Piranha Director Looking for Extras
Director Alex Aja is looking for about 1,000 extras for shooting PIRANHA at Lake Havasu in Arizona for two weeks in June.
Category: Films
Last Airbender Teaser Coming with Transformers
Producer Frank Marshall revealed on his Twitter account that the teaser trailer for AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER will be shown before TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. (via SlashFilm.com).
The TRANSFORMERS sequel hits theaters June 24.
Star Trek Opens in IMAX Theatres May 7, 2009
Press Release from IMAX Corporation
Ridley Scott Toying with Aliens Return
IESB reports from Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman that Ridley Scott might be interested in returning to the ALIENS franchise in which he created. Scott hasn't been quiet about his dislike for the ALIENS VS. PREDATOR series and his return would most likely be a prequel. Rothman told IESB, "I think he's toying with the idea and that would be great for us.
Red Stick 09: It's Closing Time
The festival is in wind-down mode as producer Max Howard intros a screening of the independently-financed Igor. Afterwards Howard does a q&a, describing its labor-of-love creation headed up by former staffers of Disney’s shut-down Paris studio and the challenges – and freedom – of producing animation without major studio backing.
Red Stick 09: F is for Friday Field Trip
Friday is field trip day at the Red Stick Festival – It seems as if half of Baton Rouge’s school population has been bussed in to take part in the festivities.
Bioshock's Budget Brings Project to a Halt
The film adaptation of videogame BIOSHOCK has been brought to a halt according to VARIETY over budgetary issues.
Fans Obsessed with Beyonce
Beyonce Knowles FATAL ATTRACTION-like thriller OBSESSED debuted at the top of the box office this weekend. The temp from hell tale, with vfx from Lola Visual Effects, took in $28.6M.
Last weekend's champ 17 AGAIN came back again in second place, adding $11.5M to its $39.8M cume.
Debuts arrived in the third, fourth and fifth slots. FIGHTING punched in with $11.02M, THE SOLOIST played to the tune of $9.7M, and EARTH made $8.8M in green, having grown $14.5M since its Wednesday opening.
Videodrome Get HD-Era Remake
Universal Pictures is set to remake David Cronenberg's 1983 sci-fi/horror cult classic VIDEODROME, VARIETY reports. Ehren Kruger will pen the screenplay, as well as produce with his partner Daniel Bobker. Canadian distributer Rene Malo holds the rights to the remake and Universal had first refusal on the project. Both parties eagerly jumped when Kruger and Bobker came knocking.
Clash of the Titans Commences Production
Press Release from Warner Bros. Pictures
BURBANK, Calif. -- Principal photography will begin on April 27 on Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' epic action adventure CLASH OF THE TITANS, being directed by Louis Leterrier (THE INCREDIBLE HULK). The film stars Sam Worthington (TERMINATOR SALVATION, the upcoming AVATAR) and Academy Award nominees Liam Neeson (TAKEN, SCHINDLER'S LIST) and Ralph Fiennes (the HARRY POTTER films, THE ENGLISH PATIENT).
David Ellis Hired for Sci-Fi Humpty Dumpty
David R. Ellis (SNAKES ON A PLANE) has been hired to direct 3-D horror sci-fi film HUMPTY DUMPTY, reports VARIETY.
Former New Line exec Mark Ordesky is producing through his recently-started Amber Ent. Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones of iDream Company and Darry Welch from Instinctive Film are also producing. Fabienne Villette is co-producing.
Billy Majestic wrote the script, about a half-human, half-alien creature who goes on a murderous rampage after his alien mother is abused by rednecks in the South.
Aardman Partners with Sony for Christmas, Pirates
Stop-motion animation studio Aardman has begun production on their next two animated feature length motion-pictures, ARTHUR CHRISTMAS and PIRATES!. Both films are to be released worldwide by Sony Pictures.
PIRATES! will be produced in Aardman's house style of hand-crafted modeling clay, while ARTHUR CHRISTMAS will be co-produced with Sony Pictures Imageworks in CGI.
Gordon-Levitt, Caine Hired for Nolan's Inception
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who will play the evil Cobra Commander in Paramount's upcoming G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, is set to join Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION at Warner Bros., per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Nolan also wrote the script, which is being kept secret but is said to be a sci-fi actioner set within "the architecture of the mind." Gordon-Levitt will take over a role that had been looked at by James Franco, but who had to drop out because of scheduling issues.
