Verbinski Says "Adios!" to Pirates

I could have sworn there'd already been news awhile back of Gore Verbinski opting out of directing Pirates of the Caribbean 4. Maybe I was just mixed up and thinking of the news of Keira Knightley moving on to greener pastures instead of another Pirates go-around.

Nonetheless, Verbinski has notified Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer that he's had his fair share of Captain Jack Sparrow & Co. and already linked to a number of projects - the biggest one so far being the adaptation of the video-game series Bioshock set up over at Universal.

As for Pirates 4, it's in development but little definitive news besides that. Well, other than Johnny Depp already having signed on to return (for God knows how much booty) and series-writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio set to type away at the script for a Summer 2012 release.

Nonetheless, there shouldn't be too much of a problem getting another director on-board. I don't doubt there was some truth to those rumors of Tim Burton from last year.

Tentpole Sequel Speculation

It's less than a month away before the Summer film season kicks off with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. And not-surprisingly, studios are already in the early stages for sequels to some of these forthcoming 2009 tentpoles.

So I thought I'd go into detail on a couple of these tentpoles with my own 100% Grade-A personally approved speculation on what might ultimately go down with said early-in-the-planning-stages sequels:

Star Trek 2.2 - J.J. Abrams' "requel" has its world-premiere in Sydney, Australia on April 7. Press screenings are said to also begin next week. The fact that Paramount is having these screenings a solid month before the May 8 release date basically says, "Yeah, they're really confident they have a mega money-maker on their hands!"

And of course just a few days ago, the studio officially hired Trek screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (this time along with producer Damon Lindelof) to pen the sequel with a target Summer 2011 release date. Now granted, that decision isn't a shock. In fact, Orci said last year that Paramount was already trying to get them to commit to a follow-up.

Nor is it a surprise to learn that director Abrams has yet to commit to returning to the director's chair. It is however confirmed that he will at the very least have a "Produced by" credit. With that said, my prediction is that Abrams will not helm Trek 2.2 or whatever the Hell they end up calling the sequel.If I'm wrong, then so be it. I'm on record with this prediction either way. Paramount could have simply waited to announce the news of K&O returning for writing-duties. My guess is they didn't because they already know that Abrams is ready to move on to other projects as a director. Again, maybe I'm wrong - wouldn't be the first time nor will it be the last!

Call me crazy, but I think Abrams' next directorial project will be the adaptation from the Wired magazine article, "The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Diamond Heist"that was announced a few weeks back instead. And Hell, if Trek is the box-office monster that many (including myself) think it will be, there won't be a problem getting the studio to making said "Diamond Heist" film and simply getting another filmmaker to take over directing duties on the sequel. Something tells me Paramount already has a "short-list" of potential replacement directors just waiting in the side-lines when and/or if Abrams officially announces his decision to move on.

Terminator 5 - Near the end of last year, Terminator: Salvation producers Derek Anderson and Victor Kubicek revealed they were moving forward with plans on a fifth installment (the second in this new trilogy) along with its infamous director McG returning in the director's chair for a Summer 2011 release.

But then something interesting happened, Disney was able to nab McG down for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo. At first, it sounded like it would be a project that (if it even happened) would be a few years down the line - think again.The Mouse wants it out ASAP. In fact,the project is moving so fast-forward that plans are under-way to have production begin later this fall in Australia for a Christmas 2010 release.

So...what's this mean for Terminator 5? Well McG has said he remains 100% committed to the franchise and plans to direct the next installment. He even went as far to say he and screenwriter Jonathan Nolan (whose one of several writers thrown into the production of Salvation) were already working out story outlines for two more sequels.

But given the fact that McG is already up to his eyeballs on 20,000 Leagues, I just don't see how he'd be able to direct any Terminator sequels - especially if the Summer 2011 release date sticks, and judging by the prospects of Salvation's big box-office, it most certainly will.

And, like Paramount with Star Trek, I can almost guarantee you that Warner Brothers already has an idea of who they'd like to helm any further Terminator installments in cast McG is in fact forced to step down.

Transformers 3 - Not a doubt in my mind on this one, folks. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be the top-grossing film of Summer 2009. Hell, there's a solid chance it will be 2009's biggest money-maker overall. And most important, Paramount and DreamWorks knows this too. Hence why they went ahead and officially announced a third installment of the "giant robots that beat the shit out of their each other" franchise for a July 1, 2011 release.

This despite the fact that series-director Michael Bay had previously said he planned on taking a year off once Revenge of the Fallen was finished before he began directing another film. In fact, literally 24 hours after the announcement was made, Bay went on his blog and said the decision was a "mistake" on the studio's part and that they'd already agreed to a 2012 release.

