Archive for the ‘News Items’ Category

Retailers selling ‘Halo Reach’ early?

Sunday, August 29th, 2010
Halo: Reach Campaign

US retailers are rumoured to be selling copies of Halo Reach early in response to its appearance on torrent sites.

Speculation of under-the-counter sales emerged after a photograph of what appears to be a legitimate customer copy appeared on JustPushStart.

It is thought that the photo may depict a promotional edition of the game, although this was not indicated on the box.

Microsoft is yet to confirm whether it will bring the title’s release forward to combat piracy, but it did state that users caught playing an illegitimate version could face an Xbox Live ban.

Halo Reach will be released worldwide on September 14.

Stallone wants Willis for ‘Expendables 2’

Saturday, August 28th, 2010
Bruce Willis

Sylvester Stallone has said that he wants to cast Bruce Willis as the villain in Expendables 2.

Stallone took to Twitter to announce his plan.

He tweeted: “Had dinner with Bruce Willis last night. I want him in EXPENDABLES II as a super villain. What do you think (sic)?”

Stallone has said that he has already “plotted out” a sequel to the hit action film, co-starring Jason Statham, Jet Li and Terry Crews.

The writer and director also revealed that directing the ensemble flick, which included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Mickey Rourke, had not been an easy task.

Whedon: ‘Avengers has big stipulations’

Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon has admitted that he is working with “enormous stipulations” on his superhero movie The Avengers.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, the director confessed that there are sections of his Avengers script that won’t see the light of day due to strict guidelines from Marvel on the ensemble movie, which brings together Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, Chris Evans’s Captain America and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor.

“I’m working on a movie that’s got enormous stipulations and is going to be changing and fluid every second,” he said of the superhero project.

“I’ve come up with dozens of scenes and lines and exchanges and monologues that I adore that are not going to be in it. But while I’m writing them they feed me, excite me and they ultimately inform the character.”

Whedon, the creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Firefly, added that he is hoping to make a comic book film that will bring Marvel fans back for repeat viewings.

“I certainly will do everything in my power… to make it good,” he remarked. “That’s my power, that’s all I’ve got. All I can do is make [The Avengers] good enough for somebody to see it twice.”

Studio boss “sure” over ‘Bond’ future

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
James Bond in Quantum of Solace

The boss of Pinewood Studios, where the Bond films are shot, has said that he is “sure” there will be another instalment in the future.

Producers of the 23rd film had hoped for a release in 2011 or 2012 but the franchise is currently on hold due to uncertainty over the future of MGM.

According to WENN, the delay had caused fears that Daniel Craig’s Quantum of Solace would be the final film.

However, the studio’s chief executive Ivan Dunleavy said: “I am sure there will be another Bond movie in future.”

He added of the planned closure of the UK Film Council: “That decision has been made and there are a number of functions that the UK Film Council performs and they will be ongoing.”

This news item can be discussed here: NTSC User’s Message Board

Hoffman confirmed for ‘Fockers’ return

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman will reprise his role as Bernie Focker in Meet The Parents: Little Fockers, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed.

Hoffman had previously turned down the chance to return to the comedy series, but Universal began re-negotiating with the actor when a week of reshoots were scheduled into the production.

After watching a finished cut of Little Fockers, Hoffman decided that he wanted to make an appearance in the sequel and will shoot four additional scenes. Some of Hoffman’s scenes will be with Barbra Streisand, who plays his on-screen wife Rozalin Focker.

A source has claimed that Hoffman’s initial refusal to return wasn’t due to a salary dispute.

Meet The Parents: Little Fockers, starring Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo and Jessica Alba, opens in cinemas on December 22.

This news item can be discussed here: NTSC User’s Message Board

Doug Liman to direct ‘All You Need is Kill’

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Doug Liman

The Bourne Identity helmer Doug Liman has signed to direct upcoming drama All You Need is Kill.

The Warner Bros project is based on the Japanese novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, reports Variety.

The story centres on a solider who gets killed while battling an alien species and lives the last day of his life over and over again. His combat skills sharpen every time he is reborn, and he works to change his fate.

Liman’s previous movies include Jumper, Go and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. His latest effort Fair Game opens November 5.

Jessica Alba cast in ‘Spy Kids 4’

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Jessica Alba talking on her cell phone while arriving at a residence in Beverly Hills

Jessica Alba will lead the cast of the revived Spy Kids franchise.

The actress will reunite with her Sin City and Machete director Robert Rodriguez to play a mother of a baby and two pre-teen stepchildren who is reactivated for secret agent duties, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Alba’s two oldest children will be the new Spy Kids, taking over from original stars Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, who are expected to appear in supporting roles alongside Antonio Banderas.

The movie revolves around a plot hatched by a villain called the Time Keeper to freeze time.

Rodriguez will begin production on Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World next month in Austin, Texas with a $30 million budget. It will be the second movie in the series to be released in 3D.

‘Avatar’ sequel ‘planned for 2014 release’

Monday, August 23rd, 2010
James Cameron

James Cameron has reportedly admitted that the sequel to Avatar will not be released until 2014.

According to the New York Post, it could be up to four years before audiences see the next instalment in the sci-fi trilogy.

The Titanic director recently revealed that he plans to film the second and third films together.

Cameron said: “Right now, the thinking is that [films] two and three are going to be done together. They’ll be released separately, probably a year apart or maybe even two, but they’ll be done in a bunch.”

He added: “I’m mapping out the storyline right now, so there’s a proper arc that plays out over two films, but [it] buttons nicely at the end of two, so you don’t get this horrible second act Matrix feeling – you know, ‘I’ve just sat through a three-hour movie and f**k all happened at the end!'”

Cameron began writing Avatar in 1994.

‘Ice Age’ director for ‘Monster Dogs’

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Ice Age director Chris Wedge has signed to direct an adaptation of fantasy novel Lives of the Monster Dogs.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter Adam Kline is adapting the book by Kirsten Bakis.

The novel centres on a pack of genetically engineered intelligent dogs that walk on their hind legs and communicate with people using voice boxes. The dogs also have a penchant for dressing in 19th century formal wear.

The story follows the dogs as they travel to modern-day New York City, meet a film student and begin reverting to their natural states.

The novel was published in 1989.

Worthington confirmed for ‘Dracula’ role

Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Sam Worthington outside the Ed Sullivan Theater for the 'Late Show With David Letterman'

Sam Worthington has been confirmed to star in Dracula: Year Zero.

The Avatar star, who was previously linked to the Alex Proyas project earlier this year, has also signed on to star in several high-profile films, including Avatar 2, Clash Of The Titans 2 and The Last Days Of American Crime.

Producer Mike de Luca told Encore: “These writers came up with the ingenious – what I think is ingenious – approach combining historical Dracula with Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

“I think vampires are endlessly appropriate candidates for reinvention because there’s something in the DNA in that mythology that appeals to every generation. Every generation owns their own version of the vampire myth.”