2013 is a long time away, but most of us are still pumped for the year of movies already expected to drop during the year. The film adaptation of Ender’s Game is one of the more highly anticipated of the new released. Recently, Bobby Cohen, one of the producers along side Roberto Orci, spoke with MTV News about how excited he is to work on the film.
He also opening admitted that he is pretty thrilled with the casting of the novel adaptation.
I have the great pleasure to work with Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci, who wrote ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘Star Trek,'” he said. “Our other movie is ‘Ender’s Game,’ based on the incredible book that people have been trying to make forever. A lot of directors have tried to do it. We have an amazing script. Gavin Hood is directing, we’ve got Harrison Ford, Sir Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Hailee Steinfeld from ‘True Grit,’ Asa Butterfield from ‘Hugo.'”
Cohen works with director Gavin Hood and Orci on the set of the film. He mentioned the unique set they get to work on.
There is a NASA stage where they literally used to build the rockets for the space shuttle that is now actually a sound stage,” he said. “They will be spending 65 some odd days about 45 minutes from here on a big giant set. So that’s going well.”
Producer, Alex Kurtzman has similarly excited feelings toward the project. He went on to add:
We’re just happy to support the vision of the book,” he added. “It’s such a treasured novel and it’s very rare that you get an opportunity to work on something like that so we were very psyched.”
You can watch video of the interview below:
The project is currently filming, and is scheduled to be released November 1, 2013. It is being directed by Gavin Hood with an all star cast.
Written by Orson Scott Card, the story is set in a future utopian version of Earth. It follows a young boy who is a strategist of the genius level who becomes drafted by the International Fleet to battle and destroy to Formics. Formics are a dangerous alien race that threaten mankind. And if Ender fails, then Earth will be gone forever.
The cast, which includes several award winners, is as follows:
Sony Pictures and Overbrook Entertainment have joined several other production companies and have optioned a novel for the big screen before it has even been released. Sony and Overbrook have entered the early stages of a plan to turn an upcoming novel series into a film starring Jaden Smith (Pursuit of Happyness).
Boy Nobody, currently being penned by award-winning novelist Allen Zadoff, is the first installment of a planned young adult thriller trilogy. According to Variety, the story is about a teenage assassin who has been trained not to feel, but begins to regain his emotions.
The main character “could function in every situation without fear, sympathy or anger… could assassinate strangers and then walk away emotionally unscathed,” Zadoff said.
The author is best known for his adult memoir Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin, released in 2007. At age 28 and weighing 350 pounds, Zadoff realized how urgently he needed to lose weight. In Hungry, he chronicled his progress approaching the matter by addressing not only food issues, but also physical and emotional causes of what he called his “disease.”
The book received positive reviews, being called “gentle, funny, uncommonly appealing” in a Los Angeles Times review.
Zadoff also has experience writing for young adults. 2009’s Food, Girls and Other Things I Can’t Have received positive reviews and won the 2010 Sid Fleischman Humor Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and was a finalist for the Georgia Peach Book Awards.
The young star of the upcoming film adaptation, Smith, is the actor son of superstar actor Will Smith. His big breakthrough came from acting with his father in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness. He has since starred in other hits such as The Day The Earth Stood Still and The Karate Kid. He will also appear in the upcoming sci-fi film After Earth which is currently filming.
The novel version of Boy Nobody will be released in Spring 2013. To follow the progress of Boy Nobody and Zadoff’s other projects, visit the author’s official website.
The box office has been kind to optioned projects in recent weeks. After the immense success of The Hunger Games, based on the first novel of Suzanne Collins’ post-apocalyptic trilogy. The film spent the last four weeks at number one but was replaced during their fifth week last weekend by a fellow book-to-film project.
The film, Think Like a Man has taken the top spot on the chart, earning $33 million in its opening weekend edging out The Hunger Games.Think Like a Man, is a comedy directed by Tim Story who previously worked on The Fantastic Four. It was adapted for the big screen from a novel written by comedian and television show host, Steve Harvey. The adaptation was done by Keith Merryman and David Newman.
The official plot synopsis follows:
Four friends conspire to turn the tables on their women when they discover the ladies have been using Steve Harvey’s relationship advice against them,”
So far, the film has received mixed reviews, including a 49% rating from Rotten Tomatoes and an 86% from audience reviewers. While it seems that audience have enjoyed the film, critics have not.
Drastically overlong, burdened by too many stories about too many couples who are too one-dimensional to be relatable,” Eric Snider, a film.com critic said.
This sentiment was mirrored by numerous other critics, though audience reviewers seemed to think differently.
“Don’t listen to the negative reviews,” Nichole W., a Rotten Tomatoes audience reviewer said. “I haven’t been to a movie this funny in a very long time! The audience had a good time. Yeah, some of the scenarios were a little unrealistic, but what movie isn’t? The point is that it was entertaining. The men were very easy on the eyes, I must say! I would say it’s a must-see!”
The other film that premiered this weekend, The Lucky One, rose to spot number two, earning $22.8 million during its opening weekend. It is an adaptation of the 2008 novel of the same name, by Nicholas Sparks, the mind behind such love stories as The Notebook and Dear John. The film stars Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, and Blythe Danner.
The Hunger Games is now number three, earning $13.5 million in its fifth weekend. IMDB states that the film has earned $357 million in the US and over $500 million worldwide.
It was announced last week that Lionsgate had officially offered director Francis Lawrence the job of directing Catching Fire. As of now, fans are still unsure of the decision as many felt that the departure of Gary Ross was the first step into disappointment for the mega popular trilogy written by Suzanne Collins.
However, Lawrence may just surprise fans. He is qualified for the position and his previous experience may lend itself to the expansive setting of Catching Fire.
Lawrence definitely has more experience when it comes to large-scale action scenes and settings. After his previous work on I Am Legend, he has proven himself to be adept at creating worlds where CG and live action merge harmoniously for the audience. Considering the large-scale world of Arena, Lawrence may be more at home than Gary Ross was during the first installment.
Another reason we may be able to trust Lawrence with the beloved second installment is his previous film experience is just as apocalyptic as The Hunger Games. He definitely knows the genre and has a love for it. He has proven through his past films that he can create a post-apocalyptic world that is not only familiar but also far removed from the society we know. Creating the tone of Catching Fire should be easy for him.
Also, the second book and upcoming movie will have a ton of new elements including characters, settings, and most importantly the Arena. Lawrence won’t be boxed into being influenced by Ross’ directing style. He can strike out with his own style while creating a world fans already love.
On the professional side of things, however, Lawrence is basically guaranteed that he will have a hit film. With the large fan base already in place, the movie is going to take off. Thankfully, Lawrence is willing to compromise with the studio to make the film happen, and to further the creation that Ross began. Catching Fire HAS to begin very soon if it expects to stay on track and based on Lionsgate offering Lawrence the job, they must have faith that he can get the ball moving on the project.
It seems that Catching Fire might just be a fantastic blend of the Lawrence’s directing strengths.
Catching Fire has a release date of November 22, 2013 with the major stars all confirmed for the sequel.
Cartoon Network will premiere a new Batman animated series this year, and it will be unlike any of its predecessors. “Beware the Batman,” produced by Warner Bros. Animation, will be the first in the Dark Knight franchise to use CGI animation.
The series will also set itself apart in another way, according to ComingSoon. It will incorporate villains not previously featured in animated form.
The official description of the new series follows”
Crime-fighting vigilante Batman teams up with swordtress Katana and his gun-toting ex-secret agentbutler Alfred Pennyworth to face the criminal underworld led by the twisted Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad, King Kraken, and Magpie.
The new show will be executive produced by WBA’s Sam Register and produced by Batman Beyond’s Glen murakami and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated’s Mitch Watson.
