Category Archives: DVD Releases

Two Oliver Twist Adaptations Heading To The Big Screen In 2014

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In 2012 we had dueling Snow White film adaptations in the box office and now it appears that next year moviegoers will have two Oliver Twist films face off for their approval. It was announced today that Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to turn Ahmet Zappa’s conceptual reinterpration of Charles Dicken’s “Oliver Twist” into a feature film called Dodge & Twist. 

This particular adaptation will take place 20 years after the events of the original novel written by Charles Dickens. The project will follows Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger as they are at odds with one another. Oliver, now a police officer, tries to prevent the Dodger from a plan to steal the Crown Jewels.

The screenplay is being provided by Cole Haddon, the creator of NBC’s upcoming “Dracula” series. Zappa and Matt Tolmach will produce the feature.

The announcement of Dodge & Twist comes off the heels of the news that CBS Films had acquired the rights to create a film adaptation called Olivia Twisted. Unlike Zappa’s adaptation, Olivia Twisted is being reimagined as a hyper-real, gothic city type tale with its primary focus being a young woman named Olivia. However, she isn’t an ordinary woman. Olivia is part of a highly trained gang of street kids ranging in age from 6 to 19 who work for a criminal named Fagin. When the gang takes on a kidnapping job, it lands in the middle of a turf war between the city’s two major kingpins.

There is no word yet on when each of these films is expected to hit theaters but it seems, similarly to the Snow White battle of 2012, they will release around the same time in the box office.

 

Weinstein Co. Options Vampire Academy’s “Blood Sisters” For Feature Film

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Even though The Twilight Saga is finally finished, the vampire media trend is not quote ready to die. The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced that they have  acquired the U.S. distribution rights to “Blood Sisters.” The adaptation will be the first installment of feature film adaptations based on the “Vampire Academy” series of young adult books.

The feature film adaptation of of Blood Sisters is set to be directed by Mark Waters, who is most known for his work on Mean Girls and The Spiderwick Chronicles. Dan Waters will write the screenplay. The project is being produced by Don Murphy and Susan Montford of Angry Films, Michael Preger and Deepak Nayar of Kintop/Reliance. IM Global CEO Stuart Ford will executive produce.‪

It is based on the first book in the highly popular “Vampire Academy” series written by Richelle Mead. The book series has sold over 8 million copies in print across 35 countries. To date there are 6 books in the series, with the last 4 on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

The official plot description for Blood Sisters is as follows:

Rose Hathaway develops a mental and spiritual bond with her BVFF (best vampire friend forever) Princess Lissa. The two girls attend a strict school for vampires designed to retain their humanity where it is Rose’s task to protect the Princess. Among the everyday issues faced by teenage vampires Rose falls for Dimitri, their dreamy guardian, and together the three battle the mysterious forces of the evil Moroi who are set on destroying the Princess’s bloodline.‬

“I am thrilled to be working on the first feature for ‘Vampire Academy.’ This series is fantastic and I am excited to bring it to the screen for diehard fans and introduce the stories to a whole new audience,” said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein.

The projected release date is set for February 14, 2014.

Legendary Plans The Esperanza Fire Adaptation

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John Mclean’s nonfiction novel, “The Esperanza Fire” has been acquired by Legendary Pictures to be adapted into a feature film. The novel is the true story of Raymond Oyler, the man charged with a devastating act of arson that caused a wildfire near Cabazon, California, west of Palm Springs, California.

The wildfire burned over 61 square miles (160 km²). Five firefighters were killed defending a vacant house locally known as the “Octagon” that was ultimately destroyed by the fire: Jason McKay, Jess McLean, Daniel Najera, Mark Loutzenhiser, and Pablo Cerda. In June 2009, Raymond Lee Oyler was sentenced to death for starting the fire.

The official plot description is as follows:

With a keen eye and ear for detail and raw emotion, Maclean dissects the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of five firefighters in 2006 after a wind-driven fire burned over their position on a ridge amidst a sea of chaparral and a few trees. Whether or not you’ve ever been on the front line of a wildfire, this book is a gut-wrenching, compelling narrative. It reads like a taut murder mystery, a whodunit novel you can’t put down, with a cast of fascinating characters that includes shady suspects, a dogged detective, DNA evidence, a divided jury, and the victims’ grieving family, friends, and colleagues.

