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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 4, 2007 5:30:30 GMT
Goyer off The Flash Date : February 3, 2007 Posted By : Clint Morris Just a quick one - to say, I'm pissed. What has Hollywood been smokin' this week?
First, Joel Silver has Joss Whedon removed from the WB lot for not coming up with a "Wonder Woman" script that was to his liking (probably had a plot - and we know how much Uncle Joel hates those pesky things), and now...
David Goyer, who has been living and breathing his superhero film for a couple of years, has been booted from "The Flash" (which he was keen to get Ryan Reynolds in red for). Why? creative frickin' differences again.
"Well, I've been waiting a few months to relate this news -- but I am sad to say that my version of The Flash is dead at WB", Goyer ("Batman Begins") tells his MySpace readers. "The God's honest truth is that WB and myself simply couldn't agree on what would make for a cool Flash film. I'm quite proud of the screenplay I turned it. I threw my heart into it and I genuinely think it would've been the basis of a ground-breaking film. But as of now, the studio is heading off in a completely different direction. I expect you'll hear of some new developments on that front shortly."
C'mon Warner. Take a risk. Take a gamble. Let the creatives take the reigns for a while... the accountant's typing finger has gotta be tired by now
Fucking hell does that suck. Goyer is great imo, he was gonna write & direct the Flash, which would have been kick ass. Plus the news of Whedon, come on Serenity was fucking awesome, i'm not wonder woman fan buti think he could have done something cool with it.
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Post by Carl on Feb 4, 2007 13:03:42 GMT
I actually think Reynolds as The Flash would have been pretty cool too. Although maybe The WB held Blade 3 against Goyer. That was a piece of shit in which he took the helm. Even Snipes sucked in that film. The only thing that stood out for me was Reynold's character Hannibal King (you either hate him or love him). Oh yeah and seeing Triple H as a vampire was cool too.
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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 6, 2007 5:35:04 GMT
The Flash, Cheaper by the Dozen? Date : February 5, 2007 Posted By : Clint Morris Wow that was quick…. Almost as ‘Quick as a…. Flash’!
Only a day after David Goyer announced that he’s split from Warner’s big-screen adaptation of DC's “The Flash”, Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum”, "The Pink Panther") takes up his megaphone.
Yep, according to The Hollywood Reporter, one of Hollywood’s most vanilla filmmakers (what a piece of crap that “Night at the Museum” was!) is set to replace one of Hollywood’s finest (what a masterpiece that “Batman Begins” was!). It makes less sense than Kevin Smith doing a “Clerks” sequel.
Goyer left the project – a project he’d been championing for years, even coaxing good friend Ryan Reynolds into starring in the eventual pic – because of creative differences with the WB. They just didn’t go for his script, apparently. Which begs the question… What the hell kind of script are they working from now? I mean, the director of “Cheaper by the Dozen” definitely won’t be wanting to challenge himself much, will he?? Heh?
The trade says that Goyer’s script was dark-themed, whereas the new one they’re using, from, is lighter – almost comical. Sheesh. “Blank Man” redux.
Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are producing "Flash." It is believed that Levy, who is overseeing the new script (eeek!), will act in a producing capacity as well.
Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in "Flash Comics" #1 in 1940. In comics lore, there have been four incarnations of the scarlet speedster, who has remained one of DC's most popular characters. He has ability to run and move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and violate certain laws of physics, like time travel.
Goyer, who co-wrote "Batman Begins" for Warners, had been attached to write, direct and produce a screen adaptation. But Goyer quietly left the project several months ago, though it was not until Friday that he announced his departure on his MySpace page.
"I am sad to say that my version of 'The Flash' is dead at WB," Goyer wrote. "The God's honest truth is that WB and myself simply couldn't agree on what would make for a cool Flash film. I'm quite proud of the screenplay I turned in. I threw my heart into it, and I genuinely think it would've been the basis of a groundbreaking film. But as of now, the studio is heading off in a completely different direction."
I assume that also means no Ryan Reynolds? (but we’re talking to him Thursday, so we’ll find out then).
What a sucky week for film fans this has been (and it’s only Monday) : Whedon leaves “Wonder Woman”, Goyer exits “The Flash”, and then someone starts spreading false rumours about J.J leaving “Star Trek”? Don’t push me cos I’m close to the edge, I’m trying not to…
Oh God. It just came to me. They're going to get Steve Martin to play Wally West aren't they?!!!
Wow now that's a good film, let's dumb it down alot more wiht a lesser plot for when it tops off the box office. Come on, get a better helmer, cause this will blow dogs for quarters.
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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 7, 2007 6:19:55 GMT
The Dude says this aggression will not stand and joins forces with IRON dude... sir... MAN!!! Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Yet more news on IRON MAN as it's about a month from rolling film. Joining Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Gwenyth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Terrence Howard as Rhodes is The Dude himself, Flynn in the flesh, The Fisher King and the Starman: Mr. Jeff Bridges.
