Bloody-Disgusting reports that Universal Pictures is going to reboot Anne Rice's "The Vampire Chronicles" and is in talks with Robert Downey Jr. to play the vampire Lestat Du Lioncort!
Lestat was previously played by Tom Cruise in the 1994 adaptation of Rice's Interview with the Vampire, which co-starred Brad Pitt, Christian Slater and Kirsten Dunst. Stuart Townsend later played Lestat in the 2002 film Queen of the Damned, which co-starred Aaliyah and took elements from the author's "The Vampire Lestat" and "The Queen of the Damned."
The series of novels also includes "The Tale of the Body Thief," "Memnoch the Devil," "The Vampire Armand," "Pandora," "Merrick," "Blood and Gold," "Blackwood Farm" and "Blood Canticle."
Downey Jr. recently wrapped Iron Man 2 and has Sherlock Holmes arriving on Christmas Day.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Bryan Singer To Reboot Battlestar Galactica?
Entertainment Weekly has confirmed this report with Universal Pictures — Bryan Singer is signed on to direct a feature film version of Battlestar Galactica, which isn’t expected to be a continuation of the most recent Ron Moore Sci-Fi channel television show, but instead a complete re-imagining of the original 1970’s series. Original report follows below.
According to HitFix, Universal appear to be on the verge of engaging Bryan Singer to produce and also maybe direct a new Battlestar Galactica feature film. Quite a surprise, huh?
You may recall that before the Ron Moore TV series of recent years, Singer was working on a pilot for a reboot of the show himself (some Cylon concept art from their efforts is at the head of this post). That one was halted by in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001 after the Sci-Fi network became sensitive to similarities between the planned plot and real-life tragedy. Would Singer be looking to return to a similar storyline here? I think we can be pretty certain his film won’t be in any way tied into the recent series.
McWeeny is rather skeptical that Singer would sign up to direct a film based upon a premise still so fresh in the public consciousness, but I’m not so doubtful, personally. Would Universal really be the driving force here? I’d expect a conservative cautious studio to take some convincing that there was money here. Or maybe they just want some of that Star Trek dollar?
If Singer cares about this film as much as his history with the Galactica concept would suggest, I’d not at all be surprised to see him take on as much control as possible. So while there’s every chance he won’t direct, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it at all. After all, Superman Returns did fly in while Smallville was actually on the air.
This is almost certainly the same project that Peter blogged about in February, possibly a little mutated. At that time it seemed that the new movie would be tied in to the 1978 series and that original producer Glen Larson would be producing and working on the script. I’m guessing Singer was in orbit at that time, just that nobody caught on.
It seems, from where I’m standing, that there’s a core fanbase behind the recent Battlestar Galactica but across the public at large, just a vague awareness. This shouldn’t prevent a new version, of course, but I’d also expect it to create some minor confusion. If nothing else, it could ‘mistakenly’ shift a few copies of the recent DVDs to those who fall for the Singer movie.
One of the useful links in the HitFix article was to an interview from the unofficial Battlestar companion with Tom De Santo, Singer’s co-producer on the aborted 2001 series. He explains just how they would have tied in with the original series and, interestingly enough, it would have been a straight sequel with, for example, Dirk Benedict coming back to reprise the role of Starbuck. Now… they won’t try that again, will they? No… of course not… right?
According to HitFix, Universal appear to be on the verge of engaging Bryan Singer to produce and also maybe direct a new Battlestar Galactica feature film. Quite a surprise, huh?
You may recall that before the Ron Moore TV series of recent years, Singer was working on a pilot for a reboot of the show himself (some Cylon concept art from their efforts is at the head of this post). That one was halted by in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001 after the Sci-Fi network became sensitive to similarities between the planned plot and real-life tragedy. Would Singer be looking to return to a similar storyline here? I think we can be pretty certain his film won’t be in any way tied into the recent series.
McWeeny is rather skeptical that Singer would sign up to direct a film based upon a premise still so fresh in the public consciousness, but I’m not so doubtful, personally. Would Universal really be the driving force here? I’d expect a conservative cautious studio to take some convincing that there was money here. Or maybe they just want some of that Star Trek dollar?
If Singer cares about this film as much as his history with the Galactica concept would suggest, I’d not at all be surprised to see him take on as much control as possible. So while there’s every chance he won’t direct, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it at all. After all, Superman Returns did fly in while Smallville was actually on the air.
This is almost certainly the same project that Peter blogged about in February, possibly a little mutated. At that time it seemed that the new movie would be tied in to the 1978 series and that original producer Glen Larson would be producing and working on the script. I’m guessing Singer was in orbit at that time, just that nobody caught on.