The fire, started by an arsonist on October 26, 2006, burned about 42,000 acres and destroyed 34 houses. The arsonist was caught, tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Maclean, a seasoned journalist with storytelling in his blood, spent six years piecing together the story of the crime. As for the deaths, he also answers the question, “Why?” as well it can be answered — Why did the crew of Engine 57 hold its position on that hilltop, with a fire driven by Santa Ana winds below them? And was anyone, other than Raymond Lee Oyler, the arsonist, ultimately responsible for the deaths?

Alex Hedlund is attached to oversee development on the film version. There is no word on who will be directing or starring in the project.

Bryan Singer Talks X-Men: Days of Future Past

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Bryan Singer, the director of the upcoming film X-Men: Days of Future Past, recently discussed the new project and why it is his most ambitious one yet. One of the reasons it is so highly anticipated is that both casts of from the original X-Men films and the most recent X-Men: First Class will appear. Singer talked about X-Men: Days of Future Past in an interview with Empire.

When speaking about the sheer magnitude of the film and those involved, Singer mentioned how it was to work with both casts of the previous films as well as the ideas of time travel!

It’s epic. I don’t think people realize how big this movie’s going to be. We get to bring both casts together. We’ve cracked it in a way that it makes sense. I had a two-hour conversation with James Cameron about time travel, string theory, multiverses and all that. You have to create your rules and stick with them. That’s why Terminator and Back To The Future work so well. And there are certain mechanisms in X-Men, certain powers, perceptions and characters, that make this possible.”

In prospect of the combination cast, Singer addressed fans concerns that film will not adhere to the original source material.

It has a lot of aspects of the comic. The actual comic of Days Of Future Past had a whole ton of stuff going on, so it’s like any of these things; you have to distill it. But I think the fans will be pleased that some of the most exciting parts of Days Of Future Past are going to be connected to this movie.”

One of the major worries about X-Men: Days of Future Past has to do with continuity. Fans wonder whether the film will acknowledge the events of the previous films due to continuity issues, but Singer assures that every film in the series will be taken into account as canon.

“I’m taking into account every movie – I’m not just grabbing my first two movies and First Class and smashing them together. I’m taking into account the entire universe as it’s been laid out so far on the screen, and really respecting it and trying to work with that. People took things in various directions, so there’s some clean-up. But ultimately I’m not just ignoring them either.”

X-Men: Days of Future Past will hit theaters on July 18, 2014. Confirmed cast members for the film include Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore and Hugh Jackman.

Oliver Twist To Become “Olivia Twisted” Through CBS Films

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Let’s forgo the obvious pun and just say that CBS Films has decided to take a different approach when deciding to adapt the classic novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. The company has officially optioned Michael Roberts’ screenplay entitled, Olivia Twisted.

Roberts used the classic novel to create a hyper-real, gothic city type tale with its primary focus being a young woman named Olivia. However, she isn’t an ordinary woman. Olivia is part of a highly trained gang of street kids ranging in age from 6 to 19 who work for a criminal named Fagin. When the gang takes on a kidnapping job, it lands in the middle of a turf war between the city’s two major kingpins.

One of the draws of this particular adaptation is the fact that it plans to focus on the beautifully choreographed action scenes and setting as seen from the eyes of the former stuntman. The project is the debut script for Roberts, who broke into the business as a stuntman for TV shows including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Alias” before an injury prompted a career change.

Michael De Luca and Michael De Luca Productions’ Alissa Phillips are attached to produce.

There is no word on a projected date for production or who they want to star in this gritty re-imagining.

Ron Howard Eyes Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book Adaptation

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It was announced last summer that Neil Gaiman would be adapting his 2008 Newberry Medal winner novel, “The Graveyard Book.” Disney bought the movie rights after several years of attempts by different studios to adapt the novel. Now, the big screen adaptation has seemingly found a new director in Ron Howard.

Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 classic “The Jungle Book,” Gaiman’s novel is officially described as follows:

Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he’s the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians’ time as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are things like ghouls that aren’t really one thing or the other.

This will be Gaiman’s third film, preceded by 2009’s Coraline and 2007’s Stardust, both of which received positive reviews. Gaiman also has a television series in the works with HBO based on his novel American Gods. His two movie adaptations have both received relative success in the box office as well. Coraline has an IMDb rating of 7.7 out of 10 and Stardust received a 7.8.

