Dan Owen reviews

DAN'S   MOVIE   DIGEST

I s s u e   # 3 6

2 8   M a r c h   2 0 0 3

Movie News
Oscar Winners 2003
US & UK Top cinema listings
In the Pipeline

** MOVIE NEWS **

SUPERMAN

Brett Ratner has sensationally quit as director of the ailing project, blaming the difficulties of casting the titular role.

But insiders say the project hasn't died, with Ratner's decision known amongst executives for some time now. Problems apparently arose between Ratner and the studio after he began championing unknown actor Matthew Bomer for the role, with 'Warners Brothers' wanting an established name. Idiots!

David Boreanaz (TV's Angel) was also a potential candidate to don the cape, but the potential cancellation of Angel proved unfounded, and he is contractually obliged to stay with his TV series. But Boreanaz may now be put forward to star as Bruce Wayne in the next Batman movie, possibly to be directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento).

So casting for Superman continues with another unknown actor - Henry Cavill. With Ratner's departure it now seems unlikely that Anthony Hopkins will play Jor-El - as his involvement was primarily down to favour for his Red Dragon director.

An anonymous source also revealed recently that Billy Zane (Titanic, The Phantom) is being considered for the role of Lex Luthor.

BATMAN - THE FRIGHTENING

'Superhero Hype' reports that 'Warner Brothers' have purchased two domain names that could indicate the success of the Batman The Frightening screenplay amongst executives; namely BatmanTheFrightening.com and BatmanTheFrightening.net, although at the time of writing (March 28th 2003) these websites are not yet online.

For an exclusive review of the Batman: The Frightening screenplay, CLICK HERE.

BLADE III

Screenwriter David Goyer told 'Comic Book Resources' that Blade III could start shooting as early as September 2003, if everything works out. His script was apparently "very well received", so now the production is looking for a director, which may end up being Goyer himself...

HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

'MarcusFlint.com' has reported that actor Jamie Yeates will also not be returning as the Slytherin Quidditch Captain in Harry Potter & The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Neither will actor Sean Biggerstaff who plays Gryffindor Captain Oliver Wood.

This seems to suggest that in the interest of streamlining the movie's duration, the filmmakers are cutting Quidditch out of the third movie. Well, wasn't it getting stale after two consecutive appearances, anyway?

ONIMUSHA

Asian action star Donnie Yen (Shanghai Knights) announced a film adaptation of the hit video-game Onimusha is being developed. Yen said: "The director is quite well-known. He would be in charge of the detail [of the movie], and I would be the action director and the leading man".

'Disney' is handling distribution with production to begin in 2004 for a 2005 release.

Cover

THE SIMPSONS - THE MOVIE

The 'Calgary Sun' talked with The Simpsons' creator Matt Groening about the interminable wait for a movie version. Groening said: "We're talking about doing it. We just want to make sure, if we do, it doesn't follow in the dismal footsteps of other currently-running TV shows turned into movies."

"I can only think of one that worked and that was South Park. You want to honour the fans of the show, but you want to give them a little more. With the TV show, every week it's like a little movie. There are certainly enough incidents to fill a regular movie comedy. Whether people could stand it for an hour and a half, I don't know."

SPIDER-MAN 2

Jerry O'Connell (Sliders), fresh from championing himself as a candidate for the next Superman, now seems set to star in the Spider-Man sequel as a love-interest for Kirsten Dunst.

Dunst herself has spoken about the changes in her character: "The growth of my character is really good. I'm really happy where they've brought Mary Jane and she's really a stronger woman now. She's learned a lot and I'm ready for her to move on and be the strong one and take the initiative with Peter and be like stronger."