Steve Carr Set To Direct Short Circuit Remake

I grew up with a lot of films during my childhood. But Short Circuit and its 1988 sequel weren’t among them. So the news that a remake was in development didn’t exactly send me into a firestorm of hatred and/or angry nerdgasming.  That said I get the distaste from those who oppose such an idea. But it’s not like it suddenly cancels out the original film. It’ll always be there.

Variety reports the remake is now further along with Dimension Films lining up Steve Carr (coming off the mind-bogglingly huge success and popularity of Paul Blart: Mall Cop from this past January) to sit in the director’s chair.

This new incarnation won’t be a direct remake of the 1986 film. Reports have the story entailing this updated Johnny 5 befriending a lonely little boy instead of Ally Sheedy and Steven Guttenberg.

I’m sure Fisher Stevens is waiting by his phone for the inevitable “Would you like to do a cameo?” call.

Correction: Kurtzman and Orci Not Producing Doc Savage

So this past weekend, Aint It Cool News revealed that a new Doc Savage movie was in development. Shane Black had been lined up to write and Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman would be producing with the story being set in the 1930s as per to the original pulp novels from that era. Being the film-news site that we are, we reported said item ourselves quickly after it broke.

So far, so good.

However, Collider has an update. They’ve received word that most of the information was spot on - save for one thing. K&O are in fact not producing this cinematic undertaking for the Man of Bronze. That duty instead falls on Neil Mortiz and Ori Marmus, producers behind the currently filming Green Hornet and Bryan Singer-helmed Jack the Giant Killer.

No worries, fans. Although the details behind the scenes have changed, you’re still getting a new Doc Savage film. Now all you have to do is start speculating who will be cast.

Is Avatar Not As Original As Cameron Would Like You To Think?

At this point in the game, I can only hope that James Cameron delivers a good movie with Avatar. I say that because there’s just no way one single film can live up to so much pre-release hype. Sorry, but I’m not buying into the “This will change the way you look at movies” statements made by the likes of Cameron himself.

Don't take that as me shitting on the guy because I'm not. Been a huge fan of his ever since I was a kid. I even remember reading about the status reports of Titanic (on Aint It Cool News, Dark Horizons and Corona Coming Attractions) and being happy to hear that it wasn't a turkey like many predicted. Yes, I was a nerd from early on.

Not helping matters is this rather interesting find by I09 pointing out the similarities between Cameron’s forthcoming 3-D sci-fi epic and a 1950s novella Call Me Joe by Poul Anderson. Both entail a paraplegic having his mind placed in another (artificially created) body so he can go off and explore an erotic uncharted world.  Again in both stories, their new bodies are that of a giant blue and feline looking creature.

You smell that? It’s a lawsuit coming. Any time when there’s money to made, you can bet your ass there’s going to be some schmuck there claiming “damages.”

But in this case, the similarities are rather damning. It'll be interesting to see when (and if) Cameron, producer Jon Landau and/or 20th Century Fox will pipe in on this latest development.

Ricky Gervais Hosting Golden Globes

This doesn't change the fact that they vote 100% on popularity and whatever celebrity kissed their ass the most. But to their credit, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association have pegged actor/comedian Ricky Gervais to host the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards. If you've witnessed the original UK version of The Office and Extras, you know Gervais is one funny dude.

So even though the ratings will still suck (It's on NBC. Nuff said) and most average folk just plain don't care, we'll have someone with a sense of humor to get us through the likely three-hour broadcast. Good for Mr. Gervais.

New Sherlock Holmes Poster

Regardless of how right or wrong I'll be, I still maintain that Sherlock Holmes will end up kicking Avatar's ass at the box-office this coming Christmas. Controvesial opinion? Certainly. But I've heard from various folks who talked up how much they can't wait to see Holmes and how "retarded" Avatar looks.

Nonetheless, Cinematical has the exclusive "First-Look" at the new poster for your enjoyment.

George Miller Shows Off Mad Max 4 Cars

Days after casting rumors surfaced, director George Miller is now showing off the vehicles that will be driven (and presumably wrecked) in Mad Max 4.

Does that mean the movie will definitively happen? Not yet. I recall he also showed off sets that were under construction for the ill-fated Justice League: Mortal. If memory serves me correct, he was accepting an award via satellite where he was sitting in the middle of what was supposed to be the Hall of Justice. And that project was further along in development at the time (he’d already cast most of the lead roles by then).

He confirms in the video interview that casting is still under-way saying, “Despite all the stuff that we see on the net and so on, I don’t even know who the final cast’s gonna be.” Fair enough.

