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News for August 2013

Venice: 'Philomena' Wows Lido, Debuts To Thunderous Applause
One of the most anticipated films in the Venice competition, Stephen Frears' Philomena blew a breath of fresh air onto the Lido this morning.
From: Deadline 31/08/2013

Venice: The Weinstein Co Sets Christmas Release For 'Philomena'
Following the massively positive reaction to Stephen Frears' Philomena here in Venice, The Weinstein Co is firming its U.S. release plans. Philomena will go out first in New York and Los Angeles on Christmas Day and then will open wide on January 10, say TWC execs Robert Walak and Negeen Yazdi.
From: Deadline 31/08/2013

Ben Wheatley To Direct Screen Adaptation Of J.G. Ballard's High Rise
Kill List director lined up to adapt Ballard's dystopic story of social breakdown.
From: Screenrush 30/08/2013

Jon Voight reveals he was paid 'minimum' for Midnight Cowboy role
Actor says he was even charged for meals during filming of breakout performance in John Schlesinger's 1969 classic.
From: The Guardian - Film News 30/08/2013

Kick-Ass 3 will be final instalment in series, says creator
Mark Millar, who has almost finished book for third film, urges producers to move quickly before stars become too old.
From: The Guardian - Film News 30/08/2013

Hollywood apocalypse not now despite summer flops and directors' strops
US film studios unlikely to be chastened by big-budget failures from The Lone Ranger to Elysium and change business model.
From: The Guardian - Film News 30/08/2013

The Canyons arrives in Venice - but without Lindsay Lohan
Director Paul Schrader says he is 'a free man' after production of thriller dogged by reports of behind-the-scenes tension.
From: The Guardian - Film News 30/08/2013

Kathleen Turner Set For Dumb & Dumber To
After years of rumours, claims and counter-claims, semi-announcements and disappointed retractions, it must be nice for the Farrelly brothers to be able to start adding actors to their long-gestating Dumb & Dumber sequel, Dumb & Dumber To. Besides returning leads Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, Kathleen Turner will be aboard.
From: Empire Online 30/08/2013

James Spader Is Avengers' Ultron!
Poor old DC. Just when they think they might have control of the superhero news cycle for a day by announcing where Superman/Batman will shoot, along comes Marvel with a casting bombshell that rains on its parade even as it mixes metaphors.
From: Empire Online 30/08/2013

Superman/Batman Film Will Shoot In Detroit
Though there was a thought that Zack Snyder would be returning to Vancouver and its environs (a favourite shooting haunt of his) to film the Superman/Batman crossover Man Of Steel sequel, Canada will have to manage without the last son of Krypton and Gotham's Caped Crusader: they're off to Michigan.
From: Empire Online 30/08/2013

Chris Pratt On Guardians Of The Galaxy
Chris Pratt is hard at work at not one but two jobs at the moment, as he flits between London and LA filming Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy and US sitcom Parks And Recreation.
From: Empire Online 30/08/2013

Vincent Cassel Finds Child 44
Hey you, directors! Yes, you. Have you recently lost a cast member from a film you're working on? Need a top-notch replacement in a hurry? Then you need Casselfix™ from Ronco! Casselfix™ is the ideal solution when there's a hole in your ensemble to plug or the head of your cast has dropped off and you need a replacement. Just ask Daniel Espinosa, who has used Casselfix™ on Child 44 to plug a hole left by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
From: Empire Online 30/08/2013

Megan Mullally Will Have A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, you're on notice: two experienced scene-stealers have been added to the cast of Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in the shape of Megan Mullally and Jennifer Coolidge.
From: Empire Online 30/08/2013

Richard Gere Meets Franny
There's no Zooey here, and this is not a story connected to the prospect of newly unearthed and unpublished JD Salinger work. Instead, the Franny that has just attracted Richard Gere is an indie drama, and his first full movie since the excellent Arbitrage. We'd say he picks his films carefully these days... except that he was in a bit of Movie 42.
From: Empire Online 30/08/2013

Justin Timberlake May Join The Idolmaker Remake As Producer, And Maybe More
Fresh off a lengthy performance at the VMAs which included a brief N'Sync reunion, Justin Timberlake is making headlines again, but instead of touting his music production, he's getting invested in a film.
From: Cinema Blend 30/08/2013

Rooney Mara Replaces Mia Wasikowska In Todd Haynes' Lesbian Romance Carol
Mia Wasikowska and Rooney Mara rank as two of our most talented young actresses working today, choosing interesting projects with fascinating directors like David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network), Steven Soderbergh (Side Effects), Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre) and Chan-Wook Park (Stoker).
From: Cinema Blend 30/08/2013

Justin Timberlake Wants To Be The Riddler Opposite Ben Affleck's Batman
When Ben Affleck was named as the next Batman the internet was flooded with Batfleck backlash instantaneously, ranging from outraged tweets, to snarky memes, and even a petition begging for Warner Bros to reconsider the casting decision.
From: Cinema Blend 30/08/2013

Is Christopher Nolan's Interstellar About Climate Change?
With the massive hits that were his Dark Knight trilogy under his belt, Christopher Nolan has the kind of box office drawing power that means he can play by his own rules. Unfortunately for us, his rules include revealing to the press as few details about his Dark Knight Rises follow-up as possible.
From: Cinema Blend 30/08/2013

Pixar Removes Director Bob Peterson From The Good Dinosaur
At Disney's D23 conference earlier this month the most notable absence was definitely Star Wars, which announced zero news despite persistent rumors that J.J. Abrams or someone from the studio might reveal even a title.
From: Cinema Blend 30/08/2013

Chris Pratt Promises Guardians Of The Galaxy Will Rival Citizen Kane
Usually, when an actor is asked on the record about the potential of an upcoming project, he or she will play it very safe, telling nosy journalists that they are "very excited" about the script, "very excited" to be working with their given co-stars, "very excited" to finally be collaborating with a chosen director, and "very excited" for all of us to see it. Of course, they mean very little of that, and they're really just trying to give us something without giving us anything at all.
From: Cinema Blend 30/08/2013

Kurt Russell In Talks for Fast And Furious 7
With each successive entry in the Fast and Furious franchise, Fast 3-6 helmer Justin Lin raised the bar on what we should expect in the terms of balls-to-the-wall action and brawny star power.
From: Cinema Blend 30/08/2013

One Direction: Louis's granddad books out local cinema
Cinema goers at Vue Doncaster, where band member Louis once worked, were last night joined by his granddad, family and friends as they watched the boys take to the big screen in their debut film One Direction: This Is Us 3D, on Thursday 29th August.
From: Film-News 30/08/2013

The 57th BFI London Film Festival Gala annonced as Philomena
The 57th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express is delighted to announce that the Festival's American Express Gala will take place on Wednesday 16 October at the Odeon Leicester Square with the UK Premiere of Stephen Frears' PHILOMENA, the moving, funny and at times shocking true story of one woman's search for her lost son.
From: Film-News 30/08/2013

Venice: David Gordon Green's 'Joe' Bows To Praise For Nicolas Cage
David Gordon Green's competition title Joe debuted for the press here in Venice this morning. A serious, sometimes violent story, it's been well-received on the Lido with star Nicolas Cage getting some very strong notices.
From: Deadline 30/08/2013

12 Years A Slave' To Get U.S. Premiere At New York Film Festival
Fox Searchlight is bringing Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave to the New York Film Festival where it will have its U.S. premiere October 8.
From: Deadline 30/08/2013

Telluride: Robert Redford Tribute - "I Just Keep Going"
From: Deadline 30/08/2013

Angela Workman Tapped To Adapt 'Longbourn' For Focus Features & Random House
Focus Features has found a writer for Longbourn, the period pic based on the novel that reimagines Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice from the point of view of the servants at the Bennet family estate.
From: Deadline 30/08/2013

Telluride: Surprise 'Prisoners' Rocks The Fest And Becomes Instant Oscar Contender
Hyperbole at film festivals is to be expected, BUT even with direct competition from Brad Pitt and the Coen brothers, the reaction to the first public screening Friday night anywhere of director Denis Villenueve's thrilling and penetrating drama Prisoners at the 40th Telluride Film Festival was completely unexpected and significant.
From: Deadline 30/08/2013

The Butler falsely portrays Ronald Reagan as racist, says son
Michael Reagan accuses Lee Daniels' film about African American White House butler of harbouring 'a bunch of lies'.
From: The Guardian - Film News 29/08/2013

Gérard Depardieu is awarded Belgian citizenship
The French actor accrues another passport after his spat with the French government over a failed 75% tax on the rich.
From: The Guardian - Film News 29/08/2013

Dwayne Johnson's Mythical Adventure Lore Has Found A New Director
There is no shortage of folklore making TV whimsical, with series like NBC's Grimm and ABC's Once Upon a Time and its spinoff paving the way for Fox's upcoming Sleepy Hollow series.
From: Cinema Blend 29/08/2013

Peter Stormare, Matt O'Leary And Others Buzzing Around Horror Comedy Stung
Horror comedies work best when they take their concepts to extremes, never allowing the expected tropes to become a handicap.
From: Cinema Blend 29/08/2013

Amanda Seyfried, Alan Arkin And Felicity Jones Join Christmas Comedy Most Wonderful Time
I'm not someone who eagerly anticipates films that can be called "Christmas movies," so the concept has to really be solid to catch my interest.
From: Cinema Blend 29/08/2013

The Avengers 2 Casts James Spader As Ultron
It would appear that Joss Whedon has found his central villain for The Avengers: Age of Ultron. According to The Wrap, James Spader - who earned rave reviews last year for his performance in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln - has landed the role of Ultron in the upcoming blockbuster sequel.
From: Cinema Blend 29/08/2013

Kill List Director Ben Wheatley Will Wreak Havoc Adapting J.G. Ballard's High Rise
I can't remember the last time I saw a movie that depicted the future in a totally positive light. All we've seen in recent years are overbearing dystopias.
From: Cinema Blend 29/08/2013

Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Announces Its Full Cast
Cedar Rapids and Youth in Revolt director Miguel Arteta has officially begun production on his live-action adaptation of the beloved children's novel Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in Los Angeles, and to mark the event the full cast he has recruited for this 2014 release has been announced.
From: Cinema Blend 29/08/2013

Matt Damon Signs Up To Go Interstellar With Christopher Nolan
The Elysium star will join the epic, star-packed shoot for just a fraction of its four month length.
From: Screenrush 29/08/2013

30 Films In The Running For The 2013/2014 Awards Season
From Sundance back in January through Cannes, the summer blockbusters and now Venice and Toronto we've examined all the year's releases to predict the 30 movies that'll be vying for prizes this coming awards season, which culminates with the 86th Oscar Ceremony in February.
From: Screenrush 29/08/2013

