Archive for June, 2010

Ben Stiller is Back in the First Teaser Trailer for Little Fockers

This Christmas… We hope you don’t see this. After Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, we thought that “franchise” had wrapped up, but they’re back, all of them: Robert De Niro to Ben Stiller to Owen Wilson to Dustin Hoffman to Barbra Streisand as well as newcomers like Jessica Alba and Laura Dern. Universal has debuted the first teaser trailer for Little Fockers on Apple today. As expected, the logical progression of the Focker family is to raise two five-year old twins in a film that revolves around the couple trying to cope with raising their children. I’m not a fan of this series so I don’t have much to say, but heck it out anyway!

Watch the first official trailer for Paul Weitz’s Little Fockers:

You can also watch the first trailer for Little Fockers in High Definition on Apple

Little Fockers is directed by Oscar nominated (for co-writing About a Boy) American filmmaker Paul Weitz, of American Pie, Down to Earth, About a Boy, In Good Company, American Dreamz and Cirque du Freak previously. The screenplay was written by John Hamburg (Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Along Came Polly, Meet the Fockers, I Love You Man) & Larry Stuckey (Me, My Friend and I) and is the latest sequel following Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers from 2000 and 2004, respectively. Universal is distributing the film, which is a DreamWorks SKG production. Little Fockers will arrive in theaters on December 22nd this fall.

Fox Options Ray Bradbury’s Sci-Fi Book ‘Martian Chronicles’

There’s that “magic word” again – Avatar. Hollywood, especially 20th Century Fox, is going crazy for sci-fi, which may be good thing for sci-fi fans (like myself). 24 Frames reports that Fox has optioned the rights to adapt Ray Bradbury’s classic sci-fi novel The Martian Chronicles, another Mars story where Earthlings mingle with Mars martians, similar to Disney’s already in development John Carter of Mars adaptation. The news hasn’t been officially confirmed by Fox yet, so there’s no details on who may be writing or directing, but hopefully we’ll hear more soon, as this is definitely going to quickly become a high profile sci-fi project.

The Martian Chronicles, a collection of short stories first published in 1950, chronicle the colonization of Mars by humans fleeing from a troubled and eventually atomically devastated Earth, as well as the conflict between aboriginal Martians and the new colonists. It was adapted once before into a TV miniseries in the 80’s, but if that Avatar reference is any early indication (which it probably isn’t), they may be going all out in this contemporary version. Producer John Davis, of Predators, Marmaduke, and lots more, optioned the rights and will be developing. I’m a very big sci-fi fan, so I’m all for this, as there can never be enough sci-fi!

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Watch: Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Valhalla Rising’ Official Trailer

IFC Films has debuted the official trailer (via Apple) for Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn’s Viking film Valhalla Rising starring Mads Mikkelsen. I actually saw this last year at the Toronto Film Festival and I hated it. I mean really hated it, like worst film of the year. One problem is that there is no dialogue in the entire movie; the little bit you hear in this trailer is about all there is in the whole thing, I’m not kidding. Mikkelsen isn’t bad, but other than it’s completely dull, boring and pointless. That said, this might interest a few of you anyway, so I thought I’d feature it anyway. Not sure what’s up with that aspect ratio, but enjoy!

Watch the official US trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn’s Valhalla Rising:

You can also watch the US trailer for Valhalla Rising in High Definition on Apple

For years, One Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strength, has been prisoner of Norse chieftain Barde. Aided by a boy, One Eye slays his captors then escapes, beginning a journey into the heart of darkness.

Valhalla Rising was directed by cult favorite Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, of the Pusher trilogy, Fear X, and the Sundance sleeper hit Bronson previously. The screenplay was co-written by Refn and fellow Danish writer Roy Jacobsen. The film already premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Fests last year and was picked up by IFC Films. Valhalla Rising will hit limited theaters starting on July 16th in the summer.

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Wolfgang Peterson Developing Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots Film

You would think the promise of plenty steel smashing in Shawn Levy’s futuristic robot boxing movie Real Steel would be enough, but apparently it’s only making way for more giant robot movies. Pajiba has heard from their insiders that Mattel and Mandeville Films are developing a feature film based around the classic toy Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots. In addition, apparently Wolfgang Peterson is attached to the project and there’s a chance (though for some odd reason, this info isn’t as solid) that Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium) is on board to write. Yeah, and you know, maybe Christopher Nolan could direct a Mouse Trap movie, too!