What I found more interesting was how at the half-way point, Miller discussed bringing productions to Australia. If you’ll remember, he fought tooth and nail to get the production of Justice League to shoot exclusively in his home country. Thus ensuring that their local film economy would keep going and people would have jobs. Say what you will about the would-be movie, but you have to respect Miller for pushing as hard as he did.

Rumors of Rocky 7 Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

A few days back, Teen Say picked up on a German interview with Sylvester Stallone where he discussed making Rocky 7. This is despite the fact that he swore up and down that the last film (2006s Rocky Balboa) would be the swan-song for the character. Hell, he went into Balboa with everyone (yours truly included) ridiculing him for going back to the well, and at age 60 to boot. But he surprised us when the movie was great…and, as it turned out, a commercial success.

As it turns out, this was nothing more than being “lost in translation.” Devin Faraci of CHUD and Clint Morris of Movie Hole have both come out and shot down the report. As it turns out, Sly was in fact referring to making Rocky Balboa in said interview and not a seventh installment. Rest assured Rocky fans. It was just a bunch of nothing.

Having said that, we shouldn’t put it past Stallone to suddenly come out and announce Rocky 7 down the line. “How so?” you ask. Frankly, he also swore to the high heavens that last year’s Rambo would be a fitting conclusion to his ‘Nam vet-turned- action hero. However (just like Rocky Balboa before it), Rambo turned out a nice profit and we’ve now got a sci-fi oriented Rambo 5 in development.

Mitch Hurwitz Gives Arrested Development Updates

Every time someone talks to Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor or David Cross, the oft-mentioned Arrested Development movie is brought up. And we're always subject to the standard "Mitch Hurwitz is writing the script as we speak" answer. Of course, hearing the trades officially confirm that certainly helped matters. Showed the status of the project was beyond "wishful thinking" for us Arrested fans.

While attending "The Art of Storytelling" panel along with Ron Howard (the executive producer of the series) and Steve Zaillian (Schindler's List screenwriter), Hurtwitz finally chimed in on the subject. As per Austin Movie Blog, he confirmed that the film is happening (quickly followed by a standing ovation in the audience) and that he will in fact sit in the director's chair. Granted, we already knew that. But it's good to get it straight out of the horse's mouth.

As for what the plot of the movie, Hurtwitz was tight-lipped but dropped one bit of information. It will have a "heavy jail presence." Although it's easy to assume he's referring to Lucille Bluth (who at the end of the series finale was being apprehended by the authorities), my guess is its our do-gooding hero Michael instead. I'm just guessing here, folks.

Hell maybe it's George Michael in the slammer. Could be a cute way of "sticking it" to Michael Cera for holding out on doing the film-version for the longest time.

Even More Mad Max 4 Updates

Two days ago, we reported on rumors that George Miller was eyeing Tom Hardy to play the new Mad Max with Charlize Theron as the female lead. Now the Aussie publication Daily Telegraph claims (via “rumors”) that Sam Worthington is the favorite for the role.

I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen. The Avatar lead already attempted to headline a “franchise revival” with Terminator: Salvation to mixed-to-negative results. Hell if there were to be a sequel to Salvation, he wouldn’t be involved anyway with the “take my heart, please!” fate of his Marcus Wright character.

Is it possible? Sure. But Worthington is getting a lot of good offers right now while everyone is waiting to see how Avatar does this Christmas. He also has the Clash of the Titans remake coming up next Spring. Can't imagine him trying to take over a once-vibrant franchise for a second time. We'll see.

On the other hand, Miller himself confirms to ABC News that the fourth film (which will apparently retain its Fury Road subtitle) will begin pre-production next week (!?!) with filming scheduled to commence next August exclusively in Australia.

The Man of Bronze Returns

Only in the entertainment industry would producing/writing the Star Trek sequel and Cowboys & Aliens and rebooting Hawaii Five-0 for CBS be considered “not enough.” No, the dynamic duo of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman has added yet another project to their workload.

According to Aint It Cool News, K&O will produce a new take on 1930s pulp hero Doc Savage for the silver screen. In fact, they’ve already nabbed down a screenwriter in the form of Shane Black (behind the first three Lethal Weapon films and most recently with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang).

Although he hasn’t begun typing away at his laptop, Black reassures fans that this won’t be a modernized “sexy” incarnation saying, “the character can not be separated from the 30s."

If you’ll back about ten years back (Has it been that long?), a pre-Governator Arnold was attached to play the Man of Bronze with Chuck Russell (who had worked together on Eraser) set to direct from a screenplay by him and Frank Darabont. Yeah, I’d like to get a hold of that script too.