IMDB has also reported that Kurtwood Smith from “That 70’s Show” has signed on to voice Commissioner Jim Gordon.
Despite the new format, this is not the first time the Caped Crusader has fought crime in animated form. There have been five other shows, beginning with the “New Adventures of Batman” (1977-1981), followed by “Batman: the Animated Series (1992-1995), the “New Batman Adventures” (1997-1999), “Batman Beyond” (1999-2001) and then “Batman” (2004-2008).
The beloved character of Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, has an even longer history in comic form, according to Comic Vine.
The character currently stars in six different comic titles, including Batman, Detective Comics, Batman and Robin, Batman: the Dark Knight, Justice League and Justice League International.
Batman has also been the subject of numerous films, most recently director Christopher Nolan’s trilogy.
Nolan’s highly anticipated final installment, the Dark Knight Rises, is due out July 20.
“Beware the Batman” will begin airing in early 2013.
You can watch the new teaser promo for the series below:
Rachel: WOOOOOT! Brienne of Tarth! One of my favorite characters. She’s like Sam, lovably earnest. She’s a lot savvier than Sam is though because she’s had a rougher time at life than him. Sure, Sam’s dad threatened to kill him if he didn’t go to the wall but at least his mommy loved him! Brienne is just a lady too big for the role she was born to. She’s basically what Arya wants to be when she grows up but without having her own Brienne of Tarth to look up to or pave the way. She’s dealing with a super misogynistic culture in which she is attempting to adopt a traditionally masculine role and she’s not doing it with witty quips and daddy’s blessing like Asha. However, Brienne IS taking charge of her own life. I think it’s really important that we see Brienne for the first time in an episode in which Cersei and Sansa are struggling with the hardships of being female in a patriarchal society. Brienne is a noble lady like Arya and Cersei and Asha. But rather than be married off in trade for land and loyalty to a husband that would surely not love her due to her lack of beauty she is forcing her way into a world that doesn’t want her there. She wants to be a lady knight. With Renly’s grant of the boon of Kingsguardship, she IS a lady knight! And that place on the king’s guard is for life and just like Jaime Lannister or a man of the Night’s Watch, means she can’t marry. It’s definitely a risky choice for her but Brienne is tough.
Brienne refuses to be a victim.
Rachel: What did you think of the Southerners we met this episode?
Elena: I loved getting another example of a way in which a woman can forge her own path and take some control of her future back from her family. I hadn’t realized the Kingsguard enabled her to piss on marriage, but that is awesome for her. Because, yeah, marriage is not for Brienne of Tarth. Not any marriage a man on Westeros would recognize, since she would never be willing to stay at home, sew, or wear a dress.
I was less impressed with Loras’s reaction. A, learn how to lose with grace you arrogant little shit. B, why on earth would you not want someone who can best you in the lists protecting your true love Renly? Brienne is basically having to out-knight the knights in order to be accepted as one of them, which means she is fucking awesome at what she does. And the best part is she’s not a man, so she can’t threaten Loras in a sexual way! I guess Loras feels like he’s got Renly’s peen on lockdown so he is worried about other things.
Speaking of Renly and his unstiffened peen…what was that with Loras’s sister? She is yet another example of a woman who wants power and is willing to get it through the men in her life. And she, unlike the other ladies we’ve met who are gaining power through marriage, is doing it of her own accord. I come to this conclusion based on the way she presents herself—she has sexualized herself, as if determined to be obvious that she fucked her way to the crown.
Now if only she looked more like Loras so she could fuck her way to an heir….
Elena: While we’re on about women as property, what’s going on with Tyrion’s agenda, and is Cersei cracking up?
