John Rhys-Davies Says, "No Thank You!" To The Hobbit

There have been rumors (don’t know how legit they are or where they started) that members of the Fellowship of the Ring could make appearances in The Hobbit and its sequel. Well, the ones who were alive during the events of the Lord of the Rings prequel (which would be future-King Aragorn and Legolas, I believe). That’s, of course, in addition to Sir Ian McKellan’s Gandalf the Grey.

Being that he has a role in the forthcoming adaptation, its logical to wonder if John Rhys-Davis (the actor who played Gimli in the Rings trilogy) might portray his character’s own father Gloin – not unlike Roddy McDowall in the original Planet of the Apes film series. Sorry, fans. But the actor tells Empire that you won’t be seeing him come back in any capacity.

It’s not like Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson and the gang didn’t ask him. As Davis stated:

"I've already been asked and to be honest with you, I wouldn't. I have already completely ruled it out. There's a sentimental part of me that would love to be involved again. Really I am not sure my face can take that sort of punishment any more."

Granted, we're still waiting to hear who will replace Sir Ian Holm as our hero Bilbo. Maybe we'll get word from the studio and/or filmmakers just in time for Christmas.

Anthony Hopkins Joins Thor

Don’t know how accurate these claims are. But you’ve probably read around how Anthony Hopkins was offered the role of Alfred in Batman Begins…and subsequently shot down the offer. If that’s true, you gotta know he’s been kicking himself ever since. Certainly explains this news-item.

Variety reports the British thesp has joined the cast of Kenneth Branagh’s Thor. He’ll play Odin, king of Asgard and big-daddy to our hero (played by Star Trek’s Chris Hemsworth) and baddie Loki (Tom Hiddelston).

Reminds me of how Sean Connery was offered Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but turned it down because “he didn’t understand it.” Then he was offered a role in The Matrix and again said, “No thanks!” citing his lack of “understanding” the story. Cut to both properties becoming blockbuster phenomenons. So when the producers of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came to our favorite woman-smacking 007, he still didn’t “get” it. But he wasn’t going to pass up such an opportunity for a third time. Yeah…that worked out well.

TMT Presents: Five Nights Of Halloween - Night Three

Looks like you made it to the third night in our five part series recommending bad horror movies that are "So Bad They're Good". Our third film is a early 70's cliche riddled horror flick that is best viewed from upstairs.

Don't Look In The Basement

Synopsis:

The creatively-thinking director of an insane asylum allows several inmates to act out their psychotic delusions. When a new staffer arrives, the murder of the director leads to a full-scale takeover of the institution by its inmates.

You'll laugh at the funny parts and laugh at the parts that are supposed to scare you as the asylum residents run wild and give a new meaning to, the inmates running the asylum. For some reason the residents can pretty much run around this institution at will. There are no guards, knives lying around, and the doors are always unlocked. For some reason they don't want anybody looking in the basement. The characters themselves are a laugh a minute. The new nurse on the block named Charlotte. Danny, who resembles a malformed version of the Mad Magazine cover. Allyson the nympho, who would be my favorite if it wasn't for Sam. You have to love Sam, a massive man with body like a hippo and the mind of an adolescent. There is a scene where he is hiding under a bed that is priceless. Throw in a crazy war veteran and a cryptic old lady and you've struck copper. Although somebody like me will continue to get a chuckle out of this film, the movie itself is definitely a downer. Go for it. Tell me what you think.

Here Comes The Men In Black...For the 3rd Time

We've heard reports of this as far back as last April, but now it's official. Men In Black 3 is coming, according to THR.

Barry Sonnenfeld (helmer behind the first two installments) is attached with Etan Cohen commissioned for screenwriting duties. The big question mark revolves around the participation of leads Will Smith (aka The Biggest Movie Star In the Known Galaxy) and Tommy Lee Jones (whose been going through quiet the creative hot-streak as of late with The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, No Country For Old Men and In the Valley of Elah).

