WETA Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Here's the latest on everyone's favorite Herald of Galactus* for the new Fantastic Four movie.

First, we can shake those pesky "not so much CGI and motion capture as just a silver suit" rumors. Weta is, of course, still involved, and plans on using advanced motion capture techniques very similar to those used to bring Gollum to life in the Lord of the Rings movies. The process has naturally been updated and advanced in the few years since, but the essential stuff is the same. Weta is good people, and I trust them to do an excellent job with the Silver Surfer.

Second, I am sad to report voice casting for the Surfer is not yet determined. Fans of actor Doug Jones, who will be inside the suit, continue to pull strongly for Jones to get the vocal work as well. Director Tim Story, however, has not ruled out a Hellboy** approach, with Jones doing the bodywork (Abe Sapien, in that case) and someone else providing the voice.

*Go ahead and tell me if you've got a different favorite, I imagine someone out there does.
**It should also be noted Jones will voice Abe Sapien in Hellboy 2.

When you think about it, there are really only two reasons why someone would travel to New Zealand: 1) Their favorite color is green or 2) They have business with Peter Jackson. While it's been rumored, Jackson does not officially own the entire country of New Zealand ... yet, but he does do a lot of work there. Top secret work. I've heard the words 'post production' used, though I feel they're just code for something much much bigger.

Not long ago, Denzel Washington traveled to New Zealand and revealed to a newspaper there that he had met with Peter Jackson about using the Lord of the Rings director's WETA visual effects workshop to handle the effects on a film Washington will be directing. As of now, the only film Washington is scheduled to direct is The Great Debaters, based on the true story of a Wiley College professor who assembles the school's first debate team, only to watch them go on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Not for nothing, but I can't imagine a film about a debate team would require the intense special effects Peter Jackson and his team are capable of. So, could this be a different film? Washington noted that the film would most likely be released in two years. According to IMDB, The Great Debaters is set to bow sometime in 2008. I don't know, you be the judge.