First Full Look at The A-Team

It's certainly understandable to be apprehensive of whether or not an A-Team movie can be any good. For every The Untouchables and Blues Brothers, you get It's Pat and Car 54, Where Are You? by the dozens. But from the hiring of Joe Carnahan as the director to casting, this films gets more and more intriguing. I say that in a good way.

Now Coming Soon (via Dr. Malo) has our first full-fleged look at our A-Team in their 100% Grade-A badass glory. In case you don't remember, this cinematic incarnation of the 80s series stars (in the order of their apperance in said photo) Bradley Cooper as Face, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as B.A. Baracus, Sharlto Copley as "Howling Mad" Murdock and Liam Neeson as Hannibal Smith.

Indeed, don't you love it when a plan comes together?

Bond 3 Starts Filming Late Next Year

Right now, Daniel Craig is headlining A Steady Rain with Hugh Jackman on Broadway. “Wolverine and James Bond together at last!” some of you are probably joking. Get better material. Or just take that job offer writing “zingers” for professional douchebag Keith Olbermann. You’d fit right in.

As per Commander Bond, comes confirmation straight from Craig’s mouth (while signing autographs with Jackman outside) that the next James Bond film will start production at the end of 2010. So a year from now, we’ll probably be getting a big press release with Craig, Judi Dench, the Broccolis and the director they ultimately hire announcing the title, giving details to the plot, etc.

And it’s encouraging as Hell that they’ve commissioned Peter Morgan for penning duties along with the always-present Robert Wade & Neal Purvis. For another British gentleman’s opinion on what the next Bond installment should be, check out Phil Gee’s 007 centric edition of his series Memo to the Executives.

Davy Jones Warns, "Not So Fast!" On Pirates 4

Is Bill Nighy trying to tell us in a round-about way that Davy Jones will show up in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides?

Certainly sounds like it or perhaps he’s just mistaken. Nonetheless, the British thesp explains to reporters (via Sci-Fi Wire):

"I understand that there was an announcement that there was going to be a fourth, and now I've been told since that that was not a reliable announcement."

Here’s the thing. The “announcement” in question came directly from Disney themselves. It’s not like this was a story broken by one of us movie-news sites. Of course, there’s been plenty of news-items, rumors and 100% Grade-A Internet bullshit making the rounds about Pirates 4. We still don’t know if Johnny Depp and the Mouse ever kissed and made up after the abrupt firing of his pal Dick Cook. Frankly if there’s anything holding up movement on the next film, it’s that.

To be fair, Nighy clarifies that he’s “pretty sure” a fourth go-around will happen – its summer 2011 release date just sounds increasingly less likely to happen. Then again, I don’t recall Disney or filmmakers ever giving a specific release date. Correct me if I’m wrong on that one, folks.

Neill Blomkamp Given Go-Ahead For Next Film

Now that Neil Blomkamp shut up all of his Halo critics with the monster success of District 9, you just know he’s been offered just about every effects heavy tentpole in development right now. He’s certainly been the “go-to” answer amongst fanboys for any comic-book property without a director along with J.J. Abrams.

But the young director has opted (rather wisely) to keep his feet wet in the independent film realm for the time being. Variety reports that Media Rights Capital has agreed to bankroll Blomkamp’s next project handing him over complete creative control and ownership on the final product. All of this before a distribution deal has been struck with a studio. That’s a big fucking deal for a filmmaker working on his second movie.

Details remain under-wraps at the moment except for it will be another foray into science fiction. Hey that genre worked out pretty well the last time, eh? Just don’t expect him to go hog-wild regarding the budget. It will reportedly be more than District 9 (itself a reported $30 million production) but not in the $200 million arena your average “big” film costs nowadays. Nor should you anticipate seeing Peter Jackson involved this time around either.

Blomkamp delivered one of 2009s best films with District 9. So it’s gratifying to see him reaping the benefits of its success. Good for him.

Another Nail In Dollhouse's Coffin

When Fox first announced Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse would air on Friday nights next to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, it immediately sent warning signals to those hoping it would be the next Buffy. By that single decision, Whedonites were hard-pressed to deny that it wouldn’t suffer a fate similar to his previous Fox effort Firefly. And exactly as everyone thought, the ratings shit the bed.

So it certainly sent shocks when Fox revealed that it had been renewed for a second season. Albeit the production was forced to take budget cuts, their order was simply 13 episodes up front (although a back-nine pickup wasn’t an impossibly) and it was sticking with the “Friday Night Deathslot.” And once again, it tanked in the ratings.

Oh sure, there were reports of how great it did on DVR. But everyone knows that technology (as cool and convenient as it is) serves nothing more than spin for networks to “prove” people are watching their shows. That’s the equivalent of me recording 30 Rock and The Office tonight and watching it sometime this weekend. Should that be lumped into the Nielsen numbers? No? Exactly.

However following said DVR numbers, Fox reassured fans that they would not pull the plug on Dollhouse like NBC recently did with Southland (i.e. cancelling the show after 6 completed episodes even though they were contracted for 13 – all before a single one aired!) All of the originally ordered 13 episodes would be produced and aired. Seeing the blatant writing on the wall, Whedon confirmed he was planning to essentially wrap the series up with the remaining episodes. But there were still those fans pressing their luck wondering if Dollhouse might continue after the 13th show.

