I was pretty bummed when I posted that Mark Romanek had backed out of the upcoming horror thriller The Wolf Man, starring the wonderful Benicio Del Toro. Then, I tried to wrap my head around the new director, Joe Johnston. Right now, I'm not caring because Bauer-Griffin has some great photos from the set of the upcoming film.

Yes, that's Benicio above -- all bloody, but not looking particularly beaten, so I'm thinking that's what happens to his clothes after he wolfs out and rips a bunch of unlucky buggers apart. And of course, that's a bearded Anthony Hopkins to the right. This is just one of a bunch of stills the site has, all from the same shoot -- you should really check them out if you're at all interested in this film.

Unfortunately, we've got almost a year to wait to see if the film is half as good as these pics. The Wolf Man is scheduled to hit theaters February 13, 2009 -- just in time for Valentine's Day!

[via Shock Till You Drop]

John Landis may or may not belong in "director jail," as Ryan Stewart wrote about yesterday, but he won't be directing the upcoming big-budget remake The Wolf Man. Instead, Variety is reporting that Joe Johnston has been signed by Universal Pictures to fill the director's chair recently vacated by Mark Romanek due to "creative differences."

Johnston's directorial career began nearly 20 years ago with the earnestly entertaining Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and The Rocketeer. He got bogged down with The Pagemaster and Jumanji before delivering the appealing drama October Sky, my fave of his films. He returned to big budget studio projects with Jurassic Park III and Hidalgo.

Is he the right director for The Wolf Man? Based on a script by Andrew Kevin Walker (Seven), the new film is set to star Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt. Reportedly, Romanek worked for about a year on the film, and del Toro has long been attached to star, but the two producers that Variety says were "integral in keeping the project on track" -- Scott Stuber and Mary Parent -- have a mixed record.

Multiple sources are reporting today that Universal has invited John Landis into the office for a couple of meetings about potentially directing The Wolf Man, probably at the behest of the film's creature effects maestro Rick Baker, who Landis worked with on the seminal modern werewolf picture, An American Werewolf in London, many full moons ago. There are reports that the studio was taken aback by the hissy fit that the usually compliant Harry Knowles went into over the studio's almost-sealed deal with Brett Ratner to take over the project that Mark Romanek has inconveniently exited, and so now they're keeping their options open by meeting with a whole host of potential candidates. I don't really buy that -- there's no way the Universal brass actually takes fanboy reaction that seriously, but nevertheless, here we are, and I'm left with one question: John Landis -- really?

Landis has been persona non grata in Hollywood for a long, long time -- being negligent enough to allow Jennifer Jason Leigh's dad to be decapitated on your movie set is a great way to have your phone calls go unreturned -- but he did get at least a couple of comeback opportunities in the 90s, most notably the chance to helm a third Beverly Hills Cop film, and he bungled that opportunity fabulously. BHCIII is one of the worst big-budget action-comedy films I've ever seen in my life, so lifeless and listless and such a franchise-killer that even Jerry Bruckheimer will tell you, if you ask, that he wouldn't be involved in a fourth one if they begged him. Landis's 1992 vampire film, Innocent Blood, was also a hokey disappointment. Still, some swear by the man who brought us Trading Places, Three Amigos and American Werewolf, and would be giddy at the thought of his return to the brass ring. Are you one of those people?

Hearing that Mark Romanek was going to direct a new stab at The Wolf Man a year ago, with Benicio Del Toro starring, was music to my fangirl ears. It was the sort of project that sliced through remake apprehension, and sounded like tasty, cinematic candy. Well, if Nikki Finke's sources are correct, we can forget that possibility. Over at Deadline Hollywood Daily, she has posted word from her sources, who say that Romanek has just quit the project. And Variety has followed up with confirmation of his departure. What?! Is he nuts!?

The source says: "He just blew the opportunity of a lifetime, which is mind-boggling." Indeed! It seems that the $100 million budget wasn't enough for him: "He's a purist, an artiste, an exquisite craftsman, but he just had a budget schedule he couldn't accommodate." Okay... Sure, budgets can make for headaches, but lots of amazing films have been made with small budgets, and we're talking about Del flipping Toro as the Wolf Man, and Anthony Hopkins as Sir John. I might not sell my blood for it, Rodriguez-style, but I'd somehow make it work.

The studio thinks it will fill his shoes pronto, but there's no word about whether they'll stick to their February 18 start date. With Romanek out -- who could fill in his shoes and do the project justice?

Ever since her star-making role as Meryl Streep's proudly ambitious assistant in The Devil Wears Prada, Emily Blunt has been very much in demand for both big studio and smaller independent pictures. Currently she's a Sundance darling, showcasing her work in two films playing at the festival: Sunshine Cleaning, in which she's teamed with Amy Adams as sisters who become crime scene cleaners, and The Great Buck Howard, in which she plays "a fiery publicist hired to stage the comeback of a lifetime," according to the program notes.

Now it looks like she's set to play the gal pal of a rather hirsute fellow. Back in December, Scott Weinberg first passed on a report that Ms. Blunt had been (almost) hired to play Benicio del Toro's girlfriend in Mark Romanek's version of The Wolf Man, based on a script by Andrew Kevin Walker (Seven). MTV News spoke to her at Sundance, and she confirmed on Saturday that she has been cast and will begin filming in February.

