Other Tidbits From The Week AKIRA RESIDENT EVIL CARRIE XMEN FIRST CLASS DARK SHADOWS and More

Below you will find news on Peter Berg’s next directing gig, the latest additions to ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ an interesting update on the live-action ‘Akira,’ and talk of reboots for ‘The Flintstones’ and ‘Highlander.’ There is a trailer for Jay Baruchel’s thriller ‘Good Neighbours’ and a preview trailer for the TV series ‘Person of Interest’ starring Jim Caviezel. So happy ready and enjoy your weekend!

 Jonny Lee Miller (‘Dexter,’ ‘Trainspotting’) has joined the cast of Tim Burton’s big screen adaptation of Dan Curtis’ the cult classic television series ‘Dark Shadows.’ Production on the movie kicked off this week in London.

 

 Peter Berg is to make the Navy SEAL thriller ‘Lone Survivor’ his next project. The director originally planned to shoot the film independently two years ago, but Universal convinced him to direct ‘Battleship’ in exchange for funding on ‘Lone Survivor.’

Based on the book by Marcus Luttrell, ‘Lone Survivor’ tells the harrowing story of how Luttrell and his Navy SEAL team members fought to stay alive after being ambushed in Afghanistan in 2005 by Taliban forces during a covert mission in the Hindu Kush mountain region, where the team went to kill a terrorist leader.

Taking to Deadine, Berg said:

“Bin Laden’s death has cleared the way for this, a movie that will be an unapologetically patriotic film that honors and pays homage to an incredible group of badass guys who do this. The film will be a bit like Black Hawk Down, but it will focus on the quartet, which is fewer guys than that film.” Production will begin in January 2012.

 

 Keanu Reeves has passed on the Albert Hughes-directed adaptation of ‘Akira.’ Warner Bros. has also shut down the movie’s pre-viz department. The studio released the following statement to quash rumours of the movie being shut down:

“Production on ‘Akira’ has not halted or been shut down, as the film has not yet been greenlit and is still very much in the development stage. The exploratory process is crucial to a project of this magnitude, and we will continue to sculpt our approach to making the best possible film.”

 

 Mads Mikkelsen and Til Schweiger are set to star in Icelandic helmer Agust Gudmundsson’s World War II thriller ‘War Below Zero,’ Anders Thomas Jensen (‘In a Better World’) penned the script.

The movie is a stripped down thriller about two enemy meteorologists, a Dane and a German, who are posted to Greenland in order to control the weather reports and gain the upper hand in the North Atlantic U-boat war between the Allied and Axis powers. While the two are also enemy combatants, they become dependent on one another to survive in the harsh winter environment.

 

 Talking to MTV, Weinstein head Harvey Weinstein said that despite poor and disappointing box office results for ‘Scream 4,’ another sequel in the series is quite possible.

“I’m sure [Wes is] going to do a sequel, I’m sure he’s going to do a sequel” says Weinstein who was bullish on the film’s international performance. “Foreign [sales] are so strong that we’ll do over €70 million worldwide. It’s at €63 million now, with about five or six major countries to go and a lot of small ones. We’ll probably do €77 million.”

 

 Variety reports that scribe Rob Edwards (‘Princess and the Frog’) has been tapped to pen two high-profile features – ‘Amulet’ for Warner Bros. Pictures and ‘Animated American’ for Disney.

Amulet’ is based on the graphic novel series by Kazu Kibuishi, and will follow a teenage boy and his sister, who are pulled into a mystical world of demons, monsters and talking animals and discover that they are the last in a line of gatekeepers who must quickly learn to control a powerful amulet to save the world. Will Smith is attached as producer and is loosely attached to star along with his son Jaden.

Animated American,’ produced by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Cooper revolves around an animated baby raised by a live-action family until his 18th birthday, when he decides to find his real family with the help of his friend and her jealous boyfriend.

 

 ‘Family Guy’ creator Seth MacFarlane has got the go-ahead to reboot classic cartoon ‘The Flintstones,’ reports Deadline. Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly said production on the animated series will begin production in 2011 for a 2013 premiere

 

 The trailer for Jacob Tierney’s ‘Good Neighbors‘ starring Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire and Scott Speedman.

 

 Milla Jovovich has taken to her Twitter account (@MillaJovovich)  to update fans on the next installment of the ‘Resident Evil’ franchise, revealing a possible title and filming location. 

“I think its called RE: Retribution, but i have to ask paul 2 b sure. I pray 4 japan everyday and i can’t wait 2 go there and shoot the nxt RE!”

The actress went on to tweet:

“jst 2 let the RE fans know, cause there’s been a bunch of questions abt the nxt film, paul has kids that are proffessional players…all they do is play the games till they master every level and unlock every code. they play the games for WEEKS and give paul the footage. so he’s literally watching days of the most awesome RE players out there to get inspiration 4 the nxt installment of the franchise.”

