October 2009 News Archive

A while ago, we reported that Men in Black 3 was in the works, and now Columbia Pictures has hired Tropic Thunder scribe Etan Cohen (not to be confused with Ethan Coen of the Coen Bros.) to write the script.

There are no deals yet in place for franchise director Barry Sonnenfeld and stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones to return, but the studio is looking to start filming the third installment sometime in 2010 to hit a 2011 release.

The Weinstein Company has released a new trailer for John Hillcoat's The Road, starring Viggo Mortensen, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron. 

The Road is the big-screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's best-selling, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. It is the story of a man (Mortensen) and his young son (Smit-McPhee) traveling through a desperate, post-apocalyptic world. The film opens in theaters on November 25, 2009.

Jonathan Rhys-Davies, who played the dwarf Gimli in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, has declined to appear in the forthcoming prequel films based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. While Gimli doesn't appear in The Hobbit, Rhys-Davies could have played the dwarf's father, Gloin.

"I've already been asked and to be honest with you, I wouldn't," Rhys-Davies said. "I have already completely ruled it out. There's a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment any more."

Guillermo Del Toro will direct both Hobbit films. The first film is scheduled to hit theaters in December of 2011, followed a year later by the second film in December of 2012.

The proposed Alien prequel is moving forward with director Ridley Scott at the helm. Scott, who also directed the original 1979 classic, recently dished out some interesting details about the new movie.

“It’s a brand new box of tricks,” says Scott. “We know what the road map is, and the screenplay is now being put on paper. The prequel will be a while ago. It’s very difficult to put a year on Alien, but [for example] if Alien was towards the end of this century, then the prequel story will take place thirty years prior.”

With Scott back at the helm of the franchise, the Alien franchise can finally look forward to a return to genuine quality, however, Scott has never been big on sequels.

“I never thought I’d look forward to a sequel,” said Sir Ridley. “But a prequel is kind of interesting. I’m looking forward to doing that.”

Richard Kelly has been hard at work with James Marsden and Cameron Diaz to bring us the secrets of The Box. The film is Kelly's follow up to the popular cult film Donnie Darko, and the unpopular Southland Tales.

In The Box, James Marsden and Cameron Diaz play a young married couple who are given a mysterious wooden box that will bestow upon them great fortunes, but at a high cost. Click on the thumbnails to view larger versions, and see more photos in The Box picture gallery!

Twilight Saga production company Summit Entertainment has announced that it will be re-releasing Twilight, the first film in the highly popular franchise, to select theaters November 19th to celebrate the release of the sequel, New Moon on the following day. 

The catch is, Bella and Edward's first encounter will only be in theaters for one day.

From the Summit Entertainment press release:

"Responding to the fans of THE TWILIGHT SAGA, Summit Entertainment announced today that it will re-release TWILIGHT, the first film in the franchise, at select theatres nationwide on November 19th, a day before the highly anticipated release of the movie’s sequel, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON. Despite the first film already being on DVD, fans across the nation have been calling out to see the film once again on the big screen and the studio is honoring their request.

Summit is working with exhibitors to screen TWILIGHT one night only with screenings in the evening just before THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON arrives in theatres. Select theatres will offer tickets at a reduced price."

20th Century Fox presents the full trailer for James Cameron's newest science fiction adventure, Avatar! This is the trailer that has been playing in theaters, and is now available online! Check it out below!

The highly anticipated film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Peter Mensah, Laz Alonso, Wes Studi, Stephen Lang and Matt Gerald.

I personally like how the studio felt it necessary to list just about every film James Cameron has made, as if "the director of Aliens" or "Titanic" wouldn't have sufficed. I know it's been 12 years since we've seen his name on a marquee, but really? At least the movie looks cooler and cooler each time I see something new from it. As you may remember, I had mixed feelings about the Comic-Con preview footage. 

One thing I haven't changed my opinion about is the cheesy font they've used for the main title... 

