And We're Still Waiting for Rock-Solid Star Trek 2 News...

UPDATE: Since we just brought this up, this comes as a surprise to no one, with brain cells. To be fair, there are a lot of people out there who never contemplated this scenario and always take what studios say at face value. Because they never (ever) lie about anything. Yeah, I know – dumbasses.

"TOLDJA" says all signs are pointing to a release date shift for Star Trek 2. Nothing definite but Paramount's sights are currently set for a December 2012 release now. But the upside is J.J. Abrams is expected to announce relatively soon (from the sounds of it, before Super 8 opens in three weeks) he will return to direct.

So, get ready for some competition for that nerd dollar next Christmas, Superman!

If memory serves me correctly, the last update on Star Trek 2 (a sequel that I and many nerds and non-nerds can't wait to see) was everyone waiting on a finished script from Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof, the thumbs up or down from J.J. Abrams to direct and Paramount went as far to shuffle their Jack Ryan reboot in order for Chris Pine to captain the U.S.S. Enterprise a second time in order to make their long-announced June 29, 2012 release.

That was back in late March and, drum roll; we're still waiting as of the end of May. Wonderful, and as Abrams makes the press rounds to pimp his latest Super 8, people will continue to ask until more definite news is announced. Talking to Fox All Access, Abrams was brief and to the point:

"We're working hard on that script, and fingers crossed, we'll be able to make an announcement on that pretty soon"

Well, that's encouraging right?

Adding to that, co-screenwriter/producer Orci went to the Trek Movie forums and addressed some (truthfully realistic) concerns brought up by posters, adding just how much has been cooked up for the untitled Trek sequel:

"Orci: [to Capt. Crash] None of the above. Just been waiting for JJ to be free to really decide if he likes the story and hear his suggestions before we finish the script. Once he says go, we'll have it in no time. Meanwhile, our outline is detailed enough (70+ pages!) to do some prep :)"

It's possible (Look at how balls-tight the X-Men shoots have been, including First Class) but, at this juncture, I just don't see how they're going to make their late June '12 opening. Maybe they'll prove me wrong, but I say Paramount will wind up pushing Star Trek 2 to Christmas 2012 and instead of butt-hurting The Amazing Spider-Man they'll put the pain to The Man of Steel.

The Shark Still Looks Fake: Shark Night 3D Poster

Didn't Jaws 3 try this once before?  On the heels of last summer's kinda-successful Piranha 3D comes the poster for Shark Night 3D, the latest in the idiots vs. 3D underwater terror genre:

Directed by Snakes on a Plane's David R. Ellis, Shark Night 3D's title villian makes life miserable for a group of the usual brainless teenagers during a weekend trip to the lake.  You heard that right.  A shark in a lake.  Oh boy...

The poster is supposedly a homage to Jaws, and I will assume that the similarities to that classic film end there.  Shark Night 3D opens in theaters on September 2nd.

Harry Potter...Still Ending

A second character poster has been released for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, this time featuring the lovely Emma Watson:

I can also see some concerned Hogwarts students in the background including Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, and possibly Luna Lovegood.

Expect more character posters to follow.  Presumably Ron will be next, but I'm hoping for some nice Voldemort and Snape posters as well.  Especially Snape.  He deserves his own poster.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II opens on July 15.

Matt Reeves Taking Frankenstein's 'Dark Endeavor'

Well this sounds like an odd spin on a horror classic.

TOLJDA! reports Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) will direct the adaptation of Kenneth Oppel's upcoming novel, This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, a prequel to Mary Shelley's iconic horror tale.

The novel tells the story of a young Victor Frankenstein who sets out to find a mysterious alchemist and create the Elixir of Life in order to save his twin brother Konrad's life.  This adventure includes his twin, Konrad, and his friend Elizabeth.  Obviously foreseen, a love triangle occurs along with suspense.

The film, being produced and distributed by Summit Entertainment, was scripted by Jacob Aaron Estes (The Details).

The official synopsis is listed below [via Amazon]:

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

This sounds like it could be an interesting movie.  Trust be told, I haven't seen a good horror film in quite a long time (thought Scream 4 was pretty solid), and Matt Reeves seems to have an ideal visual flare for the genre.

More updates as this project develops.

Real Steel Poster!

Comingsoon.Net have the debut poster for the Hugh Jackman robot boxing flick 'Real Steel'. Directed by Shawn Levy and co-starring LOST Goddess Evangeline Lilly.

The film centers on a down on his luck fighter (Jackman) in a future where human boxing is outlawed, who builds and trains a robot with his estranged son to compete in robot boxing competitions.

The poster surprisingly doesn't feature Jackman, but is still pretty cool.

