Planet of the Apes remake coming 2011

Twentieth Century Fox has set a June 24, 2011 release for Rise of the Apes, a completely new take on one of the studio's most beloved and successful franchises, Planet of the Apes. Oscar-winning visual effects house Weta Digital – employing certain of the groundbreaking technologies developed for Avatar – will render, for the first time ever in the film series, photo-realistic apes rather than costumed actors.

Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark will produce for Chernin Entertainment under its new pact with Fox. Acclaimed filmmaker Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist) is directing from a screenplay by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa, who also are producing.

Rise of the Apes (tentative title) is an origin story in the truest sense of the term. Set in present day San Francisco, the film is a reality-based cautionary tale, a science fiction/science fact blend, where man's own experiments with genetic engineering lead to the development of intelligence in apes and the onset of a war for supremacy.

The last time that we saw the 'Planet Of The Apes' franchise receive the big screen treatment, it was under the direction of Tim Burton starring Mark Wahlberg in 2001. Burton's remake went on to make 362 million world wide at the box office, which at the time apparently wasn't enough to warrant a sequel.

Mission: Impossible 4 Moving To Christmas 2011

Today is officially being renamed JJ Abrams day. More news has surfaced regarding another one of Abrams many projects in development.

Exhibitor Relations has revealed that Paramounts blockbuster sequel Mission Impossible 4 is being moved to December 16, 2011.

As been said in the past, studios are beginning to realize that popcorn blockbusters don't have to be exclusive to the summer time. That's what the massive success of Avatar taught executives. Hence why Paramount is now putting M:I 4 for next Christmas and, as IESB exclusively reported, Warner Brothers is doing the same for Superman: The Man of Steel for December of 2012.

This was a wise move, as next summer is starting to get very crowded. This means Paramount is planning to have three Abrams related projects released every six months, between next summer and the year after. Super 8 for summer 2011, now M:I 4 for Christmas 2011 and the Star Trek sequel for summer 2012.

Spielberg Is Abrams Illegitimate Father?

With the news now surfacing about director JJ Abrams new secret teaser trailer "Super 8" attached to Iron Man 2 this weekend, comes more shocking news. Legendary hollywood director Steven Spielberg who is also producing the project has just admitted he is in fact Abrams illegitimate father.

Spielberg recently admitted to the press, and the world for the first time, that he is in fact Abrams father. When asked why this hasn't come out until now, Spielberg said he was ashamed at the fact that he was wasn't around for Abrams childhood, because of his career in hollywood taking precedence over everything else in his life, including his illegitimate children.

They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and in this case it certainly didn't. Abrams has made quite a name for himself in hollywood as well, having directed Mission Impossible III starring Tom Cruise, and successfully resurrecting the Star Trek franchise just last year.

When it was first anounced that Abrams next picture would be a smaller scale movie, somewhat of a homage to Speilbergs's style of the late 70's, and that Speilberg himself was attached to produce, it may have came as a huge surpise to everyone.

Now with the truth out there, both Abrams and Spielberg say they're looking to use this opportunity to make up for lost time.

If you just finished reading this and you're thinking to yourself, this sounds ridiculous, you were right for thinking so. This was meant to be nothing more than a joke, Slow news day is all, ha.

WME is selling Joaquin Phoenix's mockumentary

Are you wondering where Academy award nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix has been? He has apparently quit acting to pursue a career as a rapper, yes you read that right, a rapper.

His long months of bizarre behavior culminated in his semi-mute interview with David Letterman that was as surreal as anything Andy Kaufman ever did. And, his musical debut at the Las Vegas night club LAVO where he claimed to be a homeless rapper, jumped around the stage, and fell off.

