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Seth Rogen Might Be Taking a Road Trip With ... Barbra Streisand!

Filed under: Comedy », Paramount », RumorMonger », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Dreamworks »

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost aren't the only ones getting to take a road trip with Seth Rogen. He's gotta move, gotta get out, gotta leave this place, gotta find some place. Some other place, some brand new place ... with Barbra Streisand. (I know, I can't believe I know those lyrics either.)

HitFix has the scoop that Rogen is developing a comedy called Mother's Curse, and while it's one of an estimated 300,000 projects the unlikely A-Lister is working on, this one has Streisand. Mind you, she's not even officially attached, and the movie doesn't even truly exist. Curse's storyline is under tight development wraps, and the script is still in the process of being written. As Drew McWeeny notes, "When I asked Seth about the film, he referred to it as 'one of the many projects I may or may not do in the next fifteen years,' which is a fair description. So keep in mind... I'm not saying this will or won't happen ... just that it could." It's a pet project of Paramount's new head of production Adam Goodman, so that alone could get it made under that fifteen year mark.

Just the names of Rogen and Streisand together is pretty delightful though, isn't it? I like this new trend of mature, Oscar-loaded actors being game for just about anything. It's like we went back to the Golden Age of screwball comedies when it was ok for everyone to cut loose onscreen, and comedy wasn't just Meet the Spartans schlock.

Michael Bay Trashes 'Transformers' Marketing and English Language in Leaked Email

Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », New Releases », Paramount », Celebrities and Controversy », Newsstand », Steven Spielberg », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »



I sincerely hope that Michael Bay never retires from moviemaking to go live in a monastery or something, because the world would be far less entertaining without his histrionics.

The latest saga comes via his e-mail account and TMZ. Back in May, Bay flamed Paramount Studios for failing to promote Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen to his satisfaction. According to Bay, he's encountering people on the street who have no idea that his Transformers sequel will be coming out this summer, and that the film has taken a back seat to Star Trek and G.I. Joe.

"I have been waiting, and waiting for the 'anticipation' of an 'event movie' to make it into the 'public zeitgeist.' You all talk so glowingly about Transformers being the movie of the summer but unfortunately this has not gotten to the public ... You can feel in your gut the presence of a big movie coming. Right now we are not an event. We are just a sequel which is very different." Bay went on to name-drop Jerry Bruckheimer and "my good friend Steven," who would never stand or expect such poor promotion of their films."

As TMZ points out, Bay backtracked a little in an e-mail on June 6, and thanked everyone for their hard work ... but mimicked the nasty tone of his earlier missive before giving them them a big e-mail bear hug. "You have treated me so well. Paramount is like family." Which is probably why they keep on loving you, Michael, and forgiving your rants about a 23 flash frame cut of Megatron.

First Look at Mickey Rourke as Whiplash in 'Iron Man 2'!

Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Fandom », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels », Images »



The first look at Mickey Rourke as Iron Man's new nemesis, Whiplash, has hit the Internet courtesy of USA Today. As it's a rather large photo, I've put it in our Iron Man 2 gallery below, so I hope you don't mind a little extra clicking!

Rourke is playing Ivan Vanko, a Russian ex-con (notice the prison tattoos) who has constructed his own version of an Iron Man suit. Of course, he has all kinds of nifty little additions such as a pair of whips, powered by the suit's glowing chest piece. But Jon Favreau won't say whether or not Vanko works for Stark Industries' rival Justin Hammer, as he does in the comics. "We like to play into and against the expectations that people might have so, we mixed it up a bit." Here he's making his first appearance not just online, but to the Marvel world at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix.

So, what do you think? It's definitely inspired by the original character's suit, but thankfully doesn't resemble an S&M gimp. I like how raw and unfinished it looks, and the tattoos are awesome. Overall, it's a rather terrifying effect ... but I think that has more to do with Rourke and his surgical enhancements than anything to do with the costume or the character.

Gallery: Iron Man 2

'Tintin' Sets a Release Date

Filed under: Animation », Comedy », Foreign Language », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Paramount », Sony », Family Films », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Steven Spielberg », Peter Jackson », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Daniel Craig »

Steven Spielberg's The Adventues of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn started filming with so little fanfare that I've nearly forgotten all about it ... but I doubt you diehard Herge fans have. Now you'll have a date to circle on the calender as Variety reports that Tintin will be hitting theaters on December 23, 2011, pitting it against Warner Bros Happy Feet 2 and Disney / PIXAR's The Bear and the Bow. (It may be two years away, but you can offer your box office predictions now if you like!)

At least, that's when it'll be hitting theaters on this side of the pond. Paramount and Sony plan to release the film in Europe first, as befitting its heritage and fanbase. There's no specific dates set, but they're eying a fall dates of late October and early November depending on what part of Europe you're in. If you're very wealthy, you could hop on a plane and catch it a few weeks early.

