Horror connoisseurs Eli Roth and Brian McGreevy are creating a new series to be released exclusively on Netflix Instant. The new series, “Hemlock Grove” will premiere an entire 13-episode season for viewers to watch at their own convenience, or marathon on Netflix Streaming.
Due to the success of horror-based shows “The Walking Dead” and “American Horror Story”, other filmmakers are looking to capitalize on the genre’s budding mainstream popularity.
While some of these contenders (among them a revamp of “The Munsters”) are likely just jumping on the bandwagon, Roth and McGreevy hope to have created something unique.
Roth recently did an interview with the website, ShockTillYouDrop regarding his new television project:
If you do something well and you have an original take on something, then absolutely go for it.”
The series, based on McGreevy’s novel of the same name, has a dark and mysterious premise. The official synopsis describes it as:
The body of a young girl is found mangled and murdered in the woods of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania, in the shadow of the abandoned Godfrey Steel mill. A manhunt ensues—though the authorities aren’t sure if it’s a man they should be looking for. Some suspect an escapee from the White Tower, a foreboding biotech facility owned by the Godfrey family—their personal fortune and the local economy having moved on from Pittsburgh steel—where, if rumors are true, biological experiments of the most unethical kind take place. Others turn to Peter Rumancek, a Gypsy trailer-trash kid who has told impressionable high school classmates that he’s a werewolf. Or perhaps it’s Roman, the son of the late JR Godfrey, who rules the adolescent social scene with the casual arrogance of a cold-blooded aristocrat, his superior status unquestioned despite his decidedly freakish sister, Shelley, whose monstrous medical conditions belie a sweet intelligence, and his otherworldly control freak of a mother, Olivia.
Roth went on to tell the site that the series will deal with the supernatural.
It’s actually a drama set in this world and has the themes of vampires and werewolves and monster mythology, Frankenstein mythology. It’s this new biotech world.”
Fans of Roth’s blood-and-guts style of direction need not worry about the show being toned down for television. Being a Netflix Original, Roth won’t have to worry about advertisers or ratings boards. He’ll be able to focus on content without having to censor himself, allowing for more mature subject matter.
That’s what I liked about it. That we could do something that was adult subject matter, and if we want to go dark and violent, we can. If we want to have the language, we can. We have the freedom to do something like it’s on cable… to go as R-rated or as NC-17 as we want. Where the teenagers could really behave like modern adolescents.”
While gore and shock value are crucial elements in Roth’s films, he said the story will be his top priority with “Hemlock Grove.”
We don’t want to make a show where you watch one episode and go, ‘Oh God, why did I see that?’ Roth said. “I want people to watch the show and go, ‘Holy fuck, I can’t believe what they did on Hemlock Grove. Did you see that transformation scene? That was awesome, I want to watch more.’ I think there’s a fine line between kicking an audience’s ass and making them feel like they’ve been kicked in the balls.”
On March 21, 2012, Netflix announced that “Hemlock Grove” will be coming to the instant streaming collection in early 2013.
Are you anticipating the new Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter big screen adaptation? If so, and you have some ideas for posters of your own, you might just impress Tim Burton enough to win a private midnight screening in your hometown.
20th Century Fox has challenged fans to depict their allegiance to either our 16th President, or the villainous vampires he tried to protect us from. The top five entries will be presented to the famous director, who will then pick the grand-prize winner.
Fans can also vote on submissions or view and share the artwork to help pick the best candidates.
All styles of art are encouraged including cartoon, photo, paint, sculpture, graphic design, etc. Whether your submission is real or imagined they leave the interpretations up to you, the artist.
Liam Hemsworth, one of the stars from The Hunger Games, has signed on to star in the big-screen adaptation of Joseph Finder’s New York Times bestselling novel Paranoia.
“Paranoia tells the story of a young man, unhappy with his job, who funds a co-worker’s retirement party with company money,” according to Deadline.com. “Caught by his boss, he is given the choice of embezzlement charges or spying on the company’s competitor to steal top-secret project information.”
Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman are also likely to star, though they are both working on other projects.
Ford is currently filming Ender’s Game, and Oldman just completed filming The Dark Knight Rises.
Robert Luketic is set to direct the film although the choice is somewhat unexpected. Luketic’s body of work includes romantic comedies such as Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton.
