Screenwriter Terry Rossio has confirmed to fans at the Word Player forums that Disney is going with Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (no apostrophe after World) as the full title for the anticipated third installment, opening in theaters on May 25, 2007. The studio was deciding between “At Worlds End” and “Worlds End,” and the former prevailed.
Toronto Sun’s JAM! Movies talked to Leonard Nimoy who mentioned that he and William Shatner might get to be involved with J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek XI:
“The head of production at Paramount called my agency to tell them about this project and they are aware of Bill’s and my contribution to the franchise, and they’d like us to know they might want some involvement. It was all very, very general.
“They might possibly want Bill and I to set up the story as a flashback. But that’s just conjecture on my part.”
Lost star Harold Perrineau (Michael) will star in Fox Atomic’s 28 Weeks Later, the follow-up to the hit indie 28 Days Later. In the sequel, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Intacto), Perrineau will play an upbeat American Special Forces pilot who documents and leads to safety the families returning to London after the viral outbreak. The studio is planning a May 11, 2007 release.
Christopher Nolan, who is directing the upcoming Batman sequel film The Dark Knight, told ComingSoon.net that he will change things up from his first movie. “I think what people responded to well about Batman Begins is how different it was from their expectations, so I think we would be foolish to not recognize that and to [try to replicate that now predictable blueprint],” he said while editing his upcoming supernatural movie The Prestige. “I think we’ll be doing something very different for the sequel. I certainly wouldn’t have any interest in trying to repeat [the] experience or the formula we’ve made because, particularly being the origin story, it’s a very unique thing, a very singular experience. My interest would sort of be to move on from that and to do something quite different.”
The Dark Knight will bring back Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader, joined by Heath Ledger as the Joker. It’s slated for release in June 2008.
Harry Potter Fan Zone has confirmed that Jessica Stevenson (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Shaun of the Dead, “Spaced”) will play Mafalda Hopkirk in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, opening in theaters and IMAX on July 13, 2007. In the book, Hopkirk is a witch from the Improper Use of Magic Office.
The Weinstein Company has preemptively acquired worldwide rights to the documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing, directed by Harlan County, U.S.A. helmer Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck. The film will world premiere as a gala presentation next month in Toronto.
The film follows the female country music trio over three years while the band was under fire for publicly criticizing George Bush in 2003.
“The Dixie Chicks paid a huge price for questioning the invasion of Iraq and daring to say what millions of people were thinking,” Peck said. “Our film looks at the cost of standing up for what you believe in.”
I think the Weinsteins made a bad choice picking up this documentary. I love the quote about the Chicks saying what people were thinking, come on, that’s a load of garbage. If that was the case, why have they been rejected by most of America. Criticizing our president is one thing, but saying what they did on foreign soil is just unamerican. I hope this movie tanks like their music career.
Variety is reporting that South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have set two live-action films at Paramount. Parker and Stone will first make the Jeff Roda-scripted high school comedy My All-American.
They plan to follow with Giant Monsters Attack Japan!, a film scripted by J.F. Lawton that will combine live-action with the “rubber suit” techniques made popular in Asian imports like Godzilla.
Parker will direct each film and Stone produce; both will work on the scripts with the writers. Sean Daniel and Nickelodeon will also be producers on Giant Monsters. Parker and Stone are aiming for a 2007 production start, timed to a hiatus from “South Park,” which this week launched its 10th season.
My All-American will sport a young cast, marking the first time Parker and Stone have worked with real actors since the pre-”South Park” features Cannibal: The Musical! and Orgazmo.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and the rappers Common, TI and RZA will star in American Gangster, the Ridley Scott-directed drama for Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. Ted Levine, John Ortiz and Yul Vazquez have also been set to round out a cast topped by Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Brian Grazer will produce with Scott.
The Steve Zaillian-scripted drama revolves around the empire of Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas, which involved smuggling heroin in the bodybags of U.S. soldiers killed in Vietnam.
During The Transformers live chat with writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, they announced what robots will be appearing in the upcoming film.
The Autobots appearing the film will include Optimus Prime, Bumblebee (as a Camero), Jazz, Ratchet (not an ambulence but still the medical/science Autobot), and Ironhide (the oldest Autobot next to Optimus Prime).
The Decepticons appearing in the film will include Megatron, Starscream, Brawl (a little different type of robot), Bonecrusher (dislikes all other Decepticons except Megatron), Barracade (a true Decepticon), Skorpinok (animal-type Transformer), Frenzy (the Decepticon spy), and Blackout (uses pulse blasts to prevent humans from knowing what is going on and the biggest vehicle).
Continue reading Writers Announce Autobots And Decepticons
DreamWorks Studios announced today that Johnny Depp has been set to star and Tim Burton to direct Sweeney Todd, the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical thriller. The co-production with Warner Bros. will star Johnny Depp as the titular Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Depp is currently starring in the record-breaking blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
Sweeney Todd marks the 6th collaboration between the actor and director. The previous Burton-Depp films have been Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow.
Continue reading Depp Joins Burton For Sweeney Todd