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Madonna Takes Another Stab at Directing
Filed under: Comedy », Romance », Casting », RumorMonger », Scripts »
Could Madonna's Hollywood life fare any better as director? After seeing a tweet pop up from Production Weekly, I headed over to the Daily Mail to learn that Madonna has written a film called W.E. with Truth or Dare director Alex Keshishian, which she's planning to direct. This will be her second feature after the not-so-great Filth and Wisdom from 2008.The first film was typical Madonna -- fetishes, re-appropriating iconic symbols (the Rocky Horrorish lips that graced the films poster). But this time around... The film is said to be a romantic comedy following a woman called Wally Winthrop. "The synopsis of W.E. states that Wally was 'named for her grandmother's passion' and there are fantasy and flashback scenes involving Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson who, after the Abdication, were styled the Duke and Duchess of Windsor." Wally marries a pediatrician and then, it seems, falls for a security guard.
The singer is currently getting help from the ex and trying to cast this thing and get enough star clout to get financed. Thus far, she's talked to RocknRolla names like Mark Strong and Toby Kebbell. The funny thing -- while no one seems to be recoiling from the thought of her as writer/director, they do not want her in front of the camera: "A couple of agents who represent distinguished thespians sought reassurances that Madonna was not going to act in the picture as well." The post follows: "'She would have said if she was to be in it. It's a game-changer. Some find it difficult to act opposite her. Ask Rupert Everett,' a denizen of Soho told me yesterday."
Anything is possible, but right now, I can't get images of Marie Antoinette restylized with a bipolar plot, Madonna covering all the tunes, and Wally swathed in black lace tops whilst kissing young girls for cred. You?
'John Carter of Mars' Cast Gets Better and Better
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Disney », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
I was slightly disappointed with the initial casting of John Carter of Mars, but as Andrew Stanton keeps bringing the wonderful with every addition to the roster, I just have to trust him when it comes to his choice of Taylor Kitsch. But Stanton is sending more impressive talent to Mars, as according to The Hollywood Reporter, James Purefoy, Thomas Haden Church, and Mark Strong have joined the cast. Purefoy will be playing Kantos Kan, the captain of the Xavarian, the grand flagship of Helium. Carter meets him in the prisons of Warhoon, and they're forced to battle in a gladitorial match. They become allies as only former gladiators can, and Kan assists him on his quest to save Mars / Barsoom. I found it difficult to picture the secondary characters in Princess of Mars, so I feel lame in saying "Purefoy is perfect as Kan!" but he'll fit the part of a seasoned naval captain. He'll be quite dashing, even. (Actually, I think Purefoy would have made a good Carter.)
Church will be playing Tal Hajus, who THR calls "a vicious Thark warrior who is determined to become king." In the books, he's a Jabba the Hut type who lusts after Princess Dejah Thoris, and is happily ensconced as a leader, so this might be one of the first big changes you'll see in the story. It would probably make things a lot more interesting to have Church play him as a capable bastard than a slobby wreck.
Read more over at SciFi Squad
Brad Pitt Might Be Villainous Moriarty in 'Sherlock' Sequel
Filed under: Action », Classics », Casting », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Brad Pitt », Remakes and Sequels »
Earlier this summer, reshoot rumors were thick around Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. One of the more believable ones was that Brad Pitt was stepping in to make an appearance as Moriarty, though it was clouded in so much "Pitt must save Ritchie!" hyperbole that it was almost impossible to believe. As always, there seems to have been some truth to the tabloid rumors, because The Hollywood Reporter says Warner Bros is already prepping more Holmes, and Pitt is in talks to play the detective's legendary adversary, Moriarty.While neither Ritchie, Pitt, or producer Joel Silver will comment on whether Pitt already makes a shadowy appearance in the upcoming film. Those who have read the script say that Moriarty does appear, but is all mysterious and silhouetted, and it's impossible to see who he really is.
As Pitt debates whether or not he wants to pit brainpower and martial arts against the elementary Robert Downey Jr., the studio has brought on Kieran and Michele Mulroney, the team behind their Justice League: Mortal project to pen the script. Though nothing is official yet, THR notes "much of the talent," notably Downey, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, and Ritchie are expected to return. (Mark Strong isn't mentioned. Spoiler or no surprise?) It's worth noting that if Pitt signs on and the line-up remains as is, there's only one native Brit in the entire cast of this very English classic.
New Photos From Guy Ritchie's 'Sherlock Holmes'
Filed under: Action », Classics », Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Warner Brothers », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Remakes and Sequels », Images »
On the heels of the first Iron Man 2 glimpse comes a little more Robert Downey Jr. (with the bonus of a lot of Jude Law) from USA Today. Just like our Erik Davis, they visited the set of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes and have a grand tale to tell. Thankfully, it's spoiler free but there's a lot of emphasis on the macho fisticuffs, how this won't be the snooty and stuffy detective of Masterpiece Theater, and will "brand" the character for audiences everywhere. This will undoubtedly be the first of many pieces to play on the trendy "bromance" angle, as there's a lot of emphasis on the rumpled bachelor lifestyle Holmes and Watson lead. It's one that's threatened by Watson's upcoming nuptials, which Holmes looks upon with jealousy, and Watson with a bit of trepidation. How can he balance bohemia and crime-fighting with the lifestyle of a married gentleman?
We also learn that Holmes is a man who often forgets his gun -- and who wears a snappy fedora. Even though there's been a lot of silly emotion surrounding the deerstalker, the story of the hat is pretty cool. It was hand-picked by Downey Jr. from the Lock and Co hat shop, something Ritchie encouraged. "I wanted something more aesthetically pleasing and plausible and more rewarding to look at. I quite like deerstalkers, but there is only one person in history who ever wore one. [This fedora] is sort of authentic to the era, and Robert was very passionate about it." The bum bag (we'll avoid the non-UK friendly description) is for his detective gear.
We also learn that Holmes is a man who often forgets his gun -- and who wears a snappy fedora. Even though there's been a lot of silly emotion surrounding the deerstalker, the story of the hat is pretty cool. It was hand-picked by Downey Jr. from the Lock and Co hat shop, something Ritchie encouraged. "I wanted something more aesthetically pleasing and plausible and more rewarding to look at. I quite like deerstalkers, but there is only one person in history who ever wore one. [This fedora] is sort of authentic to the era, and Robert was very passionate about it." The bum bag (we'll avoid the non-UK friendly description) is for his detective gear.
The first trailer will be attached to Terminator: Salvation. Will we all start drooling like they did after ShoWest? I hope so. I really want this film to meet my expectations.
William Hurt Joins Ridley Scott's 'Robin Hood'
Filed under: Action », Drama », Romance », Casting », Universal », Newsstand », War »
Ridley Scott's Robin Hood has added so many people that we've actually fallen a bit behind in reporting them all. Shortly after Cate Blanchett came aboard as Maid Marian, the film added Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey, Alan Doyle as Alan-a-Dale, Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet, Kevin Durand as Little John, and Bronsen Webb as someone named Jimoen. Deserving its own mention is my favorite casting (so far) -- Vanessa Redgrave as Eleanor of Aquitaine. I think she's possibly the only actress who can be as formidable in Eleanor's crown as Katharine Hepburn.
Now, The Hollywood Reporter says that William Hurt is joining up as William Marshall (or Marshal if you keep the historic spelling), a man described as "the greatest knight who ever lived" by his contemporary, Stephen Langton. He rose from obscurity to become a knight, who made his living in jousting tournaments a'la The Knight's Tale. He joined the court of Henry II and subsequently served the three following Plantagenets, including King Richard I, and his brother, King John. When he died, he was one of the most powerful men in Europe, and was known simply as "the Marshal."
Love Letters to Supporting Players
Filed under: Fandom », Newsstand »
First, I must give some major props to Guardian writer Anne Billson. Not only has she inspired me to take her topic and run with it here, but she bravely declared her love for Mark Strong in one of the classiest of British papers. You rarely see that kind of passion outside of a fan site, let alone in print journalism! Well done, Ms. Billson.With that intro out of the way, let's tackle Ms. Billson's topic -- scene-stealing supporting actors. They're the men and women you love and admire so much, you're practically craning your neck over the shoulder of the lead to see a bit more of them. For Billson (and probably a lot of people these days), it's Strong.
I have a very similar affair with Jason Isaacs, an extremely good actor who is generally stuck in supporting or villain roles. I love this guy. I'll watch anything he's in, and I'll always root for him. While I love the Harry Potter films for their own sake, I'm always annoyed by how much Lucius Malfoy ends up on the cutting room floor. I guiltily root for him in The Patriot, hoping every time that he defeats those uppity colonials. (The fact that he's backed by one of my other favorite supporting actors, Adam Baldwin, only makes my Loyalist sympathies stronger.)
'Nottingham' is Now 'Robin Hood'
Filed under: Action », Classics », Universal », Celebrities and Controversy », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels », War »
The mystery of Ridley Scott's Nottingham is now over. Scott announced that his "revisionist" take on the Robin Hood legend has been scrapped, right down to the title, and will now have Russell Crowe in the role of the titular archer. Why mess with hundreds of years of legend, after all?"[Robin Hood] is a bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion. [Crowe as both Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham] was an idea so far back, way back when at the time I had this proposed to me, and I read it and thought, 'I don't really know what it does for it, but it's alright'," Scott told MTV News. "It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end."
