It’s been a long wait for fans of the original TRON, proud and embarrassed alike, to revisit the familiar computer-enhanced world. Since the announcement of the sequel, every scrap of information has proven more enticing, from the early teaser trailer that gave us our first glimpse at the modernized light cycles, to the ongoing viral marketing taking place over the last several weeks.
All this anticipation has been slowly bubbling up towards a release that is still nine long months away, so Disney finally decided to dole out the thing that’s sure to really get us talking — the trailer. And, oh, what a trailer it is.
Not only does it further confirm what the original’s proponents have been clambering about all along, that the digital world of the film is perfectly suited to today’s modern advancements in digital technology (and 3D), but we get our first real introduction to where things are headed story-wise.
We’re immediately introduced to newcomer Garrett Hedlund, a.k.a. Sam Flynn, the son of computer programmer Kevin Flynn, the protagonist from the first film and a role that is reprised here by the great (recent Oscar winner) Jeff Bridges. Sam gets told by “Tron” professional Alan Bradley that some new information about his father, who’s been missing for 25 years, has surfaced. He hops on his motorbike and jets over to Flynn’s arcade, whose game systems are now covered by dusty cobwebs and tarps.
There he is thrust into TRON, an ominously-lit world filled with neon lights and racing light-cycles. Color us more than simply optimistic, we’re pumped. Really digging the way it combines the simple designs of the original with more bells and whistles (while retaining the spirit of the old effects). While many may rag on the elemental look of those effects, they hold up surprisingly well as a wild and original aesthetic, wholly independent of the separate strides made by Lucas and Spielberg in the intervening decades. The result is an interesting and bizarre story told with great expression within a world that still looks unique and nearly flawless — and this trailer promises more of the same.
Take a look for yourself, and tell us what you think:
Tim Burton has always been considered a niche filmmaker — directing movies that rely on his uniquely skewed perceptions. It comes as a surprise, then, that his latest endeavor, the 3-D reimagining of Alice in Wonderland, has set box office records in its first weekend of release.
According to Box Office Mojo, Alice made an unprecedented $116.3 million domestically and $94 million overseas for a three-day total of $210.3 million. To give you an idea of the stratospheric nature of these numbers, the film crushed the previous record for an opening weekend in March, which was the $70.9 million made by 300 in 2007. It’s also far-and-away the largest opening for a Tim Burton film, the previous best being his Planet of the Apes remake, which topped out at $68.5 million.
It’s unlikely that Alice will maintain these numbers in the way that Avatar has, but it’s worth noting that the film also scored the biggest 3D release ever, beating the $77 million made by Avatar in its first weekend. The film also broke Avatar’s IMAX record of $9.5 million by gaining $11.9 million on 188 large format screens.
In light of the monstrous box office, and by all accounts because of it, ABC Family has wasted no time in purchasing the rights to televise the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In a deal with Disney-ABC Domestic TV, the network will premiere the film sometime in 2012, but has not yet decided whether it will be telecast in 3D or 2D.
That’s right, for everyone doing a double take, we are in fact entering an era of 3DTV. Samsung adverted a model during the Oscars, and Panasonic is known to have a huge investment in similar technology. It’s unlikely that they will be mainstream in households by the time the film’s DVD is released, four months from now.
The abbreviated release recently got Disney in a few terse negotiations with theater-owners who were miffed that such a huge film would only be screening for three months.
There’s no telling whether the knowledge of a shorter shelf life drove more fans to the theater to catch the film while they could, but don’t be surprised if this type of distribution method becomes the norm for these big releases. With the proliferation of digital screens, VOD, streaming HD movies, and the potential for 3DTV, it’s a rapidly changing market that could still go in a number of directions.
After several weeks of a hushed online viral marketing campaign, anticipators of the 2010 Disney TRON sequel were treated to an all-new teaser trailer in IMAX theaters across the world on Saturday.
