Prisoners Set Loose for 2010

Earlier this year, Bryan Singer, Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale attached themselves to The Prisoners, a spec script from freshman screenwriter Aaron Guzikowski.

The idea of course was their involvement would (hopefully) gain momentum behind the project and entice someone to front the cash. And considering the subject matter (a desperate father who imprisons the man he believes kidnapped his daughter), said logic was sound.

As the trades report, the project is now being fast-tracked for an October 2010 release with Alcon Entertainment (who were behind Christopher Nolan's Insomnia as well as the forthcoming Book of Eli) ponying up $40 million.

However, they'll have to find a new set of lead actors as Wahlberg and Bale are out (they opted to headline the currently filming The Fighter with David O. Russell instead) and Singer walked due to issues with the budget. That sucks as I was curious to see this trio work together.

Movie Moan - I Missed Comic Con and All I Got Was This Podcast

We here at Think McFly Think realise that most of you good folks weren't able to attend the San Diego Comic-Con this past weekend. But don't feel bad - neither were we! So on this week's edition of Movie Moan, Phil, Jamie, Ed and Lou will play "Monday Morning Quarterback."

Among the topics up for discussion include the Twilight series and how regular fans like yourselves are apparently being fucked over by "media types" at the Con, the reception to James Cameron's Avatar and why Jamie thinks "Avatar Day" is retarded (that's right, he said it!) as well reactions to Tron Legacy, Nightmare on Elm Street and Alice in Wonderland.

All of that, plus Gary Oldman "confirming" Batman 3, Sam Raimi on Warcraft, the situation going on with Futurama over at Fox, how Jamie gets Gary Cole and Steven Weber mixed up and of course...T.J. Hooker!

Movie Moan - I Missed Comic Con and All I Got Was This Podcast

Comic-Con: Batman 3 Is A Go

At least, that's what Commissioner Gordon (better known as the actor who plays him Gary Oldman) had to say regarding the status of Batman 3 at the Warner Brothers panel pimping Book of Eli:

"I think the next Batman is next year. We start shooting next year. You didn't hear that from me."

I know the immediate reaction from most will be to shit their pants in joy. And to be fair, said reaction is sympathetic considering just how great the first two films (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) were.

However if Oldman speaks the truth (and I have zero reason to doubt him right now), this could mean that Christopher Nolan is indeed leaving the franchise considering he's already up to his eyeballs filming Inception at the moment for release next summer and according to many accounts has had little-to-no time to think about a third Batman installment.

That is unless by "next year," Oldman is referring to the closing months of 2010 - which would be after Nolan's sci-fi action epic hits cinemas. And I do remember rumblings that Nolan had been secretly working on the script with his brother Jonah and David Goyer at the beginning of this year (as per our pals at IESB!)

Comic-Con: Wanted 2 Starts Filming in 8 Weeks

When he isn't bullshitting people with Superman film "news," Mark Millar is busy with legit projects that will actually happen. Something that I'm sure is a surprise to many.

Case in point: Last night, footage from the forthcoming Kick-Ass (based on Millar's comic-book series under the direction of Matthew Vaughn) premiered to enthusiastic reception from the audience.

And soon afterwards, Superhero Hype! had a quick sitdown with Millar where the discussion went towards the status of Wanted 2. Although there's still no word about Angelina Jolie's possible return (despite the fact that she was clearly dead at the end of the first film), Millar confirms that the script is in fact finished. Production will start up in eight weeks - once again under the direction of Timur Bekmambetov and James McAvoy in the lead.

In terms of what to expect, the sequel will involve an "international group of assassins" adapted from the latter issues of Millar's comic-book. Keep in mind, the film version of Wanted had little-to-no resemblance to the comic-version.

Update: Has Mark Millar's well-documented bullshit struck again? Looks like it, folks. Director Timur Bekmambetov clarifies the matter to Superhero Hype! saying that pre-production on Wanted 2 will likely start up in eight weeks and not filming as Millar previously stated.

Comic-Con: Pirates 4 Sets Sail for 2011

Just about the only thing we've known for certain about Pirates of the Caribbean 4 was that would eventually happen. As God-awful as they were, the last two films made about $2 billion between and there's too much money for the Mouse to make from another go-around. Of course, what really made it certain was Johnny Depp signing on to play Captain Jack Sparrow once again.

The most recent news-items (coming straight from producer Jerry Bruckheimer) was that the film had been delayed to 2012 while everyone is busy on other projects. Thus giving screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio more time to crack the story.

Well, the good folks over at Coming Soon had an exclusive chat with Disney Head of Production Oren Aviv who says that is not exactly the case:

"We're going to shoot 'Pirates 4' in April and May of next year. We are going to release it hopefully in 2011 is the plan."

Keep in mind, that Aviv is involved with the day-to-day process of getting these films underway. So one should take what he says seriously.

