Well that was fast. In less than 48 hours, a (leaked) photo of the cast from the upcoming X-Men First Class was circulated around the Web, being met with negative outcry from most fanboys (who let’s face it, are rarely satisfied), 20th Century Fox has released an updated version of the pic as well as new production stills (see below) and Matthew Vaughn has (vocally) commenced damage control, in an attempt to calm the masses down.
Last year, Marvel announced its intention to make lower budget films out of its lesser-known properties. For instance, a script for a Dr. Strange film is already in the works. Now, Marvel has brought a writer in to tackle the comic world’s first legitimate Black superhero: Black Panther.
It looks like Sacha Baron Cohen will continue to be a presence in the world of mockumentary filmmaking with The Dictator. According to the press release, The Dictator is a comedy that “tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed” and pulls inspiration from Saddam Hussein’s novel Zabibah and The King.
Natalie Portman has long been a respected actress, but coming off a Golden Globe win and on the brink of a second career Oscar nomination, the 29-year-old has finally hit her stride and could quite possibly become one of the more in-demand actresses of the next decade.
Robert Downey Jr. is no longer set to star in Disney’s Oz, the Great and Powerful. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Downey was never officially set to star, but he had been circling the project. His replacement could be none other than Hollywood’s other busybody, Johnny Depp.
Sundance is coming on Friday! I know what you’re thinking, “I live in Atlanta, why should I give a shit?” Well, sir/madam, I’ll tell you why. Sundance isn’t just important for the people who are fortunate enough to attend (me, /gloating), but for all the movie enthusiasts in the world.
At first glance, 2010 seems to have been a profitable year in the movie business. According to Box Office Mojo, 2010 was the second highest-grossing year of all time, preceded by 2009 when Avatar captured our hearts and wallets. With $10.57 billion in ticket sales one could say Tinseltown made off pretty good. That would be incorrect. Actual attendance was 1.27 billion, the lowest attendance in 15 years.