He's playing an unnamed character that has long-time ties to Stark Industries, a close confidant of Tony Stark. I really hope this is some backhanded way of saying he's Mandarin. That would be so amazingly weird and bizarre casting, but then again so was Liam Neeson as Ra's Al Ghul. I'm sure that's totally not where this is going... sounds like a more apt comparison to BATMAN BEGINS would be to say that Bridges is playing the Morgan Freeman character.
Then again, that's just based on the little bit of info in the announcement. I love this cast so far. I really do. This has incredible potential.
Awesome
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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 10, 2007 6:07:40 GMT
Quint visits the IRON MAN production offices! Art! Favreau speaks about sequels (?!?), casting and more!!! Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Last Tuesday I ventured from my shitty little LAX area hotel to Playa Vista where Jon Favreau has set up his IRON MAN offices.
I had visited this particular location once before when I walked around the ruins of Oliver Stone's WORLD TRADE CENTER (Click here to read that report!). The place is loaded with history, on a large piece of land once used by Howard Hughes to build the Spruce Goose. The hanger there is forkin' huge and, interestingly, made completely of wood since it was built during the war and no steel could be spared.
The offices are in these little structures that remind me of portables from junior high... or a built out trailer. Quite unassuming for a movie as high profile and massive as IRON MAN.
Once I got past the security guard, I was waved in by Favreau's friendly and beautiful assistant, Karen. I was pretty early, so I took a seat outside of Favreau's office next to a 3 foot tall clay maquette of Iron Man himself. After a few minutes of trying not to stare too obviously at the maquette while chatting with Karen and Peter Billingsley's equally beautiful and friendly assistant, Laura, Favreau arrived.
After a quick handshake he pointed to the maquette and asked how I liked his "decoy." It was one of the first maquettes based almost 100% on Adi Granov's IRON MAN design. Less bulky, more streamlined... high cheek-bones on the helmet. They loved having it around, but it wasn't what IRON MAN was going to look like in the film. If I wanted to see the design they were going with... I had but to enter Favreau's office.
He led me into his office where I saw some pretty pieces of production art, including the Mach 1 design (ie Grey Suit) and the classic Red and Gold design. Let's start with the Mach One. Here's a picture of the classic comic version of the armor:
I saw 2 pieces of art on the Mach One. One was a character study, three figures lined up giving a front, back and side view of the suit.
The chest-piece and helmet are very recognizable. It's not quite the classic grey suit, but it's very close. The helmet is flat and round, like a half of a Tylenol, with eye slits and a mouth slit cut into it. The chest is very much classic Iron Man, with the glowing centerpiece. The joints were hastily welded, as they would have been if welded in secret.
In the comics, Tony Stark was in Vietnam seeing how Stark Industries could help the American war effort when he was injured and taken prisoner. He was forced to build weapons with another prisoner, a brilliant physicist Yinsen, with a piece of shrapnel dangerously close to his heart. On the down low Yinsen helps Stark build a chest plate to keep him alive, which evolves into a makeshift suit of armor to help him escape his captors.
Vietnam is replaced with Afghanistan in the film. I brought up this change from the original comic and Favreau said he wouldn't make a change unless he felt like he needed to. He said keeping it to the comic book origin would require him to make a period film, which is not what he wants to do. I do know that Yinsen is still in the movie, though Favreau wouldn't spill on who was playing him. If they're placing this in Afghanistan I was thinking a perfect Middle Eastern version would be Omar Sharif. I didn't even float that idea out to Favreau, so don't go spreading it around as fact... pure dream casting on my part, but wouldn't it be great?
The radical differences with the grey suit were bulkier arm and leg pieces. Favreau said he wanted to make sure that the fantastic in this film is grounded and a realism brought to all aspects... In other words, he doesn't want to make a cartoon. The trick is sticking close to the source material while achieving that grounded realism. It seemed like Favreau embraced the fun, actiony aspect, but he wants to keep people involved... help them suspend their disbelief a little. In the case of the grey suit, he wanted to make it look like something you could covertly build in a prison (cave, in this case) under the watchful eyes of your captors. Well, if your captors had you building bombs in your cell, but you know what I mean.
One of the more detailed pieces of production art I saw was of the Grey Suit Iron Man hulking down a cave, catching a group of his captors by surprise. The look of terror on their faces (in the art) was great. Iron Man, in the Grey Suit, looked a little bigger than I imagined, with him being at least a couple feet taller than the Afghani captors, the suit backlit making it look more monstrous as it stalks down the cave.
I was later walked through the cave set, one of the first nearly completed sets built in the Spruce Goose hanger. It'd estimate it at being maybe 150-200 yards long, one giant room with movable branches, forks in the cave. There was only one room of any size and that's where we entered. This is the room where Stark and Yinsen are put to work. It was a giant, rounded cave room, tools littered about. It was still under construction, the set dressing not complete, but it looked good already. I particularly liked the addition of two round, metal vents in the cave ceiling, just poking out of the rock.
