Movie Moan - Still Not the Avatar Show

As the title of this week’s Movie Moan explains, next week will be "the game-changer." That is to say we will have seen Avatar and most likely spend the entire show talking about it. There might even be some nerdgasming in between. But you’re used to it after this past week’s reviews.

Phil, Ed, Lou and Jamie instead talk about that other non-Avatar bullshit from this past week. It wouldn’t be a week of movie-news without more Spider-Man 4 casting rumors. McG swears on the soul of his grandmother that he’s directing a Terminator: Salvation sequel. Possibly in some alternate reality, we don’t know. Updates on Ghostbusters 3 and Men In Black 3 are discussed. The gang briefly touches on the newly in development James Cameron produced Fantastic Voyage remake. In 3-D!

All of that plus the guys talk about their love over One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Peter Jackson losing it, and, of course, Siskel & Ebert.

Movie Moan - Still Not the Avatar Show

Sigourney Weaver "Spoils" Ghostbusters 3

When its a slow day, you'll see a barrage of news-items used as filler. You know until the real shit gets here. We're talking non-news tidbits and what not.

Latest example comes from a Channel 4 chat with Sigourney Weaver. With Avatar opening next weekend, you'll be seeing tons of interviews with her and it was inevitable that someone would bring up Ghostbusters 3. If you think Alien 5 won't be addressed give it time, boys and girls.

As Weaver revealed to the UK news-outlet:

"I’m afraid to say it [Ghostbusters 3] is happening, I hope people are excited about that. I don’t know if I’m going to be in it, I have had a couple of calls asking 'would you read the script.'

I know that my little son Oscar – who was kidnapped from me – I think he has grown up to be a ghostbuster.

I might be in it; I see nothing wrong with being in it, although I don’t think I will have a big part. I think Bill Murray has a little more to do with it - he’s a ghost."

Now the notion of a grown-up Oscar joining the team has been theorized in the past, but never confirmed or denied. It was just fan speculation. But the latter about Peter Venkman being a ghost? That has been out in the open for.ever! I remember interviews with Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis where they said that having him "cross the streams" was a way to get Murray interested.

We've heard all of this before. Nothing to see here, folks.

Mystery Cameron/Salerno Project Is Fantastic Voyage Remake

The jury is still out on Avatar until it opens next weekend. Well if you don't count embargo-breaking British websites or nerdgasming Twitter remarks proclaiming its awesomeness. I fully acknowledge the movie could be great. People forget how good a story-teller James Cameron is. But I'm trying to keep it real here, folks.

While we're on the subject of its writer/producer/director, you remember that Production Weekly posting from earlier this week? That was the one about Cameron working on a "sci-fi action" film with screenwriter Shane Salerno.

MTV has the word straight from Cameron himself (along with producer Jon Landau) that the phantom project is a remake of Fantastic Voyage. Now don't start freaking out. This is not going to be Cameron's post Avatar endeavor - directorially speaking at least. The filmmaker will merely serve as a producer - most likely with Landau at his side. And yes, the plan is make this for 3-D.

Correct me if I'm wrong. But I could have sworn I heard that Roland Emmerich was going to remake Voyage back in the late 90s. Could be mistaken on that one.

Jonah Hex Headed For Reshoots

A big studio movie gearing up for reshoots isn’t an uncommon practice. Contrary to popular belief, that doesn’t always mean the film sucks and needs a massive overhaul of reworking. On the other hand if the additional scenes are under the direction of another filmmaker (i.e. not the guy with the term “Director” labeled next to his job description for said production), something is a foot.

Jonah Hex is headed for a couple of weeks of reshoots according to Bloody-Disgusting at the start of next year. Although Jay Hayward is returning in the director’s chair, their sources say that Warner Brother alum Francis Lawrence (who helmed Constantine and I Am Legend for the studio) has been brought on board as a “consultant” on the reshoots.

 If you’ll remember, James McTeigue directed reshoots on WBs The Invasion a few years back. Remember all those reports of Nicole Kidman getting injured in the middle of filming? He was the director in charge with original helmer Oliver Hirschbiegel nowhere to be seen.

What that means is the studio went to a skilled yet controllable director who would follow their orders for the second go-around. To be fair, Hayward is actually involved in the reshoots. But bringing someone like Lawrence for additional filming to look over Hayward’s shoulder speaks for itself. Doesn’t help matters that Hex is opening the same day as Toy Story 3 and the Footloose remake. As our very own Peter Georgiou noted, WB’s summer 2010 line-up looks weak as shit.

Not anticipating much from Jonah Hex to be honest.

Tron: Legacy Poster

Our pals over at Hey U Guys! have nabbed the first official image and poster for Tron: Legacy. That footage you've seen online was a test produced restrictly to win over Disney. Needless to say, it was awesome and the Mouse was convinced. So here we are talking about a high-profile sequel to a nearly 30 year old cult film that bombed theatrically.

Personally, I think this will be the actual "game-changer" to get the masses to 3-D movies. That's right. I went there. Below is the poster. Click on the link to get your First Look at leads Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde. No signs of The Dude formerly known as Jeff Bridges. Yet.

What's Next for James Cameron?

