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As we sift through the stories that occurred over the weekend while we were at Comic-Con, it seems that Paramount's adaptation of World War Z is in even more trouble. Last week, reports claimed that not only was screenwriter Damon Lindelof (Lost, Prometheus) brought in to help brainstorm a fix to the film's ending, but Cabin in the Woods co-writer and director Drew Goddard did the actual rewriting work, with another writer, Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Jack Reacher), possibly stepping in at a later date. Now comes word that Brad Pitt and director Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) are no longer on speaking terms.
Vulture was the first to report the communication breakdown, with the site's multiple production sources claiming that Pitt has become so frustrated with Forster that, as the production prepares for three weeks of reshoots (initially reported as seven), that "when Forster had notes on a scene for Pitt, they had to be relayed through an intermediary — and vice versa." Pitt originally fought to bring Forster on board the movie, which Pitt's production company Plan B is producing, and which was rushed into production last July to make a winter release date that has subsequently been pushed to June 21, 2013. This was reportedly done after Pitt and Paramount execs were unhappy with how some of the movie's action sequences were coming together in the editing room. To be fair to Forster, he clearly went into production with a script that wasn't finished, so he may have a good reason for not shooting a movie without having much of a plan.
what is going on? >> Posted 07.18.12 by Ryan -
Poor World War Z. Already deemed an impossible-to-shoot book by its many fans, confidence wasn't high about a movie adaptation, and, as the production has moved forward, problems have continued to plague the movie like a, well, zombie outbreak.
Back in January, stars Brad Pitt and Mireille Enos were talking about World War Z as if it was the start of a trilogy, but, months later, the movie was pushed from December to June 21, 2013, giving time for director Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) to engage in seven weeks of reshoots. Paramount president Adam Goodman told The Hollywood Reporter in June that "the footage from this film looks fantastic, but we all agreed it can have a better ending," prompting the studio to bring in screenwriter Damon Lindelof (Lost, Prometheus) to help rewrite the end of World War Z. While Lindelof reportedly helped figure out a new ending (which, considering the source, means there won't be an ending), another writer was brought in to pen the script and another writer might now follow, as well.
MORE >> Posted 07.12.12 by Ryan -
There was some surprise when Tom Cruise was cast as Jack Reacher, the hero of author Lee Child's 15-volume series of novels centering around the former Military Police Officer-turned-drifter. Described in Child's novels as 6'5" and 250 pounds, the character doesn't seem to fit Cruise, something the actor admitted he was "very sensitive" about last October, but said he was given Child's "blessing" to take the part or he wouldn't have taken it.
Set for release this December, and titled Jack Reacher (formerly One Shot), Entertainment Weekly has released the first look photo of Cruise as Reacher, which writer-director Christopher McQuarrie (The Way of the Gun) says "literally and figuratively has no baggage." The photo reportedly shows Cruise as Reacher as he steps out of his still-moving (slowly, we're sure) 1970 Chevelle SS in order to escape a police chase. The result is, shall we say, familiar.
see the full photo >> Posted 06.27.12 by Ryan -
Despite a 25 year gap between movies, a sequel to Top Gun was reported to be in the works last October, with director Tony Scott confirming the movie less than two weeks later. The Usual Suspects screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie was set to write the Top Gun 2 script that would again see Tom Cruise returning to the role of Maverick. Then, the news subsided, as Cruise filled his schedule with sci-fi projects and the thriller One Shot, adapted from Lee Child's novel of the same name.
Taking a break from shooting One Shot to discuss the upcoming Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol, Cruise told MTV the project is still alive. "We're working on it," said Cruise, who revealed that McQuarrie won't be.
cruise talks maverick >> Posted 12.09.11 by Ryan -
Could the Weinstein Company be working on an adaptation of the '70s TV show The Six Million Dollar Man? According to a recent rumor, they are, and Leonardo DiCaprio could play the title role.