Avatar opens in conventional 3-D and Imax 3-D theaters on December 18th, 2009.

Love him or loathe him, Boondock Saints filmmaker Troy Duffy has managed to do the impossible- piss off just about everyone in Hollywood, get virtually blacklisted from the industry, and return to the fray years later with not just another film, but a sequel to the project that soiled his name in the first place.

Duffy recently sat down with Comingsoon.net to discuss the trials and tribulations of what may be the shortest 10-year career in Hollywood history, set the record straight about Overnight, the documentary that made him infamous, and talk about his latest creation, a sequel to the cult hit Boondock Saints.

Asked about the mess that the first Boondock Saints became, Duffy had this to say: 

"I don't know if I would say it was on "life support." I think as soon as "Boondock" touched the public it lit the fire, and that fanbase started to assemble and grow and grow and grow every year since. What happened was it almost died because we were basically let down by the powers that be in Hollywood."

To the guys that made the documentary Overnight, which showcased the noveau-riche Boondock filmmaker as foul-mouthed, egotistical and out of control:

"I think I almost should say "thank you" to those guys sometimes. It's helped make me more controversial than I actually am, and controversy in this business is worth its weight in gold. Unfortunately it's not true. I worked very hard just to be able to do what I do, and sometimes that film does not necessarily help out, but the net that it's cast is like, "Troy's this crazy, John Huston, f*ckin' weird controversial guy," and sometimes that does work for me, you know? So thanks for that, douchebags."

And about working in Hollywood:

"Alright, if we had eight hours I could tell you everything I've learned, but basically what I've learned is that there's politics in this business that need to be played. People investing millions and millions of dollars into your film need to be made to feel comfortable, that you have your head screwed on straight and you're gonna deliver."

Maybe Troy Duffy isn't that bad of a guy. Maybe Overnight was a bit harsh. Or maybe he's just done a lot of growing up. Either way, despite his sordid past, there are fans that are rabidly awaiting the second coming of Boondock Saints. If they all pony up to see Boondock 2, Duffy's second chance may just pay off.

Hear everything Troy had to say over at Comingsoon.net!

Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day opens Friday in select cities.

While rumors of a third Ghostbusters movie have been swirling around for quite some time, it's looking better than ever for the paranormal eliminators to return to the silver screen.

Ghostbusters writer/actor Dan Aykroyd has been a major proponent of the project, but there was always the problem of getting the rest of the cast to sign on, namely Bill Murray. Aykroyd now proposes a clever way around that- hiring unknown talent.

"I hope it's a nice mix, maybe two guys and two girls," the actor told New York magazine Oct. 28. "We'll find some great young actors. We're probably going to search for unknowns."

According to several sources, including fellow Ghostbusters alum Harold Ramis, the plan for the third film is to have the original Ghostbusters pass the torch to a new generation of slime exterminators.

"I want to retire and hand it over to a young cadre and cadet who can pick up the equipment and drive the car because I'm too old for that now," Aykroyd said.

The plot sounds similar to the recently released Ghostbusters video game, which saw the reunion of Aykroyd, Ramis, Ernie Hudson and even Bill Murray, who all lent their voices to their respective characters. Apparently, the experience and plot of the game were good enough to get Bill Murray excited about a third movie.

Just a few days after Dylan Baker confirmed his involvement in Spider-Man 4, word is spreading that the one and only villain in the forthcoming sequel will be none other than Baker's character's alter-ego, The Lizard!

Raimi has said that he fully intends to get back to basics after the disappointment fans voiced over the plethora of villains in Spider-Man 3, and after Baker confirmed he was returning as Dr. Curt Connors, it seems like a no-brainer for the villain to be The Lizard, one of Spidey's most infamous arch-nemeses.

While it's still just a rumor, credible sources claim it to be true. If so, expect there to be a formal announcement soon.

Spider-Man 4 will swing into theaters on May 5, 2011