Last week, The Sunday in UK had a brief interview with George Lucas talking about the potential of doing a fifth Indiana Jones movie. The fourth movie is looking to be this year's third biggest movie, having grossed over $300 million, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who will actually admit to liking the movie. Still, Lucas seems hellbent on carrying on if they can find an idea that works for another installment... and if Harrison Ford remains on board.
Newsweek has run a story from the AP Television who sat down with Lucas to talk about the upcoming animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars and when they asked about the future of the franchise, Lucas told them that he has no plans of turning it over to Shia LaBeouf's character Mutt Williams, as some thought might happen:
"He is Indiana Jones," Lucas said of (Harrison) Ford. "If Indiana Jones wasn't in it, you'd have to call it 'Mutt Williams and the search for Elvis.' ... "Yeah, it's 'Mutt Williams and the Search for Elvis.'"
Lucas also repeats what he said earlier about the future of "Indiana Jones" relying on his own creative thoughts on what they could do next with the character:
"The franchise really depends on me coming up with a good idea," Lucas said. "And that series is very research-intensive. So we're doing research now to see if we can't come up with another object for him to chase ... hopefully we'll come up with something."
Friday, August 8, 2008
Update: Brad Pitt Officially Joins Inglorious Bastards
Brad Pitt has closed his deal to star in Inglorious Bastards, the WWII drama that Quentin Tarantino will direct for the Weinstein Company and Universal, reports Variety.
Additionally, Nastassja Kinski is in early talks to play one of the sole female roles in the film. Kinski would play a German movie queen.
The trade says much of the dialogue is in French or German, and subtitles will be used, though Pitt will speak English in his role as a Tennessee hillbilly who assembles a team of eight Jewish-American soldiers to take on the Nazis.
Simon Pegg, David Krumholtz and B.J. Novak are also in talks to join the project. Pegg would play a British lieutenant, while Krumholtz and Novak would play Pitt's underlings.
The film begins production on October 13 in Germany. Tarantino, who wrote the script, is aiming to complete the film and have it ready for next year's Cannes Film Festival. Lawrence Bender is producing, with Erica Steinberg and Harvey and Bob Weinstein as executive producers.
Eli Roth will play Sgt. Donnie Donowitz, and Tarantino is locking in the other actors to play the soldiers who make up the Bastards team. Tarantino regular Tim Roth had been in contention to join the cast but couldn't work out the scheduling because of his upcoming TV series "Lie to Me."
Additionally, Nastassja Kinski is in early talks to play one of the sole female roles in the film. Kinski would play a German movie queen.
The trade says much of the dialogue is in French or German, and subtitles will be used, though Pitt will speak English in his role as a Tennessee hillbilly who assembles a team of eight Jewish-American soldiers to take on the Nazis.
Simon Pegg, David Krumholtz and B.J. Novak are also in talks to join the project. Pegg would play a British lieutenant, while Krumholtz and Novak would play Pitt's underlings.
The film begins production on October 13 in Germany. Tarantino, who wrote the script, is aiming to complete the film and have it ready for next year's Cannes Film Festival. Lawrence Bender is producing, with Erica Steinberg and Harvey and Bob Weinstein as executive producers.
Eli Roth will play Sgt. Donnie Donowitz, and Tarantino is locking in the other actors to play the soldiers who make up the Bastards team. Tarantino regular Tim Roth had been in contention to join the cast but couldn't work out the scheduling because of his upcoming TV series "Lie to Me."
Fox is Developing The Informant
Fox is developing "The Informant," a one-hour project based on an upcoming Australian series created by Greg Haddrick. Tom Szentgyorgyicq is adapting the format for Fox, 20th TV and Alchemy TV.
The Hollywood Reporter says "The Informant" is described as "Jason Bourne at home." It centers on Richard Button, a regular middle-class suburban dad who works as a police informant for an elite federal investigative agency.
"It's a blend of a spy undercover procedural and a family story about his life at home," Szentgyorgyi said.
Button's background is a mystery, but his detailed knowledge of international crime networks and money laundering suggests that he might have been involved in espionage.
The Hollywood Reporter says "The Informant" is described as "Jason Bourne at home." It centers on Richard Button, a regular middle-class suburban dad who works as a police informant for an elite federal investigative agency.
"It's a blend of a spy undercover procedural and a family story about his life at home," Szentgyorgyi said.