Variety also reports that the film will be released in 3-D. I guess that's a sign I've lost track of this project as I wasn't aware that was ever in doubt, but apparently the two studios have been debating that the past few months. Now after viewing dailies, they've decided that 3-D "would offer the best rendition" for the film ... and frankly the recent ginormous 3-D successes like Monsters Vs. Aliens probably helped convince them of that.

So, there you are, Tintin fans: December 23, 2011 in 3-D. Excited?

Warner Bros.'s Brave New Techie World

Filed under: Tech Stuff », Home Entertainment »

Just days after reports surfaced that Warner Bros. is bidding on Midway Games, which filed for Chapter 11 in February, and also took over the rights to EA's Lord of the Rings video game franchise*, Variety is reporting that the studio is getting ready to jump into the iPhone game.

Sony, Paramount, and Warner Bros. have all been vying for attention from mobile gamers with releases like a Star Trek comic book app, an Angels and Demons video game app, and more. However, according to Warner Digital Distribution director of worldwide marketing Stephanie Bohn, WB is planning to release about 40 iPhone applications by the end of the year. WB just released a Terminator comic app tied to the opening of Terminator: Salvation and has more in the works for upcoming releases, as well as ideas for "animated episodic video apps and other apps built around Warner brands."

As a recent survey by marketing research team NPD showed, more people are playing video games than going to the movies, and one distinct reason the numbers are rising isn't just the price of movie tickets. The numbers of casual video game players is increasing exponentially, partially due to the popularity, ease, and increasing quality of games available on iPhones and other handhelds. If movie studios get involved directly with video game developers, will the video game tie-ins improve? And as Bohn points out, "It doesn't cost a lot to launch an app... Relative to a TV show or a film, it's nothing." So, could this new strategy also mean good news for studios' sagging bottom lines (and for iPhone gaming addicts)?

* Gamers are already suspicious of the newest Lord of the Rings game, Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest, because it's being billed as family-friendly. EA's license for the franchise expired and reverted back to New Line, thus Warner Bros.

First Photos From 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'

Filed under: Action », Animation », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Paramount », Celebrities and Controversy », Fandom », Family Films », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Images »



My geek cred fails me here as Avatar: The Last Airbender is just one of those things I know very little about. The original series is available on Netflix Instant Watch, but the curse of being on the movie news wire is that time to sit and watch is pretty scarce.

So, I will have to rely on you Airbender fans to give your take on these first photos from USA Today (apparently it's back to using the Avatar moniker despite James Cameron), and eagerly await your take on the controversy is raging around the film. Many fans are offended that M. Night Shyamalan didn't cast Japanese actors. Others feel that's an unneccessary sticking point as the world the characters inhabit is a fantasy one based on Asian culture, so that Shyamalan should be able to cast freely. Dev Patel just sits awkwardly in the middle of the debate -- people are simultaneously annoyed he's not Japanese and suspicious that the one non-white actor is cast in a villainous role.

Blissfully unaware of his unsuitability is newcomer Noah Ringer, who plays Aang. Apparently, he's always gone by the nickname "Avatar" due to his resemblance to the cartoon character (he always sports a shaved head) and his lethal martial arts skills. He won the part after sending a home made DVD of himself ... talk about an easy day for the casting director.

Give your thoughts, Airbender fans. And I promise, I'll start watching the series this weekend ... in the meantime, can you tell me what's up with Aang's hand?

Star Trek Monopoly: Do Not Say 'Engage,' Do Not Collect 200 Latinum Bars

Filed under: Classics », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Paramount », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels », Summer Movies »



Here's the game you can bring to the Star Trek midnight showing line in order, and make yourself the most popular Trekkie / Trekker there. (Seriously, if you bring a game to any massive line, you will make friends and influence people.) Hasbro has sent us a glimpse of their new Star Trek Continuum Edition which finally does away with the separation of the shows, and combines them all into one. Fight over which friend gets to play with the Klingon Blood Goblet token, and who is stuck being the Captain's Chair. Battle to purchase Trek landmarks like Argus Array, Cardassia Prime and Remus! Sure, such capitalist lust and expansionist beliefs go against the altruistic ends of the United Federation of Planets, but it can't stay the 24th century forever.

All joking aside, this is a pretty cool set if you're a board game fanatic. The pieces are all quite retro, and the game offers two styles of play: custom Star Trek rules, or traditional Monopoly. According to one fan's review, the special rules involve a lot more chance. Rolling a double six will get you a Borg attack, and allow you to assimilate another player's property. If you're really creative, you could probably really run with those rules and create a hybrid of Dungeons and Dragons and Star Trek ... which actually sounds like a lot of fun, and surely has been done by someone out there.