Well, Michael Ausiello reports the final nail in its coffin - at least until before Fox officially announces the show is DOA. The network plans to sit out Dollhouse next month for the purpose of the alluring "November sweeps." In this case, expect to see reruns of House M.D., Glee, Bones and/or Fringe filling in said slots. Making matters even more definite is the revelation when the series returns in December, Fox will fill both hours of their Friday night schedule to the remaining episodes.

For their sake, I hope they find the remaining episodes enjoyable giving the series suitable closure. But there's no denying it. Dollhouse is done.

Dylan Baker Will Be Back For Spider-Man 4

I ignored the news-item earlier this week about Bruce Campbell having a “meaty” role in Spider-Man 4. Not a strike against Campbell, Sam Raimi or MTV for said story. But that’s non-news we’ve already heard.  No thank you.

However, UGO Movie Blog has the exclusive confirmation on casting news we all assumed would happen but were never told so. While attending a screening of Trick ‘r Treat with writer/director Mike Dougherty, Dylan Baker officially confirmed he will in fact appear in Spider-Man 4 as Dr. Curt Connors once again.

Will the actor finally transform into the Lizard? It’s certainly a question asked every time a new Spider-Man film is in development. Baker himself says he’ll be “just appearing in the background” as Dougherty jokingly put it. Indeed, Mike. This is “cocktease for another year.”

Of course, Baker could be simply lying his ass off. I mean he is a good enough actor to convince us so.

Set Footage From A-Team

Entertainment Tonight recently did a set visit to the currently-in-production A-Team movie. While glossing over Rampage Jackson and Sharlto Copley, they opt to spend their time bullshitting with Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel. Sucks, but understandable. I mean they are in the celebrity ass-munching business after all.

But further cementing their douchebag reputation comes this statement posed by Kevin Frazier (who seems like a nice enough guy and most likely following company orders): "...and the big question is there an A-Team love story?" It's safe to say that's not on anyone's mind - especially pertaining to The A-Team.

Pretty sure the bigger "questions" pertain to the film's quality and how the afore-mentioned Jackson and Copley will turn out. We'll see.

Green Lantern Headed to New Orleans After All?

The filmmakers behind the Martin Campbell-directed, Ryan Reynolds-starring Green Lantern have been officially diagnosed as being bi-polar, doctors tell TMT. When the DC Comics adaptation was first announced (under the direction of Greg Berlanti), plans were for the production to film almost exclusively in Sydney, Australia. No wait, they opted to film in New Orleans because of the tax rates and what not. No wait, it’ll actually film in Canada…or Mexico. No wait, it’ll really shoot in the Big Easy after all.

That is according to Times-Picayune. The local New Orleans publication got the word from Kevin Murphy, the noted manager of studio operations at the Lower Garden District facility, who confirms the story, “The rumors are correct. We are working out the details, and we have a nonrefundable contract.” It’s at that area where set constructions will soon commence for the production’s projected March 2010 start-date.

Bringing a $200+ production to my neck of the woods equals jobs to friends of mine who work in the film-scene in the area. So, I can’t help but be happy about this latest development. However knowing the ever-changing mind-set of the Green Lantern producers, I fully anticipate plans to change next week for filming to instead occur in the South Pole.

Who ISN'T Being Cast In Thor?

Ah another day, and another set of Thor casting rumors for us to discuss. I think Kenneth Branagh has drawn a line in the sand standing between himself and Christopher Nolan for classiest cast for a superhero epic. Right now the ball in the latter’s court, but if these continued rumors turn out to happen. We could be in another ball-game altogether.

Coming days after the Robert De Niro and Jude Law rumors (which frankly sounds fake as shit from the “As per the German GQ Magazine” source - although I could be wrong, to be fair!), comes yet another thesp possibly joining the ranks of Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Tom Hiddleston, Brian Blessed and Jaimie Alexander.

From Movieline (via Coming Soon), Dominic West reveals he will soon audition for a role in Thor too. Of course, he only confessed this information after the interviewer in question noticed the script sides conveniently placed right next to the actor. AKA they weren’t supposed to have seen those. It’s still a question-mark as to what role the Mamma Mia! Actor is reading for.

Since when did Thor become the new Harry Potter? If you’re a British actor and have yet to appear in either property, please consult with your agent for further instructions. Maybe Phil can a walk-on role in the film too?

Kurtzman and Orci Give Star Trek Sequel Updates

So last week, I theorized that the Star Trek sequel would not make its projected 2011 release and most likely beam into cinemas for summer 2012 instead. It was just a hunch on my part and I used good old fashioned “connecting the dots” logic to come to said conclusion. Well either great minds think alike or someone over at Team Abrams (as I call them) has been snooping around the TMT headquarters. Most likely, it’s the former.

This past Saturday the screenwriting/producing duo of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (responsible for the reboot and its forthcoming sequel) attended the 2009 Screenwriters Expo. As per IGN Movies, K&O confirmed that they’re still throwing around ideas and re-reading old novels (just as they did while developing the first film) even though they do have “basic themes” for Trek 2.

However, they revealed that the previously-announced Christmas delivery date for their first draft has in fact changed to “the next eight months.” The duo also confirmed that the next installment would beam into theaters for 2012 although they were quick to clarify that it was still "not sure."

To be fair, this isn't 100% concrete yet. But it appears that my theory could be dead on after all. It certainly makes sense now that Captain Kirk himself (aka Chris Pine) might headline the new Jack Ryan reboot and The Art of Making Money before returning to the Enterprise.