I seem to recall that getting all three parties to agree to return was the key reason why the second film (released in 2002) was released five years after the original. Is Sony willing to fork over even more mullah for a third go-around with Will, Tommy and Barry? That remains to be seen. Although, the trades (quoting "buzz in development circles") state that there is interest on Smith's end to return.

Sony apparently wants MIB 3 in production by next year - presumably for a summer 2011 release. Since it's been seven years since the last one (which last I remember was met with a "Meh..." reception from the general public), I say wait another year. 2011 is already going to be one insane summer. They're better off placing this in summer 2012 where there was still a lot of vacant slots.

Is Tom Hardy the New Mad Max?

Update: Literally a week since this story was first reported, THR now confirms that Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron will headline Fury Road with the former being the new Mad Max. Filming is expected to start up next summer in Australia. What follows is the original article from last week.

Mad Max 4 just got one step closer to happening.

E! Online reports that although the film is quiet a ways-off and Warner Brothers has yet to sign off on his casting choices (which was one of many reasons behind his Justice League: Mortal going the way of New Coke), director George Miller is said to have already found his lead actors.

So who might fill in that worn out leather outfit once donned by Mel Gibson? If their sources are to be believed, it will be British actor Tom Hardy. You may remember him from his recent rather high-profile role of notorious prisoner Michael Gordon Peterson in Bronson. He also has a part in Christopher Nolan's forthcoming Inception and us nerds out there remember him from Star Trek: Nemesis (aka seven years before the franchise was officially deemed "cool!")

Probably thinking that the studio might want a more recognizable name among the cast (which will most likely be choked full of non-American actors), Miller is said to have pegged Charlize Theron for the female lead. She's quiet the rarity - beautiful, smart and talented.

None of this is final, mind you. But based solely on these casting tidbits (plot wise Miller is said to keep any and all details closely vested to himself and key production staff), I like the direction this is headed in. Let's just hope it actually happens.

"Prince of Persia" Trailer Description

Comingsoon.Net has a description up for the teaser trailer for upcoming Jerry Bruckhiemer blockbuster "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time." You can see the trailer in theaters from November 13th and no doubt on the interwebs artound that time as well, for now you can read the description below.

The two-minute trailer starts off with a glimpse of the mythical land of Persia, which looks stunning, and then a brief look at the dagger that's enclosed in a glass case.

"Have you ever wondered how you could have found such a treasure? The gods have a plan for you. A destiny," we hear the princess saying as short clips of the scenes mentioned above play on the screen.

We then see Gyllenhaal jumping off a cliff and a few seconds later climbing a wall with arrows as his stepping stones. Someone shoots at him and he turns around looking nervous but annoyed as well.

"The sand turns back time," the audience is told a few seconds into the trailer. "Only the holder of the dagger is aware of what's happening."

A quick clip is is shown of the prince holding the dagger and turning into sand.

"Only the dagger can unlock the sands of time. There are those who would use this power to destroy the world," Arterton's character explained. "The only way to stop this Armageddon is to take the dagger to the secret guardian temple."

Although the footage we saw was brief, which made it difficult to see where the story is going, the rivalry and tension between the prince and princess was very clear. Their witty banter was entertaining and well-written.

"You really enjoy telling me what to do don't you?" Gyllenhaal's character sarcastically asks.

"Only because you're so good at following orders," the princess quickly snaps back.

"Don't press your luck. The Sands of Saint, they strike terror into the heart of all they cross," he replies.

"Such a noble prince - leaping to assist the fallen beauty," she says.

"Who said you were a beauty," he laughs.

"There must be some reason why you can't take your eyes off me," she says.

He then tries to say something but begins to stutter, not knowing how to respond to the princess' feisty comebacks.

Next up was a scene showing a wicked force holding a snake.

"The high temple is guarded by some sort of demon," the princess said.