Luketic’s two current projects, however, suggest he may be looking to get more serious. Aside from Paranoia, he is also working on Brilliant, a thriller starring Gerard Butler that is set to be released next year.
Those wondering whether Luketic can effectively handle weightier genres may want to check out 21, his 2008 Vegas crime drama.
Though a departure from his usual template, the film received mixed reviews, including a 35 percent rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers on the film rating site said Luketic took a fascinating true story, and added melodrama and glitz until the premise was lost, resulting in a dull final product.
If Luketic can use his past criticisms to improve his storytelling skills, he may be able to effectively tell Finder’s story.
See the full synopsis from Finder’s official website below:
Adam Cassidy is twenty-six and a low-level employee at a high-tech corporation who hates his job. When he manipulates the system to do something nice for a friend, he finds himself charged with a crime. Corporate Security gives him a choice: prison—or become a spy in the headquarters of their chief competitor, Trion Systems.
They train him. They feed him inside information. Now, at Trion, he’s a star, skyrocketing to the top. He finds he has talents he never knew he possessed. He’s rich, drives a Porsche, lives in a fabulous apartment, and works directly for the CEO. He’s dating the girl of his dreams.
His life is perfect. And all he has to do to keep it that way is betray everyone he cares about and everything he believes in.
But when he tries to break off from his controllers, he finds he’s in way over his head, trapped in a world in which nothing is as it seems and no one can really be trusted.
And then the real nightmare begins. . . .
There is no word yet on who will star in the project, or an expected release date.
AMC announced Wednesday that Robert Kirkman is adapting his newest graphic novel series, Thief of Thieves for the cable television network.
The Walking Dead writer/executive producer is working with Chic Eglee (Dexter, The Shield) and David Alpert (The Walking Dead) to develop the new show.
Kirkman, who still writes monthly issues of The Walking Dead, has released two issues of Thief of Thieves, each of which sold out on its respective release date.
The third issue was released on April 11th from Skybound/Image Comics.
Though The Walking Dead continues to break viewership records with its portrayal of the zombie apocalypse (the season two finale drew 9 million total viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter), viewers of Kirkman’s new show will notice a distinct lack of “walkers.”
Thief of Thieves, as its title suggests, is instead a heist story. The series is about Conrad Paulson, “the world’s greatest thief,” according to skybound.com.
He vows to steal only what’s already been stolen, in an effort to right the great wrongs of his life. But he may be too late for redemption.”
Kirkman said he hopes his adaptation will bring something new to television, just as The Walking Dead did.
Much like The Walking Dead brought horror to television in a unique and groundbreaking way, I feel Thief of Thieves can do the same thing for heist stories, showing the humanity of all the characters, including the criminals,” Kirkman said in an AMC release.
While the announcement has evoked much excitement from Kirkman’s fans, one question seems prevalent.
Will starting the show so early in the comic series compromise the quality or direction of the story?
Not much of the story will have been fleshed out, so characters and arcs could have to develop simultaneously. For most writers, this would seem a daunting task, but Kirkman’s track record suggests there is no need to worry.
Kirkman said he feels his work is in good hands at AMC, which adds to the success of his projects.
AMC recognizes the limitless ideas generated by the comic industry,” Kirkman said in a release. “Their dedication to bringing The Walking Dead to life as a TV show has been key to its success and I’m excited about the potential of Thief of Thieves to reach similar levels of success.”
It seems that after four weeks in theaters, The Hunger Games will continue to dominate. Even though it has slipped since opening weekend, it has successfully fended off several films in the box office, and accumulating over $300,000 domestically.
The Hunger Games adaptation based on the novel series by Suzanne Collins was adapted for the big screen by Gary Ross. Despite three new films hitting theaters over the weekend, The Hunger Games earned $21.5 million while in its fourth week. It should be noted that a film remaining at #1 for several weeks back in 2000, wasn’t that surprising. However, with the downturn of the economy, much has changed in the movie industry in the last 12 years. Now it is pretty amazing for a film to grab audiences like it has.
The only other films to achieve this honor has been The Dark Knight and Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King, while James Cameron’s Avatar remained at #1 for seven weeks.
Globally, The Hunger Games has crossed the $500 million mark with its success this weekend gaining its spot in the Top 100 Highest Grossing Films of all time after just one month in theaters.