To celebrate the unveiling, director Joseph Kosinski and the original’s director, Steven Lisberger attended a screening for fans in Los Angeles. At the conclusion of the trailer, Kosinski reportedly stated, “I drove half an hour and I’m not leaving ’til we see it again!”
Due to the bulky nature of the IMAX print, it took 25 minutes to rewind the footage (part of the reason all other screenings were denied a repeat viewing), and Kosinski fielded fan questions, albeit coyly, in the intervening period.
In response to a query about popular European dance duo Daft Punk (who are confirmed to be scoring the film) playing an actual role in the film, Kosinski responded with “Yeah,” before adding, “[They're] in the movie. Their music is all over it.”
Fans of both the film and the band recently made a ruckus on the internet over a supposed leaked track from the soundtrack. That song was later exposed as a fake, but the music that accompanied this new teaser was indeed an all-new original piece composed specifically for the trailer. Some sort of Daft Punk live event is in the works as a sort of cross-promotion with the film, but specifics aren’t yet known.
In a follow-up question posed after the event by /Filmfounder Peter Sciretta and FirstShowing‘s Alex Billington, Kosinski elaborated on the IMAX footage seen in the trailer. He revealed that he shot five action sequences that will be displayed in the full-range IMAX format, just as Christopher Nolan did with select sequences from The Dark Knight. This is perhaps the next step in the direction of a film completely shot in the IMAX format, though it will certainly be difficult amid obstacles including, but not limited to, the sheer weight and bulkiness of the camera and equipment necessary to do so.
For fans who have been eagerly awaiting this sequel for 28 years (no, not just this guy), this new flurry of information only wets the palette for more excitement sure to come. What could easily have been a torrid Hollywood modernization of a quirky cult classic at least appears to be headed in the direction of a faithful, innovative update.
Tron Legacy opens in 3D theaters and IMAX 3D on December 17, 2010. You can check out the aforementioned trailer for yourself when it premieres in front of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland starting this Friday, March 5.
In a bit of perfect casting, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that British thesp Ian McShane is in talks to portray Blackbeard in the upcoming fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
If the fourth film, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, seemed perfunctory at first, McShane’s performance could potentially provide the gravitas to elevate the material into something special. He would join a cast that already includes Johnny Depp, reprising his role as the inimitable Captain Jack Sparrow, and Penelope Cruz, who recently signed on as a mysterious foil for Sparrow.
As the legendary pirate Blackbeard (real name Edward Teach, and captain of the Queen Anne’s Revenge), McShane would continue the lineage of accomplished character actors as Pirates villains, following Geoffrey Rush, Bill Nighy, and Chow Yun-Fat.
Few plot details have surfaced from the film directed by Rob Marshall (Nine), but it is said to revolve around the search for the fountain of youth.
McShane has been steadily working overseas since the mid-1970s, but made a big splash in America with his commanding performance in the woefully brief HBO western, Deadwood. Though he was blessed with some remarkable writing, McShane brought a hard-worn humanity to the villainous saloon-owner, Al Swearengen. If he can muster even a fraction of that menace and machismo in the Disney franchise (censored language content notwithstanding), then On StrangerTides could contend for the best in the series.
McShane has also done more family-friendly work, voicing characters on Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda, and Henry Selick’s Coraline.
The script for the film was written by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot, and will once again be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. They are eying a 2011 release date.
WALT DISNEY PICTURES’ “JOHN CARTER OF MARS” BEGINS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN LONDON
BURBANK, Calif. (January 15, 2010) – Principal photography is underway in London for Walt Disney Pictures’ “JOHN CARTER OF MARS.” Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton brings this captivating hero to the big screen in a stunning adventure epic set on the wounded planet of Mars, a world inhabited by warrior tribes and exotic desert beings. Based on the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Barsoom Series,” the film chronicles the journey of Civil-War veteran John Carter, who finds himself battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian inhabitants.