There have been plenty of projects rumored on James Cameron’s post Avatar docket. His name has been linked to the long-rumored Battle Angel, the J. Michael Straczynski written Fantastic Planet remake, a True Lies follow-up (according to the oh-so-reliable word of Tom Arnold) and, of course, an Avatar sequel. Whether or not he takes another 10+ years off is the question.

Production Weekly (via their Twitter account) reports the filmmaker is developing a new “sci-fi action” screenplay at Fox. The hope is for it to be another hyped up “Event” movie. Shane Salerno (responsible for, of all things, Aliens vs Predator: Requiem) is working on the script. Just what this mystery movie is and Cameron’s participation being as director or producer remains to be seen.

Salerno is working on a number of screenplays with Fox at the moment. Some have suggested it could be Doomsday Protocol – a script being described as “Seven Samurai with aliens.” On the other hand, this could be something else entirely under everyone’s radar. Knowing Cameron’s prone for secrecy, I’d personally lean in that direction.

A lot of this is frankly a moot point until after Avatar opens. If it tanks or seriously under-performs, I can’t imagine Fox willing to hand Cameron another blank check and bank strictly on his name-value and past filmography.

Josh Brolin Joining Men In Black 3?

I figured Men In Black 3 wouldn't move past the script phase. The disappointing 2002 sequel took years to get under way because of money disputes. Getting Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and director Barry Sonnenfeld back before you even write the first word of your screenplay doesn't exactly scream cheap. Nevertheless, it appears Sony has every intention of getting a third installment out there.

Hero Complex reports that mega-star Will Smith is now expected to return as Agent J as well as Sonnenfeld in the director's chair. Although the participation of Jones remains a question-mark, the filmmakers are apparently already eyeing other actors. The genre-oriented section of the LA Times says that Josh Brolin is being courted for a role in the forthcoming threequel. Whether his character would be a replacement for Jones' Agent K, the villain (seems to be playing that role a lot lately) or a character in between remains to be seen.

Eh, is this really something the masses are still clamoring for? Hasn't it run its course? I just don't know if there is honestly anything left to do with the Men In Black franchise after two movies and an animated series.

Final Avatar Poster

Strange feeling has overcome me. After hearing vague remarks of it here and there since the mid-1990s, Avatar will finally be released in theaters next Friday. Will the minds (and eyeballs) of fanboys and general public alike explode? Will it best every box-office record humanly possible? Will its sheer awesomeness bring an end to war and world hunger? All signs point to a disappointing, "No."

Nonetheless, IMP Awards got their hands on the final theatrical poster for James Cameron's over-hyped (and over-pricey) sci-fi action epic. Looks quite meh to be honest. If I was Joe Doe Movie-Goer and didn't know anything about this film (frankly, most people know it as "the blue people movie that looks kinda dumb"), I'd guesstimate this was about a man and his love for his blue cat. Not intentionally trying to fuck this movie over - just telling you how this looks from that perspective.

Like I said, it's all next weekend, ladies and germs.

The Penguins Strike Back

Ironic. George Miller agreed to direct Justice League: Mortal for Warner Brothers if they bankrolled Mad Max 4: Fury Road. In addition, he and the studio had already agreed to make the Happy Feet sequel. Cut to almost three years later, Justice League became mortal (aka it died), Fury Road is being produced under independent investors with WB distributing and Happy Feet 2 is moving forward.

Say what you will about the first two discussed films, but another dancing penguin movie was guaranteed. Back in November 2006, it held its own against the mega-hit Bond reboot Casino Royale earning just under $200 million stateside and nabbed the “Best Animated Film” Oscar that year. Yes, George Miller is an Academy-Award winning filmmaker. Toddlers across the U.S. were dancing their little feet off. Case in point: my then two year old niece.

Now THR posts that Elijah Wood and Robin Williams are in talks to reprise their respective roles of Mumbles, the dancing penguin lead, and comic-relief Ramon. What else would they have cast Williams as? The sedated penguin? Both actors are expected to travel to Australia at the start of next year to record their voice tracks.

WB has already set a November 8, 2011 release and the motion capture work has been said to have already taken place.

Reshoots on Elm Street

Warner Brothers sending their Nightmare on Elm Street reboot to April 30^th sent warning signals. Opening the week before the summer film season kicks off is never a good sign. In fact, it’s often a dumping ground for studios to unload their crap before unveiling their mega-players. Adding insult to injury, the movie that opens the gate is Iron Man 2 – a film with a legit shot at matching New Moon’s $142 million 3-day opening. Then came rumblings that the film hasn’t been previewing too terribly well with test audiences.

Now SpoilerTV has nabbed a casting call for new characters who weren’t a part of the original shoot. This particular sheet pertains to a sequence set in a diner where Nancy works. So reshoots are underway and it’s not illogical to think more scene have been written to be filmed as well. There’s also the high probability we get more scenes with Jackie Earle Haley’s Freddy Krueger or maybe the death scenes might get beefed up for the gore-hounds.

It’s a question mark right now. But it’s good that the studio is concerned enough about the new Nightmare (which they obviously want to launch a new franchise) to go back in and tinker with it.