Here’s Your Latest Ghostbusters 3 Fix, You Crack Whores!

Dan Aykroyd's repetitious non-news comments or yet another talk of Bill Murray's unwillingness causes the fingerprints of online movie-news pundits to bleed from typing so fast. But it never means a damn thing. Ghostbusters 3 still hasn't rolled cameras. The last bit of real news came our way via Vulture of Ivan Reitman's contractual smackdown stopping Sony from sequelizing and/or rebooting the property without his directorial consent. That was two years ago...

Here's a... kinda, sorta, could mean anything but maybe not "update."

Reitman is gearing up to for the elusive threequel next summer, without Murray (Duh). It's from "TOLDJA" (You know, the ass-hats our community whines about endlessly for stealing info but still link 'em like morons and whose Corporate Big-Daddy just bought Variety) in the middle of an item concerning real news; Paramount putting the Reitman/Kevin Costner vehicle Draft Day in turnaround.

We have the next eight months to see if this will result in something Ghostbusters related actually happening. Place your bets!

Too Soon to Mean Anything Sequel Alert: Tyler Perry May be Alex Cross Again!

Spoke to colleague/pal who saw Alex Cross, and was disappointed to hear Tyler Perry's wig didn't grow feet and jump off his head nor did helmer Rob Cohen explain how Matthew Fox was able to stay so lean while consuming so much ham. Not a "So bad, it's good" camp classic. So bad, it's a God awful chore to sit through.

Not one of those bloggers to shout "IDRIS ELBA!" every time a strong, leading man role calls for a black actor but as someone who read the James Patterson books during the early 2000s in high school, the British thesp as Alex Cross is a no-brainer. I understand why they traded up for Perry, a household name for his trademark comedies than the unknown Elba. But one look at the playwright in character and the aroma of distaster was too strong a scent.

I say this, Alex Cross opens tomorrow. For all I know it this might be Perry's permanent escape from the dress and Bible-thumping Maeda. QED, the production company that bankrolled Cross, was beginning the early stages of a sequel, in the event one is called for.

Their plans are to adapt Double Cross, Patterson's 13^th Cross novel. Here's the description courtesy of Coming Soon:

"Just when Alex Cross's life is calming down, he is drawn back into the game to confront a criminal mastermind like no other. The elaborate murders that have stunned Washington, DC, are the wildest that Alex Cross and his new girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, have ever seen. This maniac adores an audience, and stages his killings as spectacles in public settings. Alex is pursuing a genius of terror who has the whole city on edge as it waits for his next move. And the killer loves the attention, no doubt–he even sets up his own Web site and live video feed to trumpet his madness."

Jack the Giant Killer, Giant Slayer, What's the Difference?

Jack isn't changing his job occupation. Just his title. Don't worry he'll still kill giant. It won't be as severe! *Shrugs*

For some, undisclosed, reason Warner Brothers is tweaking the title to Bryan Singer's fantasy-actioner starring Nicholas Hoult from Jack the Giant Killer to Jack the Giant Slayer. That will all make the difference in the world and make everyone forget the terrible trailer, its sudden change from June 2012 to March 2013 and those "Jack the Company Killer" quibbles. Speaking of, the studio also is moving up the release by three weeks to March 1 from the 22^nd.

Prove me wrong, Bryan, but this looks like a stinker!

Jack Reacher Trailer Goes a Long Way to Sell Tom Cruise, Badass

Much outcry was heard upon the casting of Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, the military cop-turned-cop. Fans of the novels said Cruise lacked any of Reacher’s physical characteristics. Creator Lee Child responded, "Trust me, it'll work..."

The trailer (via Yahoo! Movies) for the self-titled debut film intended as a franchise in the event the Chris McQuarrie-helmed actioner takes off this Christmas makes the case. A wonderfully '70's, Friedkin vibe on display, the idea of Werner Herzog as the baddie is a great example of "Fortune favors the bold," and Cruise has the drive to win over his detractors.

Domestic Poster for 'Jack Reacher' is a Bit...Amatuer-ish

Really Paramount?  That is the best you could come up with for your winter tentpole starring Tom Cruise?

I'm not even going to get into the fact that Ethan Hunt himself (I mean common, Cruise doesn't stray much in terms of 'looks' for his movies) is nothing like what is described in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, but that's your domestic one-sheet?!?

For one thing, Cruise's head looks like it's been poorly photoshoped onto his body, not to mention the fact that he's - for whatever reason - looking down and upset like he just realized Scientology destroyed his marriage...wait.

I think some studio exec took a look at the thing and realized they had to add a gun to ensure people realize Cruise is a badass so they threw that in there too (and by the way, since when is it OK to make a guy who's 50 look no more than 35 years-old?  The character in the books is in his 50s for crying out loud!)

Alright, enough of my rant.  Let's see if the new trailer will be any better which I'm willing to bet will play in front of Skyfall.

By the way, anyone else pick up on the fact that it's billed as 'A Tom Cruise Production'?

When a gunman takes five lives with six shots, all evidence points to the suspect in custody. On interrogation, the suspect offers up a single note: “Get Jack Reacher!” So begins an extraordinary chase for the truth, pitting Jack Reacher against an unexpected enemy, with a skill for violence and a secret to keep.

Leaked Man of Steel Toy Commercials Showcase What Superman Will Punch

Early still-in-the-works toy-commercials for The Man of Steel leaked courtesy of Bleeding Cool. So early Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh are in place where Henry Cavill and finished footage will be. So early I must confess my first reaction upon viewing was, "These have to be fake!"

