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More 'Thor': Idris Elba Guards the Bridge To Asgard
Filed under: Action », Casting », Paramount », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Asgard has just added another brilliant actor to their semi-immortal ranks. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Idris Elba has joined the cast of Thor as Heimdall, guardian of the Bifrost Bridge. He's the man you have to pass if you hope to start some stuff in Asgard, and as he's all-seeing and all-knowing, good luck trying to kick his butt.Elba's casting is undoubtedly going to cause a bit of a stir, as the Heimdall of the Marvel comics is a redhaired Caucasian. In the original Nordic myths, he was even called "the whitest of the gods" which seems like a thousand tasteless jokes in the making. (For the record, "whitest" refers to the light he emanated, not his skin color.) I imagine a lot of people are going to make those jokes, complain about things being PC, and just be very unpleasant.
But you know what? The Asgardians are gods. They can be any color they want, and should be. Marvel's Thor is also distinctly different than the original Norse myths, and I think a diverse cast is a fantastic and appropriate idea. Plus, this is Idris Elba. He's the kind of badass you want on that Bifrost Bridge, guarding the city gates, and having throwdowns with Thor. (He's always trying to prevent everyone's favorite blonde from going in or out of Asgard.) Kudos to Kenneth Branagh for recognizing that, and for creating an Ultimate Heimdall in the course of pre-production.
The Little Movie That Could: 'Paranormal Activity' Hits $100 Million
Filed under: Horror », Paramount », Box Office »
Oren Peli is having the greatest Friday the 13th of his life. We all love the shifting Holiday, but none of us can be as happy to greet today as the director of Paranormal Activity, whose film will be hurtling over the $100 million threshold at some point today, which, like his film, is simultaneously believable and unbelievable. I can clearly see why it has dominated at the box office, but I don't think anyone involved with the film (either before or after it was bought) prophesied how monumentally successful it would become.
But I'm not here to tell you once again that you should go see Paranormal Activity, you've already heard that a thousand times over. I would, however, like to use this time to give Oren Peli a standing ovation by putting things a little further into perspective. Within another week, PA will have grossed more money than the cumulative totals of Halloween II, The Uninvited, The Stepfather, and Saw VI. Their combined budgets? Approximately $60 million. If that doesn't show a little innovation goes a long way, I don't know what does.
More at HorrorSquad!
Michael Bay on 'Transformers 3': Less Action, More Emotion
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Paramount », RumorMonger », Fandom », DIY/Filmmaking », Home Entertainment », Remakes and Sequels », Trailers and Clips »
I didn't think it was possible for any movie to be too big for Michael Bay, especially not a Transformers movie. But judging from this candid DVD extra, even Bay thinks Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen veered on excessive, and he's promising to scale back when he tackles #3. As we speak, Bay is combing through the Transformers lore that Hasbro has sent him and pondering who or what will be smashing crap up in another installment. Just the way he says "Transformers lore" makes me want a story centered on Bay exploring ancient catacombs to uncover the missing Transformers arcana with Megan Fox as his sidekick. (She'll be packing a Ph.D in Hasbro lore because she's not afraid to be smart and sexy.)
As Bay ponders how to go sideways from Revenge (his words, not mine), he does have a few ideas in mind. He wants more Bumblebee, and to explore the powerful relationship he has with Sam. He wants more characters, and more emotion. He wants it to be "more undercover" and "less exposed" which might be difficult for our transforming pals when they destroyed the Great Pyramid of Giza.
At the end of the video, Bay decides to abandon plot ideas and offer a cash reward. Then he says "Just joking!" because come on, the man has to eat, and Fallen didn't make a kajillion dollars, just a few hundred million. However, maybe a few of you more skilled in Transformers lore than he is can make use of the address, and write him with what you want to see in #3.
Check out the video of slippery promises below the jump.
Anthony Hopkins Joins 'Thor' as Odin!
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Paramount », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
There's big news from Asgard tonight! According to The Hollywood Reporter, the legendary Sir Anthony Hopkins has joined the cast of Thor. This isn't one of these tightly kept casting announcements either, as THR reports that he and no one else is playing Odin. (Incidentally, there's no mention of Robert DeNiro and Jude Law among the confirmed cast members, so I'm guessing that was just a fever dream of a rumor.)If you're not up on your Thor or Nordic mythology, Odin is the father of Thor and the ruler of Asgard. He's your typical white-bearded god sort, fond of wine, women, and wisdom. He's not immortal (none of the gods of Asgard are), but ages slowly, and possesses amazing powers of strength and wisdom. He famously sacrifices his eye for the foresight to prevent Ragnarok, a sadly futile act, but you can't blame a god for trying.
