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'Transformers' Kurtzman to Direct Dysfunctional Family Drama
Filed under: Drama, Deals, Scripts, Newsstand, Dreamworks, Steven Spielberg
It seems like just yesterday when Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci, the screenwriters for summer smashes like Star Trek, Transformers (2007) and its 2009 sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, were in the trades every other day with new projects. A Star Trek sequel! Cowboys and Aliens! A view-master movie! Instead, Kurtzman's been given the go-ahead by DreamWorks and Steven Spielberg to direct his first full-length feature, Welcome to People, which is based on a script he wrote with Orci and director Jody Lambert. According to Vulture, Kurtzman decided to pitch his old script once he and Orci got hot in Hollywood, lest he be relegated to genre flicks.
Welcome to People is definitely not action or alien-friendly, according to what Vulture and other outlets like Heat Vision are describing.
Vulture reports:
Will an old script that they're getting made by virtue of their success on other projects really fly? Although Kurtzman and Orci have proved their value on action/sci-fi fare, Welcome to People sounds melodramatic and what younger screenwriters come up with a la Zach Braff's Garden State where everyone takes themselves very seriously and there's a type of everything-and-the-kitchen-sink dysfunction junction. Then again, Steven Spielberg's blessing carries a weight in Hollywood like few others, so perhaps the script itself has more dimension than what these tidbits suggest.Welcome to People tells the story of a struggling twentysomething man who, after flying home to L.A. for the funeral of his estranged record-producer father, discovers that the will stipulates that he must deliver $150,000 in cash to a 30-year-old alcoholic sister he never knew existed, and her troubled 12-year-old son. Determined to keep the money to solve his own problems, he's nonetheless fascinated by his unknown kin and makes contact with the two without revealing who he really is.
And in the distance, I hear the wails, "What about the view-master movie, dammit?!"
Disney/Pixar Drops Out of Annie Awards Following Voting Controversy
Filed under: Awards, Disney, Dreamworks, Politics
Disney and Pixar have shaken up the animation community today with the announcement that they will no longer be participating in ASIFA's annual Annie Awards -- arguably one of the most prestigious awards for animated films. Citing concerns over how the event is judged, Disney has pulled out of not only presenting their films for consideration, but from the organization completely. The company has sponsored the event since its inception back in 1972."After more than a year of discussions with the ASIFA board, we have regretfully decided to withdraw from the organization and no longer participate in the annual Annie Awards," said Disney-Pixar president Ed Catmull. He continued, "We believe there is an issue with the way the Annies are judged, and have been seeking a mutually agreeable solution with the board. Although some initial steps have been taken, the board informed us that no further changes would be made to address our concerns."
Hit the jump to find out what has Disney so steamed.
'Imaginary Enemies' Have Friends at DreamWorks
Filed under: Animation, Deals, Dreamworks
When you're a little kid and you get caught doing something bad, what do you do? You certainly don't apologize; you blame it on your imaginary friend. Seemed like a harmless solution at the time, but now those imaginary friends are pissed and are looking for revenge. According to THR, that's the premise of DreamWorks Animation's new film with the working title Imaginary Enemies.The concept came about during a DWA retreat a few years ago and will now be written by the husband and wife duo, Joe Syracuse and Lisa Addario. Shrek Forever After director, Mike Mitchell, is lending a hand as well although he's not confirmed to direct. It just so happens that Steven Spielberg, a DreamWorks co-founder, was toying around with a story of his own on the topic and was even set to direct Fox's Harvey, a remake of the 1950 Jimmy Stewart movie about a man and an imaginary rabbit. Things didn't pan out and now Spielberg is back with DreamWorks working on WarHorse.
Regardless of what Spielberg's up to, DWA is still thrilled with the potential of this concept. In fact, the studio is considering dabbling in new territory and possibly developing the film as a live-action/animation hybrid. Although I'm usually wary when live-action and animated characters collide, this sounds like a film that could really benefit from the technique.
SDCC: Will 'Megamind' Be Good or Evil?
Filed under: Animation, Dreamworks, ComicCon
If the chatter during Dreamworks' Megamind panel was any indication, their upcoming animated superhero flick is going to be 90 minutes of blistering Mel Gibson mockery. Unfortunately, the 5 minutes of footage director Tom McGrath brought for us suggests that the film might do away with that approach, instead choosing to involve traditional elements such as plot, characters, and unrelenting Dreamworks face.