It seems, from where I’m standing, that there’s a core fanbase behind the recent Battlestar Galactica but across the public at large, just a vague awareness. This shouldn’t prevent a new version, of course, but I’d also expect it to create some minor confusion. If nothing else, it could ‘mistakenly’ shift a few copies of the recent DVDs to those who fall for the Singer movie.
One of the useful links in the HitFix article was to an interview from the unofficial Battlestar companion with Tom De Santo, Singer’s co-producer on the aborted 2001 series. He explains just how they would have tied in with the original series and, interestingly enough, it would have been a straight sequel with, for example, Dirk Benedict coming back to reprise the role of Starbuck. Now… they won’t try that again, will they? No… of course not… right?
St. Elmo's Fire is Coming to ABC
ABC is developing "St. Elmo's Fire," a contemporary take on the 1985 movie that launched the filmmaking career of Joel Schumacher, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The network landed the dramedy series project, executive produced by Schumacher, Topher Grace, Dan Bucatinsky and Jamie Tarses and to be written by Bucatinsky.
The film starred Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham as friends who had just graduated from Georgetown University and chronicled their adjustment to adulthood.
The series version will use the movie as a takeoff point and as an inspiration as it introduces six new friends: three boys and three girls.
What will remain is the setting -- Georgetown and St. Elmo's Bar & Restaurant, now called St. Elmo's Bar & Grill, where the friends hang out.
The network landed the dramedy series project, executive produced by Schumacher, Topher Grace, Dan Bucatinsky and Jamie Tarses and to be written by Bucatinsky.
The film starred Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham as friends who had just graduated from Georgetown University and chronicled their adjustment to adulthood.
The series version will use the movie as a takeoff point and as an inspiration as it introduces six new friends: three boys and three girls.
What will remain is the setting -- Georgetown and St. Elmo's Bar & Restaurant, now called St. Elmo's Bar & Grill, where the friends hang out.
Happy Madison Making Rick Dempsey Comedy
Columbia Pictures and Happy Madison have acquired a script by Johnathon Schaech, Josh Wolf and Richard Chizmar that comedically explores an incident in the life of ex-Baltimore Orioles player Rick Dempsey, whose Little League coach turned out to be a bank robber.
Variety says the script was written with input from Dempsey, the scrappy ballplayer who was named MVP of the 1983 World Series.
"Our pitch was, it's 'Catch Me if You Can' meets 'Bad News Bears' with a touch of 'Bad Santa,'" Schaech said.
Dempsey's coach, John Jennings, steered the team to a Little League World Championship in 1963, did time for his crimes and died of cancer after his release from prison.
Variety says the script was written with input from Dempsey, the scrappy ballplayer who was named MVP of the 1983 World Series.
"Our pitch was, it's 'Catch Me if You Can' meets 'Bad News Bears' with a touch of 'Bad Santa,'" Schaech said.
Dempsey's coach, John Jennings, steered the team to a Little League World Championship in 1963, did time for his crimes and died of cancer after his release from prison.
Alex Holmes Steering DeLorean Biopic
Alex Holmes has been hired to direct a biopic of car designer John DeLorean that Time Inc. Studios and XYZ Films will produce.
Holmes, who most recently wrote and directed the HBO and BBC miniseries "House of Saddam," developed the DeLorean script with co-writer Rob Warr. They had previously collaborated on the BBC TV series "Dunkirk."
The DeLorean film will tell the story of how the auto industry maverick's glamorous life came crashing down when he was caught in an FBI drug trafficking sting, only to be acquitted on grounds of entrapment.
Holmes envisions the pic as a crime thriller with a tragic hero at its heart.
Holmes, who most recently wrote and directed the HBO and BBC miniseries "House of Saddam," developed the DeLorean script with co-writer Rob Warr. They had previously collaborated on the BBC TV series "Dunkirk."
The DeLorean film will tell the story of how the auto industry maverick's glamorous life came crashing down when he was caught in an FBI drug trafficking sting, only to be acquitted on grounds of entrapment.
Holmes envisions the pic as a crime thriller with a tragic hero at its heart.
Tin Cup Director Goes to Q School
Tin Cup director Ron Shelton has signed for Q School, a golf comedy he will direct based on a script he co-wrote with "Cup" collaborator John Norville.
Dennis Quaid and Tim Allen are eyeing starring roles in the project, which David Friendly is producing via his Friendly Films Productions. The indie aims to start shooting in the spring.
