Justice League Won't Feature Henry Cavill's Superman?!

What we have here is a failure to communicate. Or perhaps a case where things are so early and jumbled that not everyone is 100% in sync at the moment.

The good folks over at Hey! U Guys were able to grab director Zack Snyder for a quick minute at the Sucker Punch UK premiere, and the subject turned to not Superman: The Man of Steel surprisingly, but the recently announced Justice League movie.

When that news broke the other day, we all assumed if Christian Bale's Batman wouldn't be utilized (something I'm still not 100% sold will go down) then Henry Cavill's Superman and Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern would fill that slot of pre-established superheroes in help secure asses in seats; assuming TMOS and GL are the mega-blockbusters Warner Brothers is hoping.

Not so according to director Snyder:

In that Hero Complex article that elaborated on the mater, they openly acknowledged one of the key reasons Justice League: Mortal died was because it was deemed too confusing for general audiences (not to mention, you know retarded as fuck) to have two separate actors portraying Batman with the intention of doing multiple films. All concurrently.

So with that in mind, do I think Warner Brothers will repeat that same mistake for this hypothetical Justice League movie? No.

With all due respect to Snyder, his goal right now is on making one Superman movie and, most importantly, one that works. Cavill has without question signed a multi-picture contract, and there's no rhyme nor reason why he wouldn't be slotted in if it helped the box-office prospects of Justice League.

This also just plain doesn't gel with common sense and logic. WB is going to spend a lot of money pushing Cavill as the new Superman leading up to the reboot's release next Christmas. They already have, as a matter of fact; that EW cover-story awhile back. They're not going to go through all that hard work and dough just to turn around and get someone else as the Man of Steel a year or two later in addition to a possible Man of Steel sequel. That's way too confusing for everyone; general movie-goers and us nerds.

Pixar Invites You To "Monsters University"

Ever wonder how Mike and Sulley met?  No, I don't think anyone else did either.  But we're going to find out next year, courtesy of Monsters University.  Disney revealed the title to the sequel to Pixar's 2001 hit animated film Monsters Inc. today at CinemaCon, according The Hollywood Reporter. 

Story details have yet to be released, but Disney did confirm earlier rumors that movie will indeed be a prequel about how scare champions Mike Wazowski and James P. "Kitty!" Sullivan met in college and went from enemies to best friends.  John Goodman, Billy Crystal, and Steve Buscemi (who played the villian Randall) are expected to reprise their roles in the new film.

Interestingly, Disney did have their own Monsters sequel in the works during the almost-breakup with Pixar a few years back.  Entitled Monsters Inc. 2:  Lost in Scaradise, the sequel had Mike and Sulley venturing into the human world in search of their little friend Boo, who had moved away since their last visit.  Screenwriters Bob Hilgenberg and Rob Muir recently put together a trailer based on early artwork to give everyone an idea of how that sequel might have looked:

What happened next, of course, is that Disney finally made the deal to purchase Pixar in 2006, and as part of the deal, all non-Pixar produced sequels to their earlier films were scrapped.  So long, Lost in Scaradise.

Honestly, I'm glad they're going the prequel route for the new film.  Aside from being just a terrific movie, Monsters Inc. also had what was probably the best ending of any of the Pixar films (although Toy Story 3's ending belongs in its own universe).  I'd rather see a prequel or an entirely new Monsters story rather than see them try to follow up the original ending.

Monsters University is planned to arrive in theaters in fall 2012.

According to M, Bond (2)3 Starts Shooting This November

Maybe it's because I can be such an easy lay at times (Imagine that?), but, as a fan, I'm just happy to hear there’s more servings of Daniel Craig's James Bond to indulge. For a good-long-while there, it looked like Craig would serve a two-picture reign not unlike the underrated Timothy Dalton in the late '80s.

But, as you all know, he's not (for now...) and Bond (2)3 is scheduled for release November 9, 2012. While we all wait to see if Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes work out (I say "and" assuming they’re up for separate roles), Dame Judi Dench let the cat outta the bag on when production is expected to start up to the Express:

"I am going to do the next Bond in November. I don’t know the location yet but hopefully it will be somewhere nice. I can’t tell you much more but I do enjoy ­playing M as she is such a strong character. I like being bossy and my grandson thinks its cool that I’m in Bond."

Yes, it's a minor update and we'd assumed things would commence either at the end of this year or early next year. But it's something, dammit. Interested to hear from Sam Mendes (who's onboard to direct this installment) while we're all waiting.

Disney Gets Out of Joseph Kosinski Business; Drops Oblivion

While a studio is high on a filmmaker, they’ll go ahead and option properties left and right. "Hey if so-and-so is behind it, then it's gotta be worth our time!" Said mentality is fine and dandy if the director in question has a couple of hits under his/her built. If we’re talking about someone unproven and this is a formality in case they, and the big tentpole they’re currently working on, explode, then there's always the chance of reneging down the line. You know, in case that big 4000-screen release doesn’t meet up to expectations.