Larry David is a Colassal Prick...

...and that's why we love him.  Season 8 of Curb Your Enthusiasm premieres July 10 on HBO and a new trailer has premiered giving us a preview of everyone who is pissing Larry off now.  Amongst the highlights is Michael J. Fox, who proves once again to be one of the coolest guys on the planet in an episode where Larry is apparently offended that Fox's Parkinson's disease symptoms are causing too much noise from an upstairs apartment:

Other guest stars for the new season include Ricky Gervais, Michael McKean, Rosie O'Donnell, and Ana Gasteyer.  Should be hilarious.

New Deathly Hallows Poster

Not entirely sure what Harry is staring at here, but it could be any number of horrors that occur during the Battle of Hogwarts.  Warner Bros has released the latest promotional poster for the final Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, which opens in theaters on July 15:

In addition to the new poster, there's now a second minute-long TV spot making its way around the airwaves, which you can watch here:

I got to see the trailer in all of its IMAX glory this weekend in front Pirates 4, and it looked phenomenal.  July 15 really can't get here soon enough...well, actually it can.  I'm going to miss these movies once they're done. 

Weekend Box Office: May 20-22

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo: 

1.  Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - $90.1 million

2.  Bridesmaids - $20.8 million

3.  Thor - $15.4 million

4.  Fast Five - $10.5 million

5.  Priest - $4.7 million

6.  Rio - $4.6 million

7.  Jumping the Broom - $3.7 million

8.  Something Borrowed - $3.5 million

9.  Water for Elephants - $2.1 million

10.  Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family - $956,589

Well, everyone else seemed like it.  While Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opened somewhat below expectations in the US this weekend with $90.1 million, overseas the movie plundered the box office with a whopping $256 million since opening last Wednesday.  The 3D may not have helped, with the higher prices likely driving away anyone on the fence about whether or not they wanted to spend the extra cash on the badly reviewed fourth Pirates film (the show I saw on Saturday was only about half-full, with just a handful of people waiting for the next show as we were leaving).  On the plus side, the $90.1 million opening haul did manage to top Fast Five's $86.2 million for 2011's best opening weekend so far.  But with the summer blockbuster season kicking into high gear, this may be the first Pirates film to not cross the $300 million mark domestically - although it's already passed that worldwide.

It's too bad, the new Pirates is actually quite good.

As expected, Bridesmaids rode the wave of some stellar word-of-mouth to strong second weekend, dropping only 20% to gross $20.8 million, bringing its domestic total up to $59 million.  It will be interesting to watch Bridesmaids and The Hangover Part II duke it out over audience next weekend.  I suspect it will hold up just fine..

Thor, having lost a good chunk of its audience and its 3D screens to Pirates, dropped to third with $15.4 million.  The future Avenger has so far grossed $392 million worldwide.

The upcoming Memorial Day weekend brings with it the return of the Wolfpack with The Hangover Part II, as well as Jack Black's animated Kung Fu Panda 2 for the kids.  Wake me up when X-Men: First Class opens next week.

That Other Sherlock Star Joins The Hobbit

Benedict Cumberbatch has a couple of things going for him. One, his name is awesomely British. Two, he stars in Sherlock – the BBC series which happens to be both very awesome and very British. Three, he has a striking resemblance to Movie Moan co-star Ed Hocken. So if they ever make The Ed Hocken Movie, we know who'll play the title role. Four, it appears he's the latest non-American actor to join the cast of the two Hobbit flicks currently in production down in New Zealand.

Cumberbatch's co-star Martin Freeman is off the Lord of the Rings prequels to film the second Sherlock series this summer. Incidentally while at the BAFTAs last night (first leaked via the Twitter of BBC correspondent Lizo Mzimba), Freeman let it slip that when he returns to the Kiwi set he'll be taking the Sherlock to his Watson back with him.

I have nary a clue who the Sherlock star would play. He certainly looks like one of the Elves. Any suggestions?

Cute & Charming Trailer for The Muppets Hits

Much to my surprise and chagrin, Disney attached the trailer for The Muppets in front of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides this weekend. When I first saw Jason Segel and new Lois Lane Amy Adams onscreen with that Disney logo, I laughed, "Hey! It’s the Muppets!" and nobody reacted.

To be fair, it does pull a fast one on you playing like a dime-a-dozen romantic comedy. Until Kermit the Frog shows up. But even after the trailer is over my audience sat there blankly. Yet they clapped like retarded seals during the umpteenth time Captain Jack Sparrow gave a funny look during the surprisingly-not-so-shit Pirates fourquel.

Morons, but I digress. Here's the trailer for your viewing pleasure: