Rourke and Rockwell are the Iron Man 2 Villains!
Source: The Hollywood Reporter January 7, 2009
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon) are in talks to star as the villains in Marvel Studios' Iron Man 2, being directed by Jon Favreau from a script by Justin Theroux, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
THR says that Rourke would play a tattooed Russian heavy named Ivan who becomes a man with deadly, technologically enhanced coils. Variety adds that Rourke would play the Crimson Dynamo. "He's considered to be an evil version of Iron Man because he battles the superhero in a nuclear-powered suit of armor," says the trade.
Rockwell would play Justin Hammer, a multibillionaire businessman and a rival of industrialist Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, being played by a returning Robert Downey Jr.
Rourke and Rockwell would be joining a cast that also includes the returning Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle, who is replacing Terrence Howard.
Another part -- one for Stark's assistant Natasha -- is still open.
The project is eyeing a spring start in Manhattan Beach. Paramount will release the movie May 7, 2010.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Scrubs' Janitor Cleans Up as Patricia Heaton's Sitcom Hubby
Sacred Heart's resident janitor is scrubbing into a new role. Scrubs star Neil Flynn has been tapped to play Patricia Heaton's husband in ABC's sitcom pilot, The Middle, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
The family comedy will focus on Flynn's and Heaton's middle-class characters struggling to raise their three children in Middle America.
Flynn's casting comes on the heels of Scrubs' eighth season premiere on ABC Tuesday night, which is likely to be its last.
The actor was most recently seen in May's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Heaton last graced the boob tube on Fox's Back to You with Kelsey Grammer — who has landed his own ABC pilot.
The family comedy will focus on Flynn's and Heaton's middle-class characters struggling to raise their three children in Middle America.
Flynn's casting comes on the heels of Scrubs' eighth season premiere on ABC Tuesday night, which is likely to be its last.
The actor was most recently seen in May's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Heaton last graced the boob tube on Fox's Back to You with Kelsey Grammer — who has landed his own ABC pilot.
Kelsey Grammer Goes Corporate for ABC Sitcom
Frasier and Back to You alum Kelsey Grammer is coming back to TV.
The five-time Emmy winner has signed on to headline a sitcom for ABC, Variety reports. To be shot multi-camera, the as-yet-untitled series will center around Grammer's corporate executive who reconnects with his family after losing his cushy job.
Grammer will executive produce the show with Good Humor TV's Tom Werner and Mike Clements, and Tucker Cawley (Everybody Loves Raymond). Cawley is writing the pilot.
This is the actor's second pilot for the Alphabet. His adaptation of the British sitcom Roman's Empire failed to make their schedule this year.
Grammer was last seen on TV on Fox's Back to You, which was axed after one season in May.
The five-time Emmy winner has signed on to headline a sitcom for ABC, Variety reports. To be shot multi-camera, the as-yet-untitled series will center around Grammer's corporate executive who reconnects with his family after losing his cushy job.
Grammer will executive produce the show with Good Humor TV's Tom Werner and Mike Clements, and Tucker Cawley (Everybody Loves Raymond). Cawley is writing the pilot.
This is the actor's second pilot for the Alphabet. His adaptation of the British sitcom Roman's Empire failed to make their schedule this year.
Grammer was last seen on TV on Fox's Back to You, which was axed after one season in May.
CBS Books Return Engagement for Rules of Engagement
CBS has set a Monday, March 2, premiere date for the third season of Rules of Engagement.
Starring Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price, Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich and David Spade, the sitcom last season averaged nearly 11 million viewers. Once again, it will air Mondays at 9:30, leading out of Two and a Half Men.
(Have I ever done for you my shtick on how the titles of most of CBS' Monday sitcoms have "expiration dates"? I mean, Ted will meet the mother one day, there soon will be three men, and Rules' Adam and Jennifer will eventually tie the knot. But I digress.)
As previously and exclusively reported by TVGuidecom, this season's guest stars will include Brian Dennehy, playing Warburton's dad.
Starring Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price, Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich and David Spade, the sitcom last season averaged nearly 11 million viewers. Once again, it will air Mondays at 9:30, leading out of Two and a Half Men.