Favreau promised much flame-throwing (from an arm-mounted fuel tank) and much steel on flesh beat-downs while bullets ricochet off the Grey Suit during this escape. He also said that Stan Winston hasn't finished the Red and Gold armor, but he has finished the Grey Armor and Favreau had just seen it in action, fully practical, and said it looked amazing.
The two other black and white production art pieces I saw (by the incredibly talented Ryan Meinerding) were also very impressive. So impressive that I told Favreau it's kind of a pity he's shooting in color because the tone of the images are that striking. However, with a brilliant cinematographer like Matthew Libatique (Aronofsky's go-to since PI... he also shot PHONE BOOTH, EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED and INSIDE MAN) and just to see that beautiful Red and Gold armor sparkle... I'm sure I won't cry too long about the never-to-exist black and white Iron Man movie.
The other two pieces of black and white art: One was of Tony Stark, wearing very mechanic-like clothes, balancing about 2 feet off the ground, testing out the rocket boots in a parking garage. The boots were big, but not outlandish, with large rubber tubes connecting the boots to a belt-piece. In these pieces of art, Tony had a goatee, by the way. (Having now seen ZODIAC, the art is very close to the goatee Downey has in that movie.)
The other was probably my favorite piece of art that I saw on the visit. It wasn't an action piece, but it really captured the character of Tony Stark and gave the armor that icon stature it deserves. This piece of art was set in Stark's cluttered lab... although it looked more like an auto repair garage. Tony Stark is sitting, reaching under a tangle of wires wearing a wife-beater... sweat from exertion, covering his body, smudged grease on his clothes and skin.
Hanging above him is the Red and Gold suit, built only from the waist up, thick chains connected to the ceiling attached at the shoulders. Thick rubber hoses spill out of the suit, like guts as Stark reaches up, connecting something or other. This just struck me as real. Stark wasn't a scientist in a cold lab. He looked more like a 50s mechanic working on an engine hanging above him. He was dirty, his work-place cluttered.
Favreau said that in these super hero movies you don't ever get to see the construction of the suit. I mentioned BATMAN BEGINS as taking a good, realistic avenue of compiling a suit. He agreed, but said even then they pretty much just pull it out of storage and slap a coat of paint on it. Here, Stark's armor is as much a representation of the man as it is a piece of cool looking tech and Favreau believes it's important to see the nuts and bolts of the creation.
The color piece I saw of the Red and Gold armor was an early design by Adi Granov featuring Iron Man flying in front of 2 US jets, assisting in some attack. The suit looked like an amalgam of the suit I grew up with (ie the '80s design) and the newer, sleeker suit. The face was more aerodynamic, the big anime-ish cheekbones of the newer designs gone. It's not completely smooth, of course, but just not as exaggerated. It wasn't radically different in any way. It was Iron Man.
Phil Saunders was the other artist whose work I was shown on the visit. I only saw a couple pieces of his work, the rest hidden in a room with a sign from Marvel proclaiming: NO QUINT ALLOWED. Saunders' work was in color and was a design of Stark's home on the ocean. It was very retro cool. It's modern, but looks like some pop-art home of the '60s. Something that would feel right in a Brad Bird film. I saw some other pieces of work from both Saunders and Meinerding, but I'll talk about that in a minute.
Let's go through some newsworthy gems learned on this trip:
- The biggest and best news is that this film is one of three. That's right. Favreau is building a three-film arc, with all the actors signed for all three of them. The impression I got was that he's going to make this first one fairly stand-alone, but containing threads that will be continued in future films, throwing in little hints at what's to come, some set-ups that will pay off later in the story. I don't know if screenwriters Hawk Ostby, Mark Fergus(CHILDREN OF MEN), Matt Hollowway and Arthur Marcum are scripting all three or just have a detailed outline for the next couple of movies, but I like that they're already thinking ahead.
-This three picture plan has been planned since the beginning and played a large role in casting... I don't know if it'll be in the first film (I'm guessing not), but Jim Rhodes as played by Terrence Howard WILL be War Machine and that was a key factor in casting Howard. In fact, Favreau said he loved hearing the speculation when Howard was first rumored, people already accepting him as Tony Stark. He's a great actor and a commanding one. He'll be able play through the armor.
-Another departure from the comic has Tony Stark based on the West Coast instead of the East Coast. Favreau said that was mainly a stylistic choice. He said we're used to seeing SPIDER-MAN swinging through New York and the Fantastic Four flying between New York buildings. He didn't want IRON MAN to fall into that familiar pattern.
That's about all I saw on my visit... at least IRON MAN related. I mentioned previously that I saw some more artwork from both Saunders and Meinerding. Favreau called them in and had them bring along a portfolio of their work for JOHN CATER OF MARS.
