The Hobbit Officially Begins Casting

What’s another morning without hearing something about The Hobbit? This isn’t another set of rumors about script delays, release date changes and so on. No, this is official news. *Gasp!*

Peter Jackson tells Heat Vision that casting on the films starts this week. As things stand, every role is up for grabs with the obvious exception of Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey. Strange that he didn’t mention Andy Serkis as Gollum. I can only assume he merely forgot to mention him.

This revelation also squashed month’s worth of casting rumors ranging the likes of Brian Cox to James McAvoy. To be fair, Jackson did tell IGN Movies last week they were auditioning unknowns for Bilbo in addition to discussions of “name” actors.

As The Lord of the Rings filmmaker further explained to the trades:

"(These movies) have never been a star-driven vehicle. The star is (author J.R.R.) Tolkien and the world he created. We are not under any pressure. We want to find the right people. Casting someone to portray a hobbit is not as easy as you might imagine. They have to have a particular type of physical appearance and a sensibility. And the same with an elf or a dwarf."

He says that and watch it turn out that McAvoy does play Bilbo.

The Wachowskis - Back in Action?

Even if Speed Racer was the hit Warner Brothers was hoping, we still wouldn’t be hearing much from the Wachowskis. They’re just so damn secretive. To be fair, that’s not a bad thing per say. But it’s frustrating for fans. Sometimes it feels like you’re chasing a ghost. I recall Steve “Frosty” Weintraub over at Collider saying how he begrudgingly admitted he’ll never get an interview with them. You never know, bud...

There have been plenty of rumors about what they’re working on - Superman trilogy, anyone? But no concrete info has yet to surface…until now. Arianna Huffington (founder of the The Huffington Post and all around left-wing nut job) said on her Twitter account yesterday, “Do u want to know what I'll look like in 90 years? Here's a shot from the set of the Wachowskis' futuristic movie.” This is quickly followed by a number of snapshots taken of Huffington behind a green screen and hanging out with the Wachowskis.

According to CHUD, this was a part of test shoot and not footage intended to be used in the actual film. So what is this "futuristic movie" then? Cinematcial speculates it could be Cloud Atlas, a 2004 post-apocalyptic novel the Wachowskis optioned earlier this year.

Frankly all this "We won't talk to the press and must keep everything top secret" bullshit won't cut it for Warner Brothers (or any other studio for that matter) if they keep delivering bombs like Speed Racer.

Peter Jackson Denies Hobbit Release Date Change

Damn, The Hobbit can’t seem to get a break. First Peter Jackson told the press that production on the two-part film adaptation with Guillermo del Toro at the helm wouldn’t start this coming March as originally planned as translated by One Ring (via German site Movie Reporter). Cameras would instead roll by the middle of next year in New Zealand. Then came news from The Wrap that the first installment had been pushed back from Christmas 2011 to 2012.

Midst these reports Jackson himself has publicly denied such claims to Collider. While making the press rounds selling The Lovely Bones, the Lord of the Rings trilogy writer/producer/director (and Hobbit writer/producer) said the rumors are to the contrary regarding any release date change:

"So you believe in December 2011 the first part is going to be in theaters.

Jackson: At this stage, that is certainly the plan. Yeah."

Eh, I’m not buying that. Jackson’s correct when telling the site “You don’t want to believe everything you read on the internet.” I’ll give him that. Plenty of ass-wipes just make shit up. But I’m not getting that vibe from this latest rumor.

Why? Because this story makes sense.  Filming on the Rings trilogy started in 1999 – a full 2 years before the first film Fellowship of the Rings hit screens. Given the massive under-taking Hobbit will be, I imagine they want to start principal photography a good chunk of time before its intended release much like what happened last time.

Jackson could be telling the truth. But this, more than anything else, feels like spin.

Mel Gibson Returns to Mexico

Not exactly the guy you'd expect to announce a new movie. Nonetheless Fidel Herrera (the presiding governor of Veracruz, Mexico) confirmed to The Associated Press that Mel Gibson will shoot his next film there:

"Veracruz Gov. Fidel Herrera says part of the Ignacio Allende prison will be emptied in January 'because a grand production will be filmed there with our friend, the actor and producer Mel Gibson.'"

What that film is remains to be seen. No other details were provided and we can only guesstimate Mad Mel will be retuning to the director's chair. Not coincidentally, his last film the underrated Apocalypto was filmed in Veracruz.

