'Fantastic Four' is rumored to be getting a "serious" reboot. PLUS: Nic Cage talks 'Ghost Rider 2'. Producer talks 'Green Lantern'. Director talks 'Justice League'. All this and and more! Lifting the cone of silence to deliver your Comics2Film 9.3.10!
Producer Says GREEN LANTERN is Scouting Locations
Out doing press for his movie 'I Love You, Man', producer Donald De Line commented on the 'Green Lantern' movie. Collider.com reported on his remarks.
De Line said he expects the movie to be tonally similar to 'Iron Man'.
"It is absolutely a big action/adventure piece and fantasy obviously as we go out into space with the Green Lantern. And it’s Hal Jordan," Del Line said. "It will absolutely have a sense of humor as well, character based humor. So it’s not dark it that regard."
In spite of the recent layoffs and shake-ups in Hollywood, De Line says the 'Lantern' film is in relatively good shape.
"It is definitely going as much as anything is in the movie business right now. We’re in pre-production. We have Martin Campbell directing it. We have our production designer and costume designer," De Line told the press. "We’re heading off to Australia to scout next week. It’s on the release calendar. I feel like we’d have to do something really wrong to stop it from happening. But I think we’re absolutely going to keep it on the track."
The producer also said it's possible that their vision of Hal Jordan could fold into the planned 'Justice League' movie, in the same way Marvel's hero pics are building towards 'The Avengers'. The previous attempt at 'Justice League' was to be detached from any individual franchises like Nolan's Batman and Singer's Superman. The buzz from last year had DC reconsidering this strategy.
Of the fans fans who caught 'Watchmen' on the opening weekend, many of them watched it on a giant IMAX screen, prompting this press release:
LOS ANGELES, March 9 - Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount Pictures International, Legendary Pictures and IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced that Watchmen, Zack Snyder's latest box office hit based on the popular graphic novel, posted strong opening box office results at IMAX(R) theatres during its debut. The IMAX release contributed $5.4 million of the $55 million that the film grossed at the domestic box office, on a total of 124 North American IMAX screens this weekend. The picture posted a domestic IMAX per screen average of $43,863. Internationally, the picture generated an estimated $727,000 from 29 IMAX screens. The film's worldwide IMAX opening total was $6.2 million.
Watchmen: The IMAX Experience was digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The film will continue to play in IMAX theatres for another three weeks.
"We're very happy with the overall performance of the film, and the strong IMAX results show that the IMAX brand is clearly resonating with Watchmen fans," said Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures.
Andrew Cripps, President of Paramount Pictures International added, "The international IMAX network played an important role in generating excitement surrounding the release, and these first-weekend results show the value of the IMAX Experience with fans of Watchmen. We look forward to the weeks ahead as we continue to offer moviegoers the chance to experience it in IMAX."
Internationally, many theatres were sold out over the weekend and results were particularly strong in England and Taiwan.The new Odeon IMAX cinemas in Greenwich and Wimbledon posted their best weekends since opening recently, and London's BFI IMAX theatre sold more than 20,000 advance tickets. In Taipei, the IMAX theatre sold out numerous shows all weekend.
"The Watchmen buzz was incredible at IMAX theatres this weekend, and we're delighted to see the film deliver strong performance across the IMAX network globally," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "We began the rollout of our digital projection system with the intention of growing our audience and increasing the number of event movies in the IMAX film slate, and these results show that both domestic and international markets are responding very well to the combination of this type of movie and The IMAX Experience."
"We're pleased the film is s resonating with fans of Watchmen in IMAX theatres around the world," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The IMAX results alone would have ranked as the fifth highest-grossing movie of the weekend on just 124 screens. This movie kicks off our exciting film slate for 2009 and demonstrates that IMAX theatres are often the cinema of choice for the tech-savvy demographic, regardless of the presentation being in 2D or 3D."
The rumor of the day comes from IESB.net who claims that 20th Century Fox is jumping on the Marvel reboot bandwagon with the 'Fantastic Four' franchise.
