NBC Cancels Law & Order

NBC has picked up the new drama "Law & Order: Los Angeles" (LOLA) as well as renewed "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" for the 2010-11 season. In addition, NBC will end its historic and record-tying "Law & Order" when the mothership series concludes its 20th season on Monday, May 24 (10-11 p.m. ET).

The announcements were made today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

Jeff Gaspin, Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment said, "The full measure of the collective contributions made by Dick Wolf and his 'Law & Order' franchise over the last two decades to the success of NBC and Universal Media Studios cannot be overstated. The legacy of his original 'Law & Order' series will continue to make an impact like no other series before."

Bromstad added: "'Law & Order' has been one of the most successful franchises in the history of television, which is why it is so critical that we continue this important brand and our relationship with Dick Wolf and his team with 'LOLA' and 'Law & Order: SVU.'"

"Law & Order: Los Angeles" is a procedural crime drama that will follow the theme and storylines similar to the "Law & Order"-brand series on the streets of Los Angeles. The series, from executive producer Dick Wolf and Blake Masters (“Brotherhood”), is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studios. Casting and pre-production work are continuing.

As shocked as I am to hear this, I'm not overly bothered by it either. Of all the Law & Order spin offs my favorite is the Special Victims Unit, Christopher Meloni's turn as veteran detective Elliot Stabler, is one of the most bad ass personas to ever grace network television. That and having legendary rapper Ice T on the cast as well, helps to make the show as awesome as it is.

Marilyn Monroe Biopic "Blonde"

Someone has finally decided to make a biopic about the legendary hollywood sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. Many have tried to imitate her, but none have come close.

Monroe had three marriages, first to James Dougherty, then to Joe DiMaggio, and lastly Arthur Miller. It was also widely rumored that she had had an affair with President John F. Kennedy, his brother Senator Robert Kennedy, or both. Marlon Brando.

The Biopic will star Naomi Watts in the title role, not who I would have first figured to take on the Iconic role, but I can see it working.

Screendaily reports:

Wild Bunch will handle international sales on Blonde, an adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ imaginary Marilyn Monroe memoir that Andrew Dominik is set to direct. Naomi Watts will star as the legendary icon.

Produced by Anthony Bregman, the $20 million film will shoot in January 2011.

Dominik, who last directed The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, explains his desire to make Blonde: “Why is Marilyn Monroe the great female icon of the 20th Century? For men she is an object of sexual desire that is desperately in need of rescue. For women, she embodies all the injustices visited upon the feminine, a sister, a Cinderella, consigned to live among the ashes.”

He added, “I want to tell the story of Norma Jean as a central figure in a fairytale; an orphan child lost in the woods of Hollywood, being consumed by that great icon of the twentieth century.”

Chris Hemsworth Talks Thor

If you've seen Iron Man 2 or you've been following anything to do with Marvels Thor , you already know that after the credits we get our first look at Mjöllnir Thor's hammer, which helps in building the the buzz for the God of Thunder's big screen debut just next year on May 6, 2011

Superherohype recently to talked to Chris Hemsworth the 6’3” actor playing the Norse God of Thunder Thor.

When asked what he thought of the extra scene after Iron Man 2 he said:

"I just finished shooting last Thursday, and saw "Iron Man 2" the other day--which I loved--and saw the tag at the end. I was with a bunch of mates and we all got kind of giddy watching it. I can’t wait! It was such an incredible four months shooting that film, and I think the film’s going to be fantastic."

When asked what his take on Thor was he replied:

"We just kept trying to humanize it all, and keep it very real. Look into all the research about the comic books that we could, but also bring it back to Who is this guy as a person, and what’s his relationship with people in the individual scenes?"

Even though Thor may be a lesser known super hero, I think he'll be making a much bigger impact next summer then anyone's expecting. I loved Hemsworth's turn as George Kirk in the opening sequence of JJ Abrams Star Trek reboot last year, and I cant wait to see what he brings to Thor.

Green Lantern Set Photo

Earlier this week we got a look at what Peter Sarsgaard's makeup will look like for his part of villain Hector Hammond in Green Lantern. What everyone really wants to see though, is Ryan Reynolds in the Green Lantern costume.

