Will Smith's "Pretty Much Decided" He's Not Going to Do 'Independence Day 2'

Despite many websites claiming Will Smith has 'officially' said NO to star in Independence Day 2, that is certainly not the case when reading the original report carefully.

Mike Fleming Jr. of Deadline - who has proven himself to be reliable when it comes to reporting exclusives - announced last night that Will Smith has informed 20th Century Fox that he won't be coming back for the sequel to the film that launched his movie career.  However, when reading Fleming's report in full, he clearly states that Smith has not had a final conversation with director Roland Emmerich as of yet and specifically writes:

I was told not to set this in stone, because Smith has been back and forth before on whether to make the movie, though I hear he is pretty much decided.

Now I'm not at all saying Fleming's report is BS (which I don't think it is), but I think it's important to note neither Fox, Smith, Emmerich, or any official statement has come out announcing the actor's decision not to return.  Until then, fans of the original should still keep some shred of optimism that Smith will have a final change of heart and star in the sequel.

Remember, it's not like Smith's movie career has been hot as of late.  After Earth completely tanked last summer and the audience's love for the actor has seemingly waned in recent years, mostly due to the fact of his over 3-year absence from film along with his nepotistic push to get his children into the movie business.

We'll keep you posted on this story as I'm sure an official announcement from the studio is around the corner on what direction their planned sequel will go.

Source:  Deadline

Anna Kendrick & Rebel Wilson Officially Returning for 'Pitch Perfect 2'

Back in the fall of 2012, Universal released Pitch Perfect in theaters.  It got solid reviews, and did under-the-radar business, hitting over $100 million worldwide on a $17 million budget.

Yet, with the power of the home video market and the popularity of 'acapella' groups right now, the film has become a massive cultural hit with demand for a sequel extremely high.

Just a few weeks back, it was announced that actress Elizabeth Banks would make her directorial debut and helm the follow-up (she produced the original along with taking a small acting role), and now word comes that the first film's stars Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson have officially signed on for the sequel.

Universal has set a prime May 15th, 2015 release date and knows that if they do this thing right, they have a sure-fire hit on their hands.

I've seen the original (after not thinking much of it from the previews) and was pleasantly surprised by how good the it was.  I'm not much for musicals or singing in movies but even I had to admit the whole thing was done brilliantly.

Expect more cast members from the first film to be announced soon with production starting later this year.

Universal has also released a promo image for the sequel which you can view below:

Matthew McConaughey to Headline Gus Van Sant's 'Sea of Trees'

Honestly, in the past three short years, has there been any other actor with the type of career turnaround as Matthew McConaughey?

Beginning back in 2011 with a supporting role in Richard Linklater's Bernie, and then continuing on with The Lincoln Lawyer, Killer Joe, The Paperboy, Mud, Magic Mike, The Wolf of Wall Street, and then of course, Dallas Buyers Club (which has earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, his first); McConaughey has transformed from 'the dude who always does romantic-comedies' to 'what a great frickin actor'.  (I should also mention HBO's currently airing True Detective as well which he's absolutely phenominal in).

Now that he's finished his work as the lead in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (I'm sure another massive hit on the way), McConaughey has boarded his next project; Gus Van Sant's Sea of Trees, joining another Christopher Nolan alum, Ken Watanabe.

The story 'follows an American man (McConaughey) who takes a journey into the infamous "Suicide Forest" at the foothills of Mount Fuji with the intention of taking his own life.  When he is interrupted by a Japanese man (Watanabe) who has had second thoughts about his own suicide, and is trying to find his way out of the forest, the two begin a journey of reflection and survival.'

The script is by Chris Sparling (Buried) which this past year's Black List (best uproduced scripts in Hollywood).

Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk) is gearing up to begin production shortly along with Gil Netter (Life of Pi) as producer.

And in case you were curious, McConaughey's chance at an Oscar his set for Sunday, March 2nd.

