Archive for September, 2010

Tony Curtis dies, aged 85

Thursday, September 30th, 2010
Tony Curtis

Tony Curtis has died at the age of 85.

A representative for his daughter Jamie Lee Curtis confirmed the news of her father’s death to ET today.

Born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, Curtis was best known for his roles in 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot and the following year’s Spartacus.

He was hospitalised in July after suffering an asthma attack but reportedly went home after a few days.

Curtis is survived by his sixth wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis, whom he married in 1998. He was married to fellow screen star Janet Leigh for 11 years from 1951 to 1962.

‘Star Wars’ set for 3D release in 2012

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Darth Vader

The Star Wars series is to be released in 3D from 2012, it has been revealed.

The six films will reportedly be converted into 3D and released to cinemas in narrative order, beginning with 1999’s The Phantom Menace and concluding with 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

Although The Phantom Menace 3D is scheduled to hit theatres in 2012, subsequent release dates are yet to be established, since each movie takes at least a year to be converted from 2D to 3D, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Lucasfilm spokeswoman Lynne Hale said: “The process is really extensive, and we want to make sure each of the films gets the attention it needs, so we’re not ready to talk about the release patterns of the other films.”

Creator George Lucas, who will personally oversee the conversions, previously admitted that the success of Avatar had encouraged him to press ahead with the project, which was originally announced in 2008.

A Scanner Darkly (Blu-ray disc review link)

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Click on cover image to read full review

Click on cover image to read full review

‘Tron’ to continue after sequel

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Tron Legacy

Disney has reportedly expressed its confidence in the upcoming Tron: Legacy by planning a number of follow-up projects for the franchise.

Tron: Legacy, which will release on December 17, is a big budget sequel to the 1982 cult hit Tron starring Jeff Bridges.

Bleeding Cool reports that an animated Tron series is to begin airing in late 2011 on the Disney Channel.

Disney has already announced that preceding the animated show will be a ten-part micro-series airing on Disney XD that aims to bridge the gap between this year’s film sequel and the new series.

It has also been rumoured that Tron Uprising may be the title of the new animation.

THX 1138: The George Lucas Director’s Cut (Blu-ray disc review link)

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Please click on the cover image to read full review

Click on the cover image to read full review

‘Wall Street’ wins US box office

Monday, September 27th, 2010
Gordon Gekko from Wall Street Money Never Sleeps

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps has topped the US box office on its first weekend on release.

Oliver Stone’s sequel, which sees Michael Douglas reprise his role as Gordon Gekko, took in $19 million to see off competition from owl animation Legend Of The Guardians to secure top spot.

The financial drama also continues Shia LaBeouf’s winning box office streak. All of LaBeouf’s major releases, stretching back to 2007’s Disturbia, have reached the box office summit in the US.

Last week’s number one The Town falls to number three, Easy A is at four and new release You Again reaches number five.

Elsewhere, Inception spends its eleventh week in the top ten, charting in tenth place with just over $1 million in ticket sales.

The US box office top ten in full:
1. (-) Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps – $19,000,000
2. (-) Legend Of The Guardians: The Owls Of Ga’Hoole – $16,335,000
3. (1) The Town – $16,030,000
4. (2) Easy A – $10,700,000
5. (-) You Again – $8,300,000
6. (3) Devil – $6,479,000
7. (4) Resident Evil: Afterlife – $4,900,000
8. (5) Alpha And Omega – $4,700,000
9. (6) Takers – $1,650,000
10. (8) Inception – $1,245,000

Rufus ‘won’t be recast for Bill & Ted 3’

Monday, September 27th, 2010
Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves in 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure'

Alex Winter has confirmed reports that a third film in the Bill & Ted franchise is in development.

Winter appeared as Bill alongside Keanu Reeves in the original two films, and has admitted that the two actors have finally settled on an idea for the characters’ third appearance.

However Reel Movie News has claimed that the new film will not involve the character of Rufus, previously played by George Carlin.

Winter explained that because of the nature of the films it wouldn’t work to simply recast the role, after Carlin’s death in 2008 from heart failure.

(more…)

Stephen Fry to play Mycroft in ‘Sherlock 2’

Monday, September 27th, 2010
Stephen Fry outside an Apple Store for the iPad launch

Stephen Fry has revealed that he will play Mycroft Holmes in the upcoming Sherlock Holmes sequel.

The actor told Five Live‘s Danny Baker that he has been cast opposite Robert Downey Jr as the older brother of the Baker Street detective.

“I’m playing Mycroft in the sequel to the Sherlock Holmes film Guy Ritchie directed with Robert Downey Jr,” he said.

Fry noted that he is looking forward to the part, although he admitted that he more enjoys taking on a leading role, as he did in 1997 biopic Wilde.

(more…)

‘Tattoo’ star joins ‘Mission: Impossible 4’

Monday, September 27th, 2010
Tom Cruise and Michelle Monaghan in Mission Impossible III

One of the stars of Swedish thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Michael Nyqvist, has joined the cast of Mission: Impossible 4.

Nyqvist will play the film’s lead villain, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor joins Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Vladimir Mashkov and franchise veterans Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg in the sequel.

JJ Abrams is producing the picture, which will be directed by Brad Bird.

Mission: Impossible 4 is scheduled for a December 2011 release in US cinemas.

Kate Beckinsale signs for ‘Underworld 4’

Saturday, September 25th, 2010
Kate Beckinsale attending the closing ceremony of the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival

Kate Beckinsale has signed up to star in Underworld 4.

The 37-year-old agreed to reprise her role as Selene in the action-horror franchise, according to Deadline.

The movie has been penned by The Shield writer John Hlavin and rewritten by J. Michael Straczynski. No director is currently attached.

Filming is expected to begin in Vancouver in March, and distributor Screen Gems has set a release date of January 20, 2012.

It was previously rumoured that the film would be shot in 3D.