Deadline reports:

Casey Affleck has completed that much-talked about and long-awaited mockumentary he directed about his brother-in-law Joaquin Phoenix's eccentric metamorphosis from actor to hip-hop musician (or so we've been led to believe). I'm told that the film made its debut in a private lunchtime screening at WME headquarters last week for buyers -- including Harvey Weinstein -- who were sworn to secrecy. WME is selling the film, and it may only take a couple of days to reach a deal. I hear the agency and the distributors intend to keep the mock's content under wraps for as long as they can for maximum shock value. (So it won't be part WME Global's sales push at the Cannes Film Festival.) Presumably, the film answers Hollywood's bewilderment about whether Joaquin was serious about quitting acting -- or whether he was just, well, acting.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this was all just a publicity stunt on Pheonix' part, probably just because he was bored. Why else would there be such secrecy surrounding his "mockumentary", not to mention the fact that it's being called a "mockumentary".

As ridiculous as this all sounds, I for one am very interested to see what all the secrecy is about. I actually enjoy Phoenix' acting, so I really hope he isn't quiting a successful career in acting to be the homeless rapper, although he does look hilarious.

Green Lantern Set Photo

The headquarters building for the fictitious Ferris Aircraft has just been put together for Martin Campbell's space adventure Green Lantern. 

Several weeks ago, Comicbookmovie revealed that New Orleans' Lakefront Airport was chosen as the location for the fictitious Ferris Aircraft airfield. In the DC comics universe, Ferris Air is owned and operated by Carl Ferris (Jay O. Saunders) and his daughter Carol (Blake Lively); it is also where Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) works as a test pilot. Lakefront Airport will be used for several scenes in the film taken directly from the comics, including the crash site where our hero's father meets his demise.

 

I won't be surprised at all if we get a full reveal of the new Green Lantern suit at this years Comic Con in San Diego. I'd say it's possible we'll get a teaser trailer at Comic Con, and then something else more closer to the end of the year, or early next year.

Green Lantern is set to open everywhere June 17, 2011.

Final Poster For The Last Airbender

EMPIRE have gotten their hands on the final poster for M Night Shyamalan's summer blockbuster in the making "The Last Airbender." The movie is setting up to be one of this summer's biggies in my view and you can check out the poster below.

JJ Abrams’ Super 8 Teaser Trailer Description

The net has been buzzing all week with news that a secret trailer for a new JJ Abrams movie will be shown with Iron Man 2 screenings this Friday, well /Film now has a detailed description of the trailer and man does it sound great. The film is called Super 8 and is the project announced a couple of weeks ago that will see JJ using Steven Spielberg as an inspiration, Spielberg for his part is a producer.

Check the description out below.

The trailer lasts about one minute and a half.

It begins with the Green MPAA screen, followed by the Paramount Pictures logo. No Bad Robot at the header.

A train rushes by the screen. We notice that it has lots of cargo.

Text comes on the screen: “In 1979, The U.S. Air Force Closed A Section of AREA 51.”

We see the railroad crossing light blinking and ringing as the camera pans up we see some sort of light moving in the background. What is it? A UFO?

More Text: “All The Materials Were To Be Transported To A Secure Facility In Ohio.”

No, it appears to be the headlights of a yellow 1970’s truck, which skids in a 180 degree motion, and suddenly pulls onto the tracks.

Point of view of the truck heading into the light.

Black screen and white text: “From Producer Steve Spielberg”

We see the truck explode as it hits the train.

Then… the cargo train is heading towards the car explosion - BAM. It is wrecked, thrown from the tracks like a wild snake. The flaming metal body flipping towards the camera. Cars flying through the air. It is INTENSE.

Another black screen and the text: “And Director JJ Abrams”

The camera really slowly moves in on the wrecked pieces of the train, most of which is now just scrap metal. At least one car remains intact.

Black screen, white test: “Next Summer”

We see some sparks.

Black screen, white text: “It Arrives”

We pull up on one of the train cars with a US Airforce logo. The wheel on the door begins to spin out of control as we pull in closer. The wall of the door begins to bend like some huge force is punching it from the inside.

Cut to one second of a close up of an 8mm camera lens.

Cut to black. White text: “Super 8″

The credits at the end were pretty bare.