Rachel: Unfortunately for Cersei, and as she has lamented before, being a woman in Westeros pretty much sucks. Even the Queen Regent of the western continent can’t even get what she wants when her brother takes it upon himself to marry her kid off to…well someone…in order to broker more power to their side. Power they should have already because well who else is ruling this joint? Except that’s not how it works. LIFE ISN’T FAIR, IS IT, CERSEI? Sometimes I feel bad for her. It’s funny that lots of fans are empathizing with Cersei’s frustration at her inability to keep Myrcella when they condemn Sansa for being mean to Shae. WHY DO YOU THINK CERSEI IS SO DAMN MEAN TO SANSA, YOU GUYS? Because sometimes you have to lash out at someone who can’t hurt you. (Even though Shae should be mocked openly and often for thinking her best lady of the night dress would be suitable for lady-maiding. Come ON, Tyrion…get her a real dress to work in, for the Seven’s sake!)
Elena: Or was that Shae’s rebellion? She seemed kind of pissed to be there, and she and Tyrion did have that argument about how she was not a weakness. Oh, honey, you don’t know his family, do you? Perhaps he sent her to Sansa just so she can learn about Cersei? Anyway.
Rachel: This episode was just FULL of women all living the same problems and dealing with them in different ways. Let’s go back to Margaery Tyrell. She got married off to her brother’s lover because if she births the next successor she could secure some more power for her family. Even if her husband is gay and she has to share him with her brother, Margaery is totally willing to do that. She’s most probably willing to do that because being a Queen is better than not being a Queen … but maybe Cersei would beg to differ. But then I would bet Shae would agree with Margaery. Or would she?
Tyrion by the by…is up to tricksy tricks ferreting out some of the more obvious roadblocks in court. He pissed off Littlefinger, sure, but he is a resource with too much potential value as an ally to totally throw away, so look for Tyrion to make it up to Littlefinger in the future. Pycell getting his whiskers hacked off by Bronn was epic. More whisker hacking! Maybe we can just hack off whiskers instead of heads from now on?
Wouldn’t that be nice?
Elena: Bronn! We also need more Bronn. That, too, would be nice.
Rachel:Were you sad for Theon and his father issues? His fake brother issues? His sister issues? What about his whiney baby issues?
Elena: My notes on the first look at Theon this episode: “Theon is not impressed with the Pike house.” Which is a joke because the Pikes are another frat, and Theon’s a Theta Chi. Yes? No? It was funny in my head.
Um, so Theon decides to be a Greyjoy. No good can come of this. “Everybody knows you never go full Greyjoy!”
I was conflicted about whether to judge him for his choice. Family is a huge part of the ethos in this world—“What do we always say is the most important thing? FAMILY!”—but on the other hand…he’s betraying Robb! And the Starks who even if they are all incompetent players are the team I’m rooting for until I meet someone better or they’re all dead. So, no bueno. Bad Theon.
He was put in an untenable situation, and I find it interesting that I don’t have much interest or sympathy in him as a character. He acted the over privileged lordling once too often in my company for me to care that he feels inadequate with his family. Guess what? If Robb Stark is able to lead a fucking army and argue down his bannermen at this age, Theon is old enough to not judge his own worth on the valuation of any other man…even his absentee dad. (Yes, I know, that’s not how daddy issues work, but the point is we have other characters who don’t have his hang-up that made him so manipulable, so I no longer find his daddy issues a valid excuse for what he does.)
But the drowned god bit was fucking cool, and I hope we get to hear a little more about that!
Elena: Theon chose blood over water, which is funny because of reasons ^^.
Rachel: The part of Theon’s brain that makes decisions must be a terrible hell. One, because he’s kind of a swaggering idiot a lot of the time. And two, because there’s some serious cognitive dissonance happening in the guy’s life. He was raised by these seemingly honorable people… except that they murdered his brothers and took him as a hostage. Being reminded of that by your estranged father – well you can’t really blame him for siding with his family and plotting to screw Robb over. I mean you can, but it’s easily understood how he was utterly sandbagged into “going full Greyjoy”. His only choices were betrayal and… oh betrayal! Theon might be one of the more tragic characters in Game of Thrones. The Fool who learns too late? We shall see.