However, there is a slight shift in who the villain will be. While the Sheriff of Nottingham will play a part, Scott is returning Robin Hood to his cultural roots as an Anglo-Saxon pitted against villainous Norman invaders. "It is from France. It is the French. The villain is much bigger in that sense; much more important, and much more dangerous."
Filming begins in two months, and while Scott didn't confirm Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, he dismissed the persistent rumors that Crowe's physical fitness was a problem. "Oh that is silly. All that stuff is bullsh-t. He is going to be totally fit. That is not a problem at all. And he's been working on his bow and arrow for about 4 months. He sends me tapes of him hitting targets at about 45 meters. He's pretty good!"
As a medievalist at heart, I'm rather excited to see a traditional version that can erase all memory of a certain prince of thieves -- and Crowe and Scott are at their best when they go quasi-historical. Can't wait.
Will Cate Blanchett Save 'Nottingham'?
Filed under: Action », Casting », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy »
Does it make me a bad person that I couldn't have been happier when Sienna Miller and Nottingham decided to go their separate ways? Nothing personal, but I wasn't envisioning Miller fairing too well up against a dramatic heavy like Russell Crowe. Luckily, for those of out there who still think that Nottingham has a chance of being a darn good flick, there is a light on the horizon and her name is Cate Blanchett. During an event for the London Film Critics' Circle Awards, newly arrived Nottingham cast member, Mark Strong told the UK Telegraph, "I think Cate Blanchett is set to take the Maid Marian part," Strong went on to sing the praises of the Aussie actress and told the Telegraph, "She is a wonderful actress and it would make it a much classier film if she was in it." -- Amen to that brother. For those of you who haven't been following the travails of Scott's Robin Hood update, here is a quick little primer: First up were those bogus script reports that made Crowe's choice of dual roles sound like a bad episode of The Bobbsey Twins. But the hits kept coming, and next up was a shutdown on the set, unflattering stories that Crowe and Scott were at each other's throat, and finally Sienna Miller got the old heave-ho thanks to Crowe's so-called "gross" appearance, or her bad acting (depending on who you believe) -- not exactly the kind of anecdotes you want to end up on the DVD commentary.
'Sherlock Holmes' Villain(s) Revealed!
Filed under: Action », Drama », RumorMonger », Fandom », DIY/Filmmaking »
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When Cinematical visited the set of Sherlock Holmes last month, we certainly wanted to learn a lot more about this much-anticipated film (which we did), but we also wanted to find out once and for all whether the classic Holmes villain Moriarty would make an appearance. Up until this point, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) was the only villain on record, and so far folks behind the scenes have managed to successfully dodge the big Moriarty question. That is, until now. Note: Watch for spoilers below ...
While we received a number of shady answers (followed by evil smirks) from the cast and crew regarding Moriarty during our set visit, IGN managed to get someone to talk: Mr. Mark Strong. At the British Independent Film Awards over the weekend, Strong said this about Moriarty's involvement: "Moriarty's in it ... but you don't really see him. I think he's there because if the franchise carries on, there's a possibility that he will appear in a larger guise. But for the purposes of this one and the detective narrative, I'm the guy that Sherlock's after, Lord Blackwood. And he's a cultist/Satanist lord who is the ultimate cad." So he's there, but you don't see him? Hmmm. I guess we'll take that as solid confirmation ... until we find out who's playing him (ahem, Russell Crowe?).
Geek Daily: Teased by 'Wolverine,' Thor, 'Kick-Ass' Villains, and More
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », RumorMonger », Fandom », Scripts », Newsstand », Angelina Jolie », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
A handful of geek news bits are the perfect way to end the week. There's all kinds of intriguing little quotes scattered all over the Internet tonight, and I've compiled them all below to give your mouse finger and Google toolbar a rest. Enjoy!As always, the Old Canuckehead gets first grab -- X-MenFilms.Net was informed by Fox that the first X-Men Origins: Wolverine teaser is supposed to be attached to The Day the Earth Stood Still, which hits theaters on December 12th. Will we see the same footage that most of us glimpsed via YouTube bootleg from San Diego ComicCon? I bet we will!
Buried in that Ain't It Cool News scoop on J. Michael Stracynzki was the news that he had just finished his rewrite of Thor. I think the God of Thunder is moving faster than Captain America.
MTV's Splash Page caught up with Robert Downey Jr. and pressed him for word on the Terrance Howard/Don Cheadle swap. He stayed classy, of course: "I had nothing to do with that decision. I love Terrence very very much. That's all I'll say because I haven't talked to him yet ... I've always admired Don [Cheadle]. It's one of those situations where I still don't quite know what happened or why. Here's what happens too: things happen and you wind up commenting on them before you've actually talked to the people and it's in poor taste." He also stressed that the Iron Man franchise will be an "interactive" one, with he and Jon Favreau striving "to make sure we don't piss off the public that put us in the position we're in."
Continued after the jump.
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