Not that they're the most reliable of sources. But IMDB has two projects listed "In Development" in his filmography: Under and Alone and The Drowner. Again, no additional tid-bits were given. It's altogether possible that this new project is neither of those titles.

Say what you will about Gibson (Yes, he's a bigot), but South Park really hit the nail with the hammer on him. As crazy as he is with his views, the man knows how to tell a good story.

Terminator Rights Be Damned! McG Promises Salvation Sequels

Sometimes I feel bad for all the shit McG gets from everyone...and then he opens his mouth.

The director recently participated in a live commentary/chat session for Terminator: Salvation. If you had a BD-Live capable Blu-Ray player and nothing to do Saturday night, you too could throw retarded questions like insulting his Charlie's Angels movies. Some losers actually did that.

Gizmodo transcribed the event and, low and behold, McG confessed that he was going to direct a sequel to Salvation. And then another installment after that! Remember, this was meant to be the start of a new Terminator trilogy and he'd already inked a new deal to return late last year. Problem is there are currently no plans for any more films as the franchise rights are up in the air. Halcyon (the company who produced the last one) have been in the financial shitter after Salvation under-performed leaving them in debt. Who ends up controlling the future of John Connor remains to be seen.

So what the fuck McG is talking about is beyond anyone's guess. What makes this development all the more interesting is a tid-bit from our pal Clint Morris of Movie Hole a few days prior to this "revelation." According to his sources, the next Terminator movie (whenever it ends up getting made) will not be a continuation of Salvation and there by not feature Christian Bale, Anton Yelchin or Bryce Dallas Howard.

Now who should we believe here? The director whose had a reputation for flat-out making shit up to look cool or a movie-news webmaster who doesn't? Thought so. This also confirms what I told you folks would happen right after Salvation fizzled last May in my What Now for the Terminator Franchise article.

Movie Moan - Corporate Whoring

 By that, we're referring to this past week's episode of Bones. Yep, Fox turned their successful police procedural into a corporate whore for Avatar. Who needs to solve a murder when you can talk about how amazing Cameron and his movie are going to be. That along with other topics are discussed on the latest edition of the Movie Moan podcast.

Phil, Ed, Lou and Jamie chat up the recent delays on The Hobbit. Filming has been pushed to the middle of next year and there are conflicting reports of just when the Hell its coming out now. Paul Greengrass delighted Jamie by announcing he was walking away from Bourne 4. Lou gives his thoughts on the four film he's recently seen - A Christmas Carol, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, 2012 and The Road. Phil finally pissed off fanboys with something he said. No, it wasn't about Twilight or Superman. It was Conan! *Gasp!*

All of that plus Ed and Jamie face off against Phil and Lou over the actual budget of Avatar. The former believe it cost $400-$500 million and the latter doesn't. Who will win the debate? More importantly, why should they care since none of its profit will go to them?

Movie Moan - Corporate Whoring

Fox Hits All-Time Low Whoring Avatar

A studio selling their mega-budget tentpole on television is Film Marketing 101. They want to get the awareness of its impending release out there. If the studio happens to also own a television network, it's not exactly out of the norm to air "A Very Special Sneak-Peek" presentation showing off clips or premiering the latest trailer. I remember tuning into an episode of Smallville back in the fall of 2005 to see the Superman Returns teaser trailer unveiled before it was to be attached to prints of Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire the following week.

20^th Century Fox has been doing the same with James Cameron’s Avatar as of late. They’ve been showing off TV trailers during broadcasts of shows like Glee and what not. That is all well and good. But this has officially gotten out of hand. I’m talking "Really, people?" out of head. Last night’s episode of their popular procedural Bones was Avatar centric. In fact coining a phrase made by CHUDs Devin Faraci, this has officially hit “full Avatard” territory.

I09 has the report up including screen-caps and video clips from the broadcast where the characters are talking about, you guessed it, Avatar. Watching one of the trailers? Check. Talking about how excited they are to see it? Check. Standing in a huge line on its opening day? Duh! Check, of course! Did I mention that Bones regular Joel Moore (shown in the clips provided in the link) happens to have a role in Avatar? What a strange coincidence, huh.

Yes, it’s bad. No, it's not meant to be ironic like having the cast of 30 Rock talking about how great Snapple tastes while flashing its likeness across your television screen. That was clearly meant as a gag by Tina Fey and her team. This, on the other hand, isn't such the case. God if only American Idol was on the air right now. Then we can have Simon Cowell "confess" how his eyeballs were royally fucked by the sheer awesomeness of Avatar.