"School" is described as a comedy in which a group of hopefuls battle it out in a competition to make the PGA Tour, with both their game and their personal lives sometimes ending up in the drink along the way.
Shelton's credits include Bull Durham and White Men Can't Jump.
Dennis Quaid and Tim Allen are eyeing starring roles in the project, which David Friendly is producing via his Friendly Films Productions. The indie aims to start shooting in the spring.
"School" is described as a comedy in which a group of hopefuls battle it out in a competition to make the PGA Tour, with both their game and their personal lives sometimes ending up in the drink along the way.
Shelton's credits include Bull Durham and White Men Can't Jump.
Predators to Start Filming Sept. 28
Production Weekly says that director Nimrod Antal is scheduled to beging filming Predators on September 28 at Robert Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas.
Produced by Rodriguez, the new film is said to involve a very intense group of people stranded on a Predator planet discovering unspeakable horrors - that are not always from outside their group.
20th Century Fox is releasing the sci-fi action-adventure, written by Alex Litvak and Michael Finch, on July 7, 2010.
Produced by Rodriguez, the new film is said to involve a very intense group of people stranded on a Predator planet discovering unspeakable horrors - that are not always from outside their group.
20th Century Fox is releasing the sci-fi action-adventure, written by Alex Litvak and Michael Finch, on July 7, 2010.
Fall Out Boy Are Taking A Break ... Unless Sealand Calls
'I wanna play the first fest in Sealand,' Pete Wentz says of the micro-nation off the coast of England.
By now, you're probably aware that after they wrap up their tour with Blink-182, Fall Out Boy are taking a well-deserved break. They've got no obligations to fulfill, no videos to shoot, no arenas to pack. Basically, 2010 is gonna be a very mellow year in FOB land.
Unless, of course, they get a call from the Principality of Sealand, that is. Then all bets are off.
"Yo, I want to go to Sealand. ... That is the craziest kind of story ever! I wanna play the first fest in Sealand," FOB bassist Pete Wentz laughed. "The only thing I'm worried about is that the dude may shoot us, and I know we'll be paid in native currency. We'll be like, 'We want 1 million Sealand bucks,' and he'll be like, 'I'll double it. I'll give you 2 million,' because the dude is just printing them."
For the uninitiated (which, we're assuming, is probably 99.8 percent of you), Sealand is a sovereign principality founded on an abandoned British sea fort in 1967 by radio broadcaster and British Army Major Paddy Roy Bates. For more than 40 years, Bates (who calls himself "Prince Roy of Sealand") has operated the fort as an independent micro-nation, printing currency and passports, surviving forcible takeovers and firing upon any vessel that dares enter his sovereign territory. And since Sealand is located in international waters — 6 miles off the southeast coast of England, outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom — the rest of the world has basically allowed Bates to do whatever he wants.
So, obviously, as soon as Wentz heard about Sealand, he decided that Fall Out Boy had to play there, no matter the cost (remember, this is the same guy who dragged his band and an entire camera crew to the southernmost point of Chile in a failed attempt to play a show in Antarctica, just because he wanted to get in the "Guinness Book of World Records"). The only problem is, after FOB's October 4 show with Blink at Madison Square Garden, they're basically done for the foreseeable future.
Of course, if Bates were to contact him, that would change in a heartbeat. Wentz promised that he would convince his FOB mates to shelve the hiatus and play their comeback show in the Principality of Sealand. And, yes, he is 100 percent serious about this.
"Of course, we would totally do it," he said. "As long as passports, safe entry and a lot of Sealand bucks are guaranteed."
By now, you're probably aware that after they wrap up their tour with Blink-182, Fall Out Boy are taking a well-deserved break. They've got no obligations to fulfill, no videos to shoot, no arenas to pack. Basically, 2010 is gonna be a very mellow year in FOB land.
Unless, of course, they get a call from the Principality of Sealand, that is. Then all bets are off.
"Yo, I want to go to Sealand. ... That is the craziest kind of story ever! I wanna play the first fest in Sealand," FOB bassist Pete Wentz laughed. "The only thing I'm worried about is that the dude may shoot us, and I know we'll be paid in native currency. We'll be like, 'We want 1 million Sealand bucks,' and he'll be like, 'I'll double it. I'll give you 2 million,' because the dude is just printing them."