Idris Elba's Luther set for big screen prequel
Luther creator confirms plans for an movie origins story for Idris Elba's maverick detective.
From: The Guardian - Film News 28/08/2013

James Bond will be back … with more laughs, says Daniel Craig
The actor promises a more humorous 007 in the spy's next outing, though he also claims he cannot 'ham it up'.
From: The Guardian - Film News 28/08/2013

Pacific Rim 'designed to advance US cultural domination of China'
Chinese newspaper publishes a piece suggesting Guillermo del Toro's film is part of a US propaganda drive.
From: The Guardian - Film News 28/08/2013

Barack Obama 'teared up' watching Oscar-tipped drama The Butler
US president tells radio host that film about a black member of White House staff who serves seven presidents made him cry.
From: The Guardian - Film News 28/08/2013

Sigourney Weaver and Ridley Scott could reunite for Moses epic
The actor is in talks to reunite with her Alien director on his upcoming film Exodus, based on the story of Moses.
From: The Guardian - Film News 28/08/2013

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas separate to 'work on marriage'
The couple, who married 13 years ago, are 'taking some time apart', according to a spokesperson for Zeta-Jones.
From: The Guardian - Film News 28/08/2013

Richard III, a first for online film
Australian archive says 1996 pop art-inspired version of Shakespeare was first movie created specifically for the internet.
From: The Guardian - Film News 28/08/2013

Idris Elba Plans To Bring Luther To The Big Screen
Whether you live in the United States or the United Kingdom you've been offered plenty of opportunities to get to know Idris Elba. The acclaimed actor and wildly handsome Englishman has made memorable appearances on the U.S.-version of The Office as the humorless but debonair Charles Miner, and as Russell 'Stringer' Bell on everyone's favorite drama series The Wire, as well as in such tentpole sci-fi epics as Prometheus and Pacific Rim.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Early Reviews For Gravity Call It 'Astonishing' And 'A Marvel'
Alfonso Cuarons Gravity has been blowing our minds, sight unseen, for months, now, with just trailers and Comic Con panels to reveal what director Alfonso Cuaron had in store. Now that Gravity has finally played for audiences, at the Venice Film Festival, the verdict is in-- and Gravity, somewhat unbelievably, is living up to all that hype.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Telluride Film Festival Lineup Reveals Early Awards Hopefuls
The best film festivals aren't always the best vacation spots-- the Sundance Film Festival happens at the peak of ski season and most of its attendees are stuck inside watching movies, and while Toronto is a lovely city.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Jersey Boys Actress To Reprise Role In Movie Version
When it came to casting the movie musical version of the hit Broadway show Jersey Boys, director Clint Eastwood was reportedly favoring stage performers familiar with the show over big name stars. This proved great news for Erica Piccininni, who THR reveals will be reprising her role from the jukebox musical in its movie interpretation.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Matt Damon Says Batman Won't Even Be Hard For Ben Affleck
Matt Damon is totally happy that his pal Ben Affleck is now Batman, right? Well, yeah, of course he is.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Matt Damon Is Last-Minute Addition To Christopher Nolan's Interstellar
Even as we still try to sort out a rumor that he's getting ready to return as Jason Bourne, Matt Damon may have lined up another project with another super high-profile director-- and one who we thought was totally done casting his next film.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Dwayne Johnson's Mythical Adventure Lore Has Found A New Director
There is no shortage of folklore making TV whimsical, with series like NBC's Grimm and ABC's Once Upon a Time and its spinoff paving the way for Fox's upcoming Sleepy Hollow series.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Now You See Me Director Louis Leterrier To Return For The Sequel
This summer we saw an egregious number of blockbuster flops, including Gore Verbinski's The Lone Ranger, M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth and Robert Schwentke's R.I.P.D., but there was at least one bit surprise hit: Louis Leterrier's Now You See Me.
From: Cinema Blend 28/08/2013

Warners Taps David Green To Direct 'Lore'
Newbie feature helmer David Green (Echo) has signed on to direct IDW graphic novel adaptation Lore for Warner Bros. The studio won a bidding war for the project last year with Dwayne Johnson attached to star.
From: Deadline 28/08/2013

Women In Film Awards 28th Annual Film Finishing Fund Grants
Seven filmmakers were awarded finishing funds today from the Women In Film Foundation's annual grant program, which is in its 28th year. 113 feature length narrative, docu, and short films were submitted this year for consideration under the program's criteria of being films by, for, or about women.
From: Deadline 28/08/2013

Cannes Pic 'La Grande Bellezza' To Get Janus, Criterion Release
Janus Films has taken U.S. rights to Paolo Sorrentino's La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty), which debuted in competition at Cannes to acclaim in May.
From: Deadline 28/08/2013

Sony's Michael Lynton Joins Board At USC School Of Cinematic Arts
Michael Lynton is the latest high-profile Hollywood name to join up with the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
From: Deadline 28/08/2013

Reagan's Son, Obama Both Watched 'The Butler', Saw Different Films
Lee Daniels' The Butler is "a bunch of lies," says Ronald Reagan's son, particularly in its portrayal of his father.
From: Deadline 28/08/2013

Ben Affleck signs superhero deal to star in multiple Batman films
Actor may also direct upcoming Justice League movie, according to 'secretive' studio talks.
From: The Guardian - Film News 27/08/2013

Amélie film director snubs Broadway adaptation
Jean-Pierre Jeunet expresses 'profound disgust' for stage version but says he sold musical rights to help children's charity.
From: The Guardian - Film News 27/08/2013

Scooby-Doo returns to big screen in animated film
Warner Bros develops new animated feature film featuring mystery solving great dane Scooby-Doo.
From: The Guardian - Film News 27/08/2013

LA mayor declares state of 'emergency' over loss of film and TV business
Eric Garcetti campaigns to attract productions to California after competition from locations such as UK and New Zealand.
From: The Guardian - Film News 27/08/2013

Everest film of Mallory and Irvine's doomed trip to get world premiere
BFI to showcase restored The Epic of Everest, shot by John Noel with primitive film equipment in 1924, at London film festival.
From: The Guardian - Film News 27/08/2013

Venice 2013: Under the Skin heads triple bill of long-awaited films
Jonathan Glazer's alien horror in festival lineup along with Terry Gilliam's The Zero Theorem and Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity.
From: The Guardian - Film News 27/08/2013

Zoinks! The Scooby-Doo Gang Is Coming Back To The Big Screen In New Animated Feature
Scooby-Doo, where are you? Over on Cartoon Network, mostly, as the television channel has done a fine job of keeping the franchise modern with a never-ending stream of new series and made for TV animated specials featuring the Mystery Machine gang.
From: Cinema Blend 27/08/2013

Naomi Watts' Princess Diana Biopic Finally Lands U.S. Release Date
What's sure to be one of the most closely watched performances of the year will be coming to theaters in just a couple of months! Naomi Watts has taken on the coveted role of the People's Princess in the biopic Diana, and Deadline has revealed eOne will release the much talked about drama in the United States on November 1st in limited nationwide release. Should things go well from there, Entertainment One will widen the pic's distribution in the weeks that follow.
From: Cinema Blend 27/08/2013

Natalie Dormer Set For The Hunger Games: Mockinjay
We're creeping closer to the release of the second Hunger Games film, Catching Fire. But work has long since been started on the scripts for the two remaining adventures, the first and second parts of Mockingjay, adapted from Suzanne Collins' third and final book in the series. Some new casting has come to light for the movie, with Natalie Dormer and Stef Dawson joining the Mockingjay roster.
From: Empire Online 27/08/2013

Drafthouse, VICE To Bring Genocide Docu 'Act Of Killing' To Indonesia
Joshua Oppenheimer's award-winning The Act of Killing garnered wide acclaim and the year's best nonfiction debut this summer. But the filmmakers believe the docu, in which ex-death squad leaders of the 1965-1966 Indonesian genocide reenact their own atrocities for the camera, can't have a traditional release in the country where said mass murderers are still celebrated as national heroes.
From: Deadline 27/08/2013

The Twilight Zone Movie Gets Another New Screenwriter
Earlier this month we reported Tron Legacy helmer Joseph Kosinski was being considered for the director's chair on Warner Bros. in-development Twilight Zone movie. Part of the proposed deal was that the script would be tailored into something more appealing to Kosinski's forte, what that means we frankly have no idea. However, Variety reports the screenwriter who will make these changes has been wrangled.
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

Casey Affleck Reteams With David Lowery For Sci-Fi Feature To Be Two
David Lowery has spent more than a decade helming little-known shorts and features, but he broke through this year with his star-studded drama Ain't Them Bodies Saints that boasts Rooney Mara, Ben Foster, and Casey Affleck in its leads.
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

Brad Bird's Tomorrowland Unveils Plotline As Production Starts In Vancouver
When it comes to his next feature Tomorrowland, writer-director Brad Bird has been playing his cards so close to his chest that he's been driving us a bit insane. We know that mysterious movie co-written by Bird and Damon Lindelof is inspired by a box labeled '1952' that's said to have held a bunch of Walt Disney's brewing concepts for rides and stories.
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Has Found Finnick's Annie
Producers behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay found their Annie Cresta … which means Finnick Odair has found his love interest and eventual soul mate.
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

Judd Apatow And Amy Schumer Putting Their Raunchy Minds Together For New Comedy
Judd Apatow's career has almost always been centered around stand-up comedians. He got his start writing for and producing stand-up comedy specials for Tom Arnold and Jim Carrey, eventually landing writing gigs on the comedian-filled The Ben Stiller Show and The Larry Sanders Show (Hey now!).
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

Want To See The Original Version Of Ghostbusters II? Kickstart A New Cut Plus A Documentary
You can put this story in the "Well I didn't see this coming" file. Director Bradley Bjornstad has started a Kickstarter campaign to fund a documentary about the never-before-seen original version of Ghostbusters 2, and a possible re-release of the film in its unedited form.
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

42's Chadwick Boseman To Star In The James Brown Biopic
It would seem that Hollywood sees Chadwick Boseman as the go-to actor to play African-American icons.
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

Spawn Reboot Planned For 2014 Production
Every year we see numerous sequels that never should have gotten past the hypothetical conversation stage.
From: Cinema Blend 26/08/2013

British film school voted world's best as it scoops student 'Oscars'
National Film and Television School voted the best in the world as films by three of its students win clean sweep in international poll.
From: The Guardian - Film News 25/08/2013

R.I.P. Attorney Irwin Russell: At Center Of Disney/Eisner/Ovitz Uproar
Beverly Hills entertainment attorney Irwin Russell, whose clients included ex-Disney head Michael Eisner, Jim Henson, Theodore Geisel AKA Dr. Seuss, Joan Crawford, and Carol Burnett, died Friday of complications from leukemia.
From: Deadline 25/08/2013