With the recent surprises at the Con on its first full day (Depp made an unexpected appearance at the Disney panel showing off Alice in Wonderland footage with his director/BFF Tim Burton), could we be in store for more Pirates 4 news over the course of this weekend?

Comic-Con: Who Sequelized Roger Rabbit?

For those in my age-group (I'm 25), one would usually first think of Steven Spielberg or George Lucas when it comes to whose films you grew up watching - repeatedly, I might add. One name who shouldn't be pushed to the sidelines is Robert Zemeckis, director of films like Back to the Future (and its two sequels), Forest Gump and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Upon showing off new 3D footage for the forthcoming release of A Christmas Carol this November, Zemeckis fielded questions from the audience. One such question arose about the possibility for a Roger Rabbit follow-up to which the director coyly replied, "I can neither confirm nor deny."

And after some not-so-friendly reaction (i.e. booing), Zemeckis did slightly elaborate on said matter, “If that ever does happen, the 2D characters from the original movie will remain 2D. They will not be dimensionalized. Not to say there wont be 3D."

Weird thing is if there was in fact nothing going on the property at this time, he could have easily just shot everyone down right then and there. Not to mention, Disney is bankrolling big bucks behind the sequel to Tron - a film that was actually a box-office flop during its theatrical release back in the summer of 1982. So it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility that the Mouse could also make a Roger Rabbit sequel.

Thanks to the good folks over at IGN Movies for the report.

Jackie Earle Haley Officially Unveiled as Freddy Krueger

Mere hours before the San Diego Comic-Con fires up this year, MySpace has scored the exclusive "first-look" at Watchmen's Jackie Earle Haley as the new Freddy Krueger in next year's Nightmare On Elm Street remake/reboot/rewhatever.

Now mind you, the film is expected to make a presence at the Con. So this is most likely the first of a number of items we'll be seeing from our pal Fred this weekend.

Sam Raimi Joins World of Warcraft

If you'll remember, Sam Raimi was on the short-list to direct The Hobbit a few years back. By his own admission, he went as far as meeting with Peter Jackson over the project. Sure, the job ultimately went to Guillermo del Toro. But it sounds like he's been bit with the fantasy-bug ever since.

Aint-It-Cool-News big-cheese Harry Knowles got the exclusive (which was quickly "officially" confirmed in the trades afterwards) that Raimi has been tapped by Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures to direct a film version of the World of Warcraft video-game series - here simply titled Warcraft. Adding even more "nerd-cred" to the project (like that matters) is the participation of producer Charles Roven. You may remember him from such films as Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

Details remain under-wraps including what screenwriter will be brought on-board to work with Raimi and Roven as well as start and release dates. In fact, the only real nugget of information at this time are plans for Raimi to jump right on Warcraft immediately after he finishes Spider-Man 4 for Sony.

The thing is though details are also sketchy on the web-slinger's fourth cinematic outing even though production is expected to commence at the beginning of next year. I've long been of the opinion that Raimi would ultimately jump ship from the franchise instead of helming another film. And one can't but wonder if his new commitment to the (potential) Warcraft franchise could be his way out.

Nicolas Cage Joins (Another) Comic-Book Film

Nicolas Cage loves comic-book movies. He supposedly got his stage name from Luke Cage and has been attached to various properties over the years ranging from Iron Man to Astro Boy. And of course, he was Ghost Rider two years ago (and now talking up a storm for a sequel) and will soon appear in Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass. Oh, there was that little thing of him almost being Superman!?! Somewhere...deep within the vaults of Warner Brothers is footage of Cage in the suit. And like the cursed tape in The Ring, you die soon after watching said footage.

Anyway, Cage is now in talks to join the cast of The Green Hornet for director Michel Gondry and Seth Rogen who will play the title superhero as well as co-wrote the film with writing-parter Evan Goldberg.

Say you will about his (odd) choice of roles in the last couple of years. But I will give Cage this. Unlike some (De Niro immediately comes to mind), it's not like Cage is ever "phoning it in!"

Movie Moan - Harry Potter & the Differing Reviews

On this week's edition of Movie Moan, Phil, Jamie and Ed are once again joined by their pal Lou as the group review Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince. Shockingly, Jamie didn't like it (!?!) and Phil did. Listen to an epic battle of film criticism between two friends who loved the previous Potter installments. Who will be left standing?

Among the other topics for discussion include Moon (which Phil checked out this weekend right after Half-Blood Prince), whether or not we'll be hearing casting announcements of The Hobbit at this week's San Diego Comic-Con, Bridget Jones 3 (cut to: Phil being dragged kicking and screaming to the theater), Darren Aronofsky possibly being off the Robocop reboot and G.I. Joe spoilers.

Movie Moan - Harry Potter & the Differing Reviews