Back in April we reported the Green Lantern suit will be almost entirely CG. The suit that Ryan wears on set is a grey tracking motion/performance capture suit with led lights. Well now MTV has got their hand on a set picture with Reynolds in the Motion Capture suit, which you can see above.

Nothing really special to be seen here, but it does confirm our earlier report that the suit will indeed be motion capture and CG, and I'm sure the hard core "fanboys" will be excited even for this.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Movie Coming After The Avengers

 

Sam Jackson recently appeared on the radio show Radio Big Boy. While talking about his nine picture deal with Marvel and confirming that he won’t be in Thor, he revealed this:

“The Avengers should start shooting some time next year, and then some time after that there’ll be a big S.H.I.E.L.D. movie.”

Yes, Nick Fury will be getting his own solo film, well according to Sam Jackson that is. At this point none of this has been confirmed nor denied by Marvel studios Head Kevin Feige, so I would take it with a proverbial grain of salt for now.

In Marvel comics S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional spy and enforcement agency tasked with handing super human problems. Fury runs the thing from a floating hover carrier, and though he often cameos in other comics as he’s done in the movies, “Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.” was also a solo series.

Rambo V still happening?

About a week ago Stalone told Empire that Rambo V was not happening. he had the following to say:

"I think Rambo’s pretty well done. I don’t think there’ll be any more. I’m about 99% sure".

"I was going to do it,” he said. “I said I’d never talk about this, but with I feel that with Rocky Balboa, that character came complete circle. He went home. But for Rambo to go on another adventure might be, I think, misinterpreted as a mercenary gesture and not necessary. I don’t want that to happen."

“I’m very happy with the last Burmese episode, because I didn’t pull any punches on it,” he continued. “I wanted it to be what civil war really is – rough. You can’t candy coat it, and where do you go from there? So that’s [Rambo V] going to go.”

Now comes news all the way from Paris at the Cannes film festival, where Peter of /Film reports Rambo V  is being promoted at the Millennium Films/Nu Image booth. Even more shocking is it's set for a 2011 release date.

I'm not at all shocked from this news, Stalone likes to say things and go back on them all the time. How many times has Rambo or Rocky retired, only to be brought back again. I know Stalone said one of the reasons for not doing Rambo, were plans to fast track a sequel for his not yet released "The Expendables", but does that mean he won't decide to do Rambo as well, of course not.

Update on Thu, May 13, 2010 by Mitch Anderson

Today Sly himself sorted this whole mess out by phoning up AICN to set the record straight.

According to Stallone, he’s standing by his decision to stay away from Rambo. The last movie, John Rambo, was the end of the road for Sly. He has nothing to do with Rambo V and he never will… but that doesn’t mean it might not get made anyway. Stallone says the people behind these posters are out there looking for funding, and told him that if he won’t do it, someone else will. He's adamant that he won't do it so that means Rambo V, if they find funding, will happen with someone new playing Rambo.

I would rather have heard Sly was bullshitting us before, and he decided to return to the role one more time. What if just recently when they announced Die Hard 5, it was also reported Willus wouldn't return in his signature role, you'd be pissed.

Given this new news, I honestly hope they don't find the funding to make Rambo V. With out Stalone in the lead role, it might as well be a reboot, and I don't really want to see that either.

The Last Exorcism

If your a fan of realistic set religious type horror films, like I am, You'll be very interested in The Last Exorcism. It's a realistic take on a Reverend's final exorcism.

Courtesy of Bloody Disgusting and Lionsgate you can now read the synopsis below, and enjoy the new poster, with the chilling tag line "believe in him".

"When he arrives on the rural Louisiana farm of Louis Sweetzer, the Reverend Cotton Marcus expects to perform just another routine "exorcism" on a disturbed religious fanatic. An earnest fundamentalist, Sweetzer has contacted the charismatic preacher as a last resort, certain his teenage daughter Nell is possessed by a demon who must be exorcized before their terrifying ordeal ends in unimaginable tragedy.

Buckling under the weight of his conscience after years of parting desperate believers with their money, Cotton and his crew plan to film a confessionary documentary of this, his last exorcism. But upon arriving at the already blood drenched family farm, it is soon clear that nothing could have prepared him for the true evil he encounters there. Now, too late to turn back, Reverend Marcus’ own beliefs are shaken to the core when he and his crew must find a way to save Nell – and themselves – before it is too late.