'Lions, Tigers, and Bears' Come to Life at Paramount

Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Paramount », Scripts », Family Films », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »

As a kid, you probably had one special stuffed animal that you were never without, or far away from. Maybe you were even one of those kids who carried more than one. If you (or a wee sprite you know) fits that description, you might get a smile out of Mike Bullock's Lions, Tigers, and Bears which has just been optioned by Paramount.

Bullock's series centers around a boy named Joey and a girl named Courtney, who discover that their stuffed animals come alive to protect them from a gang of monsters known as the Beasties. The Beasties can break into our world and kidnap children to devour ... but luckily they have their stuffed animals to protect them, a task which they have been performing "since the dawn of time."

According to Variety, Transformers' producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura is the man behind the scenes on this production, which kicked into gear with Joey Aucoin's spec script. The plan is to adapt it live action, and tell the story from the perspective of a grown-up Joey. Naturally, it will have a ton of CG effects to bring the Stuffed Animal Kingdom and its guardians to life.

The conceit is a little overblown, but it's a cute idea, and the comic is an enjoyable enough romp for the younger set. (Remember, they need comics too!) It's like We3 meets Toy Story. You can check out a preview courtesy of Runemaster Studios.

Watchmen's Screenwriter Pens 'Battling Boy' for Brad Pitt's Plan B

Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Paramount », Scripts », Family Films », Newsstand », Brad Pitt », Comic/Superhero/Geek »

Back in November, Brad Pitt and Paramount fell hard for Paul Pope's Battling Boy, which they snapped up before it had even hit store shelves. The book isn't due to be published until 2010, but according to The Hollywood Reporter the film adaptation already has a screenwriter: Alex Tse, who is fresh off Watchmen and busy penning scripts for Ninja Scroll and Zack Snyder's adaptation of The Illustrated Man.

Battling Boy centers on the wee offspring of a god, whose dad urges him to leave their immortal mountaintop home and descend to Monstropolis, and rid the city of its plague of monsters. Considering the city is the size of a continent, this might take him awhile. The monsters aren't your cute and cuddly Monsters Vs Aliens type either, but according to Pope are "horrible, Grimm's fairytale, Beowulf-ish monsters, awful things. Child-stealers. Plus some of the vampires and mummies and wolfmen we remember from the old black and white Hollywood horror films." If you'd like another glimpse at the book, Pope did celebrate Battling Boy getting optioned by publishing some additional artwork on his blog.

There's not much more to go on, and no indication as to whether Pitt might take the role of Senior Deity, so we'll have to sit tight and wait for the book. Clearly though, Pitt and Paramount have been studying their comic book movies -- if Tse can adapt Watchmen, he can probably do a fair job at adapting anything graphic novel you throw at him.

Meet the 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' Robots!

Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Paramount », Fandom », Family Films », Newsstand », Dreamworks », Steven Spielberg », Movie Marketing », Remakes and Sequels », Lists », Images »



Speculate no more, Transformers fans. USA Today and Yahoo Movies! have the official list of Decepticons and Autobots that will be appearing in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, along with a few new photos. (Sadly, the photos are of iffy quality; they're practically screencaps.) Still a mystery is whether or not Megatron will appear -- and how he'll fit into the chaos.



First up, the Autobots, starting with the obvious:

Optimus Prime, whose alternate form is a Peterbilt truck.

Ironhide
the weapons specialist, who transforms into a GMC Topkick.

Ratchet the medic, and a Hummer H2.

Bumblebee
, who will now be a 2010 Chevorlet Camaro. (This is the only Transformer I ever owned, by the way)

Arcee, the female Autobot, who will be Megan Fox's pink motorcycle. She was actualy supposed to be in the first movie, but Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci felt "we needed to win the audience over before asking for that suspension of disbelief: a feminine alien robot."

Jolt, originally a Decepticon, but in this he's a good guy. He'll be switching into a Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

Jetfire, an older Decepticon who switches sides, and transforms into a SR71 Blackbird jet. According to Michael Bay: "He's old, craggy, forgetful ... doesn't work very well. Can't transform very well, because he's very geriatric. They get stuck with him a lot. He knows the plan of the bad guys, but he forgets all the good parts of the plan."

Skid and Mudflap
, a.k.a. "The Twins" a.k.a. Chevrolet Beat and Trax concept cars."Some of the junior Transformers are just dumb. But it's great for kids because they're like the Little Engine That Could. They're (screw)-ups, but they get really heroic at the end," says Bay.

Sideswipe, who was a bright red Lamborghini in the original will now be a GM silver Corvette Stingray concept car.

Go below the jump for the Decepticons
 

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