Official Teaser Poster for Jon Favreau’s Iron Man 2 Revealed!
Paramount has debuted the first official teaser poster for Iron Man 2 this afternoon on Yahoo. Jon Favreau tipped us off via Twitter that this would be debuting and it’s a beauty. I wasn’t overly fond of the final Iron Man posters they used on the first movie, I just thought there was too much going on, but this one is sleek and sexy and just plaina wesome. This also shows that they’re certainly going to be giving us lots of War Machine in this sequel. They’re definitely off to a good start with the marketing on Iron Man 2 so far. Don’t forget that we should be seeing a trailer for Iron Man 2 in front of Sherlock Holmes as well.
Iron Man 2 takes place only “six months after Stark revealed his identity as Iron Man” at the end of the first movie. Jon Favreau is directing again from a screenplay written by actor-turned-writer Justin Theroux. Iron Man 2 stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, and Don Cheadle as Rhodey. Favreau revealed that the first official trailer would be attached to Sherlock Holmes this Christmas, so be on the lookout for that next month. Paramount is bringing Iron Man 2 to theaters on May 7th next summer.
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Tarantino Says Kill Bill 3 Isn’t Next & Will Have a Newer Title
We all saw this coming. Even though it was widely reported in early October that Quentin Tarantino had made a promise on an Italian talk show that “the Bride [would] fight again,” it’s not exactly going to be his next project. We can’t forget that this is Tarantino, and he says these kind of things all the time and hypes up projects for years and years (just look how long it took Inglourious Basterds to get made). MTV talked with Tarantino recently and got him to clarify the situation regarding Kill Bill Vol. 3. “I won’t do that next, but it could very well be the thing I do after next,” Tarantino explained. So don’t start getting excited yet.
Additionally, since the “Bill” that Beatrix Kiddo is after in Kill Bill gets what’s coming to him in the end, it won’t be titled Kill Bill Vol. 3 anyway. “Well, it wouldn’t be Kill Bill obviously. It would be Volume 3 of the story of the Bride,” Tarantino says. And as for all that speculation about it being ready next year, well don’t get your hopes up. “There’s no script, there are just ideas and notes,” he says. “We’re getting there, we’re about one movie away.” It’s because he said he’d do the sequel in 10 years and since the last one came out in 2004, we’re slowly reaching that 10 year mark. But it’s probably not going to happen any earlier than that.
So while Kill Bill Vol. 3, or whatever it will eventually be called, is in the works and will happen sometime (probably by 2014), don’t expect it anytime soon. As for what’s next from Quentin Tarantino, maybe it’s one of these two projects that he’s hinted about – a western or a gangster movie. I sure hope we find out soon!
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Ryan Reynolds Speaks About Green Lantern’s Origin Story
Just last week we heard from Ryan Reynolds (via MTV) and all the excitement he has about working with Martin Campbell on the DC Comics’ adaptation of Green Lantern. But with no trailer, no pictures, nor even a simple teaser poster, we’re all dying to hear something good about this potential new franchise that will be introducing the world to a superhero who has never made his way to the big screen before. Well now MTV has even more talk from the funnyman-turned-action-hero, with Reynolds giving some insights into the approach to Green Lantern as an origin story, and as a character who’s more than just a masked hero.
When planning the first in a hopeful series of films in a new comic book franchise, it’s hard to get past the formulaic approach to a hero’s origin story in order to properly introduce them to audiences both familiar and unaware. Here are Reynold’s comments on how they’re dealing with it differently in Green Lantern:
It is [an origin story] to a certain degree, but it’s not a labored origin story, where the movie [truly] begins in the third act. The movie starts when it starts. We find out Hal [Jordan] is the guy fairly early on, and the adventure begins.”
Not really any new details here, but it’s good to hear that they’re trying to make the film different from other comic book movies which is something that DC Entertainment is going to have to nail if they want to have a hot property other than Batman. Another plus is that DC and Warner Bros seem to be taking a page from the Marvel Entertainment book, more specifically the Iron Man chapters, to really craft a layered story in this.
“I think you walk away from this first film, and the moments that you remember and the moments that mean so much to you, not unlike ‘Iron Man,’ are the moments where the guy’s not in the suit. That to me is the tough thing to get right. And that’s something that they did get right [in 'Iron Man']. You see why this guy’s in the suit, and that’s what’s interesting to me. Not that he is in the suit, but why.”