The pain of losing the project was obviously still fresh for Favreau, but he seemed happy John Lassetter and Pixar/Disney had it. He didn't know what they were going to do with it, but speculated on a great animated version being made. He said he would have had to MoCap a good deal of the movie if he had made it and noted that animation seems to be going in that direction with BEOWULF and films like MONSTER HOUSE.
The artwork, in short, was breathtaking. Edgar Rice Burroughs' world was realized beautifully. I saw everything from Carter on horseback escaping the Indians to Tars Tarkas towering over Carter, easily double his size. They realized the Tharks as more human that I imagined, but without a nose. The tusks protruded from the joints in the jaw, not the mouths, which I thought was an interesting way of approaching it. The eyes, brow and mouth were human. The expressive parts of the face. Favreau wanted the performance to show through the computer effects, find that soul in the pixels that the best CG work can do.
Most of the art was from Meinerding, who did the black and white pieces for IRON MAN. His work was black and white here, too. I freaked out a little when he said he works 100% in computer because the art looked painterly... kind of an Alex Ross mixed with Frank Frazetta. Meinerding's John Carter looked great. Very stoic, young... heroic.
I asked who Favreau was going after for John Carter before the plug was pulled. He looked a little hesitant to say, but then spilled that he wanted Eric Bana, which I think would have been a fantastic choice.
Saunders art was in full color and was more landscape than character or action driven, but his concept of Mars and the cities on Mars was amazing. He envisioned an obsidian-like landscape, but instead of black glass rock it was variations on red glass. Sharp and curving natural glass structures were semi-transparent at different light points. The majority of the swords and daggers were made of this beautiful red glass, with metal being extremely precious on the planet, so only a few metal swords exist.
There was a city (Helium) built completely out of this material, giant glass buildings stretching out to the heavens, refracting light in different shades and hues.
It would have been absolutely beautiful and it's a shame we won't see that movie.
As of my visit, Favreau was trying to find out the legality of making the art public. I hope he can work it out. If the film can't be made, at least the vision of the film should be seen by us geeks.
That's about it. Everything I saw was better than I expected and I expected good things. I hope the flick lives up to the art and the excitement I witnessed. Thanks for sticking with me through this big ol' report. I'm finally back home after over 3 weeks of film festivals... I have some Sundance interviews to transcribe and a few Santa Barbara FF movies left to review before the fun really begins... I just found out I'm going to the New York Comic Con where I'll be moderating a HOSTEL 2 panel as well as interviewing a legend and a personal idol of mine. Good stuff on the horizon, squirts. 'Til then this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu!
PS: Here's an interview with Mark Fergus (screenwriter) over at Flmlvr's favorite site, JewReview.net... if you want more Iron Man info!!
-Quint quint@aintitcoool.com
Awesome read imo. IDK about any of you but i'm really pumped for this film, and that's sying something for someonme who truly hates CGI. But with the cast, the director, cinematogropher & screenwritters all top notch, how can you not. I don't mind the move from Vietnam to Afganistan but i'd keep him up in NY instead of LA. And a three picture deal, fucking A this better be awesome. SOund alot better than Ghost Rider, my poor poor Ghost Rider.
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Post by Mutant_Couch on Feb 10, 2007 6:30:54 GMT
It sounds pretty good, I am happy that they're not going all out and replacing Vietnam with Iraq. I'm sure they're saving that for Captain America so he can go "fix" everything. I'm having a tough time seeing Iron Man on his own, especially in a trilogy. I'm just so used to him being part of The Avengers.
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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 10, 2007 7:13:20 GMT
same, i got the collection on PC with the first 10 issues of Iron Man but my com collection has far more Avengers.
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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 11, 2007 6:50:54 GMT
Eva Mendes to play She-Hulk? Date : February 10, 2007 Posted By : Clint Morris
The last time I heard about a “She-Hulk” movie was in the late 80s, and back then, they wanted Brigitte Nielsen to don the green gunk [she’s probably been showered in worse goo]. Thankfully, that little beast – a film planned to be the launch pad for a series on CBS - never came to fruition (after the botch-job of 1989’s “The Punisher”, I think Marvel decided to hang onto their characters for a while longer) and Ms Nielsen returned to sticking bananas up Eddie Murphy’s tail-pipe. Or something.
Now, according to IESB, Bruce Banner’s cousin is a tad better looking – and might be hitting screens sooner rather than later.
“Ghost Rider” star Nicolas Cage tells the site that he’s trying to get a “She-Hulk” movie off the ground with Marvel, and wants Eva Mendes – his co-star in “Rider” – to play Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk.
Jennifer Walters is the cousin of Bruce Banner (Hulk) and is a small and somewhat shy daughter of Los Angeles County Sheriff Morris Walters. Agents of Nicholas Trask, a crime boss who had crossed paths with her father, shot and seriously wounded her on a day that Bruce Banner happened to be in town for a visit. Since no donors of her blood type were available, Banner provided blood for a transfusion; his radioactive blood transformed Jennifer into the green-skinned She-Hulk.
