Back to the Future Gets A Video Game

Well, it might not be an exact replica of Wild Gunman in the Cafe 80s, but USA Today is reporting that Telltale Games is working on a Back to the Future video game. 

While those of us who still remember this original Nintendo masterpiece may be a little wary of another Back to the Future video game, this one is actually sounding like it has the potential to be pretty cool.  According to Telltale (who also has a Jurassic Park game in the works), the game will be told in five "episodes" written by Bob Gale, who wrote the original three films, and will feature key time periods and characters from the movies. 

What's even more exciting is that the game will feature the likenesses of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd - and Lloyd will also be providing the voice for Doc Brown.  Great Scott!

According to Wired, the game, which does not appear to have an official release date yet, will be released on "all major platforms," so I hope that includes the Wii, because that's the only one I have. 

Telltale Games will be kicking off their Back to the Future game hype in full force at the Penny Arcade Expo in the Seattle this weekend (which according to their website, is already sold out), where they will have a replica of the time-travelling DeLorean.  Pretty cool!

So THAT's How David Tennant Looks in Fright Night Remake!

Well, there goes my concern. My number one issue with remaking Fright Night has always been how one would update the Peter Vincent character. We already heard he would go from a horror-movie icon-turned-late night movie-host to a Criss Angel-type performer.

Shock Till You Drop has the "First look" at actor David Tennant (aka Doctor Who to many of you good readers) in character and, damn, is he unrecognizable.

Empire's Deathly Hallows Preview

It's now Empire's turn for some Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows awesomeness.  The October issue, which hits newsstands this week, features a preview of Part 1 of the Potter finale, including interviews with the cast from the set at Leavesden Studios, which they tease us with in this quick preview:

"The boy wizard is headed towards a final confrontation with He Who Must Not Be Named as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, nears release. We talked to the central three castmembers - Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson - to profile how they're dealing with the end of an era, and a shoot that's lasted well over a year. But there's also news on what you can expect from the King's Cross scene, how much damage Hogwarts will sustain and why it's the emotional stuff that's really going to get you this time."

The preview also included two new photos from the film, including our first good look at Bill Nighy as Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour as he hands over the items from Dumbledore's will to the trio, as well as a shot of bloody Remus Lupin interrogating Harry at the Burrow just after the Seven Potters sequence. 

This movie just keeps looking better and better.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 arrives in theaters on November 19th.

Paula Patton Takes New Mission

The casting on the new as yet titled Mission Impossible movie picked up the pace last week with "Hurt Locker" star Jeremy Renner signing on for the co male lead, no Toldya! is reporting that Paula Patton of "Deja Vu" and "Precious" fame has inked a deal to join the team, she will apparently play a young female operative who works with Cruise's Ethan Hunt.

Production will begin this fall with Brad Bird in the directors chair and a $150M budget to bankroll the no doubt elaborate action sequences.

Personally I can't wait for this, I'm a big fan of the franchise and thought M:i-III was actually the best in the series so far, now with Bird on board, JJ back in the producers seat and Cruise being joined by quality co stars and the promise of a fresh take on the espionage genre I am even more interested.

Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity Struggling to Cast Lead

How many actors can genuinely open a movie based on the power of their headlining? Very few. Now of those thespians, how many are women? That’s the problem currently facing Warner Brothers.

"TOLDJA" says trouble is afoot on Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron's latest. The science fiction project centers on a woman in space and her race to return to Earth and her daughter. Simple enough description, but the production is quite ambitious (to be filmed in 3D, a combination of live-action and heavy motion-capture work and a large portion of the film dictated solely to our protagonist a la Tom Hanks in Cast Away).

The problem is such a production will be timely and, more importantly, expensive and Warner Brothers wants someone who can firmly secure asses in seats to justify making this flick. Angelina Jolie (who was originally offered the project) has now twice rejected the opportunity to star and the studio is reportedly struggling to find a suitable candidate in her place.

Even with Robert Downey Jr. co-starring (although it's a supporting role and he’ll be in and out between filming the Sherlock Holmes sequel for WB) this puts Gravity in serious doubt. Knock on wood, the studio and Cuaron will find their lead. But it ain't looking so good, and I was really looking forward to this one. Dammit!

Dennis Miller Books HBO Special

Emmy Award-winning comedian Dennis Miller returns to HBO for his first HBO special in four years when DENNIS MILLER:  THE BIG SPEECH debuts this November.  His eighth stand-up special on the network will debut Nov. 19.

Miller was a fixture on HBO for nine years with his talk and comedy series “Dennis Miller Live,” which ended in 2002 after 215 editions.  The show received five Emmys, and was the first HBO series to win an Emmy in any series category, winning in 1996 for Variety, Music or Comedy Series.

An alumnus of “Saturday Night Live,” Miller starred in seven previous HBO  specials, beginning with 1988’s “Mr. Miller Goes to Washington,” and most recently, 2006’s “Dennis Miller: All In.”  He also made six appearances on HBO’s “Comic Relief” all-star benefits. DENNIS MILLER:  THE BIG SPEECH is a Happy Family production; executive producers, Dennis Miller, Kevin C. Slattery and Marc Gurvitz; directed by Jim Yukich; written by Dennis Miller.

