** MOVIE NEWS **
FANTASTIC FOUR
The movie is stalling, but a design has been released for lead villain
Dr Doom, which is certainly very faithful to the comic-book series. (see
right)
THE DARK
Director Neil Marshall and producer Keith Bell (Dog Soldiers) held a
talk to a Media Production course at a North-Eastern University recently
and mentioned their next project: The Dark.
Marshall described it as a throwback to 70's horror movies (almost
Deliverance-meets-Alien) about a group of five women trapped in a
network of caves.
The pair are also considering making a zombie film and a historical epic
set in Arthurian times.
EXORCIST - THE BEGINNING
'Morgan Creek Productions' have secured director Renny Harlin (Deep Blue
Sea) to film six weeks of re-shoots on their Exorcist prequel -
following the sacking of director Paul Schrader. Schrader will still
retain his director's credit, however.
THE GOONIES 2
Director Richard Donner revealed at a preview for Timeline that he will
make a sequel to The Goonies with the original cast (now adults), even
if 'Warner Brothers' don't want to.
INDIANA JONES 4
'Fox News' spoke with Indiana Jones franchise actors John Rhys-Davies
and Kate Capshaw about Indiana Jones 4.
John Rhys-Davies, who played Indie's friend Sallah in Raiders Of The
Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, said he'd love to reprise his role: "None
of these guys [Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford or George Lucas] are in
it for the money, anymore."
"If they're doing it at all, it's got to be better and more remarkable
than any one of the Indiana Jones films before. And that's a pretty tall
order."
Spielberg's wife, Kate Capshaw, was herself coy about the future during
a Q & A to promote the trilogy's DVD release, saying: "There is a lot of
demand for a 4 - and no doubt a 5, 6, 7 and 8. I think George would just
make as many as [Harrison and Spielberg] would like. As long as you have
those two guys interested, there will be another Indiana Jones."
ALIEN VS PREDATOR
Actress Sanaa Lathan (Out Of Time, right) has been cast as explorer/adventuress
Lex Kline in Alien Vs Predator. Her character will lead an expedition to
Antarctica to uncover warring alien races.
JINX
Halle Berry won't reprise her Die Another Day character Jinx after all.
To the dismay of Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson at
'Eon', 'MGM' instead wants Bond 21 put into production for 2005.
THE MASK OF ZORRO II
Director Martin Campbell told the 'Calgary Sun' that a Zorro sequel is
looking likely now. "We're in the final stages of negotiations with
Antonio and Catherine Zeta-Jones. If they are both available and
everything goes as planned, we could begin shooting in Mexico in April
or May for a 2005 release."
"We've rejected several scripts over the past four years, but have a
great one now, which is why the project has been green-lit. It's a great
role for Catherine. Her character will definitely be on a par with
Antonio's this time. [And it's] much more than your typical sequel. It's
a full-out new film that uses the same two central characters."
THE PHANTOM
'Crusader Entertainment' and 'Hyde Park' have secured the services of
Olympic gold medallist (turned screenwriter) Mel Stewart to write a
project based on The Phantom comics.
Stewart: "While I like the comic book franchises of the 1990's, I always
wanted to be able to identify with my hero more. Take all of the
technology of 2004, where science fiction is no longer that - it's
science fact. If you had all that technology at your fingerprints, you
would be a superhero."
SUCCUBUS
Director Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil) has successfully pitched horror
movie Succubus to 'MGM'. Johnson will direct the movie after completing
Ghost Rider with Nicholas Cage.
Succubus centres on a cult of female demons who use their supermodel
looks to seduce and steal the souls of men. The movie will revolve
around two friends - one of which is propositioned by a beautiful woman
before going missing.
BOND 21
'The Toronto Sun' talked to actor Clive Owen (right) about all the rumours that
he's set to takeover as James Bond after Pierce Brosnan.
Owen: "That's exactly what they are - rumours! There has never been
anything substantial underneath them. It's reared up so many times now.
I'll deal with it, I'll think about it, if it ever becomes a fact.
"I learned a long time ago in this game that there is a lot of bullshit
and, if you worry about things that are not factual, you end up wasting
a lot of time."
"If ever there is an official approach, or somebody talks properly to my
representatives, I'll think about it. But, until then, I read what you
read. No, no, no, no... I honestly do not think about it."
Anyway, 'MI6' reports that Aussie actor Hugh Jackman (X-Men 2) is now a
front-runner to take over as 007. A report in 'NW Magazine' claims that
Jackman is "what the producers are looking for: dark good looks, sex
appeal, a sense of humour and box-office clout. He's also the right age.
[Clive] Owen lacks the necessary lightness of touch to make Bond a
box-office success."
"British actors Ioan Gruffudd, Jeremy Northam and Paul Bettany have all
been put in the frame - but they have now reportedly been eliminated".
Director Lewis Gilbert (The Spy Who Loved Me) also added his comments on
the issue: "You can't have someone too young playing Bond because they
would never be believable in the part. And the chances of getting a
superstar like Russell Crowe are slim because he'll be too expensive;
he'll have all sorts of projects lined up and is unlikely to want to
commit to making a series of films. Hugh Jackman clearly fits the bill."
STAR WARS EPISODE III
'Teletext' spoke with Ian McDiarmid, who plays Chancellor Palpatine in
Star Wars: Episode III, who said his character will feature in the
action sequences of the movie for the first time.
"You'd imagine that my character has been rather deskbound in the past
but this time he will get to take part in the action. I can't give the
story away as George Lucas would kill me but I have been engaged in far
more physical activities than any of the other films."
"I have found myself sliding down chutes at speed and landing on heaps
of rubber, it's been a completely new experience for me. I haven't had
to go down the gym to get fit for the scenes but I did need a few
rehearsals to get up to speed."
"Most of my scenes have been with Anakin Skywalker [Hayden Christensen]
who eventually becomes Darth Vader. There's a lot of anticipation about
the movie and I think it will be worth the wait."
THE TRANSPORTER 2
A sequel to The Transporter is in development, says star Jason Statham
(The Italian Job remake): "I'm doing another movie with Luc Besson. I'm
doing another Transporter movie and that's late spring. They're writing
it now. I'm very thrilled about the prospect of what we're going to get
up to."
WATCHMEN
'Aint-It-Cool News' reports that John Cusack (Identity) is attached to
play Nite-Owl in 'Revolution Studios' new comic adaptation of Alan
Moore's Watchmen.
DAN'S TOP 10 SCARIEST MOVIES
Channel 4's recent 'Top 100 Scariest Screen Moments' was a good
weekend's viewing for horror fans, and the eventual Top 10 was
predictable but still satisfying.
But, for anyone who cares, here is my own personal Top 10 - which I will
no doubt amend countless times in the future... perhaps adding Spice
World in there somewhere...
Click on each image for more info.