Do you see the cast of Gossip Girl or Smallville talking about seeing Sherlock Holmes? Give me a fucking break.

Will Matt Damon Be Bourne Again?

The departure of Paul Greengrass from the Jason Bourne franchise leaves a handful of questions left unanswered. Mainly will Matt Damon return to kick super-mercenary ass for a fourth time? Most of the time when the director responsible for a franchise’s creative success jumps ship (whether by choice or being fired by the producers), the lead tends to stick around. Yes, I know that Doug Liman was actually the filmmaker behind The Bourne Identity. But you get what I’m saying.

Bucking that trend, it’s been widely reported in the past that if Greengrass were to head to the EXIT door, Damon goes with him. No questions asked. That sentiment was further confirmed by the actor himself to reports today (via Coming Soon) while doing press for Invitcus:

"When [Greengrass] wants to do one, we'll do it," said Damon.

"Are you saying that it's Greengrass or no 'Bourne'?" one reporter asked.

"Yeah, I've always said that," replied the actor, adding, "But I think it'll happen down the road. We just don't have a script yet."

“Down the road" could also refer to a Bourne 4 without Damon, mind you. Either way, we’re better off without another one anytime in the near future. Although I’m really hoping Universal leaves the damn thing alone.

Spielberg Won't Be Seeing Giant Invisible Rabbits After All

Being the biggest filmmaker on the planet doesn’t mean you’ll avoid Development Hell every now and then. When it was first announced Steven Spielberg would direct a remake of Harvey, it was met with little-to-no positive fanfare. Even your never-so-humble correspondent failed to see the logic in such a decision. I say that but we all would have still paid the money to see it. The key word being “would have.”

Variety reports the Beard has officially dropped out of the project. It’s been nothing but a pain in the ass for the director to cast. Original choice Tom Hanks immediately said, “Hell no!” to starring and subsequent second-tier Robert Downey Junior didn’t see eye-to-eye with him. When you can’t get either one of those stars to commit, it won’t get any easier. I could see Brad Pitt bullshitting about a giant invisible rabbit though.

Were Harvey to have moved forward, it would have been the second film in a row Spielberg directed that damn-near nobody cared about except for him. The first is the currently in-years-along post-production The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn. You know anyone who’s chomping at the bits to see Tintin brought to life with motion-capture technology? I didn’t think so.

So what does he do now? The trades are saying Spielberg is itching to helm another movie. With all the projects he’s attached to at the moment (i.e. Lincoln, Interstellar, Indiana Jones 5, etc.), he has plenty to mull over. I’d prefer to see him continue in the direction of Munich, one of his top five best films in my opinion. But he seems content with delivering popcorn spectacles. Sure, he’s the best of the best in that department. But isn’t he past that phase – especially with the likes of Christopher Nolan, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Singer, Michael Bay, etc. already carrying that torch?

News, Rumors & 100% Grade-A Internet Bullshit - December 3, 2009

- Is Vin Diesel still full of shit as Collider stated a couple of months back? I’m guessing yes. But that won’t stop the actor from his continued diarrhea of the mouth regarding Riddick 3. This time, the actor “revealed” (via his Facebook account of all places) that location scouting has begun in New Zealand on the potential third go-around. Every three months or so, he comes out and makes blind statements about the project’s “progress.” Please. Stop. Now.

- The great Terry Gilliam told Empire at the start of October that he’d finally found his Don Quixote. Mum was the word from the director then and he’s still kept his lips zipped as to his identity. That hasn’t stopped the actor himself from spilling the bean – Robert Duvall, as per Collider. Yeah, this casting is brilliance. But before everyone starts nerdgasming, Gilliam still has to secure the money to get The Man Who Killed Don Quixote made. On a side note: God, it’s me, Jamie. Please, don’t kill Duvall before this can happen. Gilliam’s already been screwed over enough.

- After both sites broke the “aliens sunk my battleship” plot-twist, Latino Review and CHUD did a special trip to the USS Sterett where they chatted with director Peter Berg over Battleship. It sounds like the studio and filmmakers are doing damage-control over the leak and wanting to assure everyone this angle for the film will work. Fair enough. Along with chatting up the forthcoming film (i.e. the alien villains are called Regents, casting is already under-way, etc.) came details on Hancock 2 (i.e. ain’t happening anytime soon) and a possible Rundown sequel. Oh and yes, “You sunk my battleship!” will be a line in the film. Sigh.