-
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 -
Earlier this month, the 84th Academy Awards telecast was set to be produced by movie director Brett Ratner and hosted by Ratner's Tower Heist star Eddie Murphy. Then, after Ratner committed two public gaffes while out promoting Tower Heist (Ratner once used a homophobic slur while discussing rehearsals and also offered a rather candid summation about his sex life with actress Olivia Munn, which he later recanted), Ratner dropped out as the show's producer, with Murphy following shortly thereafter.
Academy Award–winning producer Brian Grazer stepped in and replaced Ratner and eventually named eight-time Oscars host Billy Crystal to replace Murphy. With the dust settled, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak told EW that he felt "very badly" for Ratner.
read Sherak's comments while grazer defends whether Crystal was the "safe" choice >> Posted 11.14.11 by Ryan -
UPDATE: As many predicted, Brian Grazer was able to convince his friend Billy Crystal to host the awards show. Crystal tweeted the news: "Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show."
Recently announced Oscars producer Brian Grazer is on the hunt for a new host since Eddie Murphy dropped out. Now some of our favorite childhood characters are up for consideration. The Muppets have been nominated for the big task via Facebook.
This may be the fresh, new spark the Oscars have been looking for — not to mention a great spark of publicity given the November 23 release of The Muppets movie. But is it coincidental? The Oscars are run through ABC, which is owned by Disney, which in turn owns the Muppets. Either way, the followers of "The Muppets as Oscar Hosts?" Facebook group is growing, and with three months until the big evening, those numbers could sky rocket, further encouraging the appearance of our favorite fuzzy characters.
Also being mentioned is comedian Billy Crystal, who last hosted the Oscars in 2004. With his good guy charm and friendly demeanour, he may give other considered hosts a run for their money.
Posted 11.10.11 by reelz -
Now that both Brett Ratner and Eddie Murphy have stepped down as the producer and host of the 84th Academy Awards telecast, respectively, only Ratner has been replaced, with Academy Award–winning producer Brian Grazer quickly announced as the new producer.
British comedian Ricky Gervais (The Office, The Invention of Lying) has offered to take Murphy's place. "I’ll do it," Gervais told Access Hollywood. Gervais has hosted the Golden Globes in the past, coming under scrutiny for last year's telecast for his cutting jokes aimed at some of the celebrities in attendance.
gervais offers a "two for one" >> Posted 11.10.11 by Ryan -
The dust has finally settled and it looks like Academy Award–winning producer Brian Grazer will be producing the 84th Academy Awards telecast next year instead of director Brett Ratner. Ratner resigned from his position yesterday after committing two public gaffes while promoting his latest movie, Tower Heist.
Soon after, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences issued a press release announcing Grazer as the new producer in charge. "Brian Grazer is a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work," said Academy President Tom Sherak. "He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars."
what's next for Ratner? >> Posted 11.10.11 by Ryan -
Last September, Universal unveiled its ambitious plan to adapt Stephen King's massive The Dark Tower series of novels (an eighth book is set to arrive next spring), which included a trilogy of movies, with two TV series to air in-between each movie. While fans had to be pleased with the scale of the adaptation, the studio eventually found the project to be "too costly [and] too big a risk".
The adaptation's Academy Award–winning creative team of director Ron Howard, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, and producer Brian Grazer — all of whom worked together on 2001's A Beautiful Mind — didn't give up, and now have at least the TV portion of the adaptation set up.
where will the TV series end up? >> Posted 10.26.11 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 -
When Universal announced last May that director Ron Howard, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, and producer Brian Grazer would be adapting Stephen King's massive, sprawling The Dark Tower series — which consists of seven novels (soon to be eight) and a short story — into a trilogy of movies with two TV series to premiere in-between, it seemed like an extremely ambitious plan. While trilogies are a common thing for movie franchises, with some extending beyond just a trilogy, it's unprecedented to have two TV series help bridge the gap between movies. In a recent interview with Deadline, Howard explained the reason behind the adaptation plan.
Howard on the budget and casting of javier bardem >> Posted 06.21.11 by Ryan -
The Dark Tower finally has its gunslinger.
Director Ron Howard has been searching for an actor to play the lead role of Roland Deschain since acquiring the rights to author Stephen King's mammoth Western/Sci-fi/Fantasy/horror Dark Tower series.
Viggo Mortensen and Javier Bardem were reported as frontunners for the role in early January, but by the end of the month, the part was offered to Bardem. No confirmation followed, though producer Brian Grazer revealed last month that Bardem was "locked in psychologically." Finally, it looks like Bardem will indeed play the role of Deschain, who is humanity's last hope to save civilization as he quests to find the Dark Tower.
Multiple sequels as well >> Posted 04.07.11 by Ryan