Posts with tag thewolfman
Alex Proyas Has Plans for 'Dracula Year Zero'
Filed under: Horror », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Universal », Movie Marketing »
There is no denying that 'origin tales' are all the rage, and it's not just for superheroes anymore. In an interview with MTV Movie Blog, director Alex Proyas gave a few updates about what he has planned for Dracula Year Zero, and the word of the day is 'realism'. Proyas told MTV, the film will be, "sort of the origin tale that mixes [the historical] Prince Vlad of Transylvania with sort of [fictionalized] Bram Stoker [take]" -- I guess if it helps, just think of it as 'Portrait of a Bloodsucker as a Young Man'Proyas (like so many before him) is planning to mess with the mythology of the big, bad, Transylvanian. But, don't worry, there are still plenty of fangs to go around, Proyas tells MTV, "Oh, you've got to have teeth, I mean, the teeth are really important. I think Frank Langella in the 'Dracula' movie that was made in the 70s, I think he didn't want to have teeth in the movie. But, no, I like the teeth. I want to see girls with a lot of teeth." -- and maybe most importantly to fans, "...lots and lots of blood!"
Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless were hired to write the script for Universal, who are probably expecting this project to dovetail nicely with their other classic 'monster' flicks (The Wolfman and The Mummy). But is a realistic Dracula really the way to go? If you do a little digging on the life of Vlad the Impaler, it's not exactly the romantic tale that Coppola provided us with back in 1992. So keep your fingers crossed that Sazama and Sharpless have a copy of The Legend of Dracula lying around, and hopefully they have something like this in mind for Year Zero.
Dracula Year Zero is expected to arrive in theaters in 2009.
'Wolfman' Comic Con Footage!
Filed under: Drama », Mystery & Suspense », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Trailers and Clips »
I'm not sure how long this will remain up, so I'd clear out the room, grab some popcorn, poor a glass of blood -- or whatever the hell is it that you do to prepare for awesomeness -- and check out the video above right away. What you'll see is the much buzzed-about footage from The Wolfman that screened at Comic Con last week (read our panel coverage here). I was at this panel and absolutely loved what I saw of this flick; it looks creepy, chilly and Gothic. And when your cast spits out names like Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving (not to mention special makeup effects from a dude by the name of Rick Baker), then you know something special is in the works. Check out the gallery below for more kickass Wolfness.
The Wolfman is currently set to attack theaters on April 3, 2009.
SDCC 2008: 'The Wolfman'
Filed under: Horror », Fandom », Exhibition », Movie Marketing »

The Q&A was pretty lackluster, if only because Hall H seemed mystified as to what to make of the appearance of such a panel. Interestingly, the director Joe Johnston was absent, but frankly, it seems like the movie was del Toro and Baker's show to run.
-- Rick Baker went to Universal for the job as soon as he heard there was a Wolfman remake in the works.
-- Not all that different from the original makeup technique, and of course he was delighted they had used old school make-up and not CGI. The transformation will be in CGI, though he's hoping they'll work in some physical makeup like An American Werewolf in London used.
-- Del Toro said putting on the make-up was exciting, taking it off was the worst as the fun was over, and everyone had gone home.
-- Baker says "the whole movie is a nod to the original."
-- Though nothing is official, based on the trailer the film looks to be a hard 'R'.
-- When asked what old Universal Wolfman movies had inspired him, del Toro said "For me, it was all those movies." Both he and Baker have been dressing up as the Wolfman since childhood.
Live from SDCC: Day 2 Photos (or Optimus Prime Becomes a Dad)
Filed under: Fandom », Exhibition », Images », ComicCon »

Above: Optimus Prime gives birth to a new, crazy looking baby robot. (Image courtesy of Scott Weinberg)
Day 2. Yes! I'm still f**king breathing, my legs haven't fallen off and no one tried to assassinate me. Today the lines were even longer, but the panels -- especially Kevin Smith's for Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- were well worth the wait. On a personal note, The Wolfman trailer rocked my socks off, The Spirit footage was eh and the Zack and Miri scene -- featuring Justin Long and Brandon Routh as two gay porn lovers -- was just ridiculously funny. Here are an assortment of photos from the day, with two of my personal favs before we hit the must-see gallery.
So much more upcoming, including reports from The Wolfman, The Spirit, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, EW's Visionaries panel ... and the answer to this question: Who is the Miley Cyrus of porn?

