© Mania.Com/Josh Gordon
Top Maniacal Rumors: Soft Punisher, Hard Chucky and Sharky Sequels
By: Jarrod SarafinDate: Friday, August 22, 2008
It’s time for another edition of Mania’s Most Maniacal Rumors, where we blow the lid off the week’s juiciest gossip and hush-hush industry whispers.
If you have a rumor you want to contribute, we’re all ears. Just send it to jarrod@mania.com.
Lexi Alexander Still on Punisher:War Zone and It’s Still Rated-R?
Rumor: The masses of internet fan boys around the web had their backlash whips ready and waiting when rumors appeared about a PG-13 Rated Punisher appearing in theaters this December. This rumor comes a few weeks after another rumor suggesting that director Alexander was dropped from the project.
Sources: Latino Review,. Film School Rejects, Raw Studios
Mania Verdict: TRUE---Alexander is still involved with Punisher: War Zone despite the reports and this film will still be a heavy R-rated bullet bloody film, according to Steve Gainer, Director of Photography on the film. After the rumors went into overtime mode, here’s what he had to say.
Lexi is not off the film. Lexi is still involved in the edit process. The film is not (nor could it ever be) PG-13.
Today, I saw a cut that ran 91 minutes. Lexi did in fact get married. Lexi is an incredibly talented director, and this film kicks major ass, as will be proven when it is released IN THEATRES DECEMBER 5th.
The film is most certainly not all exploding heads, but will reveal a great deal of Franks personna and pain
This film has been difficult from the begining, from a bitter Canadian winter, to endless nights, to rampant sickness, Lexi has fought to make a killer Punisher film for fans and non fans alike.
Initially we were to release in September, but for whatever reason (not the quality of the film or edit IMHO) it was decided to release in December. That extra time has given everyone a chance to put their two cents worth in, but rest assured, Lexi is still stearing the boat, and she is a great captain.
When I hear vicious unfounded troll rumors like the "film was unwatchable" or "a total mess" it makes my blood boil. I want to punish the corrupt. People sit on their fat asses trolling the internet, people that have never even looked through a motion picture camera, and make judgements on a work of art that they've never seen, it's like saying a baby will be ugly before it is born, I can't freaking wait for this film to come out and prove the nay-sayers wrong.—Steve Gainer
Today, I saw a cut that ran 91 minutes. Lexi did in fact get married. Lexi is an incredibly talented director, and this film kicks major ass, as will be proven when it is released IN THEATRES DECEMBER 5th.
The film is most certainly not all exploding heads, but will reveal a great deal of Franks personna and pain
This film has been difficult from the begining, from a bitter Canadian winter, to endless nights, to rampant sickness, Lexi has fought to make a killer Punisher film for fans and non fans alike.
Initially we were to release in September, but for whatever reason (not the quality of the film or edit IMHO) it was decided to release in December. That extra time has given everyone a chance to put their two cents worth in, but rest assured, Lexi is still stearing the boat, and she is a great captain.
When I hear vicious unfounded troll rumors like the "film was unwatchable" or "a total mess" it makes my blood boil. I want to punish the corrupt. People sit on their fat asses trolling the internet, people that have never even looked through a motion picture camera, and make judgements on a work of art that they've never seen, it's like saying a baby will be ugly before it is born, I can't freaking wait for this film to come out and prove the nay-sayers wrong.—Steve Gainer
It seems that Lionsgate just has a problem with Lexi updating us fans online at her official blog, hence the recent silence.
Warner Bros. Wants to Reboot Superman
Rumor: This is no longer a rumor. Click here to check out confirmations of Warner Bros. deciding to reboot the franchise again ala The Incredible Hulk.
Source: Anne Thompson
Mania Verdict: TRUE---Check out the link above.
Power Struggles between Director and Fox Executives on the X-Men Origins: Wolverine Set?
Rumor: The latest rumor revolving around the next installment in 20th Century Fox involves director Gavin Hood taking a few days off, only to come back and find a major set piece designed opposite of what he wanted. This would point to a power struggle between the director and Fox executive Tom Rothman, who ordered the changing of the set.
