Category Archives: Movie Adaptations

Jamie Dornan in “Fifty Shades of Grey”

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Universal Pictures and Focus Features have officially released the first picture of Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey in the upcoming film Fifty Shades of Grey. The film is the big screen adaptation of the first novel in the series from author E.L. James. You can see the still below.

The still was posted on the film’s Facebook page and Twitter account in honor of the fictional character’s birthday. (No, I am not kidding.)

Dornan stars as the titular character alongside Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele.

The follows Anastasia, a literature student, as she goes to interview the wealthy Christian Grey, as a favor to her roommate Kate Kavanagh. However, she encounters a beautiful, brilliant and intimidating man. The innocent and naive Ana startled to realize she wants him, despite his enigmatic reserve and advice, she finds herself desperate to get close to him. Not able to resist Ana’s beauty and independent spirit, Christian Grey admits he wants her too, but in his own terms. Ana hesitates as she discovers the singular tastes of Christian Grey- despite of the embellishments of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family – Grey is consumed by the need to control everything. As they get close Ana starts to discover Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own desires

Fifty Shades of Grey is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and will release in theaters on February 14.

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YA Series “Soulkeepers” Optioned for Film

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A new YA paranormal series is heading to the big screen. “The Soulkeepers,” a six-book series written by G.P. Ching has been optioned by producer Aaron Magnani.

“The Soulkeepers  series” is based in a world where Heaven and Hell wage war for human souls on Earth. A teenage boy named Jacob, who’s a bit of a hothead and a vandal, discovers he has the ability to protect souls from Fallen Angels. He begins to learn how to harness this skill from his beautiful and mysterious neighbor, Dr. Abigail Silva, and soon unlocks new discoveries in faith, love and redemption.

The series first hit shelves back in 2011 and the sixth book was released in March 2014. Ching also wrote The Grounded Trilogy. 

Currently there is no word on who will star in the production. However, Aaron Magnani Production has reportedly already begun searching for the male lead role. They also are scoping out a writer to adapt the series for the screen. Let us not forget they do not have a director for the production yet either.

More news is expected to be announced over the new few months for Soulkeepers as Magnani begins hiring production staff and casting the lead roles. There is no anticipated release date as of yet.

“World War Z” Sequel Hires Writer

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The upcoming World War Z sequel has found its writer in Steven Knight. The film seems to be moving forward pretty quickly as it already has a direct in Juan Antonio Bayona. The film series is based on the novel by Max Brooks.

Knight is most known for his work on Eastern Promises and Locke.

Last Summer World War Z ended up grossing $202 million domestically and $540 million worldwide. It starred Brad Pitt who also served as producer via his company Plan B. 

The plot (almost completely different from the book it is “based” on) followed Pitt as a United Nations employee who travels the world as he tries to stop a zombie plague, all the while trying to communicate with his family.

Details about the sequel have not been announced and are reportedly being kept under wraps. It will be produced by Pitt’s Plan B. Let’s hope the sequel focuses more on some the stories Brooks wrote in the novel and less about Pitt running around in third world countries and forgetting to turn off his cell phone ringer when in tense zombie situations.

Prometheus Writer to Write Marvel’s Doctor Strange

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According to a report from Deadline, Jon Spaihts is currently in talks to write the script for the upcoming Marvel film, Doctor Strange.

Making his first appearance in 1963, Doctor Strange follows a brilliant neurosurgeon Stephen Strange, whose journey begins after a car accident. Through his recovery, Strange starts on a path to become the “master of the Mystic Arts.”

There is no confirmed actor in line to play Doctor Strange though it is rumored to be between Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Jared Leto.

Spaihts is most known for his science fiction work including 2011’s The Darkest Hour and most recently his work on Prometheus which he worked on with Damon Lindelof. He is currently working on the Mummy reboot with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

Doctor Strange will be directed by Scott Derrickson. The first draft of the film was written by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer.

Spaihts tweeted about the negotiations as you can see below:

Batman Solo Film Rumored For 2019

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Rumors are swirling that Warner Bros. are planning to keep Ben Affleck in the batsuit for a while. It appears they may be eyeing a 2019 release date for a solo Batman film with Affleck also in directors chair.

According to a report from Latino-Review, a standalone film featuring Affleck as Batman is being tentatively called The Batman. Due to the production schedule of the Batman vs. Superman film and then the Justice League film, that would put the solo film going into production sometime in 2017 or 2018.

The solo film has not been confirmed by any of the parties involved. Plus fans have not yet been convinced of Affleck’s ability to play the Dark Knight.

Considering the solo Batman film would still be another 5 years away, do you think it could happen or that Affleck is planning that far ahead? Would you be willing to see that film?

Amazing Spider-Man 2 Releases on Blu-Ray in August

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The official Blu-Ray and DVD release of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is set to hit shelves on August 19. It will also become available on Digital HD two weeks beforehand on August 5. 

The Blu-ray extra features will include 13 deleted scenes with one titled “Peter Meets His Father.” Other features available on The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Blu-ray are a filmmaker commentary and a making-of documentary that details the filmmakers and cast’s approach to the blockbuster sequel. The package also boasts the music video for “It’s On Again” by Alicia Keys.

In addition to the regular Blu-Ray and DVD releases, there also will be an Electro collector’s edition set for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, also coming out August 19.