Produced for Walt Disney Pictures by Jim Morris (“WALL•E,” “Ratatouille”) and Colin Wilson (“Avatar,” “War of the Worlds”), the live action/animation film marks Academy Award®-winning director/writer Andrew Stanton’s (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) first foray into live action. Stanton directed and co-wrote the screenplay for Disney•Pixar’s “WALL•E,” which earned the Academy Award and Golden Globe® for Best Animated Feature (2008); Stanton was nominated for an Oscar® for the screenplay. He made his directorial debut with Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Nemo,” garnering an Academy Award-nomination for Best Original Screenplay and winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature (2003). He has worked as a screenwriter and/or executive producer on Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story,” “A Bug’s Life” (which he also co-directed), “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Ratatouille” and “Up.”
“I have been waiting my whole life to see the characters and worlds of ‘John Carter of Mars’ realized on the big screen,” says Stanton. “It is just a wonderful bonus that I have anything to do with it.”
The stellar ensemble cast is led by Taylor Kitsch (NBC’S “Friday Night Lights”, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) in the title role, Lynn Collins (“50 First Dates,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) as the warrior princess Dejah Thoris and Oscar® nominee Willem Dafoe (“Spider-Man 3,” “Shadow of a Vampire”) as Martian inhabitant Tars Tarkas. The cast also includes Thomas Haden Church (“Sideways,” Spider-Man 3), Polly Walker (upcoming “Clash of the Titans,” “Patriot Games”), Samantha Morton (“Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” “In America”), Mark Strong (“Sherlock Holmes,” “Body of Lies”), Ciaran Hinds (“Munich,” “There Will Be Blood”), British actor Dominic West (“300,” “Chicago”), James Purefoy (“Vanity Fair,” “Resident Evil”) and Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”). Daryl Sabara (“Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” “Spy Kids”) takes the role of John Carter’s teenaged nephew, Edgar Rice Burroughs.
The creative team includes Oscar®-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley (“Public Enemies,” “The Dark Knight,” “Batman Begins”), costume designer Mayes Rubeo (“Avatar,” “Apocalypto”), cinematographer Daniel Mindel (“Star Trek,” “Mission Impossible III,” “Spygame”) and video effects supervisor Peter Chiang (“The Reader,” “The Bourne Ultimatum”).
JOHN CARTER OF MARS
WALT DISNEY PICTURES
Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi
Rating: TBD
Release Date: TBD
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, with Thomas Hayden Church and Willem Dafoe
Director: Andrew Stanton
Producers: Jim Morris and Colin Wilson
Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton & Mark Andrews (credit not final)
Based on the story by: Edgar Rice Burroughs
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL-E”), JOHN CARTER OF MARS brings this captivating hero to the big screen in a stunning adventure epic set on the wounded planet of Mars, a world inhabited by warrior tribes and exotic desert beings. Based on the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Barsoom Series,” the film chronicles the journey of Civil-War veteran John Carter (TAYLOR KITSCH), who finds himself battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas (WILLEM DAFOE) and Dejah Thoris (LYNN COLLINS).
Notes: · Edgar Rice Burroughs was born in Chicago and is best known for writing and creating Tarzan – still one of the most successful and iconic fictional creations of all time. JOHN CARTER OF MARS is based on Burroughs’ first novel, “A Princess of Mars.” · Academy Award®-winning director/writer Andrew Stanton directed and co-wrote the screenplay for “WALL•E,” which earned the Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award® for Best Animated Feature of 2008. He was Oscar® nominated for the screenplay. He made his directorial debut with “Finding Nemo,” garnering an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Screenplay and winning the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature Film of 2003. He was one of the four screenwriters to receive an Oscar® nomination in 1996 for his contribution to “Toy Story,” and went on to receive credit as a screenwriter on subsequent Pixar films “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo” and “WALL•E.” He served as co-director on “A Bug’s Life,” and was the executive producer of “Monsters, Inc.,” the 2006 Academy Award-winning “Ratatouille” and the 2009 smash hit “Up.”