Seriously, I think one movie focused on robot boxing is enough, especially since the prospect of 19 different giant robots used in the actual filming of Real Steel just sounds too bad ass to be outshined (by red & blue plastic robots?!). Honestly, I’m surprised Disney/DreamWorks didn’t snag the rights to the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots just to avoid another project coming along and taking on robot boxing themselves. Obviously with Real Steel already in production, they really don’t have to worry about going head-to-head with another robot boxing flick. Anyway, toss this onto the gigantic pile of toys and board games getting unnecessary film adaptations and hope that this is one that doesn’t make it out of development. Anybody care about this?

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Channing Tatum Attached to Scott Bros’ Sci-Fi Romance ‘Ion’

If you are trying to get an epic science fiction spec script any attention in this industry, mentioning Avatar as a point of comparison will definitely turn some heads after James Cameron’s recycled story and dazzling special effects became the highest grossing movie of all-time. Ironically, it’s Fox (via their Fox 2000 label) that’s the leading contender to pick up a project similar in scope and setting (at least somewhat) to Avatar. The project, titled Ion, comes from producers Ridley & Tony Scott and has Channing Tatum attached already as a man who travels to different Earths and dimensions in order to find his reincarnated lover.

Does anyone remember the trailer for The Fountain that kind of misled you on the story a bit? This is almost the kind of story that trailer seemed to be selling. Apparently Ion wasn’t good enough to gain attention when it was being shopped around last year, but after an expensive and high concept movie like Avatar exceeded expectations, the script has generated new buzz, especially after the Scott’s came in to further develop the script with Tatum (a rising star without a scrap of real talent in my opinion) attached. The script comes from newcomer Will Dunn, who hadn’t sold any scripts until Scott Free picked up Ion and worked on it with him.

This may seem like a risky move, but after a disappointing summer, Hollywood is already putting out a call for original content once again, so the spec script market should be in quite a frenzy (finally!). Personally I like the sound of the story, but I could do without Tatum in anything ever again. What do you think?

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John Lithgow & Freida Pinto Fully Join Fox’s Rise of the Apes

He’s back! Heat Vision reports that legendary actor John Lithgow, who won a Golden Globe last year for his role on “Dexter”, is returning to the big screen again in Fox’s Rise of the Apes, the Planet of the Apes prequel being directed by Rupert Wyatt. A few days ago it was rumored that Don Cheadle and Freida Pinto had both been offered roles as well, and now it’s confirmed that Freida Pinto has indeed joined the cast. Pinto will play the female lead, a primatologist named Caroline, while Lithgow will play the Alzheimer’s-stricken father to James Franco’s scientist character, who’s trying to work on a cure for his father’s disease.

Rise of the Apes is set in contemporary San Francisco and follows a young scientist who becomes a crucial figure in the war between humans and apes. Franco has been testing his Alzheimer cure on apes, but one of them, named Caesar, starts to evolve rapidly, so he takes him home to live with him and protect him from the “cruel doctors,” thus starting the inevitable ape revolution. Shooting starts up in Vancouver next month and Fox has set a June 24th, 2011 release next summer. Lithgow, who’s been in everything from Terms of Endearment to Footloose to Harry and the Hendersons to Cliffhanger, hasn’t been seen in much recently, but is on the rise again after making a comeback in “Dexter”. This a fantastic cast so far, keep ‘em coming!

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Daniel Radcliffe Leads ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Remake

A big follow up to Harry Potter or another indie? Variety reports that Daniel Radcliffe will play the lead in a remake of the 1930 Best Picture winner All Quiet on the Western Front, originally based on Erich Maria Remarque’s novel. The WWI drama tells the story of Paul Baumer (Radcliffe’s role), a young German soldier fighting in the trenches of France. Radcliffe seems to like acting on the stage, as he’ll be appearing on Broadway in How to Succeed Without Really Trying next year and will shoot this Western Front remake in spring of 2012 (a long time from now). Sliding Down Rainbows Entertainment (wha?) is producing the film.

British producers Ian Stokell and Lesley Paterson (The Bike Ride, The Negotiation), who run Sliding Down Rainbows, also wrote the script. As far as we can tell, no actual studio is involved yet, but with an actor like Daniel Radcliffe starring in a remake of a classic Best Picture winner, I’m sure they’ve started a bidding war for this. That photo above of Radcliffe with the stylish mustache was from his 2007 TV movie My Boy Jack, so it doesn’t have any relation to All Quiet on the Western Front. I think Radcliffe is a talented actor and I’m glad to see him lining up some interesting projects following the completion of Harry Potter. Thoughts?

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Mark Waters & Maybe Jim Carrey for Mr. Popper’s Penguins?