This past weekend, The Hunger Games was up against new releases of Battleship, The Three Stooges, and The Cabin in the Woods.
The film is expected to gross even more by the time the weekend is over.
The director of the smash-hit film, Ross, has decided agaisnt directing its sequel, Catching Fire which is scheduled for release on November 22, 2013.
One of the years most gorgeous films, The Secret World of Arriety, a film from Studio Ghibli, is heading to a special DVD and Blu-ray combo back in May.
The film is based on the book series, “The Borrowers” written by Mary Norton. The film includes timeless themes such as friendship, courage, and determination.
Finally, on May 22, 2012 Walt Disney Studios and Studio Ghibli will release The Secret World of Arrietty on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD.
The voice cast includes stars such as Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Bridgit Mendler, Moises Arias, David Henrie and the iconic and much beloved Carol Burnett.
The two disc combo pack includes tons of bonus features such as:
· Storyboard presentation of the film
· Original Japanese Trailers and Television Commercials
· “Summertime” Music Video – Performed by Bridgit Mendler, the speaking voice of Arrietty.
· The Making Of “Summertime” Behind the Scenes – Bridgit Mendler hosts a look at the making of themusic video.
· “Arrietty’s Song” Music Video – Experience the movie’s theme song, performed by innovative singer and harpist Cécile Corbel, who also wrote the lyrics.
1-Disc DVD: (1 DVD)
· “Summertime” Music Video
· The Making Of “Summertime”
The official film synopsis is as follows:
Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered. Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasionalcovert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts.
But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”
Warner Bros. is having a field day lately buying the film rights to various novels. They have now begun the process of bringing the upcoming Dennis Lehane prohibition-era novel Live By Night. Deadline has reported that the project has already asked Leonardo DiCaprio to star in the film.
The novel is the second book in a trilogy written by Lehane. It is the sequel to his 2008 book, The Given Day.
Lehane is already an award winning novelist. He has also already had some of his novels adapted for the big screen. He wrote Mystic River which became an Academy Award-winning film. Another novel, Gone, Baby, Gone became an Academy Award-nominated film. DiCaprio also starred in a big screen adaptation of a Lehane novel, Shutter Island.
I has also been reported that DiCaprio will produce the film adaptation.
There is no word on when the adaptation is projected to release or when it will begin production.
Elena: What was so fucked up about the last 15 minutes that got you all riled on Twitter?
Rachel: Right, so to explain without being spoilery – I went to bat for this show’s last episode saying that it could end up being better than the books, and this week the show reminded me why that will never happen. I get that everything needs to be simplified, but I feel like they are writing to the lowest common denominator. I.e., We gotta write boobs and we gotta take out anything that requires brain cells to understand. This oversimplification results in scenes like the one between Stannis and Melisandre. A complicated and by no means confirmed suspicion of Davos’ in the novels becomes a hypocritical sex scene, and I don’t think it’s good writing.
Lots of fans think Melisandre and Stannis are lovers. Fine. It’s up for interpretation, so any opinion is valid. But Stannis goes to great lengths to prove to people that he is not a hypocrite and simple seduction is NOT at the heart of that relationship. No WAY is that all there is to it. Stannis does things because they are right, and he does what needs to be done to keep the right way. Seduction should not work on the Lobster King. If he is seduced it’s not because of Melisandre’s boobs and CERTAINLY not because she can give him a son. Stannis would not be interested in a bastard son. He just WOULDN’T. So that entire scene was dumb. And humph.
Elena: Speaking of boobs…Any thoughts on the Ros/Littlefinger scene as it relates to the exposition of his character on screen vs in the book?
Rachel: Well, Ros isn’t in the books. Didn’t you know that? You know that. She’s entirely made up. So Ros exists entirely as a tool of exposition. Mostly for Littlefinger at this point. In the books we know Littlefinger is sly because everyone says so. The show feels the need to actually give us examples of his cunning and wit. So it lulls us repeatedly into thinking he’s a decent person and then BAM – reminds us that he is the person you should trust the least. Poor Ros. If I were her I would tread carefully. Littlefinger talks to her too much and we know he regards knowledge as power.
She also exists for boobs.
Elena: On to happier subjects! What did you think of Yarra Asha? I know you heart her so…did they do her justice?