Set in the wounded planet of Mars, JOHN CARTER OF MARS chronicles the journey of Civil-War veteran John Carter (TAYLOR KITSCH), who finds himself battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas (WILLEM DAFOE) and Dejah Thoris (LYNN COLLINS).
2010 has a lot to offer film fans, and we here at Famous Monsters are eager to point out to you, the reader, some of the genre titles we’re most excited about in the coming year. There are loads more films that we are anxious to see, but here’s our top ten Must-Watch Genre Films of 2010:
1. Inception
Release Date: July 16, 2010
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine
Writers: Christopher Nolan
What the hell is this movie about? You know, I have no clue – and I’m absolutely okay with that.
I can’t remember the last time I walked into a movie having no idea what it was really about. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure plenty of Inception will be spoiled by July, but so far I’m in love with the fact that Nolan’s managed to keep so much of this flick a secret. We’re six months away and we don’t even know the basic plot! According to the newest trailer, Paris folds in half, people look serious and beverages break the laws of physics. Oh, and a train finds a quicker route through mid-town.
Color me perplexed and very, very jazzed.
2. Iron Man 2
Release Date: May 7, 2010
Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwenyth Paltrow, Mickey Roarke, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson
Writers: Justin Theroux
Who needs to be sold on this one?
While Iron Man had its weaknesses (mainly a limp climax and an incongruously hammy villain), everything that needed to be good was, in fact, great. Everything usually lacking in blockbuster action films - complex characters, witty writing and charming performances – was cannily presented under confident direction.
So what can we expect from Iron Man 2? Judging from the trailers, looks like more of the same. And I couldn’t be happier.
With a decidedly more threatening villain (in the form of Mickey Roarke’s vengeful Ivan Vanko, aka Whiplash), higher stakes in the form of added characters (Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, Sam Rockwell’s slippery arms dealer Justin Hammer) and the promise of War Machine (with Don Cheadle stepping in for a departed Terrence Howard) as well as more Nick Fury (a returning Samuel L. Jackson), IM2 looks as bright and shiny as its metal hero.
3. Shutter Island
Release Date: February 19, 2010
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max Von Sydow, Jackie Earle-Haley
Writers: Leata Kalogridis, from the novel by Dennis Lehane
Martin Scorsese directing Leonardo DiCaprio has become a welcome treat every few years, but to have Scorsese direct a mystery thriller from writer Denis Lehane (whose Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone have already been adapted into excellent films) is an enticing proposition.
A ’50’s-era thriller which finds DiCaprio’s U.S. Marshall lost amid mad-goings-on in an offshore insane asylum, Shutter Island pays stylistic tribute to the genre thrillers that so influenced Scorsese throughout his career (everything from the works of producer Val Lewton, to Orson Welles’ adaptation of Kafka’s The Trial).
Nothing is quite as splendiferous like Scorsese in his element, and Shutter Island – with its paranoid protagonist trapped in a plot as claustrophobic and labyrinthine as the nut house itself – certainly looks like prime territory for him.
Too cool.
4. The Wolfman
Release Date: February 12, 2010
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving
Writers: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self
Make no mistake, this is one troubled film. But by “troubled,” I by no means infer “doomed.” A director jumping ship prior to shooting, reshoots, two pushed release dates, four editors and multiple, variant test-screenings are not traditionally good signs, but who can argue with the trailers?
In look and tone it feels as though we’re getting a film that may live up to the legend of the original. I’m also comforted by the dedication and respect to the source material so far demonstrated by all concerned (Del Toro’s favorite film is original 1941 The Wolf Man, and this project was a labor of love). Any chance to see Rick Baker tackle the daddy of all werewolves is a must (even if there are unconfirmed reports he’s unhappy with how much CGI has been used to augment his creature).
I’m curious in the extreme, but cautious as well.
