NorthFront Films

"Superman" Delayed For "Mayor"?

2007-07-03T15:56:00.001-07:00

This also comes in from Dark Horizons:

Although it had been expected that Bryan Singer would do "Superman: The Man of Steel" sequel once he wrapped up work on the WW2 Tom Cruise flick "Valkyrie", that may no longer be the case.

Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan tell Rotten Tomatoes that they have Singer lined up to direct "The Mayor of Castro Street," a story of gay rights activist Harvey Milk, within the next year.

Meron says "The next Superman, that's a ways off" and Zadan adds "Don't worry about it. Trust me. We may even start preproduction on Harvey Milk while he's on post production on the Tom Cruise movie."

Original plans had a "Superman" sequel aiming for a Summer 2009 release which means production would have to begin by mid-2008 at the latest. With both "Valkyrie" and "Castro" on his plate, it could be done but would be a rush job in all three cases - something that no-one wants.

Some Short "Dark Knight" Updates

2007-07-03T15:55:00.001-07:00

This comes in from Dark Horizons:

Both good news and bad for Batman fans eager to hear anything on "The Dark Knight".

First up it's been confirmed that Warners will sadly NOT have any "The Dark Knight" footage to screen at this month's San Diego Comic Con as, quite reasonably, they don't think any of it will be ready in time. Wizard World Chicago a few weeks later however is likely to get something.

In other news, actor Christian Bale talked about further sequel possibilities to The Star Ledger, saying "The script leaves room for a very interesting follow-up, too. I think we could take it somewhere else."

'Simpsons' Kwik-E-Mart Becomes a Reality

2007-07-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

This in from hollywood.com:

HOLLYWOOD - The Simpsons' fictional convenience store Kwik-E-Mart has become a reality thanks to a publicity stunt by 7-Eleven bosses.

To mark the release of The Simpsons Movie later this month, a dozen 7-Eleven stores have been turned into Kwik-E-Marts for the remainder of July.

The more-than-6,000 7-Elevens across the U.S. which have not been turned into Kwik-E-Marts will still sell Simpsons-related food and drink, including Buzz Cola and KrustyO's cereal, which have previously only been seen on the long-running animated TV show.

The Simpsons Movie is released on July 27.

R.L. Stine's 'The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It' All-New Spooky Fare For The Entire Family

2007-07-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

Star Pulse Movie News reports the following:

The newest thrill ride from Goosebumps author R.L. Stine will keep parents and kids on the edge of their seats this Halloween season when R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It comes exclusively to DVD September 4, 2007 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment and The Hatchery LLC. The latest entry in Universal's highly-successful made for DVD events, R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It features a sizzling young cast that tweens and their families will love, including Emily Osment (Hannah Montana, Spy Kids), Cody Linley (Hannah Montana, Hoot) and Brittany Curran (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and one of kidzworld.com's Five Faces to Watch in 2007), plus the quintessential movie villain Tobin Bell (the Saw franchise). Directed by Alex Zamm (Inspector Gadget II) with special effects from the Oscar®-winning team from The Chronicles of Narnia, R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It is filled with enough excitement, adventure and chills to thrill the whole family again and again.

In addition, Emily Osment makes her music debut, singing the film's theme song "I Don't Think About It." The song, along with a never-before-seen music video, will be available on the DVD. R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It kicks off a series of spooky and suspenseful thrillers for the entire family based on the work of one of the world's best-selling children's authors. Stine catapulted to fame with the children's publishing phenomenon, the Goosebumps series, and became the #1 best-selling author in America three years in a row. His books, including The Nightmare Room, Fear Street, and Nightmare Hour have been translated into more than 20 languages and published in more than 30 countries. He has been honored with a Children's Choice Award, three Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, and three Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards.

Filmed in Pittsburgh, the film's original screenplay is written by Emmy Award® winners Dan Angel and Billy Brown ("Door to Door"), who also partnered as writers on the hit TV series The X-Files. Executive producers are veteran television production and programming executive Margaret Loesch (Benji: Off the Leash) and Bruce Stein, co-CEOs of The Hatchery, as well as Angel, a partner in The Hatchery, and Brown. Jane Stine and Joan Waricha, co-owners of Parachute Publishing, are co-executive producers.

