Posts Tagged ‘Sony’
Posted by Jesse in Latest News, Movies on January 13th, 2010
MTV got the scoop from Ivan Reitman himself that the comedy auteur will return to helm the third installment of the franchise he helped launch, with Ghostbusters 3, set to shoot (as confirmed in the interview with Reitman) in 2011.
Reitman previously directed both Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989), as well as comedy hits such as Stripes (1981), Kindergarten Cop (1990) and Dave (1993). Reitman’s last was My Super Ex-Girlfriend in 2006.
A new script has been delivered by writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (previously Harold Ramis’ Year One). Writer/performers Ramis and Dan Aykroyd had written both previous Ghostbusters films.
Currently, it is rumored that the entire original cast will be returning in some form, in support of a younger group of new Ghostbusters.
Posted by Jesse in Latest News on January 12th, 2010
With Spider-Man 4 stalled over at Sony for the last month, it seemed obvious that one of two things was going to happen: either Raimi was going to compromise and work with whatever villain Sony mandated, or, he was going to walk and Sony would find someone new.
Of course, this being Hollywood, there was a third – more unnecessary – option. Chuck the whole thing out!
Personally, I’m not offended by the idea of rebooting Spider-Man, not in theory anyway. There’s so many eras, so many stories, so many characters in the comics, and so many creative, talented filmmakers who would no doubt be attracted to the franchise, that I can see many voices giving Spidey a makeover that’s both inventive and true to the spirit of the piece.
What offends here is the timing. Why do we need a reboot now?
There’s little way to defend this, it’s Hollywood reactionaries at their worst. The Spider-Man films really ushered in the modern Golden Age of comic book movies that we’re currently enjoying; the first film is a solid, perfectly cast and rather touching origin story, the second is an improvement on every front, some of the best popcorn entertainment of the previous decade, and Spider-Man 3, while seriously flawed, is not so far removed from the first two to indicate that a reboot would be necessary. If anyone wants to make the case that 3 has created some sort of Batman and Robin situation, they’re seriously mistaken, both in terms of film quality and in terms of monetary success. (Batman and Robin’s domestic gross was almost $60 million less than the previous entry in its franchise, while Spider-Man 3 dropped only about $30 domestically, not to mention its international was on par with the previous two and its opening the largest of the trilogy).
We’re so inundated with sequels, prequels, spin-offs, remakes and reboots by this point, that we’re almost enured to them. But there are problems here, ones that try to ignore out of fear. The problems are originality and longevity. It’s almost trite to bemoan the lack of originality in Hollywood these days, but how can we not lament – loudly and actively – that we live in a town full of creative, richly diverse people, who are inevitably relegated to serving the visions (re: business needs) of studio heads who don’t even like movies, let alone care about their power? It is unfair and untrue to suggest this is all studio execs; some of whom are brilliant, some of whom are well-versed in cinema, some of whom genuinely care about art at least as much as they care about commerce. But it would be similarly (and dangerously) naive to suggest that these execs are the majority.
Why is this a big deal? “I just want another Spider-Man movie,” “I just want another cool flick to see,” you say. Well, the big deal is longevity.
Remember when there was a sort of grace period in between when Hollywood felt it had made a mistake – let’s take Batman and Robin as a prime example of a Mistake with a capital M – and when it felt comfortable rectifying it? Batman and Robin was released in 1997. The studio mulled over the reaction to it for about a year, entertained sequel ideas, prequel ideas, etc. and eventually just dropped it. Then, two things happened. Firstly, comic book movies came into their own, ushered in tentatively by the sleeper success of Blade, then strongly by X-Men, and then finally defined by Spider-Man’s blockbusting. That film was an event, on par with the 1978 Superman or the 1989 Batman. People talked about it. It was everywhere. It was the perfect film for that time. And so, every comic property was thrown into warp drive, and by the next year you had Daredevil, X2 and Hulk. Warner Bros. decided it was time to explore bringing Batman back, and to do it they hired a creative team headed by people with a genuine passion for, fascination with, and understanding for the character, who decided to redefine him on screen by telling a story we had never seen and presenting him in a fundamentally different way from how we’d previously known him. Batman Begins, thus, is released in 2005, eight years after Batman and Robin.