Button's background is a mystery, but his detailed knowledge of international crime networks and money laundering suggests that he might have been involved in espionage.
Coto, Ratner Creating Wild Boys
Carlos Coto, co-exec producer of "24," has teamed with Brett Ratner on an hourlong action comedy project for Fox, reports Variety.
The network has given a script order, with penalty attached, to "Wild Boys," a project about ex-soldiers turned suburban dads.
The project revolves around three dads who are working as contractors in the Washington, D.C., suburbs -- until the economic downturn puts them out of work. The Iraq war vets decide to get back in touch with their previous lives and sell themselves as guns for hire.
In "Wild Boys," the lead characters must balance their domestic chores while embarking on dangerous assignments.
Depending on his schedule, Ratner is in line to direct should "Wild Boys" go to pilot.
The network has given a script order, with penalty attached, to "Wild Boys," a project about ex-soldiers turned suburban dads.
The project revolves around three dads who are working as contractors in the Washington, D.C., suburbs -- until the economic downturn puts them out of work. The Iraq war vets decide to get back in touch with their previous lives and sell themselves as guns for hire.
In "Wild Boys," the lead characters must balance their domestic chores while embarking on dangerous assignments.
Depending on his schedule, Ratner is in line to direct should "Wild Boys" go to pilot.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Gibson and Glover Up for Lethal Weapon 5?
Hollywood tracking board TrackingB.com reports that Shane Black, who wrote the first Lethal Weapon movie, has written a spec script for Lethal Weapon 5 without telling anyone. The site adds that he contacted franchise producer Joel Silver and said that he wanted to continue the story.
This time, homicidal Riggs (Mel Gibson) is about to retire, but pulls Murtaugh (Danny Glover) out of retirement to solve one final case, before they both officially head off into the sunset.
TrackingB.com says that Gibson and Glover are down to return, but no deals have been signed.
The first film was released in 1987, the second in 1989, the third in 1992 and the fourth in 1998.
This time, homicidal Riggs (Mel Gibson) is about to retire, but pulls Murtaugh (Danny Glover) out of retirement to solve one final case, before they both officially head off into the sunset.
TrackingB.com says that Gibson and Glover are down to return, but no deals have been signed.
The first film was released in 1987, the second in 1989, the third in 1992 and the fourth in 1998.
Jackie Chan is The Spy Next Door
Jackie Chan is set to star in The Spy Next Door, an action-comedy to be financed by Relativity Media and directed by veteran studio helmer Brian Levant, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Robert Simonds, a longtime comedy producer on such movies as The Pink Panther and the Adam Sandler films The Wedding Singer and Big Daddy, will produce. Solon So will executive produce. Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh will produce, and Tucker Tooley will executive produce.
Jonathan Bernstein and Jim Greer are writing the screenplay for "Spy," which centers on a man (Chan) who is called to baby-sit his neighbor's children and winds up having to fight off secret agents after one of the kids inadvertently downloads a secret code.
Robert Simonds, a longtime comedy producer on such movies as The Pink Panther and the Adam Sandler films The Wedding Singer and Big Daddy, will produce. Solon So will executive produce. Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh will produce, and Tucker Tooley will executive produce.
Jonathan Bernstein and Jim Greer are writing the screenplay for "Spy," which centers on a man (Chan) who is called to baby-sit his neighbor's children and winds up having to fight off secret agents after one of the kids inadvertently downloads a secret code.
Exclusive: Will Ferrell to Direct?
A few weeks back, ComingSoon.net spoke with director Adam McKay and he told us about the HBO show he's producing with Will Ferrell to star Danny McBride of The Foot Fist Way, which he's doing with that movie's co-creators Jody Hill and Ben Best. McKay mentioned that the title for the show was "Eastbound and Down" (which apparently is changing), but he didn't mention that both he and Ferrell would be directing episodes, something ComingSoon.net learned when we sat down with McBride to talk about his two new action-comedies, Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder.
We wanted to find out a bit more about the show about the "epic downwards spiral" of a major league pitcher who loses his fastball from its star, but Ferrell making his directorial debut was the big shocker that McBride explained to us. "This is going to be the beginning for him. It's going to be exciting, but him and McKay are going to tag team it. When they suggested that to him, I think a lot of people would be nervous, like, 'Oh sh*t,' but working with Will on 'Land of the Lost,' that dude has f*cking insane instincts, and he knows his sh*t. Will would come up with ideas in the scenes, and we'd be like, 'God that's such a great way to do that' and I fully trust that he'll be able to come in and knock it out."