I remember that happening with McG leading up to Terminator: Salvation and every studio in town were conducting knife-fights just to get his name attached to something of theirs. Then it opened and all those optioned properties went kaput. Here’s another example.

Variety reports Disney has pulled the plug on Oblivion, an adaptation of the illustrated novel by filmmaker Joseph Kosinski.

Check out the plot synopsis:

"Book is set in a future where the Earth's surface has been irradiated beyond recognition and the remnants of humanity live above the clouds, safe from the brutal alien Scavengers that stalk the ruins. But when surface drone repairman Jak discovers a mysterious woman in a crash-landed pod, it sets off an unstoppable chain of events that will force him to question everything he knows."

Yes, that's the same Joseph Kosinski whom the Mouse pined all their hopes and dreams (with images of sequels, animated spin-offs and merchandising dancing in their head) on Tron: Legacy. Until it opened. While prospects for Tron 3 are slim-to-Who are you fucking kidding, Kosinski is free to take Oblivion to competing studios.

Paramount Places Star Trek 2 as Priority Over Jack Ryan Reboot

Paramount is invested in Chris Pine. He's headlining the Star Trek franchise (co-headlining along with Zachary Quinto, to be exact) and the studio decided to cement that working relationship by making him the new Jack Ryan for the planned reboot Moscow. Clearly, they want to be in the Chris Pine business.

That was a year ago though, and the plan was for Moscow to lens before Star Trek 2. Things even advanced as far as Jack Bender being assigned directing duties and Oscar-winner scribe Steve Zaillian (Schindler's List) performing rewrites.

Word from "TOLDJA" is those plans have been scrapped as Zaillian backed out of the production. In a surprise move (given the mentality of meeting release-dates, quality be damned!), Paramount has placed Moscow on hiatus as they search for a new writer and waiting to get it done right with Bender remaining attached to direct, for the time being.

With the return of Jack Ryan stalled, the priority's been placed on the Star Trek sequel. Despite the script still being worked on (No word if there's even a first draft completed yet; I think that's fans' #1 concern) and J.J. Abrams being ambivalent towards his return to the director's chair, they’re still insisting on that June 29, 2012 release with the start of filming going this fall.

Quiet the tall order all things considered. It's doable where things stand right now, but as time keeps a ticking with no visible progress that opening next summer is looking less and less likely. Thankfully our pals at Coming Soon cornered Abrams and brought up that concern with this response:

"We're working on the story. That's probably more important than the release date at this point, but at the moment, we're not going to change anything."

If Paramount is serious about keeping that date (and they badly need Star Trek 2 after losing The Avengers), a "Ya" or "Nay" answer from Abrams, whose producing the sequel regardless, should be given so they can lock down a directorial replacement and get the ball rolling. Matt Reeves, anyone?

And if (God forbid for fans...like me) that Star Trek 2 can't hit summer 2012, there's always that Christmas instead. Ironic considering the reboot was originally set for Christmas 2008 before they opted for Summer 2009 months into filming (read: they saw the footage being pulled together and knew they had a mega hit on their hands). The way I see it if they keep their release, they'll kick The Amazing Spider-Man's ass and if they move to say Christmas '12 they'll kick Superman: The Man of Steel's instead.

Justice League Movie in 2013 & a Post-Nolan Batman Reboot?

Back in August 2008 while riding still riding high on The Dark Knight goodness, Jeff Robinov (#2 big-cheese at Warner Brothers) boldly told the Wall-Street Journal an entire slate of DC cataloged films were planned including a third Batman installment with Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale, a Superman "re-invention" flick, Green Lantern and The Flash, and so on. An official announcement dishing out all the gory details were promised.

Then nothing ever came of said promise.

Plenty of things transpired moving the DC film unit ahead, despite that. Green Lantern got going with Martin Campbell directing and Ryan Reynolds headlining as Hal Jordan (due out this June) and Nolan is actively doing double-duties as he preps The Dark Knight Rises to direct and producing the Zack Snyder-directed, Henry Cavill-starring Superman: The Man of Steel; both will hit in 2012.

Between that initial WSJ interview and today however, there's one big difference with Robinov. He got handed the keys to the WB kingdom and, most important of all, greenlight authority. What started off as a minor blurb in the Los Angeles Times has exploded with the studio's future plans for their DC-on-film lineup.

Chatting it up with Hero Complex (a genre-oriented subsidiary of the LA Times), the new #1 at WB Robinov elaborated on their intentions confirming a script for a Justice League film is being typed as we speak for an unspecified 2013 release, and the Batman franchise will once again hit the "Reboot" button post-TDKR with Nolan and his wife/producing-partner Emma Thomas staying onboard as producers.

