Category Archives: Movie Adaptations

Sam Neill Will Not Be Reprising His Role For Jurassic World

Leave a reply

jurassic_world_logo-629x353

Dr. Alan Grant is like so over dinosaurs. Can you blame him though, really? Sam Neill recently announced that he will not be appearing in the newest film in the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World. 

Neill recently spoke with The Examiner (via JurassicWorld.org) and said,

“I’m sure it’s going to be great but they don’t need me… I think there’s a whole new cast and a whole new look at things, and I think that’s great. As I said, I’d never say no, but I wish them [well].”

Despite appearing in the first and third film of the franchise, Neill is resolute in not continuing the series with his character.

Jurassic World will star Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, Jake Johnson, Nick Robinson and Irrfan Khan. It is to be directed by Colin Trevorrow with the screenplay co-written by Derek Connolly.  Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley are producing.

Trevorrow confirmed that the film will feature Isla Nublar, the island from the first film, and that it will take place 22 years after the events of that film. The film franchise is based on the the 90’s novel series by Michael Crichton.

Return to Isla Nublar in 3D starting June 12, 2015.

Fox Options “Influx” For Film

Leave a reply

iflg

20th Century Fox has officially optioned the novel “Influx” by Daniel Suarez for the big screen, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. The novel, which releases in stores on February 20, is officially described as follows:

Are smart phones really humanity’s most significant innovation since the moon landings? Or can something else explain why the bold visions of the 20th century—fusion power, genetic enhancements, artificial intelligence, cures for common disease, extended human lifespan, and a host of other world-changing advances—have remained beyond our grasp? Why has the high-tech future that seemed imminent in the 1960’s failed to arrive?

Perhaps it did arrive… but only for a select few.

Particle physicist Jon Grady is ecstatic when his team achieves what they’ve been working toward for years: a device that can reflect gravity. Their research will revolutionize the field of physics—the crowning achievement of a career. Grady expects widespread acclaim for his entire team. The Nobel Prize. Instead, his lab is locked down by a shadowy organization whose mission is to prevent at all costs the social upheaval sudden technological advances bring. This Bureau of Technology Control uses the advanced technologies they have harvested over the decades to fulfill their mission.

They are living in our future.

Presented with the opportunity to join the BTC and improve his own technology in secret, Grady resists, and is instead thrown into a nightmarish high-tech prison built to hold rebellious geniuses like himself. With so many great intellects confined together, can Grady and his fellow prisoners conceive of a way to usher humanity out of its artificial dark age?

And if they do, is it possible to defeat an enemy that wields a technological advantage half a century in the making?

Currently, no one is attached to the production of Influx as of yet.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World on Digital HD Feb 4 and Blu-ray Feb 25

Leave a reply

Picture 2

Marvel is officially releasing Thor: The Dark World on 3D Combo Pack, Single-Disc Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand February 25th and will be available on Digital 3D and Digital HD on February 4th!

The release features exciting bonus features including an exclusive first look at Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, never-before-seen extended and deleted scenes.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.  In the aftermath of Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness.  Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor and Natalie Portman reprises her role as Jane Foster. Tom Hiddleston also returns as Loki while  Anthony Hopkins appears as Odin.

Bonus Features:

  • Never-Before-Seen Extended and Deleted Scenes
  • Gag Reel
  • Exclusive Look – Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • Get an exclusive first look at the latest installment in the Captain America franchise and its incredible cast of characters, including Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Director Nick Fury, Chris Evans, our hero Steve Roger’s, his new ally Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon played by Anthony Mackie, and a mysterious enemy from the past…the Winter Soldier played by Sebastian Stan.
  • Audio Commentary with Director Alan Taylor, Producer Kevin Feige, Actor Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau.
  • A Brothers’ Journey:  Thor & Loki
    • In this 30 min feturette go behind the scenes with filmmakers and cast as we explore two of the most iconic characters in the Marvel Universe with stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor) & Tom Hiddleston (Loki), and journey through the key moments that have defined and endeared these characters to audiences around the world.
  • Scoring Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World with Brian Tyler
    • Go behind the scenes with the filmmakers and acclaimed composer Brian Tyler for a look at the creation of the movie’s stunning original score.

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Hungarian Hit The Notebook

Leave a reply

the_notebook_le_grand_cahier

Sony Pictures Classics have officially acquired the North American rights to the Hungarian film, The Notebook. The film is an adaptation of the Agota Kristof bestselling novel of the same name. It received The Grand Prix Crystal Globe, the top prize at the 2013 Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where it had its world premiere. The film also received The Europa Cinemas Labels Award, which supports theatrical exhibition in Europe, and had its North American premiere at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival.

Set on the onset of WWII, The Notebook, which stars Ulrich Thomsen and Ulrich Matthes, tells the story of thirteen year old twins abandoned by their parents and forced to live with their cruel grandmother in a village on the Hungarian border. Studying the evil surrounding them, the twins learn to rely on their loyalty to one another, ultimately surviving in the face of challenging circumstances.

The film was the Hungarian entry for Best Foreign Language Film and was directed by Janos Szasz. It was filmed by Academy Award nominated Christian Berger and is produced by Intuit Pictures, in co-production with Hunnia Filmstudio, Amour Fou and Dolce Vita Films.

Szasz said,

“To make this movie was a wonderful and a painful journey for me, like a time machine, took me back into the war time. The jungle of fear and immorality.”

