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'The Toronto Sun' newspaper has confirmed that Leonardo DiCaprio has
signed to star in an Alexander The Great biopic - to be directed by Baz
Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge").
The epic film has been written by Ted Tally ("The Silence Of The
Lambs"), with Martin Scorsese co-producing. Interestingly, Scorsese was
set to direct his own version of Alexander The Great earlier this year,
as was Oliver Stone ("JFK"). Stone's project is likely to crumble now
that Luhrman and Scorsese have teamed up together.
Producer Dino De Laurentis said: "We have the full support of the King
of Morocco. They give us 5,000 soldiers and 1,000 horses. It will be a
very long movie to film... you get together 5,000 extras, you need six
months training just for them." De Laurentis and Luhrmann have also
agreed to build a major movie studio in Morocco for the purposes of this
film.
The real Alexander The Great conquered the known world by the age of 25
with an army of 30,000 men. He died in 323 B.C. Ted Tally confirms that:
"[Alexander will] be bisexual. He seems to have been kind of omnisexual
as a person."
"There's a story about him that I love, where he was campaigning in
Asia, and a royal courtier from Macedonia reached him and said, 'Your
sister is having an affair.' And he said, 'I don't see why she shouldn't
have a little fun just because she's the princess.' The biographer says,
'Coming from a man who had three wives, at least four known mistresses,
a lifelong male lover, and also is believed to have slept with a eunuch
and an Amazon, this is open-mindedness at its best.'"
"AUSTIN POWERS 4" - Jerry Girl!
'Sky News' has reported that ageing glamour model Jerry Hall is being
considered as the next Powers Girl for a probable "Austin Powers 4"
movie.
"BALLISTIC: ECKS vs SEVER" - Sequels?
Antonio Banderas ("Spy Kids 2") has spoken about the possibility of
sequels to his latest action-movie "Ballistic: Ecks Vs Sever" with Lucy
Liu, which entered the US movie charts last weekend at No.4.
He said: "I have three franchises already ["Zorro", "Spy Kids",
"Desperado"]. I don't know if I can hold another one. It would be great,
but it [depends] on the audience."
Banderas also spoke about his sequel to "Desperado" by Robert Rodriguez
- entitled "Once Upon A Time In Mexico" and "Spy Kids 3". He said that:
"Tomorrow I have to dub some stuff [for "Once Upon A Time..."]. It's
going to be opening in March. [With 'Spy Kids 3'], the second one is
going pretty well. And I suppose the producers are thinking about it
going for another run."
"BEWITCHED" - Nicole Nose-Twitches?
'The Hollywood Reporter' suggests that Nicole Kidman is in talks to star
in a movie adaptation of US TV comedy "Bewitched" for 'Columbia
Pictures'.
Kidman is said to have expressed interest in the role of young witch
Samantha, who earnestly tries to abandon her powers for the sake of her
mortal husband, Darren, but temptation constantly gets in her way.
It's also rumoured that Mike Myers is the top choice to play Darren. The
project has no director attached and no screenplay written.
"BRIDGET JONES' DIARY 2" - Reopened...
'Yahoo UK!' has reported that George Clooney is in talks to star in a
sequel to the hit comedy "Bridget Jones' Diary", which starred Renee
Zellweger.
"DEATH" - Gaimain's Grim Reaper Movie!
Neil Gaiman, award-winning writer of "Sandman" and "American Gods", has
finally finished his screenplay for "Death", about the Grim Reaper
spending a day in New York. Controversial..?
Gaimain said: "... about 18 months ago I finished the first draft of the
'Death' movie, and wasn't really happy with it. I'd planned to get back
to it on about September the 15th 2001, but then the events of September
11th happened, and I couldn't muster the enthusiasm for a story about
Death spending a day in New York."
"I tried several narrative strategies to try and get myself writing it,
including setting it San Francisco and changing the gender of several
characters around, but each time it petered out, and I put it aside."
"Finally, in early August of this year, I was ready: I spent a week in a
hotel and did nothing but 'Death'. It started working. I printed out the
script and went to the UK to tour. I scribbled on it from time to time,
fixing things. And two weeks ago I grabbed an afternoon and typed all my
scribbles in, and sent the script off to the people who needed to see
it."