The following scene was the two with a group of people walking. She asks where the dagger is and he tells her, "You're welcome to search me for it. You need to be very thorough."

She looked intrigued by his scandalous offer, but tried to pretend like she was irritated by him.

The final clip in the trailer was the prince fighting off a rather large snake and the mouth of the reptile was open and about to bite him.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time hits theaters on May 28, 2010. Stay tuned for when the trailer comes online!

Avatar Trailer & Featurette

Head over to Latino Review for the Avatar International Trailer and check put the 4-Minute Avatar Featurette couresy of Coming Soon.

Now Yahoo! Movies has the new trailer officially here for your enjoyment. I hope, for your sake, you've already lined up new pairs of eyeballs. In all scientific probability, they will explode after sitting through the shear awesomeness that is "Avatar." Don't say we didn't warn ya...

http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww260/Think_Mcfly_Think/Smurfs-thumb-550x285-20495.jpg

Update on Thu, October 29, 2009 by Peter Georgiou

I've received a handful of emails and a couple of comments asking me about the "Smurfs" picture in a post that is obviously about avatar. Obviously one of the connections would be that the alien characters from "Avatar" and the Smurfs are both blue. The "Avatar" ET's look more like Smurfs after a healthy dose of steroids, but that is only a small reason out of several for using that picture. We've all been able to view a good amount of  "Avatar" footage thanks to the featurette and the trailers that have been released.

I have to say I am not impressed. This hasn't stopped the world, I haven't stopped breathing, and my pulse hasn't stopped. Excuse the sarcasm, but if it wasn't for the hype surrounding this film, I'd probably enjoy it just fine I know what you're thinking, all tentpole films are hyped. You're right for thinking that, but the whole "James Cameron is back" and "14 years in the making" is already played out. As Jamie Williams mentioned this morning to me on the phone, "James Cameron's films are successful because of good story, Avatar doesn't seem like it has that." I know what you'll say next, "Pete, you haven't experienced it in 3D yet!" Haven't we learned yet, 3D alone doesn't equal a successful film. So enjoy the fun and lightheartedness of the Smurfs, they don't take themselves too seriously. 

24 Season 8 Teaser!

I'm a confessed 24 junkie, Jack Bauer is my favourite TV character of all time and I own all the seasons on DVD, so I am of course looking forward to Day 8 after Day 7 mostly redeeemed the lackkluster Day 6 which followed the amazingly brilliant Day 5 and so on...

From the glimpses we are afforded here it looks like we have a retired Jack getting involved in a big assassination plot, the action looks like it's been given a budget injection as with every season and the intensity levels are as usual high, Jack is smiling though which is new, also for fans of the Shield keep your eye out for David Aceveda, now if only they had brought in Vic Mackey, Bauer vs Mackey = RATINGS!!

24 Season 8 starts next January and you can check out the first teaser below.

"Invictus" Trailer

Ahhhhh Clint is back on the OScar trail and this trailer is the first bit of bait for the golden baldy voters.

This looks like polished stuff as you'd expect with Clint but I am hoping the movie has a bit more bite to it than the trailer shows. Matt Damon once again demonstrates his versatility and this may be his ticket to a first acting Oscar, Morgan Freeman though, whilst good, does just seem like Morgan Freeman with no attempt at an accent, it will be interesting to see how his performance is recieved and indeed how much interest there is in an undoubtedbly important piece of history.

"Invictus" opens December 11th and you can check the trailer out below.

"Spy Next Door" Trailer

I admit, I enjoyed the Rush Hour and Shanghai movies, but the rest of Jackie Chan's US ouput has been less successful and this rubbish looks to be a new low. It comes off like a bad version of "The Pacifier" only cheaper and more embarassing.

Fans of Hong Kong Jackie movies look away now and hug you Armor of God DVD tightly, for the braver souls the trailer can be seen below and the movie opens sometime in 2010.