Reynolds is right on the money for the most part, but the other interesting aspect of Tony Stark (which DC has already gotten mostly right with Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman) is that Stark isn’t like all the other heroes in that he’s spectacularly flawed and has to fight his own demons. I’m not entirely certain how dark or hard of a struggle Hal Jordan has to face if any, but Reynolds is right in that Green Lantern can’t just be another masked superhero, but rather, he has to have a character with some depth behind the mask as well.
All this talk sounds great, and I hope that Reynolds isn’t just blowing smoke up all our asses. Green Lantern can be a really great franchise and a huge step for DC in the right direction. So what do you guys think?
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Paul Greengrass Quits Bourne 4 Over Problems With Universal
More problems with Universal, go figure, that studio is in the worst condition possible. And this isn’t going to help. The Playlist is reporting that director Paul Greengrass has “quit” Bourne 4 over issues with the studio. It’s a long and elaborate story but to sum it up, basically Greengrass wasn’t happy that they hired a new screenwriter to develop a parallel script. And Universal isn’t happy with Greengrass because he went way over budget on Green Zone and is apparently still spending money editing that. And because Universal is a bit finicky with their money right now (and are in desperate need of a huge hit), everything fell apart.
To make matters worse, apparently Matt Damon is loyal to Greengrass, and that may cause problems like how Dick Cook leaving Disney made Johnny Depp weary of returning for more Pirates of the Caribbean movies. They also say that Greengrass walking away is just a “typical Paul move” and that there’s a chance they could work things out and he could be back on board in a few months. Obviously Universal didn’t want this news to get out, but now it’s out there and now it’s going to be on our minds from this point forward. And if Greengrass doesn’t return, who else can they get. Will the franchise be ruined by another director?
We’ve been hearing bits and pieces about Bourne 4 since the moment The Bourne Ultimatum hit theaters in 2007. Originally they hired George Nolfi, who helped write Ocean’s Twelve as well as Bourne Ultimatum, to start writing a Bourne 4 script. Then in August of this year, after years of stagnant development and a script no one liked, Universal separately hired Josh Zetumer, another up-and-coming writer, to write a “parallel” Bourne 4 script. That decision got under Greengrass’ skin and now he’s walking away. Now that this news is out there, the studio will probably say something, but it won’t be the real truth like The Playlist is reporting.
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Robert Downey Jr. Definitely Had a Hand in Writing Iron Man 2
It’s no secret that actor Robert Downey Jr. had a hand in crafting the somewhat life-mirroring character of Tony Stark in Marvel’s Iron Man. So it comes as no surprise that his involvement in writing Iron Man 2 was more than a fleeting instance. Director Jon Favreau recently told Empire (via WENN): “Robert is a real partner in the process. He’s been very involved in the screenplay. When he went away to do Sherlock Holmes he was still part of our creative process.” And if you’re at all worried about an actor like Downey Jr. becoming heavily involved in the writing process of a property like this, read on to put your mind at ease.
Favreau points out: “Even in the first film, where he was originally a hired gun playing the role, he really stepped up to rewrite scenes – he’s a great writer, too. So we really are sharing the responsibilities.” It’s nice to hear that there’s some fusion among actor, director and writer with Downey, Favreau, and (the actual) screenwriter Justin Theroux (who also happens to be an actor) collaborating so nicely. It’s much more reassuring than Edward Norton’s involvement in the re-writes and editing for The Incredible Hulk, which sparked more than a small debate between Norton and Marvel. And of course, this is just more fuel for the fire that’s already burning in anticipation of Iron Man 2. We’ll keep you posted on any further updates.
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Sam Worthington Apparently Signed for Two Avatar Sequels
However, this is nothing short of customary when dealing with a film on a scale like Avatar where there’s even the slightest possibility for a franchise. Sam Worthington himself told Total Film (via MarketSaw): “You work 18-hour days. I was on it for 14 months. Jim’s still editing. We’ll still be filming it up to the day it’s released — probably after the movie comes out, knowing Jim! That commitment is what makes him the man he is. It’s life or death. It’s war. That’s how he approaches movies… We’re signed for a trilogy. But I think I’ll be 94 by the time it finishes, to be honest. I know Jim’s got some ideas in his big head.” Of course!