(Have I ever done for you my shtick on how the titles of most of CBS' Monday sitcoms have "expiration dates"? I mean, Ted will meet the mother one day, there soon will be three men, and Rules' Adam and Jennifer will eventually tie the knot. But I digress.)
As previously and exclusively reported by TVGuidecom, this season's guest stars will include Brian Dennehy, playing Warburton's dad.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Horton Helmer Directing Jonah Hex
Jimmy Hayward, who directed the animated Horton Hears a Who! will make his live-action debut with Jonah Hex, the Warner Bros. western based on the DC Comics character.
Josh Brolin is attached to star in the film, which previously had Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank) on board as directors. The duo, who also wrote the script, bowed out over creative differences in November.
The studio hopes to put the movie into production in March or April.
The character of Hex, known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform, was a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood. One incarnation of his comic book series saw the Western genre combined with supernatural elements, and it's this aspect that was featured in Neveldine and Taylor's script.
Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance and Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road are producing.
Josh Brolin is attached to star in the film, which previously had Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank) on board as directors. The duo, who also wrote the script, bowed out over creative differences in November.
The studio hopes to put the movie into production in March or April.
The character of Hex, known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform, was a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood. One incarnation of his comic book series saw the Western genre combined with supernatural elements, and it's this aspect that was featured in Neveldine and Taylor's script.
Andrew Lazar's Mad Chance and Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road are producing.
NBC's in Tune with Jared Bush's Soundtrack
NBC is developing writer Jared Bush's music-themed drama project "Soundtrack," reports Variety. The hourlong script revolves around a misguided man whose life begins being accompanied by the music in his head.
In "Soundtrack," the lead character has lost his job and his ex-girlfriend has gotten engaged to someone else. That's when he starts to hear the music -- the same, iconic song, over and over again, which doesn't go away until he figures out its significance -- and then it's on to the next track.
"I was trying to find a way to combine TV and music in an organic way," Bush said. "What we come to realize in the show is this guy has been given an opportunity to start his life over, and this music will help him find a way to become truly happy."
Bush's TV credits include "All of Us," "Baby Bob" and "Still Standing." More recently, he's been busy in the features world, writing the movie Giants for Sony and doing a rewrite of American Neurotic.
In "Soundtrack," the lead character has lost his job and his ex-girlfriend has gotten engaged to someone else. That's when he starts to hear the music -- the same, iconic song, over and over again, which doesn't go away until he figures out its significance -- and then it's on to the next track.
"I was trying to find a way to combine TV and music in an organic way," Bush said. "What we come to realize in the show is this guy has been given an opportunity to start his life over, and this music will help him find a way to become truly happy."
Bush's TV credits include "All of Us," "Baby Bob" and "Still Standing." More recently, he's been busy in the features world, writing the movie Giants for Sony and doing a rewrite of American Neurotic.
HBO Joins Remake of British Series Shameless
HBO is teaming with Warner Bros. and writer-producer John Wells on a U.S. version of the British iconic blue-collar TV drama "Shameless," says Vareity.
The move follows protracted talks between the series' creator British screenwriter Paul Abbott, Wells and various U.S. networks in recent years including NBC, which at one point was poised to remake "Shameless" starring Woody Harrelson.
In the British version, set on a public housing estate in the northern English city of Manchester, the leading character is feckless but lovable Frank, an alcohol and drug abuser living on the margins of society who is the head of the chaotic Gallagher clan.
The move follows protracted talks between the series' creator British screenwriter Paul Abbott, Wells and various U.S. networks in recent years including NBC, which at one point was poised to remake "Shameless" starring Woody Harrelson.
In the British version, set on a public housing estate in the northern English city of Manchester, the leading character is feckless but lovable Frank, an alcohol and drug abuser living on the margins of society who is the head of the chaotic Gallagher clan.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Paramore's Hayley Williams On Next LP: 'I've Got A Lot That I Want To Get Out'
'We're trying to figure out how far we can go with it but still keep it Paramore,' bassist Jeremy Davis says.
It sounds like we're getting close to a new Paramore album. Or, you know, at least closer.