Paramount Pictures Presents, An Amblin Entertainment/Bad Robot Production

“Super 8″

PRoduced By Steve Spielberg JJ Abrams Bryan Burk

Written and Directed by JJ Abrams

And the bottom featured the Amblin Entertainment, Bad Robot and Paramount Pictures Logo.

It definitely feels like a late 1970’s Spielberg film, think Close Encounters of a Third Kind. I’m excited to see what the actual movie is about.

The Killer Inside Me Trailer

Michael Winterbottom's adaption of Jim Thompson's searing noir. The film played to mixed receptions on the festival circuit and was deemed too nasty and gratuitous by some, those though who are fans of the book felt it was a faithful adaption.

The trailer gives very little away but indicates another fine performance from Casey Affleck in the lead role of the psychotic sheriff, Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson both get to step out of the formulaic rom com mode both have been in and Alba in particular has a strong role by all accounts.

The film clearly is dark and unforgiving and not for everyone, however for those with the stomach it looks like a promising thriller and bleak character study. Check the trailer out below to see which category you are in.

Ice Age 4 coming in 2012

The Ice Age movies, continue to be huge money makers for Fox. Every sequel makes more then the last, what are they to do. Make another one of course.

20th Century Fox is hoping that will happen again as it is teaming up with Blue Sky Studios for a fourth installment in the lucrative "Ice Age" series, to be titled Ice Age: Continental Drift. The movie is scheduled for a release on July 13, 2012.

That means the studio will be releasing the film right in between Sony's Spider-Man reboot (July 3, 2012) and Warner Bros.' next Batman movie (July 20, 2012).

The first Ice Age earned $383.3 million worldwide in 2002. It was followed in 2006 by Ice Age: The Meltdown, which collected $655.4 million. That was topped again by Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' $884.8 million last year.

I dont mind the Ice Age movies, but it seems like the more they make the stupider they get. Does Fox care? No, they keep making more money, why would they.

Rourke May Get Whiplash from All the Offers.

If Robert Downey Jr. is on fire in terms of being cast for upcoming films, his Iron Man 2 co-star Mickey Rourke is about to go supernova.

Deadlinehollywood reports that, along with playing Iron Man’s physically equal villain, Ivan Vanko, in this week’s Iron Man 2, Rourke has also completed the filming of two other movies and is set to start production on two more.

Rourke has a starring role in Passion Play, working opposite of Megan Fox and Bill Murray, and, as I reported earlier this week, plays part in the 80’s action flick tribute The Expendables.

2008 marked the debut of his Hollywood comeback, when Rourke starred as Randy, the main character of Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. In all honesty, you’d be lying to yourself if you call it a comeback. The guy’s been steadily working for 30 years. We just don’t hear about most of it, because he doesn’t get to eat strawberries off of Kim Basinger in all of his movies.

Back to the point, he has Passion Play and The Expendables in post, Immortals filming, and Pretty Baby Machine, Posdamer Platz (which will likely have a title change due to the story being taken from Germany to Puerto Rico) and Broken Horses either announced or in pre-production.

The most interesting, however, is what’s not listed on his IMDB rap sheet. Working again with members from Potzdamer Platz, Rourke would play Sonny Barger, the biker, who created an Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels and ultimately aided in bringing the clan together as a national organization. The real Sony Barger sold his rights to his memoirs to Fox 2000 ten years ago.

Tony Scott, who has been pondering on the idea for Hell’s Angels for quite some time, would direct the film, which Fox is having rewritten by Scott Frank. The basic idea for the movie, thus far, is to follow a young cop, who would attempt to join the club under false pretenses in order to expose the Angels’ alleged criminal affairs. Its rumored that Shia LaBeouf has taken a meeting with Scott, but no deals have been secured.

Although, I wasn’t a big fan of The Wrestler, you’ve got to like Rourke. If you’ve never really paid attention, I’d recommend going back to 1987 and see who Harry Angel is searching for in Angel Heart. That’s a good one in my book. If not, you can check out Iron Man 2 on May 7.