Green Lantern Headed to New Orleans After All?

The filmmakers behind the Martin Campbell-directed, Ryan Reynolds-starring Green Lantern have been officially diagnosed as being bi-polar, doctors tell TMT. When the DC Comics adaptation was first announced (under the direction of Greg Berlanti), plans were for the production to film almost exclusively in Sydney, Australia. No wait, they opted to film in New Orleans because of the tax rates and what not. No wait, it’ll actually film in Canada…or Mexico. No wait, it’ll really shoot in the Big Easy after all.

That is according to Times-Picayune. The local New Orleans publication got the word from Kevin Murphy, the noted manager of studio operations at the Lower Garden District facility, who confirms the story, “The rumors are correct. We are working out the details, and we have a nonrefundable contract.” It’s at that area where set constructions will soon commence for the production’s projected March 2010 start-date.

Bringing a $200+ production to my neck of the woods equals jobs to friends of mine who work in the film-scene in the area. So, I can’t help but be happy about this latest development. However knowing the ever-changing mind-set of the Green Lantern producers, I fully anticipate plans to change next week for filming to instead occur in the South Pole.

New Avatar Trailer Causes Meltdown

The capable scribes over at Coming Soon have revealed that there will be a new "Avatar" trailer coming this Friday October 23rd. Cue mass hysteria, frogs raining from the sky, and the Atlantic Ocean parting to reveal the Lost City Of Atlantis. 20th Century Fox will be treating moviegoers to over 3 1/2 minutes of 3D footage from the mind of James Cameron. If you can't make it to theaters you'll have to wait until October 29th to witness the muscular blue creatures dodging bullets in a vast alien landscape. 

James Cameron and 20th Century Fox better hope this film lives up to the hype or they are going to be scouring beaches with metal detectors to recoup their losses. Obviously the flick will be pleasing to the eye, but will the general public care enough to see it and recommend it to their fickle friends. It's not as if there is a legion of James Cameron fanboys that the studio can rely on. Can you imagine a bedroom featuring a bed with James Cameron sheets and James Cameron AM/FM radio on the side table. 

Who ISN'T Being Cast In Thor?

Ah another day, and another set of Thor casting rumors for us to discuss. I think Kenneth Branagh has drawn a line in the sand standing between himself and Christopher Nolan for classiest cast for a superhero epic. Right now the ball in the latter’s court, but if these continued rumors turn out to happen. We could be in another ball-game altogether.

Coming days after the Robert De Niro and Jude Law rumors (which frankly sounds fake as shit from the “As per the German GQ Magazine” source - although I could be wrong, to be fair!), comes yet another thesp possibly joining the ranks of Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, Tom Hiddleston, Brian Blessed and Jaimie Alexander.

From Movieline (via Coming Soon), Dominic West reveals he will soon audition for a role in Thor too. Of course, he only confessed this information after the interviewer in question noticed the script sides conveniently placed right next to the actor. AKA they weren’t supposed to have seen those. It’s still a question-mark as to what role the Mamma Mia! Actor is reading for.

Since when did Thor become the new Harry Potter? If you’re a British actor and have yet to appear in either property, please consult with your agent for further instructions. Maybe Phil can a walk-on role in the film too?

Kurtzman and Orci Give Star Trek Sequel Updates

So last week, I theorized that the Star Trek sequel would not make its projected 2011 release and most likely beam into cinemas for summer 2012 instead. It was just a hunch on my part and I used good old fashioned “connecting the dots” logic to come to said conclusion. Well either great minds think alike or someone over at Team Abrams (as I call them) has been snooping around the TMT headquarters. Most likely, it’s the former.

This past Saturday the screenwriting/producing duo of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (responsible for the reboot and its forthcoming sequel) attended the 2009 Screenwriters Expo. As per IGN Movies, K&O confirmed that they’re still throwing around ideas and re-reading old novels (just as they did while developing the first film) even though they do have “basic themes” for Trek 2.

However, they revealed that the previously-announced Christmas delivery date for their first draft has in fact changed to “the next eight months.” The duo also confirmed that the next installment would beam into theaters for 2012 although they were quick to clarify that it was still "not sure."

To be fair, this isn't 100% concrete yet. But it appears that my theory could be dead on after all. It certainly makes sense now that Captain Kirk himself (aka Chris Pine) might headline the new Jack Ryan reboot and The Art of Making Money before returning to the Enterprise.