Interesting.

Well for one, why not simply bring Christian Bale's Batman back into the equation for JL? TDKR will bring that story to a close, yes. But his committment to Terminator: Salvation shows he hearts money and it ain't always about "the art." Maybe he just doesn't want to or maybe Bats bites the dust at the end of TDKR? The latter could certainly explain the need of a new Bats.

I'm also not buying a JL flick dropping in two years. To go from the first, in their hopes/intentions a series of, Superman (that's hitting at the end of 2012, no less) and final-Nolan-anchored Batman to seeing Cavill in the red-and-blue suit again, Reynolds as Green Lantern and a new actor as Bats 6 months-to-a year later is definitely on the jarring side. There's also the problem of what happens if GL and TMOS under-perform. They're jumping the gun on this one, and it feels like this is their way of riling up fandom. Once reality settles in, a more firm (read: realistic) release will get set out.

New Images from 'Captain America: The First Avenger'

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Louis D’Esposito will executive produce. The film will be released in the US on July 22, 2011 and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America.

Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy’s earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment… Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the Super-Solider Serum and bombarded by “vita-rays.” Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and as leader of the Avengers.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER stars Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Sebastian Stan, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci, and Hugo Weaving.

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows - Part II Poster Hits

If I wasn't already going to see it, would this one-sheet for Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – Part II get my interests? Doesn't hurt.

Facebook has the first, of what will certainly be, many posters as the release of the final Harry Potter film* approaches. Does a nice job of building up to the big confrontation between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) fans have been waiting for since the Chris Columbus freshman installment hit a decade ago.

Let's just hope they don't do a one-sheet showcasing the AfterMASH coda, and don't give me any looks for saying that. Everyone knows how it ends, at this point!

*Until the mortgage on J.K. Rowling's fifth castle is due.

Fox Fishing That X-Men Lake Dry

This feels like a fallback plan because The Wolverine hitting the skids or maybe it isn't and this is a part of an epic strategy to further whore out a once-prosperous film-series. In this month's Empire (via Obsessed with Film), producer Lauren Shuler Donner reveals a treatment for X-Men 4's been written and submitted to 20^th Century Fox.

Add to that an X-Men 5 (4 leads into it), any First Class sequels (I have a feeling deep down that, quality notwithstanding, there won't have any conversations about X-Men: Second Semester or X-Men: Cramming for the GED after that prequel drops in June) and the afore-mentioned Wolverine sequel-to-a-prequel. Whenever Fox makes their move on that one.

Oh yeah, and there's that Deadpool solo-flick which, in a case of having your cake and eating it too, will retcon the Merc with a Mouth's appearance in the first Wolverine movie. Basically, taking people's money (and damn well knowing it before hand – remember when the story leaked of how Wade Wilson was being portrayed and they denied it?) and then claiming ignorance. Assuming that goes forward. I don't care what Ryan Reynolds says; he very-well knows doing another comic-book tentpole with a rival studio won't sit well with Warner Brothers when they spending a hot-wad of cash pimping him hard as Green Lantern.

The X-Men 4 thing, though, makes me wonder if they've gone as far to start talks with varying cast-members from the 2000-2006 films. Having Bryan Singer aboard again might be entice some (like Ian McKellen) to come back while others (like Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry) will show up if the price is right.

The 'Bourne' Screen Tests Begin

I know this is news from last week but I figured I'd give my two cents on the matter here.

TOLDJA! gave an update last week on the casting hunt for the lead role in The Bourne Legacy.  Previously, it has been reported that a number of young actors were in consideration for Matt Damon's replacement in Tony Gilroy's 'Bourne spinoff' coming out next August.

That list has apparently been narrowed down as the following actors are said to be screen testing the first week in April: Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom), Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!), Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans) and Garret Hedlund (Tron: Legacy).

To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind if any of the four got the role.  They're all solid actors who have been building up credibility over the past few years (though Edgerton looks as if he'd be more suited for a villian than anything else).

It is also mentioned that an actor may get the role who is not among the four testing.  Logan Marshall-Green is speculated (I personally thing he would be great, he has that 'intense' presence).  Shia LaBeouf is also named though he wouldn't screen test as he is seen as more of an 'established name' (I wrote up an article on this earlier in the month).  Finally, Taylor Kitsch is thrown into the mix as he has apparently had meetings with Gilroy about the role though of all the names mentioned, he would be last on my list.  I just don't understand what the big deal is about this guy.  He reminds me of an 'Alex Pettyfer type' who is being forced on the public to be the next big thing rather than grown into.

Anyway, with the film planning to shoot this summer, I'd say by the end of next month we'll know who'll be headling The Bourne Legacy come next August.