"Movie Sequel Mania Redux"

I could but it gets more responses this way, and there is no way I can get it to look like it is on the blog.

Bryan Singer, director of the upcoming movie Superman Returns, made a triumphant appearance on July 16 in San Diego, debuting a trailer for the film that garnered a standing ovation from many of the more than 6,000 fans in attendance.

Among the surprises include:

- Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) appears to have a child with a character named Richard White, played by X-Men's James Marsden
- The voice-over featured the voices of Marlon Brando as Jor-El and Susannah York as Lara, from Richard Donner's 1978 Superman film
- The film's score will incorporate John Williams' famous theme from Donner's film.
- Shots of the Kent farm in Smallville and a scene of Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) and Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington) in a bar, with Jack Larson as the bartender (Larson played Jimmy Olsen in the original 1950s TV series, which starred George Reeves)
- Images of a deco-flavored Metropolis
- Ends with Superman (Routh) zooming from space back to Earth.

The trailer also showcased Singer's new look for Superman and his universe, one inspired in part by Max Fleischer's animated 1940s cartoons and the original DC Action Comics that spawned the superhero. Singer told the crowd that he shot the movie with a new digital camera that duplicates the look and feel of film, but allows him to create a look that recalls 1940s romantic movies.

Superman Returns is still in production, with an eye to a June 30, 2006, release.

Source: Sci Fi Wire




Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire director Mike Newell sent a taped message and an exclusive new look at the latest Harry Potter film.

The Comic-Con exclusive trailer opens with a nightshot of Hogwarts and talk of the pending tournament where other schools will be invited to participate.


Clips shown included unfinished CGI on a carriage-like vehicle and some creatures and also offered the first shots of the new teacher for dark arts, Mad Eye Moody. One scene included was Harry's talk with a put-out Ron about how he did not submit his name for the tournament, but he was chosen anyway.

There was also a shot of the big dance, with Harry, Ron and Hermione all spiffed up. Dragons, mermaids and a dash of Hagrid rounded out the exclusive look.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire hits theaters November 18th.


Source: Comingsoon.net




Director Peter Jackson was back in New Zealand working on post-production for his remake of the 1933 classic King Kong, so he couldn't get to Comic-Con, but he did send a taped introduction.

Jackson offered up an unfinished sequence, showing a fight between Kong and a family of T-Rexes made up of blue screen footage from the set, preliminary animatics (rough CGI sketches), and some more developed CGI, edited together into an amazing two-to-three minute action sequence that should be the highlight of a great film.

The fight begins with Kong fighting two of the T-Rexes on the edge of a cliff, and after all three fall off the edge, the fight continues amidst some hanging vines with the Rexes tangled up among them trying to take bites out of "Kong's girlfriend" Anne, played by Naomi Watts. When Kong and the last T-Rex end up on the ground, they have a tense face-off, again with poor Naomi Watts trying to figure out which way to go to keep from being trounced. After she gets out of the way, Kong beats his chest, lets loose a roar and goes after the remaining T-Rex with new gusto in a particularly violent climax, as Kong literally bites and rips the tongue out of the last T-Rex, and then cracks his jaw open. It ends with a surprising bit of humor.

Source: Comimgsoon.net




Check out a behind-the-scenes featurette








Production Weekly reports that german director Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) has been hired to direct the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Dave Kajganich's script will center on a female protagonist who uncovers a conspiracy in a small town where the inhabitants' personalities seem to be changing.

Production will begin in October on location in Baltimore.

Source: Production Weekly

Thanks for all this info, does anyone have any pics of Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor in superman Returns?

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No pics of Luthor yet. Whenever some do appear, they will be in the Blog.

Ciao.

I heard Lois Lane is going to have a son in the upcoming movie is that true? Has anyone else heard that?

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"You sunk my battleship." - Death in Bil & Ted's Bogus Journey

Yeah. When Superman returns to earth years later, he finds lois with a son of her own.

Wow I thought that rumor was total bs! Where did you find out?

JRS has his ways.

Latest Updates:


Ice Age 2: The Meltdown - Originally scheduled to hit theaters March 31, 2006, the upcoming CGI sequel is now looking for a new release date.




Warner Bros. Pictures has launched the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire official website, which includes a new Flash intro and an area (click Triwizard Tournament at the bottom right) where you can support your champions for the Tournament. Clicking on the four characters will give you profiles, support kits and downloads.

In the fourth novel, Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal, even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire hits theaters on November 18th.

Source: Warner Brothers



The official website for Zathura has been updated. To check it out click here.






Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards) appeared on TV's The Big Breakfast today, says AICN, and announced that they've got the greenlight on a "Fantastic Four" sequel.

The head of FOX apparently contacted the actor last week - following the film's surprise success at the U.S box office - and told him that they're a lock for the sequel.

Hot-head Chris Evans told Time Out that they see the sequel as a second chance to make something even better - hardly a challenge - than the first film.

