Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies have greenlit the live-action epic adventure M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN'S THE LAST AIRBENDER, which will launch over the Independence Day weekend in 2010, opening on Friday, July 2, 2010.
Shyamalan, the creator of the Oscar-nominated THE SIXTH SENSE, SIGNS and the upcoming THE HAPPENING, will direct and produce the epic action-adventure based on a script that he penned.
Design-based boutique production company Global Mechanic and the National Film Board of Canada are in production on a new animated film. VIVE LA ROSE is a five-minute short set to a soulful version of the song by the same name.
The incredible emotional tone of the song was GM creative director and owner Bruce Alcock's initial inspiration for the film. Sung by legendary Newfoundland folksinger Emile Benoit when he was 92, this heartfelt recording was Benoit's last. The visual treatment includes beautifully rendered paintings and found objects animated in stop motion.
DreamWorks has acquired the rights to GHOST IN THE SHELL, and plans to turn the Japanese manga into a 3D live-action feature, per VARIETY.
Steven Spielberg took an active role in the deal, telling VARIETY, "GHOST IN THE SHELL is one of my favorite stories," said Steven Spielberg. "It's a genre that has arrived, and we enthusiastically welcome it to DreamWorks."
Zack Snyder (300, WATCHMEN) will direct the animated adventure feature GUARDIANS OF GA'HOOLE for Village Roadshow Pictures.
The film will be produced by digital production studio Animal Logic at Fox Studios in Sydney. Animal Logic head Zareh Nalbandian will produce.
The script, written by John Orloff (A MIGHTY HEART, BAND OF BROTHERS) and John Collee (HAPPY FEET), is based on the popular children's book series by Kathryn Lasky. The film is set for a 2010 release.
New release PROM NIGHT (Screengems, vfx by Lola Visual Effects) won the weekend box office (ending April 13) with $22.7 million, almost double what the number two movie made.
Also in new release and in second place was Keanu Reeves' L.A. cop thriller STREET KINGS (Fox Searchlight, vfx by At The Post and CafeFX) with $12M.
Last week's winner 21 slipped to number three with $11M for Sony (vfx by Proof, SWAY Studios) with a three-week gross of $62.3M.
Fox Animation has optioned young-adult book THE ANUBIS TAPESTRY: BETWEEN TWILIGHTS by Bruce Zick, according to VARIETY.
The film will be a loose adaptation of the novel, which follows a mummy curse condemning Dr. George Henry's spirit to the Egyptian Underworld. His son Chance encounters monsters in trying to free him.
Zick worked as an artist on FINDING NEMO, THE ROAD TO EL DORADO and A BUG'S LIFE before writing his 2006 novel, which creates a very detailed mythology.
United Artists hired Timothy J. Sexton to write TIMECRIMES, an adaptation of Spanish-language film LOS CRONOCRIMENES, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Steven Zaillian and Agnes Metre are producing the noir thriller about a man who travels back in time 30 minutes to prevent a serious crime. The rights were acquired by UA in January, when the original, from Nacho Vigalondo, aired at Sundance.
Sexton helped write the Academy Award nominee CHILDREN OF MEN and has worked on various TV projects like HBO's LIVE FROM BAGHDAD.
Check out some early images of upcoming Pixar flick UP, on UpcomingPixar: http://pixarplanet.com/blog/3d-render-of-up-artwork.
Pete Docter and Bob Peterson are directing UP, which is set for a May 29, 2009 release.
The film features the surprisingly poignant premise of a 78-year-old widower (voiced by Ed Asner, Hollywood's grumpiest old man) embarking on an unlikely adventure (one that involves sending his house aloft via helium-filled balloons) to fulfill his late wife's dream. Peterson described the film as "a coming-of-old-age story."
David Bordwell's new article, "A Glimpse Into The Pixar Kitchen" discusses life at Pixar.
It in turn links to VFXWorld Editor Bill Desowitz's sneak-peek article on WALL*E.
In a lengthy email interview, James Cameron discusses with VARIETY's David S. Cohen his highly anticipated project AVATAR. Although declining to discuss the specifics of his first film since mega-blockbuster TITANIC in 1997, Cameron delves deep into the 3D process.
The entire dialogue for "James Cameron Supercharges 3D" can be found on VARIETY's site.
3D cinematography has always held the potential for delivering to audiences a more realistic storytelling experience. This promise has been largely unfulfilled due to the physical constraints of traditional dual-camera cinema rigs, which limit the creative direction of any given shot.
Director Thomas Jane and Cinematographer Geoff Boyle, of the 3D film noir thriller DARK COUNTRY, were able to overcome these obstacles through a new highly mobile 3D Steadicam-based rig made possible by the Silicon Imaging SI-2K stereo camera system.