Gilbert Taylor, Star Wars cinematographer, dies aged 99
Taylor worked with some of Hollywood's greats including Alfred Hitchcock, Roman Polanski and George Lucas.
From: The Guardian - Film News 24/08/2013

R.I.P. Julie Harris
Veteran stage, TV and film actress Julie Harris passed away Saturday. She was 87. Harris died of congestive heart failure at home in West Chatham, Massachusetts, per NYT.
From: Deadline 24/08/2013

Ben Affleck is Batman: Argo director to appear in Man of Steel sequel
Role is a risk for Affleck after he breathed new life into his career after turning to directing and winning best picture for Argo.
From: The Guardian - Film News 23/08/2013

Amélie to become Broadway musical
Composer Dan Messé of indie band Hem is working on stage adaptation of whimsical 2001 French comedy.
From: The Guardian - Film News 23/08/2013

James Cameron appoints sci-fi author to write Avatar novels
Avatar director commissions Steven Charles Gould to create four books based on blockbuster film and proposed sequels.
From: The Guardian - Film News 23/08/2013

Director apologises over 'terrorism joke' press pack for Belfast film
Balaclava, nails and duct tape in promotional mail-out were to 'raise awareness', says maker of A Belfast Story.
From: The Guardian - Film News 23/08/2013

Simon Pegg slates Star Trek Into Darkness detractors
Actor cast as Scotty in reboot hits back at fans who voted JJ Abrams' sequel the worst Star Trek film of all time.
From: The Guardian - Film News 23/08/2013

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige Talks Thanos' Role In Guardians Of The Galaxy
When Joss Whedon and Marvel Studios revealed that the upcoming Avengers sequel would be titled The Age of Ultron the news was met with a lot of shock and surprise.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

Giveaway: Win A Signed Copy Of Pain & Gain And More
Michael Bay's directorial foray away from big explosions and back into R-rated comedy-action films, Pain & Gain, features three dumb as a rock protagonists and a lot of wacky hijinks, resulting in an entertaining 129 minutes of film.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

Scott Cooper Steps In For Ben Affleck On The Stand
We're all still feeling shockwaves on the news that Ben Affleck will play Batman in the Man of Steel follow-up Batman Vs. Superman. But still it's business as usual in Hollywood, and as Affleck's committed to one film, another is falling to the wayside.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

X-Men: Days Of Future Past Won't Include A Stan Lee Cameo
Ever since the first X-Men movie back in 2000, Stan Lee has made a regular habit of making cameos in movies featuring characters that he either helped create or contributed to in a major way.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

Fast & Furious 7 Adds Ong Bak's Tony Jaa
Jason Statham won't be the only new international action star joining the ensemble cast of the Fast & Furious franchise for its next installment.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

Kentucky Theater Owner Bans Lee Daniels' The Butler Because Of Jane Fonda
Lee Daniels' The Butler explores the taboo topic of race relations that have influenced American society for decades, but it's a totally different political issue that has one theater owner in Kentucky boycotting the biopic.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

50 Shades Of Grey Casting Rumors Add Imogen Poots And Alicia Vikander Into The Mix
While I would love to start this story by telling you guys that director Sam Taylor-Johnson has already cast and filmed her adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey completely in secret, that just isn't the case.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

The Original Wicker Man's Director Will Finally Complete His Trilogy With The Wrath Of The Gods
There was a 38 year gap between British director Robin Hardy's excellent 1973 debut The Wicker Man and its 2011 sequel The Wicker Tree. And even though Hardy will turn 84 years old in October, I still expected at least another decade to go by before he started on The Wrath of the Gods, the third film in the Wicker trilogy.
From: Cinema Blend 23/08/2013

Ben Affleck Is Batman In Zack Snyder's Superman/Batman Mashup Movie
Warner Bros sign Affleck up as a 50-something Batman who'll grapple with Superman in the 2015 movie.
From: Screenrush 23/08/2013

Kevin Spacey Cautions TV Biz On Laziness, Stumps For Multi-Platform Movie Releases
Following Kevin Spacey's MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday evening (check out a clip below), the House Of Cards star sat down for a Q&A this morning.
From: Deadline 23/08/2013

Paradigm Signs Swedish Comedy Star Josephine Bornebusch
Paradigm certainly has more than snapshots to show from its trip to Sweden. A day after announcing the signing of Easy Money screenwriter Maria Karlsson, the agency has inked local comic actress Josephine Bornebusch.
From: Deadline 23/08/2013

Joss Whedon Tweets Support For Ben Affleck As Batman, Says He'll "Crush It"
Joss Whedon is clearly in Ben Affleck's corner following word that he's been named the new Batman. Here's what Whedon tweeted tonight: "Affleck'll crush it. He's got the chops, he's got the chin — just needs the material. Affleck & Cavill toe to toe — I'm in".
From: Deadline 23/08/2013

Clint Eastwood replaces Steven Spielberg on American Sniper
Veteran director taking on tale of prolific Navy Seal starring Bradley Cooper.
From: The Guardian - Film News 22/08/2013

Kemp brothers to reunite on the big screen 22 years on from The Krays
Martin and Gary are back, in Danny Dyer gangster movie Assassin.
From: The Guardian - Film News 22/08/2013

Ricky Gervais planning David Brent film
The creator and star of the UK Office is devising a big-screen outing for his most iconic character, involving Brent's attempts to pursue a music career.
From: The Guardian - Film News 22/08/2013

Wyatt Russell Set For 22 Jump Street
Though he's become better known for his hockey career, Wyatt Russell - son of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn - has begun to embrace that old chestnut about the apple not falling far from the tree. With a few acting jobs now under his belt, he's just landed his biggest role yet, in 22 Jump Street.
From: Empire Online 22/08/2013

Avatar Getting 4 Original Novels Along With Three More Movies
More Avatar stories are coming, we promise. Yes, we and James Cameron have been promising Avatar sequels for the last four damn years, and none of the movies have actually gone into production.
From: Cinema Blend 22/08/2013

Ashton Kutcher and Steve Wozniak at odds over Jobs biopic
A row has emerged between the actor and the Apple co-founder over film adaptations of the story of Steve Jobs.
From: The Guardian - Film News 21/08/2013

Thor: The Dark World to get Disneyland attraction
Upcoming Disney-Marvel sequel to join Iron Man films in being celebrated by theme park in Anaheim, California.
From: The Guardian - Film News 21/08/2013

Charlie Hunnam won't tie down Christian Grey role in Fifty Shades film
Pacific Rim star denies rumour of part in Fifty Shades movie directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
From: The Guardian - Film News 21/08/2013

Rare Bauhaus artwork in Christie's poster collection auction
Joost Schmidt poster designed for 1923 Bauhuas exhibition in Weimar among 100 for sale from Dutch collector.
From: The Guardian - Film News 21/08/2013

Christina Hendricks Heads For Dark Places
Trading Mad Men for bereaved women, Christina Hendricks is the latest addition to the cast of Gilles Paquet-Brenner's Dark Places. She joins Charlize Theron, Chloe Moretz, Corey Stoll, Andrea Roth and Nicholas Hoult, in the thriller based on Gillian Flynn's bestselling thriller.
From: Empire Online 21/08/2013

Guy Ritchie Eyes Empire Rising
He's busily preparing to direct The Man From U.N.C.L.E. for Warner Bros. and between that, another Sherlock Holmes and the potential for a visit to Treasure Island, you'd think that Guy Ritchie would have enough on his plate.
From: Empire Online 21/08/2013

Idris Elba Finds Beasts Of No Nation
He's spent the summer cancelling the apocalypse and bringing Luther back to our TVs. Now Idris Elba has lined up another film project, locking in the lead for Cary Fukunaga's next project, Beasts Of No Nation.
From: Empire Online 21/08/2013

Marion Cotillard Replaces Natalie Portman As Lady Macbeth
Do you want to be married to Michael Fassbender? Wait, before you jump at the opportunity, you probably need the details. First of all, it's only on screen.
From: Cinema Blend 21/08/2013

Spike Lee Adds Michael K. Williams To His Kickstarter-Funded Movie
Omar's coming. Specifically, The Wire sensation Michael K. Williams is joining Spike Lee's next "joint," a movie he funded through Kickstarter.
From: Cinema Blend 21/08/2013

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Sequel Brings Back Ziyi Zhang
The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel, which still seems like a fever dream Ang Lee had on that Life of Pi rowboat, is moving forward, and has added another star to an already impressive arsenal.
From: Cinema Blend 21/08/2013

Charlie Hunnam Eyed For Fifty Shades Of Grey Lead
Charlie Hunnam has made a name for himself playing the strong and tough Jax Teller in FX's biker drama Sons of Anarchy, but those who have seen the British actor in other roles know he does have a bit of range beyond the tough-guy role, which could serve him well if the reports are true that he's in the running for the male lead in the feature adaptation of EL James' steamy romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey.
From: Cinema Blend 21/08/2013

Neill Blomkamp's Elysium Followup Sets 2015 Release Date
Neill Blomkamp may still have the power to save science fiction, but he's going to have to continue working to prove it.
From: Cinema Blend 21/08/2013

Noah Segal Exiting eOne Films Canada To Launch Toy Boat Pictures
Former Alliance Films EVP Noah Segal became co-president of eOne Films Canada following eOne's takeover of Alliance in January. He is now leaving eOne to start film production venture Toy Boat Pictures.
From: Deadline 21/08/2013

MGM Acquires 'Abe', Will Turn Rob McLellan's Nightmarish Short Into Feature
MGM has acquired rights to make a feature out of Abe, a short film by British writer/director/VFX artist Rob McLellan. McLellan will write and direct the feature about a robot serial killer, and Kevin Misher and Steve Tzirlin will produce it.
From: Deadline 21/08/2013

Marion Cotillard To Play Lady Macbeth Opposite Michael Fassbender
Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard has boarded See-Saw Films' Macbeth, to be directed by Snowtown's Justin Kurzel. Natalie Portman had previously been attached to play the scheming Lady Macbeth opposite Michael Fassbender as the iconic eponymous antihero.
From: Deadline 21/08/2013

One Direction fans queue for prime view of a global success story
Diehard Directioners pack Leicester Square for glimpse of biggest British/Irish boyband in decades at film premiere.
From: The Guardian - Film News 20/08/2013

Chinese property and cinema mogul named country's richest person
Wang Jianlin, owner of world's biggest movie operator, Dalian Wanda, tops China's billionaire league.
From: The Guardian - Film News 20/08/2013