Henry Selick had plans to adapt The Graveyard Book as a stop-motion feature for Walt Disney Pictures, but the new vision of the project has it moving forward as a live-action film. There is no word on when they expect this adaptation to move forward into production or who they wish to star in the feature. However, with Ron Howard at the helm, the movie appears to be in good hands.

James Ponsoldt Signs On To Write and Direct The Big Screen Adaptation of Pure

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James Ponsoldt has officially signed on to write and direct Fox 2000’s upcoming film adaptation, Pure, based on the novel of the same name written by Julianna Baggott. The novel is the first in a planned trilogy and is set to be released in early 2012.

“Pure” has an official plot summary that follows:

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it’s his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Karen Rosenfelt is attached to produce the film version. There is no word yet on when the film is expected to be underway or a projected release date for the completed film.

You can check out a trailer for the novel itself in the player below:

The Taming of the Shrew Adaptation Secures Anne Hathaway

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Since staring in Les Miserables, Anne Hathaway seems to be jumping on the classic literature remake bandwagon. Rumor has it that the Hathaway is set to star in the upcoming big screen adaptation of the William Shakespeare play, “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Rather than a straight forward period film, the project will be a modern-day retelling of the play set in mid-20th century Italy. Considering this will be set in a more current time frame, the question remains of whether or not this retelling will retain the misogynistic elements of mens control over women and the desire to have a compliant and obedient wife remain. It is the 20th century after all and women have finally been given permission to have free will, right? That’s a thing right?

In case you didn’t read this on your own or in 11th grade english class, “The Taming of the Shrew” follows the tale of two sisters. One unsurprisingly more lovely than the other. The story depicts the utter gentlemen, Petruchio, as he attempts to court and marry the headstrong and titular “shrew” that is Katherina. Considering the fact that she didn’t choose Petruchio as a suitor, she is understandably an unwilling participant in the relationship. However, through “taming” and the various psychological torments that is the definition of true love, Katherina becomes the obedient bride every man desires. There is also a subplot featuring the hotter sister and a competition of men vying for her attention and thusly her hand in marriage.

Us women need some taming by the men in our lives in order to find someone who is willing to deal with our hysteria, amiright? Forget those old ideals of true love and happiness, that takes a whole lot of work after all. Just marry us off to some dick who will deny us food and water while physically and emotionally humiliating us in front of our friends and family at our wedding and then hence forth the rest of our lives. It’s every girls dream, right?

What a great tale! My hopes are that this modern-day retelling is more closely related to 10 Things I Hate About You rather than the actual play.

Abi Morgan has signed on to script the adaptation. The project will be produced by Debra Hayward and Working Title, another individual with knowledge of the film told TheWrap.

“The Taming of the Shrew” was famously adapted in 1967 staring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Another adaptation, also a modern-day retelling, was released in 1999 in the form of 10 Things I Hate About You starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.

The casting of Hathaway is only a rumor at this point as Universal, Working Title and Hathaway’s representatives at CAA all declined to comment on the project.

Character Guide To Oz The Great And Powerful

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Walt Disney is preparing for the release of their upcoming film, Oz The Great and Powerful based on the novels by L. Frank Baum (such as the most notable, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”) by releasing an official character guide to the film.

The film follows Diggs (Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, who is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. He thinks he’s hit the jackpot and that fame and fortune are his for the taking — that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Kunis), Evanora (Weisz) and Glinda (Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Below, you can check out a guide to some of the incredible characters set to soon hit the big screen, paired against original passages from Baum’s first book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

OZ (OSCAR DIGGS)

James Franco

“Well, one day I went up in a balloon and the ropes got twisted, so that I couldn’t come down again. It went way up above the clouds, so far that a current of air struck it and carried it many, many miles away. For a day and a night I traveled through the air, and on the morning of the second day I awoke and found the balloon floating over a strange and beautiful country.” – Oz

Oscar Diggs, aka Oz, is a small-time magician who takes his magic act on the road as part of a traveling circus in the Midwest. A man with dubious ethics, Oz is a handsome, charming charlatan who is skilled at smooth-talking his way out of problems. When he is hurled into the magical Land of Oz, Oscar faces a fight-or-flight dilemma that holds the fate of a kingdom in the balance, forcing him to decide what kind of man he truly is before it is too late.

THEODORA

Mila Kunis

“In the civilized countries I believe there are no witches left, nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians. But, you see, the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from the rest of the world. Therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us.” – Glinda

Theodora is a beautiful, naïve witch who is protected by her powerful sister Evanora. Theodora only wants peace to come to the Land of Oz and truly believes that a prophesied wizard will arrive someday to restore order.