Dude really got into this one ...

Cinematical's Erik Davis with the stars of Bitch Slap ... and, um, yeah ...
New 'Wolfman' Photos -- Weaving and Del Toro!
Filed under: Action », Classics », Horror », Thrillers », Universal », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels », Images »

The photos aren't terribly revealing, but it's kind of nice to see Benicio Del Toro in Victorian costume, and not torn or bleeding or in full wolf mode. And we were also provided with the first glimpse of Hugo Weaving (included after the jump).
They're currently filming in the English village of Lacock, where the Tithe Barn had been transformed into a rather gruesome set "where huge blocks of ice and models of dead bodies [were] strewn across the floor and hanging by metal hooks." The article also mentions the "doomed Lacock Post Office" but it isn't clear what has condemned the poor place. Lacock has been a pretty popular location for films -- Harry Potter, The Other Boleyn Girl and Pride and Prejudice have all been filmed there. Check out the National Trust page if you're keen on tracing the location once filming is over. I bet the Abbey makes it in! We'll see when The Wolfman opens April 3rd, 2009. (Delayed? Nooooo!)
A 'Wolfman' Producer Spills a Few Secrets
Filed under: Classics », Horror », Thrillers », Universal », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »
It seems like the entire online world is caught up in Wolfman fever. I don't think I have read a single negative thing about this remake, except for that brief period when Brett Ratner was attached. Every photo, every interview is eagerly devoured -- yikes, did not mean to make that pun.
One of the producers, Scott Stuber, spoke to Empire about the movie and dropped more than a few tantalizing hints about where this remake is going. The best news? Practically no CGI! Stuber says, "We really want to stick to the physical stuff. So much of what we're trying to accomplish is that when Benicio is the wolf, you really know it's Benicio Del Toro and you have the eyes and the emotion of what he is. That way you don't disassociate your emotion and you realise that the person, Lawrence Talbot, who you've got to know in the daytime is still Lawrence Talbot at night. That way you're empathetic towards him, you're angry towards him, you feel for him."
More after the jump ...
Check Out Benicio's Bloody, Ragged Wolfman Mess!
Filed under: Horror », Thrillers », Remakes and Sequels », Images »

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]
Hugo Weaving Tracks Down 'The Wolfman'
Filed under: Classics », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Casting », Mystery & Suspense », Universal », Remakes and Sequels »
There are casting announcements that make you howl with despair (I'm looking at you, Wolverine) and there are ones that restore your faith in the magic of movies. This is one of those. Variety has announced that Hugo Weaving will be bringing his deep and scary voice to Universal's upcoming remake of The Wolfman, and taking on the role of Detective Aberline. (Cue all the Matrix, "Evening, Mr. Talbot" jokes as Aberline hunts Talbot across the moors.)
Weaving rounds out an already impressive cast of Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, and Anthony Hopkins. I know for many, the thought of touching those classic monster movies is complete sacrilege, but if you are going to do a remake, it doesn't get any better than this. Hopefully, Mark Romanek's departure is the only calamity to befall this production and it make a painless transformation (ha ha) to the big screen.
The only flaw remaining is that February release date. I'm glad studios are now realizing people like to see good films in all the months of the year, but The Wolfman really ought to command an October or November release. The atmosphere is just ripe for some Gothic horror. And some of us don't want to see the 25th Saw installment.
'The Wolf Man' Gets a New Director
Filed under: Classics », Horror », Deals », Universal », Remakes and Sequels »
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.
Should John Landis Be Released from Director Jail?
Filed under: Horror », Deals », Universal », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy »
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?