If Cage has as much sway as he seems to, then Eva Mendes will soon be enduring eight-hours-a-day of make-up
No thanks
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Post by Mutant_Couch on Feb 11, 2007 16:42:21 GMT
She-Hulk would bomb so bad. Between how bad Hulk was and not being a very good comic as it is, it doesn't stand a chance.
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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 13, 2007 5:51:24 GMT
Have They Cast The New HULK?!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
First time source here.
You know what that means. This is a rumor, and nothing more at the moment. Still, it’s a fascinating rumor, and if this does pan out, I think it’s a really cool choice for “puny Banner.”
Hey Harry –
I've been a longtime fan and wanted to fill you in on the latest casting news coming out of Hollywood. The movie? HULK 2 - which is one movie I have little desire to see. I'm still not quite sure WHY movie execs feel they need to remake this movie. Anyway, it seems they've signed their leading man and will be unveiling him to the public soon. The name is familiar and an interesting choice.
ADRIEN BRODY.
I'm curious as to what you think of him in the role? I haven't seen the script yet but my sources inside the studio say it's pretty good. If you share this news on your website, please keep my name secret.... you can refer to me as SCRUPLE.
Keep up the great work.
He has the looks but idk if i can see it happening.
Zack Snyder Reveals Watchmen Details - CGI Choices and More!
by Alex Billington
Fans of Watchmen unite - the project is finally moving along positively! Director Zack Snyder, who's currently out promoting his Spartan epic 300, answered some questions to press about the comic book adaptation.
Zack started off by saying, “I feel like the movie is in a pretty cool place. I think the script is starting to become pretty cool.” He also added that “we're trying to get a budget together now” and “I've been drawing away, you know. I think it's coming along, so they say.” Zack also discussed the movie's setting and CGI choices.
Although he wouldn't reveal anything about the actors or who they might be, he did say that, “it's cool because in some ways you can get real actors, you don't have to go ‘Hollywood.’ ” And also about when production may start, stating “they have talked about maybe shooting in the summer” - which was also confirmed as a possibility at a later press conference by his wife, Deborah Snyder, who is an executive producer on both 300 and Watchmen.
Zack also says he's setting his film in 1985 and comments:
“There has been a push on I think everybody's… on the other scripts that exist about trying to update the movie or make it take place in present day, or things of that nature. I think that by setting the movie in ‘85, by having the Cold War, having Nixon, having all that stuff you reinvigorate what the story is about. It allows all the metaphors…”
“I think what Alan Moore has, in his book, the comic he's made about authority and government and all those things, they're big themes. Maybe if you make that movie right, [then] what that has to say makes people think about what's happening maybe now or in their own lives. That's my hope for what the movie can be.”
And finally, he discusses just how much CGI he may use:
“The idea of Watchmen is not to do a CGI movie, but to do it when it's necessary. Like when Doc Manhattan goes to Mars, there's an issue here, we've got to figure that out. We can't go to Mars, I know, a lot people are going to be disappointed by that - but I just don't have the money. Antarctica also, there's no Carnac built there. I know, again, we should probably build it and then go film it there, but I don't think they're going let us do that. So those two things right off the bat you can think about. Dr. Manhattan himself, what do you do, how do you make him - how do you render him. Rorschach's mask. There's things that have to be dealt with and figured out. But I think that the appetite for me is to make a movie that feel's more like Taxi Driver than like Fantastic Four, again. So it's a balance.”
Zack also says, “go see 300!” as the best way to help Watchmen (maybe even get a bigger budget) and includes that the studio doesn't “understand why it's not Fantastic Four. I have to remind them, I go, ‘look, it's much more Strangelove than Fantastic Four,’ which they don't like hearing.” So if you are a fan of Watchmen, go see 300, and stay tuned for what sounds like an incredible project that may be starting very soon.
personaly i can't wait for the Watchmen to come out, plus i'm glad Zach isn't going to over CGI it. If he does it faithfuly than it couldpossibly be a boner enducing film.
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Post by Carl on Feb 24, 2007 3:42:08 GMT
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Post by Mutant_Couch on Feb 24, 2007 4:40:55 GMT
Justice League could be awesome, if they used the right members. Although, I think it could mess with the current Batman series. Also, if it were to fuck with me getting a Green Lantern movie anytime, ever... I would have to dress like Sinestro and bombard anyone involved with it.
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Post by Michelangelo on Feb 24, 2007 4:53:06 GMT
Eh Justice League ould be cool bu i don't want one with the current Batman series.
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Post by Michelangelo on Mar 2, 2007 5:39:40 GMT
chud
TOM CRUISE'S STARRING ROLE IN WATCHMEN NARROWLY AVERTED 03.01.07 By Devin Faraci For the last couple of months I have been hearing rumors coming from the Watchmen camp. Most of them were about casting – a very reliable source told me that some of the biggest names in Hollywood were in talks to star in the film. So when another source told me that Tom Cruise was in talks, I knew that it was quite likely true.