Having produced two movies that were mildly successful, but got a lukewarm reaction from fans and critics, "word around town" is that Fox wants a do over. According to IESB, the new mandate is for FF to be "less bubble gum" and (are we getting sick of hearing this yet) tonally similar to 'Iron Man'.
Now, I'd say if that's what Fox is thinking, then they're missing the point. What was missing is the first movies is a sense of awe, wonder, adventure and...the FANTASTIC. This is a superteam that travels underground to fight the Mole Man and his monsters. That travels back in time to become pirates and into the negative zone to fight bug aliens. And, yes, they fight giant, freakin' space men with huge purple hats!
'Fantastic Four' is not a movie franchise that needs to be grounded and serious. It needs to be more outlandish and more fun. If they're looking for a template to follow they should be looking at 'Pirates of the Carribean', not 'Iron Man'.
What do you think, Maniacs? Which way should the FF go? Who should direct it? Who should star in it?
Meanwhile, Nicolas Cage is making the rounds for his new movie 'Knowing', which means reporters are asking him about 'Ghost Rider 2'.
Based on Cage's comments, it sounds like Sony is putting very little focus on the Marvel franchise.
“Everyone is very busy. I know [director Mark Steven Johnson] has his own thing going on,” Cage told MTV Splash Page, “It’s up to the studio. It’s really in their hands.”
As with the feelings about most of the lesser Marvel movies, Cage is looking for a change in tone for the sequel. Thankfully, he does not invoke 'Iron Man'.
"It has to have that action horror element and go deeper into that if it were to happen and [it should] keep us asking questions. Keep it interesting on a philosophical level,” said Cage.
The Official Website for 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' has been updated. It now features character guides for most of the principal players, with Deadpool being conspicuously absent. Click through to X-MenOrigins.com for the usual clips, photos and downloads.
Speaking of reboots...director Brett Ratner talked with MTV Splash Page about his plans to restart the 'Conan' franchise.
"The script is very cool, contemporary," Ratner said. "It’s not an homage. It’s not a remake, really. It’s going back to the original source material — the mythology of the characters."
Miller says he's still the director of JUSTICE LEAGUE
George Miller was once attached to the most buzz-generating comic book movie in quite some time: 'Justice League'. And he still is, apparently.
The director talked with MTV and said, "I’m still attached to the film. Warner Bros. is waiting to develop the other characters a little bit and then bring ‘Justice League’ together. After the success of ["The Dark Knight"], it’s well known that they will develop the other characters and then bring them together in ‘Justice League’. That’s a fair way down the track."
As mentioned previously, that sounds like the most official declaration that Warner Bros and DC are following the Marvel model.
Latino Review floats this rumor about the casting of 'Thor'.
The story comes from an anonymous tipster who claims that director Kenneth Branagh was seen "eating dinner at Blairs" with a certain young actor. Beefy blond Alexander Skarsgård (of HBO's 'True Blood') was apparently breaking bread with the director.
The scooper had no idea what the pair might have talked about. Could have been 'Thor'. Could have been the top 13 on American Idol. Could have been where to invest in this troubled economy.
Never the less, Latino Review invoked their (apparently new) policy of fact-checking scoops before they run them and independently verified that Branagh was at that restaurant that day.
Latino Review also mentions that Branagh and Skarsgård have the same agency reps.
What do you think, Maniacs? His Skarsgård a good fit for the role? Should Tatiana been in the top 13? Post your comments below...
Common on GREEN LANTERN and Bryce Dallas Howard on THE SWORD
The lovely and talented Blair Butler chased down actor Common and actress Bryce Dallas Howard at the recent Wonder Con and chatted them up about comic book movies.
Common talked about his casting as Green Lantern John Stewart in that 'Justice League' movie, while Howard says she'd love to appear in a film version of the Luna Brothers' comic 'The Sword'. Check it out:
One last thanks to Antonello Blueberry. He watches the internet, so you don't have to!
