Thoughts?
Showing posts with label superhero movie chatter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label superhero movie chatter. Show all posts
Andrew Garfield talks from the heart about his webslinging role at Comic-Con
Behold:
-Joey's Two Cents: He feels like a good Peter Parker, but that's just me...thoughts?
Man of Steel pushed back to 2013...
Variety has the details:
Superman will be back on June 14, 2013 with Warner Bros. selecting that date for the opening of Man of Steel -- six months later than what had been tentatively planned.
Studio made the announcement Thursday. Warner Bros. had said previously that the release was planned for December 2012 but had never set a specific date.
Man of Steel is the third title set for June, 2013. Disney has set Monsters University for June 21, 2013, and Uni has R.I.P.D. due to open a week later.
Zack Snyder's directing for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Pic's due to begin shooting this summer in Pittsburgh with Brit thesp Henry Cavill set to play Superman with Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Michael Shannon also starring.
David Goyer penned the script and developed the story with Christopher Nolan, who has kept plot details under wraps. Charles Roven will produce along with Emma Thomas, Nolan and Deborah Snyder. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips will exec produce for Legendary.
The Dark Knight Rises may have a Teaser by this time next week...
...since the rumors are swirling that it will be attached to the last Harry Potter flick. This was the day that most speculated it would show up in theaters, so it makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't say it's set in stone, but don't bet against it. There should also be the first poster dropping around the same time, so our first taste of Christopher Nolan's bat swan song are rapidly approaching!-Thoughts?
Don't count out a sequel to Green Lantern just due to mediocre Box Office...
...since Warner Brothers is pushing ahead with another installment of the now franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter:Warner Bros. is already planning a sequel to Ryan Reynolds' superhero pic Green Lantern, despite the film’s soft performance at the box office.
Sources say Warners still believes in the franchise, even if the studio is “somewhat disappointed” with Green Lantern’s result.
Over the weekend, Green Lantern fell a steep 66% at the domestic box office, grossing $18.4 million for a cume of $89.3 million. That’s a big decline.
Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said the movie is settling in, pointing out that fanboy pics often see a significant drop-off in their second weekends.
Still, Green Lantern fell off more than recent superhero picsThor and X-Men: First Class. Thor dropped 47% in its second weekend, while First Class dropped 56%.
Similar films that have seen the same sort of dip that Green Lantern did include Hulk, which dropped nearly 70% in its second outing.
Green Lantern cost $200 million to produce before a sizeable marketing spend (rival studios say it was one of the most expensive on record). Warners, preparing for the end of Harry Potter, needs new franchises, so was willing to invest big in Green Lantern.
A formidable obstacle standing in Green Lantern’s way now is Paramount’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which opens in theaters around the globe on Tuesday night.
-Joey's Two Cents: I think the second movie would undoubtedly be a step up, without having to deal with the origins of the character, but that's just me...thoughts?Comic-Con might be a little lighter than usual this year...
...according to The Playlist:The comic/geek crowd are either the most important group to court for genre films or their influence is overstated; it really depends on who you ask. In recent years, the very vocal contingent has generally been thought of as essential to making sure more challenging or niche fare finds an audience or least makes its budget back, but a series of disappointments and flops have the studios reconsidering. Last year, Edgar Wright‘s “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” was met with widespread geek acclaim only for the Universal film to sputter at the box office (though to be fair, the marketing for that film did little to embrace anybody outside the core of fans). “Sucker Punch” got major buzz and died on the vine this past spring, while “Tron: Legacy” played modestly despite nerds flipping for footage that Disney teased as early as 2008 (though yes, it has done enough to convince the studio get a sequel moving). And both “Skyline” and “Let Me In” faltered when they hit screens later in the year, after doing the San Diego Comic-Con rounds.
However—this year at least—the tide is shifting. The New York Times reports that Warner Bros, Marvel, DreamWorks, Disney and The Weinstein Company will be no-shows this year, meaning that some major movies coming out in 2012 won’t be given an early push. For those traveling across the country to attend SDCC, this year’s lineup—at least on the film front—will have some huge, disappointing gaps.
Probably one of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2012 is Christopher Nolan‘s “The Dark Knight Rises” but with the WB not booking tickets to San Diego, folks hoping for an exclusive look at the film will be out of luck. It also means that Zack Snyder‘s “Man Of Steel,” currently slated for a late 2012 release, will be absent marking two huge, heavyweight comic franchises missing from the biggest convention of the year. That said, Nolan has never played the Comic-Con game, so it’s not too shocking he won’t start now, but it still means two of the most mainstream comic heros of all time will stay off the convention floor. It also means no peeks at Bryan Singer‘s “Jack The Giant Killer” or Tim Burton‘s “Dark Shadows.”
With Marvel unveiling the entire cast of “The Avengers” last year, it’s somewhat shocking that the comic behemoth is as yet not guaranteed to be using San Diego to formally announce any new films in the works, with the Times saying they’re currently “on the fence.” But with the “The Avengers” only recent gearing up to shoot and racing to meet a release date next spring, we suppose priorities are shifted to getting the film completed. Disney meanwhile will also stay at home, keeping any peeks at “John Carter” to themselves for now (and/or for the front of “Cars 2”). And DreamWorks won’t play ball either, though their geek slate in the near future is a bit dry other than “Real Steel” this fall.