Everyone loves bad ass pirates who steal all the stuff and laugh at everyone who underestimated them!
Elena: Yoren died. I haz a sad.
Rachel: Yes, while Yoren suffered from an acute case of Boromir-it is I was never all that upset about his death. Mostly because in the books it is strongly and repeatedly emphasized how bad Yoren smelled and how he had fleas. He grossed me out you guys.
They also seem to be heavily contracting a few things into one thing (which I agree with for the sake of brevity and how it isn’t really necessary since the end result is the same) except that I’m worried about the Mountain’s men and the Lannister men getting all mixed together. Were these the Lannister soldiers? Were they the outlaws? Will that distinction matter in terms of the show? I’m hoping for a bit more explanation in the next episode because where Arya and Gendry end up is extremely related to the group of men that just captured them at the end of the episode and I’m not sure shoving all the motivations into one pot will make it easier to understand.
And I just want to emphasize that the three guys in the cage – IMPORTANT GUYS. Also, horrible criminals. Probably. I could be lying. I lie all the time.
Elena: I am going to be so pleased if we have just met the Hannibal Lector of Westeros. Because that? Would be awesome. And hilarious. What happens when he meets the white walkers? Do they all just sit down and have a civilized meal of roasted Craster son?
Is Jon Snow there? Is he hiding behind a tree still trying to figure out what happens?
Hey, Jon Snow, don’t feel too bad for not figuring out the subtext everyone else picked up on the second they saw one man surrounded by 50 women…you still know where to put it.
Want more? Then check out the latest episode of Team More Wine Sir as we pour more wine and talk more about “What is Dead May Never Die”!
The Internet has been swirling with rumors over the past week of which director was going to land the coveted gig of directing the sequel to The Hunger Games, called Catching Fire. It was revealed to be between two directors, Francis Lawrence and Bennett Miller. The scramble to find a new director began after director Gary Ross opted out of returning to direct its sequel.
Now, EW has confirmed that Francis Lawrence has been offered the job.
Lawrence (no relation to Jennifer Lawrence, star of the franchise) previously helmed I Am Legend. They have reported that Lawrence won the job after a Miller’s commitment to shoot the biopic Foxcatcher ultimately proved he would not be able to do the film.
It was no secret that Lionsgate needed a new director fast after Ross bowed out. The film was scheduled to begin production this fall in order to stay on course for their already planned release date of November 22, 2013. In order to stay on track, the film must finish shooting by December for production to begin and for Jennifer Lawrence to begin production of her other film, the sequel to X-Men: First Class.
Considering that Catching Fire is on a considerably larger scale with several locations as well as a tropical-type Arena, Lionsgate is putting their trust in Lawrence’s ability to handle this bigger and more exotic canvas of the setting and story. Lawrence already has extensive experience with incorporating visual effects-drive action scenes and large scale worlds from his first two films, 2005′s supernatural thriller Constantine and 2007′s post-apocalyptic thriller I Am Legend. However, despite his ability, one reservation occurs and that is the romantic angle of Catching Fire. Lawrence previously director the drama Water for Elephants, which fizzled at the box office with many critics giving bad reviews for the romance between between Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. However, the romance between Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson, is a huge part of the sequel. Some worry he will stick with the less romance more action angle that the first film put in place, much to the dismay of diehard fans everywhere.
Lawrence will have to prove himself to fans and critics alike for this highly anticipated sequel.
As the sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire continues the story of Katniss and Peeta. Following the events of the previous novel, a rebellion against the oppressive Capitol has begun, and Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark are forced to return to the arena in a special edition of the Hunger Games in the 75th Hunger Games Quarter Quell.
The sequel will see the return of stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, and Woody Harrelson.