My source was right. While on the phone with Watchmen director-to-be Zack Snyder yesterday, talking about the pending release of 300, I asked him point blank about Cruise, and he confirmed that he and Tom had been talking about it. A lot. But that now it looked like Cruise would not be appearing in the film.
“He was interested,” Snyder confirmed to me. “I did talk to him about it for a while.” And would the role he wanted be Ozymandias? “That would be the role,” Snyder said.
I can feel the shudders passing through fandom right now, but I have to say that Cruise would have actually been great casting for Ozymandias. The character in the comic is the baby-faced most famous man in the world, and bringing in Cruise’s monolithic fame would add a layer to what’s onscreen. And Cruise would probably view this as a film in the vein of Magnolia – one that he does to heal his cred. He’s doing that with Robert Redford’s Lions for Lambs, but that’s not a commercial picture – playing this role in a commercial film (and people who have read the graphic novel know why this would be an especially interesting role for someone like Cruise to play, based on what happens with him towards the end) would go a long way towards helping mass audiences like him again. And since Ozymandias is a crucial character but not the lead, it means the whole film doesn’t hinge on Cruise.
It also shows the kind of scope that Snyder and company are looking to bring to Watchmen. 300 is a visually arresting film, but it was done comparatively on the cheap, and without marquee names - people are going to come to theaters on Friday based on the visuals, mostly. Watchmen is looking to be a major, major project.
Snyder talked a bunch more about Watchmen, much of which I’ll save for the full interview, which will run on Monday, but I found this interesting: Snyder’s Watchmen is definitely going to be an R-rated picture, no matter how Warner Bros feels about it. “They’re mad at that,” he said. “They don’t want an R-rated movie, but they’re cool with me. They’re like, ‘OK, if that’s what you think, Snyder. But it’s a bummer.’”
While I don’t agree with everything Snyder is doing with the adaptation – including setting it in 1985 and filming the Tales of the Black Freighter pirate comic book stuff – I do completely agree with him that the time is exactly right for this movie. “I believe audiences are ready for what’s the next stop of the genre. It’s an exhausted genre right now, at least that’s what I believe,” he said.
When Watchmen the comic came out, it was in many ways a critique and deconstruction of the superhero genre in general. When Watchmen the film started percolating, almost 20 years ago, movie audiences hadn’t been immersed in superhero films yet. “That’s the cool part about it, for me anyway. Your movie audience is basically where your comic book audience was when the graphic novel was written – you’re basically in a place where you can make a satirical comment about a superhero and the audience will get it, because they have the frame of reference.”
300 is out next Friday. Watchmen may begin shooting as early as this summer.
This news bit was largely brought to you by:
Good read, i thought the 300 GN was soso but i'm looking forward to the film quite a bit now. As for Cruise, i'm glad that isn't happening.
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Post by Michelangelo on Mar 5, 2007 6:58:00 GMT
G.I Joe starring Mark Wahlberg? Date : March 5, 2007 Posted By : Clint Morris
Mark Wahlberg starring in 'G.I Joe'? Yeah, Ok, I can see that. That works.
Its funny. Anytime a studio is in need of a muscly young hero… they go straight to Marky Mark. Yeah, it also probably has a bit to do with the fact that he’s now ‘Academy Award Nominee… Mark Wahlberg’, but this has been happening for a few years now. For instance : I remember Peter Berg telling me, when he was attached to direct the “Splinter cell” movie, that Wahlberg was essentially the only guy he had in mind to play Sam Fisher. No word if that's still the case - Berg has left the project - but it wouldn't surprise me.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the producer of Wahlberg’s latest movie “Shooter”, told IESB that he’s keen for Wahlberg to wear the camouflaged panties on that one – playing Duke, one of the heavies in the “Joe” team. And Wahlberg – who you’d think might be chasing more “Departed” like roles after his recent nod – has agreed to do it.
“You know what, I'll do whatever Lorenzo wants me to do; it really depends on the script, obviously, but it's a cool idea”, Wahlberg tells the site. “He says it's going to be kick ass, so yeah. But he's already putting that out there, so who knows. He knows how to get me to say 'yes.'"
The movie is said to be set before the rise of the COBRA organization, the film will show how the man the world will one day call Cobra Commander created his terrorist organization and honed it into a worldwide threat. Other COBRA characters, such as Destro and Stormshadow, are being planned to be included in the film. As for who is on the JOE team, look for appearances by the team's main players, such as Duke, Hawk and Snake Eyes.
Wahlberg seems intent on mixing it up still, which is good. He’ll no doubt be doing some more critically-minded dramas in the future (he’s already in talks for “The Departed 2”, for instance), but he’s also not forgetting his popcorn blockbuster roots. Keepin’ everyone happy.
I can see him as Duke.