So, who will be there? SDCC attendeese will still have lots to look forward to with “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes,” “The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn,” “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1,” “Shark Night 3D,” “Immortals” and “The Raven” all expected to have a presence, and there are always surprises in store. With 20th Century Fox on hand, we could (but this is just guessing) see something from “Prometheus,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” or even some kind of announcement regarding the director of “The Wolverine.” Meanwhile, Sony has a whole bunch of stuff they can also push including “21 Jump Street,” “Men In Black III,” “Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance,” “Total Recall,” “James Bond 23” and hell, even Neill Blomkamp‘s “Elysium” (though, considering he’s as secretive as Nolan, we doubt it). And oh yeah, The Weinstein Company not showing is really not shocking as we figure “Cogan’s Trade” and “The Wettest County In The World” aren’t exactly the kind of films cosplay enthusiasts are pumped for.
So while some heavy hitters are staying home, any calls that San Diego Comic-Con is facing a crisis are a bit overstated. If anything, the absence of four major players may just mean studios are being more strategic. “It’s a red-letter opportunity, but you shouldn’t go simply because it sits there on the calendar,” said co-president of marketing for Universal Pictures, Michael Moses. “You have to be absolutely certain you have goods ready that can really make a difference for your film.” And speaking of Universal, they’ve got “47 Ronin,” “Battleship” and “Ted” as potential Comic-Con entries.
And let’s not forget last year’s success stories. “The Green Hornet,” “Red,” “Resident Evil: Afterlife” and “The Expendables” all went on to do excellent box office business (though yes, Sony did have to push extra hard for ‘Hornet’ to cross $220 million worldwide). So, it’s a delicate game of knowing what to show and when, and also being aware of when to hold back. Marketing is a tricky, finely tuned art and if you’re not prepared, the comic crowd can and will eat you alive (remember the boos last year for the M. Night Shyamalan-produced “Devil”?). So don’t fear SDCC folks, there’s still plenty of time for anything to happen and while some big movies won’t be there, there will still be lots to take in. The San Diego Comic-Con runs from July 21-24.
-Joey's Two Cents: The movies will still be coming out, so that's all I care about...thoughts?The search for a new 'Wolverine' director has narrowed down...
...to 8 contenders, specifically. Here are the names, via Variety:More than two months after Darren Aronofsky dropped out of directing "The Wolverine," 20th Century Fox is considering eight candidates, a diverse group that includes helmers both with indie pedigree and tentpole experience.
Studio is considering Jose Padilha, Doug Liman, Antoine Fuqua, Mark Romanek, Justin Lin, Gavin O'Connor, James Mangold and Gary Shore (largely a commercials director) to helm the Hugh Jackman-toplined actioner, multiple sources tell Variety.
Directors Gavin Hood -- who directed the first "Wolverine" pic -- and Aronofsky, whose artistic films include "Black Swan" and "Pi" and "Requiem for a Dream," initially showed that the studio was open to picking directors more well-known for prestige films than commercial fare. Latest list demonstrates that while Fox is still receptive to directors best-known for their indie chops, like a Romanek or Padilha, they're also looking closely at directors with popcorn-flick credits.
While some of the contenders have yet to direct a big summer tentpole, each -- except for Romanek and Shore -- has had success directing some sort of actioner.
Liman's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" grossed more than $470 million worldwide in 2005, while Lin's "Fast Five" has been Universal's most successful pic since "Despicable Me."
Mangold recently directed "Knight and Day" with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz for Fox, which earned more than $260 million globally, and also directed "3:10 to Yuma" with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.
Fuqua comes from more of an action background having directed WB's "Training Day," "King Arthur" for Jerry Bruckheimer and "Tears of the Sun." Lionsgate will release O'Connor's "Warrior" later this year; helmer also directed 2008's "Pride and Glory" starring Colin Farrell and Edward Norton.
Padilha directed "Elite Squad 1" and "Elite Squad 2" and is also attached to direct MGM's reboot of "Robocop."
Writer Christopher McQuarrie penned the script to "The Wolverine," which largely takes part in Japan, sources say. Aronofsky's departure from the film came shortly after a tsunami devastated the country last year, although his exit was not attributed to the disaster. Moving forward, however, most sources connected with the film say the floods and earthquakes at least complicated plans to shoot the pic, which currently has no release date.
-Joey's Two Cents: I would have preferred Duncan Jones, as was rumored previously, but all of these guys can get the job done...thoughts?
Could Duncan Jones be taking over for Darren Aronofsky and directing Wolverine?
Perhaps, according to The Wrap:Fox may have found the director to tame “The Wolverine.”
Duncan Jones, who directed this year’s “Source Code” -- and is David Bowie’s son -- is looking at the job.
It’s all very early, but the “Moon” director’s name has been popping up as a potential “Wolverine” director quite a bit lately. And he told IGN that he might do it.