Big ideas indeed. But if we’ve learned anything in Hollywood it’s that you don’t have a movie until it’s sitting in the can. Even if Worthington and whoever else is signed on for two more, let’s recall the debacle that circled around the difficulty bringing not only director Jon Favreau back for Iron Man 2, but Robert Downey, Jr. as well. Favreau pointed out the problem with actor’s contracts when a film makes money:
“[The cast of 'Iron Man'] all signed for three but it doesn’t work that way. That all goes out the window when you make $100 million dollars. Because people want to have a good relationship with the people they are working with, and if they’re making that kind of money, it’s an understanding that they’re going to negotiate.”
And of course, with Avatar making a huge marketing blitz and garnering all sorts of buzz, good and bad, either the contracts will be re-negotiated after its success, or they will simply be thrown out the window if the film flops. With a potential franchise, actors sign for the following films in their initial contracts, but its the success, or lack thereof, that determines if they come to fruition. I remember back in 1998 when the cast members of Lost in Space said they were signed on for a trilogy, but obviously that didn’t work out well. So now we play the waiting game until Avatar comes out in December and an official announcement is made.
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Filming on The Hobbit Delayed, But Still No Studio Greenlight
Okay, okay, I know we’re going overboard with this kind of news about The Hobbit, but as a huge Lord of the Rings fan, why wouldn’t we want to share this news with all of you? Plus, it’s a very popular project and everyone wants to know about this kind of stuff anyway, so bear with us. Its been known for a while that The Hobbit would start shooting sometime in 2010 for a late 2011 release. Last we heard, at least according to Sir Ian McKellen, it was supposed to start shooting in the spring of next year, March or April. Not anymore. Peter Jackson gave a new update and it looks like they’re pushing filming back to a mid-summer start.
Here’s the quote from Jackson on TheOneRing.net translated from German as found on MovieReporter.net.
“We’re currently working on the second script which we hope to have completed by the end of this year or beginning of next. When the scripts are completed, we can begin with the exact calculation of the necessary budget. We hope to start filming in the middle of next year. However, we’ve received no green light from the studio yet.”
Let’s hope a delay doesn’t cause the December 2011 release date to be pushed either. McKellen said they’re supposed to shoot for 383 days, but that is for two complete films (and the second one isn’t supposed to hit until 2012 anyway). I’m more concerned about the lack of a greenlight. The studio is probably waiting for a finished script and cast before they fork over a whole bucket of cash to shoot this, but with all the financial trouble MGM is in, this isn’t a good sign. I was hoping that someone like Warner Bros (who now runs New Line) would step up and finance this, but as of right now I’m assuming (key word) that hasn’t happened yet.
Of course, considering this is only one small quote and we’re not at all privy to any inside info or dealings going on behind-the-scenes, I wouldn’t take this as surefire news that its release is delayed at all. It’s simply for informational purposes and for me to express my growing concern over MGM’s financial troubles. We’ll definitely keep you updated on all things The Hobbit as we hear more. Hopefully some more positive news!
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John Hillcoat’s Next Adaptation Already Has a Cast & New Title?
Though the The Road only just recently hit theaters over this past Thanksgiving weekend, director John Hillcoat has already been hard at work on a variety of different projects. Though we pointed out a few of them back in September, one that we overlooked is a potential adaptation of The Wettest County in the World, scripted by Nick Cave and based on the novel of the same name by Matt Bondurant. Now, through deductive logic, Collider reveals that the film is now called The Promised Land, via a plain promo poster on display at the American Film Market listing actors Shia LeBeouf, Ryan Gosling and Amy Adams.
However, the catch (as SlashFilm carefully observed) is the tiny print at the bottom of the poster that states “credits not contractual.” So while it sounds like the rumors earlier this month have some validity, nothing is certain yet, and that includes the possibility of the film itself even being made as they’re still raising funds. But with Hillcoat and this cast, I’m hopeful that this one comes together smoothly. This adaptation is unique in its own way in that the story is fictionalized, but based on the real life ancestors of author Matt Bondurant who were “bootlegging brothers runnin’ stills, runnin’ loads, and runnin’ from the law in Depression-era Virginia.” But until we get some official word on casting or a greenlight, we’ll just have to sit in anticipation.
The Wettest County in the World follows the Bondurant family and their “moonshine enterprise” in a story that evokes the culture of distilling and distributing white lightning. It picks up a few years after a climactic confrontation with the county sheriff. “To optimistic Jack, bootlegging is both a bond to his older brothers, Forrest and Howard, and a means to make cash to impress a girl.” It sounds like the girl that Jack is after will be played by Amy Adams, or at least that’s what we’re speculating based on this casting. While we wait for an update, you might as well pick up a copy of the book via Amazon and/or go see Hillcoat’s The Road.
