Posts Tagged ‘new movie news’

James Mangold My Direct Gyllenhaal’s Joe Namath Biopic

Back in 2007, it was announced that Jake Gyllenhaal would play football quarterback Joe Namath in a feature film about his life that was being put together. Jump to today and, well, no progress has been made. However, Pajiba says they’ve heard that James Mangold (of Kate & Leopold, Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma, Knight & Day) may have just landed this directing gig, which makes them (and us) wonder if Universal may actually be trying to get this into production as Gyllenhaal’s next big film following Duncan Jones’ Source Code (which he is already shooting). It all makes sense, and I won’t be surprised if this actually happens.

The project was originally setup with David Hollander (“Heartland”, “The Cleaner”) attached to write the screenplay. Namath himself approved of the movie after a “strong pitch” from Hollander and a belief that the “athletic” Gyllenhaal was the right actor to play him. This is an approval that the studio doesn’t want to let go of, which is probably why they’re keeping Gyllenhaal out in front while moving forward. Universal does want to take another pass at David Hollander’s script before it moves into production, though, and knowing them this means it could probably get shelved just as quickly, especially if the budget is too high.

Joe Namath was one of the first football players to achieve a “rock star” status in the NFL. This biopic will tell the story of how the golden-armed kid from Beaver Falls, PA became “Broadway Joe,” the New York Jets quarterback who became a ’60s cultural figure. “Most of the stuff you saw in Forest Gump, Joe lived through all of it,” producer and friend Jimmy Walsh said about Namath and his life. Namath played for 11 years with the New York Jets, from 1965 to 1976, and was the first to pass more than 4,000 yards one season. You can read up on all of his stats on his biography at Pro Football Hall of Fame. We’ll let you know what happens.

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Cast in Kubrick’s Lost Film include Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell

Wait, wait, wait – Stanley Kubrick had a long lost project? Apparently so. The film is called Lunatic at Large and is based on a treatment by pulp author Jim Thompson that was commissioned by Kubrick in the late 1950s, after the two worked together on The Killing and Paths Of Glory. The script was discovered the a few years ago (read a NY Times article on it) and has been floating around for at least a few years. However, Production Weekly is reporting today on their Twitter (via The Playlist) that both Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell are attached to star in Lunatic at Large. They’ve got a few good actors for now. Read on!

Set in New York in 1956, Lunatic at Large tells the story of Johnnie Sheppard, an ex-carnival worker with serious anger-management issues, and Joyce, a nervous, attractive barfly he picks up from a Hopperesque tavern scene. It’s described as “a dark and surprising mystery” about a person who is “the true escapee from a nearby mental hospital.” Kubrick was supposed to follow up Spartacus with this, but the only copy of the manuscript was lost and later found in his library. The latest draft of the script was finished by Stephen R. Clarke in 2006, but we don’t know too much else, including production details (when will it start shooting?).

It’s not surprising that Johansson and Rockwell were interested in this. Any and everyone in Hollywood is probably jumping at the opportunity to work on a project that has the late Stanley Kubrick’s name attached, even if it’s just as a writer. If it’s true that both actors have signed on, I’m sure a director is close behind, as they wouldn’t be this far along without one. Chris Palmer has been attached since 2006, but no word if he’s still involved at this point. This sounds like it could be a great project with touch of Kubrick, who hasn’t left any mark on the big screen since Eyes Wide Shut in 1999. We’ll keep you updated best we can. Stay tuned!

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First Look: Matt Damon & Emily Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau

Please don’t screw this up, I don’t want another Next, that movie was awful! The first two photos from The Adjustment Bureau appeared online today (via Collider). The Adjustment Bureau co-stars Matt Damon & Emily Blunt (pictured) as well as Anthony Mackie, Terence Stamp and John Slattery. Based on a Philip K. Dick short story, the film is about an affair between a politician and a ballerina (Damon and Blunt) that becomes affected by mysterious forces (a group called the Adjustment Bureau) who are keeping the lovers apart. The photos aren’t much (there’s nothing more to the one above), but it is our first look at the movie.

Here’s a better official plot synopsis: On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt)–a woman like none he’s ever known. But just as he realizes he’s falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart. David learns he is up against the agents of fate itself – the men of The Adjustment Bureau – who will do everything in their considerable power to prevent David and Elise from being together. In the face of overwhelming odds, he must either let her go and accept a predetermined path… or risk everything to defy fate and be with her. I love PKD stories! Writer George Nolfi is directing. Hits theaters on July 30th!

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Joss Whedon or Peter Sollett Might Direct Marvel’s Runaways?

Though the news of Joss Whedon’s potential to direct The Avengers came on April Fool’s Day, LA Times was happy to confirm news that seemed too good to be true. Whether he ends up directing the superhero movie or not, it looks like Marvel really wants him for something as The Playlist reports Whedon is also in the running to direct an adaptation of Marvel’s Brian K. Vaughan-written comic book series Runaways, which is briefly described as The Breakfast Club with superheroes. Meanwhile, Deadline has exclusive news to the contrary as they report Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) is negotiating to direct.

If you’re unfamiliar with series, it follows a group of kids (seen above) who just so happen to be the offspring of super-villians and are endowed with their own powers for evil. However, the kids don’t want any part of their parents diabolical plans and wish to use their powers for good along with exposing their parents for the villains they are. Calling themselves The Pride, they’re housed in a secret lair under the La Brea Tar Pits

Maybe it’s just because I want Whedon to remain available to feed the dreams of directing The Avengers, but I’m inclined to find Deadline’s scoop on this project a little more reliable. I don’t mean to discredit The Playlist at all, because they’ve certainly had more than their fair share of accurate and reliable scoops, but Mike Fleming has plenty more insiders and his reputation certainly precedes him in finding accurate scoops.

Sollett being chosen over Whedon might indicate their desire to keep this more grounded to the characters (which is definitely the best part of Runaways) rather than a predominantly FX-heavy superhero bonanza, which is exactly what The Avengers will be in the end. But at the same time, Whedon’s involvement with a movie the size of The Avengers is bigger than anything he’s ever done, so Runaways might suit him better in that regard. After all, Whedon did write some issues of the comic book series when Brian K. Vaughan was unavailable, so we’ll just have to see how all this plays out. Stay tuned as more info becomes available.