New Sucker Punch Image

A new image has been released from Sucker Punch courtesy of Cruel Films. It got the same reaction outta me like the trailer did: Eh, I don't know, fellas.

Sorry, but the movie looks like ideas pieced together from a first-time filmmaker (in this case, a hyper-active fourteen year-old boy) and his definitions of what's cool. Hot girls not wearing much, samurai swords, robots, dragons and Jon Hamm.

I guess if this clicks, it'll be viewed as the "comeback film" of Zack Snyder after the commercial (but absolutely by no means creative) failure of Watchmen back in March 2009. I know the footage presented at Comic-Con went over great. But don't for a second, think the tastes of a bunch of nerds/geeks/fanboys reflect that of the general public. Did you learn nothing from Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim?!

Gordon-Levitt & Johansson 'Loosely' Attached To Cody's Zombie Flick

I never understood the hype about Diablo Cody.  I saw Juno, and it was a cute film, but I didn't see what the big deal was about it.  Definitely wasn't Oscar worthy in my opinion.  Neither was Jennifer's Body, but we won't go there.  Anyway, seems Cody is back but producing this time around, as Pajiba reports she is adapting S.G. Browne's Breathers: A Zombie Lament, with Geoff Latulippe scripting.

The film, said to be a romantic-comedy/horror (obviously, there are zombies), revolves around a dead man named Andy who is re-animated as a middle-aged, decaying zombie who finds himself on a journey to figure out what it means to live un-dead in a society that denies rights for those of his kind.

The immensely talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt is loosely attached to play the role of Andy along with every man's favorite blonde, Scarlett Johansson, up for an unspecified role, probably a love interest.

George Clooney heading 'Farragut North'

Hollywood "golden man" George Clooney, currently being seen in the positively reviewed, The American, is getting back into the director's chair for an adaption of the off-Broadway play, Farragut North, Vulture is reporting.  The political-drama, set to start filming early next year, is a passion project Clooney has been trying to get made for three years now and seems to have finally gotten the green light.

The film will be set weeks before the 2004 Democratic caucuses and center around a young, presidential campaign worker, Stephen Myers, and his exploits/dirty tricks to get his candidate nominated over a rival senator.

An offer is out to Chris Pine to play the role of Myers (he played the role in a L.A. stage production last year), while Philip Seymour Hoffman is set to play Myers' hard-ass boss, Paul Zara (a role orginally meant for Brad Pitt), and Paul Giamatti will play the campaign manager of the rival senator candidate.

Offers are also out to Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood for parts in the film.

Clooney is said to be taking on the minor role of the candidate Myers is working for.  The character never appears in the stage production and reportedly barely appears in the script.

Click the link above for more on this story.   

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse To Premiere In NY & LA

Warner Home Video, UGO.com and The Paley Center for Media proudly present the bi-coastal World Premieres of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the highly anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies, in Los Angeles on September 21 and New York on September 23. Filmmakers and members of the voice cast will attend both events for red carpet media interviews and post-screening panel discussions.

On Tuesday, September 21, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will screen at the Paley Center in Los Angeles (465 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills) with media interviews starting at 5:30 p.m. and screening commencing at 7:00 p.m. A panel discussion moderated by UGO movie editors will follow the screening featuring executive producer Bruce Timm, director Lauren Montgomery, writer Tab Murphy and dialogue/casting director Andrea Romano. Additional participants, including voice cast members, will be announced as confirmed.

On Thursday, September 23, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will screen at the Paley Center in New York City (25 West 52nd Street) with media interviews starting at 5:00 p.m. and screening commencing at 6:30 p.m.  Following the screening, Kevin Conroy, the fan-favorite voice of Batman, and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano will lead a panel discussion moderated by UGO movie editors. Additional participants, including voice cast members, will be announced as confirmed.

A limited number of free tickets are available for the general public. Fans wishing to receive free tickets to the Los Angeles event on Sept. 21 must RSVP via email to SupermanBatmanLA@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Fans in New York City wishing to receive free tickets to the NY event on Sept. 23 must RSVP via email to SupermanBatmanNY@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tickets to both events will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel “Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist).

In Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, a spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor -- leading Batman and Superman to encounter a mysterious Kryptonian with powers as great as those of the Man of Steel. The Kryptonian is soon revealed to be Kara, cousin of Superman, who takes her under his wing to educate her about the ways of Earth. However, the villainous Darkseid has other plans. Seeing an opportunity to finally defeat Superman, Darkseid abducts and gains control of Kara, utilizing the powerful Kryptonian to do his bidding. It’s up to Batman and Superman to save Kara, but they’ll have to take the fight to Darkseid within his hostile world – where unknown, deadly threats lurk around every corner, including a brainwashed Kryptonian able to match Superman blow-for-blow.

Fan favorites Tim Daly (Private Practice) and Kevin Conroy (China Beach) return to their seminal roles as Superman and Batman, respectively. The celebrity-laden guest cast is headed by Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid. Sci-Fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) provides the voice of Supergirl, and seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) reprises his Superman: The Animated Series/Justice League role as Granny Goodness.

Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will be distributed by Warner Home Video on September 28, 2010.