Gerard Butler to star in Watchmen Date : March 5, 2007 Posted By : Clint Morris
IESB has landed a plum scoop from “300” director Zack Snyder (very nice guy by the way, seems to know his stuff) suggesting he’ll be re-using (I dunno, is that the word?) Gerard Butler, the star of his new historical battle royale, for “Watchmen”.
Snyder has already slotted in Butler to the movie – based on the graphic novel about some ragtag former crime-fighters who are drawn back into action by the murder of a former teammate, The Comedian, which turns out to be the leading edge of a much wider, more disturbing conspiracy - but is tight lipped on what role he’d be playing.
Might it be for the role that Snyder said Tom Cruise was circling for a while, that of Ozymandias?
Shall see.
IF he's ok in 300 than why not. Better than Cruise.
Interview : Frank Miller "The Dark Knight Returns", "Sin City", "Ronin", "Rusty the Robot" - all creative output of comic book and artist, Frank Miller, a wizard of inked offerings who first came to attention in the 70s. Though he's dabbled in the film world before (he wrote the screenplays for "Robocop 2" and "Robocop 3"), Miller's now spending a lot more time in Hollywood -he recently co-directed "Sin City", and currently serves as executive producer on "300", a big-budget take on Miller's legendary graphic novel.
What inspired you to write “300”? FRANK MILLER: I was a 5-year-old boy when I saw “300 Spartans”, a movie made in 1962. I had never seen a story where the heroes died before. It led to a life long fascination with that battle and that war, and it became a story I never stopped talking about. So, once I thought I could draw and write it well enough I went to Greece and began the research, and a few years later produced the book. It haunted me ever since I was a little kid.
It feels like a Spartan wrote it. FRANK MILLER: It was meant to be that way. I wanted it to sound as if it had been told by an old warrior over a campfire and to look as we would vision it while listening to him. I wrote it for that 5-year-old me.
How did your graphic novel evolve into a movie? FRANK MILLER: My book had been out for a few years; and it seems to be a story that every generation has to revisit, the same way “The Alamo” is. [Producers] Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton wanted to adapt my book. I was hesitant, the same way I always am about my comics turning into movies, but they convinced me they were sincere about really doing my story. They brought Zack Snyder in to direct and, after a couple of conversations with him, I was confident that this would be as harsh a retelling as I wanted.
What was it about Zack Snyder’s vision for “300” that made you confident that he could tell this story right? FRANK MILLER: He understands the battle as well as I do, and that is saying a lot. My historical knowledge is spotty in certain ways, but I know an awful lot about a three-day battle. And his understanding about the intent of the piece was identical to mine. If anything, he wanted to amplify it. Also, he was up on all the technological stuff that was necessary to make the movie. I liked him - I liked his confidence and also his sense of humor regarding the material. He knew how to push the boundaries and he didn’t want to make something that was star heavy and then collapse, because he wanted to be faithful to the story.
How did you collaborate with him on the film? FRANK MILLER: To tell the truth, I didn’t do much. I had just become a director myself on “Sin City” and realized that the last thing he needed was a bunch of people yelling at him. So, as the script came in I spoke my mind about it and quibbled here and there, went over some of the early cuts and so on; but my remarks were minimal. It was Zack’s movie and that is what I wanted it to be. I love what he did and I am glad I held back.
Being a director yourself: Had you ever thought of getting more involved and maybe even directing it with him? FRANK MILLER: Of course it crossed my mind; but once a film starts working, if another director jumps on board nobody knows who to listen to. And I didn’t want to do anything to mitigate his authority.
How did you feel when you visited the set? FRANK MILLER: I was there for a couple of days. I felt like that little five year old sitting in the middle of the movie theatre, seeing those men in red capes fighting all the bad guys. I was transported.
What concerned you the most about the cinematographic adaptation of “300”? FRANK MILLER: I was concerned about it getting softer, more reassuring or even happier. It is not a happy story, though it is inspiring, and it doesn’t have a happy ending. But I believe it gets to the heart of what a hero really is.
So, what is a real hero to you? FRANK MILLER: A hero is someone who does the right thing for his tribe, for his honor and for his society because it is right and not to be rewarded in any material sense or to even be given credit of any kind. My heroes may die disgraced, while they may be the only ones who know that it isn’t true, but they also know they have done the right thing.
What kind of research did you conduct for the project? FRANK MILLER: I read everything from Herodotus onwards, studied the ancient world’s history and put it in context. And I traveled through Greece, saw those tall cliffs and cruel skies, and realized what a formidable place it would be to attack. I also met with the people and saw how they could move across those impossible places like mountain goats, which explained to me more about the nature of that battle than anything else I could have done.
How would you describe Sparta? FRANK MILLER: Sparta was a very peculiar culture. I find them to be a bit of a conundrum. When the Greek isles were initially threatened, the Spartans were the most militaristic and efficient of the Greeks to defend them. They were very strange people, and because they had such a rich farmland they were built entirely for defense. Their warriors formed the most unbreakable shield you could imagine.