The world premiere of the DC Universe animated original PG-13 movie, BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHT will premiere at Wizard World Chicago on June 28, 2008.
DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation made the announcement Thursday.
Universal won a four-studio bidding war this week for a sci-fi epic pitch from writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
EARTH VS. MOON was picked up for a mid- to high-six figure deal, with Scott Stuber to produce. No other plot details were revealed.
Reese was a writer on Pixar's MONSTERS, INC, and Wernick has earned three Emmys for TV news work.
The writing duo will executive produce EARTH VS. MOON, with Stuber Productions' Jon Mone to oversee; Lawrence Grey will oversee for Universal.
Writer Justin Marks has been hired to adapt HACK/SLASH for Rogue Pictures, per VARIETY. Todd Lincoln is on board to direct the film version of the comic from Devil's Due Publishing.
Tim Seeley and Stefano Caselli's comic surrounds Cassie Hack, a young woman who kills homicidal maniacs and serial killers on a nationwide road trip of vengeance.
The action flick is said to be both comedy- and horror-heavy.
Producers are Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter, who most recently oversaw HITMAN for Fox.
In announcing its animation slate for the next four-plus years yesterday at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, The Walt Disney Studios affirmed the new "director-driven" mandate since the acquisition of Pixar and rejuvenated leadership from John Lasseter and Ed Catmull.
MGM and UA announced today they are moving the release date of Bryan Singer's World War II thriller VALKYRIE, to President's Day weekend, February 13, 2009.
This moves the Tom Cruise vehicle out of awards season contention, but will have more moneymaking potential.
Bobby Coleman has been added to the cast of ROBOSAPIEN: REBOOTED, now filming in New Orleans, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Coleman (MARTIAN CHILD) will play a boy who befriends a robot on the run from evil corporate interests. Penelope Ann Miller, David Eigenberg, Holliston Coleman, Joaquim de Almeida and Kim Coates are also part of the cast.
The Robosapien robot is the recipient of more than 30 national and international toy awards and recognitions. The movie will combine a live action story with advanced CG.
The Walt Disney Studios unveiled an ambitious four-year slate of 10 new animated features from both Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Tuesday at the Skirball Center for Performing Arts at New York University. The press conference was hosted by Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, and John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.
Among the new projects revealed for the first time:
Blackjack movie 21 won the weekend box office (ending April 6) for the second straight week, pulling in $15.1 million for Sony (vfx by Proof, SWAY Studios).
New release LEATHERHEADS (Universal, vfx by CIS Hollywood and Reel FX Creative) had to settle for a field goal in its opening weekend, coming in a close second with $13.485M.
Davis Ent. acquired the rights to NORTH WIND, a sci-fi comic series from Boom Studios, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
Writer David DiGilio will adapt the five comics for a live-action feature and will also executive produce.
John Davis will produce with Boom co-founders Andrew Cosby and Ross Richie. In the story, a cruel dictator reigns over the survivors in a futuristic Los Angeles, years after global warming has created a new ice age. Some of the citizens exiled by the dictator start a revolution.
SUPERNATURAL actor Jensen Ackles is in final negotiations to star in MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D for Lionsgate, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.Patrick Lussier will direct the remake of the 1981 slasher flick about a murderer who kills people for celebrating Valentine's Day.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Relativity Media have secured the rights to acclaimed author Robert Ludlum's suspense thriller, THE MATARESE CIRCLE.
The studios have also closed a deal with two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington to star in the film adaptation of the best-selling novel with the same title.
The announcement was made today by Mary Parent, Chair, Worldwide Motion Picture Group, MGM and Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh.
CIS Hollywood, the sole visual effects vendor on Universal Pictures' romantic comedy, LEATHERHEADS, completed 237 effects shots on the period film.
Directed by and starring George Clooney, LEATHERHEADS is set against the backdrop of America's pro-football league origins in the 1920's. Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski also starred.
Tom Smith, visual effects supervisor, CIS Hollywood, was on set during most of the North and South Carolina shoots.
Dimension Films is bringing Number 5 back to life with a remake of the 1986 film SHORT CIRCUIT, according to VARIETY.
The robot with a mind of its own was the subject of two popular films in the 80's from creators S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock.
Number 5 was a military-built robot designed to be a sophisticated weapon system. After being hit by lightning, it developed a personality and a conscience, so the government set out to destroy it.
Entertainment and design studio Imaginary Forces (IF) recently completed the animated end titles for the Fox Walden fantasy adventure, NIM'S ISLAND. The film stars Academy Award winner Jodie Foster, Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler and premieres in theaters nationwide today.
