Brett Ratner In Talks To Direct Hercules

Forgive me for not mustering much interest in Brett Ratner.

Not a strike against him, I actually like the guy and he’s made some good movies. But him being "in talks" or "attached" to direct something at this point feels like a fruitless endeavor. Reminds me of Quentin Tarantino who will talk up a storm about one particular project, get everyone excited and then lose interest and move on.

As per the Los Angeles Times, the latest project Ratner is in discussions to helm is a live-action Hercules movie under Millennium/Nu Image Films. That’s same studio responsible for Conan which Ratner was supposed to direct, but that fell apart.

This joins a long-line of projects he's had his name on including Beverly Hills Cop IV, the afore-mentioned Conan reboot, Youngblood, a Hugh Hefner biopic, Tower Heist and countless others. Then there's his attempt at landing The Hobbit – did he seriously think Warner Brothers would say "Yes?"

No offense, Brett. But when I see you on set on the first day of filming, then and there I'll believe you’re directing this movie.

First Look at Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern

Here is the exclusive "First Look" at Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern. This comes courtesy of Entertainment Weekly in their forthcoming Comic-Con themed issue.

Take a moment and let that picture settle in. Am I the only one who thinks that looks terrible?

Granted it’s always fair to give the filmmakers the benefit of the doubt. But when the news broke awhile back that Reynolds' suit would be a CGI concoction, I wasn't thrilled. It didn't help that the plan was to originally have the actor in an actual suit and I even recall remarks from the likes of Geoff Johns talking about how they saw Reynolds up close and personal in the costume.

But this is...eh. Maybe it'll grow on me?

Elizabeth Banks IS Tinkerbell!

Not much to go off here. But if you (like me) are a huge fan of Elizabeth Banks and waiting for the day the general public get off their collective asses and make her a star, we could be one step closer.

The trades says Banks (Warner Brothers, are you listening? Make her Lois Lane, dammit!) is attached to Disney's Tink. They're not going into many details except to say it "plays with the mischievous nature of the Tinkerbell character" and is a romantic comedy. No telling if and/or how Peter Pan plays into this. Maybe this version has him as the asshole boyfriend.

Jennifer Gibgot, McG and Adaam Shankman are serving as producers and Elizabeth Wright Shapiro will write. No director is currently onboard.

Jonah Nolan Is the Frontrunner to Direct The Man of Steel; "TV Star" Looked At For Superman

Our pals at Movie Hole have an update on the "Jonah Nolan directing Superman" item that resurfaced a few days ago. That rumor originated from yours truly. But since the original story is nowhere to be seen now, I'll merely point you in the direction of Team Morris and Screen Rant.

According to their source(s), Nolan is not fully onboard to call the shots, but "it looks like he will get the job." That's a benefit of having your older brother (Christopher Nolan) and sister-in-law (Emma Thomas) serving as the producers. It also helps they're coming off successfully rebooting the Batman franchise and have another potential money-maker about to open with Inception. Reminds me of how Spielberg championed Bob Zemeckis early on.

It's a mixed bag. Although Jonah is obviously a very good (if not great) writer, I'm drawing a blank on any potential directorial skill he’s shown in the past. He’s been writing with his brother for years. So it’s not hard to imagine that itch has hit him too. For all we know, he has a slew of student films he made back in the day collecting dust at home. *Shrugs* I'll go with it either way. Peter Jackson took a risk on Neill Blomkamp and look how that worked out.  

As for the approach of the new movie, apparently this isn't going to be a full-on reboot or even a "requel" like Bryan Singer's Superman Returns:

"This Superman is neither a reboot or a sequel. It's just a Superman film. The basic elements of the storyline are: BIG action, BIG set-pieces, witty dialogue, playful romance, a light-hearted feelgood mood juxtaposed with derring-do and danger, top-notch cast, epic feel, sci-fi background (sounds a little like Donner, right?) BUT with some sort of huge twist on the legend."

So essentially they’re going in the old-school James Bond approach. Loose continuity, rarely (if ever) directly reference earlier installments, interchangeable cast, etc. Hey, that has worked for Eon for almost fifty years, before hitting the "reboot" button on Casino Royale.

The biggest question of all, of course, is who will be done the red-and-blue suit come Christmas 2012? Although being coy, here's a morsel of info:

"Also, it is a TV star that they're looking at for the lead - but, despite what that article says, I don't believe anyone has actually tested."

Well...there are a couple of cats this could definitely be. It's obvious who Clint is talking about: John Krasinski.

Potential Clues to Nolan's Third Batman Film?

 

Comic-Con is right on our heels and many fans are hoping to hear some announcements for Christopher Nolan's untitled third Batman flick. 14 Batman related domain names have recently been purchased by Warner Bros, and here is that list:

ArkhamCity.com
BatmanArkhamCity.com
BatmanAshesofGotham.com
BatmanBrokenGround.com
BatmanNewArkham.com
BatmanGrandDelusion.com
BatmanRiseofArkham.com
BatmanSiegeofGotham.com
BatmanStateofVillainy.com
CityofArkham.com
CloseArkhamCity.com
PeopleforGotham.com
StopMayorSharp.com
WarinGothamCity.com
WheresBruceWayne.com

A lot of speculation is pointing towards the sequel to the hit game Arkham Asylum, and many of these domain names very much reference it.

I am interested in the last one on the list though. At the end of The Dark Knight, Batman says himself that he must be on the run to protect Gotham properly. Could this possibly be pointing to a Bruce Wayne disappearance in the next installment?

