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Lately, it seems that the cast of any movie directed by Christopher Nolan are sworn to silence. This means that, like the cloud of secrecy that surrounded Inception, no one in the cast of the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises will reveal anything. That didn't stop MTV from asking Gary Oldman if the highly-anticipated sequel is indeed the last chapter as Nolan has claimed. Oldman took a few seconds of silence before responding.
My silence isn't saying — no, no, no, don't read, don't read into it. My silence is — I'm thinking about how I can answer it [the question]. I was at Comic-Con, and someone said to me from the audience, "When's the next Batman? This was years ago, right? And I said, "Oh, I don't know, next year, it's going to be at the end of the year." And it went 'round the world.
Oldman said that in 2009, but also added: "But you didn't hear that from me," which clearly wasn't adhered to, so his reticence about responding is understandable. Eventually, he did compose himself enough to answer the question.
Bane a "smart" decision by Nolan >> Posted 11.23.11 by Ryan -
Director Christopher Nolan was recently interviewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where he received the Modern Master Award and discussed his career in movies. While it may not seem so now, Nolan was an unusual choice for a Batman movie prior to 2005's Batman Begins. At that point in his career, Nolan had only directed the thrillers Memento and Insomnia. He became involved in the movie after his agent notified him that Warner Bros. was looking to make another Batman movie and Nolan pitched the studio his Batman idea, SeattlePI reports.
what attracted Nolan to Batman? >> Posted 02.09.11 by Ryan -
Director Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, Nolan's wife and producing partner, both recently denied rumors they would be using "fragments of cut scenes" and CGI to bring a Heath Ledger cameo into The Dark Knight Rises, the sequel to 2008's The Dark Knight. Rumors still persist that Aaron Eckhart could return as Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face. While Eckhart said in September of 2009 that he would return if Nolan asked, he recently revealed that he's content to sit out the sequel. Looks like he'll have to be.
Eckhart and Nolan meet on a beach to discuss (seriously) >> Posted 12.03.10 by Ryan -
A firestorm of controversy was ignited in the comic book movie fan community recently after tabloid news site ShowbizSpy reported that director Christopher Nolan intended on using "fragments of cut scenes" and CGI to include a cameo of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker in the sequel to The Dark Knight (TDK). The anonymous "source" behind the news said that Nolan would insert the cameo so that there would be "some continuity" between TDK and The Dark Knight Rises and to "pay tribute to Heath."
While some fans welcomed the idea of inserting a "respectful" nod to Ledger into Rises, many more took to fan forums and blogs to express their distaste for such a cameo, which they felt would sully the late actor's memory and potentially harm the franchise. The point is now moot, however, as Emma Thomas, Nolan's wife and producing partner, told THR late last night at a function celebrating Inception that there's no truth to the story.
I heard the rumor. We're not doing that.
Nolan also denied the rumor to THR and said that his brother, Jonathan, is still at work on the script for the movie, which is expected to go into production in May. The Dark Knight Rises is slated for release July 20, 2012.
Posted 12.02.10 by BrentJS -
Kirsten Dunst recently offered some advice to Emma Stone, who is set to play Gwen Stacy in director Marc Webb's upcoming Spider-Man reboot, which was simply "get used to acting to nothing." Andrew Garfield, who takes over as Peter Parker for Tobey Maguire, told MTV he has also received advice on how to approach the character.
what was Garfield told? >> Posted 11.25.10 by Ryan -
ReelzChannel Celebrity Rundown
During shooting for the comedy Wanderlust — set for an October 2011 release — Malin Akerman developed a massive girl-crush on single co-star Jennifer Aniston, telling People "Jennifer is one of my favorite people now. Not only is she an extraordinary actress, she is such a loving, genuine woman and fun. You want her to be your best friend. She's amazing." Akerman also exhorted men to "get out there! Nab her!" and claimed that "she's every guy's dream." Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn, British model Paul Sculfor, and singer John Mayer were all unavailable for comment.
Batman fans looking for any news about The Dark Knight Rises — set for a July 20, 2012 release — got a morsel yesterday from Sir Michael Caine, who told Empire "script in January, shoot in May, finish in November." Caine neither confirmed nor denied rumors that Eddie Murphy will be cast as The Riddler.
No Joker, of course, for the Dark Knight sequel, but the SoHo apartment where Health Ledger died is finally back on the market, nearly three years after the actor's drug overdose. The 4,400-square-foot loft, located at 421 Broome Street — completely gutted and renovated — can be yours for $5M.
That's chump change compared to the True Blood house. The three-story, 12,045-square-foot Malibu pad overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is on the market for $35M.
Posted 11.19.10 by reelz -
Back in 2003, Warner Bros. was desperately trying to figure out how to bring two of their most iconic characters back to the big screen. The Batman franchise had crumbled beneath the neon campiness of Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin five years earlier and there had not been a new Superman movie in theaters since the equally terrible The Quest for Peace in 1987.