Cassie (Emily Osment) is a 13-year old Goth girl struggling to adapt to a new neighborhood and a new school. Feeling like an outsider, Cassie acts out by playing spooky and outrageous pranks to frighten the popular kids at school, as well as her scaredy cat little brother, Max (Alex Winzenread). The day before Halloween, Cassie finds an odd little book called The Evil Thing that cautions readers "Do Not Read Aloud." When Max insists on hearing the story, Cassie starts down a road that begins in the mysterious woods behind their house and leads to a mysterious stranger who changes their lives forever.

Loesch, Angel and Brown are part of the team responsible for the television series "Goosebumps," which was the #1-ranked show on the Fox Kids' Network for four years. Based on R.L. Stine's Goosebumps children's books, which have sold more than 220 million copies to-date, the show was honored with a Writers Guild Award and was twice named by TV Guide as among the best television shows for children.

Spooky DVD Bonus Content
-The Making of Don't Think About It – This special feature sheds light on what goes on in the shadows during the making of the R. L. Stine movie.
-Think About It! R.L. Stine's Journey of the Imagination – R.L. Stine is one of the most beloved children's author's in history. Find out what scares the spookmaster and why his books are perennial fan favorites in this profile of the popular and prolific author.
-Interactive Scare-O-Meter – Are you scared of blood? Are you afraid of the dark? Viewers can rate their personal "Scare Quotient" with this exclusive interactive feature!
-Emily Osment's Never-before-seen music video.

Christian Bale Stung By Ants As Stunt Goes Awry

2007-07-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Star Pulse Movie News has this interesting tidbit:

Christian Bale was attacked by angry red ants when a stunt on the set of his new film Rescue Dawn went too far. The star agreed to hang upside down with his face buried in an ants' nest for a torture scene in the film, in which he plays a real-life prisoner of war.

But things got scary for the actor when a Thai crewmember misunderstood director Werner Herzog's call to get his star out of trouble.

Bale recalls, "One of the guys stepped forward and he started spinning me and I was spinning pretty fast. I was upside down so the blood is rushing to your head anyway and then Werner actually said, 'OK enough.'

"This guy took it to mean 'More,' so he jumped in and span me and he span me and I'm going so damn fast that I couldn't stand up for a good half hour after that. It was the real ants crawling all over my head and biting me as well. That wasn't a good day... I could've done without that."

Oliver Stone Plans Biopic Of Iranian President

2007-07-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

This also in from Star Pulse Movie News:

Moviemaker Oliver Stone has petitioned Iranian officials in a bid to make a biopic about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The maverick director, who has chronicled the lives of Richard Nixon, Jim Morrison and Alexander The Great on the big screen, has requested official support from Iran's Cultural Heritage & Tourism Organization.

Iranian filmmaker Ali Reza Jajjadpour and Ahmadinejad himself are currently considering the idea. Stone upset many Iranian scholars with his depiction of Persians in 2004 flop Alexander.

Hollywood recently came under fire from the same scholars for the depiction of Persians in hit action movie 300.

Marvel Comics Buries Captain America At Arlington National Cemetery

2007-07-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

This in from Star Pulse Movie News:

NEW YORK (AP) - It's a funeral fit for a superhero. In the drizzling rain at Arlington National Cemetery, thousands of grieving patriots solemnly watch as the pallbearers - Iron Man, the Black Panther, Ben Grimm and Ms. Marvel - carry a casket draped with an American flag.

Yes, folks, Captain America is dead and buried in the latest issue of Marvel Comics' ''Fallen Son,'' due on newsstands the morning after Independence Day. After 66 years of battling villains from Adolf Hitler to the Red Skull, the red, white and blue leader of the Avengers was felled by an assassin's bullet on the steps of a New York federal courthouse.

He was headed to court after refusing to sign the government's Superhero Registration Act, a move that would have revealed his true identity. A sniper who fired from a rooftop was captured as police and Captain America's military escort were left to cope with chaos in the streets.

But the sniper didn't act alone, and didn't even fire the shot that killed the captain.

Writer Jeph Loeb has been busy working through the stages of grief in his most recent titles. A book centered on Wolverine dealt with denial; one with the Avengers covered anger; and Spider-Man battled depression.

With the story line so relevant to present-day politics, and the timing of the latest issue so precise, it's hard not to think the whole thing is one big slam on the government.

''Part of it grew out of the fact that we are a country that's at war, we are being perceived differently in the world,'' Loeb said. ''He wears the flag and he is assassinated - it's impossible not to have it at least be a metaphor for the complications of present day.''

But Loeb says he was working with more personal material: the death of his 17-year-old son from cancer.