"So far the response has been incredibly positive from everyone who's
read it. People, including me, are very happy with it. In theory I'm
meant to be directing it. Fingers crossed."
"THE FANTASTIC FOUR" - Too much $$$?
The "Fantastic Four" movie still hasn't been made, despite recent
comic-book movie success with "X-Men" and "Spider-Man". Perhaps next
year's "The Hulk" will finally tip the scale? Maybe not, suggests "The
Hulk" screenwriter Michael France, who submitted a "Fantastic Four"
screenplay to a major studio five years ago. So why hasn't it been made
yet?
France says: "The reason is that it's unbelievably expensive. It's
probably one of the most expensive comic-book movies you can make with
special effects shots to portray the characters."
The Fantastic Four are a crime-fighting quartet comprised of the
malleable Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, The Thing (a human brick
wall!) and the Human Torch. They are a dysfunctional extended family
whose members can't hide their super powers like heroes with secret
identities. For that reason, France estimated the movie would cost
nearly $200 million to produce, compared with around $130 million for
"Spider-Man".
France continued: "Spider-Man, I guess, is only Spider-Man for about 30
percent of the movie, something like that. With Fantastic Four, the
Thing is in effect in every shot. Mr. Fantastic is in effect in every
shot. Even outside of action sequences, the comedy always revolves
around the Thing and the Torch fighting at home, so even the comic
relief scenes are, like, a million dollars per minute."
Director Chris Columbus ("Harry Potter") tried to get France's
"Fantastic Four" script moving five years ago, but failed. Four
subsequent directors also gave up on the task.
France explains: "The problem they keep running into is that, no matter
what you do, it's too expensive. 'The Hulk' is not a cheap movie to
make, but all they've got to deal with is one character and a villain.
With 'Fantastic Four', you've got the four of them plus a villain. In my
script, the villain was Dr. Doom, so there's a lot of expense in that,
too."
"GINGER SNAPS 2" - Howling Again!
Canada's 'Space Channel' interviewed the producers of "Ginger Snaps"
recently, who confirmed that plans for a sequel are underway. There is
also talk of a third film - that will be a prequel to the cult werewolf
flick. Both new films will be straight-to-video releases.
"GLADIATOR II" - Logan Enlisted
Screenwriter John Logan ("Star Trek Nemesis") is said to have been hired
to pen the script for a sequel to his original screenplay "Gladiator",
which starred Russell Crowe.
"THE HULK" - Writer On Banner!
The screenwriter of "The Hulk", Michael France, spoke to the 'St.
Petersburg Times' about the movie project a few months ago. He said: "My
approach was that I wanted to deal with Banner's psychology, and that's
held up throughout what they're shooting right now. I see him as a guy
who had problems with anger even before he got that gamma ray shower, a
guy who had an abusive father so he worries about what happens when he
loses his temper. He really has problems after he gets his Hulk problem
bestowed on him.
"You have to find a way to make a comic book character like the Hulk
more human or else you just have a Saturday morning cartoon. It's just a
monster-in-the-street movie."
"HELLRAISER VII: DEADER" - Pinhead's Back... Again...
'Production Weekly' has indicated that a 6-week shoot in Romania begins
on 21 October for the seventh "Hellraiser" movie - a day before the
straight-to-video release of the sixth film in video stores!
The plot for the seventh feature involves young reporter Amy Klein, who
works for 'The London Underground' paper - who are known for uncovering
the unusual and bizarre. When a tape arrives at her office addressed to
her, both she and her boss are taken aback by what they have witness; a
person killed and then transformed back to life. Amy is soon on her way
to Bucharest to find out if people can really be brought back from the
dead".
"JEEPERS CREEPERS 2" - Filming Finished!
'Upcoming Horrors' reports that filming on "Jeepers Creepers 2" wrapped
on 20 September at Long Beach Airport and the sequel is now heading into
post-production. 'Fangoria' reports that the release date has changed to
18 April 2003.
"KILL BILL" - Genesis, Scoring & Liu!
Quentin Tarantino has spoken about what made him decide to make martial
arts revenge movie "Kill Bill". It all began when he bumped into Uma
Thurman at a party, Tarantino explained: "I hadn't seen Uma in maybe
three years and she asked me, as she always did when we saw one another,
when I was going to finish writing this project we'd talked about doing
together. I've always considered her my actress, you know. So I went
back home that weekend and dug out the few pages that I'd written on
'Kill Bill' and decided, what the heck, I'll work on them."
In related news, Tarantino has secured a music scorer for "Kill Bill".
In a strange choice he's enlisted the help of RZA (pronounced 'Rrizzah')
from the 'Wu Tang Clan'!
As strange as this choice seems, RZA has previously worked on movies -
having scored Jim Jaramusch's "Ghost Dog: Way Of The Samurai". RZA is
now working on some retro-styled scene-change themes (known as "stabs")
and will be collaborating on the final score with 'Metallica' drummer
Lars Ulrich.
Actress Lucy Liu ("Charlie's Angels") has also commented on the movie,
which she stars in, saying: "We're all assassins, but I become the queen
of the underworld. It's a revenge chick flick, yes. It's going to be a
kick-ass movie. I have a really good feeling about it and I feel really
proud."
"LEMONY SNICKET" - Count Carrey!
Jim Carrey is in talks to star in "Lemony Snicket", an adaptation of a
children's book by author Daniel Handler called "Lemony Snicker's A
Series Of Unfortunate Events".
The movie will be directed by Barry Sonnenfeld ("Men In Black II"). The
story concerns a trio of orphans who are passed around to a series of
quirky people. The first of those is the mysterious Count Olaf (Carrey),
who is counting on separating the children from their inheritance. The
script has been written by author Handler.
"THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES II" - Mr Moth's Back?
'Lakeshore Entertainment' may be ready to film a sequel to "The Mothman
Prophecies", the supernatural chiller that starring Richard Gere.
The sequel, tentatively entitled either "The Mothman Returns" or "The
Mothman Lives", will see the prophesizing entity return to smalltown
Point Pleasant. The sequel promises to be more of an out-and-out scary
film, and could be released in early-2004.
"POLICE ACADEMY 8" - Back On Patrol?
'Moviehole' recently spoke to fallen 80s movie star Steve Guttenburg
about the chances of another "Police Academy" movie. Guttenberg confimed
that: "There have been rumours of a Mahoney spin-off film for quite a
while. I sure hope they do it. If the script's right - I'm definitely
in".
"[As for a new 'Police Academy' movie -] definitely. It's coming. I mean
we have to. When it all comes down to it people will look down at the
idea, but they're in the same business of making money too. And that's
what doing another one would all be about".
"SPIDER-MAN 2" - Smallville Scribes Sacked!
'CNN.com' has reported that "Smallville" writers Alfred Gough and Miles
Millar have lost scripting duties on "Spider-Man 2" - now known as "The
Amazing Spider-Man".
Alfred Gough said: "Miles [Millar] and I actually completed two drafts of
'Spider-Man 2'. We came back on after David Koepp completed his draft in
mid July. We had a wonderful experience working with Sam and [producers]
Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad. They have now handed off our script to
Michael Chabon, who is a terrific writer."
Indeed, Michael Chabon is a Pullitzer prize-winning author of novel "The
Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Clay" - and has now taken up the
reigns from the "Smallville" writers. Chabon will work from a story by
original "Spider-Man" writer David Koepp.
Michael Chabon said: "I'm really sworn to secrecy about it. I haven't read any
of [the unaccepted drafts]. I'm doing my own, which I'm really very
thrilled about. It's very exciting to be given the chance to work on
Spider-Man."
"The Amazing Spider-Man" is still scheduled to begin filming in January
2003, with Sam Raimi directing again, for a 7 May 2004 release in the
US.
"SUPERMAN" - Massive Mythology Changes!
J.J Abrams' screenplay for "Superman: Last Son Of Krypton" (as it's now
known) makes drastic changes to the mythology of the Superman legend.
The changes include the fact Krypton doesn't explode, and that Clark
Kent may not be the only Kryptonian here on Earth...
Director Brett Ratner again spoke about Abrams' script: "The script is
amazing. It's a new version. It's the original story and more. It's new,
exciting, and it will have new technology, but it's Superman."
