Author Archives: Sarah Sommer

About Sarah Sommer

Sarah is a journalist and an artist who lives in the city. She loves movies and television. She reads early and often. Sarah also helps out over at BSCkids.com and our other sites!

Netflix Gets Exclusive Streaming Rights for The Hunger Games

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The dvd/streaming giant, Netflix, announced today that it will be offering The Hunger Games on its subscription-based streaming service from March 3 in the UK and Ireland, followed by a later release in the US.

Netflix will be the only subscription based service steaming the film although competitors will likely try to pick it up in the future. It’s also worth noting, however, that the film is already available on Blinkbox, the Tesco-owned video on demand (VOD) service which uses a pay-per-film pricing model.

Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer, said,

“We are thrilled to be the exclusive online home for The Hunger Games in the UK and Ireland. Since launching in the UK and Ireland in January 2012, we have continued to expand our offering of great movies and TV programmes, and we think our members are going to love the latest addition to the service.”

The Hunger Games, the first film in a planned franchise based on the trilogy written by Suzanne Collins stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson,Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Donald Sutherland.

Catching Fire, the film and novel sequel is planned for a November 22, 2013.

Tina Fey and Jason Bateman In Negotiations For “This Is Where I Leave You” Adaptation

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Tina Fey may have finished up with “30 Rock” but that doesn’t mean she is necessarily slowing down. The actress is currently in negotiations with Jason Bateman to star in the upcoming big screen adaptation of This Is Where I Leave You, a Warner Bros.’ adaptation of the book by Jonathan Tropper. Continue reading →

Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams’ YA Novel “Tunnels” Signs Director

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Relativity Media announced today that their adaptation of Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams’ YA Novel “Tunnels” has found its director. The company has officially signed on Mikael Håfström, known for his work on The Tomb and 1408, to direct a film based on the New York Times‘ best-selling, internationally-acclaimed fantasy adventure book series.

The script for the adaptation is coming from Andrew Lobel and is based on the adapted screenplay originally written by Joel Bergvall & Simon Sandquist.

The series takes place beneath the streets of London, two teenage boys discover an incredible, hidden underground world where a secret civilization has been desperately waiting for a hero to save them all. The deeper they go, the closer they get to unearthing an evil that could destroy the world above and put an end to the lives they once lived.

“Tunnels” is the film adaptation of the first installment of the novel series from Scholastic/Chicken House publishing, by authors Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, which has sold over one million copies and has been published in nearly forty countries worldwide. The authors have already almost completed the series with five sequels written and the sixth and final one to be released this fall.

The property was unearthed by Barry Cunningham, the man credited with discovering “Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling and whose boutique Chicken House imprint is part of Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and the U.S. publisher of the “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games” series.

“Only a few times in my life have I felt that rush of imagination in a story that I know is going to sweep up an audience in its grip, ‘Tunnels’ made me believe in adventure, bravery and a new world,” said Cunningham.

Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade, said,

“Barry Cunningham clearly has a keen eye for spotting authors whose epic stories appeal to readers of all ages around the globe. Scholastic is proud to be the American publisher of the bestselling ‘Tunnels’ series, and we look forward to seeing this underground and imaginative world expand through film.”

There is no word yet on a projected release date for the film or who the studio is looking at to cast in the adaption.

Sci-Fi YA Novel, Arclight, Heading To The Silver Screen

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YA sci-fi and supernatural adaptations are all the rage right now and Universal is not missing a beat. the company recently picked up the film rights to the novel, “Arclight” written by Josin L. McQuein. Currently, Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer will produce while Matthew Sand, best known for writing the 2009 Wachowski-produced action movie Ninja Assassin, will pen the screenplay.

“Arclight” is a sci-fi tale set in a post-apocalyptic future. Naturally, humanity has hunkered down in an outpost that is surrounded by a wall of light (aptly named Arclight). What lies out in the darkness? Creatures only known as the Fade. Into this enclave enters a lone teenage girl with no memory of who she is and how she survived in what is called the Dark but one who holds the key to its survival.

The YA novel has not yet been released but is set to hit shelves on April 23, 2013. Optioning not yet released novels seems to be the next big step for studios has they fight for the next “Twilight” or “The Hunger Games” franchise.

“Arclight” seems to have a lot of support other than being optioned so early on. The publisher, Greenwillow Books, initially made a large investment in the novel by paying McQuein $500,000 in 2011 in a two-book deal.

Pouya Shahbazian of New Leaf Literary & Media will produce with Grazer. Imagine’s Erica Huggins and Sarah Bowen will exec produce. Universal’s vp of production Maradith Frenkel and creative executive Chloe Yellin will oversee the project.

There is no word on when the project will begin production or a projected release date for the finished film.