"We're going to do a lot of improv; we did a lot on the pilot," he continued, explaining the mindset of making the show, "We didn't have any interest in selling it. We pitched this to all the networks, and everyone put a bid in on it, but we didn't have any interest in making something that was twenty-four episodes or anything. We wanted to keep it small like the British comedies are, and actually on 'Tropic Thunder' talking to Steve Coogan about the show, his advice was to keep it small. That way you don't have to turn the comedy into a formula, you don't have to hire a big staff to translate what you do, and it just becomes stilted then. He said, "Keep it small, and just keep people wanting more." And that's really how we wanted to approach the TV show for HBO, just look at it as a chance for us to make a three-hour movie that's going to just unfold over this many episodes, and if people like it, maybe we'll get to make a sequel to it next season."
McBride also told us that he'd be writing parts on the show for some of the comic stars he's been working with in his last couple movies, which could include anyone from Ferrell to Ben Stiller to Steve Coogan to Jack Black and many others. Jody Hill directed the pilot and will do a couple more episodes, while McKay, Ferrell and Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green will be helming the rest.
In the meantime, you can see McBride in Seth Rogen's Pineapple Express opening everywhere tomorrow, August 6, and in Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder, opening a week later on August 13, and of course, check back tomorrow for our full interview with McBride.
We wanted to find out a bit more about the show about the "epic downwards spiral" of a major league pitcher who loses his fastball from its star, but Ferrell making his directorial debut was the big shocker that McBride explained to us. "This is going to be the beginning for him. It's going to be exciting, but him and McKay are going to tag team it. When they suggested that to him, I think a lot of people would be nervous, like, 'Oh sh*t,' but working with Will on 'Land of the Lost,' that dude has f*cking insane instincts, and he knows his sh*t. Will would come up with ideas in the scenes, and we'd be like, 'God that's such a great way to do that' and I fully trust that he'll be able to come in and knock it out."
"We're going to do a lot of improv; we did a lot on the pilot," he continued, explaining the mindset of making the show, "We didn't have any interest in selling it. We pitched this to all the networks, and everyone put a bid in on it, but we didn't have any interest in making something that was twenty-four episodes or anything. We wanted to keep it small like the British comedies are, and actually on 'Tropic Thunder' talking to Steve Coogan about the show, his advice was to keep it small. That way you don't have to turn the comedy into a formula, you don't have to hire a big staff to translate what you do, and it just becomes stilted then. He said, "Keep it small, and just keep people wanting more." And that's really how we wanted to approach the TV show for HBO, just look at it as a chance for us to make a three-hour movie that's going to just unfold over this many episodes, and if people like it, maybe we'll get to make a sequel to it next season."
McBride also told us that he'd be writing parts on the show for some of the comic stars he's been working with in his last couple movies, which could include anyone from Ferrell to Ben Stiller to Steve Coogan to Jack Black and many others. Jody Hill directed the pilot and will do a couple more episodes, while McKay, Ferrell and Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green will be helming the rest.
In the meantime, you can see McBride in Seth Rogen's Pineapple Express opening everywhere tomorrow, August 6, and in Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder, opening a week later on August 13, and of course, check back tomorrow for our full interview with McBride.
The Dark Knight Reaches $400M in Record 18 Days
Warner Bros. Pictures' juggernaut The Dark Knight added yet another record on Monday as it passed up the $400 million in just 18 days. The previous record was held by Shrek 2, which needed 43 days to reach the mark, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which took 45 days.
The Dark Knight earned $6.28 million in 4,266 theaters on Monday, pushing the Christopher Nolan-directed Batman Begins follow-up to $400,031,000. The movie has climbed up to the 8th spot on the all-time domestic blockbuster list and will surpass Spider-Man ($403.7 million) on Tuesday for the 7th spot.
Internationally, the film has already earned $202.5 million while it has yet to open in some major markets. The worldwide total so far is $602.5 million.
The Dark Knight earned $6.28 million in 4,266 theaters on Monday, pushing the Christopher Nolan-directed Batman Begins follow-up to $400,031,000. The movie has climbed up to the 8th spot on the all-time domestic blockbuster list and will surpass Spider-Man ($403.7 million) on Tuesday for the 7th spot.
