10.05.12 by BrentJS -
Universal Pictures assigned a release date to Academy Award–winning director Ron Howard's (A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon) new movie, Rush, only a few days ago and now several still images from the movie have been released via the official website for the movie, offering us our first look at Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) as celebrated British Formula One racer James Hunt. Shot on location in the UK, Germany and Austria, Rush focuses on the epic rivalry between Hunt and Austrian driver Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) as they battle over the 1976 Formula One World Championship title. Here's the synopsis of the movie:
The epic action-drama stars Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) as the charismatic Englishman James Hunt and Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds) as the disciplined Austrian perfectionist Niki Lauda, whose clashes on the Grand Prix racetrack epitomized the contrast between these two extraordinary characters, a distinction reflected in their private lives. Set against the sexy and glamorous golden age of Formula 1 racing, Rush portrays the exhilarating true story of two of the greatest rivals the world has ever witnessed—handsome English playboy Hunt and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Lauda. Taking us into their personal lives on and off the track, Rush follows the two drivers as they push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error. If you make one mistake, you die.
Get more Chris Hemsworth weekdays 5:30p ET / 2:30p PT
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You have to hand it to director Ron Howard for not giving up on his adaptation of The Dark Tower, based on author Stephen King's post-apocalyptic Western novel series.
The project has been mired in setbacks that has included Universal passing on the ambitious adaptation last July, despite Academy Award–winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) attempts to bring down the movie's budget via rewrites. With a plan that includes a trilogy of movies with two TV series, there's no doubt Howard and producer Brian Grazer's Dark Tower is an unprecedented adaptation, but with HBO agreeing to air the TV portion last October, Warner Bros. was close to taking over the project in March. With Goldsman reportedly turning in yet another draft, it looks like Warners is even closer to giving Dark Tower the green light, though it looks like a casting change will be in order.
russell crowe as roland deschain? >> Posted 08.03.12 by Ryan -
Javier Bardem might yet begin his quest for the Dark Tower.
Nothing has been easy for director Ron Howard and his ambitious plans to adapt The Dark Tower, based on the popular, post-apocalyptic Western series from author Stephen King. Howard's plan for a trilogy of movies and two TV series to bridge the movies was unprecedented, and one that Universal ultimately rejected last July, even after Academy Award–winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) performed rewrites to help bring down the movie's budget.
Howard, Goldsman, and producer Brian Grazer remained resolute, and promised to continue to find financing and another studio to distribute, and it looks like they've been successful. Deadline reports that Warner Bros. is "very close" to a deal that would allow Howard to direct the first movie, possibly in early 2013. Warner Bros. has been long-rumored to be the studio that would take over The Dark Tower, especially after HBO, also owned by Time Warner, agreed to air the TV portion of the adaptation last October.
Bardem is still attached to play gunslinger Roland Deschain, who becomes humanity's last hope as he searches for the fabled Dark Tower, said to be the nexus of all universes. Bardem's participation would depend on scheduling. Goldsman, meanwhile, is finishing another polish of the script for the studio.
The news has to good to The Dark Tower's many fans, who are anxiously awaiting the eighth volume of the series, The Wind Through the Keyhole, which will arrive on bookshelves in April.
Posted 03.13.12 by Ryan -
Had everything gone Ron Howard's way, he would already be directing a movie adaptation of The Dark Tower, based on the novel series by Stephen King. Production was set to start in September, but Universal balked at the budget and ultimately pulled the plug on the project, which was planned as a trilogy of movies with TV series airing in between.
Recently, HBO agreed to air the TV portion of the ambitious adaptation, but a new studio has yet to agree to take on the movie trilogy. In the meantime, Howard has decide to bring his Academy Award–winning directorial skills to a different project, the Formula One racing biopic Rush, written by Howard's Frost/Nixon screenwriter Peter Morgan. Rush focuses on the complicated friendship between Formula One rivals James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Inglourious Basterds's Daniel Bruhl). A huge sport internationally, Howard told THR why American audiences will enjoy Rush.
how Rush will excite audiences, and what's going on with The Dark Tower? >> Posted 11.03.11 by Ryan -
In June, Emma Stone (The Help, the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man) decided to pass on the lead role of Elizabeth Bennett in Liongate's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but was hardly the only name associated with the role. Prior to Stone, the studio reportedly "flirted" with actresses Mia Wasikowska and Anne Hathaway without much results, while Scarlett Johansson was rumored for the part last year after Natalie Portman dropped out.
Recently, reports have revealed that Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively was offered the role and, after a few weeks of contemplation, it looks like Lively will put starring in summer box office bomb Green Lantern behind her as she takes on an exciting, high-profile role with a built-in fanba...wait, nope, she didn't take it, either. Didn't expect that. Variety writer Justin Kroll revealed the news on his Twitter.
Casting update, news broke a couple weeks back that Blake Lively was offered lead in PRIDE PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES. She has officially passed
Wilde in formula one biopic; Schwarzenegger gets company >> Posted 10.06.11 by Ryan -
Ever since the final episode of Fox's short-lived sitcom Arrested Development went off the air in 2006 with show producer (and uncredited narrator) Ron Howard appearing as himself to claim that he sees the rights to the Bluth family story "as a movie," loyal fans have been impatiently awaiting an Arrested Development movie.
In March, series star Jason Bateman revealed that series creator Mitchell Hurwitz was "very deep into the work on [a script]" and that Hurwitz could finish the script by the end of the year, which is not too dissimilar from comments Bateman made in March of last year when he said "we're hoping for the end of the year."
Finally, however, it looks like the movie is actually coming together, with Hurwitz recently unveiling the best news yet for Arrested Development fans.
a TV show and a movie? >> Posted 10.03.11 by Ryan -
Universal Pictures must feel pretty confident in the skills of fledgling screenwriter David Guggenheim. Even though the former Us Weekly editor has yet to have anything he has written hit the big screen, the studio has just purchased a second screenplay from him. The first, the action-thriller Safe House, recently wrapped production in South Africa under the direction of Daniel Espinosa (Snabba Cash) with Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington in leading roles. The second, according to Deadline, is a 'superhero' drama titled 364 that the studio "preemptively acquired" from Guggenheim for Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) to direct.
more about 364 >> Posted 09.12.11 by BrentJS -
Last month, Universal balked at director Ron Howard's ambitious plan to adapt Stephen King's massive The Dark Tower series into a trilogy of movies, with two TV series to air in-between each movie sequel. After reportedly having issues with the budget that ultimately delayed the Dark Tower's start date, the studio found the adaptation to be "too costly [and] too big a risk". Universal's decision hasn't caused Howard or producer Brian Grazer to give up, however.
when could The Dark Tower start? >> Posted 08.18.11 by Ryan