Denzel Washington Might be Unstoppable
Denzel Washington is in negotiations to star in Tony Scott's UNSTOPPABLE drama, per VARIETY, about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals.
The 20th Century Fox production was written by Mark Bomback, and is loosely based on a real event. Washington would play an experienced engineer who must board the train with a young conductor to chase the train down.
In Films, Visual Effects, Films, Visual Effects | Headline News | Geographic Region: All, South America
Twilight's Kellan Lutz Added to Nightmare Cast
TWILIGHT actor Kellan Lutz and Rooney Mara have been added to the cast of New Line's reboot of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Lutz is still in negotiations, but would play a popular jock, while Mara would play a girl who can't wait to leave town after she graduates. TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES' Thomas Dekker is set to play an alpha male trying to get back together with an ex-girlfriend.
Kyle Gallner will play the Johnny Depp role and Jackie Earl Haley will be Freddy Krueger.
Tempe, Arizona Powers up for Hometown Premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Press Release from Fox Filmed Entertainment
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tempe, Arizona's residents, schools, businesses, and a major cinema emporium are pulling out all the stops to prepare for the World Premiere of X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, on April 27, at Harkins Temple Marketplace 16.
Rodriguez Adds Machete to Weapons Holster
Robert Rodriguez, in addition to rebooting the PREDATOR franchise, will co-direct MACHETE, per VARIETY, about a blade-wielding anti-hero who appeared in one of the mock trailers for GRINDHOUSE.
Overnight Productions will finance and produce, with Danny Trejo to star as the title character. Rodriguez wrote the script and will co-direct with his longtime editor Ethan Maniquis. Producers are Rodriguez, Rick Schwartz of Overnight and Aaron Kaufman.
Variety Confirms Schwarzenegger Appearance in Terminator Salvation
In a webcast this week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was willing to appear in the upcoming TERMINATOR SALVATION, as long as he didn't have to actually show up on set.
Apparently the actor-turned-governor has been working in secret with director McG and the ILM team to make this happen, per VARIETY.
A body-cast mold of Schwarzenegger, created when he appeared in the first TERMINATOR, provided the basis for the vfx version of the character. He will appear in TERMINATOR SALVATION as a living actor, but with presumably no dialogue.
AWNtv Has Two New Up Featurettes
AWNtv has two new UP featurettes to check out: UP -- Inside UP: Unlikely Heroes and UP -- Inside UP: Kevin the Undiscovered Species.
ESPN and Disney to Present X Games 3D the Movie
Press Release from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Drag Me to Hell, Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus to Play at Cannes
As previously announced, Disney-Pixar's UP will open the 62nd festival on May 13 but it will not run in competition, according to SCREENDAILY.com.
Playing a midnight screening will be Sam Raimi's horror flick DRAG ME TO HELL, and as expected, Quentin Tarantino's INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS will compete against 19 other films from directors like Ang Lee, Lars Von Trier and Pedro Almodovar.
Terry Gilliam's THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS will screen out of competition, showcasing Heath Ledger's last acting performance.
Clark Gregg Returns to Iron Man 2, Plus Mysterious Role for Kate Mara
Clark Gregg will reprise his role as Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. in IRON MAN 2, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Kate Mara has also been added to the cast, but her role is being kept quiet. The film is currently lensing in Manhattan Beach, California.
-- By News Editor Annemarie Moody
Kevin Macdonald to go an Eternity for New Regency
STATE OF PLAY director Kevin Macdonald will develop and direct Isaac Asimov novel THE END OF ETERNITY for New Regency, per VARIETY.
New Regency acquired the 1955 property late last fall. Vince Gerardis is set to produce with Eli Kirschner to exec produce.
The story follows a ruling class called Eternity whose members can manipulate time and alter history.
-- By News Editor Annemarie Moody
Tom Hanks Discusses Toy Story 3
In an interview with EMPIRE magazine covering his upcoming films, actor Tom Hanks gave some details on his voice work for the upcoming Pixar sequel TOY STORY 3:
"I have been in and done three big complete recording sessions and will probably have at least one more to do, possibly in about eight months," he said. "Then eight months after that I'll do a mop-up and have three more sessions after that. Those movies are beasts."
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Go Live Action for 2011
The Mirage Group will develop a live-action film focusing on the origins of the iconic TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, targeted for release in 2011.