Source:Comic Book Movie
Mania Verdict: TRUE---Here’s what the scooper had to say on this particular power struggle.
"There was/is a huge Wolverine set being recently used. I'm not even sure which lot it was built on, but the look or mood of the set is, according to a source who was told Hood's view of things, supposed to be on the dark, dinghy and somber side. I only know what I was told, but the basics are that Hood was away from the set for whatever reason (shooting something else, taking a day or two off), and when he returned to the big somber set he was shocked to find that it had been repainted top to bottom on Rothman's orders. The murky-scuzzy vibe was gone, and a brighter and less downish look had taken its place."
Child’s Play Remake Not Ready Until 2010?
Rumor: Last October, we last received word that the original developers of the Child’s Play horror film was teaming up again to remake the Chucky concept. The latest rumor suggests the reworking on the iconic killer doll won’t be ready for theaters until 2010.
Source: AICN
Mania Verdict: TRUE---While previous Chucky films were thrown out very quickly, producer David Kirschner and Chucky creator Dan Mancini have assured fans that they want to get this remake right with Brad Dourif returning to voice a more sinister (and less humorous) version.
"I think what we are mainly responding to, David and I, is the will of the fans, which is really telling us that they want to see a scary Chucky movie again. They want to go back to the straightforward horror rather than the horror comedy."
Watchmen Release in Trouble by Fox Lawsuit?
Rumor: Despite Watchmen being in preproduction for years and shooting wrapped up, the latest copyright ownership lawsuit from Fox could be halting any release of the film until it’s settled in court.
Source: Variety
Mania Verdict: MAYBE---It’s hard to see this conflict not being settled by March 6, 2009 by both parties, 20th Century Fox and the current distributor Warner Bros. Considering the fact that EW is reporting that Fox is on the end of some fan outrage for this lawsuit, both studios will likely resolve it by next spring.
Michael Dougherty's Trick ‘R Treat Heading to Direct-to-DVD?
Rumor: Like the Punisher rumor, the updates on Warner Bros. and the long awaited horror anthology Trick ‘R Treat had numerous rumors conflicting with each other this past week. The first rumor suggested that Warner Bros. canceled the release altogether and was attempting to sell it to another studio before the final rumor confirmed that the studio was keeping it, instead releasing it on DVD.
Source: Shock Til You Drop
Mania Verdict: TRUE---An insider tells Ryan Rotten that WB is utilizing the same medium that worked well for their recent Direct-to-DVD fare, Raw Feed, Lost Boys: The Lost Tribe and another DVD-released sequel mentioned in the rumor below. The film received numerous favorable reviews at various festivals last year but has been in turnaround since that time.
WB Jumping Back into Shark-infested Waters for Deep Blue Sea 2?
Rumor: Hot off the heels of overseeing the long awaited sequel of Lost Boys hit the DVD shelves, the next sequel could be a 10 year anniversary follow-up to the shark tale Deep Blue Sea.
Source: Moviehole
Mania Verdict: TRUE---Like the rumor above suggests, the Direct-to-DVD market allows a studio to produce some marketable low-budget sequels to some of their numerous horror properties and receive a profit to boot.
More From Mania
Holiday thanks for THE PUNISHER
'Punisher 2' to be called 'Punisher: War Zone'
(Wednesday, August 29, 2007)
The Punisher
(Wednesday, January 26, 2005)
Review: 'The Punisher' DVD
(Sunday, August 29, 2004)
COMIC-CON EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Taking a hit out on THE PUNISHER video game
(Friday, July 23, 2004)
PUNISHER: 30+ Winners take home prizes!
(Friday, April 16, 2004)
C2F Cinema: Punisher 2002
(Saturday, April 10, 2004)
Punisher, The
(Monday, February 23, 2004)
See more related content
At least Lionsgate came to their senses.
Chuky remake? I'm telling you Blacula is coming soon!! How come in these remakes you never hear of of the villains being black but when they are talking about remaking Candyman they got make him white?