The Fantastic Four and X-Men to meet on screen
Twentieth Century Fox plans to cross over characters from both Marvel comics sagas in future movies.
From: The Guardian - Film News 20/08/2013

Dick Van Dyke cheats death again after escaping sports car fire
Mary Poppins star who was saved from drowning by porpoises has another lucky escape after his car catches fire on a freeway.
From: The Guardian - Film News 20/08/2013

Dead Snow Sequel Casts First Victims
After a sojourn in Hollywood (well, it was shot in Germany) with Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola is returning to past glories for his next film.
From: Empire Online 20/08/2013

Stallone Vs. De Niro Vs. Kevin Hart In Grudge Match Still
Summer might be winding down, but Warner Bros. would like to remind moviegoers that there's plenty more to look forward to this year with several new stills (see below), the star of which is the one we've placed above, showing Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro and comedian Kevin Hart bickering in their boxing comeback movie Grudge Match.
From: Empire Online 20/08/2013

Bobby Cannavale Set For Annie
Writer-director Will Gluck is taking pains to fill out the Annie remake's cast with solid talent. That includes even the smaller roles, as Bobby Cannavale has just signed on to co-star in the film.
From: Empire Online 20/08/2013

Rodrigo Santoro Has Focus
He'll be back in body lotion and piercings as god-emperor Xerxes in 300: Rise Of An Empire, but we can expect Rodrigo Santoro to look more like himself when he appears in con man pic Focus.
From: Empire Online 20/08/2013

Elmore Leonard Dies
Few American writers have had as much impact on Hollywood and the wider world as Elmore Leonard, famed for his no-nonsense prose and genuinely inspirational writing in several genres, most notably crime and Westerns. He died this morning at the age of 87, following complications from a stroke.
From: Empire Online 20/08/2013

Johanna Mason Debuts On Hunger Games Fashion Site
The Capitol's Fashion Week may be a distant memory but for the sartorially minded, Panem is the repressive nation state that keeps on giving. Capitol Couture, Lionsgate's inspired Vogue-style tie-in site for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, has a first-look at Hunger Games newbie Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) giving it the full La Tigra.
From: Empire Online 20/08/2013

Dead Snow Sequel Adds Martin Starr And Others As Zombie Killing Americans
In the horror genre, it's always more surprising when films don't get sequels than when they inevitably do, especially on the indie front.
From: Cinema Blend 20/08/2013

Escape From Tomorrow Will Bring The Dark Side Of Disney To Theaters And VOD
As a general rule, when I get incredulous about a film getting released it's because it's a useless sequel or remake... or it has Adam Sandler starring in it. It's an entirely different story when it comes to Randy Moore's one of a kind surrealist fantasy Escape From Tomorrow.
From: Cinema Blend 20/08/2013

Kenneth Branagh Set For NYC Stage Debut In 'Macbeth' Next Year
He has been on the big screen in the Big Apple doing Shakespeare a lot over the years but Kenneth Branagh is finally going to make his first appearance on the New York stage in Macbeth next summer. Fresh from a run this summer of the infamous Scottish play at the Manchester International Festival, the recently knighted actor will both co-direct and take on the lead role in the play at NYC's Park Avenue Armory in June 2014.
From: Deadline 20/08/2013

Fox Searchlight Buys 'Silver Linings' Author Matthew Quick Novel 'Sorta Like A Rock Star'
Fox Searchlight has acquired screen rights to Sorta Like A Rock Star, the 2010 novel by Matthew Quick, who wrote Silver Linings Playbook.
From: Deadline 20/08/2013

R.I.P. Bettye McCartt
Bettye McCartt, the longtime agent-manager for Tom Selleck and television director Tony Wharmby, has died. McCartt died Friday in Santa Barbara after a long illness, according to the Santa Barbara News-Press. She was 81.
From: Deadline 20/08/2013

Magnolia Acquires Steve Coogan Comedy 'Alan Partridge'
Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnolia Pictures has picked up the UK comedy Alan Partridge, starring Steve Coogan in the long-running character he created over two decades ago. The Baby Cow/Studiocanal production directed by Declan Lowney is the character's first feature film foray after numerous appearances in radio and TV.
From: Deadline 20/08/2013

R.I.P. Ted Post
The man who helmed Clint Eastwood in Hang 'Em High and Magnum Force, the first Dirty Harry sequel, died Tuesday at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica at 95.
From: Deadline 20/08/2013

Naomi Watts says Diana gave permission to play her in biopic from beyond grave.
'I felt Diana's presence,' says Oscar-nominated actor, who speaks of personal responsibility of playing the late princess .
From: The Guardian - Film News 19/08/2013

Ronald Reagan biographers attack his portrayal in The Butler
Authors of books on the late president have protested over scenes critical of Reagan's approach to apartheid and race.
From: The Guardian - Film News 19/08/2013

Woody Allen is offered 'whatever it takes' to film in Rio
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro is wooing Woody Allen to shoot his next film in the South American city, including offering to fund 100% of production costs.
From: The Guardian - Film News 19/08/2013

Star Wars actor who played original Darth Vader is no fan of recent prequels
Star of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi says the original films had 'more believable' stories.
From: The Guardian - Film News 19/08/2013

Tron director Joseph Kosinski tipped for Twilight Zone remake.
Joseph Kosinski, director of the 2010 Disney special effects epic Tron: Legacy, is in negotiations to direct a reboot of The Twilight Zone, based on the popular television series.
From: The Guardian - Film News 19/08/2013

Dwayne Johnson Gets Grabby In New Hercules Set Vid
Like Bryan Singer, Dwayne Johnson is not a man to stay away from The Twitters just because he's busy shooting.
From: Empire Online 19/08/2013

Bradley Cooper May Dope Up With Lance Armstrong In Jay Roach's Drama
It appears this year just won't end without Bradley Cooper getting himself invested in a movie about Lance Armstrong's doping scandal.
From: Cinema Blend 19/08/2013

Ray Liotta Helps Whistleblower Jeremy Renner In Kill The Messenger
When it comes to whistleblower movies, Goodfellas may well be one most beloved-- and Ray Liotta's smarmy, charming Henry Hill is a major reason why. So it's a sharp move on the part of director Michael Cuesta (Homeland) to cast Liotta in his upcoming whistleblower drama Kill The Messenger.
From: Cinema Blend 19/08/2013

Star Wars: Episode VII Pushed To December 2015?
Some of the vagueness that surrounds Star Wars: Episode VII these days is probably a typical result of the J.J. Abrams "mystery box" strategy.
From: Cinema Blend 19/08/2013

Bradley Cooper Is Lance Armstrong In Jay Roach's Red Blooded American
Cooper will be going head-to-head with Ben Foster in a race to get the first Lance Armstrong movie to the big screen...
From: Screenrush 19/08/2013

Gregg Henry Joins 'Guardians Of The Galaxy,' Tye Sheridan Heads To 'Dark Places'
After appearing in James Gunn's Slither and Super, actor Gregg Henry is re-joining the helmer in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.
From: Deadline 19/08/2013

New York Film Festival Rounds Out Its Slate With Star-Studded Fare
The 51st New York Film Festival has rounded out its main slate of pictures, and they've put together an impressive program.
From: Deadline 19/08/2013

Mayor Of Rio Offers To Fully Fund Woody Allen's Next Movie If He Shoots Locally
Over the past several years, Woody Allen has shuttled between the U.S. and some of Europe's big cities to make his films.
From: Deadline 19/08/2013

Venice Film Festival To Honor Ettore Scola With Glory To The Filmmaker Award
Veteran Italian filmmaker Ettore Scola will receive the prize in Venice on September 6, coinciding with the fest's day of tribute to Federico Fellini.
From: Deadline 19/08/2013

After 400 years Mary, Queen of Scots again captures the fascination of film-makers
As a major exhibition on the enigmatic queen attracts the crowds in Edinburgh, three movies are set to explore her life.
From: The Guardian - Film News 17/08/2013

Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Calls Out Ashton Kutcher
Somewhere out there, there's definitely a good movie about Steve Jobs that exists. And while it might be the untitled biopic written by Aaron Sorkin, it isn't Joshua Michael Stern's Jobs, which opened this weekend, at least if our own Mack's review is to be believed.
From: Cinema Blend 17/08/2013

Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card compares Obama to Hitler
The sci-fi writer, who has already angered many with his views on same-sex marriage, expounds the comparison in a 3,000 word essay.
From: The Guardian - Film News 16/08/2013

Night of the Living Dead remake to feature Bollywood's Madhavan
3 Idiots star cast in 3D 'origins' version of George Romero's zombie horror classic.
From: The Guardian - Film News 16/08/2013

Simon Pegg stirs Ant-Man rumour pot with tweet of artwork
Picture taken as hint that Pegg in line for lead role in forthcoming Edgar Wright-directed superhero film.
From: The Guardian - Film News 16/08/2013

Channing Tatum And Steve Carell's Oscar Contender Foxcatcher Gets Key December Release
One of the last few "unknown" projects on the radar heading into the Oscar season has clarified its position, prompting us to carve out a slot in the Best Picture race - at least, for the time being.
From: Cinema Blend 16/08/2013

Alan Taylor Talks Thor: The Dark World's Re-Shoots
With an October UK release date approaching fast, Thor: The Dark World director Alan Taylor and his team are working like demons to get the film finished. Talking with Collider, he's admitted that they're adding scenes and changing things around to keep working on the thing up to the wire.
From: Empire Online 16/08/2013

Lotus, Mayhem Set Addison Timlin, Jeremy Irvine For Gothic YA Novel Pic 'Fallen'
Lotus Entertainment and Mayhem Pictures have set Californication's Addison Timlin and War Horse's Jeremy Irvine to star in Fallen, an adaptation of Lauren Kate's best selling YA novel series.
From: Deadline 16/08/2013

Bradley Cooper Boards Warner Bros' Lance Armstrong Film As Producer And Potential Star As Race To Mount Bike Pic Heats Up
Warner Bros, Atlas Entertainment and director Jay Roach are making their move in the race to mount a feature on Lance Armstrong, the 7-time Tour de France champion who was defrocked and disgraced when he finally admitted he was doping.
From: Deadline 16/08/2013

Star Wars Episode 7 may see return of Emperor Palpatine
Evil emperor thought killed in Return of the Jedi due to reappear in forthcoming Star Wars sequel.
From: The Guardian - Film News 15/08/2013

Thor: The Dark World's Tom Hiddleston earns extra screen time
British actor's winning turn as villainous Loki sees him shooting additional scenes, only two months before film's release.
From: The Guardian - Film News 15/08/2013

