The Clash: Round Two

The Clash of The Titan's may have had its problems; whether you choose from its screenplay, delivery or the rushed through 3d conversion, yet it has made nearly $400 million worldwide. So it should be no surprise that Warner Brothers' are scratching around for a sequel.


Deadline Hollywood reports that the entire surviving cast members including Sam Worthington are likely to sign on, director Louis Leterrier is not concerned with taking up the reins on the next installment; so he can focus on something else apparently.


The studio are looking to put the sequel in to cinemas as early as 2012 with Green Lantern scribe Greg Berlanti ready to get to work on a treatment and executives already looking to possible writers and a replacement director for Leterrier.

MATT RICHARDSON

Sara Paxton Joins The Innkeepers

The Last House on the Left Sara Paxton has signed on to another horror flick in the shape of The Innkeepers which begins rolling cameras this week in Connecticut.

The Innkeepers is centered around the final two employees of the haunted hotel The Yankee Pedlar before it closes down for good after a hundred years in service.

The last remaining clerks, Claire [Paxton] and Luke [Pat Healy] are determined to prove that it is. And as mysterious guests check including a tv actress turned psychic and an old man insistent on staying in a particular room, as several occurrences begin to mount.

Writer director Ti West wLast House on the Left has based the idea on his new project after staying in a spooky inn while making that film.

MATT RICHARDSON

How To Train Your Dragon Franchise

The soaring popularity of How To Train Your Dragon which climbed back on top of he summit of the US box office charts has seen a future franchise being set up by Dreamworks, who want to get a sequel in the production.


Yesterday DreamWorks boss Jeffrey Katzenberg announced the studio's plans amid a financial report. "2010 is off to a strong start, thanks in large part to the performance of How To Train Your Dragon, which – having grossed nearly $375 million to date in worldwide box office – has become DreamWorks Animation's next franchise. We plan to release the sequel theatrically in 2013."


So there you have it, three years will allow a very short and strict timeline for a CGI picture like this one, but if everyone is in place it is not an impossible task.A plus point is that the original film acts as a prequel of sorts to Cressidad Cowell's original novel and she has a written a subsequent series of source material for future films.


MATT RICHARDSON

Pixar Announce Monster's Inc II

Toy Story 3 is set to christen cinemas worldwide shortly, but as but as always Pixar are hard at work on their upcoming developments and have delighted us with the announcement that a sequel to the 2001 feature Monster's Inc is officially being released November 16,  2012.

Disney Chairman Rich Ross did not reveal any details which like Toy Story will be kept under wraps to build and fester anticipation to a much loved Pixar classic. But with a release date set it means that these busy bees have being working on its development for some time now, yet Ross did not give any mention to an attached director, with original director Pete Doctor denying his involvement at the round of press junkets for UP; but that was before it was green lit officially of course.

This was not the only news to grace from the Disney/Pixar coalition with the sequel will be the second of two films released by the studio that year with the announcement of Brave, formerly titled The Bear And The Bow and is described as Pixar's first fairytale.

Brenda Chapman is in the directing chair for this one, with vocals being provided by Reese Witherspoon voicing a Scottish princess whose headstrong ambitions put her family in danger. June 15th,  2012 for this one.

MATT RICHARDSON

Marvel To Go Small Scale

With each evolution of the comic book adaptation genre, the scale grows with the landscape of CGI SCI FI fantasy blown to epic proportions thanks to James Cameron and Avatar. Where are Marvel set to go after the four character strong epic The Avengers? Rein it in apparently.

According to CHUDD, Marvel Studios' are currently discussing with a host of writers and directors on the possibility of small scale movies based on their long back catalogue of characters. The price bracket being banded around of twenty to forty million dollars is minute in comparison to modern day studio features; however it is seen as an experiment. Smaller budgets will allow the opportunity for more risk in terms of character, plot and using lesser known talents who would not be given the opportunity otherwise.

The characters being on the role call are Dr. Strange, KaZar, Luke Cage, Dazzler and Power Pack are among the long list of possibles to be put in to production. It is believed as long as the vision is right for Marvel tthere is no no go areas for possible productions, which is all a bit exiing really.

This plan will allow Marvel to do two things, one infilitrate cinema with an ever growing universe of their characters, and secondly deliver them in fresh and different ways. Without doubt the comic book adaptation market has dominated the box office since the millennium, but the with each new release the sameness is growing, smaller budget, more imaginative processes will allow they type of freedom to new upcoming talents to deliver something that is not prohibited by mainstream expectations from studios.

MATT RICHARDSON

MGM MELTDOWN: Bond Next To Suffer

It appears that the financial meltdown that MGM finds itself in is really taking a hold. First news filtered through that the upcoming Hobbit productions had been delayed from starting; and now it it has been officially announced that not even James Bond can withstand the enemy at the gates of MGM. Oh, their just bailiffs.