Megamind is the story of... Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell). By which I mean that the film's most intriguing idea is that it's not the story of an evil villain dueling his stoic and chin-heavy arch-nemesis (Brad Pitt), but rather the story of an evil villain defeating his do-gooding rival. What does an evil villain do with his beautifully bland Metropolis (er... Metro City) and its terrified townsfolk once he's finally conquered that pesky hero? It's a neat idea, and its perfectly cast lead actors (Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, and a cardboard cut-out of Brad Pitt) were all on hand to stir the excitement. The banter on stage was top notch, but as for the film itself... there were a few promising moments, and a few moments that made me miss how Pixar & Brad Bird mined this miliieu with The Incredibles.
So here are 6 bits from the panel that gave this good citizen hope, and 4 things that made me think Dreamworks is better off training their dragons.
Sam Raimi Trades a Few 'Saints for Sinners'
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Dreamworks, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Western
He may not be swinging with Spider-Man any longer, but Sam Raimi is hardly lacking for work. He's hardly snubbing the geek genre world either, as Variety announced that he's signed on to direct Earp: Saints for Sinners for DreamWorks and Radical Studios.Saints for Sinners is based on the upcoming graphic novel Earp: Saints for Sinners that's being published by Radical Comics. More details of the graphic novel are going to be unveiled this week at ComicCon, but Variety describes it as a sci-fi western. And yes, it does star Wyatt Earp, or at least a modern day incarnation of him. This Earp battles outlaws in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where the only bit of civilization left is in Las Vegas. It sounds like it could be The Stand meets Tombstone, crossed with Raimi's The Quick and the Dead and beloved Evil Dead series.
Radical Publishing has been in the news a lot this summer. They signed an exclusive deal with Sam Worthington, they have a grown-up fairy tale in development with Ron Howard, and they're working on a graphic novel / movie with Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski. There seems to be no one who isn't working with them, and I'm sure a lot of it has to do with how gorgeous Radical's books are. They're certainly a high-concept bunch, and I'm curious to see how they'll translate to the big screen. Now, someone option Radical's Time Bomb already ....
What Can We Expect At Comic Con 2010?
Filed under: Disney, Lionsgate Films, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Brothers, RumorMonger, Fandom, 20th Century Fox, Dreamworks, Movie Marketing, Harry Potter, Comic/Superhero/Geek, ComicCon
In three weeks, many of us are descending into San Diego for five whirlwind days of geekery. There will be massive announcements, sneak previews, buckets of swag, hope building buzz and soul crushing realizations. San Diego ComicCon has yet to really make or break a film (despite what the hyperbolic press will tell you) but it can definitely tilt the balance or put a project on fandom's radar. Let's not forget that this is the year (or was it last year, or will it be next year, or did it actually happen in 2000) that we finally admit that San Diego ComicCon isn't really about comics anymore, but about Hollywood and video game developers. That's not meant to be as snarky as it may sound. Those of us who descend on roundtables and panels know we're part of the problem. I lament it every time I go combing the longboxes for old comics, and there's nary a Bat Lash collection to be found.
Every year at ComicCon is a big year, but 2010 promises to be a really big year. It's the year Morgan Spurlock will be filming it. One franchise (Harry Potter) is winding down, while Marvel and DC are revving up big time. There's blasts from the genre past like Tron: Legacy (a film that's virally lurked for two con years) and The Green Hornet, and sci-fi wildcards like Sucker Punch and Battle: Los Angeles. Here's what we know is set to make an appearance, what we guess might be there, and what we wish would be there.
First Look At Hugh Jackman In 'Real Steel'
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Family Films, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Dreamworks, Steven Spielberg, Movie Marketing, Images
DreamWorks' Real Steel just started filming live action shots this week, and USA Today already has the first look. For some of us (ahem), it's a little bit of a let down as Hugh Jackman has a shirt on. But he has a new haircut, a new scowl, and a big robot friend, so that's fun.
You probably remember that Real Steel is the latest offering from Shawn Levy, and it imagines a world where human boxers have been replaced by robots. It's based on Richard Matheson's short story, Steel, which itself inspired a classic Twilight Zone episode with Lee Marvin. But Levy's version fleshes it out a bit, and gives Jackman an estranged son, Hope Davis and Evangeline Lilly as women he knows (presumably one is an ex-wife?), and Kevin Durand as a boxing promoter.
Right now, the most exciting development out of the movie might be the news that they're using practical robots. Real Steel will use a combination of motion capture (Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the advisers) and 19 animatronic robots. "The moment of walking in and seeing these robots, my jaw was on the floor," says Jackman, who apparently collected himself enough to take the photo above with one of the rock 'em, sock'em castmembers. The blend of practical and mo-cap was apparently recommended by Steven Spielberg himself. Let's all take a moment, and thank him for halting the spread of bad CG, and bad CG robots in particular.