For months, Paramore have maintained that they were in "the very early stages" (or,"stage 0.5," to be exact) of work on the follow-up to their Riot! album, with guitarist Josh Farro working on "tons of ideas" and frontwoman Hayley Williams penning fragments of lyrics based on the rather tumultuous year the band has endured.
But nothing appeared to be set in stone. Then, in early December, Williams told Spin magazine that the band had decided to record the album in Nashville and hoped to have it in stores by next summer. So, when MTV News caught up with the band backstage at KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas in Los Angeles, we decided to get a status update. And it sounds like things are finally starting to come together.
"[We've been getting inspired by] life, really. It's not one specific instance or record or book or anything. We're constantly taking in new music — that's what we're passionate about — but I think life has given us a lot to say, and I'm really excited," Williams said. "Josh has been writing really cool riffs and really cool music that I can't wait to write over. Lyrically, I think it's going to be a very different record — we've learned a lot about relationships and friendships and life in general, and I'm stoked because I don't really know what I'm going to say about it, but I've got a lot that I want to get out."
And just what will the album sound like? Well, Farro wouldn't say, but according to bassist Jeremy Davis, it could be an all-over-the-map affair. Or, you know, just another Paramore album.
"I think everyone's just growing, you know? Growing up. And I feel like we all kind of know what the Paramore sound is, but we're all experimenting and trying to figure out how far we can go with it but still keep it Paramore," he said. "We've all been getting into different music ourselves, which is just going to be better in the long run. When we get into the studio, there's going to be a lot more different things going on."
When the band does head into the studio in '09, it sounds like it's going to be all business — which is only more good news for Paramore fans hungering for a new album.
"I mean, this last record did really well, and it's not that we didn't appreciate it, but we always want to do better," drummer Zac Farro said. "Just because we did well on the last one, we don't think we can go in and make a great record without having to try. We're going to work just as hard, if not harder, this time around."
It sounds like we're getting close to a new Paramore album. Or, you know, at least closer.
For months, Paramore have maintained that they were in "the very early stages" (or,"stage 0.5," to be exact) of work on the follow-up to their Riot! album, with guitarist Josh Farro working on "tons of ideas" and frontwoman Hayley Williams penning fragments of lyrics based on the rather tumultuous year the band has endured.
But nothing appeared to be set in stone. Then, in early December, Williams told Spin magazine that the band had decided to record the album in Nashville and hoped to have it in stores by next summer. So, when MTV News caught up with the band backstage at KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas in Los Angeles, we decided to get a status update. And it sounds like things are finally starting to come together.
"[We've been getting inspired by] life, really. It's not one specific instance or record or book or anything. We're constantly taking in new music — that's what we're passionate about — but I think life has given us a lot to say, and I'm really excited," Williams said. "Josh has been writing really cool riffs and really cool music that I can't wait to write over. Lyrically, I think it's going to be a very different record — we've learned a lot about relationships and friendships and life in general, and I'm stoked because I don't really know what I'm going to say about it, but I've got a lot that I want to get out."
And just what will the album sound like? Well, Farro wouldn't say, but according to bassist Jeremy Davis, it could be an all-over-the-map affair. Or, you know, just another Paramore album.
"I think everyone's just growing, you know? Growing up. And I feel like we all kind of know what the Paramore sound is, but we're all experimenting and trying to figure out how far we can go with it but still keep it Paramore," he said. "We've all been getting into different music ourselves, which is just going to be better in the long run. When we get into the studio, there's going to be a lot more different things going on."
When the band does head into the studio in '09, it sounds like it's going to be all business — which is only more good news for Paramore fans hungering for a new album.
"I mean, this last record did really well, and it's not that we didn't appreciate it, but we always want to do better," drummer Zac Farro said. "Just because we did well on the last one, we don't think we can go in and make a great record without having to try. We're going to work just as hard, if not harder, this time around."
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Michael Cera Is the Lone Holdout For Arrested Development Movie?
A month ago, Jeffrey Tambor revealed that the Arrested Development film was a go. But despite Tambor’s positivity, many still had doubts about whether or not series creator could get the cast back together for one final cinematic hurrah.