The answer to Warners' dilemma seemed to be to combine both characters in one spectacular movie: Batman vs. Superman. The title alone is enough to make many comic book movie fans quiver in anticipation. And, with Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en) working on the screenplay and Wolfgang Petersen (Troy) attached to direct, the movie seemed like a sure-fire blockbuster.
Fast-forward seven years and we now have director Christopher Nolan's brilliant Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, as well as the mediocre Superman Returns, Bryan Singer's homage to the original Superman, but no Batman vs. Superman. So, whatever happened to the team-up movie? In a recent interview with MTV, Petersen said that it came "pretty close" to being made.
And then the studio got a single Superman script I think from J.J. Abrams at that time, and [Warner Bros. chief] Alan Horn was so torn – because it’s such a fascinating concept to do a Batman versus Superman film. And I still think it would be to do that. But the studio decided to try separate versions of Superman and Batman, and then maybe think about down the road if you want to bring them together in one film.
It's long been known that Warners had been pursuing Josh Hartnett for the role of Superman. What was not known before now is that the only other actor in serious contention for the role was Christian Bale, who stars in Nolan's Batman movies as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Considered for Superman and now playing Batman? Obviously, Bale has "superhero" written all over him.
For his part, Petersen has no regrets about Batman vs. Superman falling by the wayside. Warners offered him the job directing Troy shortly thereafter, and he has nothing but praise for Nolan's take on Batman.
I loved Dark Knight! I was completely sucked into it, blown away by it. I thought right away it deserved an Academy Award for Best Picture, and I was really disappointed that it didn’t get it. I thought Heath Ledger was just phenomenal. I am a big fan of that movie.
Posted 03.16.10 by BrentJS -
When Heath Ledger passed away last year, he was in the middle of shooting director Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. It seemed like the movie would have to remain unfinished, until a plot convention was created that allowed Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell to step in and take turns sharing Ledger's final role. Both Depp and Law have finally opened up about what it was like to fill in for Ledger during an interview with HitFix. Depp praised the production, particularly the performances.
It was an honor to represent Heath. He was the only player out there breathing heavy down the back of every established actor's neck with a thundering and ungovernable talent that came up on you quick, hissing rather mischievously with that cheeky grin, "Hey... get on out of my way boys, I'm coming through..." and does he ever!!! Heath is a marvel, Christopher Plummer beyond anything he's ever done, [Tom] Waits as the Devil is a God, Lily Cole and Andrew Garfield, the very foundation, are spectacular, Verne Troyer simply kicks ass and as for my other cohorts, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, they most certainly did Master Ledger very proud, I salute them.
Though the circumstances of my involvement are extremely heart-rending and unbelievably sad, I feel privileged to have been asked aboard to stand in on behalf of dear Heath.
Law admitted it wasn't easy to say yes to the project.
I have always loved Terry Gilliam's films. Their heart, their soul, their mind, always inventive, touching, funny, and relevant. When I got the call, it was a double tug. I liked Heath very much as a man andadmired him as an actor. To help finish his final piece of work was a tribute I felt compelled to make. To help Terry finish his film was an honor paid to a man I adore. I had a great time on the job. Though we were all there in remembrance, Heath's heart pushed us with great lightness to the finish.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is currently playing in limited release and opens nationwide on January 8, 2010.
Posted 12.31.09 by Ryan -
Writer-director Terry Gilliam discusses the unique nature of his latest film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, in a new clip, "Behind the Mirror,"exclusive to Yahoo Movies UK. In the clip, Gilliam describes Imaginarium as a "compendium" of ideas and themes that he's "played with" in other films.
It's magical. It's very moving, I think it's touching, it's funny. It's all sorts of things. So, in many ways, both the most mature thing I've done and the most juvenile thing I've done.
Producer Amy Gilliam also provides commentary, along with several of the film's stars, including Christopher Plummer and Lily Cole.
In conjunction with the clip, a new poster has also been released. Previous posters have spotlighted the various incarnations of Tony, as played by Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and the late Heath Ledger, but the latest poster features Cole as Valentina in a whimsical design.
Posted 10.16.09 by BrentJS -
As clips and new still images are released for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, we're reminded of just how talented Heath Ledger was as an actor and how much the film world has lost.
When director Terry Gilliam announced he would move forward with the movie in the wake of Ledger's death, many criticized his decision. It took the combined efforts of actors Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law to try to fill the void — and to avoid having to render Ledger's remaining scenes using CGI. Gilliam has defended his decision to continue on, saying that he did so to honor Heath and his work and "to touch people's hearts and souls as Heath was able to do."
I am grateful to Johnny, Colin, and Jude for coming on board and to everyone else who has made it possible for us to finish the film.
I am delighted that Heath's brilliant performance can be shared with the world.
Posted 09.17.09 by BrentJS