EVANORA

Rachel Weisz

“One of my greatest fears was the Witches, for while I had no magical powers at all I soon found out that the Witches were really able to do wonderful things.” – Oz

A witch to be feared, Evanora is Theodora’s over-protective sister. With her penetrating gaze, she exudes a powerful presence and has positioned herself as the royal advisor and protector of Emerald City.

GLINDA

Michelle Williams

“The Witch of the South. She is the most powerful of all the Witches, and rules over the Quadlings… She is kind to everyone. I have heard that Glinda is a beautiful woman, who knows how to keep young in spite of the many years she has lived.” – Soldier

Glinda is a good witch who rules over a peaceful kingdom of simple, kind folk. Beautiful Glinda is not only a compassionate and benevolent witch, but also a fierce protector of her people. Though Glinda sees through Oz’s façade early on, she knows genuine goodness lies within and helps Oz achieve his true destiny.

CHINA GIRL

Joey King (voice)

“But the strangest of all were the people who lived in this queer country. There were milkmaids and shepherdesses, with brightly colored bodices and golden spots all over their gowns; and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple; and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them, and golden buckles on their shoes; and princes with jeweled crowns upon their heads, wearing ermine robes and satin doublets; and funny clowns in ruffled gowns, with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall, pointed caps. And, strangest of all, these people were all made of china, even to their clothes, and were so small that the tallest of them was no higher than Dorothy’s knee.”

China Girl is from the village of China Town, where everything, including the inhabitants, is made of china. When destruction befalls her land, the brave, resilient China Girl encounters Oz and they strike up an unlikely friendship.

FINLEY

Zach Braff (voice)

“But if you are going to call the Winged Monkeys we must run away, for they are full of mischief and think it great fun to plague us.” – Oz

The Queen of the MiceFinley is a winged monkey that accompanies Oz on his journey. Finley doesn’t have a high opinion of Oscar and lets him know it. Ultimately he becomes a loyal ally and helps Oz discover his true self.

FRANK

Zach Braff

“I do not know where Kansas is, for I have never heard that country mentioned before. But tell me, is it a civilized country?” – Glinda

Frank is Oz’s assistant and right-hand man—he’s the money handler, costume mender and prop wrangler for Oz’s magic act. Frank is put upon and underappreciated but is Oz’s only friend.

KNUCK

Tony Cox

“I am the Guardian of the Gates, and since you demand to see the Great Oz I must take you to his Palace. But first you must put on the spectacles… [I]f you did not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind you. Even those who live in the City must wear spectacles night and day. They are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built, and I have the only key that will unlock them.”– The Guardian of the Gates

Knuck is a dour, unsmiling Munchkin, who, as the Herald of Emerald City, announces all the visitors. Despite his cantankerous demeanor, he is loyal to Glinda and thus reluctantly becomes Oz’s ally.

WINKIES

“The Winkies were very kind to me, and wanted me to rule over them after the Wicked Witch died. I am fond of the Winkies, and if I could get back again to the Country of the West, I should like nothing better than to rule over them forever.” – The Tin Woodman

The Winkies are the formidable, spear-carrying, 8-foot tall, uniformed guards of Emerald City under the command of Evanora.

QUADLINGS

“The country of the Quadlings seemed rich and happy. There was field upon field of ripening grain, with well-paved roads running between, and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them. The fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red, just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the Winkies and blue in the country of the Munchkins. The Quadlings themselves, who were short and fat and looked chubby and good-natured, were dressed all in red, which showed bright against the green grass and the yellowing grain.”

The Quadlings are inhabitants of Glinda’s kingdom. They are kind-hearted, simple country folk who are mostly farmers.

MUNCHKINS

While she stood looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to; but neither were they very small. In fact, they seemed about as tall as Dorothy, who was a well-grown child for her age, although they were, so far as looks go, many years older.

The Munchkins are giggling, happy little people, who live peaceful lives singing and making pretty clothes. Though they don’t have a care in the world, they are loyal to Glinda and do their best to help her if and when she needs them.

The upcoming film version, opening in North American theaters on March 8 and Australia on March 7, tells the story of how the wizard, Oscar Diggs, came to Oz (a story never told in any of the books). The movie is directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) and stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff and Joey King.