While a lot of people were hoping that the Brian Blessed would be Odin (and my own money was on the recently signed Stellan Skarsgard), you can't really get much better than Sir Hopkins. He'll add just the right amount of gravitas, but he's an actor who can still have fun in a role. I can't wait to see him go up against Loki, and watching him smack down Thor for his arrogance is going to be pure theater. Cheers, Kenneth Branagh!
Is Peter Berg Departing 'Dune'?
Filed under: Action », Classics », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Paramount », RumorMonger », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »
Last March, the trades confirmed that Peter Berg was the latest director brave enough (or foolish enough) to tackle a new adaptation of Frank Herbert's legendary Dune. News has been scarce since, though just last month Berg was assuring MTV that he was still involved, and that he was trying to crunch Josh Zetumer's 200-page script into something manageable "without offending the purists." Other than some intriguing Robert Pattinson casting rumors, there hasn't been much for fans to really discuss or rant about. But an intriguing story has popped up on Pajiba. Their inside source claims that Berg has dropped out of the Dune remake, and that Paramount is scrambling for a new director. The search is fraught with difficulty for Paramount, according to Pajiba's source. "The search, however, has run into two issues: 1) they're looking for a director who can put the movie together for under $175 million, which sounds manageable, but they don't want anything resembling the crap effects of the '84 film, and 2) they want a director who already has a preexisting passion for the novel and is enthusiastic about the project." But the search has allegedly landed on two splashy newcomers: Neil Marshall and and Neill Blomkamp. Marshall is said to be the frontrunner, championed by producer Kevin Misher. But the studio lukewarm on Marshall's resume and likes Blomkamp, who they feel has the "vision" for the film.
This is all rumor and speculation at this point, and nowhere is it stated why Berg dropped out of the remake. (A schedule conflict would be likely. Berg has one heck of a full plate.) There's also something a little too dreamy about those mentions of Blomkamp and Marshall. I'm very, very curious to see how this little rumor is played out, and if it could lead to a Dune adaptation that's palatable and faithful to Herbert.
Director Kenny Ortega Bails on 'Footloose' Remake
Filed under: Music & Musicals », Romance », Paramount », Celebrities and Controversy », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »
The biggest enemy of the Footloose remake isn't a music-hating preacher, but its own Creative Differences. After it finally recovered from the loss of Zac Efron by recruiting Chace Crawford and Julianne Hough, Variety reports that Footloose has now lost its captain. Director Kenny Oretega has left the project due to "differences over tone and budget." Reportedly, Ortega's vision included elaborate dance sequences and a budget of $30 million or more. But Paramount's Adam Goodwin had something different in mind. He saw Footloose with a little less dancing, a little less music, and a lot more edge. He was also hoping the budget would come in around $25 million. Who is right? I don't know. If you want something closer to the original, I'd say Goodwin is spot on. Kevin Bacon did his lithe dance moves in barns and car washes. It was on the cheap. It was also pretty edgy (relatively speaking) in its handling of teenage sexuality. Is any remake going to feature its heroine yelling "I'm not even a virgin!" in the middle of a church? Nah. They'll just dress her sexy.
Paramount is now on the hunt for a new director in order to kick off its Sunday shoes and begin filming by 2010. I was going to say "Maybe this'll be the end of this silly remake" but there's no way that'll happen. Instead, I vote that this Footloose be made with two simultaneous storylines. As they tell the story of the repressive Midwest, we'll also learn about the behind the scenes drama that mirrors the onstage action. Will Ortega's lush vision of music and dance win out? Or will the repressive Goodman crush his freedom of expression? It would be like The French Lieutenant's Woman for high schoolers.
Justin Theroux Brings 'Air Guitar' To The Masses
Filed under: Comedy », Documentary », Music & Musicals », Deals », Paramount », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand »
I feel like Justin Theroux is becoming some kind of muse to the masses, gently introducing them to the offbeat and cool before moving onto something else. The majority of American moviegoers probably don't know his name, but they feel his influence. Someday, every man in America will start wearing fedoras again, and not really know why. The reason will be Theroux. But first, he plans to hook everyone on Air Guitar, and introduce the masses to the offbeat world that cherishes the talent.Variety reports that Theroux has signed on to produce Paramount's Air Guitar, a story centered around the self-consciously ironic world of air guitar championships. The project has been in the works at Paramount since 2006 or so, and is cobbled together from the 2006 documentary Air Guitar Nation and Dan Crane's book To Air Is Human. Screenwriting duties originally belonged to Ian Roberts and Jay Martel, but they now are the sole responsibility of Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger. That's all we know about the project so far, except that it'll probably involve a lot of kicks, devil horns, and suggestive tongue movements by its stars. (Does anyone ever do the famous Mick Ronson & David Bowie guitar move? I hope so.)