The Spartans were free people, and defenders of freedom, facing an army of slaves. FRANK MILLER: Absolutely, and it is ironic that a tribe that was as tyrannical to so many of their subjects was also a fountainhead of freedom, but those were times full of irony. Without Sparta there would never have been a flourishing of Athens, and without Athens we wouldn’t have had Rome. So, while the Spartans were a very rough bunch, they were also necessary against a tyrant who had swallowed the rest of the world.
Why did Xerxes go to the Hot Gates? FRANK MILLER: Because they were the path to conquer Greece. And, as his father had already tried and failed at the Battle of Marathon, it became his life’s mission to succeed. That is why he put together such an overwhelming army. He didn’t think that tiny Greece could do anything against it.
Leonidas chooses to face the most powerful army in the world with only a handful of men. Why does he do it? FRANK MILLER: It is easier to understand if you consider what he achieved. First of all, he showed Spartan superiority in combat. And he delayed them for three critical days, demoralized the Persian troops and inspired the rest of Greece to rally to a series of victories that utterly destroyed the Persian effort. Therefore, it was a perfect case of winning by losing. And also a big part of it was the glorious idea of dying in battle, with honor, which was considered the highest achievement. Anything else would be a shame for a Spartan. None of them wanted to die in their beds.
What qualities do you think Gerard Butler brings to the role of King Leonidas? FRANK MILLER: I thought he brought to the role exactly what it needed. He was a real hammer-fist in a role that you rarely see these days, the kind of part Kirk Douglas played in “Spartacus”. He is all man, all the time, with no policies. I think that in the case of Leonidas, raised the way he was, with the life he had and the decision he was making, anything less than that degree of energy would have come across as terribly modern. I didn’t want this to exist in a certain time, but to be what it really is: not just a classical story, but also an eternal one.
What is Gorgo’s relationship with Leonidas like, and how does she contribute to his struggle? FRANK MILLER: Gorgo was renowned for being a brilliant politician. Very little is known about their relationship or of how romantic it was; but as a political team they were formidable. Spartan women had more rights than any women of that period of History, which contradicts in a way the fascist image of so much of their other behavior. It does seem to be clear that Gorgo was probably Leonidas’ most important counselor.
Did you like Lena Headey as Gorgo? FRANK MILLER: I think she is hard to dislike on any level. Lena does a very good job. She was seductive, but when she had to move she was also quite lethal.
How do you see Xerxes and what do you think of Rodrigo Santoro’s performance? FRANK MILLER: Besides being the God-King of Persia, I see him as the absolute opposite of Leonidas. We could even call him his nemesis. He is the final word in “spoiled brat”. He has been raised with his every will all day, and with inconceivable wealth. In his mind it was also inconceivable for any man to say “no” to him. And now contrast that with the bare-chested, brutally honest Leonidas, with as tough as an upbringing as you could ever ask for. I loved Rodrigo’s Santoro’s performance: it was very restrained, but threatening in all the right ways.
What did you think of the movie when you finally saw it completed for the first time? FRANK MILLER: I almost couldn’t believe I was seeing it, and I also couldn’t believe how many of my favorite lines had been kept. There were lines I was praying would make it, like when Xerxes spoke of sharing a culture and Leonidas answered: “We have been sharing a culture with you all morning,” referring to have been slaughtering them all morning. Honestly, I was practically doing handstands when I saw it!
It is clear that Zack Snyder has made an effort to be as faithful as possible to your graphic novel. FRANK MILLER: Yes, and he also amplified it a great deal. I think he did a superb job.
And it also seems that Hollywood has recently been turning its head towards graphic novels in order to find good stories. FRANK MILLER: Well, they have to find them somewhere. For a long time, when these graphic novels have gotten into Hollywood’s hands they have been turned inside out; but now a younger breed of producers and directors are showing up who want to keep the material as vigorous and vital as what they first saw on the printed page. Also, we have moved ahead technologically to a point where the excitement of the drawing can be translated onto the screen. So, I can see Gerard Butler in combat; but the sky behind him looks to me like it was painted by Lynn Varley, who did all the colors in the original book. This way, you are able to take the readers to a brand new place where in the past only the artist’s hand could.
A technology that, as is the case of “300”, should serve the film and not the other way around. FRANK MILLER: Yes, and that is what we were also after in “Sin City”. When you start with something as structured and focused as a book that is drawn by hand, it removes many questions. You are not hunting around in the dark, so it is a matter of using the new technology to improve it.
After this experience and “Sin City”, what do you think the next incarnation will be of one of your works? FRANK MILLER: “Sin City 2” is next. The script is written and we will start casting very soon. Robert Rodriguez and I will co-direct together again.
Zack Snyder’s next project is Dave Gibbons’ and Alan Moore’s graphic novel “Watchmen”. FRANK MILLER: It is a massive undertaking; but, if anyone can do it, it’s him.
I still say the dudes sounds as if he's a few short(not that there's anything wrong with that)
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