MOVIE NEWS
SOUTHLAND TALES
Writer-director Richard Kelly make a big impression with Donnie Darko -
already a cult classic generations will reference as a "defining" moment of
teen cinema - but what has he been up to post-Darko?
Well, beyond writing duties on the upcoming bounty-hunter action flick
Domino (starring Keira Knightley), Kelly will bring his more Darko-esque
brand of storytelling to Southland Tales.
The Rock, Sarah Michelle Gellar (right) and Seann William Scott will star in the
movie, which is described as a musical-comedy-sci-fi thriller that takes
place in 2008 during a L.A heat-wave.
The Rock will play Boxer Santaros, an action star stricken with amnesia
whose life intertwines with Krysta Now (Gellar), an adult film star
developing her own reality TV project, and David Clark (Scott), a Hermosa
Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.
Shooting begins in August, with Kelly describing the film as "a strange
hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. Dick."
Kelly also plans to release a series of six 100-page "prequel" graphic
novels on the movie website www.southlandtales.com, which is being hyped as
an "epic multimedia experience". The actual movie will serve as the last
three parts of this overall story.
ALIEN VS PREDATOR 2
'Sci-Fi Wire' spoke to Tom Rothman, 20th Century Fox's Co-Chairman, at the
'Saturn Awards', and he confirmed a sequel is in the works to Alien Vs
Predator.
Rothman: "We will do another one of those for sure. It was a big success. In
the new Alien Vs Predator they will finally actually really come to our
world."
Given that AVP was set in "our world", I'm guessing Rothman meant "our world"
in the sense that Aliens and Predators would be duelling in somewhere less
remote than the Antarctic. Or maybe Rothman just hasn't seen AVP...
SUPERMAN RETURNS
The first official photo of Brandon Routh as Superman has been released (see
right). Nice to see they've stuck with a traditional costume (it worked for
Spider-Man!). The only changes seem to be a three-dimensional "S" on his
chest, a smaller "S" as his belt buckle and that the red looks toned down.
However, Routh doesn't look as good as Superman as he does as Clarke Kent,
but let's hope some trips to the gym work their magic...
BATMAN BEGINS
Screenwriter David Goyer (Blade) has revealed plans for the next two Batman
movies, which will definitely star Christian Bale, Gary Oldman and Michael
Caine. Goyer revealed that "the next one would have Batman enlisting the aid
of Gordon and Dent in bringing down the Joker... but not killing him, which
is a mistake they made in the first one. In the third, the Joker would go on
trial, scarring Dent in the process."
CHILDREN OF MEN
Clive Owen (Sin City) is set to star in Children Of Men for director Alfonso
Cuaron (Harry Potter 3). The film is based on a P.D. James' novel and is set
in a dystopia where humans can no longer reproduce.
This society is sent into turmoil when Earth's youngest person (18) dies,
then a woman becomes pregnant for the first time in 20 years. She becomes
the most sought-after person in the world, and Owen's character is enlisted
to protect her.
HARRY POTTER & THE GOBLET OF FIRE
The one-sheet teaser poster for the fourth Harry Potter movie has been
released (see right).
BOND 21
The James Bond casting rumours are officially getting ridiculous. About a
month ago we seemed to get it down to either Clive Owen or Daniel Craig, and
then it seemed the less-likely choice of Craig got the licence to kill.
However, Daniel Craig was in New York to talk about the US release of Layer
Cake, and gave 'ComingSoon.net' confirmation that he will not be playing
Bond.
So who is? Will Clive retract his recent statement about Bond-typecasting
and sign up for Bond 21, or will a total unknown take the coveted secret
agent role?
Dame Judi Dench recently let slip that Pierce Brosnan will be returning as
Bond, but can she be believed? Does she have some insider news, or is she
months out of the loop?
The rumours, undoubtedly, will persist...
IRON MAN
'New Line' and 'Marvel Studios' announced last November that they'd signed
Nick Cassavetes to direct Iron Man, but it turns out there was never a done
deal.
Cassavetes is, however, working on a rewrite of the script by Alfred Gough
and Miles Millar (Smallville), and David Hayter (X-Men). Cassavetes is still
in the running to direct, but the movie's potential release has been pushed
back to 2007.
RUSH HOUR 3
Chris Tucker has signed on to reprise his role in Rush Hour 3. Jackie Chan
is now also expected to continue the action-comedy franchise.
Worryingly for Tucker, the US comedian has starred in nothing but Rush Hour
movies since the first one was released way back in 1998!! He needs these
movies to pay his bills - so expect Rush Hour 4 and 5 soon...
SILENT HILL
Sean Bean (Lord Of The Rings), Laurie Holden, Deborah Kara Unger, Kim Coates
and Tanya Allen have joined the cast of Christophe Gans' horror movie Silent
Hill - based on the popular video-game.
Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black, right) is in the lead role of Rose, a woman searching
for her lost daughter, played by Jodelle Ferland. Bean will play her husband
in the chiller, scripted by Roger Avary (Pulp Fiction).
THE SECRET
David Duchovny (The X-Files) is set to star in The Secret, a supernatural
drama directed by Vincent Perez.
The movie is based on the 1999 Japanese film Himitsu and is set against an
emotional triangle among a 16-year-old girl, her mother and her father.
After the mother is killed in an accident, her spirit inhabits the
daughter's body.
SHREK 3
Justin Timberlake is to provide the voice of a young King Arthur, who has no
interest in becoming King, in Shrek 3 - due for released on 18 May 2007.
LAND OF THE DEAD
The new George Romero zombie movie, Land Of The Dead, has released its
official one-sheet poster (see right).
STARDUST
Matthew Vaughn is having a good year. His directorial debut, Layer Cake, was
a modest hit in the UK - and has subsequently been given a release across
the US. Even better is that this led to Vaughn being given the directing job
on X-Men 3!
And now Vaughn's name is attached to direct the movie-adaptation of Neil
Gaiman's Stardust. Phew.
In relation to X-Men 3, Vaughn has stated that he compares X4 to Unforgiven,
and that X3 will be more expansive than Singer's prior movies. Vaughn has
also said there will be 3-4 scenes where people will be shocked and close to
tears, and that Vinnie Jones will indeed play Juggernaut...
V FOR VENDETTA
James Purefoy has been replaced at the titular V, in this upcoming movie
adaptation of the fabulous Alan Moore graphic novel, by... Hugo Weaving (The
Matrix).
** IN THE PIPELINE **