Sony Pictures Classics also commented,

“We have wanted to buy this film following its successful showings at the Toronto Film Festival. We have never really seen a movie quite like this. Based on a famous European novel, The Notebook portrays the World War II experience as a Grimm fairy tale brimming with darkness and foreboding evil. It is fresh, brilliantly told by director Janos Szasz with stunning cinematography by the great Christian Berger. It is great to collaborate again with Dirk Schuerhoff and Beta Cinema with whom we have shared success in the past.”

First Still From Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Leave a reply

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

The first official still from the upcoming Walt Disney film, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” has been released. The children’s book written by Judith Viorst was adapted by director Miguel Arteta and screenwriter Rob Lieber.

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. He soon learns that he’s not alone when his brother, sister, mom and dad all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn’t had one.

The big screen adaptation of the beloved story features an all-star cast including Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Dylan Minnette, Kerris Dorsey, Ed Oxenbould, Megan Mullally, Jennifer Coolidge and Bella Thorne.

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” will hit theaters on October 10, 2014.

First Look At Ben Affleck Thriller “Gone Girl”

Leave a reply

gonegirl

This week Twentieth Century Fox tweeted an official still from the upcoming David Fincher directed film, Gone Girl. The film is based on the best-selling novel and stars Ben Affleck. You can see the film still above.

The novel was written by Gillian Flynn and centers on a philandering husband (Affleck), whose wife goes missing on their fifth anniversary.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

The film still features Affleck addressing a crowd as he stands in front of a photograph of his missing wife (played by the gorgeous Rosamund Pike).

Gone Girl also stars Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry. It’s scheduled for a Oct. 3, 2014 release.

Amityville Sequel Set for Release on January 2, 2015

Leave a reply

1945

The sequel of the newly rebooted Amityville Horror franchise has been set for a January 2, 2015 release by Dimension Films. The film will feature the events following the time of the original The Amityville Horror book and movie through found footage dating back to 1976.

An ambitious female television news intern, on the verge of breaking the most famous haunted house case in the world, leads a team of journalists, clergymen and paranormal researchers into an investigation of the bizarre events that will come to be known as “The Amityville Horror”… only to unwittingly open a door to the unreal that she may never be able to close.

The film, which was tentatively known as The Amityville Horror: The Lost Tapes, was written and directed by Casey La Scala and Daniel Farrands.

The Amityville Horror franchise is based on the original horror novel written by Jay Anson, published in September 1977. The book is said to be based on the real-life paranormal experiences of the Lutz family, but has led to controversy and lawsuits over its truthfulness.

The 2015 release date makes the sequel the first major release of the year. It is also currently the only film scheduled for that particular release date.

Hugh Jackman Negotiating for Villain Role in Joe Wright’s Pan

Leave a reply

 

Opening night of Broadway's After Midnight-ArrivalsJoe Wright’s upcoming Peter Pan original tale has begun casting. Hugh Jackman is currently being eyed to play the lead villain role, the pirate Blackbeard.

The original story, known as Pan, is based on the screenplay by Jason Fuchs and is produced by Greg Berlanti. The story will serve as an origin story about an orphan taken into the world of Neverland where he becomes a hero to the natives by leading a revolt against the pirates who terrorize them. While Blackbeard would be the antagonist, Hook would still appear in the film as Pan’s ally before turning bad. (Reportedly, Ryan Gosling has already passed on the role of Hook.)

According to a report from Variety, the studio was initially looking to Javier Bardem to play the villainous pirate however he ended up passing on the role.

The studio has also begun an open casting to find a young new actor to play the title role as well as looking for an actress to play his love interest Tiger Lily.

Pan is already scheduled for a release date of June 26, 2015.

Argo Screenwriter Chris Terrio to Rewrite Batman vs. Superman

Leave a reply

 

batman_vs_superman

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy Award winning screenwriter, Chris Terrio, has been hired to rewrite David Goyer’s screenplay  for Zach Snyder’s upcoming project, tentatively known as Batman Vs. Superman.

Terrio is known for writing the film Argo which also starred Ben Affleck.

Batman vs. Superman will feature the return of Henry Cavill as Superman, facing off against Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne. In addition, the film will mark the big screen debut of Wonder Woman as played by Gal Gadot.

Production on Batman vs. Superman is set to begin early next year at the Michigan Motion Picture Studios in Pontiac where it will occupy all seven sound stages on the lot in addition to several locations around the state.

The film will also starring Amy Adams, Diane Lane and Laurence Fishburne and is scheduled to hit theaters on July 17, 2015. So far, very few plot details have been revealed for the story however the studio received heavy backlash for the casting of Affleck as Batman.

Fox 2000 to Adapt Robert Crais’ “Suspect”

Leave a reply

 

suspect-3_4

The newest Robert Crais novel, “Suspect,” has been optioned by Fox 2000. According to the Hollywood Reporter, David DiGilio (Eight Below) will provide the screenplay with Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson producing. Crais, the outlet notes, has adamantly prevented feature adaptations of his works in the past. In the case of “Suspect,” his decision to permit the big screen version is said to be largely based on how impressed he has been with The Color Forces’ handling of The Hunger Games franchise.

“Suspect” was published earlier this year and is described as follows:

LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well. Eight months ago, a shocking nighttime assault by unidentified men killed his partner Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty—until he meets his new partner.

Maggie is not doing so well, either. A German shepherd who survived three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing explosives before losing her handler to an IED, her PTSD is as bad as Scott’s.

They are each other’s last chance. Shunned and shunted to the side, they set out to investigate the one case that no one wants them to touch: the identity of the men who murdered Stephanie. What they begin to find is nothing like what Scott has been told, and the journey will take them both through the darkest moments of their own personal hells. Whether they will make it out again, no one can say.