The thing is Bay is a savvy guy and knows how to play "the game" in Hollywood. He was basically putting it out there that, "If they really want me to make the next one, it'll be for 2012 Otherwise, I'm out." Just this past week at ShoWest, Bay gave an update on the situation saying said issues had been resolved. Hmmm.

What makes this even more interesting is the fact that screenwriters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman announced they wouldn't be returning for Transformers 3 before this release-date situation between Bay and the studio reared its ugly head. So even if Bay calls the shots again,he'll have to work with a new set of writers. Is it possible K&O were already aware of what was going down and had to choose which sequel they'd rather pen for Summer 2011? Certainly, that sounds logical. Yeah, I know I just did a Spock joke - eat me!

But maybe I'm wrong about all of this. In a new feature here at Think McFly Think we'd like to refer to as the "Audio Article" to accompany certain posts, a couple of us nerds further elaborate on the subject matter of said article.

For the first installment of this li'l experiment of ours, I'm joined by Co-Owner/Operator here at Think McFly Think (and just my all-around good-friend) Peter Georgiou.

Audio Article - Tentpole Sequel Speculation

Lucas' Red Tails Finally Moving Forward

Even though it was always the status of the Star Wars prequel trilogy or a fourth Indiana Jones installment that always grabbed the headlines for the last 10+ years, George Lucas has always been trying to get Red Tails, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American fighter pilots who served in the United States military during WWII, off the ground.

Granted, this is George Lucas we're talking about. The man has enough money to personally finance any film if he damn-well chooses to and certainly has in the past - bankrolled the Star Wars prequels to great success.

So whatever's been keeping Lucas from making Red Tails is clearly a creative decision. But with the prequels complete and Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull having graced the silver screens this time last year, Lucas finally began to move forward on his passion project when he and producing-partner Rick McCallum hired Anthony Hemingway (whose television-directing credits include The Wire and E.R.) to direct and John Ridley (whose screenwriting duties include....Undercover Brother) to write last year.

And things are now further along as filming is set to commence soon in Europe and the likes of Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston (who everyone loves now from TVs Breaking Bad) and human punching-bag Cuba Gooding Jr. have now joined the cast.

It's great that Lucas is actually moving forward on this after talking about it over the years. And I'm even more encouraged that he isn't actually writing the script. Not to mention, he actually hired someone who was involved with The Wire to helm the film.

Movie Moan - Summer Box-Office Prediction Edition

We've talked about it for what seems like forever, folks, and now it's here. Phil and Jamie give their box-office predictions for Summer 2009 on this week's Movie Moan.

Joining our heroes on this week's special edition is TMT co-owner/operator Peter Georgiou to add his own special insight regarding the matter - aka tell us just how wrong (or in Jamie's case) right said predictions are.

Sadly, audio issues prevented Phil from staying for the entire podcast. So Jamie and Peter moved on ahead (as per Phil's blessings!) But fear not, like James Bond, Phil Gee will return.

Click on here for Part I and here for Part II of the Summer Box-Office Prediction Edition of Movie Moan!

Bale Boards Prisoners

Looks like things are moving forward on the spec script Prisoners.

First, Mark Wahlberg was attached to the project regarding a father who captures and tortures the man he believes is responsible for the disappearance of his small child.

Not long after director Bryan Singer was said to be hovering around it. Production Weekly later reported that the Usual Suspects and X2: X-Men United helmer had in fact agreed to direct the film. In the interest of full disclosure, said report was subsequently pulled although Singer is still eyeing it as his Valkyrie follow-up.

And now Hollywood Reporter (via their Risky Bizz Blog) reveals that Christian Bale is now attached to the project - presumably he'll be portraying the man in question for kidnapping the lead's daughter.

It's funny how mainstream audiences seem to forget the range of Bale's acting - he's played his fair share of "baddies" in the past. The man is playing Batman, John Connor and Melvin Purvis - time to take a break from being the hero!

Meanwhile, the spec script that grabbed the attention of these various talents is said to be one Helluva page-turner - i.e. there's more to it than being publicly revealed.

War Monkeys Lands New Director

Shock Till You Drop reports that director Kevin Munroe has had to step down from directing duties for the forthcoming horror/comedy War Monkeys. 

The TMNT director is apparently up to his eyeballs in zombies, vampires and Superman (well make that the actor who plays the Man of Steel Brandon Routh) with his currently-in-production Dead of Night down in New Orleans.