How has this changed? Hulk was released in 2003 to mixed reactions. The film was by no means a bomb, but it was no Spider-Man. Marvel wanted to rectify this and quick, so by 2008 we’ve got The Incredible Hulk, starring a different cast, made by different people and taking the franchise in a very different reaction, tonally and conceptually. The result? The Incredible Hulk bested Hulk’s gross by… $2 millon dollars. I won’t bother with inflation here.
Established franchises are now rebooting ad nauseum, as horror fans know all too well. Friday the 13th. A Nightmare on Elm Street. James Bond has done it, and very, very well – as has Star Trek. Now Fox wants an origin movie for their X-Men franchise, a well director Brian Singer is happy to dip back into.
Again, why is this a problem?
The Empire Strikes Back didn’t make as much money as Star Wars. What if Fox (let’s forget Lucas owned the rights to the franchise) decided, “Oops, won’t do that again – let’s start over.” What if Warner Bros. has gone through with recasting the Harry Potter kids? What if the next Star Trek film doesn’t make as much as the last, but is wonderful? Will that cast and those filmmakers not be allowed to move forward?
To successfully reboot a character, there has to be a need. And that Sony is unwilling to let Sam Raimi tell the story he wants to tell – a man whose made them, what, three billion dollars? – and would rather just begin again because it’s easier, well, that’s not a need. That’s… a mistake.
Can Jim Henson’s Spider-Babies be good? Hell, it could be great. And I’m hoping it is, because who wouldn’t love a great Spidey movie? No one, that’s who. But this is a disturbing idea, not just from the standpoint of someone willing and ready to watch the franchise overcome a stumble, to continue to watch these characters (hopefully) grow, but from someone who desperately wants to see filmmakers allowed to explore their creative instincts. And for anyone who says that that isn’t a commercial idea in regards to a Spider-Man film, well, you know, a quick perusal of Box Office Mojo should make that complaint moot.
You know what’s great about this though? Sam Raimi is free. I know he wasn’t in bondage or anything, but Drag Me To Hell was fantastic, and it was great to see him cut loose in the genre he loves and made his name in. I seriously hope that he won’t let the film’s rather middling box office stand in the way of doing what he loves to do, whatever that is. If Sam Raimi wants to make a rom-com, I’m there, because if nothing else, it’ll be special – his is a voice so unique and so enjoyed, how could you not want to follow him wherever he goes?
And that is such a big reason that I love going to the movies. To see artists do what they do better than anyone else.
And that is, exactly, what I’m afraid is going away, bit by bit, reboot by reboot.
Sony’s next Spider-Man is set for release Summer, 2012.
The original press release is as follows:
Culver City, CA (January 11, 2010) — Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012.
Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.
The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.
“A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter’s roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.
“We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade. This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”
“Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen.”
Posted by Jesse in Comics, Latest News, Movies on January 6th, 2010
As Sony Pictures and series director Sam Raimi reportedly continue to clash over the fourth film’s villain, sources inside the studio have confirmed that the proposed holiday break for the filmmakers has become a full-fledged hiatus. The February production date is now being postponed.
Reportedly, Alvin Sargent (of Spidey 1 and 2, not to mention the classic Ordinary People) is the screenwriter currently charged with retooling the project. Previously, writers Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit), James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), and David Lindsay-Abaire (Robots, Inkheart) had submitted drafts of the superhero sequel.
Raimi has so far been set to return as director, but this is now understandably in question. It’s widely known that Sony and Marvel insisted Raimi inject Venom into Spider-Man 3, a character Raimi had little desire to feature. The resulting film was undoubtably weak compared to the previous two, and Raimi himself has stated he wants to go out on a higher note. Wanting to feature another classic villain, in this case the Vulture (a role rumored to be desired for John Malkovich), Raimi is reportedly being pressured by Sony to choose another villain. Raimi had wanted to feature the Vulture as Spider-Man 3’s 2nd villain, but the studio apparently found the character noncommercial.
Here’s the thing: Sony still has Spider-Man 4 scheduled for a May 6, 2011 release. It’s clear that this date is nigh impossible without quick thinking by all concerned.
Personally, the thought of Raimi returning to Spider-Man is a frustrating thought. Raimi is a passionate filmmaker who displays genius when working with material that really speaks to him. The Evil Dead films are fan favorites, and A Simple Plan is a classic, not to mention gems like The Gift and last years Drag Me To Hell (which, in 10 years, will be a classic). He did wonders for Spidey, but the frustrating development of Spider-Man 3 was evident in the final product, a toneless mishmash of too-many elements, burdened by studio interference and a palpable sense of malaise by most all concerned.
Unless Raimi feels like he wants to go back to the Spidey well, I sure don’t want him to.
Posted by dominie in Movies on January 6th, 2009
Ain’t It Cool News has confirmed some of the latest casting rumors surrounding Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s upcoming feature, Tintin. Spielberg will director while Jackson will produce. According to the site, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost who were rumored to have been cast last fall has the Thomson and Thompson has indeed inked a deal. Andy Serkis has also been confirmed to play Captain Haddock. Paramount and Sony will split the $135 million cost for the 3D performance-capture picture and the first film is due out in 2010. Stay tuned for more casting updates! as production is set to begin a month from now.
The latest casting breakdown for Rob Zombie’s H2 is also now available courtesy of Bloody Disgusting. Principle photography begins this month and the film is due out on August 28th. The sequel picks up right as the first remake ended, following the aftermath of Michael Myers’ murderous rampage through the eyes of the sister he hunted. Be aware, if you wish to continue, there are spoilers below.
[Ned Atkins] A male of any ethnicity, 40s – 50s. A slow, tired man, who works as a beer delivery man. As he is making a routine stop, he discovers the bodies of 3 people who were brutally murdered and then ghoulishly displayed. As he calls 911, his throat is slashed by the same killer. Three scenes. Please note any actors able to work as Georgia Local Hire. This is not mandatory, but is good information to know.
[Deputy Sarah Lyons] A female of any ethnicity, 30s – 40s, a small town cop who is sensible and a bit impatient. She and her partner are sent to look for Michael at his old house and, though it seems like a waste of time, she does as she is told, and she thinks enough to bring shotguns. When they investigate inside the Myers house, Michael is there, and slashes her throat and then stabs her to death. Must be okay with special effects life casting needs to play this role. Please note any actors able to work as Georgia Local Hire. This is not mandatory, but is good information to know.
[Deputy Fred King] A male of any ethnicity, 20s – 50s, a small town cop who may be a bit cranky. When he is sent out to look for someone who is clearly not there, it bugs him. Fear for fear’s sake. He goes with his partner in to the Myers house to check for ghosts, but then, all too suddenly, he is stabbed to death by the man he should have been more careful of…Please note any actors able to work as Georgia Local Hire. This is not mandatory, but is good information to know. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Latest News, Movies on December 16th, 2008
The Terminator will be back, for a fifth time reports Variety. With the fourth installment ready to hit theaters in May 2009, Halcyon Co. is already at work on developing the fifth installment to the franchise. McG will direct again and Christian Bale will reprise his role as John Conner in the fifth installment and has also signed on for the sixth film as well. With good progress, the newest film will tentatively release in 2011. Read on below for the full story.
The Terminator will be back.
Halcyon Co. toppers Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek are developing a fifth instalment of the man-vs.-machine franchise.
Helmer McG, who directed the upcoming fourth pic, “Terminator Salvation,” is working with the Halcyon duo on the latest project.
Announcement was among the news that came out of the Dubai Intl. Film Festival, which bowed Dec. 11 and runs through Thursday.
