I love me a high concept action thriller (More on that later) and from the sounds of this article from Comingsoon.Net there is an absolute doozy in the works.
Mandeville Films will begin work on adapting Top Cow's upcoming comic book series, Crosshair into a feature film, the studio announced today.
The series, created by Marc Silvestri, written by Jeff Katz and illustrated by Silverstri and Allan Jefferson "follows a former CIA assassin turned suburban superdad who faces his most dangerous enemy ever - himself. Justin Weller learns that he has 48 hours until a suppressed program in his brain will turn him into an unstoppable killing machine aimed at the President of the United States. Weller races against the clock to uncover and reverse the source of his trigger."
The first issue of Crosshair is scheduled for release this October.
That has to be one of the best hich concept ideas I have read in ages, the hero having to actually stop himself from killing the President, not to mention the hinted at family aspect to it, hopefully some power players get involved so this sees the light of day with a good director and budget.
UPDATE: As promised, Yahoo! Movies now has the Yogi Bear trailer up. Follow the hyperlink or check out the video below. If you're under eight years-old, you'll eat this up. But everyone else out there better resign themselves to the fact said kid(s) will drag your ass to see this.
Alas for the all the great things they're doing, Warner Brothers didn't take my Yogi Bear pitch to heart. *Sigh*
To be honest, we can't even laugh anymore after two Alvin & the Chipmunk movies earned $200 million each. Cut to rival studios search for cartoons from our childhood they can "shepherd" into a live-action franchise. Sony has The Smurfs for next summer, Fox, of course, has a third Alvin movie next Christmas and WB is doing a film based on that picnic-basket obsessed, clip-on tie wearing bear.
Yahoo! Movies has a "First Look" at the teaser poster, and we should be getting the trailer later today. You've been warned.
In this week’s edition of The Anderson Chronicles I delve into the behind the scenes happenings on a potential Justice League film receiving theatrical distribution. The Idea of a DC hero’s team up film has long been discussed by Warner Bros studio execs and fans alike. The project at some point is inevitable to happen, but in what capacity, under what direction and when is still up the air.
Two years ago the project almost came to fruition under the name of Justice League: Mortal and the direction of George Miller. The proposed cast was already in place and production was set to start in Australia. The project right off the bat was plagued with delays, and ultimately was cancelled indefinitely. Rumours swirled around that director Christopher Nolan had threatened to walk away from his already successful and rebooted Batman franchise, if production on a potentially contradicting Justice League film continued. The contradiction being that Batman would also be portrayed in the Justice League franchise by Armie Hammer concurrently with Bales Batman in The Dark Knight and the currently untitled Batman 3. There’s nothing proving the validity of this rumour aside form off hand comments made by both Nolan and Bale, but I think it was obvious Warner Bros knew where the better investment was.
If the project were to come back into the light of day what could we expect? According to a report from Inland Empire Strikes Back the plan was to bring all of the current as well as in development franchises together for one large scale DC Universe on film. Similar to what Marvel studios have done leading up to their currently planned Avengers film in 2012. According to the report there is an actual chronology in place between the current franchises.
Batman Begins is being specifically referred to as "Action Comics #1." Translation: Nolan's Batman is the first (and only) superhero around. During Batman Begins that is. As well as The Dark Knight that is going by "Action Comics #2."
What would be the third "issue," you ask? Martin Campbell's Green Lantern. In fact, there are still on-going talks to make references to Gotham City if not Batman himself. And although Superman himself isn't around just yet in this time-line, Clark Kent does exist in Smallville - the fictional town in Kansas, not the television series. You just know somebody is going make that assumption. At the moment, that's where the "comic series" stops.
I personally have a hard time believing the report, but that doesn’t necessarily take away from its legitimacy now does it. The only real problem being that according to this report it would mean contrary to popular belief Nolan is not in fact against a Justice League film. Contradicting previous statements made by Nolan in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.
"A lot of people have approached Superman in a lot of different ways. I only know the way that has worked for us that’s what I know how to do,” Nolan said, emphasizing the idea that Batman exists in a world where he is the only superhero and a similar approach to the Man of Steel would assure the integrity needed for the film. “Each serves to the internal logic of the story. They have nothing to do with each other."
Nolan aside, the franchise will eventually move forward regardless of certain fans gripes with it or continuity issues amongst the franchises. The most likely option and at least the most viable would be for the production to take place after the success of several separate DC franchises. Meaning the current films don’t have to conclude with all of the current franchises culminating up to one big film. It merely establishes each of the characters involved with general audiences there for creating a built in fan base for a potentially profitable Team up film in the future. I think that including the continuities set in place from the current franchises could serve as a mistake. The point being that current intent by the creative teams already in place is for their individual work to stand on its own and not be a part of a team film. This however does not mean that Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and/or all of the above should not at all be included in a potential Justice League film, as they would likely be the selling point of the feature. Those characters as portrayed in the justice league film can stand on their own also likely with a new cast in place, after allowing the Green Lantern, Superman, and Batman franchises currently in place to have concluded.
The best possible approach to take towards a Justice League film is motion capture. Not just to separate the franchise from the co-existing films set in place, but it also allows the film makers a much larger creative freedom with not only the casting but the effects and presentation as well. With a motion capture film you could cast someone like animated fan favourite Kevin Conroy as batman yet still have the character presented as a large menacing figure. The same can be said for the iconic character Superman, the issue of casting someone who looks enough like the comic book adaption is no longer an issue. The proposed Justice League film even in question at this point by Warner Bros is still likely close to at least 10 years away. Essentially creating a larger window of opportunity for further advancement in motion capture technology. Which could allow the characters to seem more photo realistic then they already do. Meaning we would be able enjoy a full length theatrically released Justice League film and regardless of the casting it’ll look more like a comic come to life than any other live action adaption ever has, and the level of confusion with the live action adaptions can remain minimal.
