Upcoming Sequels and Remakes

After taking on vampires in Summit’s Twilight Saga, writer Melissa Rosenberg is tackling a different kind of immortal being: Scottish highlanders.

The scribe is in negotiations to come on board to work on the studio's remake of Highlander. Neal Moritz is producing the project, which offers an update on the 1986 movie starring Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Clancy Brown. Justin Lin (Fast Five) is attached to direct. Peter Davis is also producing.

Shane Black is in contention to direct Iron Man 3 for Marvel Studios.

The writer/director has powwowed with Marvel execs about his take on the third installment in the blockbuster franchise. As of now he is being considered for the directing job, but the assumption is that if he gets the gig, he would also write a draft.

Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi cult classic 'Blade Runner' is to finally spawn a sequel.

Scott's sci-fi noir tale starred Harrison Ford as a bounty hunter hired to catch clones called replicants. He later finds out that he is also a replicant. It was initially a flop when released, but has gone on to be a huge cult success and is seen as one of the most influential sci-fi films ever made. There have been multiple versions (Director's Cut etc) of the movie released.

And there could now be more 'Blade Runner' films after Alcon Entertainment revealed they are in final negotiations to acquire the rights for prequel and sequels from 'Blade Runner' producer Bud Yorkin.

The company said in a statement, "This is a major acquisition for our company, and a personal favorite film for both of us.

"We recognize the responsibility we have to do justice to the memory of the original with any prequel or sequel we produce. We have long-term goals for the franchise, and are exploring multi-platform concepts, not just limiting ourselves to one medium only."

More films in the 'Blade Runner' universe COULD be a good thing, but at least there won't be a 'Blade Runner' remake.

Not yet anyway!

Indie film director Richard Linklater is said to be Warner Bros' first choice to direct a remake of the 1968 underwater adventure The Incredible Mr Limpet.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Linklater has already met with executives at Warner Bros several times to discuss his vision for the film, in which an ordinary man is transformed into a fish.

Although a deal is yet to be signed, executives are said to be impressed with Linklater's recent work on hybrid animation films like A Scanner Darkly and Waking Life, which follow a similar art direction to what they envisage for the Mr Limpet remake.

If a deal is struck, the project will reportedly move away from the original film's links to World War II and the Nazis, and focus instead on a more modern setting.

Last year, it was claimed that The Hangover star Zack Galifianakis was in talks to play the lead role in the film, although no further mention of the actor's involvement has been reported since.

The project has been gestating in Hollywood for a number of years, with Enchanted director Kevin Lima originally attached to the film in 2009.

Warner Bros have yet to officially announce a director for The Incredible Mr Limpet.

Has the new Bond film, currently going by the less than glamorous moniker 'Bond 23', finally found itself a title? Here's the latest on all things 007-related...

With a release date set for next year and a director in place, it now seems that locations for the new ‘Bond’ film are being lined up. In the best traditions of the franchise, the globe-trotting spy is set to visit some of the most exotic places on the planet, with India playing host to a stunt sequence involving a high speed train.

The last time we saw the special agent in India was in the 1983 spectacular Roger Moore outing 'Octopussy', and this time it seems we'll have an equally cryptic title to keep us guessing. The latest news being reported by various sites is that producers have settled for 'Carte Blanche', which is also the name of the latest Bond novel.

If the rumours of a mini-reboot, following the disappointing 'Quantum of Solace' that derailed the series after the fantastic 'Casino Royale', are to be believed then the title works quite well.

It could also see Bond going after the villains with total impunity, something that the no-nonsense Daniel Craig will be able to bring to the screen like few before him.

Speaking of villains, it looks like we'll see a trio of schemers this time with Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem and Rachel Weisz all potentially joining the movie. Weisz would be of particular interest, having recently married Craig after they finished work on 'Dream House'.

Director Sam Mendes has also apparently approached Serbian cellist Jelena Mihailovic to perform the opening score after she impressed during Cannes earlier this year. This story appears on Blic Online, although we're taking it with a pinch of salt as it also claims that the musician was told the name of the film several months ago, highly unlikely if it's only leaking now.

Dame Judi Dench has already signed up for the role of M, with Naomi Harris now in-line to make her debut as Miss Moneypenny. Initially it was thought that Harris would be the latest Bond girl, but now it seems that that coveted role is still up for grabs.

We're sure there will be plenty of actresses keen to star opposite Craig, although with Weisz also on set things might get a little awkward.

‘Bond 23’ is set to be released in the UK on 26 October 2012 and in the US on 9 November 2012.

They've been battered by perennial re-releases, sequels, prequels and merchandising stunts, and now it seems the loyal fans of 'Star Wars' could have more to cry about. Rumour has it that Lucas has done some tinkering with the original audio for the latest re-release, 'Star Wars: The Complete Saga', and it doesn't sound good.

Fan message boards, including TheForce.net, are buzzing with news that there is a disturbance in the original trilogy. Specifically, changes to the audio on two particular scenes.

One comes at the end of 'Return of the Jedi'. If you don't know how it ends, you'd better skip this paragraph, if you do, prepare to be shocked: it's being claimed that Lucas is adding two instances of Darth Vader turning and screaming 'Nooooo!' during the scene where he throws the Emperor to his death. Classy.

If true, the addition would create a laughable cycle for Darth Vader, whose exclamation at the end of 'Revenge of the Sith' was the cause of much mockery from film fans.

The other alteration is said to be a change to the Krayt Dragon Call used by Obi-Wan Kenobi in 'A New Hope' to scare off the Tusken Raiders attacking Luke Skywalker.

Both tweaks can be heard in clips, available on YouTube, which sync supposedly leaked audio with original footage. Though the validity of the videos has yet to be officially confirmed.

The news comes after it was revealed that the puppet used for Yoda in 'The Phantom Menace' would be replaced with a CGI version.

If the news does finally convince fans to stop buying these re-releases, maybe Lucas will stop his meddling once and for all. No?

India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has granted approval for the next James Bond film to shoot in India says The Times of India.
Last week came word that director Sam Mendes was hoping to shoot an elaborate train stunt sequence in India but was having difficulty getting authorisation from the Government, so much so that it was looking like said sequence would be shot in South Africa instead.
Mendes now has permission to shoot scenes in multiple locations. In Delhi filming will take place in crowded old bazaar area of Daryaganj, in the Sarojini Nagar flea market and on the markets on Ansari Road. Beach scenes will be shot in North Goa, while filming is also expected to take place in both Mumbai and in small Navagam town near Ahmedabad, Gujarat which is close to some major infrastructure installations.
The production team remain in discussions with India's Railway Ministry to obtain permissions for shooting in two railway locations in Goa - namely the tunnel near Dudhsagar Falls and the bridge over the Zuari river. The request was turned down "due to security concerns" but there's reportedly still a chance they can work out a deal.
Shooting is expected to kick off later this year. This will mark the second time Bond has gone to the sub-continent, the first being 1983's "Octopussy" shot around Udaipur.
Rumors have been persisting that the film will be called "Carte Blanche", a highly dubious claim in an otherwise more reasonable online article indicating Serbian cellist Jelena Mihailovic will be involved in the score for the opening of the film.

Glenn Close and Jodie Foster? I'm sure one of them will be Streep.