5. Kick Ass
Release Date: April 16, 2010
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Lyndsy Fonseca
Writers: Jane Goldman, based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar
This one’s as big a “no brainer” as they get. Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) adapts Mark Millar’s (Wanted) gritty, hilariously subversive comic book sensation with style and wit (if we can gauge anything from the, ahem, kick-ass trailers). With great word of mouth from early screenings (including raves from Butt-Numb-A-Thon), and a secret weapon in the form of Chloe Moretz as the foul-mouthed, deadly Hit Girl, and anticipation on this one is riding high.
6. Daybreakers
Release Date: January 8, 2010
Director: Peter and Michael Spierig
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Defoe, Sam Neill
Writer(s): Peter and Michael Spierig
Released by: Lionsgate
Words cannot express how sick I am of vampires. Really. The words have yet to be articulated, written down and canonized in any language, from Catalan to Farci. I don’t care if it’s good (True Blood), bad (The Vampire Diaries) or unspeakable (sorry Twi-Hards), I just don’t have the energy to care anymore.
Enter Daybreakers, with what could be a ridiculous premise (a vampire-run future society must deal with an extinction of the human blood supply), though seemingly classily told (initial word is quite positive) and artfully shot (those trailers look nice). Couple that with an intriguing cast (I’ll watch Sam Neill eat a McRib sandwich. Seriously. Test me.) and a cool marketing campaign (love those striking, eighties-esque posters) and I’m interested, which is an incredible accomplishment, considering the general vampire malaise.
7. Tron Legacy
Release Date: December 17, 2010
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett, John Hurt, Daft Punk
Writers: Richard Jefferies, Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis
Is 28 years too long to wait for a sequel? If it’s Tron, I guess not. Legacy finds the son (Gerrett Hudland) of Bridges’ computer hacker Flynn drawn into the program his father created, a program which has apparently evolved into a much larger and more dangerous place. The original film was a groundbreaking exercise in early CGI, and has garnered a healthy cult fan base based off of the stunning look of the film (not to mention the obvious draw for the tech-geek audience), and in that sense Legacy – with decades of digital advancement between the original and now – has a lot to live up to. Judging from the early teaser trailer and test footage screened at Comic-Con, Kosinski might do the original justice yet.
This movie has Bruce Boxleitner in it. What more do you need?
8. Predators
Release Date: July 9, 2010
Director: Nimrod Antal
Cast: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Danny Trejo, Laurence Fishburne, Alice Brage, Walton Goggins,
Writers: Robert Rodriguez, Alex Litvak, Michael Finch
Based on a treatment Rodriguez penned for Fox some years back, the film is intended to wipe the slate clean on the beloved franchise, giving audiences the Predator sequel we should have had from the beginning.
Danny Glovers and Requiems aside, director Antal (Vacancy, Armored) has assembled a hell of a fine cast for this picture, which – it is rumored – will take us to the Predator home world.
Title and style inspired by James Cameron’s Aliens, we cannot help but be excited for what Rodriguez and company have in store for us.
9. Toy Story 3
Release Date: June 18, 2010
Director: Lee Unkrich
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, Jodi Benson, Blake Clark, Timothy Dalton, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, Bonnie Hunt, Jeff Garlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Kristen Schaal
Writers: Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich
I’m tempted to be a little anxious about the prospect of a Toy Story 3…
Both previous Toy Story films were masterful: beautifully designed, emotionally charged, classic family filmmaking. 3 has been gestating for years and now, here at the precipice, I feel like I should be nervous – I mean, what “Part III” has ever lived up to expectations? (Return of the King doesn’t count…)
But, this is Pixar. And, therefore, I have nothing but faith.
With Andy going off to college (the trailer makes it seem like Andy’s been playing with these toys all the way up through high school; is he… okay…?), the toys are left wide open for donation to a local day care center, leaving the toys no choice but to plan a Great Escape-style, well, escape.
