Maya Entertainment Acquires "Sympathy For Delicious"

Maya Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to Sympathy for Delicious, the feature film directorial debut from Mark Ruffalo, to be released theatrically in Spring 2011.  The seven-figure deal positions the film as a key project in Maya’s first quarter 2011 theatrical release strategy.

Written by Christopher Thornton, who also stars in and produced the project, Sympathy for Delicious follows the true story of a newly paralyzed DJ who gets more than he bargained for when he seeks out the world of faith healing.  The film also stars Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, Orlando Bloom and Laura Linney and is based on Thornton’s real-life experiences. The film was produced by Corner Store Entertainment’s Scott Prisand, Matt Weaver and Andrea Sperling, with Mark Ruffalo and Christopher Thornton. The film was awarded a Special Jury Prize for Directing at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Maya also has made a deal with Tom Ortenberg’s One Way Out Media to come on board as a marketing consultant on the project.

“After its successful premiere at Sundance this year, we’re so excited to be releasing this powerful and moving film and working with Mark Ruffalo on his award-winning directorial debut,” said Tonantzin Esparza, Director of Acquisitions for Maya Entertainment. “It’s an honor to collaborate with Mark on a project that has been so important to him.”

Ruffalo added, “This film has been a very personal project for me, and I know Maya will be a wonderful partner to have in our corner.”

Ruffalo will next begin production on Marvel’s The Avengers, in which he plays “The Hulk.”  He joins Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johanssen and Jeremy Renner.

The deal for Sympathy for Delicious was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group co-head Rena Ronson on behalf of UTA client Mark Ruffalo and Wendy Rutland,  with Tonantzin Esparza on behalf of Maya Entertainment. 

Legendary Pictures Goes Comics

Legendary Pictures has appointed veteran comic book editor Bob Schreck to the role of Editor-in-Chief of the newly-formed Legendary Comics, it was announced by Thomas Tull, Legendary’s Chairman and CEO. Schreck joins Legendary Comics from IDW Publishing, and his appointment marks the launch of the new division dedicated to publishing original graphic novels.

Headed by Schreck, Legendary Comics plans to publish four to six graphic novels a year for both digital and traditional print distribution. The books will target Legendary’s well-established and powerful fandom demographic. Schreck begins at Legendary Comics the first week of November, and plans to release the inaugural project within the first half of 2011. He will be working closely with Kathy Vrabeck, President of Legendary Digital, and they will, as warranted, look to bring the newly-created comic-based IP produced by the venture to other entertainment platforms such as film and television.

“Bob is an iconic editor and one of most highly-regarded curators and editors of comic culture in our industry. He is the perfect leader with the right balance of passion and editorial skills to spearhead Legendary Comics,” said Tull. “Legendary Comics is committed to being a new home for groundbreaking artists and the characters and stories they create, in an art form we love.”

“Thomas and the Legendary team have a proven track record of cultivating talent and delivering unparalleled entertainment experiences, and I am looking forward to building Legendary Comics into a world-class label for the best writers and artists we know,” said Schreck.  “We have a real opportunity to deliver hard-hitting characters and exciting, innovative storylines to comic book aficionados.  We are in the fortunate position of already having major support from the community and collaborations lined up with world-class creators.”

Iconic comic creators Neil Gaiman, Max Brooks and Frank Miller are among those who are supportive of Legendary Comics.

Frank Miller stated, “Bob Schreck is a joy to work with. He's tough but affable, mindful of the publisher's needs but a happy warrior on the side of the artist. We've worked together to mutual satisfaction for years. Legendary has proven its 'fides all over the movie industry and I expect no less from its publishing arm. With Bob, they've made the perfect choice: the man's a talent magnet."

"To be attached to a creative engine of this magnitude is as thrilling as it is humbling," said Max Brooks.

Neil Gaiman added, "I'm thrilled that Legendary is going to be entering the world of comics. I've been amazed and delighted by their respect for creators in the movie arena, and it can only be good news for the whole world of pop culture that they are going to be encouraging creators to tell unique, smart stories while creating amazing comics for them."

Schreck comes to Legendary from IDW Publishing where he most recently served as Senior Editor. Prior to IDW Schreck spent nearly a decade working for DC comics where he started in 1990 after founding the famed Oni Press. He also worked at Dark Horse Comics, and is the recipient of numerous industry awards and acknowledgements.  

New "Tron: Legacy" Poster & Clip

It will do well, it won't do well. The general public will love it, they won't love it. Fanboys will geek over it, fanboys won't geek over it. These are the questions that are left unanswered until "Tron: Legacy" is released. All I know is that its going to be pleasing to our retinas.

Empire has the exclusive on a new poster and MSN has jumped in with a new clip. Check out the poster below.

First Photos From "The Help" Released

The first photos from a movie that I never heard about called "The Help" have been released courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures. Now I do know there was a best selling book called "The Help" so as I write this it's all coming together.

The book is about a group of African-American maids living in Jackson, Miss., during the 1960s at the height of the civil rights movement. Click the photo below to head to the Coming Soon gallery for the rest of the shots.

"Arthur Christmas" Voice Cast Revealed

James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen, have joined the voice cast of the 3D, CG-animated family comedy, Arthur Christmas. The film, produced by Aardman Animations for Sony Pictures Animation, is slated for release November 23, 2011.

Set on Christmas night, the story of Arthur Christmas at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic – a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.

McAvoy leads the cast as Arthur, the good-natured but clumsy younger son of Santa. Arthur LOVES everything to do with Christmas; indeed, he is the only one in his family still captivated by the magic of the holiday. Laurie will play Arthur's older brother Steve, heir to the reins, a cool, incredibly capable guy who has given the North Pole high-tech efficiency, military-style precision. Broadbent plays Santa, who pictures himself as the guy in charge at the North Pole, but is now more of a figurehead as the operation has outgrown him. Nighy plays Santa's 136-year-old father, Grandsanta, a cranky old codger who hates the modern world, is always grumbling that Christmas 'was better when I was Santa' and has a tense relationship with Steve, who he calls 'A postman with a spaceship.' Jensen will play Bryony, a lowly elf from the Giftwrap Battalion, with an eager-to-please attitude and an obsession with wrapping and bows. Imelda Staunton rounds out the cast as Mrs. Santa, dedicated wife and mother to her husband and sons.

The director of Arthur Christmas is Sarah Smith. The screenplay is by Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith. Barry Cook is Co-Director. Producer is Steve Pegram. Production Designer is Evgeni Tomov. Executive Producers are Carla Shelley, Peter Lord and David Sproxton. Michael Giacchino and Adam Cohen are the composers.

Commenting on the announcement, Smith said, "We are thrilled to have assembled such a phenomenal group of actors for 'Arthur Christmas.' Not only are they all terrifically funny, charming and characterful but they have also brought an emotional subtlety and depth that gives the film great heart."

"Resident Evil: Damnation" Trailer

G4's flagship show, Attack Of The Show, debuted the trailer for "Resident Evil: Damnation" trailer last night. The flick is the animated follow up to 2008's "Resident Evil: Degeneration" Enjoy the animated visceral experience below.

"Red State" Poster

I didn't even think this movie was still being made. I thought Kevin Smith might have went into hiding and would return to civilization with a rough cut of "Clerks 3" done using the families of Chilean miners.

Alas, that isn't the case. Instead "Red State" is coming out in 2011 which was written and is being directed by Smith. The flick features the acting chops of Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Stephen Root, Melissa Leo, Michael Parks, John Goodman and Ralph Garman and deals with outsiders who confront fundamentalism gone wrong in the heart of America.

First Look At "Tintin"

I have to say, when our very own Jamie Williams told me this morning that these photos were released, I went on a rant about how I don't care and nobody else should about this weirdo movie. It was epic.

Now upon seeing the stills and the Empire cover shot, I think it looks fantastic. Not sure how to explain such an up and down reaction to a film. Maybe a male case of MENopause?

Fuck what I say, here is what Peter Jackson had to say about the project:

“With live action you’re going to have actors pretending to be Captain Haddock and Tintin. You’d be casting people to look like them. It’s not really going to feel like the Tintin Hergé drew. It’s going to be somewhat different. With CGI we can bring Hergé’s world to life, keep the stylised caricatured faces, keep everything looking like Hergé’s artwork, but make it photo-real.”

Charlie Chaplin's Time Traveling Dude In Drag

I don't know where this story originated but it has been all over the inter-webs and the tube for a day or so. It's not that I am lazy to look it up, its just that I am not going to. Considering the theme of our site is based of the best time travel movie ever made, "Back To The Future" I thought it was fitting that we posted this.

A filmmaker by the name of George Clarke was watching footage from the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's "The Circus" when he noticed what he believes to be a man in drag talking on a cell phone. Typical day in the city you say? Not so much. Consider that the premiere of "The Circus" took place in 1928.

If you don't want to liste to George talking Jive for a couple minutes, scroll over to 2:38 of the footage and you will see what looks like a dude in drag talking on a cell phone. It is quite strange. Of course this is ludicrous for a number of reasons that I shouldn't even have to get into.

Viral marketing for the new "Back To The Future" DVDs? You be the judge.

Character Posters From "Little Fockers"

A birthday party for the twins gives Greg an opportunity to redeem himself after he takes a job that raises the suspicions of his overbearing father-in-law, Jack (Robert De Niro), in this installment of the hit comedy series. Greg (Ben Stiller) and Pam (Teri Polo) have been together for ten years, and now they're the proud parents of two adorable twins. But money is tight, and in order to keep his family afloat, devoted nurse Greg takes a second job working for a drug company. But that development doesn't sit well with Jack, whose previous suspicions regarding his hapless son-in-law soon come back in full force after learning of this development. With the twins' birthday fast approaching, the proud parents invite the entire clan over to celebrate in style, including Kevin (Owen Wilson), who still carries a torch for his pretty ex Pam. As the festivities get under way, Greg takes every opportunity available to prove to Jack that he's fully capable of providing for his family. Now Greg has one last chance to prove that he's trustworthy. Should he fail, the circle of trust will be broken for good.