Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger wrote the 2008 hit Kung Fu Panda. Unlike many of the animated features from DreamWorks, this one has real heart, laughs and action. Their current project is a script for an upcoming film based on Candyland – yes, the board game with Lord Licorice and Chocolate Mountains.
Paramount has been building the anticipation for its upcoming film Super 8, directed by favorite son J.J. Abrams, who also helmed Mission Impossile III and the Star Trek reboot for the studio. With the release date of Super 8 drawing near, all eyes are turning towards Paramount’s future and largely quiet tentpole for Summer 2012: a Star Trek sequel.
It may be time for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise to walk the plank after all. The newest edition of Jack Sparrow’s endless international and supernatural shenanigans lost steam this time around. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides made $90.1 million opening weekend, but $24 million less than the last sequel. Despite this, an overseas tally of $256 million is a record, and may push the diminishing domestic franchise toward a fifth installment.
Don’t lie to yourself. You absolutely want to know how they are going to swing Bane (Tom Hardy) in a Nolan Batman film. Well, now we’re starting to get an idea what Nolan has in store. After a recent viral ploy in which fans built a mosaic of their own Twitter pictures (much like the reveal of Heath Ledger’s Joker), Warner Bros. has now officially released the first image of Hardy as Bane.
Deadline has learned that the move stems from the confidence that Paramount has in its summer tentpole due to early buzz indicating the film is much better than the last and the 3-D effects work is impressive. The move is a common one for Fourth of July weekend films.
Ears perk up with the announcement of any Burton project, especially a collaboration with Johnny Depp. So all eyes now turned to his upcoming film adaptation of the cult ’70s show Dark Shadows. Warner Bros. has announced that filming will begin this week and provided the following plot synopsis:
Comedian Will Ferrell and rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg took the action/comedy hybrid The Other Guys
to an impressive $120 million in the States and a worldwide total of
$170 million, so it’s no surprise that the duo wants to work together
again.
Both Ferrell and Wahlberg are officially on board for the Warner Bros. sports comedy Turkey Bowl.
They will portray members of rivaling football teams who play a game of
football once every year to secure rights for bragging and talking
trash about each other. Deadline Hollywood relays that Alec
Baldwin will step in as the father of Wahlberg; we can expect numerous
cameos, just like another Ferrell feature, the cult comedy classic Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. No director is attached just yet
Johnny Depp secured the role of Tonto in Disney’s “Lone Ranger” re-telling long ago. In fact, it was about three years ago that it happened, but it was a matter of finding someone to play the title character in the feature that posed a problem. Well, a breakout star has effectively solved that problem, as Armie Hammer will play the Lone Ranger in this feature opposite Depp. We knew that he was in negotiations and that it was likely to happen, but Variety reports that he’s closing a deal with the Mouse House, so it’s official.
With Sam Raimi set to direct Oz: The Great and Powerful, the only big dilemma was who’d play the good witch Glinda. Well, it seems that Michelle Williams has been offered that particular role.
It was earlier reported that Disney wanted to go with Williams for the role of Glinda, while Raimi vied for Hilary Swank to play the Good Witch of the North. Variety reports that “Oz” aims to begin shooting in July.
It
is a strange week of DVD and Blu-ray releases because plenty were
released, but none are truly remarkable. The best choices that the
Player Affinity staff can recommend are The Hustler and Beverly Hills Cop.
Italian cinema is very well represented but France and Japan also have
offerings this week. If you are looking for something new then your best
bet is either The Mechanic or Thor: Tales of Asgard.