Uh oh, what is Fox doing? We first heard that an adaptation of Mr. Popper’s Penguins was in the works at 20th Century Fox back in April with Ben Stiller and director Noah Baumbach attached, but they both fell out of the project a month later. Now LA Times’ 24 Frames reports that Fox is looking to hire director Mark Waters, of Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, The Spiderwick Chronicles and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, to take over with Jim Carrey potentially taking the lead role. Apparently none of this is confirmed, by anyone, but this is what they’ve “heard” so we’ll report it as just a rumor for now. Word is that Carrey is not at all a lock.

This is such a formulaic and uninspired decision that it just pains me to write, but Fox is the king of hybrid movies right now with their Alvin and the Chipmunks series pulling in a combined $804 million worldwide (so far). With Baumbach and Stiller, Mr. Popper’s Penguins had the potential to be a quirky Where the Wild Things Are-like film, but now it just sounds like it’ll be another cheesy hybrid family comedy, which I guess suits the book, but isn’t as wild and imaginative and creative as I was hoping it would be. Apparently other actors like Owen Wilson and Jack Black are in the mix for Carrey’s role, but nothing has been confirmed.

It sounds like this adaptation of Richard & Florence Atwater’s Newbery Award Winning children’s book Mr. Popper’s Penguins, about a house painter who ends up caring for 12 performing penguins, is still only in the very early development stage. I’m excited for this only because it’s a classic book from my childhood and it’s a fun story, but I’m worried about it in the hands of someone like Mark Waters. Anyone else concerned?

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Check This Out: Official Poster for Alexandre Aja’s Piranha 3D

Dimension Films / The Weinstein Company has unveiled the first official poster on Twitter (via STYD) for Piranha 3D, that wild and crazy 3D horror movie about killer piranhas that hits theaters in August. We’ve already seen a couple of trailers (watch the most recent here) for Piranha 3D, so we know what to expect. I can already tell you I’m not really a fan of this poster, but that’s because it’s obnoxiously promoting 3D and that may be because that’s all this has going for it. It looks fun and wacky and its got Christopher Lloyd and Richard Dreyfuss (and Elisabeth Shue!) but it’s still all about watching the horror in 3D. Take a look below.

A tremor under the surface of Lake Victoria in Arizona unleashes scores of prehistoric piranhas, an event which rallies the local sheriff Julie Forester (Elisabeth Shue), who risks everything to save her townsfolk.

Piranha 3D is directed by French horror filmmaker Alexandre Aja, of High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes (the remake) and Mirrors previously. The film’s screenplay was co-written by Alexandre Aja, Josh Stolberg (Good Luck Chuck, Sorority Row), Pete Goldfinger (Sorority Row), and Grégory Levasseur (High Tension, P2, Mirrors). The Weinstein Company will be bringing Piranha 3D to theaters starting on August 20th.

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DreamWorks Developing an Animated Good Luck Trolls Movie

DreamWorks Animation has a lot of upcoming projects in the works right now, a lot of interesting stuff, from The Croods to Tim Burton’s Monsterpocalypse. The animation house must be hurting after seeing Toy Story 3 break all the records this weekend (while kicking Shrek Forever After to the ground this summer) because they’ve just announced that they will be developing a movie about another line of toys which just so happen to appear in Toy Story 3 as well. THR says that DreamWorks is now developing a movie about the crazy “Good Luck Trolls” little plastic toys (seen above). Well, I can already tell you this is going to suck.

DreamWorks has partnered with Denmark’s Dam Things, which makes the troll toys and controls the rights, to develop an animated feature. They’ve hired brother-sister writing team Adam Wilson and Melanie Wilson LaBracio (Evergone, The Impossible Adventures of Phineas Roone) to write the screenplay, although they’ll inevitably bring on a bunch more writers by the time this hits theaters. Development exec Alex Schwartz says, “We look forward to working alongside Dam Things to build on the mythology of the Good Luck Trolls while delivering the sense of adventure, heart and comedy that DreamWorks Animation is known for.”

If you’ve seen Toy Story 3, you’ll remember that the trolls are the “orphans” in the opening action scene, but DreamWorks got the rights on their own, so they’re clear to use them. I just think this is a terrible idea from the start. Those trolls were a fad that faded out years ago and no one likes them unless you’re three and still have a fondness for fluorescent colors. Can anyone pitch a story based around these “Good Luck Trolls” that would actually be entertaining or even half as heartfelt as Toy Story 3? Probably not. I wish I didn’t always have to speak so negatively about DWA, but they definitely don’t have a bright future ahead. Thoughts?

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