Source:  The Wrap

Miles Teller & Aaron Eckhart to Star in Boxing Drama 'Bleed for This'

It was announced today that Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now) and Aaron Eckhart (I, Frankenstein) will headline the boxing biopic, Bleed for This, the true story of boxer Vinny Pazienza.

The film will tell the story of Pazienza (Teller) who after shooting to stardom in becoming WBA World Jr Middleweight Champion, is involved in a near-fatal car accident and is told by doctors he would never fight again.  After months of recovery and against doctors wishes, Pazienza returned to the ring under the watchful eye of infamous trainer Kevin Rooney (Eckhart) just a year later.

Ben Younger (Boiler Room, Prime) will both write and direct the project with none other than Martin Scorsese executive producing.

Source:   Synchronicity Entertainment

Jake Gyllenhaal & Amy Adams to Star in 'Ezekiel Moss'

Back in 2011, Ezekiel Moss made Hollywood's annual Black List (the top ten unproduced scripts), a story set in a small dead end town run by religious fervor during the Prohibition Era, which follows a young boy named Joel and his widowed mother, Iris, who runs a boarding house to provide for the two  Their lives are changed forever when a mysterious drifter named Ezekiel Moss shows up with the ability to both channel and physically inhabit the spiritis of the dead.  Joel takes a liking to the stranger while Iris begins to fall in love with him.

The project was first announced back in 2012 with Philip Seymour Hoffman directing (2010's Jack Goes Boating his only other directorial credit), with word now coming over the weekend the Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams have signed on the star in the film.  Gyllenhaal will play the aforementioned Ezekiel Moss while Adams will portray the widowed mother, Iris.

Casting for the role of young Joel is still undergoing.

Gyllenhaal most recently appeared in last year's excellent Prisoners, while Adams is up for a Best Actress Oscar for her role in American Hustle.

The script was written by Keith Bunin whose only notable credit is writing back in 2009 for HBO's series, In Treatment.

No word yet on when the project will begin filming but expect more to be announced in the coming year.

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter

Update on Sun, February 2, 2014 by John DiNicola

BREAKING:  Philip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead at the age of 46.

This news came out at 12 p.m. ET today, mere hours after I posted this entry regarding Hoffman directing this project.

It is unknown what caused Hoffman's death but reports are circulating that it was due to a suspected overdose.  The actor had struggled with a heroin addiction.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Anthony and Joe Russo Returning to Co-Direct 'Captain America 3'

Though Captain America: The Winter Soldier doesn't open until April, it seems Marvel is so pleased with how the film turned out that they have entered early negotiations to bring back brothers, Anthony and Joe Russo, to co-direct Captain America 3.

Based off of strong impressions from the production along with positive test screenings, Marvel is moving quick to attach the directing duo to the next entry.

While the studio will wait for the film's box office numbers before formally moving ahead, it seems all but certain the Russo Bros. will be back in the directors' chairs for the third installment.  There are already steps being taken to outline the next film's story arc.

All the main actors involved have options for a third entry so expect them back too, especially if the film performs well.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, starring Chris Evans, opens April 4th.

Source:  Variety

Megan Ellison No Longer Co-Funding 'Terminator' Reboot

Not that this is considered major news, but it's a slow day so far and this was the most interesting bit I could find.

Megan Ellison (Annapurna Pictures) - whose produced some of the best films the past few years (Zero Dark Thirty, The Master, American Hustle, Her) - is no longer helping fund the upcoming Terminator reboot, due out next summer.

If you recall, it was Ellison who bought the rights to the franchise back in 2011 (with the intention of making a more worthwhile franchise entry than the past two installments) but given the fact she is busy handling more 'indie' work, she's decided to pull out from funding the new film which will now be split 60-40 between her brother, David's Skydance Productions, and Paramount Pictures, respectively.