Look, re-booting the Fantastic Four would be easy, if only the powers that be understood that the FF was, is, and always will be best back in the 60's with Stan and Jack's dialogue and art. And thats where an FF movie should be, set in the 60's, at the beginning of the space race and the atomic age, with all the corny outfits, dialogue, and yes, giant men in huge purple hats! The FF has never been as popular as it was back in the day, and it probably never will be, so go back there for your movie inspiration, and honestly, I think youd have a winner!
GL - I know it's getting cliche, but the IM tone would actually work for GL. Can't wait to find out who they have in mind to play Hal.
FF - Enough with the "serious" reboots. They don't need to make a "serious" FF movie. They need to be serious about making a good movie, that happens to be an FF movie. Don't get wrong, I liked the movies (esp Chiklis & Evans) but they could have and should have been sooooo much better!
GR2 - I'd be down for another. See above statement about "good" movies.
Re: An FF reboot - Samurai1138 is like a giant hammer striking the nail so squarely on top of its head that no amount of force could ever hope to remove it. I am 110% in agreement, dude.
Why not making a movie with just the Human Torch and the Thing, which were the most appreciated characters of the FF movies? Set during Reed and Sue's honeymoon.
Or they could adapt one of the best FF stories "Let there be life" with Reed, Johnny and Ben in the Negative Zone and Sue stuck in the hospital bed....
I liked both FF movies, the comics never appealed to me, and have always been well, they never appealed to me. FF is a family group of adventurers, not a super hero movie, There is NO NEED for a re-boot!!! I repeat NO NEED, the first two were really fun, and I'm proud to have em both in my library.
The movies are better than the comics, IMHO, there are of course rare exceptions, The Morrison, MK, and The Mark Millar FF isn't bad. Not bashing FF comics, they're just cheesey. The movies were super fun time romp.
Now I'll put myself infront of the speeding locomaniac,
I also really liked Ghost Rider. Not a great movie, but again super fun, and I like Nic Cage, and I think you love him or hate him, and if you love him, he can make most movies work. I loved him in Ghost Rider. Would love to see a sequel.
I think sometimes peeps get their expectations WAAAAAAAAAY to high for these movies, and forget in some cases while the source material may be classic, isn't that great either
I don't think Iron Man was "serious." I think it was a well done, well acted, well written movie. I think there are plenty of ways to do a more down to earth FF movie, but capture the awe of the sci-fi aspect.
Yes, you need to have some campy comic book lines, but I think there was too much campy dialog and over used super hero movie plot devices. It was generic.
I hadn't seen the second movie yet, though. I heard bad things. I'm afraid.
As much as I liked the FF movies, I thought there was some wrong acting choices. For one, as much as I love Jessica Alba...she was all wrong for Sue Storm. They shoulda cast an older actress in my opinion. Her and Chris Evans I thought were too close in age. I always figured Sue would be the older big sister. I think Robecca Romaijn would have made a great Sue Storm. As for the rest of the cast I thought they were fine. I think the Thing should have went CGI with Chiklis just providing the voice. You need to make the Thing big like the Hulk. And yeah...they totally screwed up Dr. Doom's origin all together. If they do a reboot, don't bring him back. Just move on to the Mole Man or Annilus which would be cool to see. Or a group of villians to face off against the FF.
Conan...a contemporary story??? Did I miss something? Isn't Conan a frakin' barbarian from anicent times? Maybe they can have have him magically teleported into present day NYC and he run around scared for 30 minutes as he tries to figure out our modern technology. I'm sure hilarity would ensue!
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Look, re-booting the Fantastic Four would be easy, if only the powers that be understood that the FF was, is, and always will be best back in the 60's with Stan and Jack's dialogue and art. And thats where an FF movie should be, set in the 60's, at the beginning of the space race and the atomic age, with all the corny outfits, dialogue, and yes, giant men in huge purple hats! The FF has never been as popular as it was back in the day, and it probably never will be, so go back there for your movie inspiration, and honestly, I think youd have a winner!