"I look at it as a second chance – a round two," he sys "You're always your own worst critic, so you see your performance, you see the way the film was structured and what our final product was and know immediately what we could have done to make it better. It's exciting to know exactly what I can personally do to bring my game up, and I think everyone involved, not just actors – the writers, the special effects guys – can see what worked and what didn't so the second one can do nothing but improve."

Meantime, 007 fave Ioan Gruffudd is refuting claims that he's snagged that role. "It's very flattering but there's no truth in it at all," he tells ITV. "I would love to play the part but I think I'm 10 years' too young."

Source: Moviehole





Empire Online caught up with the Fantastic Four stars at the UK premiere and Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Chiklis and Jessica Alba talked about sequels:

The one thing that was on everybody's lips – especially given the extraordinary performance at the box office, was sequels. And if Gruffudd's words are any indication, it's all looking very good: "We've signed for two and three already, and it looks more than likely that we'll be shooting them even as early as next year."

"The good thing is it won't be an origin picture," said Chiklis, "So we can go right into storytelling, and depending on which villain we decide to go with, and which way we decide to go, we can get right into the crux of the story immediately."

Meanwhile, Ms Alba had her mind on more matters maternal "Tim put secrets in this movie that he's going to reveal in the next one, and I think we have to get the Fantasticar – that'd be cool… and I think we need some kids, at least by the third one, so Reed and Sue should get busy!"

Source: Empire Online



20th Century Fox has snatched up John Moore (2004's Flight of the Phoenix) as he is now set to take on directorial duties to The Omen 666 - a remake of the 1976 classic horror feature The Omen, reports Variety.

The original film starred Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as a distinguished American couple living in England, whose young son Damien bears "the mark of the beast."

Dan McDermott is writing a script that contemporizes the story. The project is on a fast track, as the studio has set a tentative October 3 start date. Expect casting news soon.

Source: Rope of Silicon




The official UK site has added a international trailer for The Dukes of Hazzard with Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott and Jessica Simpson

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Source: The MovieBox






Moviehole reports that Steven Spielberg and Drew Barrymore have apparently been discussing a possible sequel to his 1982 blockbuster E.T The Extra Terrestrial , something he said he'd never do. Apparently, it's the Charlie's Angel who has coaxed captain big-bucks into re-considering.

"Drew has spoken to Steven about it", says SouthFlorida.com. "Although he thought she was joking at first, he's actually giving it serious thought. Drew thinks the world needs another feel-good movie like 'ET' right now and she's prepared to work with Steven to make it happen".

In the new film, ET would meet up with his now-adult friend Elliott as part of a desperate bid to save his alien race from being wiped out.

Besides Barrymore, it isn't known how many of the original stars - which also included Dee Wallace-Stone, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, C.Thomas Howell and Erika Eleniak - would be involved. I'm confident that if it's not Dreamworks decision - the not-so-busy originals would be keen for a reprise.

A few years back Spielberg re-released the original "E.T", and was asked at the time whether he'd consider bringing the Condom Full of Peanuts back for a second stint.

"I thought about doing a sequel in the intoxication of the success of E.T. [but then] realized it's a very perfect story."

Spielberg continued, "It ended exactly where it should have ended. There is no postscript to it. If people are hungry for a sequel, they should go see this 20th anniversary re-release, because there ain't gonna be one."

Moviehole chatted to a couple of the film's original stars - Dee Wallace-Stone and Erika Eleniak about a potential sequel.

“When you make a sequel to a classic, it isn't classic anymore. ET is a classic,” explains Wallace-Stone.

“One can only speculate why a sequel has never been done. The film was so amazing and really a piece of film history. Sometimes sequels have a hard time living up to the original, although, if anyone could do it, Steven Spielberg could!” adds Eleniak.

After the success of the first film, Spielberg penned a treatment for a second, "E.T 2 : Nocturnal Fears" which had some evil aliens, led by a chap named Korel, invading Earth. Guess which STD-user comes to the rescue?

Source: Moviehole

Introduced in 1984, the Transformers brand took the world by storm with its compelling saga of the Autobots versus the Decepticons. The innovative "Robots in Disguise" resulted in a tremendously successful toy line from Hasbro and Takara, comic book series, television program and an animated feature film. More than 20 years later, a new generation has discovered the excitement of the Transformers brand and its legendary characters, including the two leaders of the opposing sides: Optimus Prime and Megatron. Today, the franchise features a popular toy line, an animated series on the Cartoon Network and a chart-topping comic book series from IDW Publishing.

Transformers...

Batman Begins screenwriter David S. Goyer told Sci Wire that he's producing an hourlong television series based on his Blade movies for Spike TV, to begin airing next June. "We're doing a Blade TV show," Goyer said in an interview at CBS' fall press preview in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he was promoting his upcoming SF series Threshold. "I'm co-writing the pilot with [comic writer] Geoff Johns, and it's going to be Spike's first dramatic show, and it's going to air next June."