No decision has been made as to where to film the next “Terminator,” although the Middle East was mentioned as a locale. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Comics, Latest News, Movies on October 23rd, 2008
The official trailer for Sony Screen Gems’ Underworld: Rise of the Lycans can now be viewed at Apple.com. Directed by FX specialist Patrick Tatopoulos (Angel Hair) and starring Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Shane Brolly, Steven MacKintosh, and Kevin Grievoux, the third installment is a prequel to the previous films. Set in the Dark Ages, the story will trace the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires led by Viktor and the werewolf slaves known as the Lycans. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans debuts in theaters January 23, 2009.
Marvel’s search for Thor is still in the works. The studio is rumored to only have a short list of potentials. IESB caught up with Daniel Craig at the press day for Quantum of Solace and managed to sneak in a few questions about another known hero, the upcoming Thor Marvel adaptation. Craig reveals that “[Marvel] did approach him but he turned it down.” He jokes, “It would have bent too much of a power trip, both Bond and Thor, and running around with long hair and a hammer.”
Warner Bros. released a new teaser poster for Zack Snyder’s Watchmen today. The new extended trailer that premiered at the 2008 Scream Awards can also be viewed online here.
Posted by dominie in Movies on October 1st, 2008
Kirsten Dunst has made a pretty strong charge back into the media as of late. Busy prepping for her role in A Jealous Ghost, which she will also partake in producing and promoting her upcoming film with Simon Pegg, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, she has also been the subject of many conversations regarding the Spider-Man 4 and 5 sequels being shot back-to-back.
Will Dunst be returning to don MJ’s red wig once again? “I’m in,” the actress told MTV News. “I’m in if they’re in,” referring to director Sam Raimi and actor Tobey Maguire. While Raimi and Maguire have signed on to return, the actress remained reserved from making any official announcements about her return.
Posted by dominie in Latest News, Movies on September 25th, 2008
Though Michael Peña (World Trade Center, Crash, The Lucky Ones) won’t reveal what his role may be, IESB reported today that the star is the latest to be cast in the upcoming The Green Hornet starring Seth Rogen who’s been slimming up to play the masked vigilante and Steven Chow as Kato, the Green Hornet’s valet crime-fighting partner.
According to Peña, Rogen is still working on the script for the film with writing partner Evan Goldberg. Again Steven Chow will direct the superhero movie as well, marking his American film debut.
Posted by dominie in Latest News, Movies on September 16th, 2008
As reported previously, in an effort to contain costs, Spider-Man 4 and 5 will be shot back-to-back over a six month span next year. In the latest news, actor Tobey Maguire has been granted “family time” as part of an unprecedented deal to reprise his role in the next two sequels of the top-grossing Spider-Man franchise. Additionally, Maguire is expected to earn a record $50 million in salary and profit shares from the two films.
Maguire, 33, will receive early mornings and evenings off during the grueling six months to spend time with wife Jennifer Meyer Maguire, 31, and their daughter Ruby Sweetheart, who is only 22 months old. The couple married in 2007 and Ruby is their first child.
According to the Times Online, Sony was prepared to offer the Spidey role to another actor because it was wary the clause could set a bad trend. That is, until Sony Chairman Amy Pascal, a mom herself stepped in and agreed with Maguire that six months without any built-in family time would not be fair for any parent. Bravo to Maguire for taking a stand and cheers to Pascal!
As for whether Kirsten Dunst will be returning to play Peter Parker’s love interest, Mary Jane Watson, Sony is expected to reveal the news in the next few days. Production for the upcoming sequels is expected to start in Fall 2009 with the release date still scheduled for May 2011. James Vanderbilt will script the movies with Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad producing, while Sam Raimi is still in talks to direct.
Posted by dominie in Latest News, Movies on September 12th, 2008
Variety reported that Universal Studios has sealed the deal to mount their next Sid and Marty Krofft feature. The studio has acquired writer-producer Dana Gould of The Simpsons to pen the live-action film based on the Krofft brothers’1970’s kidshow Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.
