Archive for August, 2010

‘Mad Men’ creator ‘wants end date’

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
John Slattery and Jon Hamm in Mad Men

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner has revealed that he would like to set an end date for the series.

Earlier this year, Weiner reportedly suggested that he wants the show to finish in 2012.

However, the programme’s network AMC later played down the speculation.

Weiner has now told Fancast that he still wants to know when the series will end.

“Yes [I do],” he said. “And I don’t know what it is yet. We’re all enjoying [doing the show]. So I don’t know what [the end date] is yet.”

Mad Men continues on Sundays at 10/9c on AMC. The fourth season will premiere in the UK on September 8 at 10pm on BBC Four.

‘The Last Exorcism’ tops US box office

Sunday, August 29th, 2010
The Last Exorcism

The Last Exorcism has debuted at the top of the US box office, earning $21.3 million over the weekend.

In a tight race, the action thriller Takers claims second place with $21 million.

The Expendables falls to number three with $9 million, followed by Eat Pray Love and The Other Guys, while Inception climbs up two spots to seventh place. With a budget of $160 million, Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi film has now made over $110 million for Warner Bros.

Finally, Jennifer Aniston’s The Switch takes the number nine spot, and Piranha 3D lands at number ten.

The US box office top ten in full:
1. (-) The Last Exorcism – $21,300,000
2. (-) Takers – $21,000,000
3. (2) The Expendables – $9,500,000
4. (-) Eat Pray Love – $7,000,000
5. (5) The Other Guys – $6,600,000
6. (2) Vampires Suck – $5,300,000
7. (9) Inception – $5,105,000
8. (8) Nanny McPhee Returns – $4,743,000
9. (7) The Switch – $4,658,000
10. (6) Piranha 3D – $4,308,000

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.

Syfy announces ‘Three Inches’ cast

Friday, August 27th, 2010
SyFy logo

Syfy has released more details about forthcoming superhero series Three Inches.

It was previously reported that Naoko Mori and Stephanie Jacobsen will appear in the show, alongside former Buffy star James Marsters.

The network has now confirmed that Marsters will play Troy Hamilton, a former government agent and father figure to Walter (Noah Reid).

Kyle Schmid, Antony Del Rio and Brandon Jay McLaren have also joined the cast. Schmid will play cocky team leader Brandon, while Del Rio will portray The Human Smell, a teenage hero able to emit a pungent gas. McLaren will feature as Macklin Sportello, the best friend of Walter.

Alona Tal, Craig Edridge and Julian Richings will all guest star in the show’s pilot episode.

The 90-minute pilot will begin filming in Canada on August 30.

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.”

Scream for your life!

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

20th Century Fox and MGM announce Blu-ray debuts for the Halloween season:

Click on cover images to read full details

Click on cover images to read full details

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

Predators: Blu-ray/DVD details announced

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Click on cover pic to read full details

Click on cover pic to read full details