“Who knows what’ll be coming up next,” he said. “I have a lot of meetings and catching-up to do when I get back to L.A.”
He confirmed that one of those meetings is with Fox, where he’ll talk about “The Wolverine.”
Darren Aronofsky was originally attached to direct, but he pulled out in March because of scheduling issues.Then, the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, where the movie was set to shoot, and the film was put on hold.
In Christopher McQuarrie's screenplay, Wolverine goes to Japan to learn from a Samurai master.
Hugh Jackman will star.
-Joey's Two Cents: I'm a big fan of the 2 films Jones has directed so far, so I'd certainly be more interested in this project with him at the helm...thoughts?
Check out some set photos from The Amazing Spider-Man!
Via Coming Soon:Some of the most revealing photos yet from the New York
As you can see, the first shot represents our first good look at Rhys Ifans
Though it's a bit hard to make out, the second photo also offers our first look at Martin Sheen as Ben Parker and the others feature Andrew Garfield and director Marc Webb.
The Amazing Spider-Man also stars Emma Stone, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan and Sally Field. It opens in 3D and 2D theaters on July 3, 2012.
Thanks to the Daily Mail, here are more photos from today's shoot, including Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy and Martin Sheen as Uncle Ben...
Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are confirmed for The Dark Knight Rises!
Via The Hollywood Reporter:Warner Bros confirmed today that Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have joined the cast of The Dark Knight Rises, which is being billed as the “conclusion of the Dark Knight legend,” meaning the end of Christopher Nolan’s run on the Batman movies.
The two have been in various stages of negotiations for months, with much speculation on who the two are playing.
The studio said Cotillard will play as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father’s philanthropic endeavors for Gotham.
Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon.
Both worked with Nolan on Inception.
“When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again,” Nolan said in a statement.
The Dark Knight Rises is slated for release on July 20, 2012.
-Joey's Two Cents: I like that they're not playing who we expect them to be playing, though it could still mean that they're going to end up as iconic figures, just with a different back-story...thoughts?
Could Superman be headed to West Africa in Man of Steel?
Possibly, according to Collider:Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have spent recent weeks casting their Superman reboot, Man of Steel. Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent. Amy Adams as Lois Lane. Michael Shannon as General Zod. Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent. The inclusion of Zod and hiring big names for Clark’s adoptive parents give some indication of where the story — conceived by David S. Goyer and producer Christopher Nolan — takes place in the Superman lore. And Lane claims Man of Steel “does cover the entire range of years, from infancy on.”
But these are just nuggets. What will the film actually be about? A new synopsis has emerged that may confirm Superman is headed to West Africa. Read more after the jump.
Late last year, a character breakdown issued to casting issues included plot details:
The plot involves Clark getting involved in some sort of battle between two tribes in West Africa. When he is compelled to use his secret powers to intervene in a crisis in West Africa, Clark returns to Smallville to learn more about his origins and the hero he was born to be.
My understanding is this logline was somewhat dismissed, perhaps a victim of time out of sight. This weekend, however, Bleeding Cool found this synopsis listed in the Baseline Studio System:
A young reporter named Clark Kent roams the world covering various news stories. When he is compelled to use his secret powers to intervene in a crisis in West Africa, he returns to Smallville to learn more about his origins and the hero he was born to be.
These are clearly from the same source. The more recent synopsis suggests Clark is a reporter at the Daily Planet from scene one and omits any mention of a tribal battle. But otherwise: practically verbatim.
It is common to release false details to casting agencies to provide the actors a sense of tone for the auditions without leaking the real story. I am not aware of any motivation to do the same with Baseline. And Bleeding Cool vouches for the system’s reliability, citing the instance last year when they discovered the top secret Devil synopsis on Baseline.
If this is the true synopsis for Man of Steel, this brings us back to the Mark Waid-penned comic Birthright. From the Wikipedia synopsis:
The story begins with a retelling of the destruction of planet Krypton. Jor-El laments the fact that his world accomplished “miracles no one will remember” while he is busy preparing infant Kal-El’s voyage. Kal-El’s shuttle pod fires into space moments before the planet’s destruction. Jor-El and his wife Lara regret that they will never know if Kal-El survives the journey.
Time winds forward to present day West Africa, where an ethnic conflict between the fictional Ghuri and Turaaba clans is claiming lives (this conflict is very reminiscent of the Hutu and Tutsi wars in Rwanda). Clark Kent, a freelance reporter in his early twenties, arrives to cover the conflict…
Clark returns to Smallville, determined to learn more about his alien heritage. He tells his mother Martha that he wants to unearth his spaceship. He and Martha use the data tablet that came with Clark from Krypton to examine holographic records of Kryptonian history.
Birthright hits all the same beats. West Africa. From infancy on. A return to Smallville. The one big discrepancy: Where does Zod fit in?
Can you do me favor, WB? Can you release the official synopsis? Like, really spell it out.
The Zack Snyder-directed Man of Steel is scheduled for release in December 2012.
-Joey's Two Cents: That does sound like the type of Superman movie Nolan might have been interested in...thoughts?