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Twilight Star Heads To CBS’s Under The Dome

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Rachelle Lefevre, most known for her role as Victoria Sutherland in the first half of The Twilight Saga, has signed on for the leading role in “Under The Dome.” The series, based on the novel of the same name written by Stephen King, comes from CBS and has been adapted for the small screen by Brian K. Vaughan (“Y: The Last Man,” “Ex Machina,” “LOST”). Neils Arden Oplev, the director of the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, will helm the pilot.

The story tells of Chester’s Mill, a small town in Maine, which is cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible dome. With air, food and patience dwindling, societal norms within this town begin to break down. Lefevre has taken the role of Julia Shumway, the owner of Chester’s Mill’s newspaper, The Democrat.

The full cast list thus far includes:

  • Mike Vogel as Dale “Barbie” Barbara, an Army veteran in town on a mysterious mission.
  • Rachelle Lefevre as Julia, an investigative reporter who takes an interest in Barbie.
  • Colin Ford as Joe, a smart teenager whose parents are trapped outside of the barrier.
  • Natalie Martinez as Deputy Linda, a loyal and ambitious sheriff’s deputy.
  • Dean Norris as James “Big Jim” Rennie, politician and owner of Jim Rennie’s Used Cars, who seeks to use the dome as a way to gain control of Chester’s Mill.
  • Alex Koch as Junior Rennie, Big Jim’s emotionally disturbed son.
  • Britt Robertson as Angie, an aspiring nurse with dreams of escaping the town.
  • Nicholas Strong as Phil, a popular radio DJ with a dark secret.
  • Jolene Purdy as Dodee, a radio engineer who makes contact with the outside world.
  • Aisha Hinds as Carolyn Hill, a Los Angeles entertainment attorney who is trapped in the town with her partner and teenage daughter.

The first season will have 13 episodes. The series is set to debut on June 24 at 10/9c on CBS.

Joss Whedon Talks Upcoming Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. Project

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Not much has been revealed about the upcoming television project, “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.” The series, which comes from genius Joss Whedon, will be a television counterpart to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We have previously discussed what fans and viewers will want from the series but Whedon recently sat down with TVLine to talk about the plans for the new show.

The pilot episode “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D” wrapped production last week and is reportedly being fast tracked by ABC so it will be able to premiere this fall. Whedon remains enthusiastic about the series and is confident in its ability to do well with target audiences.

“I’m excited about the show because it’s a very hopeful show,” Whedon told TVLine in an interview. “It’s not about murder, and it’s not about crime, and it’s not people looking into their own belly buttons. It’s about people who are trying to help each other, and that’s one of the things I loved about comic books. They had costumes and the villains were cool [but] they stood for something, and I like doing a show that does that.”

He also quelled fears that the show would be to far off target in regards to the comic book series and the films with in the Marvel Universe.

“We’re trying very hard to be true to [Marvel’s] ethos and also to the structure of their universe. So it is definitely a Marvel show.”

Whedon is also acutely aware of the fact that fans are calling for some guest appearances from the movie characters. The show is about S.H.I.E.L.D. after all, an entity that appears in every film. However, Whedon revealed that guest stars are simply not on their radar at the moment.

“Right now, I want to involve people in the characters that we’ve created for the show and then we’ll worry about the other stuff.”

There is one character who is confirmed to appear at one point. Cobie Smulders, who played Agent Maria Hill in Marvel’s The Avengers, will appear on the show at some point if her current acting schedule on “How I Met Your Mother” allows.

The current cast for “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.” includes Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na We as Agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz, Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Gemma Simmons, and Chloe Bennet as Skye.

While the details surrounding the return of Clark Gregg has not been revealed, the studio has stated that the series will take place after the events of Marvel’s The Avengers.

Safety Not Guaranteed – One of the Best Movies On Time Travel You Will Ever See

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I know this movie is a bit of a stretch for this niche website. However, I think I can make it work. Check it: Safety Not Guaranteed is based on a classified ad that was run in a 1997 issue of “Backwoods Home Magazine.” Yes, the ad was initially a joke meant to fill the extra space, but it was printed and intrigued thousands of people. So it works, right? It’s settled.

Safety Not Guaranteed is not just a sci-fi film or just an indie film. It is a romance film, a science fiction film, and indie film, a comedy, and a drama all rolled into one beautiful package that I want to watch a million more times (and possibly have the scene where they are camping on loop, amiright?)

Initially, what first intrigued me to see this movie when it was announced last year was the actual ad it is based on.

The ad that is the basis for the film (which you can see below), reads,

“Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA 99393. You’ll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.”

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I mean who doesn’t love a good time travel movie? The ad is fascinating but doesn’t give away anything about the film. For a brief (spoiler free) synopsis we have two interns and a writer from a magazine in Seattle investigating the ad. Darius (played by Plaza) connects with the young man claiming time travel as they finish the machine and plan out their first mission together.

But what really sealed the deal for me was the cast. The film sports an indie cast that you can’t help but fall in love with. We have a main character played by Aubrey Plaza (“Parks and Recreation”), her colleague Jake Johnson (“New Girl”) and the self-proclaimed time traveller played Mark Duplass (“The League”).  If you haven’t watched these actor’s televisions shows, you are missing out. Each actor has their own personality that they infuse into the character without losing the essence of their character. Not once during the film was I seeing April from “Parks and Rec” or Nick from “New Girl.” Even Duplass was able to separate his Pete character from his role in this film.

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The time travel aspect of this film is approached perfectly. The film is mostly about the characters and their relationships with each other with this time machine concept sitting in the background. The science behind it is barely elaborated on (something with lasers and a boat is about all we get) while most of the movie is spent watching our two travellers prepare for their mission.

I also want to note that the film is gorgeous. The director, Colin Trevorrow, knew exactly what he wanted so the film was shot on the Sony F3 using old Panavision lenses, which gave the film a desired “Hal Ashby look.” The result is that the film utilizing a lot of flat colors and pale  tones that somehow add to the characters disillusioned state of mind.

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Safety Not Guaranteed is one of those rare films that is able to capture that feeling that most of us just miss. The pain and isolation that comes with growing up, with evolving, with the always-scary idea of change. For Darius the isolation is self-imposed. After the death of her mother, which she believes was her fault, she is unable to connect with anyone, to let anyone in, or even let herself be happy. For Jeff we see him becoming disillusioned with love and relationships. Arnau, on the other hand, yearns for relationships with people but is so introversive that he can barely talk to anyone openly. All of us can identify with one of the three main characters. What is wonderful though, is that we get to see these characters move forward after so long of being stagnant in their lives. Darius finally opens up and Kenneth see the real her and even lets him in romantically. This fact is only intensified by the knowledge that she has never had a boyfriend or been with someone in such a way. Jeff attempts to find what he is missing in his life by revisiting his past, but not by time traveling. Instead he tracks down an old girlfriend in a misguided attempt to feel like young and innocent love he once experienced with her. Once she rejects him he realizes that he can never go back to being young again but he can also feel real love again. Arnau, with a little pushing from Jeff, is able to overcome his shyness to actually have a relationship with a woman (albeit is a one night stand, but it remains a huge step for the character.)

It is arguable that Kenneth is the only one who truly open and honest with himself even when others think he is weird or crazy. He is probably the most mentally healthy character in the film. Though his relationship with Belinda and the truth behind her is debatable and up to the viewer to decide.

Possibly the best part of the entire film is the ending. The whole movie you have this feeling of something building. Something small at first. You think it is the romantic feelings between Darius and Kenneth (which let’s face it, was fucking adorable and I just want to hug both of them). However, the moment comes when she finally boards the boat/time machine, this exact moment is what the entire film was leading. It is the moment Darius boards the machine and in an instant they are gone. It is such a powerful and astonishing moment that for a second you are left staring at the screen, speechless.

As one of my friends said when we were talking about the film, “I still get chills thinking of the ending.” Don’t we all…

The First Trailer For NBC’s Hannibal Released

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Bryan Fuller’s new series, “Hannibal” is set to premiere on NBC on April 4th and the network has finally debuted its first trailer for the show. The series is based on the characters and word presented in the novel series written by Thomas Harris, published in 1999.

“Hannibal” will also star Hugh Dancy and Lawrence Fishburne. The official plot description is as follows:

One of the most fascinating literary characters comes to life on television for the first time: psychiatrist-turned-serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. In this new drama from Bryan Fuller, based on the characters from Thomas Harris’ classic novels, we see where this incredible story began.

Will Graham is a gifted criminal profiler who is on the hunt for a serial killer with the FBI. Graham’s unique way of thinking gives him the astonishing ability to empathize with anyone – even psychopaths. He seems to know what makes them tick. But when the mind of the twisted killer he’s pursuing is too complicated for even Will to comprehend, he enlists the help of Dr. Lecter, one of the premier psychiatric minds in the country. Armed with the uncanny expertise of the brilliant doctor, Will and Hannibal (known as a serial killer only to the audience) form a brilliant partnership and it seems there’s no villain they can’t catch. If Will only knew…

“Hannibal” will also feature appearances by Gillian Anderson and Lance Henriksen. It should be noted that “Hannibal” should not be confused the other pilot based on Clarice Starling that will be appearing on Lifetime.

You can see the trailer courtesy of EW below:

Bradley Cooper To Star In Dark Invasion Adaptation

 

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Warner Bros. recently acquired the film rights to the upcoming novel from Howard Blum entitled, “Dark Invasion.” The deal closed as a high six figure negotiation and is planned as a vehicle for star Oscar-nominated actor Bradley Cooper. The nonfiction book will be published by Crown/Random on 9/11/13. The date is significant, as the book is about what is considered the first attacks on U.S. soil since its formative years. Continue reading →