Sigmund will be the studio’s third movie treatment for the Krofft brothers. The first being Land of the Lost (budgeted at $100 million) which stars Will Ferrell now delayed for release until June 2009, and the second is a live-action H.R. Pufnstuff currently in pre-production with director Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2) in talks to helm the film. Similar to the first two features, the Krofft brothers will produce the project alongside Jimmy Miller under his Mosaic banner.
For those unfamiliar with Sigmund, the original kidshow ran Saturday mornings on NBC from 1973-1975 about a timid sea monster whose nasty brothers disowned him for not wanting to scare humans. Forced to leave his home, Sigmund (Billy Barty) is befriended by two boys Johnny and Scott Stuart (Family Affair’s Johnny Whitaker and Scott Kolden) who hide him in their clubhouse. Their friendship grows in this on-going tale that spanned 29 episodes in two seasons and became a hit rerun choice on local TV stations for the remainder of the decade.
The growing interest on these current properties leaves high hopes for owners Sid and Marty who told Variety they would love to see their remaining properties (Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Lidsville, The Bugaloos, Dr. Shrinker, Bigfoot and Wildboy, and Wonderbug) originated as well.
Posted by dominie in Events, Latest News, Movies on September 12th, 2008
When Warners Bros. shifted Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from its November release date to July next summer, other competing studios didn’t hesitate to realign their current outlooks, steering clear of the wizard’s wand.
Among the shifters is (THR reports) Universal Studios, who’s bumped their $100 million budget Will Ferrell action fantasy Land of the Lost (set in a land of dinosaurs and myriad other magical creatures) up from July 17 to now June 5, and bounced its Fast and Furious (the fourth installment to The Fast and the Furious franchise) release back from June 5 to June 12.
The studio is confident that Land of the Lost has found a safe haven for a summer 2009 release. At present there is no other competition slated for a June release, and studio execs are not concerned that a back-to-back release of their two features would inhibit sales as the target audiences for the two films are sufficiently distinct.
Land of the Lost is based on one of many classic children’s TV series created by Sid and Marty Krofft (currently producing features H.R. Pufnstuff and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters), about a family trapped in a world inhabited by dinosaurs, cavemen and other bizarre insectoid/humanoid reptilian creatures. As they focus on surviving and finding a way home, their exploration of the exotic land is the force behind the kidshow hit. Director Brad Silberling (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events) directed the feature film, which just wrapped production this summer. Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Danny R. McBride (Tropic Thunder), and Jorma Taccone (TV’s Saturday Night Live) also star.
Posted by dominie in Latest News, Movies on September 12th, 2008
News about a Candyman remake hit the scenes several weeks ago here. To recap, Sony revealed plans to go forward on a remake based on the original Clive Barker story, The Forbidden, only with a new approach in mind. Shock Till You Drop caught up with Tony Todd for his thoughts on Sony’s potential “Caucasian Candyman” reboot.
Tony Todd’s response to Shock, “When I first heard it…like everyone has said, it’s ridiculous. The whole point is that he was a former slave and it’s an interracial love story. But [Sony] owns the property and they’re entitled to do what they want.” Though the original story never proclaimed any Candyman origin or backstory, Tony Todd, genre fans can easily agree, made Clive Barker’s character uniquely iconic.
Not to worry. Nothing has been set in stone. It seems the studio has been playing with different ideas for quite some time now. “Just two years I was in a meeting with them talking about going forward. Some of my agents feel [the remake news] could be a move to see how much interest there is out there for it,” Todd admits. “Maybe we could put our heads together and do something modern. If they do it, I’m willing to do one more as a final payoff or good-bye. I wouldn’t just phone it in, I’d want to commit to it.”
Lucky for us, a discerning Todd makes for high hopes. He continued, “Look, it’s about profitability, most of these movies now are reinventions but there’s no longevity. I could live forever with the thought of what we did with the first two Candyman films just fine.”