Real Steel hits theaters in November 2011.
Transformers 3: The End Is Nigh (Thankfully)
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Paramount, Fandom, Dreamworks, Comic/Superhero/Geek
Anthony Breznican of USA Today has all-important details about the next entry in the Transformers franchise, including the release date, July 1st, 2011 (a.k.a. Superhero Summer), and the new villain, Shockwave (not to be confused with Soundwave), but none more important, at least to me, than the confirmation that Transformers 3 (in 3D, of course) will be the last film in the trilogy. When I sat down to see Transformers, the big-screen adaptation of the 80s' cartoon and the toy line, three years ago, a trilogy was the last thing on my mind. I wanted to see what even casual fans of the series and toy line wanted to see: giant, transforming robots, realistically rendered by the best CG Hollywood money could buy, knocking each other around, destroying property (but hopefully not taking lives) in the process. In that respect, Michael Bay (Bad Boys II, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, The Rock, Bad Boys), the one-time Master of Disaster (a title currently held by one Roland "2012" Emmerich), delivered.
What Bay and his screenwriters didn't deliver were relatable characters or a storyline that followed the normal rules of logic or sense. Instead, Bay delivered clichés masquerading as characters, juvenile humor, the once-hot, super-tanned Megan Fox washing a car in slow motion (in short-shorts), and not much else. Moviegoers seemed more than satisfied with the results, filling Paramount's coffers to the tune of $700 million dollars worldwide and turning co-leads Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox into bankable stars, if only briefly in Fox's case (see e.g., Jennifer's Body).
John August May Design A 'Monsterpocalypse' For Tim Burton
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, RumorMonger, Scripts, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Dreamworks, Johnny Depp, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Games and Game Movies
How do you make a monsters-attack-cities movie, based on a monsters-attack-cities game, which is itself based on Godzilla, King Kong, Gamara, War of the Worlds, and every movie like them? I don't know, but according to THR's Heat Vision, John August is the man who may accomplish this meta task.DreamWorks bought the rights to Monsterpocalypse from Desperado last month, with an eye to giving it to Tim Burton to direct. Burton still hasn't decided whether or not to delay Dark Shadows and accept the chair. The choice of August as screenwriter may tilt the scales for him though, as they've collaborated on numerous projects together, including Burton's long discussed Dark Shadows remake. But Shadows could be tied up in Johnny Depp's schedule conflicts, as he's supposed to be tackling Pirates of the Caribbean 4 later this summer.
The studio is anxious to get Monsterpocalypse up and running. The game launched last year, and has become a major obsession among the tabletop gamers. Stores can't keep the figures and boards in, and Desperado has launched a spin-off comic series to capitalize on the popularity. Its first convention, MonCon, was held just a few weeks ago in Oklahoma. While the game hasn't really hit a mainstream consciousness yet (it's not as though you see it at Target), a Burton-helmed movie could turn it into a mega industry fueled entirely by Hot Topic. Can you say that for Dark Shadows? Yes. But this movie could turn Burton permanently into Ed Wood (with, perhaps, a dash of Michael Bay), and thus it feels meant to be.
Consumer Alert: McDonalds Recalls 12 Million 'Shrek' Glasses
Filed under: Animation, Dreamworks
This kind of thing still happens well into the 21st century??!? Hopefully you haven't bought a $2 Shrek Forever After collectible drinking glass at McDonalds recently. But if you did, hopefully you didn't let your kids (or anyone else) drink from it yet. If you did, though, don't freak out, as it's not as terrible as it sounds. MarketWatch reports that the 16 oz. glasses are being recalled by the fast food chain because their Shrek-themed illustrations are slightly poisonous. At least 12 million of these cheap souvenirs, of which there are four different designs, were made using paint featuring toxic cadmium, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. And surprisingly they weren't produced in China, where we've come to expect hazardous products now and again. No, they were made right here in the U.S. -- New Jersey to be exact -- by a company called Arc International. So what do you do if you have bought a glass or four? Well, you can simply be out a minimal cost of $2 to $8, or you can try reaching out to McDonalds. Unfortunately, it appears that this early into the recall the second option could be difficult. Apparently you're supposed to visit a certain website (http://www.mcdonalds.com/glasses), which currently doesn't work. But if you can call today (Friday) before 5pm CT, you might also try reaching someone at the following number: (800) 244-6227. I have a feeling that will be a bit busy, as well. Or, one other option is just to keep the glasses as a display item and not let anyone drink from them, at least not regularly. The cadmium in the paint is allegedly low enough that it doesn't really pose a threat to anyone on an immediate level, but as with any carcinogenic item, you're better off being safe now than sorry down the line.
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