''So many people have lost their sons and daughters over the years, for the greater good or to cancer or other horrible things,'' said Loeb, an executive producer for NBC's ''Heroes.'' ''I wanted this to be something people would identify with.''

In the final frames of the book, the Falcon delivers a eulogy asking superheros old and young to stand up and honor Captain America. Loeb did a similar thing at his son's funeral.

''It was this moment where I realized that we were all different, but this boy, my son, made us all connected,'' he said. ''It was powerful.''

Captain America, whose secret identity was Steve Rogers, was an early member of the pantheon of comic book heroes that began with Superman in the 1930s.

He landed on newsstands in March 1941, nine months before Pearl Harbor - delivering a punch to Hitler on the cover of his first issue, a sock-in-the-jaw reminder that there was a war on and the United States was not involved.

Since then, Marvel Entertainment Inc., has sold more than 200 million copies of Captain America magazine in 75 countries.

In the most recent story line, he became involved in a superhero ''civil war,'' taking up sides against Iron Man in the registration controversy, climaxed by his arrest and assassination.

Marvel says you never know what will happen. He may make it back from the dead after all, although Loeb says that question isn't really important right now.

''The question is, how does the world continue without this hero?'' he said. ''If that story of his return gets told further down the line, great. But everyone's still been dealing with his loss.

''They aren't going to wake up and it's a dream, like it's some episode of 'Dallas.'"

The return of the man with the hat... Dr. Jones himself...

2007-06-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

A first look at Harrison Ford's long awaited return as Indiana Jones has been posted at www.indianajones.com - This is the first time that the actor has been seen wearing the trademark Fedora since 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Freeman Confirmed As Mandela

2007-06-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Coming in from hollywood.com:

HOLLYWOOD - Actor Morgan Freeman has been confirmed to play former South African President Nelson Mandela in a new biopic, ending months of speculation.

The 70-year-old will star in and co-produce The Human Factor, based on the upcoming John Carlin book.

Last year, Freeman traveled to South Africa to discuss the possibility of the film with Mandela.

He tells industry newspaper Daily Variety, "I have known Nelson Mandela personally for quite some time, and am continually in awe of his enormous presence in the world.

"The opportunity to portray him in this film is a great honor."

Len Wiseman Talks "Wolverine"

2007-06-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

This in from Dark Horizons:

"Underworld" director Len Wiseman heads to bigger budget action fare with the upcoming "Live Free or Die Hard" which he helmed. How well it does will impact where he may go from there, but one of the most likely places is at the helm of the first "X-Men" spin-off "Wolverine" it seems.

"'Wolverine' is something I was interested in way before I was talking to these guys about 'Die Hard'" he tells Superhero Hype. "I think it would be a great story to tell, and in the case of that film, it wouldn't be [as big] in terms of large-scale action, but it's something I'm interested in, in his origin story and the character story with that, and I know how Hugh would play it, and that would be awesome."

He adds "So that would be my passion for that is that I think the character story is really cool, and I'd love to see it and be there the first day [it opens] anyway. There's so many things that have been going on and I know that there are so many other directors. There's nothing set in any fashion, but it has been talked about."

"Live Free or Die Hard" opens on Wednesday.

Producers Should Cast An Unknown In 'Wonder Woman' Movie, Advises Lynda Carter

2007-06-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

In from Star Pulse Movie News:

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter has begged movie producers to cast an unknown as the superheroine in the planned big-screen version of the 1970s TV smash. Carter worries filmmakers are spending so long perfecting the film's script, they will overlook the importance of casting a believable Wonder Woman.

She says, "I think they should cast an unknown. And I think the problem that they're having is getting the right script and trying to find the right person at the right age. By the time they get the right script, maybe the person they were thinking about is now ten years older."

Transformers Animated Coming to Cartoon Network

2007-06-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

Again coming in from comingsoon.net:

The Transformers saga has captivated kids for more than 20 years. Coming on the heels of the highly anticipated live-action theatrical film being released July 3rd, by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, Cartoon Network and Hasbro, Inc. are announcing today that the next generation of the epic animated series is being jointly developed by the two entities for a 2008 debut on the network in the U.S. The eye-popping 2-D animated series is a new twist on the original high-octane, animated action-adventure series with new characters alongside legends such as Optimus Prime and Megatron. Each episode will present a standalone storyline featuring everyday heroes who do good deeds that triumph over evil. "Transformers Animated" series will be co-produced by Cartoon Network Studios.