I very much agree with Scott's description of Ms. Blunt as "mega-hot and seriously talented," and the romantic pairing of her with Mr. del Toro looks like a powder-keg of dynamite ready to explode. I look forward to witty banter being exchanged between the couple -- Emily with her pitch-perfect diction rolling bon mots off her tongue, as Benicio mumbles something incomprehensible in return. What a great contrast that will be when Benicio goes all lupine on her! Brilliant casting, I say. The only drag? We'll have to wait until February '09 to see the results.

It seems crazy to me that studios "claim" release dates two and three years before the movies come out. I understand that it builds up anticipation, but hanging a release date over filmmakers' heads can't help the end result. For example, I attended a screening of the director's cut of Troy the other night (very cool), with director Wolfgang Petersen introducing. He discussed how at test screenings he realized the score of the film wasn't working. He wound up replacing it in a huge rush to make the release date, and it became one of many aspects of the final film he was unhappy with. Why not just give directors time to make the films they want instead of all the "starting without a finished script" -type stuff that goes on? Well, two upcoming movies -- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (or as I call it, TCONTVOTDT -- it just flows better) and The Wolf Man -- seem to be doing just that.

Prince Caspian, the second Narnia adventure, is still set for release this May, but TCONTVOTDT has been moved from May 1st, 2009, to May 7th, 2010. Taking its place on the '09 date is something called G-Force, "a Jerry Bruckheimer family-adventure about a band of animal commandoes trying to stop an evil billionaire taking over the world." If that plot description is any indication, Summer '09 is going to be a magical time at the cineplex! Mark Romanek's The Wolf Man, with Benicio del Toro in the title role, is being moved from November 18th, 2008 to Spring 2009. I love del Toro, and am really looking forward to that one. I wonder if the notoriously hairy Robin Williams was considered for Wolf Man? Might have saved money on makeup. Reasons have not been given for the release date changes, but Empire speculates that it likely has something to do with the actor's strike that could shake up the industry next June. Hopefully, putting some extra time and care into these movies will be a good thing.

I am The Wolf Man, coocoocachoo! There are times when remakes make me cringe, times when I'm indifferent and times when I start to get the itch of excitement. The latter usually comes from who is involved. It didn't scare or upset me to hear that Lon Chaney's Wolf Man was getting remade, because Benicio Del Toro's involvement just seemed right. Then we got Mark Romanek added to the pot to make things interesting, and then in a moment of insanity or genius, Anthony Hopkins came on-board to play pops -- Sir John Talbot. Now TMZ has a photo up of Del Toro, who is in the midst of his role as Lawrence Talbot. While this isn't an on-set image, he's still looking wolfy.

Take a look at that mug! Well, imagine it without "The Hunted" truck cap and worn, leather jacket, because they make him look like a scary rapist or something. The hair... The look in his eye... This is what got me amped about the project. Will it be just like the original? Doubtful. Will it do it justice? My magic 8-ball says signs point to yes -- crap! I just pulled it out and actually asked, and it says: "Cannot Predict Now." Back when Hopkins jumped on, his agent had said it was a great script, but then again, as many great roles as he has had, he's also had some stinkers. According to the script review at Latino Review, we've got Victorian London in 1888, and Talbot is a Shakespearean actor performing Hamlet, picked for the passage: "To be or not to be, that is the question; whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them." They also say screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker is at the top of his game. God, I hope so!

While I never thought there would be the day that Benicio del Toro would take over a role immortalized by Lon Chaney Jr., Scott Weinberg posted in February that Dr. Gonzo would become the epically hairy beast man. We learned that Se7en scribe Andrew Kevin Walker was in charge of the screenplay, and music video helmer and One Hour Photo director Mark Romanek would head the film. Now, according to Rotten Tomatoes, Anthony Hopkins Is considering the role of Wolfman's dad.

While it might be strange to think that Del Toro could come from Hopkin's loins, they bear a vague resemblance. Of course, a Latin mother would be necessary to make us buy it, but I'm pretty intrigued by the idea. The World's Fastest Indian is quoted as saying: "There's also a chance I may play the Wolfman in London in a movie with Benicio Del Toro. My agent says it's a great script, but he hasn't sent it to me yet." While he isn't signed on officially, it seems that he has every intention of playing the part: "[The agent] said he just wants to make sure that the deal is all in but I play the Wolfman's father in Paris. A wonderful part." Since Hopkins is also known for his tendency to bark between takes, I'm sure he'll feel right at home in the feature. If you're anxious for more, your can read a script review here.

When I went back to St. Louis to visit my family over the holidays, I stumbled upon a 20-something 7-11 employee whose forearms featured tattoos of horror legends: Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, and Bela Lugosi all held places of pride. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, we chatted about all the crap that's made these days, and the lack of respect for the movies those men made. I mention that guy at this particular moment because I know he's having a rage-filled morning: Universal is remaking The Wolf Man.

Originally made in 1941 with Lon Chaney, Jr. in the title role (not to mention the supporting talents of A-list names like Claude Raines, Ralph Bellamy, and a dude named Bela), the film is "stylishly-made" and incredibly entertaining, despite its solidly B-movie status. Though the remake will share the original's Victorian England location, but since Universal can't leave well-enough alone, it will also feature new characters and plot elements "that take advantage of cutting-edge visual effects technology." Yippee, CGI!

Wolf Man fan Benicio Del Toro will star and co-produce, and the "new" screenplay is being written by Andrew Kevin Walker.

[via Dark Horizons]