This isn't necessarily bad news considering we still no little to nothing about the project besides the fact it will be a 'reboot' of the franchise, but Megan Ellison seemed to have the right mindset in wanting to bring the Terminator franchise back to its roots, stating it would be hard R-rated like the original two entries.

Whatever the case be, she'll still stay on the project as a executive producer with filming set to begin in April.

The new film - going by the current title Terminator: Genesis - will see the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his signature role, with Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) playing Sarah Connor alongside Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty) as John Connor.  Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World) is directing.  It opens July 1st, 2015.

Source:  Deadline

Garret Hedlund Lands Hook Role in 'Pan'

Garrett Hedlund's made some odd choices in Hollywood.

He turns down Captain America, wants nothing to do with the Terminator franchise, signs on for a Tron sequel which doesn't pan out, and now comes away with the lead role of Hook in a Peter Pan reboot.

To each his own I guess.

The actor has reportedly won the role of Hook (not Captain yet) in Joe Wright's new take on the J.M. Barrie classic, Pan, for Warner Bros.

The film will tell the story of an orphan brought to Neverland who goes on to become the savior of the natives and leads the fight against evil pirates, led by Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman was said to have that role locked in but Javier Bardem's name keeps getting mentioned as well).

Pan is due out July 17th, 2015 (where the Batman/Superman film was to open before it's move to 2016).

Source:  Deadline 

Quentin Tarantino Shelves 'The Hateful Eight' After Script Leaks Online

So it seems you can't trust anyone in Hollywood...ever.

Word came in last night that Quentin Tarantino has put what was to be his next film film - The Hateful Eight - on indefinite hold because someone in his inner-circle accidentally leaked the script online.

The project - which was described as a full-on Western - had just been put together into first draft form when Tarantino gave copies of the script to six people he trusted (a producer on Django Unchained, actors Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth, and two other individuals who are unknown at this point).

Tarantino suspects one of the actors may have given it to his agent who then talked it up with others, not realizing the whole thing was suppose to be a secret.

I actually suspect it most likely was Dern for a couple reasons: 1) He's never worked with Tarantino before and is unfamiliar with his process, and 2) The dude's an old-time actor.  I'm sure he's not necessarily 'in-touch' with out quickly and easily information can leak out in today's world.

Regardless, it seems Tarantino still has plans to bring the script to life, but in the form of a book.  He wants to start meeting with publishers in hopes of turning the project into a novel and then maybe, just maybe, revisit the idea of making it into a film years down the line.

For now though, the famed filmmaker has plans to move onto another project though it isn't confirmed what exactly that will be.

We'll keep you posted.

(Follow the link below to read quotes and comments Tarantino made regarding the entire mess of the situation.)

Source:  Deadline 

Final Trailer for '300: Rise of an Empire'

I have a feeling this is going to be one of those films that's going to do really good at the box office, but not as great had it come out about 4 years ago.

Way back in 2007, 300 was pretty damn popular.  I remember seeing it in theaters and everyone I knew talking about it.  Even up until 2010, I say the film was in it's peak in terms of popularity as most who hadn't seen it in theaters discovered it on the home video market.

But here we are though, SEVEN years after the original film hit and it's foolish to think it's sequel will be as big as its predecessor.

They waited too long, period, but the film still looks pretty damn good.

Check it out below:

Based on Frank Miller’s latest graphic novel Xerxes, and told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.

“300: Rise of an Empire” pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemesia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Warner Bros. Picture presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Cruel and Unusual Films/Mark Canton/Gianni Nunnari Production, “300: Rise of an Empire.” The action adventure stars Sullivan Stapleton (“Gangster Squad”) as Themistokles and Eva Green (“Dark Shadows,” “Casino Royale”) as Artemesia. Lena Headey reprises her starring role from “300″ as the Spartan Queen, Gorgo; Hans Matheson (“Clash of the Titans”) stars as Aeskylos; and Rodrigo Santoro stars again as the Persian King, Xerxes.

300: Rise of an Empire opens March 7th.