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Awards Season Profiles: Bradley Cooper Praises Sam Rockwell
Variety has just kicked off their Awards Season series of actor-on-actor profiles, where one actor talks about how impressed or amazed they were by another actor this year. And this year there are actually some good ones, like: Ben Affleck on Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker, or Tom Cruise on Peter Sarsgaard in An Education, or Charlize Theron on Michelle Monaghan in Trucker, or Marcia Gay Harden on Robin Williams in World’s Greatest Dad, or Martin Sheen on Hal Holbrook in That Evening Sun. I’ve chosen to feature a few that really deserve to be in the spotlight (like Sam Rockwell in Moon) this Awards Season so read on!
First up, we have Bradley Cooper talking about Sam Rockwell in Duncan Jones’ Moon (via Variety):
“I love watching that guy act anyway and it was an inventive way to tell this story and to tell the story all by yourself with a camera. In Moon he plays a couple of different versions of himself. It was an example a lesson in behaving and just being and living in this spaceship and you wanted to be there with him. He wasn’t doing anything outrageous to get your attention. But it was wonderful to watch.”
I really love this one because if anything it should help fuel the grassroots Oscar campaign to get Rockwell nominated for Best Actor. You can sign the petition for that here or just visit this link for more information.
Next up is Jeff Goldblum talking about Michael Stuhlbarg in the Coen’s A Serious Man (via Variety):
“Michael Stuhlbarg is wonderful and perfectly cast as Larry Gopnik in A Serious Man for countless reasons. To this incredibly complex character he brings his keenly intelligent sense of humor his soulful gentleness his deep kindness and sensitivity his touching inner-illuminated humanity his capacity for presence and love his brave/intuitive/poetical humility and his understanding of the character’s profound moral struggle. Michael’s Larry Gopnik is a reflection of his boundless work ethic and tremendous appetite for character investigation. Onscreen this translates into Gopnik exuding a mystical otherworldliness appearing seemingly passive but vigorously active and even in the most theatrical moments providing an anchor in reality and naturalism.”
And last, but not least, the beautiful Marion Cotillard talks ever so graciously about the very talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt in my favorite movie of the year, Marc Webb’s 500 Days of Summer (via Variety):
“Joseph Gordon-Levitt is able to skillfully balance joy and sadness with such delicacy. There is something about his smile, something light and deep, and, at the same time, there is also something about his eyes, sparkling and poetic. In the black-and-white sequence, his performance in 500 Days of Summer is reminiscent of an old-fashioned movie star, but carried with notes of modernity. He’s an architect of intensity.”
I always love reading these. I don’t know why, but I’m always intrigued to hear other actors or filmmakers talk about other actors or films. I guess it has something to do with the idea that someone who knows the craft themselves can give the best criticism and yet they go on to praise some of the best performances that we all recognize as well. You can check out more of these on Variety or click any of the links above. This is only just the beginning of the Awards Season, as we have another month to go of movies this year and then two more months of discussion and debate leading up to the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 7, 2010!
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Watch This: Ask a Ninja’s Hilarious Review of Ninja Assassin
Enough people saw James McTeigue’s Ninja Assassin these past few days to put it at #6 on the five-day weekend chart with roughly $21 million in box office earnings. But the one person I was desperately hoping would see this is the Ask a Ninja ninja himself. And oh did he see it. Thanks to SlashFilm, his video review is now viewable below, and it’s a definite must watch. I love this guy. And it couldn’t be more perfect that he’s reviewing Ninja Assassin, one of the only big ninja movies we’ve seen in a while. His review: it’s awesome! But he has more to say than just that. “This is like the Saving Private Ryan for ninjas!” Watch and enjoy!
I was worried that this guy would just tear it apart (even he said that) but remarkably he loved it (surprise, surprise). Or at least he loved it as a comedy. And he’s right about how they “at least tried” and did a good job making it look awesome. And I love that he doesn’t even call it a real ninja movie because it was rated R and not BC-17 – “Body Count 17.” The other great Ask a Ninja video we featured once before was for when he interviewed Will Ferrell for the comedy Semi-Pro (watch that here). It’s one of the best interviews I’ve ever seen, not even kidding. I wish he’d do more of them, I love this guy, especially because he’s a freakin’ ninja!
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