Twenty-six, half-hour episodes will be produced as well as a 90-minute special of "Transformers Animated" which is scheduled for release in early 2008 on Cartoon Network in the U.S. Matt Youngberg ("Teen Titans," "The Batman") is the supervising director, Derrick Wyatt ("Teen Titans") will provide the character designs and Sam Register ("Ben 10," "Teen Titans") will serve as executive producer of the series. Marty Isenberg ("Danny Phantom," "X-Men," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles") acts as head writer.

"We are thrilled to be working with the highly creative team at Cartoon Network on bringing the next chapter in the Transformers saga to kids and fans around the world," said Brian Goldner, Hasbro's Chief Operating Officer. "The animation style that Cartoon Network has developed really brings the lore and characters of the Transformers franchise alive in a way that has never been seen through animation."

"Transformers is a tried and true draw for our core audience," said Bob Higgins, senior vice president programming and development, Cartoon Network. "Kids love the surprise of 'More Than Meets the Eye,' combined with dynamic, clearly defined characters and epic storylines. We are thrilled to be working with Hasbro to help re-imagine this amazing franchise for a new generation of fans."

Set on Earth in the near future in Detroit, the alien Transformers are thrust into a world populated by humans and automatons. As visitors to Earth, the Transformers--Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl, Bulkhead and Ratchet--work in the human world, interacting with the 'natives' in exciting and humorous ways. "Transformers Animated" has been created to showcase the heroic Autobots working together to battle the evil Decepticons and save Earth with kid-relatable plot lines filled with humor, distinctive character personalities, and dynamic action.

Hasbro and HPG, its licensing division, will expand the action-packed "Transformers Animated" series through toys, games, licensed merchandise and promotions around the world.

New Iron Man Cast Photo

2007-06-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

This comes in from our friends at www.comingsoon.net:

We have received a new photo showing Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard in character for Iron Man. Directed by Jon Favreau, the comic book adaptation opens May 2, 2008.

The film tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to America, Tony must come to terms with his past. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

'Die Hard' Tops Action Films List

2007-06-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

This in from Star Pulse Movie News:

The original Die Hard has given it's upcoming third sequel a boost by topping a new poll of the Greatest Action Movies Ever Made. The 1988 blockbuster, which cemented Bruce Willis as a Hollywood action man, beat fellow '80s movies Aliens and Raiders of The Lost Ark to claim the top spot in the Entertainment Weekly magazine countdown.

The top 10:

1. Die Hard
2. Aliens
3. Raiders of The Lost Ark
4. Mad Max
5. The Matrix
6. Seven Samurai
7. Gladiator
8. Saving Private Ryan
9. Hard-Boiled
10. Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Diablo Movie in Development

2007-06-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

This in from comingsoon.net:

The official Legendary Pictures website is listing a Diablo movie as being in development along with such projects as World of Warcraft, Clash of the Titans and the Superman Returns sequel.

The dark fantasy action-adventure game was released by Blizzard Entertainment in December of 1996. Set in the fictional Kingdom of Khanduras, Diablo has the player take control of a lone hero as he or she battles to rid the town of Tristram of the titular Lord of Terror and his demon minions.

An expansion pack, titled "Diablo: Hellfire," was released in 1997, followed by a sequel, "Diablo II," in 2000.

Wholly high-tech, Batman

2007-06-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

This coming in from latimes.com:

There's a wild new two-wheeler in the Batcave for 2008's 'Dark Knight.'

Yes, it's ridable. You just have to be a little bit crazy and entirely French to do it.

Specifically, you need to be Jean-Pierre Goy, the stunt rider who's spent the last few months jumping Batman's newest batbike at some top-secret location in England to prep for next summer's Bruce Wayne caper, "The Dark Knight," starring Christian Bale as the caped one.

Goy is the only person who's ridden the new Batpod — a bike so outrageous it's hard to believe it was even built. It's not just because it's tricked out with grappling hooks, cannons and machine guns. The front and rear tires are both a monstrously huge 508 millimeters, and the engines are in the hubs of each wheel. Steering isn't by hand but by shoulder, since there aren't handlebars. Instead, there are shields that fit each arm like sleeves and have the ability to rotate around the bike's frame. The two foot pegs are set 3 1/2 feet apart on either side of the tank, which the rider lies on, belly down.

That tank also moves up and down — you know, in case Batman needs to dodge bullets or slide under semis.

And you know he will.