According to Latino Review, the Weinstein Co. is working with Universal to make a movie from The Six Million Dollar Man, which, like the series starring Lee Majors, would again be based on the 1972 novel Cybog by Martin Caidin. Due to inflation, the new movie would be titled The Six Billion Dollar Man. Rumored to be directing the project is Bryan Singer, who we recently reported is also interested in making a movie from another '70s TV show, Battlestar Galactica.
will DiCaprio take the role? >> Posted 11.17.11 by Ryan -
It's been a bumpy road for The Wolverine. It first lost its Academy Award–nominated director, got a new director but then was delayed by weather, and finally received a rewrite in the past year and is now on hold until Hugh Jackman to finishes work on a musical version of Les Miserables.
Had everything gone to plan, The Wolverine would have started shooting in April but, a month before, director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) dropped out. In a recent interview with The Playlist, Jackman revealed that he had been trying to work with Aronofsky again (the last time was 2006's The Fountain) for a while.
His personal life precluded him from making the movie. I asked him to do X-Men 3, I asked him to do Wolverine one and he said, "It’s not so much for me." And then he read this and said, "Man, I’m in. This is the best comic movie script I’ve ever read" and he’s been dying to do one for a long time.
jackman talks rewrites and mangold's "clear vision" for Wolverine >> Posted 09.27.11 by Ryan -
A little over a week ago, it was announced that Denzel Washington was cast in director Robert Zemeckis' Flight, the first live-action movie for Zemeckis (Back to the Future) since 2000's Castaway. More cast members have reportedly booked their ticket.
According to Moviehole, Don Cheadle (Iron Man 2) and Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek) have joined the cast of the upcoming thriller, which sees Washington as a pilot who saves most of the passengers on a commercial airline flight after a malfunction but is eventually investigated after it is discovered that he drank the night before the flight. Cheadle and Greenwood's roles are unspecified at this time.
John Gatins (Real Steel) wrote the script for Flight, which goes into production in Atlanta this October. Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes) is already set to play a drug addict who befriends Washington as they both battle their dependency issues.
Casey Affleck to fight for Paradise Lost and Michelle Rodriguez joins latest Resident Evil sequel >> Posted 09.24.11 by Ryan -
No one said making movies was easy, and the highly anticipated, non-sequel sequel of The Wolverine is a shining example. Already victim of a delay that pushed production into next year (and the release date likely into 2013), the studio is filling that time by giving the script a rewrite.
Why rewrite The Wolverine? >> Posted 09.02.11 by Ryan -
Last month, actor-producer Tom Cruise was confirmed to produce and act in Paramount Pictures' adaptation of author Lee Child's novel One Shot. Finally, Cruise is getting some company.
Deadline reports that Rosamund Pike is in negotiations to take the female lead, that of a defense attorney named Helen Rodin. In the novel, Cruise's character, former Military Police Officer-turned-drifter Jack Reacher, investigates the deaths of five individuals, all shot by a lone sniper. Pike's Rodin is defending the man arrested for the shootings, and joins up with Cruise's Reacher to bring down the real culprits.
One Shot was adapted by screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie (Valkyrie, The Usual Suspects), who will also direct for the first time since his 2000 crime drama The Way of the Gun. Production on the movie will start this fall in Pittsburgh. No release date for One Shot has been announced so far.
Pike can be seen next in September's Johnny English Reborn, followed by the October comedy The Big Year and, next March, in Wrath of the Titans, the sequel to Clash of the Titans.
Hill and dewitt to join Stiller and Vaughn in Neighborhood Watch >> Posted 08.17.11 by Ryan -
In June, we reported Tom Cruise was negotiating for the lead role in an adaptation of author Lee Child's novel One Shot, and, a month later, he's been confirmed, Deadline reports.
Based on one of the novels in the bestselling 15-volume series by Child, One Shot will see Cruise play former Military Police Officer-turned-drifter Jack Reacher, with a script from Christopher McQuarrie (Valkyrie, The Usual Suspects), who will also direct for the first time since the 2000 crime drama The Way of the Gun. Cruise will also produce the movie, which is set to start production in Pittsburgh this fall. After One Shot, Cruise will move on to the Joseph Kosinski-directed Horizons (formerly titled Oblivion).
what's One Shot about? >> Posted 07.16.11 by Ryan