Steven Sodenberg has replaced Terrence Malick in the directors chair for "Che"

Pink will make her acting debut as Janis Joplin in a new biopic. It's looking to start filming in the summer which would mean that it starts before a rival production starring Renee Zellweger as Joplin.

**Remake Alert** Warner Brother's have asked screenwriter Jerry Stahl to script an new version of the 1981 thriller which stared Burt Reynolds.

Willem Dafoe has joined the cast of xXx2.

From Darkhorizons:

3001: "SNL regular Maya Rudolph and "Punk'd" standout Dax Shepard are close to lead roles in director Mike Judge's comedy opposite Luke Wilson for 20th Century Fox. Penned by Judge and Etan Cohen, "3001" centers on Joe Bowers (Wilson), an average American who is selected for a top-secret hibernation program that finds him waking up and living among a society 10 centuries in the future. He finds that civilization is so dumbed-down that he is the most intelligent person alive"

Down in the Valley: "Ellen Burstyn has signed on to the indie drama "Down in the Valley" for writer-director David Jacobson. Shooting is under way in Los Angeles. Set in the San Fernando Valley, the project revolves around a delusional man (Edward Norton) who believes that he's a cowboy and the relationship he starts with a rebellious young woman (Evan Rachel Wood). Burstyn will play the foster mother of Norton's character"

Batman Returns is being pencilled in for 17th June 2005

Pierce Brosnan wants Keira Knightly to be in the new Bond according to Sky News.




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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

Adrien Brody has landed the role of Jack Driscoll, the hero of the upcoming Peter Jackson feature, King Kong. Driscoll is a former World War One fighter ace.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

On 2004-04-03 03:05 , honeykid Wrote:


Which Reynolds film is this?

Can't believe that I left out the name of the film. Sorry EPlayer, it's Sharky's Machine.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

Hmmm, can't remember anything about "Sharky's Machine", but I know it's based on a William Diehl novel.


Michael Vartan in Negotiations for "Monster-in-Law" Opposite Jennifer Lopez

Michael Vartan, who plays CIA Agent Michael Vaughn on ABC's "Alias," is in negotiations to star opposite Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda in "Monster-in-Law" for New Line Cinema. Robert Luketic directs, while Paula Weinstein produces with Benderspink. "Monster" centers on a girl (Lopez) who's set to marry the perfect guy (Vartan) until she meets his mother, the world's worst mother-in-law. The mother is so overprotective of her son that she ruthlessly tries to derail his relationship with the fiancee. The project, written by Anya Kochoff with a rewrite by Richard LaGravenese, is being overseen by New Line production execs Richard Brener and Magnus Kim. Vartan would segue to "Monster" after he finishes shooting "Alias" at the end of this month. Vartan's feature credits include turns in "One Hour Photo" and "Never Been Kissed."


From: The Hollywood Reporter

More Bill Killing?

There’s nothing like flogging a dead horse – or a dead crime lord – to get a Hollywood executive’s blood racing. In this fine old tradition, Quentin Tarantino tells the May issue of Empire magazine that he may reopen the book on Bill and the Bride even after Kill Bill Volume 2 hits cinemas on the 23 April.

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about revisiting the story in a couple of ways,” said the director. “I’ve been thinking about doing it as an anime feature that would tell the entire origin of Bill.” Those who have seen Kill Bill Volume One will remember the anime sequence that demonstrates the lack of large-eyed talking rabbits in Quentin’s cartoons, and in fact that his animated sequences are if anything more violent than his films.

Quentin has also considered telling the story – possibly animated, possibly live action - of Nikki, the five year old whose mother was the Bride’s first victim in Volume One of the revenge drama.


From: Empire UK

On 2004-04-05 12:52 , EPlayer Wrote:


OMG wasn't Meet The Parents enough for these people?!? But to throw in J-Lo and Fonda is just adding insult to injury.

Interesting stuff about Kill Bill. I remeber when it was released Daryl Hannah saying that QT had been talking about a 3rd film, so I guess that this rumour has some backstory to it.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From YahooNews:

Tim Story has been picked to direct a movie based on Marvel comic book heroes "Fantastic Four," putting a film on track to start shooting this summer for a debut in July 2005, a Marvel spokesman said on Tuesday. Story previously directed 2002 low-budget hit "Barbershop" for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio, and has a new film "Taxi" coming up this year.




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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

Woo Exploring "Metroid" Film

John Woo has optioned Nintendo's best-selling video game franchise "Metroid" for the big screen. It's the latest move demonstrating the director's commitment to interactive entertainment properties because it comes as Woo is developing three original titles at his Tiger Hill video game studio using Hollywood talent.

Woo will produce the sci-fi movie and has the option to direct. Terence Chang and Brad Foxhoven will share production responsibilities. Lion Rock Prods.' Suzanne Zizzi also is attached to the project.

Foxhoven said the plan is to release the first film before 2006. "Everyone involved is looking at this as a big-budget picture," Foxhoven said. "We see a tremendous opportunity to launch a film franchise with Nintendo as a partner."

Nintendo's "Metroid" has appeared in various incarnations since its introduction in 1986, with cumulative worldwide sales of 10 million-12 million. Each gives fans the chance to experience the suspense, mystery and excitement of space exploration.

"We are very fortunate that there is such an extensive amount of material to draw upon for the film due to there being so many iterations of the game over the years," Woo said.

The movie will center on the origins of the game's female protagonist, sexy bounty hunter Samus Aran, and relate her adventures battling the insidious life-sucking Metroids and their controlling force, Mother Brain.

"We have to assume the mainstream audience is unfamiliar with the property," Foxhoven said. "As for the rest of the film, we will stay true to the game and have Samus battling the Metroids and Mother Brain in a fight for control of the galaxy."


From: The Hollywood Reporter

Dafoe Joins von Trier's "Manderlay"

Willem Dafoe has joined the cast of "Manderlay," the second installment in Lars von Trier's "USA -- Land of Opportunities" trilogy.

Dafoe will play the father of Grace, the central character played by Nicole Kidman in the series' first film, "Dogville," and played by Bryce Dallas Howard in "Manderlay."

Dafoe joins Lauren Bacall, Jean-Marc Barr, Jeremy Davies, Isaach De Bankole, Danny Glover, Udo Kier, John C. Reilly and Chloe Sevigny in the new production, which is set in the American South during the 1930s and explores the repression of blacks.

Like "Dogville," "Manderlay" will be shot entirely on a stage. The technique was inspired in part by von Trier's childhood viewings of theater productions broadcast on television and also shows the influence of Bertolt Brecht as well as a move away from the modern-day use of computers in creating film.

Sissy Spacek Joins "The Ring 2"

Sissy Spacek is returning to the horror genre -- where she enjoyed one of her earliest successes as the telekinetic heroine of 1976's "Carrie" -- as she steps into "The Ring 2" for DreamWorks and director Hideo Nakata. The Oscar-winning actress joins Naomi Watts and Simon Baker in the film, due to start shooting in mid-May. It's unclear exactly who she will play in the ongoing tale of a mysterious videotape that proves fatal to viewers because the script is being closely guarded; sources close to the film said the filmmakers want to keep a level of mystery around Spacek's character.


From: The Hollywood Reporter

Branagh Joins "Mission: Impossible 3

Kenneth Branagh is joining Tom Cruise and Carrie-Anne Moss in "Mission: Impossible 3" for C/W Prods. and Paramount Pictures.

Branagh, who recently appeared in a London production of David Mamet's play "Edmund" and the feature film "Five Children and It," has signed on for the spy action-adventure. Although there is an expectation that he will be unmasked as one of the villains, few details were available on the character Branagh will play.

Further casting is under way on the sequel, which is due to go into production in late summer. Although there has been speculation that Philip Seymour Hoffman would be joining the cast, that possibility has apparently ended because of a scheduling conflict.

Frank Darabont is penning the script for the third installment of the blockbuster, which Joe Carnahan will direct.


From: The Hollywood Reporter

Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of Azkaban is getting an IMAX release in the UK on July 19th.

Kevin Smith says that he "probably won't" be directing The Green Hornet but will still write it.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From EmpireUK

Andy Serkis is King Kong

It's been rumoured ever since it was announced that Peter Jackson was to make his King Kong, but now it's official - Andy Serkis is a giant ape!

Well, almost. Serkis will, in fact, be doing a Gollum again, putting on a bodysuit and providing motion-capture for the giant CG ape. He won't, though, be providing face and voice - just movements and mannerisms.

"While Andy will provide very valuable onset reference, this doesn't mean we will be softening Kong by attempting to humanise him," said Jackson. "The power of the story lies in the fact that this is a savage beast from a hostile environment, and we don't intend to compromise that."

Luckily, it's not all prancing around in front of bluescreen for Serkis. He'll also get to show his face in front of the camera, as Lumpy the cook, one of the crew members on the Venture, the steamer that sails to Skull Island and discovers Kong.

At first glance, Serkis' casting is interesting - he's the only Lord of the Rings alumni to join Jackson on Kong, which stars Adrien Brody, Naomi Watts and Jack Black. But then, Elijah, Viggo, and Orlando won't have to don a tight body stocking that shows off their bollocks, either. So it's a win-win situation for everyone!


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

While Serkis seems in demand for being the basis of CGI creations, he was very much himself in a funny supporting role in "13 Going on 30". Forgot that was him until the movie was over.

From Darkhorizons:

IESB reports that whilst speaking with "King Arthur" and "Training Day" Director Antoine Fuqua, he revealed he will be working on a prequel to Brian DePalma's 1987 hit "The Untouchables" which told the story of Al Capone and adversary, Elliot Ness.

According to Fuqua, the film will take place years before law-man Ness (played by Costner in the former) and gangster Capone (played by De Niro) ever crossed paths and focus solely on a young Al Capone. Sean Penn is being sought to play the young Capone.

There's also talk of both a prequel and a say to "King Arthur", says the site, but Fuqua isn't attached to either."


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From Darkhorizons:

The other day DH ran a pretty interesting scoop about the two Coreys (Feldman & Haim) reuniting with much of the original cast to do a sequel after the first film's recent DVD release has generated good sales and interest.

Now, today Countingdown has a scoop from an NYC source who sheds a little more light on the gossip: "This was going to be an almost 'independent' sequel with a fresh-faced cast in 2002 - how its changed since then. Its actually been in the works for a good two or three years now, so dont expect it anytime real soon. I had four relative unknowns near tied up for roles in the film - then called "Lost Girls" - until that incarnation fell apart and the studio decided to start again, with a straight sequel. They've been tossing and turning over that for a good year or so.

In short : this proposed film has been a sore scar on manys face. I believe Warner are looking at a spec script called "Lost Boys : Devil May Cry", being pushed in their faces even more by Corey Haim and Corey Feldman - who're now 'best buddies' again and raring to work on something again. I believe they're the two that are trying to get Warner to greenlight it and they made some sort of deal to attend the recent comic convention and promote the DVD if meetings would be arranged to start talking sequel. Last I heard, its out with all the unknowns and back with all the original cast - Patric, Coreys, Kiefer, Wiest etc.... Shame, could've been a great project for a lot of young up and coming talent. Do we really need more Haim/Feldman?".


They also say that Jurassic Park 4, True Lies 2, Unbreakable 2, American Pie 4, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigalo and Harold & Kumar Go To Amsterdam are all moving towards being greenlit or are going ahead.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

OHHHH MYYYY GODDD. If I get to see Unbreakable 2 I will poop my pants.


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Hello, fellow American. This you should vote me. I leave power. Good. Thank you. Thank you. If you vote me, I am hot. What? Taxes. They'll be lower, son. The democratic vote for me is the right thing to do, Philadelphia. So do.

I remember when Unbreakable was released that Shyamalan said that he began the film as the first of a trilogy, but after its performance at the box office that idea was dropped. But if this gets off the ground then maybe he'll want to finish it properly.

I must say that the idea of an Unbreakable trilogy sounds really good to me, I think that it's his best film by a mile. Though I haven't seen Signs (cos I hate Gibson and it sounded shit) or The Village (which I'll see soon as someone else is paying. Can't say that I'm looking forward to it though)


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

HK you are so optimistic. You literally sound like me. If I feel a movie is gonna suck, I have no problem making a judgement based on trailers. It literally made me sick that anyone saw White Chicks. I agree with Unbreakable BTW. It is one of my favs and easily my fav Shyamalan. I heard the same about the trilogy. It surprises me to hear this though because it wasn't a box office hit by any means. In fact, it was a bomb. (I don't understand any of you freak who don't like this fine film) I would love to see where he goes with it though. I thought the first stood alone very well.


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Hello, fellow American. This you should vote me. I leave power. Good. Thank you. Thank you. If you vote me, I am hot. What? Taxes. They'll be lower, son. The democratic vote for me is the right thing to do, Philadelphia. So do.