Lucius Fox, gadget guru for Wayne Enterprises' Applied Sciences division (played by Morgan Freeman), is the guy who came up with the idea. At least he is in the movie.

The real man behind the machine is Nathan Crowley, creator of the Batmobile for Warners Bros. 2005 hit, "Batman Begins."

"The way we make films is we build things for real. We try and not rely on visual effects," said Crowley, who, in the end, had the easier job in making the bike come to life.

It was Chris Corbould who had to build the thing.

"I thought there was no chance we'd actually achieve it," Corbould said. "[Director] Chris Nolan and Nathan went for the look of it rather than thinking about the mechanics. That was the biggest challenge: Get their vision, but make it work and perform."

Not just once but several times. There are actually six Batpods, in case one or several are crashed during filming, which is likely.

Corbould wouldn't say what sort of engine was used for the slick gray-and-silver Batpod, just that it's "high performance." Nor would he give its top speed, except to say it's "very fast."

And the cost?

"I can't tell you that," Courbould said, laughing. "I haven't even told the producers."

Latest "Beverly Hills Cop IV" Talk

2007-06-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

Again in from Dark Horizons:

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura tells Coming Soon that while they haven't officially hired any writers yet, they've been consulting with folks and trying to hash out a story for a fourth film in the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise.

"We've been analyzing the franchise and asking lots and lots of people about Axel Foley. 'What do you love about Axel and what would you want to see with an Axel Foley movie?'" says di Bonaventura.

He adds "I think we have enough information now that we'll probably be hiring a writer in the next four to eight weeks and taking a good shot at it."

The original 1984 film earned a massive $234 million, the third film in the series however in 1994 took in a mere $43 million.

"Fletch" Gets New Director & Star

2007-06-11T12:35:00.000-07:00

This comes in to us from Dark Horizons:

With Zach Braff gone, the planned 'Fletch' prequel entitled "Fletch Won" seemed to stall.

Now, the IESB reports that "Dawson's Creek" and "The Skulls" star Joshua Jackson is apparently up for the title role of Irwin Fletcher, the wise-cracking investigative reporter from the previous two Chevy Chase movies.

On top of this, they also say Steve Pink is tipped to be taking over for Bill Lawrence in the directing chair. Pink helmed last year's disappointing frat comedy "Accepted" and penned the acclaimed John Cusack comedies "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity".

Sean Connery Will Not Return For Next Indiana Jones Film

2007-06-11T12:33:00.000-07:00

Last bit of news in from Star Pulse Movie News:

Sean Connery has announced he will not be returning for the next film in the Indiana Jones franchise. The 76-year-old had been tipped to reprise his role from 1989's Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade as Harrison Ford's screen father, but has now confirmed he is sticking to his 2005 resolution to quit acting.

He says, "I thought long and hard about it, and if anything could have pulled me out of retirement it would have been an Indiana Jones film.

"I love working with Steven and George, and it goes without saying that it is an honor to have Harrison as my son. But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun."

Elsewhere, John Hurt has been added to the cast. It is unclear what character the veteran star will play, but he is joining Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett and Ray Winstone on the movie.

Connery adds, "This is a remarkable cast, and I can only say, 'Break a leg, everyone.' I'll see you at the theatre."

Bruce Willis Eyes Fifth Die Hard

2007-06-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

Starpulse Movie News has the details:

Bruce Willis is already considering making another Die Hard film, just weeks before the third sequel hits cinemas. The 52-year-old is so pleased with Live Free Or Die Hard - which is being released internationally as Die Hard 4.0 - he wants to make another movie, but only if director Len Wiseman is on board.

He says, "Fox is already talking about another one. I told them I'd only do it if Len is involved."

Al Pacino Receives American Film Institute'S Life Achievement Award At Los Angeles Ceremony

2007-06-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

Again this in from Star Pulse Movie News:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Al Pacino made grand speeches on screen as Michael Corleone and Tony Montana. But when the actor was honored with the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, he was practically speechless.

''I need a character,'' the 67-year-old actor said, overwhelmed with emotion. ''I don't think of myself as being able to do anything.''

Pacino didn't have to say much, though. A host of Hollywood heavyweights - including Oliver Stone, Kirk Douglas, Andy Garcia and Robin Williams - did most of the talking when Pacino was presented his award Thursday at the Kodak theater.

''The depth of your artistry is only more overwhelmed by the generosity of your spirit and your warmth,'' said Garcia, who worked with Pacino on The Godfather: Part III' ''You're Van Gogh. You're Modigliani. That's who you are.''