"You have to understand that kids today don't know those old movies.
That was 20 years ago. They know Superman, but they don't know the
mythology. So I'm excited to do it."
But who will play Superman? Keanu Reeves? Josh Hartnett? Ratner says: "I
don't know. I just got hired." But he did reveal that they're after a
lead actor younger than 25 to play the title role.
But don't get too excited just yet - website 'Ain't It Cool News'
reviewed the screenplay (with massive spoilers) and to say they're
disappointment would be a huge understatement!
They say it practically destroys the entire legend of Superman,
needlessly changes established elements (Jimmy Olsen is gay?), and is
full of idiotic non-stop action sequences. It seems the early buzz for
J.J Abrams' work was unfounded, and the script is actually a mess of
truly epic proportions.
To read the SPOILER HEAVY review of "Superman: The Man Of Steel" go
HERE.
But be warned, it gives the entire plot away, so don't say I didn't warn you...
Almost immediately, inside sources leaped to the defence of 'AICN's'
harsh review, saying it: "... is a first draft that is going to have
changes and many polishes."
Screenwriter Michael Chabon's name has also been attached to "Superman"
- to polish Abrams' first draft. Chabon is also confirmed as writing
"Spider-Man 2" (see above).
"THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE" - Remake A Good Thing?
'Fangoria' magazine has reported back from the Austin, Texas set of "The
Texas Chainsaw Massacre" remake - directed by Marcus Nispel.
It appears the cast and crew all have a great fondness and knowledge of
Tobe Hooper's 1974 original, and Hooper's original cinematographer
Daniel Pearl is also lensing the remake!
Pearl has worked on numerous music videos and commercials with Nispel,
who said: "When I asked him - well, begged him - to do the movie, I
thought, 'What would make it worth it for someone like Daniel, who has
done it before, to do it again?' I felt only for something completely
new and different. We looked at the original story that 'Texas Chainsaw
Massacre' is based on, the Ed Gein [serial killer] story, and we went
much deeper into that."
Maybe the remake won't be such a travesty? We'll see...
US TOP 10 (CINEMA)
1. Barbershop ($12.8m)
2. The Banger Sisters ($10.0m)
3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding ($9.7m)
4. Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever ($7.0m)
5. The Four Feathers ($6.8m)
6. One Hour Photo ($4.6m)
7. Signs ($3.5m)
8. Swimfan ($6.0m)
9. Stealing Harvard ($3.3m)
10. Trapped ($3.2m)
UK TOP 10 (CINEMA)
1. Signs (£2.6m)
2. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (£1.5m)
3. The Bourne Identity (£0.8m)
4. Swimfan (£0.39m)
5. Insomnia (£0.37m)
6. The Importance of Being Earnest (£0.32m)
7. Road To Perdition (£0.25m)
8. The Guru (£0.20m)
9. Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams ($0.19m)
10. Spiderman (£0.17m)
** TRAILERS **
Star Trek: Nemesis:
A new trailer for the tenth Trek movie, again starring 'The Next
Generation' crew as they confront Romulans, and a clone of Picard...
Buzz Rating: 4/5 - there's a real sense of expectation and excitement
for "Nemesis". It's an even-numbered movie (which is always lucky for
"Trek" films) and the trailer indicates a return to the
action-orientated "First Contact" style.
The trailer also doesn't indicate "Trek X" will resemble a TV episode
with a huge budget. There's real ambience and style in every frame from
director Stuart Baird. But will the so-so reviews of the screenplay mean
it LOOKS fabulous, but will fail to engage audiences emotionally? We'll
see - but the signs are that "Trek X" looks likely to be a winner for
'Paramount' this year!
CLICK HERE
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
"ALEXANDER THE GREAT" - Luhrmann Lands Leo!
"BALLISTIC: ECKS vs SEVER" - Sequels?
"THE FANTASTIC FOUR" - Too much $$$?
"KILL BILL" - Genesis, Scoring & Liu!
"THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE" - Remake A Good Thing?
Star Trek: Nemesis:
A new trailer for the tenth Trek movie, again starring 'The Next
Generation' crew as they confront Romulans, and a clone of Picard...