They aren't, and if you're a spoiler-bitch, best not watch. These spots reveal how Zod will, probably, look (Well... he won't be bald... we think), promises of a robot army (How deliciously Fleischer!) and the use of the Black Zero.

Robocop Remake to Embarrass Sony in February 2014 Instead of August 2013

Set pictures can help as much as hurt. More often than naught, it's the latter. Exhibit A: the Robocop remake. Sony earned good will by following the formula that worked in 1986 for the original. Hire an outside-the-system, acclaimed non-American director and a cast that reads great on paper. Everything to follow Verhoeven's '87 masterpiece failing to live up to its greatness is another benefactor. How much worse can an update be when you have all those terrible sequels, TV shows, cartoons and mini-series?

Amazing as it is to imagine from those awful script reviews and set pictures that could happen.  It would explain Sony's decision to shift the release date from August 9, 2013 to February 7, 2014. Taking its post is Neill Blomkamp's Elysium, which hasn't felt heat from its set-pieces; opposite reaction in fact to a bleeding, bald Matt Damon running around outside Vancouver.

Does this extra time allow the Robocop filmmakers to stop the bleed (AKA: reshoots) or are they trying to postpone the inevitable?

Dark Knight Rises Blu-Ray Commercial; Jonah Nolan Plays Dumb on Hard-to-Misinterpret Ending

$1.075 billion box-office and generally positive reception, it's time for The Dark Knight Rises to squeeze the last ounce of dollar from the wallet – the home-video release perfectly timed for Christmas. Here's a trailer for the Blu-Ray:

This shopper can, and will, wait. I'll grab the DVD set for my two year-old Batman-crazy nephew. Warner Brothers already claimed ground for a second Dark Knight Trilogy Blu-Ray set for next year. The same set that generated those "Extended Cut" rumors. Never bought into that one, but rumor-mill says Christopher Nolan might buckle down to record commentary tracks. Only way I can imagine WB justifying playing us fans like whores with a second set, months after the first.

Meanwhile, the question of the ending was posed to co-writer (and li'l brother of helmer Nolan) Jonah by IGN Movies. Specifically if Alfred seeing Bruce and Selina was real.

The seeds planted by the brothers Nolan, and common sense, leaves an answer impossible to refute. Bruce is alive. For some unexplainable reason there are those who insist Alfred hallucinated seeing his surrogate son and his advisory-turned-lover/wife. We're not talking about the legit ambiguity of Nolan's Inception, Total Recall or Blade Runner.

That logic aside, Nolan ain't yapping either way. He points to experiences on Memento. Guess I can't blame him. He doesn't want to tell those people they're idiots. Being vague sells more copies, even if its staring you in the face like it did Michael Caine in those closing moments.

The Evil Dead Remake's First Look is a Familiar Moment

The Evil Dead remake hasn't incurred the wrath of most horror remakes. Mostly because Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell (the old dogs who made the original when they were young, hungry pups) supervising. Their roles could be nothing besides a front. But it goes a long way to ease concerns. It's also better to remake Evil Dead than go through with the oft-rumored-to-death Evil Dead 4. Think about it, do you really want to see an out-of-shape, 54 year-old Campbell in Roger Moore territory?

EW has the first look. They say that's supposed to Jane Levy, looking nothing like the plucky, red-head from Suburgatory, and remember described as "the new Ash." Meanwhile I09 has a nicely detailed summary of the trailer from the New York Comic-Con this weekend, which should be out fairly soon.

Weekend Box Office: October 12-14

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1.  Taken 2 - $22.5 million

2.  Argo - $20.1 million

3.  Sinister - $18.2 million

4.  Hotel Transylvania - $17.3 million

5.  Here Comes the Boom - $12 million

6.  Pitch Perfect - $9.3 million

7.  Frankenweenie - $7 million

8.  Looper - $6.3 million

9.  Seven Psychopaths - $4.2 million

10.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower - $2.1 million

Liam Neeson ruled the box office again this weekend as Taken 2 held on to the top spot, earning an estimated $22.5 million in its second weekend.  Its domestic total now stands $86.7 million, and it continues to do even bigger business overseas, where it's earned $132 million.  So I guess there will be a Taken 3? 

Coming in a close second was the Ben Affleck Iranian hostage drama Argo, which opened with an estimated $20.1 million.  With an "A+" Cinemascore rating, word-of-mouth should carry this one well for the next few weeks.  Right behind that was the horror film Sinister, which opened well with $18.2 million, although that's probably the best it will see with Paranormal Activity 4 opening next weekend.

While audiences can't seem to get enough Liam Neeson, they do seem to be somewhat over Kevin James, as his latest comedy, Here Comes the Boom, flopped with only $12 million for the weekend.  To put that in perspective:  even Zoopkeeper opened with $20.7.  So that wasn't good.  At least James still has Hotel Transylvania, which had another great weekend, earning $17.3 million.

The worst showing in this week's top ten was Seven Psychopaths, which earned only $4.2 million.  Also not impressing anyone was the second part of the Atlas Shrugged trilogy, which tanked in 11th place, earning only $1.1 million.

Next weekend, its found-footage galore as Paranormal Activity 4 opens in theaters.  Joining it is The Sessions, which is already generating a ton of Oscar buzz, as well as Tyler Perry's take on the Alex Cross series.