Universal Pictures recently bought the film rights to adapt London-based author E.L. James’ erotic fiction novel Fifty Shades of Grey for the big screen. The book, which James said was inspired by the Twilight series, is currently at the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list.
The official synopsis:
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.”
Though Twilight received backlash for its portrayal of a dominant/submissive relationship, James has addressed whether Grey would be realistic relationship material.
“That’s really attractive on paper,” she said. “I think in their fantasies, yes. In real life I think it’s something very, very different. You want someone who does the dishes.”
Grey, according to E News, is far more sexually charged than Stephanie Meyers’ creation. So erotic, in fact, that James described discussing her novel as “excruciating” on The Today Show Tuesday.
“This is my midlife crisis—all my fantasies out there,” James said.
Though James is now a bestselling author, she isn’t letting the success inflate her ego. She relates that she never saw the book getting so popular, and is still amazed by its popularity. James also admitted to having flaws as a writer.
“I did this in a very undisciplined way,” she said. “I’m a very undisciplined writer. It’s really kind of raw, and, you know, I’m not a great writer.”
As for the film adaptation, few decisions have been announced. Though no official casting decisions have been released, there is speculation over who will play the lead roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.
Popular choices include Dakota Fanning, Amanda Seyfried and Emmy Rossum as Steele, and Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Gosling and Chris Pine as Grey.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits is the new upcoming 3-D stop motion animated film that will be hitting theaters later this month. The film, based on the first two books from Gideon Defoe’s The Pirates! series, now has a new story time app that children will love to read before and after seeing the movie.
iStoryTime is launching the The Pirates! Band of Misfits storybook app for Apple Devices for an introductory price of only $.99 cents. It will got back up to #3.99 soon, so get it while you can at the great introductory offer.
The app includes several fun opportunities along with storybook itself. One feature, called “Piratize Yourself” will allow your children to utilize the face tracking features of iOS 5 to make themselves look like a pirate in real time, snap a photo and share with their friends. They can also become “Pirate of the Year!” by collection the eight hidden prop items they need through out the app.
The story follows the luxuriantly bearded Pirate Captain – a boundlessly enthusiastic, if somewhat less-than-successful, terror of the High Seas. With a rag-tag crew at his side, and seemingly blind to the impossible odds stacked against him, the Captain has one dream: to beat his bitter rivals Black Bellamy and Cutlass Liz to the much coveted “Pirate Of The Year Award.”
This is a great app to encourage children to read. Parents can either read the lovable story with their children or allow them to forage the high seas alone with the “read to myself” function.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits storybook app will be released for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Remember it is only going to be $.99 cents for a short time before it returns to its regular price of $3.99 so get it now and just in time before the film hits theaters.
Courtesy of theEnder’s Game Production Blog, we have another picture from the set of the highly anticipated film adaptation. The new photo shows Ender Wiggin, played by Asa Butterfield, and the monitor in the back of his neck. You can see the new teaser image above.
Roberto Orci, the producer who runs the Tumblr blog said this along with the picture:
Though Ender’s world is one worth saving, it sometimes comes with a price. The novel was amazingly prescient about a great many things: remote controlled drone wars, the internet, the influence of blogging, hand held computing tablets like the I-Pad, and of course, electronic surveillance implants. Implanted tracking and monitoring chips are no longer a science fiction concept. They exist now. And one day, they may be as advanced as the monitor implanted into Ender, which allows Colonel Graff to “see through his eyes” and know: HE’S THE ONE.”
The project is currently filming, and is scheduled to be released November 1, 2013. It is being directed by Gavin Hood with an all star cast.
Written by Orson Scott Card, the story is set in a future utopian version of Earth. It follows a young boy who is a strategist of the genius level who becomes drafted by the International Fleet to battle and destroy to Formics. Formics are a dangerous alien race that threaten mankind. And if Ender fails, then Earth will be gone forever.
The cast, which includes several award winners, is as follows:
