Remember that new sci-fi action movie starring Denzel Washington (American Gangster)? Well things are getting moving as Gary Oldman (Gordon in the new Batman films and Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise) has signed on as well.
“Eli” revolves around a lone warrior (Washington) who must fight to bring society the knowledge that could be the key to its redemption. Oldman has been set to portray the despot of a small makeshift town who’s determined to take possession of the book Eli’s guarding.
Written by newcomer Gary Whitta and Anthony Peckham (Don’t Say A Word), Book Of Eli marks the return of sibling directors Allen & Albert Hughes (From Hell), the film will start shooting in New Mexico this February for a January 2010 release.
A writer, director and sometimes actor who’s enjoyed considerably more success abroad than in his own country but is nevertheless regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time and able to attract big names to his projects, Woody Allen (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) is an incredibly prolific and rythmic worker, churning out one film a year like clockwork. Melinda And Melinda marks his 2004 offering, though it was released in 2005 in numerous countries.
Actually two stories in one (thus the title), the film has two playwrights arguing about whether life at its core is tragic or comic. One of their friends thus suggests a challenge by setting the premise of a troubled woman crashing a dinner party and asking whether the subsequent events would evolve into a tragedy or a comedy. Naturally, we see both options unfold at the same time.
As is common for Woody Allen films, Melinda And Melinda stars a substantial amount of notable people including Radha Mitchell (The Children Of Huang Shi), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Redbelt), Will Ferrell (Step Brothers), Jonny Lee Miller (Aeon Flux), Amanda Peet (The X-Files: I Want To Believe), Chloë Sevigny (Zodiac), Wallace Shawn (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl), Josh Brolin (American Gangster) and Steve Carrell (Get Smart) among others. Trailer and review after the jump. Continue reading →
Well regarded actor Josh Brolin (American Gangster) is in talks for the titular role in the forthcoming adaptation of Jonah Hex from Crank writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Based on the DC Comics property created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga, the film is a western focusing on an anti-hero type character.
Jonah Hex is set for 2010. Brolin previously played cowboy Jedidiah Smith in the mini-series Into The West (pictured above) and The Mist actor Thomas Jane has previously expressed interest in the role, going so far as to personally do costume/makeup tests for his own enjoyment. Who would you rather see in the role?
Following the incredible success of the three Jason Bourne movies, one would have thought that Hollywood would be quick to adapt every Robert Ludlum book in sight. It was surprisingly not the case however as the only thing we got is a TV-movie based on a novel bearing Ludlum’s name but not actually written by him.
Now celebrated Canadian director David Cronenberg (Eastern Promises) is in talks to helm The Matarese Circle, which was adapted by duo Michael Brandt & Derek Haas (Wanted) and will star Denzel Washington (American Gangster).
In the 1979 book, two rival intelligence agents, one American, one Soviet, find themselves working together to ferret out and vanquish members of a mysterious group of criminals called the Matarese that has infiltrated the highest levels of American government. Ludlum published a sequel to “Circle,” “The Matarese Countdown,” in 1997, but the studio did not acquire the rights to it.
Cronenberg would definitely be a very interesting choice, and this would mark his biggest film yet, but the real question is, why the hell did MGM not buy the sequel rights? Just imagine the mess if a rival studio decides to snatch them.
Peter Webber (Hannibal Rising) will direct The Spider’s House, a romantic drama following two ex-lovers who meet again in 1950s Morocco, on a backdrop of growing tensions between freedom fighters and French colonials. It is adapted by newcomer Laurie Cooke from a novel by Paul Bowles (The Sheltering Sky).
The 1987 classic supernatural thriller Angel Heart is getting the remake treatment. The original film was written and directed by Alan Parker (The Life Of David Gale), based on a book by William Hjortsberg (Legend), and stars Mickey Rourke (Stormbreaker), Robert De Niro (Righteous Kill) and Charlotte Rampling (The Duchess) among others. Watch the original’s trailer below.
Jack Black (Tropic Thunder) will star in an untitled spoof of the Bourne films, from the screenwriters of Kung Fu Panda, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Black will play an amnesiac who’s convinced he must be a spy…FYI, this movie was already made last year into the very unfunny Code Name: The Cleaner.
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War) will voice Max in Mary And Max, a claymation film about two penpals, an 8 year old Australian girl and a 44 year old Jewish New Yorker dude. In the meantime you’ll be able to catch him in the incredible looking films Synecdoche, New York (see the trailer) and Doubt (see the trailer).
British actor Michael Sheen (Blood Diamond) just signed onto two films: the new Alice In Wonderland movie from director Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street) and the terrorism-themed thriller Unthinkable from Australian director Gregor Jordan (Ned Kelly), also starring Samuel L. Jackson (Lakeview Terrace) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Disturbia).
Director Martin Scorsese (The Departed) is set to reunite with regular star Robert De Niro more than 13 years after the mob flick Casino. The new film will be based on the non-fiction book I Heard You Paint Houses from author Charles Brandt, as adapted by multi-award winning screenwriter Steven Zaillian (American Gangster).
We already knew that Rusell Crowe (American Gangster) will play the Sheriff of Nottingham aka Sir Robert Tornham in Nottingham, the new take on the Robin Hood tale courtesy of acclaimed director Ridley Scott (American Gangster), but it turns out he’ll play the prince of thieves as well! Why? Simply because in the script, the Sheriff and Robin Hood are actually one and the same.
Duo Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris (Kung Fu Panda) and Brian Helgeland (Man On Fire) wrote the screenplay of the film, which will also star the currently despised Sienna Miller (Stardust) as Maid Marian. No word on when the highly anticipated film will start filming, but it is set for release in November 2009.
The third trailer for director Oliver Stone’s (World Trade Center) presidential biopic W. has popped up and it looks to be a mash-up between the first and the second one. To me this looks like it could be a very entertaining, if incredibly biased, motion picture.
The film stars Josh Brolin (American Gangster) as George W. Bush, Elizabeth Banks (Meet Dave) as his wife Laura, Ellen Burstyn (The Fountain) as his mom Barbara, James Cromwell (Spider-Man 3) as his dad George H.W. and Jason Ritter (CBS’ The Class) as his younger brother Jeb.
Other cast members include Rob Corddry (Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay) as press secretary Ari Fleischer, Richard Dreyfuss (Poseidon) as Vice President Dick Cheney, Scott Glenn (Nights In Rodanthe) as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Toby Jones (St. Trinian’s) as Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, Thandie Newton (RocknRolla) as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Jeffrey Wright (The Invasion) as Secretary of State Colin Powell, Noah Wyle (NBC’s ER) as Secretary of Commerce Don Evans and Ioan Gruffudd (the Fantastic Four films) as British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Written by Stanley Weiser (Stone’s Wall Street), W. will premiere in the US on October 17th. Additionally, Oliver Stone has partenered with YouTube for a video-making contest. Go here for more info.
After debunked rumors casting Russell Crowe (American Gangster) in role, it seems Jude Law (Sleuth) will play Sherlock Holmes’ buddy Dr. Watson in the forthcoming film from Guy Ritchie (RocknRolla), starring Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder) in the titular role.
The movie is said to be a reinvention of Arthur Conan Doyle’s character and will start shooting next month in London for a 2010 release. It was co-written by Ritchie, Anthony Peckham (Don’t Say A Word), Simon Kinberg (Jumper) and newcomer Mike Johnson.
A days ago, rumors were going around that Australian actor Russell Crowe (American Gangster) was cast as super detective Sherlock Holmes’ assistant Dr. Watson in the forthcoming Holmes film from cult English director Guy Ritchie (Snatch.), but Ritchie quickly replied with:
“I don’t have a Watson, somebody just told me that I have Russell Crowe lined up but that’s news to me. I suspect that hasn’t happened and I’m still looking for my Watson.”
Notice how he doesn’t say Crowe won’t be part of the movie, just that he won’t be playing Watson. Indeed, the word on the street is that Crowe is in fact in the running to play Professor James Moriarty, Holmes’ arch-nemesis.
Sherlock Holmes is slated for 2010 and stars Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder) as the world’s most famous detective. Meanwhile, Guy Ritchie’s latest, RocknRolla, premiered a couple of days ago in the UK.
Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington (American Gangster) is hoping to emulate Will Smith’s I Am Legend, it seems. Indeed, the actor has signed on for the lead role in the forthcoming dystopian sci-fi flick The Book Of Eli from fraternal directing duo Albert and Allen Hughes (From Hell). The story you ask?
A lone hero fights his way across the wasteland of post-apocalyptic America. He’s the protector of a sacred book that may hold the key to saving humanity.
The film, which could easily surpass Smith’s lackluster effort, is scripted by newcomer Gary Whitta and Anthony Peckham (Don’t Say A Word). The film is still very much in the planning stages, so no release date is set.
The Movie Planet 