It now appears that those doubts were somewhat unfounded: In a recent interview with Fancast (via Collider), Hurwitz was asked straight up about rumors that Will Arnett and Michael Cera were the only remaining two holdouts for the film. Hurwitz responded:
I don’t want to talk about who is holding out right now because we might still work that out and I don’t want to pressure anyone through the press. Although I will say that Will Arnett is gung-ho, so there’s a big clue!
Bateman and Tambor have already publicly expressed support for the film, and I can’t imagine that Arrested co-stars Alia Shawkat, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Tony Hale, and Jessica Walter are much more busy than they are. This seems to imply that Cera is the lone holdout for the casting of the film, and given Cera’s previous remarks about the possibility of a film, his involvement will probably be a toss-up.
Hurwitz also revealed that he was waiting to write the script until the casting was complete, but that he was already kicking around some ideas for the film:
I think in some respect it would have to pick up where the show left off. Maybe the benefit of that would be, if nothing else, just to recap everything. There are a couple of ways to get into it. I was even thinking about a big animated sequence to start. Kind of like how the Blake Edwards movies used to start - to kind of catch everyone up.
Perhaps more significantly, Hurwitz predicted that if casting for the film doesn’t work out, there’s a real possibility the Bluth family could return in online form, or as a straight-to-DVD movie:
It’s too much fun for us all. The fans have been so supportive and so sincere in their fondness for it. That’s really the big motivation to make the film. It sounds kind of corny…It’s not like it’s going to pay very much! It’s a really low budget film and it’s going to be a ton of work, but it just kind of feels like…well, people are so great about responding to this.
It now appears that those doubts were somewhat unfounded: In a recent interview with Fancast (via Collider), Hurwitz was asked straight up about rumors that Will Arnett and Michael Cera were the only remaining two holdouts for the film. Hurwitz responded:
I don’t want to talk about who is holding out right now because we might still work that out and I don’t want to pressure anyone through the press. Although I will say that Will Arnett is gung-ho, so there’s a big clue!
Bateman and Tambor have already publicly expressed support for the film, and I can’t imagine that Arrested co-stars Alia Shawkat, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Tony Hale, and Jessica Walter are much more busy than they are. This seems to imply that Cera is the lone holdout for the casting of the film, and given Cera’s previous remarks about the possibility of a film, his involvement will probably be a toss-up.
Hurwitz also revealed that he was waiting to write the script until the casting was complete, but that he was already kicking around some ideas for the film:
I think in some respect it would have to pick up where the show left off. Maybe the benefit of that would be, if nothing else, just to recap everything. There are a couple of ways to get into it. I was even thinking about a big animated sequence to start. Kind of like how the Blake Edwards movies used to start - to kind of catch everyone up.
Perhaps more significantly, Hurwitz predicted that if casting for the film doesn’t work out, there’s a real possibility the Bluth family could return in online form, or as a straight-to-DVD movie:
It’s too much fun for us all. The fans have been so supportive and so sincere in their fondness for it. That’s really the big motivation to make the film. It sounds kind of corny…It’s not like it’s going to pay very much! It’s a really low budget film and it’s going to be a ton of work, but it just kind of feels like…well, people are so great about responding to this.
Marley is Best in Show
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend.
With four of five new wide releases performing strong this weekend, Hollywood ended the year on a high note as the top 12 movies took in $182.5 million, up 8 perfect from the same weekend in 2007.
Topping the list was 20th Century Fox's Marley & Me, which earned an estimated $37 million from 3,480 theaters for an average of $10,632 per location. The dramedy, based on John Grogan's best-seller, set a new Christmas Day record with $14.7 million on Thursday, surpassing 2001's Ali ($10.2 million) - a record also broken by fellow newcomers The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($12 million) and Bedtime Stories ($10.5 million). Starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, Marley & Me has collected an impressive $51.7 million in four days.
Adam Sandler's new adventure comedy Bedtime Stories took second place with $28.1 million from 3,681 theaters, an average of $7,625 per site. The Walt Disney Pictures release has made $38.6 million since opening on Christmas Day.
Coming in close at No. 3 was David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. The drama about a man aging backwards collected $27 million over the three days from 2,988 theaters, averaging $9,036. Budgeted for about $150 million, the Paramount film topped Bedtime Stories for the four days with $39 milion.
