Richard Kelly is a filmmaker, whose best work is still Donnie Darko, which was released back in 2001. It looks like Kelly is planning to return to that world for a new sequel that he’s developing. And apparently, S. Darko doesn’t count. Continue reading
Category Archives: Drama
This List is brought to you by the Number Six
Out of all of the single digits, the number “6” gets the least love. (Yes, even if you include the zero “0.”) Not only that, the number six gets the least amount of respect. It is associated with “The Devil” and is the number of “The Beast” because… reasons?? It is the least distinguishable amongst the single digits. As a composite number, it loses the appeal that the “prime” numbers 2,3,5, and 7 have. It is not a square number like 4 and 9. Even the number eight has a more aesthetic appeal, with its double loop, vis-a-vis six’s single loop with a cowlick. And I shouldn’t have to explain the appeal of being #1. The only thing the number six can take pride is that it is the first counting number to incorporate the use of a second hand (unless you are one of those people who decides to use the first index finger twice. Come on – get some dexterity, dammit!) Continue reading
CREED Sequel Could Bring Rocky and Apollo Together Again
If you enjoyed Creed, which revitalized the Rocky franchise nearly a decade after Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa walked off into the sunset, then you’re almost certainly excited about seeing a sequel. But that excitement is directly tied to whether or not co-writer/director Ryan Coogler comes back in that capacity. Stallone gave an update on the sequel to Variety, touching on a bunch of different aspects of what might happen. Let’s run through the highlights: Continue reading
Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara Could Return For THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB
Last week, word came out that producers Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin are developing a sequel to David Fincher’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but neither Fincher, nor stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara would be back to reprise their roles. Ex Machina and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. star Alicia Vikander’s name was brought up as a potential replacement in the role of Lisbeth Salander, but Mara has since stated that “As far as I know I’m doing it until someone tells me otherwise.” So there appears to be some confusion going on behind the scenes. Continue reading
Jamie Dornan Quits Sequels of Fifty Shades Of Grey
It’s the elephant in the room following the news that Sam Taylor-Johnson may not be planning to return as director of the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ sequels.
Will Jamie Dornan be coming back to play S&M businessman Christian Grey for two more films? Apparently not, according to some reports.
Michael Keaton in Talks for McDonald’s Founder Movie
“Birdman” star Michael Keaton is in early negotiations to star as Ray Kroc in indie movie “The Founder,” the story of how Kroc turned McDonald’s into a global fast food empire.
FilmNation is producing along with Jeremy Renner and Don Handfield, who will produce through their production shingle The Combine. The company plans to shoot later this year.
Variety reported last month that John Lee Hancock was in talks to direct and that Keaton was interested in taking the role.
The story, developed in the vein of “The Social Network,” will focus on how Kroc — a salesman of milkshake dispensers — created one of the most powerful brands in the world. Kroc began working for the McDonald brothers in 1954 at the age of 51 as a franchising agent and bought the chain for $2.7 million in 1961.
“The Wrestler” scribe Robert Siegel wrote the script for “The Founder.” At one point in development, FilmNation approached Tom Hanks for the role of Kroc but he passed.
Keaton came on board last week to star in Universal-Legendary’s “Kong: Skull Island.” He is represented by ICM Partners and Anonymous Content.
News about the Keaton talks was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
David Fincher and Ben Affleck Reunite for STRANGERS ON A TRAIN Remake
We wrote about David Fincher’s Gone Girl just a little while ago when we published the Honest Trailer for that movie, but the film has popped up again for a different reason:
Continue reading
Gripping Red Band Teaser for Rupert Wyatt’s THE GAMBLER
Did seeing Mark Wahlberg as a (pretty lame ass) inventor running around with robots and his over sexualized underage daughter in Transformers: Age of Extinction leave a bad taste in your mouth? You can either cleanse that palette by grabbing a bite at Wahlburgers, or you can watch this intense teaser trailer for the actor’s new film The Gambler. The red band teaser sets up a really promising, high-stakes drama. Director Rupert Wyatt looks to have done an amazing job on his first feature since walking away from the Planet of the Apes franchise he successfully rebooted with Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Paramount Pictures is placing their bets on this new film, and hoping to walk away with some Oscars. They’ve got some pretty good odds too. The script for the remake of the 1974 James Caan film comes from screenwriter William Monahan, who took home an Academy Award for adapting the The Departed, the film that earned Wahlberg an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. They’ve also got a stellar supporting cast whose roles are explained in this official synopsis:
Jim Bennett (Academy Award®-nominee Mark Wahlberg) is a risk taker. Both an English professor and a high-stakes gambler, Bennett bets it all when he borrows from a gangster (Michael Kenneth Williams) and offers his own life as collateral. Always one step ahead, Bennett pits his creditor against the operator of a gambling ring (Alvin Ing) and leaves his dysfunctional relationship with his wealthy mother (Academy Award®-winner Jessica Lange) in his wake. He plays both sides, immersing himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of Frank (John Goodman), a loan shark with a paternal interest in Bennett’s future. As his relationship with a student (Brie Larson) deepens, Bennett must take the ultimate risk for a second chance…
Christian Bale in Talks for Danny Boyle’s STEVE JOBS Movie
When David Fincher was looking to direct the Aaron Sorkin scripted Steve Jobs biopic for Sony Pictures, word got out that he wanted to cast Christian Bale in the role. Nothing was ever confirmed for that, and it faded away when Fincher walked away from the project and Danny Boyle stepped in. Leonardo DiCaprio was Boyle’s top choice to play Jobs, but the actor recently stepped away from negotiations to take a break from acting.