“OMG! Paul has such a grt idea 4 the nxt RE film and there will b a HUGE surprise abt the origin of Alice! paul is still writing the script, but he’s got the story down. Its gonna b CRAZY! N fans r gonna luv who we bring back! As well as new characters n the zombies r goin 2 the nxt level!!!!”

Disappointingly it appears that movie will not be featuring Hunters:

“is it cool 2 do a kickass action scene w lizardy,froggy things that kind of remind me of “predator”?”


 Matthias Schoenaerts (‘Bullhead’) has joined the American remake of the 2008 Belgian thriller ‘Loft.’ Schoenaerts starred in the original movie and will reprise his role of Filip for the remake.

The story revolves around five married friends who share a loft where each of them bring their mistresses. When the body of an unknown woman is found there, each begins to suspect one another of murder.

Erik Van Looy, who directed the original, will return to direct English-language remake. The cast for the whodunit includes Patrick Wilson, James Marsden, Wentworth Miller (‘Prison Break’) and Eric Stonestreet (‘Modern Family’).

 

 Below is a preview trailer for J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan’s new crime drama series ‘Person of Interest‘ starring Jim Caviezel (‘Outlander’) and Michael Emerson (‘Lost’).

 

 Stan Lee has revealed, via his Twitter account, that he won’t be making a cameo in ‘X-Men First Class’:

“Incredible as it may seemeth, NO CAMEO doth appear of thy beloved Generalissimo in ‘X-Men 1st Class!’ I pause whilst thy shock sinketh in.”

Explaining to fans the reason behind the no show he wrote:

“Warriors mine, grieve thee not that I have no cameo in X-Men 1st Class,” Lee tweeted. “‘Tis just that the movie was filmed too far away for me to attend”

But he did confirm that he will be appearing briefly in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ ’Amazing Spider-Man,’ and ‘The Avengers’:

“But know ye t his, I have already completed my roles in Captain America and the new Spider-Man, so all is well in Cameo Land.”

“Next up–The Avengers. Unless they shoot it on the Moon nothing shall keep thy leader from making his awesome presence known! Excelsior!”

 

 X-Men First Class’ again, a new clip was released via Yahoo!

 

 Matthew Modine, Tom Conti and 11-year-old actress Joey King (‘Ramona and Beezus’) have joined the cast of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight Rises.

 

 THR has learned that former ‘Seinfeld’ writer/producer David Mandel is in talks to pen Warner Bros.’ ‘Fletch‘ reboot. No plot details were given, but Warners and the producers are aiming for a “reimagining,” not a remake of the 1985 Chevy Chase film or its sequel.

 

 Screen Daily reports that Olivia Williams, Paddy Considine and Jeremy Irvine (‘War Horse’) have joined Dakota Fanning for ‘Now Is Good,’ director Ol Parker’s adaptation of Jenny Downham’s ‘Before I Die,’ about a terminally ill girl wanting to taste life. Naomi Watts was in talks to join but is no longer attached. Parker previously directed ‘Imagine Me & You.’

 

 ‘Bad Boys’ and ‘Transformers’ director Michael Bay has offered a reward to anyone who spots ‘Skids’ and ‘Mudflap’ in the upcoming ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’ The director posted the following on his blog:

$25,000 Reward

After the internet posting of a nice review by someone who saw Transformers Dark of the Moon, the writer had not been clear on one thing. He misstated that the Twins are in the film. They are not.

So I am offering a $25,000 REWARD to anyone who can find them performing in Transformers 3, on July 1, when the movie opens.

Michael

Interestingly, the twins appear in the trailer for the movie, and most recently photos from the set featured the twins, with an updated look. It is possible the set photos are from a promotional shoot or scenes for the DVD.

 

 British actor Chris Vance (‘Burn Notice,’ ‘Prison Break’) has been cast as Frank Martin in ‘Transporter‘ TV series. Jason Statham played Frank Martin in the popular action movie franchise. Luc Besson, who wrote all three of ‘The Transporter‘ movies, will executive produce.

 

 A new clip from Nicolas Winding Refn‘s ‘Drive‘ has turned up online, check it out below. You can see the previous clip HERE. The track featured in the clip is ‘A Real Hero’ by the French dance artist David Grellier aka College, you can listen to the full track over on Youtube.

 

 Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has been tapped to pen a remake of the 1976 horror classic ‘Carrie.’ The screenwriter and playwright is believed to be staying faithful to Stephen King’s novel. Taking to Entertainment Weeky, King said:

“I’ve heard rumblings about a Carrie remake, as I have about The Stand and It. Who knows if it will happen? The real question is why, when the original was so good? I mean, not Casablanca, or anything, but a really good horror-suspense film, much better than the book. Piper Laurie really got her teeth into the bad-mom thing. Although Lindsay Lohan as Carrie White… hmmm. It would certainly be fun to cast. I guess I could get behind it if they turned the project over to one of the Davids: Lynch or Cronenberg.”

 

 Check out Rodrigo y Gabriela’s ‘The Pirate That Should Not Be’ from the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ soundtrack. The amazing guitar duo teamed with Oscar winner composer Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack.

 

 Variety reports that Wendell Pierce (‘Treme,’ ‘The Wire’) and Patrick Fugit (‘Almost Famous’) have joined the cast of ‘B.B. King and I‘ for director Michael Schroeder (‘Man in the Chair’). The movie is based on the bluesman’s friendship with drummer Michael Zanetis.

B.B. King and I’ follows Zanetis as the drummer who travels from the heartland of America to Hollywood in pursuit of his musical destiny. After attending a King concert in 1980, Zanetis struck up a friendship with the blues legend that endured for 30 years, culminating with him gifting King with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 

 Matt Dillon is in talks to join the porn biopic ‘Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story.’ The movie stars Malin Akerman (‘Watchmen’) as the tragic pornstar Lovelace, Dillon would play Lovelace’s husband Chuck Traynor. The movie is based on the novel ‘Ordeal: An Autobiography’ by Lovelace and Mike McGrady.

 

 Talking to Empire, actor Stellan Skarsgard revealed that Joss Whedon was in the director’s chair for the post credits scene at the end of ‘Thor.’

 

 Gaspar Noé ( ‘Enter the Void,’ ‘Irreversible’) is eyeing ‘The Golden Suicides’ for his next directorial effort. The screenplay penned by Bret Easton Ellis (‘American Psycho’) is an adaptation of the Vanity Fair article by Nancy Jo Sales about the mysterious suicides of artists Jeremy Blake and Theresa Duncan, a glamorous couple who eventually secluded themselves in a cocoon of paranoia when they believed that government organizations and Scientologists were out to get them.

 

 Director Lone Scherfig (‘An Education,’ ‘One Day’) will helm the Danish historical epic ‘Music and Silence’ for BBC Films.

The film, based on the Whitbread award-winning novel by Rose Tremain, tells the story of Danish King Christian IV and his fight to save his kingdom and his marriage. At the same time two young servants who are falling in love find themselves torn apart when the king’s wife is banished from the court.

 

 ‘Punisher: War Zone’ scribes Art Marcum and Matt Holloway have been confirmed as the latest writers to work on the screenplay for Summit Entertainment’s planned ‘Highlander’ reboot. Justin Lin (‘Fast Five’) is still attached to direct with Neal Moritz and Peter Davis producing.

 

 The official cast line-up for Lorene Scafaria’s ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ has been announced. Joining Steve Carell, Keira Knightley are – in alphabetical order:

Connie Britton (‘Friday Night Lights’), Adam Brody (‘Damsels in Distress’), Roger Aaron Brown (‘The District’), Tonita Castro (‘The Sarah Silverman Program’), Rob Corddry (‘Mandate’s Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay’), two-time Academy Award nominee Melinda Dillon (‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’), Rob Huebel (‘Human Giant’), Gillian Jacobs (‘Community’), Derek Luke (‘Focus’ Catch a Fire’), Melanie Lynskey (‘Focus’ Away We Go’), T.J. Miller (‘Cloverfield’), Mark Moses (‘Desperate Housewives’), Patton Oswalt (‘United States of Tara’), William Petersen (‘CSI’), Lindsay Sloane (‘Horrible Bosses’), and Bob Stephenson (‘Jericho’).

 

 Michael Mann (‘Public Enemies,’ ‘Heat’) has officially been confirmed to helm an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s 2008 novel ‘Agincourt.’ Benjamin Ross (‘The Young Poisoner’s Handbook’) is penning the script.

The movie, which has no production date, centers on the famous 15th century Battle of Agincourt, told from the perspective of young fugitive Nicholas Hook who becomes an archer in King Henry V’s fight against the French.

 

 Four posters for the upcoming comedy ‘Horrible Bosses‘ have been released.

You can see a trailer for the movie HERE.

Click for larger versions

 

 Nothing much to see here, but two first look images from Woody Harrelson’s ‘Rampart’ have been released. The movie, directed by Oren Moverman (‘The Messenger’), co-stars Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Steve Buscemi, Cynthia Nixon, Ben Foster, Anne Heche, Ice Cube, Ned Beatty.

The last of the renegade cops, LAPD officer Dave Brown (Harrelson) is caught on tape “doing the people’s dirty work” and finds himself at the center of a vicious scandal. The days of being above the law are over. Now a poster boy for police corruption, Dave learns he’s been targeted by cop killers looking for revenge. Nothing is what it seems as Dave descends into the L.A. underworld and exacts his own brand of justice.

Click for larger version

 

 New images from ‘This Must Be The Place‘ starring Sean Penn, Eve Hewson and Frances McDormand. 

See some footage from the movie HERE and a clip HERE.

Click for larger versions

 

You can catch up with last weeks tibits HERE.