Goyer said that the network has ordered 13 episodes of the new series, which will center on the vampire-killing hero of the Blade films, which Goyer also wrote (he directed the last one, Blade: Trinity). "It'll be Blade, but it's different than the movies, that's all I can say," Goyer said, adding that a new actor will be hired to portray the iconic character, who was played by Wesley Snipes in the movies.

Source: Sci Wire










Glimpses of what was shown at last weekend's Comic Con '05 of Charlize Theron in Aeon Flux has hit the web thanks to the entertainment "news" source, Extra!.

To view the clip click here.

Source: dTheatre.com



Variety reports ( via Animated News) that Paramount Pictures are "getting the blues, acquiring film rights to vintage cartoon characters the Smurfs and set up development of a 3D CG feature with producer Jordan Kerner and Nickelodeon Movies. They've conceived the project as a trilogy and are aiming to release the first film in 2008 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of The Smurfs. The studio has hired Herb Ratner to script. He recently wrote Mr. Lucky for Revolution and co-wrote Focus' Clean Break with Trevor Sands".


The Smurfs originated in 1958 as a Belgian comic strip from Peyo (Pierre) Culliford and made a theatrical appearance once before, in 1976's Smurfs And The Magic Flute, released in a dubbed version in the US in 1983. NBC launched Hanna-Barbera's The Smurfs in 1981, spawning 256 episodes and multiple Emmy awards.

Source: Variety, Animated News



The Daily Telegraph claimed today that, "The list has been whittled down to four, reports Moviehole.

Those rumoured to be up for the gig include Clive Owen, Daniel Craig, Alex O'Lachlan and Julian McMahon.

Other contenders have ruled themselves out of the running. Ioan Gruffudd says he is 10 years too young to play James Bond, despite receiving the nod from rival candidate Julian McMahon, and British actor Dominic West has also ruled himself out of the 007 role despite an audition.

Casino Royale, the 21st James Bond film, will be directed by Martin Campbell and shooting is scheduled to commence on January 17th 2006 in Prague and South Africa. No casting decisions have been made officially. The release is planned fro October 19th 2006.


Source: Daily Telegraph , Moviehole




The James Bond International Fan Club has reported (via the BBC) that James Bond producers have refused to confirm reports that Pierce Brosnan will return to play 007 in the next movie in the series, Casino Royale.

Dame Judi Dench - who played Bond's boss M in the last four films - said Brosnan would reprise the role, the Mirror newspaper reported.
A spokesperson for production company Eon said: "No cast members, locations or release dates can be confirmed."
Spokesmen for Brosnan and Dame Judi were unavailable on Wednesday.

Wednesday's Mirror quoted Dame Judi as saying: "Despite the fact that everyone on the face of the earth has been tested as his (Brosnan's) possible replacement, he'll be doing it again and it will be announced come summer."
Goldeneye director Martin Campbell will start work on the next Bond film after making The Legend of Zorro, which is due to be released in October.

Casino Royale will be based on author Ian Fleming's first James Bond book, following a 1967 spoof spy movie of the same name which starred the late David Niven.

Brosnan, who played the spy in four Bond films from 1995 to 2002, said last November that film-makers originally cast him in the next 007 movie but subsequently changed their minds.
He said he was "angry" at the decision but he also felt a "great sense of liberation".

"I thought they did me a favour, really," he said on BBC One's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. "Leave while you're on top."

Source: The James Bond International Fan Club

Thanks to Dark Horizons, Warner Bros. Pictures is proud to present the exclusive world first premiere look at the "Superman Returns" final logo to be used in the poster for Bryan Singer's upcoming epic scheduled to fly into theatres June 30th 2006. Click here below for a larger hi-res version of the shot.



In Superman Returns, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth after a several year absence. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman's bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space.




The official site has added the new trailer for Joel Silver's V For Vendetta.

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'High-Definition' trailer will be available soon.


Set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, "V For Vendetta" tells the story of a mild-mannered young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked vigilante (Hugo Weaving) known only as "V." Incomparably charismatic and ferociously skilled in the art of combat and deception, V ignites a revolution when he detonates two London landmarks and takes over the government-controlled airwaves, urging his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Evey uncovers the truth about V's mysterious background, she also discovers the truth about herself -- and emerges as his unlikely ally in the culmination of his plot to bring freedom and justice back to a society fraught with cruelty and corruption. Based on the acclaimed graphic novel "V For Vendetta" by Alan Moore ("The Watchmen," "From Hell") and illustrator David Lloyd.

Release Date: November 4, 2005
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: James McTeigue
Screenwriter: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Starring: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Sinead Cusack
Genre: Action, Thriller
MPAA Rating: Not Available

Thanks jrs

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thanks for all you do jrs....great info....

Thanks for that, and thanks for all the other info.

Getting excited about who's to play Bond. McMahon's American though, isn't he?

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Yeah he is. It would be wierd though having an american Bond, don't ya say?

I thought he was Austrailian. Have heard that on British tv, doesn't sound too Aussie, but neither does Mel Gibson!
George Lazenby was an Aussie!

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Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour?

Really?? Wow. I see him on Nip/Tuck and he does a great job at hiding the accent.