Disney Perching With Gargoyles

Gargoyles may finally be making a comeback or were they ever popular enough to warrant the term "comeback"?

Disney is currently in the process of developing an untitled gargoyles feature film with Lauren Shuler Donner producing. There is only a description at this point with no real clarity if its a take on the early 90's cartoon titled Gargoyles from the same company.

The project seeks to build a mythology around the carvings, originally designed in medieval times to act as spouts but later took on roles as powerful symbols to ward off or attract evil. The story is being developed, but it is known to be set in modern times.

Zoe Green is currently the option for developing the story. I'm not familiar with any of Green's work but she has worked with a few fantasy themed projects which is certainly a step in the right direction.

I watched Gargoyles every time it was showing on my television set so I am very much for a feature film of said cartoon. If it is a completely new story or a descendant of the cartoon, I wonder if they are looking to take the animated route or something in live-action? I've only seen one live-action gargoyles movie, Rise of the Gargoyles and it was a cheaply funded film that ended up looking terrible. My vote goes to animated because I can't see how a live-action movie about gargoyles would work at all, even with Disney's wallet funding it.

No "Mad Men" for AT&T Subscribers?

What is up with cable companies?  First a fee dispute took HGTV and The Food Network off of Cablevision for a few weeks last year.  Then another dispute got the Walt Disney Company to pull the ABC signal from again, Cablevision homes.  That blackout lasted less than 24 hours, but regardless it was too damn late to save my Oscar party by the time the signal was restored.

Now here we go again.  The Associated Press is reporting that this time it's AT&T fighting out a cable fee dispute with Rainbow Media (which is a subsidiary of, big surprise...Cablevision) that is threatening to pull the signals of the networks AMC, IFC, and WEtv.  The blackout will occur if no deal is reached by midnight tonight, which is when the current agreement ends, and will affect 2.3 million subscribers in 22 states, including California and Texas.

While this might not be terribly upsetting news for someone uninterested in the next WEtv Bridezillas marathon, it could possibly affect season premiere of Mad Men on July 25.  Right now the season four premiere is still over a week away, but keep in mind the HGTV/Food Network/Cablevision pissing match went on for three weeks, and the Oscars had already started by the time ABC and Cablevision had finally kissed and made up. 

So there is definitely a cause for concern if you're an AT&T subscriber.  Fortunately I'm not, but having been through the other two blackouts and also having received a letter from Cablevision after the ABC fiasco promising to avoid situations like that in the future, I would be really pissed if they were on the verge of stealing my Don Draper fix next week.

It sounds like the same old fight:  AT&T is claiming they want to keep costs down for consumers, Rainbow/Cablevision is apparently saying can only keep those networks as long as they also pay for the Sundance Channel and Wedding Central.  Eventually they'll come to an agreement, but one way or another, it will most likely be the subscribers who lose.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Returns

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returns after a 2-week hiatus with a fresh batch of episodes featuring Hollywood's biggest stars.  The new episodes begin Monday, July 19^th with Emmy winner Kyra Sedgwick, who joins Jimmy to talk about her recent Emmy nomination for “The Closer” and what its like to be only one degree to Kevin Bacon.

Additional upcoming guests include Jon Hamm, Adam Carolla, Zac Efron, Sharon Osbourne, Hugh Hefner and musical performances by N.E.R.D, Keane and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.

Please see below for the full listings:

July 19

1. Actress Kyra Sedgwick (“the Closer”)  2. Actor Jay Baruchel (“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”)   3. Musical Guest N.E.R.D

July 20

1. Actor Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”)  2. Actors J.B. Smoove and Ralph Macchio  3. Musical Guest Runner Runner

July 21

1. Comic/Host Adam Carolla (AdamCarolla.com)  2. 5-year-old baseball phenomenon Ariel Antigua  3. Musical Guest Raheem DeVaughn

July 22

1. Actor Wilmer Valderrama (“The Dry Land”)  2. Musical Guest Keane

July 23

TBD

July 26

1. Actor Johnny Knoxville (“Birth of Big Air”)  2. Actress Amanda Crew (“Charlie St. Cloud”) 3. Musical Guest Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

 July 27

1. Stand up comic Shane Mauss

July 28

1. Actor Zac Efron (“Charlie St. Cloud”)  2. Lisa Ling (Somewhere Inside)

July 29

1. Sharon Osbourne  2. Hugh Hefner (“Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist, and Rebel”)

July 30

TBD

"Community" Gets Betty White

I love Betty White news.  Not only because she is spectacularly awesome...but I love any excuse to post that picture again.

As reported on HitFix, Betty White will be making an appearance on the season premiere of NBC's Community as Jane Bauer, "an esteemed, but slightly unhinged anthropology professor."  Which seems like a perfect fit for that show, which is already pretty damn hilarious.

This is in addition to her current series, Hot in Cleveland, which has already been renewed for a second season.  She also received an Emmy nomination for her hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, and as we reported here earlier this week, she's also being considered for a remake of the film Oh God!. 

So Betty White certainly shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, and we love her for it.

New Trailer "Due Date"

Director Todd Philips' directorial follow up to The Hangover is Due Date and Yahoo! Movies has released the first trailer online. It looks a lot like a remake to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles which came out in 87' and starred comedians Steve Martin and the late John Candy. It looks funny as hell at any rate, and it gives us something else from Philips until Hangover 2 hits.

In the Warner Bros. release, Peter Highman (Downey Jr.) is an expectant first-time father whose wife's due date is a mere five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at her side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when a chance encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan--on what turns out to be a cross-country road trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, numerous friendships and Peter's last nerve.