Now it looks like Bale is actually being considered for the role. THR reports that the actor is in talks with the studio. Apparently Bale was in negotiations with Fox to star in another movie called The Deep Blue Goodbye, but that all went south. Bale is now looking to fill the open spot in his schedule with a meaty role… like Jobs. Bale is currently the top contender for the role, but other actors being considered are Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Bradley Cooper.
The biopic is based on Walter Isaacson‘s bestselling authorized biography, which was based on more than 40 interviews that the author had with Jobs. As well as interviews with friends, family, and colleagues.
The film itself is said to consist of three long scenes that take place prior to the launches of some of Jobs’ most buzzed-about products, including the Mac, NeXT (after Jobs had left Apple), and the iPod
I’ve been looking forward to this movie since is was first announced and Sorkin came on board to write it. Hopefully Sony can seal the deal and move forward with the production. Bale is an amazing actor and he would be great in the part.
‘Better Call Saul’ Gets 2015 Premiere, Early Season 2 Renewal
We’ve got both some good and bad news for fans of Breaking Bad‘s resident criminal lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). First, the bad news. Contrary to previous reports, AMC’s spin-off/prequel series Better Call Saul will not in fact premiere in 2014. Instead, early 2015 has been chosen for Saul’s 10-episode debut season.
Now, the good news, which just might make up for the delay. Better Call Saul has already been renewed for a 13-episode second season, guaranteeing that fans will get to spend at least 23 more hours in Vince Gilligan’s twisted version of New Mexico.
While a specific premiere date has yet to be set, AMC has confirmed that Better Call Saul will be paired up with The Walking Dead (and its sister show Talking Dead) in both the first quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016. Walking Dead’s usual pattern is airing 8 episodes from mid-October to early December, then airing 8 more episodes from mid-February to late March. This would put Saul’s likely debut date sometime in February 2015, possibly March at the latest.
On the surface, Better Call Saul doesn’t exactly seem like a natural partner for The Walking Dead. After all, the former is a comedic crime/legal drama, and the latter is a dark, grim, post-apocalyptic horror story. It’s hard to get much further apart in genre than that. That said, Walking Dead is the most watched scripted series in all of television among the prized 18-49 demographic. AMC would have to be nuts to not try and use that platform to promote Saul. Expect the network to run plenty of ads for Saul during the first half of Walking Dead’s fifth season, and maybe even have Odenkirk appear as a guest on Talking Dead. AMC clearly wants Saul to be a huge hit, and they have no bigger recruiting tool than Robert Kirkman’s zombie opus.
Joining the always hilarious Odenkirk in Saul’s regular cast will be fellow Breaking Bad vet Jonathan Banks, reprising his role as professional fixer Mike Ehrmantraut. As if bringing back a fan favorite character wasn’t enough of a casting coup, also entering the mix is comedy veteran Michael McKean, who’ll play rival lawyer Dr. Thurber. Few comic actors can trade lines with Bob Odenkirk without being outclassed, but it can be easily argued that McKean is one of them. The rumor mill has also suggested that Aaron Paul will put in some type of appearance as Jesse Pinkman, although that has never been officially confirmed in any way by AMC.
Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan is set to direct Better Call Saul’s first episode, and will then share showrunning duties with Peter Gould. That arrangement makes perfect sense, as while Gould created the Saul Goodman character during his time as a writer/producer for Breaking Bad, he has no experience holding the top job on a show. If year one goes well, don’t be surprised if Gilligan bows out completely, handing the reins fully over to Gould.
Breaking Bad was a cultural phenomenon quite unlike most cable dramas. Will Better Call Saul repeat its success? AMC better hope so, as they now have Saul Goodman’s services on retainer for the next two years.
Better Call Saul premieres in the first quarter of 2015. It has already been renewed for a second season.