The three-hour dinner program, set to air June 19 on the USA network, featured clips from Pacino's most famous films, including The Godfather, Scarface, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico and Scent of a Woman.

''Seeing my life in the movies, I have one question,'' Pacino said. ''And that is: Why aren't I in rehab?''

Growing up in New York, Pacino discovered acting at an early age.

''By age 3, I was doing Al Jolson,'' he said. ''I found, in the theater, this place I could go to. I found this peace.''

The two-time Tony Award winner has been nominated for eight Academy Awards. He won for his role as Lt. Col. Frank Slade in the 1992 film ''Scent of a Woman.''

He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996 by the Independent Feature Project. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association presented Pacino with its Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes ceremony in 2001.

Pacino's sister, Roberta, said her brother always loved performing. She was on hand Thursday to celebrate his career, which has spanned nearly four decades.

''He's one of the greatest artists who ever lived, according to me,'' she said.

Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx, who worked with Pacino on Any Given Sunday, called him ''the greatest actor in the world.''

Stone, who wrote 1983's ''Scarface,'' lauded the actor's ''wicked sense of humor'' and ''great, if misunderstood, heart.''

''It is with great love and respect that I say goodnight to the bad guy,'' he said, recalling one of Pacino's famous ''Scarface'' lines.

The program also included tributes to Jack Valenti, who died April 26, and AFI chief executive Jean Picker Firstenberg, who is set to retire this year.

Pacino is the 35th recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award. Past honorees include Sean Connery, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock, Bette Davis and Jack Nicholson.

'Fantastic Four' Director Signs On For Another Comic Book Adaptation

2007-06-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Coming in from Star Pulse Movie News:

Fantastic Four director Tim Story is returning to comic-book inspiration for his latest silver screen venture, "Losers." The movie, based on the DC Comics adventures, charts a highly trained Special Operations team which is set up, betrayed and left for dead. Its members go on a quest for vengeance, righting wrongs they encounter along the way.

Although Story admits he had slightly grittier ambitions for his next film, the movie maker concedes the tale immediately charmed him.

He says, "I told my agents I didn't want to do another comic book. I had been in the world of fantasy and I wanted to do something very edgy, a realist action movie. I wanted to find something like a Bourne Identity or Black Hawk Down."

He jokes of reading the script for the first time: "I was like, this is great - and then I found out it was a comic book..."
Casting for the project is already underway.

Indiana Jones 4 Coming to Deming, NM

2007-06-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Again in from comingsoon.net:

The Las Cruces Sun-News has published two articles (here and here) on the upcoming Indiana Jones 4 filming coming to Deming, New Mexico. Here's a bit from the first article:

The fourth installment of the "Indiana Jones" series will film some scenes in Deming. The working title is: "Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods."

An area outside Deming will be transformed through Hollywood magic into Morocco.

Folks who work in the technical side of the film business have been in Deming for weeks. A building at the former air strip in Deming has been painted blue, with a USAF insignia and the words "Home Of The Fighter Pilot" painted on an outside wall. In addition, WWII Air Force vehicles are parked nearby.

Zwart Directing The Pink Panther 2

2007-06-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

This in from comingsoon.net:

Harald Zwart (Agent Cody Banks, One Night at McCool's) will direct The Pink Panther 2 for Columbia Pictures and MGM. The film is eyeing an August start date.

Steve Martin will reprise his role as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the modern-day farce. Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber wrote the screenplay, which follows the continuing adventures of the French detective.

In January, Sony tapped veteran comedy screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel to rewrite the sequel.

Robert Simonds is producing, and Shawn Levy, who directed the most recent "Pink Panther," is executive producing.

Mutant Prof Turns Venetian "Merchant"

2007-06-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

This in from Dark Horizons:

Actor Patrick Stewart ("X-Men," "Star Trek: The Next Generation") will reteam with scribe John Logan ("Star Trek: Nemesis," "The Aviator," The Last Samurai," Gladiator") for a new adaptation of Shakespeare's classic "The Merchant Of Venice".

Stewart will produce and star in a version set in 20th century Las Vegas. Logan hated the play but Stewart spent time "arguing the contrary" according to The Argus.

At that point Stewart says "He said, Would you like it if I started working on a screen project for nothing?' He earns about $2 million a project, so I thought it was a decent offer. It is a startling way of doing the play; it is about money and sex and love and corruption."