Internationally, the film has already earned $202.5 million while it has yet to open in some major markets. The worldwide total so far is $602.5 million.
Monday, August 4, 2008
More Batman Villain Buzz
Guess who's rumoured to play The Riddler and The Penguin?
Speculation on the villains for the next Batman film is coming thick and fast, with the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph throwing two new stars into the mix.
The paper, quoting "unnamed sources," says that Warner Bros. have targeted Johnny Depp to play The Riddler, and Philip Seymour Hoffman to take the role of The Penguin.
According to their source: "Producers are convinced that the role of The Riddler is perfect for Depp. Johnny's a pro. He'll be able to take direction and still make the character his own. And what better Penguin is there than Philip Seymour Hoffman?"
This comes off the back of the rumour we heard earlier this week that Angelina Jolie is interested it the role of Catwoman.
Bat-fans will remember that Jim Carey was the last actor to have a crack at playing the Riddler in Batman Forever, whilst Danny De Vito portrayed the villainous penguin in Batman Returns.
Speculation on the villains for the next Batman film is coming thick and fast, with the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph throwing two new stars into the mix.
The paper, quoting "unnamed sources," says that Warner Bros. have targeted Johnny Depp to play The Riddler, and Philip Seymour Hoffman to take the role of The Penguin.
According to their source: "Producers are convinced that the role of The Riddler is perfect for Depp. Johnny's a pro. He'll be able to take direction and still make the character his own. And what better Penguin is there than Philip Seymour Hoffman?"
This comes off the back of the rumour we heard earlier this week that Angelina Jolie is interested it the role of Catwoman.
Bat-fans will remember that Jim Carey was the last actor to have a crack at playing the Riddler in Batman Forever, whilst Danny De Vito portrayed the villainous penguin in Batman Returns.
Dark Knight Leaves The Mummy "In-2-mbed"
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Be sure to check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office.
It was touch and go for a day or so, but according to estimates, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) has won the weekend, narrowly defeating the third installment of the "Mummy" franchise, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Universal) starring Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello.
Racking up its third weekend at #1, The Dark Knight added an estimated $43.8 million to its staggering $395 million take after just seventeen days, putting it in line to cross the $400 million mark tomorrow, the first movie to ever make that amount in just 18 days. (Shrek 2 was previously the fastest movie to hit $400 million, which it grossed in 43 days, so "Dark Knight" did the same two and a half times faster.) Currently, The Dark Knight is the eighth-highest grossing movie of all-time and Warner Bros.' top grossing movie, but by this time next weekend, it's likely to be the fifth or sixth highest grossing movie domestically as it starts targeting Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. From there, it's only $70 million away from becoming only the second movie in over 80 years of filmmaking to gross $500 million domestically, not accounting for inflation.
Internationally, The Dark Knight added $37 million for a total of $202.5 million overseas and a worldwide total of $597.5 million.
Directed by new helmer Rob Cohen, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor brought in an estimated $42.5 million in its opening weekend in 3,759 theaters, an average of $11,300 per site. To put those numbers in perspective, the third "Mummy" movie grossed less its opening weekend than the original movie in 1999, while The Dark Knight made more in its THIRD weekend than Tim Burton's Batman made its opening weekend 19 years ago.
"Dragon Emperor" opened in first place internationally with $59.5 million at 3,559 theaters.
The Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly comedy Step Brothers (Sony) dropped 47% in its second weekend to bring in $16.3 million for third place with a gross of $63 million after ten days.
Universal Pictures' musical Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, continues to do well, making $13.1 million in its third weekend, an insignificant drop of 26%, to bring its total to $88 million over a production budget of $52 million.
Brendan Fraser's other big budget action/FX movie Journey to the Center of the Earth (New Line/Warner Bros.) dropped to fifth place with $6.9 million and a four-week gross of $73 million, putting it ahead of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army, which it opened against three weeks prior.
Kevin Costner's political comedy Swing Vote (Touchstone Pictures) failed to find Costner's regular audience, opening in sixth place with an estimated $6.3 million in 2,213 theatres, an average of just $2,847 per location. It is Costner's weakest opening since The Postman over ten years ago.(Costner's romantic comedy Rumor Has It with Jennifer Aniston opened on Christmas Sunday, giving it a single day opening weekend.)
