So apparently the sleeper at Comic-Con was Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic KICK ASS, which had just begun it’s run when the film was optioned. Through some weird collaboration, the two parties were able to create an ultra-violent world where all those comic book fantasies have very real-life consequences. While not a fan of the slow paced comic, the film is an incredible surprise. This is not Stardust; it might not even be Layer Cake. The clips below are remarkably intense, and the film’s dark humor and unwillingness to play by the rules is a breath of fresh air. And dare I say, this is the best role Nicolas Cage has played in years — YEARS! He’s having so much fun, how can you seriously expect the audience not to? Check out the clips. Great stuff.
AWESOME YES?! Chloe Moretz is about to become everyone’s favorite badass, so it’s a shame this isn’t coming out this Winter or Spring; a December 2010 release date seems kind of odd for a film like this. Kick Ass is directed by Matthew Vaughn from a script by Vaughn and Jane Goldman (Stardust). It stars Aaron Johnson as Kick Ass, Nicolas Cage as Big Daddy, Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl, Mark Strong as Frank D’Amico, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Red Mist.
Finally, Facebook is good for something. After the pretty crap quality trailer that leaked Thursday, we now have a high definition look at Alice In Wonderland, Tim Burton’s latest remake of demented children’s tales. I personally think this looks perfect for Burton, but Depp seems to be channeling a lot of the silly characters he’s been playing lately (Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka) and I’d personally like to see something a lot darker for this.
The film will be released March 5th 2010, and will use a technique combining live action, motion capture technology, and stop motion. Mia Wasikowska will play the role of Alice, alongside Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen, and Anne Hathaway as The White Queen. The script was written by Linda Wolverton (Beauty And The Beast, The Lion King)
Craig Robinson (Zack And Miri Make A Porno), Heather Graham (The Hangover), Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), and Camilla Belle (Push) have been cast opposite Kevin Spacey in Father Of Invention, an ensemble comedy that Spacey is independently producing via his Trigger Street banner. Story follows a humble inventor-turned-egomaniacal billionaire (Spacey) who spends eight years in prison when one of his inventions goes awry. Upon release, he is seeks to rebuild his reputation and fortune but finds that easier than salvaging his relationship with his family.
Robinson will play the husband of the former billionaire’s ex-wife who now lives in his house and drives his car and helps Spacey get back on his feet after he gets out of prison. Belle will play his daughter, a social worker hesitant to trust her father, while Graham is her lesbian roommate who sleeps with the father. Knoxville will play a store manager who hires Spacey’s character after his prison stint. Trent Cooper is directing from a script he wrote with producer Jonathan Krane and Nichole Beatty. Production begins this week in New Orleans.
Blood Simple Zhang Yimou has started shooting a remake of the Coen brothers’ debut, Blood Simple.San Qiang Pai An Jing Qi (“The Stunning Case Of The Three Gun Shots“) recently began production. Details on the remake are being kept under wraps, but the thriller-comedy stars Chinese actor Sun Honglei, comedian Xiao Shenyang and actress Yan Ni. Blood Simple was about a Texas bar owner who hires a private detective to kill his wife and her lover. The 1984 movie starring Frances McDormand won the Grand Jury Prize for best film at the United States Film Festival — the predecessor to the Sundance Film Festival — helping establish Joel and Ethan Coen’s reputations. [Source: THR]
Burlesque Cher is set to return to the screen for the first time in more than a decade in a contemporary musical for Screen Gems. Christina Aguilera will play an ambitious small-town Iowa girl with a big voice who comes of age in a neo-burlesque club on Sunset Boulevard that’s run by Tess (Cher), a former dancer who struggles to keep the club open and gives the young girl a chance to shine. “She brings a soulfulness and gravitas to this character that will ground the story,” Chris Culpepper, president of Screen Gems said. “The only person who was more excited than I am is Christina.” Steven Antin will direct from a script he wrote that was revised by Susannah Grant (Erin Brokovich, The Soloist). [Source: Variety]
Frank
Kevin Lima (Enchanted) has been tapped to direct romantic comedy Frank, a reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein story. The film centers on a teenage prodigy who’s on the cutting edge of cell research in medical school and is encouraged by her guidance counselor to take a break from the lab and make some friends. After several unsuccessful attempts at socializing with her peers, she decides to use her scientific prowess and piece together a friend out of the med school’s instructional cadavers. The project is currently out to writers. Lima is also working on a remake of The Incredible Mr. Limpet. [Source: Variety]
Ghostbusters 3 Sigourney Weaver confirms that she will not be in Ghostbusters 3. “No, I don’t expect to have anything to do with it, although I wish them well. I just did a benefit with Bill and we love working together, but I think they’re trying to create something new completely with the Ghostbusters. “I hope my little son Oscar [from Ghostbusters II] is a Ghostbuster!” [Source: Digital Spy]
Smallville
British actor Callum Blue (Dead Like Me, Rome) has joined the cast of Smallville, portraying General Zod in a role previously made famous by Terrence Stamp. Supervillain General Zod from the DC Comics books was introduced in 1980 feature “Superman II.” [Source: THR]
The Special Relationship Peter Morgan has pulled out as director of the HBO Films/BBC Films movie The Special Relationship. Richard Loncraine has come on board to direct the project, written by Morgan, who will remain “integrally involved in every aspect of the production” in his role as a writer/executive producer. The cast, crew and filming schedule for “Special Relationship,” which has been greenlighted for production, remain intact. Dennis Quaid is on board to play President Clinton, Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Blair, Julianne Moore as Hillary Clinton and Helen McCrory as Cherie Blair. [Source: THR]
The Testament
After a decade of saying no, John Grisham has made a movie deal for his 1999 bestselling novel about a billionaire defies his greedy relatives and leaves his $11 billion fortune to a mysterious illegitimate daughter doing charity work in the Brazilian wetlands. A down-and-out lawyer helps her battle her relatives over the fortune. [Source: Variety]
Untitled Zac Efron Thriller
Zac Efron has signed to star in an untitled thriller for Mandate Pictures, which is being written by Leslie Dixon. The plot is being kept under wraps but it is described as “a sexy thriller.” Efron will act as executive producer with Mandate’s Nathan Kahane. [Source: THR]
Moveline has confirmed rumors that Benicio Del Toro was tipped for an unspecified role in Sophia Coppola’s third film, Somewhere. Pop band Rooney, of which Coppola’s cousin is lead singer, recently blogged that some of its members would be appearing in the film along with Del Toro.
Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, and Jackass stuntman Chris Pontius star in the film which follows Dorff as a bad-boy actor holed up in the famous Chateau Marmont who gets a reality check when he’s unexpectedly visited by his daughter (Fanning). Del Toro’s role involves a brief run-in with Dorff’s actor at the historic hotel, but that role is exactly that — brief, nothing more than a cameo. He is currently awaiting the release of his delayed passion project The Wolf Man later this year.
A couple of cool posters today: first up is a really cool teaser poster (which may or may not be fake) for the upcoming fourth season of Showtime’s acclaimed serial-killer black-comedy Dexter. I’ve only seen a few episodes of the first season, but I know people lose it over this show.Production began earlier this month with John Lithgow and Courtney Ford joining the cast. The new season introduces the Trinity Killer (because he kills in threes) who moved to Miami after evading capture for almost three decades. The season premieres on September 27th 2009.
Also, we have a poster for the Spierig Brothers (Undead) upcoming Daybreakers.
The film, which has been wrapped since 2007, is set in the year 2017 where a plague transforms the world’s population into vampires. With fewer humans to provide blood, the vampires seek to farm the remaining humans and to find a way to continue their existence. A secret team of vampires uncover a way that would rescue the human race. The film stars Ethan Hawke and Sam Neil and will be released in January 2010.
Here’s a few behind the scenes pics from a movie I’m highly anticipating, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. I love these pics, and not just because Edgar Wright seems to have amassed the most amazing young cast ever, but because these are gorgeous shots, however unintentional. So enjoy the pics below which include a first look at Alison Pill in character as Kim Pine, and the first actual shot of Jasosn Schwartzman on set.
If you don’t already know, Scott Pilgrim tells the story of the 23-year-old bassist/slacker (Michael Cera) who falls in love with Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an Amazon.ca delivery girl, but to win her over he must defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends. It is being directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz) and based on the graphic novel series by Brian Lee O’Malley.
Magnolia has debuted a red band trailer for Bobcat Goldthwait’s sophomore directorial effort, World’s Greatest Dad, starring Robin Williams. The film is a very dark comedy about a man (Robin Williams) who learns that the things you want most may not be the things that make you happy, and that being lonely is not necessarily the same as being alone. This actually looks pretty damn hilarious. Goldthwait directed Sleeping Dogs Lie in 2006, about a girl whose relationships are destroyed when she reluctantly reveals a past indiscretion with a pet. Check out the trailer below.
Apparently, the trailer doesn’t get into the big reveal of the story which, if it’s anything like Lie, I’m totally in for. Bobcat Goldthwait is a better director than I ever thought he’d be. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and was ebought by Magnolia Pictures for distribution in the US. It will arrive in very limited theaters starting on August 21st as well as Xbox Live and VOD starting July 24th.
Apple has just premiered the trailer for Paul Giamatti’s upcoming film Cold Souls, written and directed by Sophia Barthes. The film also stars Emily Watson, David Straitham, Kathryn Winnick, and Lauren Ambrose. Described as a metaphysical comedy, in the film souls can be extracted and traded as commodities. Also check out this really cool poster.
While agonizing over his interpretation of Uncle Vanya and paralyzed with anxiety, Giamatti stumbles upon a solution via a New Yorker article about a high-tech company promising to alleviate suffering by deep-freezing souls. He enlists their services, intending to reinstate his soul once he survives the performance. But complications ensue when a mysterious, soul-trafficking mule borrows Giamatti’s stored soul for an ambitious, but unfortunately talentless, soap-opera actress. Rendered soulless, he is left with no choice but to follow the trail back to St. Petersburg.
Viola Davis (Doubt) is set to play unconvential artist, Lynda B. Dozier, on Showtime’s upcoming second season of United States Of Tara. The half-hour drama, which casts Toni Collette as a mother with multiple personalities, was the subject of critical acclaim last year and one of my favorite new shows. Davis will appear in seven of the 12 episodes, playing a significant role in the lives of Tara (Collette) and her daughter Kate (Brie Larson). United States Of Tara was created by Diablo Cody (Juno) from an idea by Steven Speilberg.
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Blood Simple
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Cinemafique 