Bryan Singer's new WWII thriller Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise, debuted in the fourth spot with $21.5 million from 2,711 theaters. The United Artists pic averaged $7,942 over the three days and has garnered $30 million since opening on Thursday.
Warner Bros. Pictures' Yes Man dipped just 9.9% in sales, adding $16.5 million its second weekend for a total of $49.6 million. It was followed in sixth place by Sony's Seven Pounds, which also dropped just 9.8% and earned $13.4 million for a two-week total of $39 million, and Universal's The Tale of Despereaux, which saw a drop of just 7.3% and another $9.4 million for a total of $27.9 million after two weeks.
Fox's The Day the Earth Stood Still made $7.9 million its third weekend to bring its total to $63.6 million. The Keanu Reeves starrer cost about $80 million to make.
Frank Miller's adaptation of Will Eisner's comic book The Spirit earned $6.5 million over the weekend and $10.4 million for the four days. The Lionsgate adaptation stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Eva Mendes, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Jaime King and Scarlett Johansson.
John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis, was expanded into wide release and rounded out the top 10. The drama, based on Shanley's play, brought in $5.7 million from 1,267 theaters and averaged $4,479. It has earned $8.83 million after three weeks.
In limited release, Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road, reuniting Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates, earned an impressive $192,000 from just three theaters, while Overture Films' Last Chance Harvey, with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, made $96,000 from six theaters for a total of $132,000, and Sony Pictures Classics' Waltz with Bashir collected $51,200 from five theaters for a total of $55,100.
With four of five new wide releases performing strong this weekend, Hollywood ended the year on a high note as the top 12 movies took in $182.5 million, up 8 perfect from the same weekend in 2007.
Topping the list was 20th Century Fox's Marley & Me, which earned an estimated $37 million from 3,480 theaters for an average of $10,632 per location. The dramedy, based on John Grogan's best-seller, set a new Christmas Day record with $14.7 million on Thursday, surpassing 2001's Ali ($10.2 million) - a record also broken by fellow newcomers The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($12 million) and Bedtime Stories ($10.5 million). Starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, Marley & Me has collected an impressive $51.7 million in four days.
Adam Sandler's new adventure comedy Bedtime Stories took second place with $28.1 million from 3,681 theaters, an average of $7,625 per site. The Walt Disney Pictures release has made $38.6 million since opening on Christmas Day.
Coming in close at No. 3 was David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. The drama about a man aging backwards collected $27 million over the three days from 2,988 theaters, averaging $9,036. Budgeted for about $150 million, the Paramount film topped Bedtime Stories for the four days with $39 milion.
Bryan Singer's new WWII thriller Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise, debuted in the fourth spot with $21.5 million from 2,711 theaters. The United Artists pic averaged $7,942 over the three days and has garnered $30 million since opening on Thursday.
Warner Bros. Pictures' Yes Man dipped just 9.9% in sales, adding $16.5 million its second weekend for a total of $49.6 million. It was followed in sixth place by Sony's Seven Pounds, which also dropped just 9.8% and earned $13.4 million for a two-week total of $39 million, and Universal's The Tale of Despereaux, which saw a drop of just 7.3% and another $9.4 million for a total of $27.9 million after two weeks.
Fox's The Day the Earth Stood Still made $7.9 million its third weekend to bring its total to $63.6 million. The Keanu Reeves starrer cost about $80 million to make.
Frank Miller's adaptation of Will Eisner's comic book The Spirit earned $6.5 million over the weekend and $10.4 million for the four days. The Lionsgate adaptation stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Eva Mendes, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Jaime King and Scarlett Johansson.
John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis, was expanded into wide release and rounded out the top 10. The drama, based on Shanley's play, brought in $5.7 million from 1,267 theaters and averaged $4,479. It has earned $8.83 million after three weeks.
In limited release, Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road, reuniting Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates, earned an impressive $192,000 from just three theaters, while Overture Films' Last Chance Harvey, with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, made $96,000 from six theaters for a total of $132,000, and Sony Pictures Classics' Waltz with Bashir collected $51,200 from five theaters for a total of $55,100.
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