On the other hand, Disney/Pixar's WALL•E crossed the $200 million mark in its sixth weekend in theaters, adding another $4.5 million as it dropped one notch to eighth place.
At #7, Will Smith's superhero flick Hancock brought in $5.2 million taking its own gross to $216 million.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe (20th Century Fox) plummeted 66%, dropping from #4 to #9 in its second weekend after an unimpressive opening gross. The Top 10 was rounded off by 20th Century Fox's animated movie Space Chimps with $2.8 million bringing its total to $22.1 million.
After multiple delays, Lionsgate finally released the horror-thriller Midnight Meat Train in 102 cut-price theaters where it grossed just $32,000, averaging an awful $313 per venue, which probably would be expected considering the obvious dump of the movie.
Doing better in limited release was Courtney Hunt's debut Frozen River, starring Melissa Leo, which was picked up by Sony Pictures Classics from this year's Sundance Film Festival after it won the Jury Prize; it averaged $10.5 thousand in 7 venues for an opening weekend of $73 thousand.
It was touch and go for a day or so, but according to estimates, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) has won the weekend, narrowly defeating the third installment of the "Mummy" franchise, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Universal) starring Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello.
Racking up its third weekend at #1, The Dark Knight added an estimated $43.8 million to its staggering $395 million take after just seventeen days, putting it in line to cross the $400 million mark tomorrow, the first movie to ever make that amount in just 18 days. (Shrek 2 was previously the fastest movie to hit $400 million, which it grossed in 43 days, so "Dark Knight" did the same two and a half times faster.) Currently, The Dark Knight is the eighth-highest grossing movie of all-time and Warner Bros.' top grossing movie, but by this time next weekend, it's likely to be the fifth or sixth highest grossing movie domestically as it starts targeting Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. From there, it's only $70 million away from becoming only the second movie in over 80 years of filmmaking to gross $500 million domestically, not accounting for inflation.
Internationally, The Dark Knight added $37 million for a total of $202.5 million overseas and a worldwide total of $597.5 million.
Directed by new helmer Rob Cohen, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor brought in an estimated $42.5 million in its opening weekend in 3,759 theaters, an average of $11,300 per site. To put those numbers in perspective, the third "Mummy" movie grossed less its opening weekend than the original movie in 1999, while The Dark Knight made more in its THIRD weekend than Tim Burton's Batman made its opening weekend 19 years ago.
"Dragon Emperor" opened in first place internationally with $59.5 million at 3,559 theaters.
The Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly comedy Step Brothers (Sony) dropped 47% in its second weekend to bring in $16.3 million for third place with a gross of $63 million after ten days.
Universal Pictures' musical Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, continues to do well, making $13.1 million in its third weekend, an insignificant drop of 26%, to bring its total to $88 million over a production budget of $52 million.
Brendan Fraser's other big budget action/FX movie Journey to the Center of the Earth (New Line/Warner Bros.) dropped to fifth place with $6.9 million and a four-week gross of $73 million, putting it ahead of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army, which it opened against three weeks prior.
Kevin Costner's political comedy Swing Vote (Touchstone Pictures) failed to find Costner's regular audience, opening in sixth place with an estimated $6.3 million in 2,213 theatres, an average of just $2,847 per location. It is Costner's weakest opening since The Postman over ten years ago.(Costner's romantic comedy Rumor Has It with Jennifer Aniston opened on Christmas Sunday, giving it a single day opening weekend.)
On the other hand, Disney/Pixar's WALL•E crossed the $200 million mark in its sixth weekend in theaters, adding another $4.5 million as it dropped one notch to eighth place.
At #7, Will Smith's superhero flick Hancock brought in $5.2 million taking its own gross to $216 million.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe (20th Century Fox) plummeted 66%, dropping from #4 to #9 in its second weekend after an unimpressive opening gross. The Top 10 was rounded off by 20th Century Fox's animated movie Space Chimps with $2.8 million bringing its total to $22.1 million.
After multiple delays, Lionsgate finally released the horror-thriller Midnight Meat Train in 102 cut-price theaters where it grossed just $32,000, averaging an awful $313 per venue, which probably would be expected considering the obvious dump of the movie.
Doing better in limited release was Courtney Hunt's debut Frozen River, starring Melissa Leo, which was picked up by Sony Pictures Classics from this year's Sundance Film Festival after it won the Jury Prize; it averaged $10.5 thousand in 7 venues for an opening weekend of $73 thousand.
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