Amazon has listed The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Electro Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray set for $150. It comes with a replica of Electro’s head as the case. The back of his neck stores two Blu-Rays — including the 3D version — and a DVD.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 stars Andrew Garfield,Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, and Sally Field.

Marvel Once Again Considering the Idea of Hulk Solo Film?

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Fans have been practically begging Marvel to release a “Hulk” centric film starring Mark Ruffalo. Even Ruffalo himself has said he would love it but Marvel has remained pretty stoic about any plans for a film. However! In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Ruffalo hinted at the possibility that Marvel Studios maybe considering the idea.

“I think they are, for the first time, entertaining the idea of it. When we did The Avengers it was basically ‘No!’, and now there is some consideration for it. But there’s still nothing definitive, not even a skeletal version of what it would be. I look forward to going down that road, if we could crack that nut. I think the Banner/Hulk storyline is obviously not easy a tough nut to crack.”

Ruffalo was even up for another movie that features The Hulk teaming up with another hero.

“If they do Iron Man 4 and Banner’s in that, that would be great.”

You can watch the interview below:

Jared Leto In Talks to Replace Will Smith in “Brilliance”

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It was announced last month that Will Smith had dropped out of the big screen adaptation of “Brilliance.” Now, according to Variety, Jared Leto is currently in talks for the lead role. Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures is adapting the novel of the same name from Marcus Sakey.

“Brilliance” is officially described as follows:

In Wyoming, a little girl reads people’s darkest secrets by the way they fold their arms. In New York, a man sensing patterns in the stock market racks up $300 billion. In Chicago, a woman can go invisible by being where no one is looking. They’re called “brilliants,” and since 1980, one percent of people have been born this way. Nick Cooper is among them; a federal agent, Cooper has gifts rendering him exceptional at hunting terrorists. His latest target may be the most dangerous man alive, a brilliant drenched in blood and intent on provoking civil war. But to catch him, Cooper will have to violate everything he believes in—and betray his own kind.

The screenplay was written by David Koepp with Julius Onah as director. Noomi Rapace was previously announced for a role in the film. Producers on Brilliance include Jon Jashni, Joe Roth and Thomas Tul with Alex Hedlund, Eric McLeod and Palek Patel executive producing.

Spike Lee Sued Over “Oldboy” Movie Posters

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Spike Lee has been slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit from artist Juan Luis Garcia regarding Lee’s recent film  reboot of Oldboy. Garcia is aserting that Lee used his proposed movie posters after initially declining to use them and pay the artist.

Garcia claims that he created the posters for the film and offered them to Lee and his Forty Acres and a Mule Filmworks production company “access to the posters, and offered Defendants the opportunity to use them to market their film, with the condition precedent that they pay Plaintiff for such use. Defendants never paid Plaintiff.”

However, the ad agency apparently offered a very low amount of money for the work so Garcia withdrew the work. Then, last November, Garcia wrote an open letter to the director saying that he had worked exclusively on the posters for two months and in response to that letter, Lee tweeted,

“I Never Heard Of This Guy Juan Luis Garcia,If He Has A Beef It’s Not With Me.I Did Not Hire Him,Do Not Know Him.Cheap Trick Writing To Me.YO.” One man responded to Lee on Instagram, saying, “Dude pay the graphic artist,” and Lee responded, “Why Should I Pay Someone Who I Never Met Nor Had Any Contact With Ever? He Never Made Any Deal With Me.Why Don’t You Pay Me For Your Stupid Text On Thanksgiving Day?”

According to the lawsuit, it mostly takes issue with the fact that the Oldboy posters were released with the tags, “;© 2013 Spike Lee,”; and “;© 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks.”

“This copyright attribution is false, as Plaintiff owns these posters, not anyone else, and the images were not owned or under license to Defendants,” states the complaint (read here). “Moreover, Defendants knew this was false at the time these posters were created, but continued to reproduce and distribute this false information.”

Garcia also claims copyright infringement as well as the more rare claim of a violation under 17 U.S.C. 1202. The latter claim has to do with the alleged alteration of copyright management information. The plaintiff, represented by attorney Douglas Linde, seeks various profits and statutory damages not specified.

The Unofficial Timeline for DC’s Justice League Teases Seven Films

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The decade(s) of comic book films is not even close to over as Marvel has been monopolizing the box office lately with their cinematic universe. But it looks like DC is getting back in the mix with a new “Justice League” movie.

According to Deadline, DC has plans for seven films including the “Justice League” film and the long-awaited “Wonder Woman” project. Although the official lineup is supposed to be announced at the San Diego Comic-Con, this is what is rumored at the moment.

  • May 2016 – Batman v Superman
  • July 2016 – Shazam
  • Xmas 2016 – Sandman
  • May 2017 – Justice League
  • July 2017 – Wonder Woman
  • Xmas 2017 – Flash and Green Lantern team-up
  • May 2018 – Man Of Steel 2

“Like Marvel’s The Avengers, there will be cameos of superheroes for future installments,” Deadline’s Nikki Finke said. “The cameos will include the already known Cyborg and Flash. Green Lantern [NOT Ryan Reynolds, thank heavens] may be introduced. And Aquaman will be seen in the Justice League movie. Problem is, Warner Bros Pictures was still negotiating with the actors for those cameos and future roles, meaning major contracts for multiple JL/character films to follow. The studio didn’t want to move forward until they had more of this secure so they held off starting production for a few months. Seemingly simple reason, but the implications are pretty darn huge.”