Rachel: Dude, (can I call y’all ‘Dude’?) Asha was AWESOME! Gemma Whelan even had the walk down. She’s snarky, confident, cool, she’s got leather pants! Can’t wait to see her throw an axe around!
The people who are all up in arms about how Asha “isn’t hot enough” should really re-examine how they interact with society. Asha is plenty hot and Gemma’s costume and makeup is appropriate for the character. Asha the character isn’t alluring or desirable because her face is pleasantly symmetrical and she wears eyeliner and boob hoisters – it’s because she’s a warrior woman who gives orders and splits heads. She’s always got something smart ass to say (Greyjoy trait), and to compare her to Melisandre – she’s also a woman of agency. It’s not about getting married or protecting her children or even her “maidenhood” (Asha would make a dirty joke here). It’s about paying the iron price. Done.
Haters to the Wall!
PS – does everyone else think that the Greyjoy armor is going to be the best armor out of all the armor?
What is your opinion on the Greyjoys so far?
Elena: They are…not what I expected. I don’t know what I did expect. Something more like Baratheons on the Sea, perhaps? Even knowing that the father rebelled and all that did not prepare me for meeting them. I am FASCINATED by their family ethos. They are like…House Pirate. Or maybe House Honey Badger (the Honey Badger doesn’t give a shit. It takes what it wants! Oh, it’s eating grubs? That’s nasty—but it’s hungry! Honey Badger doesn’t give a fuck).
I just…I loved the iron price. I loved him calling Theon a nancy boy. I loved Balon’s point about “I am not going to let someone put a crown on my head, I’ll win it for myself.” And Yarra Asha was awesome! She’s the first woman we’ve seen who is grabbing power and influence on the strength of her own self rather than her family. I mean, yes, she is a Greyjoy and all the brothers are gone, but instead of letting the house fall into despair or pin its hopes on Theon she has stepped into that void and made the fact of her sex irrelevant.
Also…what happened to Theon? He didn’t turn out a proper Stark or a proper Greyjoy. He just fails on all levels. And he looks like a terrible lay. Theon…the Theta Chi president of Westeros.
And, yes, their armor is going to be AWESOME.
Rachel: Tyrion is in top form but I’m not sure how wise it is to challenge Varys, what do you think?
Elena: Is Tyrion challenging him? Or just telling him to tread lightly? Sometimes a display of power is all you need to make diplomacy look a little more viable…I took it as Tyrion saying, “don’t fuck with me because I can and will do something about it.” Which is a little different from saying, hey Varys, I’m going to replace you as spymaster. I mean, I guess since no one knows Varys’ game anything that interferes with what he wants to do—which could easily be a hand of strong will and intelligence and at least some treachery, like Tyrion—might be a challenge to him, but I took it more as Varys and Tyrion feeling out each other rather than an actual challenge.
Tyrion’s Axiom of the Week: I’m not Ned Stark. I understand how this game is played.
Rachel: Gendry and Arya should get their own books/series, agree?
Elena: They would make an excellent sword and sorcery type adventuring pair. They definitely need to just say fuck Westeros and sail off into the wide blue yonder. As far as we know this planet isn’t Waterworld, so, you know, there’s other continents out there. And obviously Salador Saan does just fine as a pirate, so that’s always an option. I would read that, especially if it had the promise implicit in all non-GRRM/GRRM-derived fantasy that the main characters won’t fucking die. But, yeah, the two of them were hilarious together! And hilarious with the other parts of the To The Wall Contingent. So maybe the going off alone doesn’t actually work.
Anyway, Gendry surprised me. I expected him to be…dumb. Yes, I have that academic-nerd prejudice about jocks, and I assumed something about a blacksmith apprentice. He’s not dumb. He may not be edumucated, but he’s well spoken and funny and insightful. I look forward to more Gendry.
Also I hope Yoren continues to be such a badass protectorate if Joffrey’s minions come back.
(And speaking of Joffrey: hahahahaha I totally called that it was him and not Cersei behind the dead babies! I win!)
What did you think of Hotpie and friends?
Rachel: Hotpie looks exactly like how I pictured him in my head, and Lommy Greenhands ACTUALLY HAD GREEN HANDS, ELENA! Give that costume design team an Emmy. Just do it. DO IT FOR LOMMY!