Just this past weekend at Comic Con in San Diego Sony released the first trailer for their new online game DC Universe Online. The trailer serves as a great representation as to what a motion capture Justice League film might look like. The result being all kinds of awesome!
If you thought the filmmakers behind Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides would radically alter Penelope Cruz's (rather nice) appearance, you're mistaken.
Radar Online has the "First Look" at the Oscar-winner on set as well as co-stars Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally and Johnny Depp.
While we're at it, let's get some snap-shots of Ian McShane as Blackbeard online! Pronto!
Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes have eaten up an extraterrestrial-related project according to Heat Vision.
All that's been discussed aloud of the just bought pitch is its working title Confidential Alien Project. It comes courtesy of rookie writer Bobby Glickert and is set up with Paramount. The studio is quickly searching for screenwriters to elaborate further from Glickert's presentation – in this case, an outline and teaser he made.
Honestly, there's nothing else to add. This just gave me an excuse to post an alien-probe cartoon.
That first Sex & the City movie was money in the bank the moment Warner Brothers announced it for May 2008.
The large fan-base was dying to see Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda return since the HBO series called it a day in 2004. Plus there was the "drag your boyfriend/husband" factor. Thus it smacked down $420 million. No brainer when WB executives greenlit a sequel for 2010.
Tiny little problem though arose. Most of those same fans absolutely hated that movie. Gone was the charm of seeing those characters on the silver screen the second time around. Only the loyalist of the loyal would see Sex & the City 2 and, not surprisingly, it seriously under-performed. It earned about half of what the freshman movie did. Not to mention, it didn't even break the $100 million mark stateside. Ouch.
So if you're genuinely surprised to hear this, you shouldn't. Kristen Davis all but confirmed the franchise is DOA to E! Online:
"I don't think so, not that I know of. I wish it was so that we were continuing but I don't know."
She tries to sound optimistic of their chances. To be fair if she and her co-stars would take a pay-cut, then yes a third movie would happen in my never-so-humble opinion. But I can't imagine them (or most actors for that matter) willing to waver such a high price-tag.
If NBC was wise, they'd take a cue from Steve Carell's forthcoming exit and wrap The Office up this year. Since that network is still in the shitter and there's no indication their overhauled schedule of new programming will work out, that's a pipe-dream. Fuck me for wanting a great show (that's been showing its age this past season) to end on a creative high-note with its original cast intact.
Don't weep for Steve though, folks. 2010 has already been kind to him with the successes of Date Night and Despicable Me. True, Dinner for Schmucks opens this Friday and it looks like that will most likely kill an otherwise bomb-free year. But that won’t be a hindrance. Hell, he survived Evan Almighty after all.
Risky Business says the comedian is attached to the just-purchased pitch Raised by Wolfs from writer Les Firestein. DreamWorks will spear-head the comedy – the details of which are being kept under-wraps at the moment. Additional information like director, co-stars and a start-date are also too early to determine.
It looks like someone from Twilight scored an X-Men: First Class role. Unfortunately for Fox, it isn't Taylor Lautner.
Matthew Vaughn & Co. will just have to settle with Edi Cathegi, according to "TOLDJA!"
The actor (who played one of the baddie blood-suckers in the first two Twilights) has been cast as Darwin, who's notable for being the first bi-racial mutant introduced in the comics. His muttie ability involves the "power of 'reactive evolution.'" My first thought was he was introduced during the Chris Claremont years. A quick Wikipedia search tells your never-so-humble correspondent it was only four years ago.
Production should be starting anytime now in London. Fox has the Bryan Singer-produced prequel locked in for June 3, 2011 release.
This Means War just lost and gained its remaining uncast leading role – all in one article!
Vulture reports Sam Worthington (who’d been offered the chance to co-star in the McG-directed action/comedy next to Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon) said "Thanks, but no thanks." The Aussie actor is already booked as is with Avatar and Clash of the Titans sequel in the near-future. Plus, it just doesn't that good. Something collecting dust since the late 90s can’t be the best project, can it?
In his place, the studio has closed a deal with Tom Hardy or as many of you know him as Eames, the "cool guy" from Inception. He'll be better known by audiences as the new Mad Max once the first of the planned two-new films hits in 2012. Great character character-actor, of course, but can he do comedy?
The film sees two spies/roommates/BFFs (Pine and Hardy) waging war against one another over the affections of their new tenant (Witherspoon).
Considering that Pine is also booked (He’ll film the Star Trek sequel next summer and last we heard on the Jack Ryan reboot Moscow, production might commence this Spring), I'm assuming production should be starting up in the next couple of months.
Some are reacting to this in a "What the fuck?" fashion. Let us remind everyone, we've got Peter Berg adapting Battleship, the Hasbro board-game into a $200 million summer tentpole and injecting aliens into the mix. When one reflects on that, this is arguably the least-crazy decision made so far.
The trades report R&B recording artist Rihanna will make her acting debut in the feature. No word on who she's playing – a fellow Naval officer along with co-stars Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard and Tom Arnold or maybe one of the aliens.
Honestly don't have a gage on Rihanna, her potential acting abilities (or lack thereof) and her music. I approach her in this flick the same as I would an unknown.
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Wed, July 28, 2010 
Mandeville Films will begin work on adapting Top Cow's upcoming comic book series, Crosshair into a feature film, the studio announced today.