For the uninitiated (which, we're assuming, is probably 99.8 percent of you), Sealand is a sovereign principality founded on an abandoned British sea fort in 1967 by radio broadcaster and British Army Major Paddy Roy Bates. For more than 40 years, Bates (who calls himself "Prince Roy of Sealand") has operated the fort as an independent micro-nation, printing currency and passports, surviving forcible takeovers and firing upon any vessel that dares enter his sovereign territory. And since Sealand is located in international waters — 6 miles off the southeast coast of England, outside the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom — the rest of the world has basically allowed Bates to do whatever he wants.
So, obviously, as soon as Wentz heard about Sealand, he decided that Fall Out Boy had to play there, no matter the cost (remember, this is the same guy who dragged his band and an entire camera crew to the southernmost point of Chile in a failed attempt to play a show in Antarctica, just because he wanted to get in the "Guinness Book of World Records"). The only problem is, after FOB's October 4 show with Blink at Madison Square Garden, they're basically done for the foreseeable future.
Of course, if Bates were to contact him, that would change in a heartbeat. Wentz promised that he would convince his FOB mates to shelve the hiatus and play their comeback show in the Principality of Sealand. And, yes, he is 100 percent serious about this.
"Of course, we would totally do it," he said. "As long as passports, safe entry and a lot of Sealand bucks are guaranteed."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Poltergeist Remake Gets a Release Date
For the last year now, we’ve been hearing rumblings of a Poltergeist remake over at MGM. Last August we told you that the studio had hired Juliet Snowden and Stiles White, the team behind the modern horror classic (sarcasm) Boogeyman to write the screenplay. And we soon after learned that House of Sand and Fog director Vadim Perelmen was in talks to helm the unnecessary remake.
But until a release date is announced, I sometimes tend to convince myself that these projects could easily find their way into the depths of development hell. Until there is a production start, or a release date, the movie really doesn’t exist. Well, I have some bad news. MGM has announced a release date. According to Shock, the “studio” has slated the haunted house remake for November 24th 2010. No further details have been released at this time.
Tobe Hooper’s 1982 film was co-written, produced and highly supervised by Steven Spielberg, and told the story of a family’s haunted home which had been built over an Indian burial ground. The film is notorious for it’s PG rating, which it obtained after an appeal to the MPAA. The movie spawned two sequels, neither of which were as acclaimed or as successful as the original.
Perelman debuted with 2003’s House of Sand and Fog, a well received literary adaptation that garnered three Oscar nominations, including a Best Actor nod for Ben Kingsley. In addition to Boogeyman, Snowden and White’s screenwriting credits also include the remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds for M.Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Alex Proyas’ Knowing.
But until a release date is announced, I sometimes tend to convince myself that these projects could easily find their way into the depths of development hell. Until there is a production start, or a release date, the movie really doesn’t exist. Well, I have some bad news. MGM has announced a release date. According to Shock, the “studio” has slated the haunted house remake for November 24th 2010. No further details have been released at this time.
Tobe Hooper’s 1982 film was co-written, produced and highly supervised by Steven Spielberg, and told the story of a family’s haunted home which had been built over an Indian burial ground. The film is notorious for it’s PG rating, which it obtained after an appeal to the MPAA. The movie spawned two sequels, neither of which were as acclaimed or as successful as the original.
Perelman debuted with 2003’s House of Sand and Fog, a well received literary adaptation that garnered three Oscar nominations, including a Best Actor nod for Ben Kingsley. In addition to Boogeyman, Snowden and White’s screenwriting credits also include the remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds for M.Bay’s Platinum Dunes and Alex Proyas’ Knowing.
Big Ben chimes again: Pistons re-sign Wallace
Ben Wallace says he was very close to retiring before deciding to rejoin the Detroit Pistons.
After three seasons away from Detroit, the four-time All Star signed a free-agent contract Wednesday with the Pistons. Wallace won an NBA title with Detroit in 2004 and went back to the finals in 2005.
In July 2006, he signed a free-agent deal with Chicago, and was traded to Cleveland in 2008. This summer, he was traded to Phoenix in the Shaquille O'Neal trade, only to have his contract bought out by the Suns.
Wallace said he considered retirement, but said that his good memories from Detroit and encouragement from former teammates Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince helped him decide to come back.
After three seasons away from Detroit, the four-time All Star signed a free-agent contract Wednesday with the Pistons. Wallace won an NBA title with Detroit in 2004 and went back to the finals in 2005.
In July 2006, he signed a free-agent deal with Chicago, and was traded to Cleveland in 2008. This summer, he was traded to Phoenix in the Shaquille O'Neal trade, only to have his contract bought out by the Suns.
Wallace said he considered retirement, but said that his good memories from Detroit and encouragement from former teammates Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince helped him decide to come back.
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