EON productions' Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have put out a joint statement via Coming Soon that casts a dim light on the future of the project.

"Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on Bond 23 indefinitely. We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of the film."

Will Bond return? Of course its a british film institution Bond will always exist in some form on the big screen. However when we will next see our man? And will it be Daniel Craig when it does come about? However while only small moves by other studios to enquire how much MGM would be looking to sell up and cover the reported $4 billion debts against it is another question entirely.

This news of course will also stir the mystical pot of The Hobbit, is it heading the same way indefinate delay? Unfortunately it is a matter of waiting to find out.

Stripping the assets and its back catalogue of films in order to save itself from bankruptcy, the likes of Bond and The Hobbit are likely to be auctioned off in order to generate revenue, one thing is for sure, while these films are held by MGM, they will not get made.

MATT RICHARDSON

Green Lantern Update: Jon Tenney On Board

We reported not to long ago that Green Lantern was adding to its cast in the shape of.... Now Dc Comics latest offereing continues to fill in the gaps, this time with Jon Tenney; he will play Martin H. Jordan.

Tenney previouses include co-starring on cop drama The Closer, and has a prior role within the DC universe with appearing in the 90's TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman; playing a Kryptonian warrior who is seduced by Teri Hatcher.

Speaking with SuperHeroHype Tenney reveals, “The Closer's letting me shoot off in June a little bit, and im doing a picture called Green Lantern”. Before adding “Ryan Reynolds is the Green Lantern, and when he is a young boy, like 11, i'm his father. I'm Hal Jordan's dad. I'm very excited – it's incredible company”.

MATT RICHARDSON

New Writers For HeMan

He-Man And Masters of the Universe is need of a miracle touch, it is bogged down in development hell and has been for some time now. Its now boasts a host of stop starts and drafted scripts that have been thrown on to the heap. Now, two new writers are battling it out to create a script in the shape of Alex Litvak and Mike Finch.

Sony have turned to the recent Predators scribes after they managed to pitch and idea to both the studio and more importantly the rights holders Mattel, [who have in the past halted development over there dislike at characterisation of their leading characters] and both accepted the idea.

Of course details are scarce and will be, a lot of time and effort has gone into the project with the first draft written over two years ago by Justin Marks no-one will want to let the cat out the bag early on this one.

Yet, we imagine it is certain to stay close to the original lore that features the eternal battle between good and evil. In the 1980's TV show, He-Man centered on the warrior prince Adam, who would transform into the titular character; defending the planet Eternia from Skeletor desires to conquer the Castle Grayskull, which holds He-Man's powers.

More news as it comes.

MATT RICHARDSON

Ridley Scott on Alien Prequel

The latest press junkets for Ridley Scott's Robin Hood are being treated as golden opportunities to probe the upcoming Alien Prequel. When he sat down with MTV this week he revealed certain gems to the his planned Alien prequel.


In its current state the film is being polished up and being readied for production; "As we speak, I've got a pile of pages next to me; it's like the fourth draft. It's a work in progress, but we're not dreaming it up anymore. We know what the story is. We're now actually trying to improve the three acts and make the characters better, build it up to something [we can shoot]. It's a work in progress, but we're actually making the film. There's no question about it, we're going to make the film.

Now it's a matter of, how good can I get the screenplay in the next few weeks so I can get a good ballpark figure of what it will cost. I've already got people working graphically on designs for the various requirements of the film."

As it has been revealed before the film will focus in thirty years previous to the original Alien and will centre on the orginal spaceship that was discovered. " It's set in 2085, about 30 years before Sigourney [Weaver's character Ellen Ripley]. It's fundamentally about going out to find out 'Who the hell was that Space Jockey?' The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle — there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer's chair. Remember that?

And our man [Tom Skerritt as Captain Dallas] climbs up and says "There's been an explosion in his chest from the inside out — what was that?" I'm basically explaining who that Space Jockey — we call him the Space Jockey — I'm explaining who the space jockeys were."

And this is not all after the rehashing or 'homages' as Scott suggests to his origianl work he will look to freshen up the look of the infamous xenomorphs with a renewed collaboration with H.R.Giger. "Yeah, the thing about "Alien vs. Predator" is, I know it's commerce, but what a pity. I think, therefore, I have to design — or redesign — earlier versions of what these elements are that led to the thing you finally see in "Alien," which is the thing that catapults out of the egg, the face-hugger."

And still there is more; Scott wants two movies. Scott asked by Collider stated that the idea is that there would be "Prequel one and two, then Alien 1." With the first to hit the screenslate 2011 or 2012.