THE LAST EXORCISM is written by Huck Botko & Andrew Gurland and directed by Daniel Stamm. Strike Entertainment and STUDIOCANAL present an Arcade Pictures production. "

Head over to the official website for more information and the official Facebook page for the first image from the upcoming film.

Synopsis for Favreau's "Cowboys & Aliens "

DreamWorks Pictures has revealed the official synopsis for "Iron Man" films director Jon Favreau's Cowboys & Aliens, starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell and Noah Ringer. Opening July 29, 2011, the film was written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof:

1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It's a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents—townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors—all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

The director of two successful Iron Man films is directing Harrison "Indiana Han Solo Jones" Ford, and Daniel "James Bond" Craig, in a western where they're attacked by aliens. Did we really need to know anymore about it than that? I never read the comic, but the sounds great, what an original concept.

Judge Dredd Filming This Fall

We reported earlier this week that a Judge Dredd reboot planned for 3D was being sold at cannes. We now have the official press release, which includes more information regarding the production:

Reliance BIG Pictures, together with IM Global, the international sales company that Reliance acquired only last week, will finance DNA’s 3D production of JUDGE DREDD, a $45 million film adaptation of the iconic 2000 AD comic-book character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

Filming will take place over the fourth quarter of 2010 in Johannesburg.

JUDGE DREDD is being made by the writer/producer partnership behind The Beach, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Sunshine, and Never Let Me Go. Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich will produce a script written by Garland.

Pete Travis, director of Omagh, Vantage Point, and Endgame will direct. Wagner will be a creative consultant on the film.

DNA has engaged Michael Murphy (District 9) as South African co-producer.

Jason Kingsley and Chris Kingsley, owners of Rebellion/2000 AD, will co-produce.

Said John Wagner: 'Alex Garland’s script is faithful to the original concept that made Judge Dredd a favourite bad-ass hero. It’s a high-octane slay ride through the dark underbelly of the vast future city. A fan pleaser. With their track record, I have every faith in Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich.'

Said Alex Garland: 'I grew up reading Judge Dredd. The incredible writers and artists of 2000 AD were formative influences on me. Andrew, Allon and I have developed this adaptation of Judge Dredd with an emphasis on adrenaline and realism, but with all the scale and spectacle of Mega-City One. We think Pete’s propulsive, edgy style is a perfect match for the project.'

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Reliance by IM Global CEO Stuart Ford assisted by attorneys Strook and Strook with DNA principals Macdonald and Reich, DNA head of business affairs Jo Smith, and Miles Ketley of Wiggin & Co. Ford’s IM Global will handle international sales on the project

Being that they plan to bring a certain level of scale and spectacle to Mega-City One, and the production as a whole, all on a small budget, I'm guessing we'll be getting a cast of mostly no-name actors. This isn't all bad news actually, if it had been a 200 million budget filmed in LA, with some douche director, you know damn well they'd probably cast Gerard Butler for Dredd.

No word yet on a release date, but if I had to guess I'd say we're looking at maybe September 2011, as every other month is already filled with either large 3D releases and/or way too much competition for a low budget Judge Dredd reboot.

Why Sharlto Copley quit "I Am Number Four"

As recently reported by the trades Sharlto Copley dropped out of I Am Number Four, Citing a conflict of scheduling against his A-Team promotional-rounds.

His role (that of the mentor/guardian figure for the title character) will now be played by Timothy Olyphant. His career is going through resurgence as of late thanks to his headlining the hit series Justified on FX.

Well according to FilmDrunk the real reason for his departure from the project is actually a lot more stupid, and much funnier.

The real story, is that Sharlto Copley wanted to wear a prosthetic nose and fake ears like Spock and look like an alien in the movie, while director DJ Caruso was adamant that the aliens were supposed to look just like regular humans, hence why they’re able to fit in.  This was apparently such a sticking point that neither would budge, and Copley left the project.

As ridiculous as this sounds, I'm not that surprised. Almost every time a "scheduling conflict" is cited as the reason for someone leaving a project it's bullshit. This is just hilarious though, I can't imagine how that argument must have gone.