We’ve also got Rorge, Biter and Jaqen H’ghar! And I actually can’t say a damn thing about them without spoiling you so let’ s just say they are criminals. Which was obvious. I liked ’em!
Sam’s plan to save Gilly is hilariously bad—how do you feel about what is shaping up north of the wall?
Elena: Sam is so easily manipulated by the first girl person who calls him brave. I would say I am surprised he’s behaving this way, considering what his father did to him, but part of it is probably his projecting what he would have liked someone to do for him (step in and save him/help him), and part of it is that maybe he realizes her father treats her even more shittily than his father treated him.
But the plan was just…stupid. Has Sam like….never actually seen a pregnant woman? Because I don’t think that’s going to work out too well on a march across the frozen north.
As a side note: did Sam read romance novels or something? Given that he’s said he’s read about sex and birthing babies? What kind of library did his father have?
Also…what the fuuuuuck are they doing still at Craster’s? Did they have to rebuild his hold in exchange for a night’s shelter? NOT WORTH IT.
Rachel: Ah, yes. Camping with Craster. That is what I call all the bullshit filler in tv/novels/movies from now on. BECAUSE WHY ARE THEY STILL CAMPING AT CRASTER’S? This isn’t the first time the show has struggled with the passage of time, but even if you haven’t read the books it is weird. In the last episode the Lord Commander said they wouldn’t be staying long, and Theon is journeying, and Arya and Gendry are journeying, and Dany is dying in the wilderness so we know at least a few weeks have gone by! Except in the North where time … passes more slowly because time is very cold.
I guess in editing they decided they didn’t want to really move the Jon Snow plot line until later in the season so they would just…keep them camping at Craster’s.
Which sounds kind of like a terrible local access television show about….
Nevermind.
Rachel: It’s also really sad that Live-Action Aladdin died. Let’s have a moment of silence for Rakharo.
Want more? Then check out the latest episode of Team More Wine Sir as we pour more wine and talk more about “The Nightlands”!
Warner Bros. has acquired the film rights to the debt novel from 23-year old author Roger Hobbs. The novel, entitled The Ghostman was drafted and written while Hobbs was still in college. Variety has reported that the studio would begin adapting the book with a projected release day of early next year.
The novel has yet to be released, but is set to arrive stateside later this year.
The official description of the novel is as follows:
Jack Delton is a hard man to get hold of. There are maybe thirty people who know he exists. Not all of them believe he is still alive. And only one of them knows his real name. So when he gets the email he knows whatever it is, it’s going to be bad. Marcus Fairlan and Jack used to work together. Until they had a falling out, after which Jack assumed the only reason Marcus would want to find him would be to kill him. It turns out it’s worse than that. Marcus bankrolled a casino heist that has just gone spectacularly wrong, leaving a parking lot full of bodies and an armed and dangerous crackhead named Jerome Ribbons gone AWOL with a million dollars in cash. Marcus had the money earmarked for a major drug deal, and if he doesn’t deliver, not only is the deal going down the tubes, but the man known as The Wolf is going to come looking for him. To make things right with Marcus, Jack needs to locate Ribbons, get the money and make the delivery. All in just 24 hours. Even for a man with Jack’s resources, it’s a tall order. Especially when he has a funny feeling the whole thing is a set-up…
So far there is no one attached the star in the adaptation. Kevin McCormick will produce the film through his production company Langley Park.
The Host, the upcoming adaptation of the 2008 novel written by Twilight author, Stephenie Meyer, has finally revealed its official poster which you can see above.
Meyer’s novel and the upcoming film is a little more sci-fi than her previous multimillion dollar franchise, Twilight. Here is an official description of the novel:
“The Host” is a riveting story about the survival of love and the human spirit in a time of war. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining “wild” humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.
The film is being produced by Open Road Films and is being directed by Andrew Niccol.
The Host cast, headed by Saoirse Ronan as the main character, includes:
Saoirse Ronan as Melanie Stryder/Wanderer
Max Irons as Jared Howe
Diane Kruger as The Seeker
Jake Abel as Ian O’Shea
Chandler Canterbury as Jamie Stryder
William Hurt as Jeb Stryder
Boyd Holbrook as Kyle O’Shea
Frances Fisher as Maggie Stryder
Scott Lawrence as Doc
The Host is expected to hit theaters on March 29th, 2013.