While you digest the news, we wait with anticipation for more news.

MATT RICHARDSON

SAW VII THE RETURN OF CARY ELWES

Ever wondered what happened to the footless wonder of Cary Elwes' Dr Lawrence Gordon as sequel after sequel in the saw saga moved along, Lionsgate have announced that you'll find out out your answers in the next outing Saw VII.

The film's synopsis has been revealed as thus: "As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gather to seek support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror."

Will the inclusion of Elwes signal the final curtain call for the Saw franchise and tie up the loose ends? Well the screenwriter Patrick Melton has stated "I can't say anything official yet, but i think the thought around the camp is that let's solve all questions by the end"

Kevin Greutert will be directing after being brought back from fellow Halloween competitor Paranormal Activity 2 which is due around the same time this year.

The film will arrive in 3D October 22, 2010.

MATT RICHARDSON

Cronenberg's Dangerous Method

The third collaboration between Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg has recieved the Hollywood treatment; no longer titled The Talking Cure, it will henceforth be The Dangerous Method. Upping the stakes of effective marketing Methods and playing on the titles of History of Violence and Eastern Promises it certainly lends the project more appeal, if only in name.

The film adapted by Chrisopher Hampton's Dangerous Liaisons revolves around Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) arguing with his pupil Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), and Jung's affair with the emotionally volatile patient Sabina (Keira Knightley).

Shooting starts next month.

MATT RICHARDSON

Edgar Wright's Ant Man Crawls Forward.

Marvel continue to strike while the iron is hot within their back catalogue characters with their hopes to bring Ant Man to big screen being pursued with Edgar Wright [Scott Pilgrim]. Despite Iron Man 2 taking up their focus with it immienent due date, Marvel's Kevin Feige has revealed some news about Wright's Ant Man.

Wright himself is very bust applying the polish to Scott Pilgrim Versus The World in post production with the film set for an August release. Of course once finished he will have the worldwide press junket to take up the rest of the year. But Marvel Studio's have been snatching time to have Wright in their California offices to strike out a proposed time-scale on the project.

Via Superhero Hype, Feige reveals: "Edgar was in LA last week, we sat down, and we started working on a calender of when to get him back into it once he finishes promoting Scott Pilgrim, so i think towards the end of this year, early next year we'd start looking at early prep for that, but certainly for a release date after The Avengers."


The information that we can take from this is that Ant Man at least will not hit the screens until after The Avengers 2012, side note this film currently has no officially signed director even with al the talk of Joss Whedon attached, this not concrete? Is our man Wright in contention? Secondly, and most frustrating, we must assume that any collaboration with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost for the final of the Cornetto trilogy [Shaun of the Dead and Hott Fuzz] is going to have to wait.

MATT RICHARDSON

Ghost Rider Two On The Cards

The word on the New York Vulture Blog is that Ghost Rider is set for a sequel and crucially even without it star attraction; Nicolas Cage. While the first was panned by critics worldwide, it did make good business, $270million's worth to be exact, so a sequel was inevitable.

Columbia Pictures brought the first outing to screen back in 2007 and it appears that their hand has been pushed in pursuing development on its sequel now rather than later; If production does not start in November, the rights revert back to Marvel (now owned by Disney), so its a case of now or never.

The script is reportedly at the a stage where Flash Forward writers Scott Gimple and Seth Hoffman have handed in a completed draft overseen by David S. Goyer. Apparently now the studio is eyeing up possible directors with no room for Mark Steven to return

As it stands with the need to push forward on the sequel it could see the end of Cage's involvment with his previous engagements, promotional duties for The Sorcerer's Apprentice and a third National Treasure on his plate already this summer, so whether he could be in place by November to roll cameras is at this stage unclear.

MATT RICHARDSON

Final Destination 5 Update: Writer Hired

Where do you go after the "Final Chapter"? Well back again of course. After announcing that the Final Destination franchise was to live another day, New Line have now hired Eric Heisserer to form the script.


After all, Heisserer's reputation is on the rise, having delved into projects with known difficulties, take a bow Nightmare on Elm Street 2010 and The Thing prequel, he has been credited with the screenplays and getting them out the development mire.


According to Heat Vision Blog, the Final Destination series could do with a similar resuscitation, after all it is supposed to be done and dusted, and the last film in particular did not score highly with critics, but made enough money to secure another sequel.


Yet, the question remains; where could Heisserer take this one? Unless studio execs are willing to create a picture with a story arc revolving around actually breaking the inevitable 'design of death', or indeed bring more back-story to previous instalments to actually make the film interesting. Without this change in perspective it is likely to be just another lame excuse to watch a group of photogenic's get burned up, harpooned and split-in-two.


MATT RICHARDSON