Sounds great, and the aforementioned trailer is plenty funny. Pixar’s 10 for 10, and expectations aside, I’d wager Toy Story 3 delivers.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 1
Release Date: November 19, 2010
Director: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Writers: Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
I have admit, I’m not the biggest Harry Potter devotee – not out of any dislike, but purely from being out of the loop. Call me a Muggle, I guess. I mean, I’ve enjoyed my brief flirtations with Rowling’s books, each of which became more confident, complex and complete with each volume, but my exposure to the Potter universe has been largely through the films. Last years Half-Blood Prince delivered a lot of fury, drama and some crushing blows to young Harry Potter, and while I thought David Yates’ direction perfectly fit the world of the books and his understanding of their coming of age themes dead on, the film felt somewhat rushed.
With any book as lengthy as the late-series Potter’s tended to be, a film adaptation will no doubt leave a lot behind, all while it struggles to cram in as much as it can. One can see the difficulties the filmmaker’s face each time out. So the two-film approach to Deathly Hollows (a book of nearly 800 pages!) makes sense. It will be intriguing to see if the added total length will give the story the breathing room it needs as the story draws to its emotional close.
One thing is for sure, and that’s that the three main players mature (in performance, not just in physicality – I see you looking at Watson like that…) with each picture, and that they feel primed to deliver for the climax of the series. Millions of fans are primed right along with them.
Honorary Mention:
Note – the only reason this title is not included in the Top 10 is because it is yet to be confirmed as a 2010 release. That, and we like to cheat.
Tree of Life
Release Date: 2010 (tentative)
Director: Terence Malick
Cast: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain
Writers: Terence Malick
2 films in five years is, for Terrence Malick, a break-neck speed. For the man who usually spends a decade or so between films this is a pleasant surprise to those of us who are big fans of the man’s work. There may be no more a polarizing director than Malick. To all who see his movies they’re labeled as either ‘brilliant’ or ‘boring’ (I fall into the former). Some call his movies ’slow, others ‘deliberately paced’. But most can agree that no one captures images quite as beautifully or as well-composed as Terrence Malick.
While details are scarce on the film, it seems to be a departure from the normal Malick fare in that there may be some fantasy elements involved. The story surrounds a man’s (Brad Pitt) journey through life as he makes mistakes and tries to find redemption. As normal as that may seem, people from the FX team have discussed prehistoric landscapes that have been designed for the film. Additionally, the tree (a massive, real-life, oak that was transplanted to a field in Texas for the shoot) is said to have magical properties of its own.
While his style is definitely not intended for a wide audience, those of us that are fans will have this one right at the top of our lists. The man has made some of the most brilliant films and each new one is a very welcome addition to our future DVD and Blu-Ray libraries.
As you all probably know by now, Disney has been hard at work adapting the Prince of Persia video game into a live action feature. After giving us plenty of time to speculate about how this could turn out, especially with the news that Jake Gyllenhall would be playing Prince Dastan, Disney has finally released a trailer.
The film centers around Prince Dastan and Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) as they work to keep a powerful nobleman from gaining access to a magical dagger that can control the very sands of time. The trailer, pretty much narrated by Gemma Arterton’s character, will give you an entire synopsis of the plot while you watch some underwhelming special effects action sequences. That being said, with months of fans ripping apart every bit of news they got their hands on, the trailer did manage to exceed my expectations. But you can judge for yourself.
Tron Legacy is set to be released December 17, 2010.
The sequel to Disney’s 1982 classic, directed by Joseph Kosinski, follows Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) as he sets off on a sci-fi adventure in search of his missing father Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges). Sam finds himself sucked into the same computer world as his father, only this time the cyber world is far more dangerous and advanced.
The film also stars Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett and Michael Sheen, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3D.
Also set to open that day are Sony’s The Green Hornet and The Smurfs, although Smurfs‘ release date is expected to move into 2011.
As always, we’ll keep you posted on all the cool Tron Legacy news and updates to come.
Market Watch reports that Disney is set to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc, a stock/cash transaction worth about $4 billion. The acquisition will give Disney ownership of the complete Marvel library of over 5,000 characters.
Based on the terms of agreement and the closing price of Disney as of August 28th, Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share owned.
President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger had this to say about the merger, “This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories.” He went on to add that, “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney. ”
Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer, went on to brown nose, “Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing business. This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”
Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties for Disney and will work to intergrate Marvel into Disney’s global lines.
I don’t know about all of you, but I don’t like the idea of having too many eggs in one basket. Disney might as well buy up the DC Universe and then we’d have one big happy family.
We’ll keep you posted on Disney’s ever-expanding bid to take over the world.
USA Today had the first official look at Tim Burton’s fantastical Alice in Wonderland. The three new concept photos, featuring Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen and Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, are stunning works of art. Given the quality of the photos released so far, I’m eager to believe Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factorywill be opaque in comparison.
“It has been Burton-ized,” producer Richard Zanuck told USA Today of the director’s dark vision for the adaptation. A perfect example: Tweedledee and Tweedledum, played by Matt Lucas (below).
The film was shot in only 40 days and according to USA Today, they are working on adding CG animation and motion-capture creatures.
As if things couldn’t get any stranger, the film is similar to a sequel to Disney’s 1951 animation. Zanuck gave USA Today a closer look into the somewhat altered narrative. “Alice, 17, attends a party at a Victorian estate only to find she is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of snooty society types. Off she runs, following a white rabbit into a hole and ending up in Wonderland, a place she visited 10 years before yet doesn’t remember.”
The first three promo banners, which will be up in movie theaters soon, include The Mad Hatter, The Red Queen and The White Queen.
In the third photo down, Alice, played by Australian actress Mia Wasikowska, greets talking rose blossoms at the entrance of what seems to be a forest of mushrooms. Both Burton and Zanuck spoke positively of the young actress.
Michael Sheen will join the star-studded cast as The White Rabbit.
Alice in Wonderland will be in theaters March 5, 2010 in both Disney Digital 3D and regular 2D.
Photos are courtesy of USA Today where you can read more about the new film.
/Film reports that along with the just announced re-release of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast upconverted to 3D and their October 2, 2009 Toy Story and Toy Story 2 Double Feature in theaters, Disney has formally announced that Tim Burton’s forthcoming Alice in Wonderland will be released in IMAX 3D.
If you haven’t already had your taste of the first look at Wonderland, you can head over to TimBurtonCollective to view Disney’s quarterly magazine, issue D23.
The picture is slated for hit theaters March 5, 2010! Full press release below. (more…)
Collider’s Steve “Frosty” featured a report on something very cool for all ages today. Medicom will release a Mickey Mouse Tron figure this September. And since a sequel to the movie titled, Tr2n, or Tron 2, is now in the works, prepare to see many more toys coming your way soon! The word is Disney is preparing the trailer to debut at this year’s Comic-Con!
Tr2n will continue from the original story starring Jeff Bridges as a hacker who is abducted into the world of a computer and forced to participate in a series of gladiatorial games. The picture will be helmed by commercial director Joseph Kosinsk and a tentative release date is set for 2011.
It’s been a long wait for fans of the original TRON, proud and embarrassed alike, to revisit the familiar computer-enhanced world. Since the announcement of the sequel, every scrap of information has proven more enticing, from the early teaser trailer that gave us our first glimpse at the modernized light cycles, to the ongoing viral marketing taking place over the last several weeks.
BURBANK, Calif. (January 15, 2010) – Principal photography is underway in London for Walt Disney Pictures’ “JOHN CARTER OF MARS.” Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton brings this captivating hero to the big screen in a stunning adventure epic set on the wounded planet of Mars, a world inhabited by warrior tribes and exotic desert beings. Based on the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Barsoom Series,” the film chronicles the journey of Civil-War veteran John Carter, who finds himself battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian inhabitants.
As you all probably know by now, Disney has been hard at work adapting the Prince of Persia video game into a live action feature. After giving us plenty of time to speculate about how this could turn out, especially with the news that Jake Gyllenhall would be playing Prince Dastan, Disney has finally released a trailer.
Tron Legacy is set to be released December 17, 2010.
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