Winona Ryder pulls out of Samuel Beckett festival
Actor no longer able to attend celebration of Nobel prize-winning author after suffering bereavement.
From: The Guardian - Film News 15/08/2013

Darren Aronofsky aiming to take flight with Red Sparrow
Director hoping to follow biblical epic Noah with Russian set spy thriller based on book by Jason Matthews.
From: The Guardian - Film News 15/08/2013

Spike Jonze's Her Pushed Back to 2014
Buzz is growing fast and frenzied over Spike Jonze's upcoming Her. Written and directed by the celebrated filmmaker, the film boasts a cast that includes a whopping eight Academy Award nominations between its leads, Rooney Mara (1), Joaquin Phoenix (3), Amy Adams (4)…and Scarlett Johansson.
From: Cinema Blend 15/08/2013

Thor: The Dark World Reshoots Adding More Loki Scenes
Loki is supposed to be the twerps, angry, constantly teetering toward evil brother of Thor, the god of thunder and actual star of his own franchise.
From: Cinema Blend 15/08/2013

Bestselling Novel Life After Life Will Bring Groundhog Day To World War II
For many, the grind is the same from one day to the next, and the only thing that ever changes is the weather. It seems like that would go double for anyone living during the late 1930s and early 1940s, when there wasn't Internet or cable to keep them sated.
From: Cinema Blend 15/08/2013

True Blood Star Joins Shailene Woodley In The Fault In Our Stars
Sam Trammell, best known for playing the shapeshifting bar owner Sam Merlotte on HBO's True Blood, has become the latest addition the Josh Boone-directed The Fault In Our Stars. The Wrap reports Trammell will join the cast that includes Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff and Laura Dern.
From: Cinema Blend 15/08/2013

Alex Rodriguez May Be Expensively Removed From Animated Film Henry & Me
It's been a really tough year for Alex Rodriguez, who has since January been trying to duck a second batch of accusations saying he'd used performance-enhancing drugs.
From: Cinema Blend 15/08/2013

Darren Aronofsky Spies Red Sparrow
He's currently sailing Biblical epic Noah through post-production, but that doesn't mean Darren Aronofsky has stopped looking for likely future projects.
From: Empire Online 15/08/2013

Vin Diesel Recruiting Soldiers Of The Sun
As he continues to dance just to the other side of official announcements about voicing a role on Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vin Diesel clearly plans to keep sci-fi in his future. He'll next be on our screens in Riddick and has just attached himself to Arash Amel's script Soldiers Of The Sun.
From: Empire Online 15/08/2013

New Distribbery LevelFilm Launches With Deal For Chen Kaige's 'Caught In The Web'
ThinkFilm vets David Hudakoc and Michael Baker have launched levelFILM, an indie distribution company that gets off the ground with a deal for North American rights to the Chen Kaige-directed Caught In The Web.
From: Deadline 15/08/2013

Paramount Moves 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' To August 8, 2014
Paramount Pictures has split up two movies that figure to pack a merchandising punch. The studio just moved from June 6, 2014 to August 8 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Nickelodeon Movies/Platinum Dunes franchise re-launch.
From: Deadline 15/08/2013

Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Doc 'Generation Iron' Gets September Release
The Vladar Company and health & fitness publishing co. American Media Inc. will pump bodybuilding docu Generation Iron into limited release in NY/LA on September 20, a week ahead of this year's Mr. Olympia muscle competition.
From: Deadline 15/08/2013

Ray Liotta Joins 'Kill The Messenger'
Ray Liotta has signed on to play a pivotal role in Kill The Messenger, the Michael Cuesta-directed drama about Gary Webb, the journalist who bared a CIA link to coke trafficking in the US as a way to funnel money to the Nicaraguan Contras. Webb was subsequently discredited by a smear campaign which ruined him and he eventually committed suicide.
From: Deadline 15/08/2013

Jeremy Piven Is A Very Late Addition To The Cast Of Tom Cruise's 'Edge Of Tomorrow'
Jeremy Piven has just been cast in Edge Of Tomorrow, the Doug Liman-directed Warner Brothers film which stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt and was formerly known as All You Need Is Kill.
From: Deadline 15/08/2013

'Little Accidents' Draws Elizabeth Banks, Chloe Sevigny, Josh Lucas
Production has gotten underway in West Virginia on Little Accidents, an indie drama written and directed by first timer Sara Colangelo. Elizabeth Banks, Boyd Holbrook, Chloë Sevigny, Jacob Lofland and Josh Lucas are starring in a film developed at both the Sundance Institute's Screenwriters and Directors Labs.
From: Deadline 15/08/2013

Toronto adds Woody Allen, Clive Owen premieres to line-up
Canadian film festival expands its programme with 12 more world premieres.
From: The Guardian - Film News 14/08/2013

Anchorman's Ron Burgundy to publish 'tell-all' memoir
News channel legend to chronicle his life in book that may be 'greatest autobiography ever written'.
From: The Guardian - Film News 14/08/2013

Elysium director Neill Blomkamp to move ahead with Chappie
South African director's next film to feature talking robot, based on one of his own early shorts.
From: The Guardian - Film News 14/08/2013

Stephenie Meyer 'so over' Twilight
Author of novels behind film series vows to steer clear of future books about vampire Edward Cullen and wife Bella.
From: The Guardian - Film News 14/08/2013

John Cleese launches comprehensive attack on British media
The Monty Python star calls UK press 'depraved' and 'amoral' while on promotional tour for new film, Disney's Planes.
From: The Guardian - Film News 14/08/2013

Into Darkness voted worst Star Trek film by trekkies
Convention rates JJ Abrams' box-office hit poorest in entire canon - behind even Galaxy Quest, which isn't a Star Trek film.
From: The Guardian - Film News 14/08/2013

Game Of Thrones' Jason Momoa Plans His Directorial Debut
In Game of Thrones Jason Momoa won the devotion of fanboys and fangirls as the merciless horse lord Khal Drogo, but his next adventure has him playing a wolf. Not a Stark, but Robert Wolf, a Native American who gets entangled in a modern Western tale of revenge and redemption.
From: Cinema Blend 14/08/2013

Big Love's Cassi Thomson Replaces Ashley Tisdale In The Left Behind Remake
If you would have told me that the studio remake of Left Behind would only see one minor problem by the time it began its production, I would have at first been skeptical, and then assumed it had something to do with Nic Cage.
From: Cinema Blend 14/08/2013

Why A Trip To The Theater Isn't Like It Used To Be
Think back to the last time you went to the theater - whether it was last weekend or last year. What was your preparation process? Chances are that you didn't raid your closet for your most stylish clothes and hat, ready for a night full of cinema and relatively lacking in advertisements.
From: Cinema Blend 14/08/2013

Sony Takes Neill Blomkamp's Chappie
After a burst of grim dystopia and shiny, hollow utopia in Elysium, Neill Blomkamp will be lightening up for his next film, Chappie. In development since before Elysium even happened along, it now has the backing of Sony (clearly happy to be back in business with the writer-director despite Elysium opening to a decent but hardly outstanding first weekend in the US) and Media Rights Capital.
From: Empire Online 14/08/2013

Joel Edgerton Will Be Ramses
As it takes the long walk through the development desert to the promised land of production, droplets of information are leaking about Ridley Scott's planned take on the Moses story, Exodus.
From: Empire Online 14/08/2013

Days Of Future Past Sentinel Blueprint Unveiled
Good old Bolivar Trask, eh? For decades now, he's been working tirelessly to develop the Sentinel program, with the robotic guardians designed to keep humanity safe from the encroaching mutant threat.
From: Empire Online 14/08/2013

Darren Aronofsky In Talks For Fox Espionage Tale 'Red Sparrow'
Back on dry ground after helming the Biblical film Noah, Darren Aronofsky is looking for what's next.
From: Deadline 14/08/2013

Vin Diesel lined up to play Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy
Vin Diesel tipped to take the role of tree-like superhero in Marvel Studios' forthcoming cosmic superhero tale.
From: The Guardian - Film News 13/08/2013

Bruce Willis 'bored' with making action movies
Actor's admission comes after series of disinterested-sounding interviews throughout 2013.
From: The Guardian - Film News 13/08/2013

Ashton Kutcher channels Steve Jobs at Teen Choice awards
Actor and tech guru turns life adviser by imparting thoughts on 'opportunity' and 'sexiness'.
From: The Guardian - Film News 13/08/2013

Charlotte Gainsbourg fine to join Wim Wenders' 3D drama
Actor links up with James Franco in Wenders' new attempt to utilise 3D's potential for emotionally searing drama.
From: The Guardian - Film News 13/08/2013

Mark Wahlberg says Graham Norton Show antics were pre-planned
Actor says he arranged chatshow mayhem beforehand with fellow guest Sarah Silverman.
From: The Guardian - Film News 13/08/2013

Christopher Nolan's Interstellar Starts Production
The casting derby has been completed, the very vague plot synopsis finalized, and the real work is finally ready to begin.
From: Cinema Blend 13/08/2013

Idris Elba Tempted By Inbetweeners 2
The Inbetweeners 2, a sequel born of the first film's ginormous UK takings and a continuing gap in the market for films where Englishmen lose their trousers, is coming soon.
From: Empire Online 13/08/2013

Kirsten Dunst Catches Midnight Special
Not much is yet known about Jeff Nichol's Mud follow-up Midnight Special, other than the fact that it has a sci-fi slant. We do know that Michael Shannon and Joel Edgerton are already part of the cast, however, and they're now joined by Kirsten Dunst in a mysterious, unspecified capacity.
From: Empire Online 13/08/2013

Glenn Powell Is The Latest Expendable
The flurry of late additions to The Expendables 3 continues this morning, but we can save you the bother of racking your brain for another aging action man. Latest into the cast is relative newcomer Glenn Powell. You may recognise him from such roles as Trader #1 in The Dark Knight Rises.
From: Empire Online 13/08/2013

Glen Powell Joins Mel Gibson And Antonio Banderas In The Expendables 3
News comes a week after Harrison Ford replaced Bruce Willis in the third installment of the Expendables franchise.
From: Screenrush 13/08/2013

Kirsten Dunst Signs Up To Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special
Star Joins Michael Shannon and Joel Edgerton in Jeff Nichols' follow up to Mud.
From: Screenrush 13/08/2013

Bollywood's 'Chennai Express' Breaks Records In India, U.S., UK & More
In a recent Showbiz In India report, I wrote about Chennai Express, the Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer that was tipped to hit it big over the August 9 Eid al Fitr holiday.
From: Deadline 13/08/2013

Toronto Sets World Cinema Film Lineup
The Toronto International Film Festival has set its Contemporary World Cinema lineup featuring the best in cinema from around the globe.
From: Deadline 13/08/2013

Toronto Adds To Gala Premiere Lineup
Toronto has glitzed up an already impressive film lineup with a bunch of gala premieres and special presentations.
From: Deadline 13/08/2013

Vin Diesel Hints He's Guardians' Groot
Vin Diesel has somewhere in the region of 45 million friends on his Facebook page, and enjoys nothing better than a gradual drip-fed news reveal.
From: Empire Online 12/08/2013

Will John Leguizamo Replace Oscar Isaac In Pablo Escobar Biopic?
By our count there are currently three dramas coming up that include notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar as a main character. But the soon-to-shoot Ballad of Pablo Escobar has just suffered a major blow, having lost its leading man Oscar Isaac.
From: Cinema Blend 12/08/2013

The Grudge Director's Delayed Supernatural Plane Horror 7500 May Finally Arrived In October
Fans of Japanese horror director Takashi Shimizu have been waiting quite a while for his return to English language cinema.
From: Cinema Blend 12/08/2013

James Gray Set To Direct White Devil
The We Own The Night director teams up with Warner to write and direct a Chinese mafia drama.
From: Screenrush 12/08/2013

Adele up for cameo in Matthew Vaughn's The Secret Service
Skyfall singer set to make feature film debut alongside Colin Firth and Michael Caine in 007-style spy flick.
From: The Guardian - Film News 12/08/2013

Star Wars studio boss booed at fans' convention over lack of information
Disney showcase sparks fans irritation after studio executive says he can't reveal anything new about much-anticipated Star Wars: Episode 7.
From: The Guardian - Film News 12/08/2013

Mel Gibson and Antonio Banderas join line-up for Expendables 3
Mad Max and Zorro actors picked to extend army of veteran action stars for Sylvester Stallone's successful franchise.
From: The Guardian - Film News 12/08/2013

George Galloway to turn to Kickstarter to fund anti-Blair film
The outspoken politician aims to use crowdfunding to finance documentary entitled The Killing of Tony Blair.
From: The Guardian - Film News 12/08/2013

Pixar 'switched Finding Dory plot' after killer-whale documentary row
Disney-owned studio said to have altered movie storyline after claims made in Blackfish over deaths at SeaWorld.
From: The Guardian - Film News 12/08/2013

Ty Burrell Talks Muppets Most Wanted
The Muppets are headed to Europe for their new film, Muppets Most Wanted, but while the audience in the big D23 Live Action Presentation were treated to a video link-up to Miss Piggy, none of the felt-covered famous folk gave interviews today. Still, they sent Ty Burrell - who plays Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon - in their place.
From: Empire Online 11/08/2013

Director Robert Stromberg Finds More In Maleficent
One of the biggest reactions at this year's Disney D23 event was the unveiling of a teaser from Maleficent, which promises a look at the Sleeping Beauty story in a way that sheds more light on its dark vision. Star Angelina Jolie and director Robert Stromberg showed up to present the footage, and he talked to Empire afterwards.
From: Empire Online 11/08/2013

Joe & Anthony Russo On Captain America: The Winter Solider
Though Captain America: The Winter Soldier had its big announcement party at the San Diego Comic-Con this year, Disney naturally wanted to trumpet its upcoming Marvel slate at D23. So Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan took the stage alongside directors Joe and Anthony Russo to pimp out the Captain.
From: Empire Online 11/08/2013

Hiddleston, Portman & More On Thor: The Dark World
Disney's D23 event meant glimpses of new footage, a chance for Mouse House maniacs to meet the stars of the company's upcoming film line-up and, most importantly of all - at least in certain quarters, and you know who you are - not one, but two chances for Tom Hiddleston to get a rock star welcome.
From: Empire Online 11/08/2013

Brad Bird & Damon Lindelof Keep Tomorrowland's Secrets
Brad Bird & Damon Lindelof Keep Tomorrowland's Secrets.
From: Empire Online 11/08/2013

Morgan Freeman: a look at his best unsung hero performances
Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman's commanding voice and powerful presence have earned him an on-screen reputation as a sagacious saviour figure. Almost always the angel on the main protagonist's shoulder, even in less obvious roles like The Shawshank Redemption (1993) and Amistad (1997), Freeman's performances are layered with an unmatched gravitas that make him perfect for wise authority figures. Here's a look at some of the actor's best unsung hero performances.
From: Film-News 11/08/2013

Andy Circus developing Uk's next big fatansy movie phenomenon
Introducing the most exciting global publishing event of 2013, the first in a seven-book, startlingly unique fantasy series by 21 year-old debut author Samantha Shannon - This is The Bone Season.
From: Film-News 11/08/2013

Austenland: a woman's movie with a new kind of message: men, stay away
A rom-com about a Jane Austen theme park embraced gender apartheid for its launch in the hope of repeating the success of a wave of female-centred films scoring at the box office.
From: The Guardian - Film News 10/08/2013

Thor: The Dark World And Captain America: The Winter Soldier Show Off New Footage At D23
It was just a couple weeks ago that Marvel Studios absolutely blew the doors off of Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, presenting footage from Alan Taylor's Thor: The Dark World, Joe and Anthony Russo's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy.
From: Cinema Blend 10/08/2013

Eugene Levy, Ty Burrell & Diane Keaton Set For Finding Dory
As part of its big D23 Expo today, Finding Nemo director Andrew Stanton made the trip from Pixar to talk about the film's sequel, Finding Dory and to announce new casting for the film, including Eugene Levy, Ty Burrell and Diane Keaton.
From: Empire Online 10/08/2013

Tangled Director Byron Howard Announces Zootopia
One of the more intriguing projects announced at the Disney D23 Expo event on Friday was Zootopia, from Tangled director Byron Howard and Wreck-It Ralph producer Clark Spencer. A buddy comedy set in a world entirely populated by animals, it's a chase film and a conspiracy thriller starring a fox, a rabbit and an entire ecosphere of other creatures who can walk and talk, but aren't simply anthropomorphic.
From: Empire Online 10/08/2013

Amy Poehler, Bill Hader & More On For Pixar's Inside Out
Among the announcements made at the last Disney D23 event two years ago was word of Up director Pete Docter's next project, then called The Untitled Pixar Film That Takes You Inside The Mind. We've known for a while that it's been titled Inside Out and today Docter announced the main cast for the movie, with Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Lewis Black and Phyllis Smith on board.
From: Empire Online 10/08/2013

Tom Hiddleston & Christina Hendricks Talk The Pirate Fairy
Tom Hiddleston is burdened with a fresh purpose, and a new villainous alter ego.
From: Empire Online 10/08/2013

Frightfest 2013 to host 'I Spit On Your Grave 2' world premiere
Anchor Bay today announced that I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2 will get its world premiere at this year's Frightfest festival taking place at The EMPIRE cinema in London's Leicester Square on the 25th August.
From: Film-News 10/08/2013

Karen Black dies of cancer aged 74
Illinois-born actress earned a Golden Globe award for her role as Rayette, the waitress in 1970 drama Five Easy Pieces.
From: The Guardian - Film News 09/08/2013

Ken Loach 'shooting final feature film'
Loach's long-time producer suggests Jimmy's Hall, currently on location in Ireland, may be the director's last full-length fiction film.
From: The Guardian - Film News 09/08/2013

Joanna Newsom makes film debut in Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice
Harpist and singer will appear alongside Joaquin Phoenix in an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel.
From: The Guardian - Film News 09/08/2013

Tom Hanks sandwich served at London film festival
Both the opening and closing night films of this year's London film festival are European premieres of new films from Tom Hanks.
From: The Guardian - Film News 09/08/2013

Organisers of 'Hunger Games' camp for kids deny it encourages violence
Florida school shifts focus of unofficial themed youth camp to 'collecting lives' after paper quotes children talking of 'killing'.
From: The Guardian - Film News 09/08/2013

Womble sightings to become common as film, TV show and online theme park announced
Mike Batt reveals big plans for the furry orange eco-creatures from Wimbledon Common, including a movie, new series and 'interactive experience'.
From: The Guardian - Film News 09/08/2013

Chloe Moretz Says Carrie's Release Date Was Pushed Back To Make The Film Scarier
We still aren't quite sure what to think about Kimberly Pierce's upcoming remake of Brian De Palma's Carrie, as based on Stephen King's first published novel - especially because it doesn't appear to be striving to differentiate itself from the original.
From: Cinema Blend 09/08/2013

Chloe Moretz Strikes Back Against Jim Carrey's Kick-Ass 2 Complaint
We've been waiting to hear what the rest of the Kick-Ass 2 cast would have to say about the movie's violence ever since co-star Jim Carrey publicly denounced its level of violence seemingly unprompted.
From: Cinema Blend 09/08/2013

'N Sync's Lance Bass Making Doc About Religious Brainwashing
Lance Bass is undoubtedly best known as one of the members of the '90s boy band 'N Sync. But aside from building an acting résumé with voice work in Handy Manny and Hell & Back, he's been branching out into producing films.
From: Cinema Blend 09/08/2013

Now You See Me Gets A Sequel
Lately, there's been a strange trend of magician centered-movies emerging. 2013 has already seen three: Oz: The Great and Powerful, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Now You See Me.
From: Cinema Blend 09/08/2013

Milla Jovovich Is Cymbeline's Queen
Michael Almereyda's Shakespeare adaptation Cymbeline already has Ed Harris, Ethan Hawke and Penn Badgley attached to star, and the latest addition to the cast is Milla Jovovich.
From: Empire Online 09/08/2013

Alcon Entertainment Prepares Chicken Soup For The Soul
You can blame New Line for this. Back in 2009 the studio wrestled the self-help book He's Just Not That Into You into a relationship drama.
From: Empire Online 09/08/2013

Exclusive: Renny Harlin Talks Hercules
Facing off against each other next year like two protein-powered colossi are Renny Harlin and Brett Ratner. Both are Hollywood veterans with blockbustery résumés. Both have Hercules films in production. Both are promising gritty, battle-strewn pec-taculars... one with Kellan Lutz; the other, Dwayne Johnson. And, as the trailer man might say, only one can prevail.
From: Empire Online 09/08/2013

Hugh Grant Cast In Supporting Role For Guy Ritchie's The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Star lines up some new projects after a rather barren few years.
From: Screenrush 09/08/2013

Lionsgate Acquires Matt Johnson Action Pitch
Lionsgate has closed a deal for an untitled pitch by Matt Johnson, with Temple Hill's Marty Bowen producing. It's an action movie centering around a group of U.S. Marines who start a high-stakes business venture when they return home from Afghanistan.
From: Deadline 09/08/2013

'Spectacular Now' Financier Andrew Lauren Options Urban Waite's 'The Carrion Birds'
Buoyed by his latest film's strong platform opening numbers, The Spectacular Now producer/financier Andrew Lauren has just closed a deal for film rights to The Carrion Birds, the novel by The Terror Of Living author Urban Waite.
From: Deadline 09/08/2013

Barry Levinson Back With ICM Partners
Writer/director/producer Barry Levinson has returned to ICM Partners. Levinson, who produces his films through his Baltimore Pictures banner and teams with Tom Fontana for TV series through their Levinson/Fontana Company banner, hasn't chosen his next feature directing outing.
From: Deadline 09/08/2013

Warner Bros Sets James Gray For Boston Crime Thriller 'White Devil'
In one of its first alignments with a major filmmaker under its new regime, Warner Bros has set James Gray to write and direct White Devil, a contemporary drama that is eyed as a priority project.
From: Deadline 09/08/2013

Madness reissue Take It Or Leave It film after 32 years
Film traces the band's history from pub gigs to hitmakers, and will be the first time fans can buy accompanying soundtrack.
From: The Guardian - Film News 08/08/2013

Bret Easton Ellis 'confused' by level of hatred for The Canyons
Writer surprised by 'loudness of the dislike' for Paul Schrader film, which features porn star James Deen and Lindsay Lohan.
From: The Guardian - Film News 08/08/2013

Lucas Till And Joel Courtney Will Cover Up A Murder In Sins Of Our Youth
Gun control is a hot button issue in this country, and it'll probably be that way for the next hundred years without a clear resolution.
From: Cinema Blend 08/08/2013

What Happens If You Watch Jaws, Mean Girls And Harry Potter Backwards?
Reddit has given the world some silly games and ideas, but this might be the silliest one that we've completely loved.
From: Cinema Blend 08/08/2013

Lost Orson Welles Silent Short Uncovered
It isn't The Merchant Of Venice or the missing footage from The Magnificent Ambersons, but the discovery of an Orson Welles work thought lost for forty years is still cause for celebration.
From: Empire Online 08/08/2013

Saving Mr. Banks To Close The 2013 BFI London Film Festival
Good news for fans of Tom Hanks, or to put it another way, everyone. Saving Mr. Banks will close this year's BFI London Film Festival, filling the Closing Night Gala spot with its European premiere.
From: Empire Online 08/08/2013

Karen Black Dies
She crossed genres between high drama and low schlock. She acted for and with the likes of Robert Altman, Alfred Hitchcock and Peter Fonda.
From: Empire Online 08/08/2013

Ex Machina Starts Shooting
Casting has been going on for a while, but writer/producer-turned-director is now shooting his technological psycho-thriller Ex Machina, which features Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson and Alicia Vikander.
From: Empire Online 08/08/2013

John Moore Directing The Englishman
The last time he filmed the story of a man dealing with events spiralling out of control, director John Moore made A Good Day To Die Hard. But Africa-set action drama The Englishman promises to be something very different from Bruce Willis running around Russia kvetching at Russians.
From: Empire Online 08/08/2013

Tarsem Singh Finds The Panopticon
After turning his stylish hand to myths (Immortals) and fairy tales (Mirror Mirror), director Tarsem Singh is headed back to the world of science fiction he explored in The Cell. He's making a deal to craft The Panopticon for indie production company Good Universe.
From: Empire Online 08/08/2013

Steve Coogan: What Next After Alpha Papa?
Alpha Papa sees Steve Coogan back on the big screen in his most famous role as alter-ego, Norwich radio presenter Alan Partridge, but what does Steve have coming up on the non-Alan front?
From: Screenrush 08/08/2013

Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep to reunite for The Good House adaptation
Hollywood titans, who have five Oscars between them, to play ex-lovers in film version of Ann Leary's bestselling novel.
From: The Guardian - Film News 07/08/2013

Sylvester Stallone brands Bruce Willis 'greedy and lazy'
Stallone tweets welcoming Harrison Ford to The Expendables 3 - and offers parting shot for Willis after negotiations broke down.
From: The Guardian - Film News 07/08/2013

Deep Throat lawsuit threatens to swallow Lovelace biopic whole
Owners of 70s porn film Deep Throat seeking to block release of Linda Lovelace movie amid claims footage used without consent.
From: The Guardian - Film News 07/08/2013

Did The Ender's Game Trailer Recycle Disaster Effects From Knowing?
More controversy for Ender's Game? Ok, not really, as I don't think reusing disaster footage from a previous movie is particularly scandalous.
From: Cinema Blend 07/08/2013

Fox Apologizes For Napoleon Dynamite's Misleading Japanese Title
Due to the fact that some direct translations of movie titles can be confusing, it's not an uncommon thing for studios to change the name of their films when they are being released in foreign markets.
From: Cinema Blend 07/08/2013

UFC Champ Ronda Rousey Up For Fast And Furious 7 And Expendables 3
It was little over a year ago that mixed martial artist turned Steven Soderbergh muse Gina Carano was cast in Fast & Furious 6.
From: Cinema Blend 07/08/2013

Judy Greer To Reunite With George Clooney In Brad Bird's Tomorrowland
It looks like 2014 is going to be a year of blockbusters for Judy Greer. Not only does she have Matt Reeves' Dawn of the Planet of the Apes coming next summer (in which she will join Andy Serkis as one of the mo-cap apes), today Deadline is reporting that in December next year it looks like we'll be seeing her in the new film from director Brad Bird.
From: Cinema Blend 07/08/2013

Cheyenne Jackson, Anthony Rapp Set For 'Opening Night' From 'Triplets' Ryan Dixon
Cheyenne Jackson and Anthony Rapp are lined up to star in comedy Opening Night.The EBF Productions film is set during the evening bow of a high school production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.
From: Deadline 07/08/2013

Penn Badgley Added To Shakespeare Adaptation 'Cymbeline'
The cast of Michael Almereyda's Shakespeare adaptation continues to grow. Ethan Hawke and Ed Harris will now be joined by Penn Badgley in Cymbeline.
From: Deadline 07/08/2013

WME Signs Ryan Reynolds; Darren Statt Becomes His Manager
WME just signed Ryan Reynolds, the actor who left CAA when his long time agent Darren Statt left the agency. At the same time, Reynolds now has a manager.
From: Deadline 07/08/2013

R.I.P. Margaret Pellegrini
One of the last surviving Munchkins from The Wizard Of Oz has died. Margaret Pellegrini, who as a 15-year-old played the flowerpot Munchkin (right) and one of the "sleepyhead" kids in the 1939 classic, died Monday of a stroke at her home in Phoenix. She was 89.
From: Deadline 07/08/2013

Sam Rockwell in talks for Poltergeist remake
Moon actor could lead new version of 1982 horror classic about a malevolent spirit in a family home, produced by Sam Raimi.
From: The Guardian - Film News 06/08/2013

China denies Despicable Me 2 ban
Authorities in China claim the hit animation would not do well there and refused it one of the 34 allocated slots for foreign films.
From: The Guardian - Film News 06/08/2013

Johnny Depp and Jerry Bruckheimer blame critics for Lone Ranger flop
Industry experts predict Disney may lose $150m as action film rides off into the sunset.
From: The Guardian - Film News 06/08/2013

Rashida Jones And Matt Bomer Join Seth Rogen In B.O.O.: Bureau Of Otherworldly Operations
I probably look forward to animated feature films more than any grown man should, and the plotline of the upcoming B.O.O. : Bureau of Otherworldly Operations might actually have me more jazzed than I am for Pixar's The Good Dinosaur or Finding Dory.
From: Cinema Blend 06/08/2013

Will G.I. Joe's Jon M. Chu Take Over Star Trek 3?
Hollywood's a crazy place. One day you're following around Justin Bieber to make a concert doc designed to make tweens scream, the next you're up to helm one of the biggest action franchises going.
From: Cinema Blend 06/08/2013

American Sniper No Longer In Spielberg's Crosshairs
The director and producer has dropped out of the film adaptation of Navy Seal Chris Kyle's book.
From: Screenrush 06/08/2013

'Mission: Accepted' Christopher McQuarrie To Direct Mission Impossible 5
The Jack Reacher director finally confirms the speculation and rumours which have been circulating for well over a year.
From: Screenrush 06/08/2013

FilmNation, Tribeca Reunite Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro For 'The Good House'
FilmNation Entertainment has acquired from Jane Rosenthal the rights to the bestselling Ann Leary novel The Good House.
From: Deadline 06/08/2013

Mireille Enos Joins If I Stay
R. J. Cutler is best known for his documentary work, covering topics as diverse as politics (The War Room) and the publishing and fashion industries (The September Issue). But now he has a feature film in the works, If I Stay, and a new cast member to work with. The Killing's Mireille Enos has signed up to join his adaptation of Gayle Forman's novel.
From: Empire Online 06/08/2013

Christopher McQuarrie On For Mission: Impossible 5
We've had false readings of clues and a little jumping of the gun, but Christopher McQuarrie has now taken to Twitter to confirm he's directing the next instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise.
From: Empire Online 06/08/2013

Roberto Orci And Alex Kurtzman Set To Write Star Trek 3
They're making a deal for their third trip to the final frontier.
From: Empire Online 06/08/2013

Benedict Cumberbatch Joins The Penguins Of Madagascar
When discussing the development of the Madagascar spin-off focusing on the military-minded Penguins, you might think the focus would be on Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico.
From: Empire Online 06/08/2013

Josh Gad Will Be Sam Kinison
Films about famous comics often seem to take a while to coalesce on screen - just look at the endless stints in limbo suffered by the Richard Pryor biopic. One appears to be on the right track at last, with the story of the late Sam Kinison scoring The Internship's Josh Gad for the main role.
From: Empire Online 06/08/2013

Game of Thrones and Hanna writers for new Merlin film
Warner Bros looks to fill a Harry Potter-shaped hole with a film of the Merlin story based on TA Barron's fantasy novels.
From: The Guardian - Film News 05/08/2013

Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling shortlisted to play Batman in Man of Steel 2
Joseph Gordon-Levitt also tipped for Bruce Wayne role in Zack Snyder sequel, which will feature Batman battling Superman.
From: The Guardian - Film News 05/08/2013

Mitch Hurwitz Arrested Development Empire Podcast Special
Mitch Hurwitz is the worryingly funny writer-cum-director-cum-showrunner behind Arrested Development, the cult classic sitcom that enjoyed just two and a half seasons between 2003-2006, only to come back from the dead this year thanks to its legions of fans and a little streaming service called Netflix.
From: Empire Online 05/08/2013

Game Of Thrones Star Elyes Gabel Added To Christopher Nolan's Massive Interstellar Cast
Christopher Nolan isn't the only director who has every actor in town clamoring to work with him, but he does seem capable of rustling up the most diverse and fascinating casts for every single thing he does.
From: Cinema Blend 05/08/2013

Doctor Number 12 Unveiled, But Who is Peter Capaldi?
The fantastic scottish actor goes from a spin doctor to the Twelth Doctor.
From: Screenrush 05/08/2013

Matt Damon: Michael Douglas deserves Emmy
Matt Damon wants Michael Douglas to win the Emmy for his performance in Behind the Candelabra. The pair co-star in the US telemovie about the life of the flamboyant singer.
From: Film-News 05/08/2013

Oddlot Entertainment Hires Rachel Shane As EVP Production
Oddlot Entertainment has brought on Rachel Shane to head production and development as its new Executive Vice President of Production. She will oversee Oddlot's production slate of projects financed and developed in-house, reporting to Co-Presidents Michael Nathanson and Bill Lischak.
From: Deadline 05/08/2013

Bella Thorne Exits WME, Won't Sign With Another Agency
On the heels of WME agent Thor Bradwell's departure last week to join LBI Entertainment as a manager, his client Bella Thorne too has left the agency.
From: Deadline 05/08/2013

Ed Harris Joins Ethan Hawke In Shakespeare Adaptation 'Cymbeline'
Oscar nominee Ed Harris will join Ethan Hawke in the Shakespeare adaptation Cymbeline, which updates the romantic tragedy/comedy to a modern day America where corrupt cops clash with a drug dealing biker gang. In the pic described as Sons of Anarchy meets Romeo + Juliet, Harris will play King Cymbeline. Michael Almereyda (Hamlet) is writing and directing the film, with Anthony Katagas producing for Keep Your Head Productions alongside Michael Benaroya, who is producing and financing via his Benaroya Pictures banner. Benaroya's Ben Sachs is exec producing. Filming begins in two weeks in NYC. Harris's upcoming films include The Weinstein Co.'s Snowpiercer and The Face Of Love opposite Annette Bening. He is repped by CAA.
From: Deadline 05/08/2013

Castle Rock Extends Funding Relationship With 'Before Midnight' Backer Venture Forth
After a strong start with the Richard Linklater-directed Before Midnight, Castle Rock Entertainment is extending its relationship with Jacob Pechenik's Venture Forth Productions to finance more films.
From: Deadline 05/08/2013

Ryan Gosling Tops List Of Actors Rumored To Play Batman
The immediate aftermath of the Batman/ Superman mash-up announcement at Comic-Con was filled with a lot of high fives and frenzied excitement. Within about ten minutes, however, that disorganized excitement was replaced by a sea of wild speculation with one question getting way more play than any other: who the hell is going to play Batman?
From: Cinema Blend 04/08/2013

Batman Casting: Learn More About The Men In Contention
After almost a decade of Christian Bale-fueled Batman stability, Hollywood is once again on the hunt for the right actor to play the Caped Crusader.
From: Cinema Blend 04/08/2013

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey extended edition
Fans of Middle-earth will have the opportunity to gain a broader experience of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, when the epic fantasy adventure is released as an Extended Edition on Digital Download on 22nd October and on Blu-ray 3D ( includes 2D Blu-ray) and DVD on from 4th November A production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, this new cut includes 13 minutes of extra film footage that extends individual scenes, making this the must-see, definitive version for fans.
From: Film-News 03/08/2013

'Sharknado' Midnight Sales "Bloody Good"
Fandango is reporting that Syfy's Sharknado sold out midnight showtimes in three cities - New York, Boston, and Seattle - and additional showtimes were added continuously to meet fan demand.
From: Deadline 03/08/2013

Actor Wes Bentley opens up about past heroin addiction
Hunger Games star says he's been given 'second chance' at film career after period of spiralling substance abuse.
From: The Guardian - Film News 02/08/2013

Pakistan will re-enter race for foreign-language film Oscar
Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will head committee to choose country's first flagbearer in 50 years.
From: The Guardian - Film News 02/08/2013

Chris Evans Set To Direct 1.30 Train
He's making his directorial debut with an indie drama.
From: Empire Online 02/08/2013

Bryan Singer Poses With A Days Of Future Past Sentinel
He's in league with Trask! Run!
From: Empire Online 02/08/2013

Jaume Collet-Serra Back In Akira's Saddle
The project may have stalled more often than a faulty motorcycle, but Warner Bros. remains committed to bringing its live-action version of classic anime Akira to the big screen. The latest twist has Unknown director Jaume Collet-Serra back into the fold.
From: Empire Online 02/08/2013

Samuel L. Jackson Will Be The Villain For The Secret Service
While Samuel L. Jackson is most closely linked with the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nicky Fury right now, that doesn't mean he can't make the jump to other titles if he wants. Evidence of that is clear, as Sam the man will be playing a villain for Matthew Vaughn's adaptation of Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons' The Secret Service.
From: Empire Online 02/08/2013

James Cameron Confirms Avatar 4
And he's recruited yet more writers.
From: Empire Online 02/08/2013

The Inbetweeners Movie 2 Officially Confirmed
The boys are back in town...
From: Empire Online 02/08/2013

Ellen DeGeneres Returns To Host The Oscars
Ellen DeGeneres is returning to host the Oscars next March, following on from last year's rather controversial turn by Seth MacFarlane.
From: Empire Online 02/08/2013

Akira Remake Is Back On, Jaume Collet-Serra Back In Talks To Direct
In January 2012 it looked as though the in-development live-action adaptation of Akira had finally kicked the bucket. Warner Bros. fought hard to get the movie made, first enlisting Albert Hughes to direct before hiring Jaume Collet-Serra to replace him, but ultimately it was decided that the film wasn't worth the budget it would need to be done right, and the production was shut down.
From: Cinema Blend 02/08/2013

Our Fifteen Favourite Episodes Of Breaking Bad
As AMC prepare to air the final eight episodes of Breaking Bad we look back at our favourite installments of the brilliant, nerve-wracking drama and rate Walt's performance in each on our patented Bad-Ass-O-Meter.
From: Screenrush 02/08/2013

George Clooney To Hedge Fund Honcho Daniel Loeb: Stop Spreading Fear At Sony
George Clooney, who yesterday sent his Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov to Hollywood to show Sony and Fox a first cut of their Oscar-season period film The Monuments Men, has spent most of his career navigating the challenge of making provocative movies at studios obsessed with tentpoles.
From: Deadline 02/08/2013

Ellen DeGeneres To Host Oscars
Ellen DeGeneres just tweeted she will be hosting the Oscars this year. It will be her second stint in the job, after hosting the 2007 ceremony and earning an Emmy nomination for it.
From: Deadline 02/08/2013

R.I.P. Gail Kobe
Film and television actress and producer Gail Kobe died yesterday at the age of 82. Her first major film was Cecil B. DeMille's epic The Ten Commandments in 1956. She went on to appear in dozens of TV shows throughout her career, earning an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Dr. Anne Warner on the 1960s TV series Dr. Kildare.
From: Deadline 02/08/2013

Pacific Rim is a hit in China: sequel could be on its way
The film, which has performed poorly at the US box office, is currently at the top spot internationally. It is yet to be released in over half of global territories including Spain, Brazil and Japan.
From: The Guardian - Film News 01/08/2013

Avatar 2 Finally Has A Screenwriter
Wait, you're telling me Avatar 2 is actually a real thing, and not just one of James Cameron's years-long underwater fever dreams?
From: Cinema Blend 01/08/2013

Len Wiseman Won't Be Directing The Mummy Reboot After All
When word came out last September that Total Recall remake director Len Wiseman was attached to helm the in-development Mummy reboot in development at Universal Pictures, it was assumed that it was going to be his next project.
From: Cinema Blend 01/08/2013

Logan's Run Remake Resurrected With BioShock Creator Writing
Ken Levine is best known to gamers as the creator of the award-winning video game BioShock. The game, which is set in a dystopian city called Rapture, helped Levine get named one of Game Informer's Storytellers of the Decade.
From: Cinema Blend 01/08/2013

Frank Miller And Zack Snyder Meeting About Batman-Superman Movie
Frank Miller and Zack Snyder go way back. Snyder's adaptation of Miller's graphic novel 300 was his giant breakout hit, and Snyder adapted Miller's Xerxes for the upcoming sequel 300: Rise of an Empire.
From: Cinema Blend 01/08/2013

Sarah Michelle Gellar Would Be Up For Buffy Movie, But Says The Original Didn't Work
Seven seasons and a movie? Technically, Buffy the Vampire Slayer's already had that, only the movie came first. But what are the odds that the series will see a follow-up film, much in the way Joss Whedon's Firefly did with Serenity?
From: Cinema Blend 01/08/2013

Alec Baldwin In For Cameron Crowe's Next Movie
Since 30 Rock wrapped earlier this year, Alec Baldwin has told the press he'd only be looking to take roles that would allow him to stay close to his pregnant wife and incoming baby.
From: Cinema Blend 01/08/2013

The Great Gatsby's Elizabeth Debicki Snags Big Man From U.N.C.L.E. Role
It might have been hard to focus on her, given how many sparkles and heavy-handed symbols were flying at you in 3D, but Elizabeth Debicki was one of the biggest bright spots in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby, playing the slinky and sloe-eyed Jordan Baker as the unflappable straight woman in this crazy world.
From: Cinema Blend 01/08/2013

Comic-Con 2013: Dan Harmon's Community Return Raises The Roof
It's been a turbulent time for Community fans of late, no better highlighted by the creator of the much-loved, nerd-friendly, exceptionally clever NBC sitcom, Dan Harmon, leaving the show at the end of Season 3 only to come back for the upcoming Season 5.
From: Empire Online 01/08/2013

Zhang Yimou Circles Notre-Dame
Zhang Yimou, despite huge international success, has yet to make a film outside his native China (although he imported Christian Bale recently for The Flowers Of War).
From: Empire Online 01/08/2013

Captain Phillips Will Open The BFI London Film Festival
The summer may feel never-ending right now, but autumn and the BFI London Film Festival is creeping steadily closer - and today comes the announcement that Paul Greengrass' new film, Captain Phillips, will be the Festival opener.
From: Empire Online 01/08/2013

David Yates To Helm Univeral's Scarface Reboot?
The Harry Potter director is in final discussions to take on this hefty project.
From: Screenrush 01/08/2013

CBS Films Options 'Children Of Paranoia'
CBS Films has acquired screen rights to Children Of Paranoia, a debut novel by Trevor Shane for Dutton. The book will be adapted by Mark Verheiden, whose credits include Falling Skies and Battlestar Galactica. Akiva Goldsman is producing through his Weed Road banner.
From: Deadline 01/08/2013

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