Paramount hopes that Air Guitar will capitalize on the current be-your-own-rock star popularity of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. I think you're seeing the start of a trend, and that Air Guitar championships will become staples of your local clubs until every frat boy has drained the ironic cool out of it. By then it won't matter, because Theroux will have moved on, and quietly introduced something else into the mainstream. As we ponder what that might be, I've embedded the 2007 trailer for Air Guitar Nation below the jump. Watch it, so you can smile knowingly when people in your office start talking seriously about air guitar.
So Much for a Dark and Twisted 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Movie
Filed under: Deals », Paramount », Family Films », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Us consumers of pop culture all know that there are secrets and there is ooze and that there are also secrets in the ooze that bring about man-sized, crime-fighting, Foot-stomping, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but that little fact isn't exclusive to us fans born before 1993. Sure there was TMNT, the recent attempt by Warner Brothers to reboot the franchise for the big screen by swapping out bulky men-in-suits for streamlined CGI, but it wasn't the renaissance resurgence many were hoping for. Enter Nickelodeon, the kid-friendly network, who have just purchased intellectual ownership rights to the sewer-loving franchise from combo owners The Mirage Group and 4Kids Entertainment.The deal, according to The Hollywood Reporter, went down for some $60 million, and includes plans for a new computer animated TV series as well as a new feature film. The latter will be the result of a team-up between Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures, both owned by Viacom, with an expected release date sometime during 2012 (assuming the world hasn't fallen into the oceans by then).
Read the rest over at SciFi Squad
Will Dominic Cooper Be One of Thor's 'Warrior's Three'?
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Paramount », RumorMonger », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
The Thor rumors are flying fast and furious right now, which means we're due for a few big official confirmations soon. After German whispers flew that Jude Law and Robert DeNiro were part of the cast (again, not confirmed), Movieline is reporting that Dominic Cooper might be joining Thor as part of the Warriors Three.The Warrior's Three are gods of Asgard, and frequent companions of Thor. They're not based in Nordic mythology like Thor, but drawn purely from the fellows you'd meet in medieval literature or old Hollywood's version of the Dark Ages. You have Fandral, the noble and dashing ladies man , Hogun the grim and fierce, and Volstagg the valiant and cheerful. They go on sturdy, manly adventures together against villains big and small, and undoubtedly do a lot of feasting, drinking, and wenching afterward. They're more than just thinly drawn supporting characters, and if they get a lot of screen time in the movie, they'll be a welcome balance to Thor's bombastic ways.
Cooper let slip that he was "approached" for the part of Fandral, though he stressed that nothing was signed and official. He strikes me as a little young for Fandral (he's a god, but he's seen and done some stuff), and not nearly dashing enough. But hey, one girl's "He seems nice" is another's suave and swashbuckling, so your opinion may very. He's certainly a good actor, which means more in the long run, and is such a reassuring glimpse into how seriously Kenneth Branagh is taking Thor.
Chris Pine Will Be the Next Jack Ryan
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », Casting », Deals », Paramount », Scripts », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »
I can't help but make the obvious joke here, so I'll just go ahead and say it: Boldly going where no man has gone before, Chris Pine is not only Unstoppable, but he also knows The Art of Making Money. How? By attaching himself to every iconic reboot he can. Variety reports that Pine has entered into talks with Paramount to become the next Jack Ryan. "Talks" seems a fancy way of putting it, as Paramount president Adam Goodman is already talking him up as Ryan: "Tom Clancy created an unforgettable character with Jack Ryan. With Chris in this role, we've taken our first step in creating a re-boot that lives up to the successful lineage of the franchise."Paramount has been shaping a Jack Ryan reboot for some time. Last year, they were in negotiations with Sam Raimi to come on board to direct or develop a franchise, but he returned to the webslinger instead. Last December, Hossein Amini came aboard to write a new installment, which remains the draft Paramount is working with. There's no director attached yet.
Stepping into the CIA shoes of Jack Ryan really puts Pine well onto the Harrison Ford track. Not many actors can land one iconic character in their careers, let alone two. Of course, "iconic" is a loose compliment for Ryan as he's really more of a cool name than a strikingly memorable character. (Admit it -- the movies are cool, but Ryan is like Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt --he's just kind of moving things along in a bad-ass fashion.) Perhaps Pine can change that, and reboot Ryan into something clear and present in pop culture.
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