But fear not, IESB big-cheese Robert Sanchez (whose producing the film) has already tapped a new director for the job: Fanboys helmer Kyle Newman.

The film, which concerns special military-trained Rhesus monkeys being let loose in an underground base and the two janitors who are forced to fight them off, will commence with casting next week with production to start in June.

Gotta be honest here, this project sounds pretty damn-awesome - curious to see the "look" of the film as well as the afore-mentioned monkeys more than anything. Sounds like it'll be full of over-the-top violence, humor and of course monkeys. So needless to say, I'm already hooked.

Yet Another Director In Talks for Little Fockers?!?

Apparently, it's impossible to get a filmmaker to commit to a sequel that nobody cares about even though it'd be all but guaranteed to make a fortune at the box-office.

I'm referring to the news from this morning that Universal is now talking to About a Boy and In Good Company director Paul Weitz to helm Little Fockers for them.

It was just two weeks ago that the studio was apparently settling on Tommy Boy director Peter Segel for the gig - a decision that made a lot of sense considering his successful track-record with comedies. Hell, his last film Get Smart turned out to be a better film and bigger hit than anyone expected last summer.

And before that, the studio was deciding among Weitz, Peyton Reed (Yes Man) and David Wein who I thought would ultimately get the job based on his Role Models being a hit for Universal last fall - shows what I know!

When I say that "nobody cares" about Little Fockers, I refer to us nerds of course. I actually like Meet the Parents quiet a bit , but its follow-up Meet the Fockers was pretty much one of those "Been there, done that" sequels that just retreads the same material as the first film.

Jackie Earl Haley is the New Freddy Krueger

A few months back, the good folks over at Latino Review revealed (via their sources) that Oscar-nominee, Watchmen star and professional Vic Holtreman look-alike Jackie Earl Haley was tipped to done the fedora and stripped-sweater as the new Freddy Krueger in the forthcoming Nightmare on Elm Street remake.

Even after the Nightmare producers denied said news, Latino Review stuck to their guns on the story. Cut to this afternoon, Bloody-Disgusting reports that Haley is in "final talks" for the role and that an official announcement of his casting could hit the press as early as next week.

I think I speak for many when I say: Never.doubt.Latino Review!

What's interesting is that Haley was many fans' first choice to play Krueger similiar to how he was picked by many to portray Rorschach in Watchmen. Hell, even people who hated Synder's film admitted that Haley was pitch-perfect as the masked vigilante. Weird, huh?

Men In Black 3 In the Works

Earlier this afternoon at this year's ShoWest along with confirmation on Spider-Man 4 and Ghostbusters 3 (which we all knew were in development), Sony officially announced plans were under-way for a third Men In Black film(!)

Sony President of Worldwide Distribution Rory Bruer said nothing else pertaining to the forthcoming "threequel" including whether they had already settled on a story and/or hired screenwriter(s), a release date and most importantly the participation of stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones and series-director Barry Sonnenfeld.

Wow. I won't lie - didn't see that coming at all. Sure the previous Men In Black installments made a fortune, but I assumed it'd be a cold day in Hell before we saw another one. I seem to recall reports back around 2001 that getting all three parties on-board cost Sony quiet a penny.

If this all works out, Sony could end up having one solid ass summer come 2011 with Spider-Man 4, Ghostbusters 3 and now Men In Black 3.

News, Rumors & 100% Grade-A Internet Bullshit - April 1, 2009

-Last summer's Pineapple Express was one of the few films that lived up to it's pre-release hype - at least in my opinion. Hell, I showed the DVD to an in-law a week or so back and the film still holds up. I'd go as far to say it's one of the best films among the Apatow comedies. So it's great to hear that co-stars James Franco and Danny McBride will re-team with its director David Gordon Green for the fantasy-comedy Your Highness.

-In what many (including myself) consider "out there" casting, Arrested Development alum Will Arnett has joined the cast of Jonah Hex in the un-comedic role of a Union soldier who teams up with the title character - played by Josh Brolin. Recent Oscar nominee Michael Shannon has also jumped on-board the cast along with John Malkovich and Megan Fox.

-Robert Patrick confirms earlier rumblings (started by who else but McG) that he might show up in the Terminator: Salvation sequel (which is currently aiming for a Summer 2011 release) as the creator of the T-1000 that famously caused quiet a bit of Hell for the Connors in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

-The Australian film-industry is really about to boom. Adelaide Now reports that along with Green Lantern and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader which are about to start production in the months ahead, Disney is scouting locations for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo (which the Mouse is fast-tracking like mad to have it out by next year) and John Carter of Mars.