'Wild Things' At The Box Office

Weekend Actuals: Oct. 16th - Oct. 18th

1 Where the Wild Things Are $32,695,407
2 Law Abiding Citizen $21,039,502
3 Paranormal Activity $19,617,650
4 Couples Retreat $17,227,390
5 The Stepfather (2009) $11,581,586
6 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs $8,017,871
7 Zombieland $7,616,939
8 Toy Story / Toy Story 2 (3D) $3,016,580
9 Surrogates $1,917,315
10 The Invention of Lying $1,907,398 

The Tourist Starting To Sound Interesting

I’d be lying if I said I’d given much thought to The Tourist (the American remake of the French thriller Anthony Zimmer). Sounds like another dime-a-dozen thriller to me. I’ll pass. It’s not a strike against either actor, but the casting of Angelina Jolie and Sam Worthington didn’t get me interested either. Well now, Tourist officially has my attention.

Variety reports that director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck is in talks to helm the project.

“Why should I care if a German filmmaker is involved?” you ask. This is the same gentleman responsible for the 2006 effort The Lives of Others. To many, it’ll be forever known as the film that bested Pan’s Labyrinth for the “Best Foreign Language Film” Oscar. All I have to say is sit down and watch the film and tell me with a straight fact that it didn’t deserve such an honor. I thought so.

If all goes according to plan, production should commence next year for a currently unspecified 2011 release.

Scary Movie Franchise Gets Rebooted?

Not exactly the kind of news anyone cared about. But what can I say? It’s news.

Cinema Blend has received word that the Weinstein Company has hit rock bottom that they’re actually planning on another installment of their long-standing (and profitable) Scary Movie series. But it’s not Scary Movie 5, per say. No, they’re instead planning on rebooting the franchise back to “square one” in hopes to give the once-viable series its dignity back – not unlike recent examples like Star Trek, Casino Royale and Batman Begins.

I’m joking, of course, with that last sentence. Doubt the term “dignity” gels with spoof-movies. Although plans are still in the early stages with their sights set to have it out after Scream 4. Oh, and don’t expect to see Anna Faris or Regina Hall back. Being a reboot, it would totally confuse modern audiences. And the Weinsteins are assuming they’re stupid enough to argue about “logic” in a spoof.

Don’t be surprised if we’re eventually forced to stomach Reboot Movie. Laugh now, but just you wait…

Wes Craven To Direct Scream 4

It’s weird to imagine that the kids going gaga over the Twilight series were most likely shitting their pants back when Scream was released in Christmas 1996. Christ, I’m old. It was the horror film-turned-pop culture phenomenon-turned franchise that stood all of the old “slasher movie” conventions on its head while pointing out how silly they were to begin with (i.e. “Never say, ‘I’ll be right back’ because you won’t be back,” etc.)

We’ve known for awhile now that creator (and screenwriter of the first two installments) Kevin Williamson had been developing Scream 4 that could potentially start up a second trilogy. The surviving trio of Neve Campbell and on-screen (and off-screen) couple Courtney Cox and David Arquette are scheduled to return (I guess Patrick Dempsey is too busy having a legitimate career for his Detective Kincaid to return).

Now Cinema Blend reports (via their sources) Wes Craven is officially on-board to sit in the director’s chair for a fourth time. Apparently we shouldn’t get used to enjoying Sydney Prescott, Gail or Dewey too much as their contact informs us that there is a new cast of characters taking the lead roles with Campbell’s role being described as “small.” So does that mean that good old Sydney meets a fate similar to Cotton Weary in the opening of Scream 3?

If Craven and Williamson really want to send shockwaves, they’d go ahead and off the loveable doofus/hero Dewey Riley. There's also the issue of modern audiences actually caring about a fourth Scream go-around. I mean they did swear up and down back in 2000 that it was done after the third film.

Movie Moan - Honestly Who Cares?

We're finally past the "Dead Zone" of movie-news, folks. Thank God! Thus this week's edition of Movie Moan entail our heroes (in this case, Phil, Lou and Jamie) discussing them while giving their ever-so-colorful commentary.

The non-stop headache of Green Lantern continues (Where the Hell will it film? Is Jackie Earle Haley going to play Sinestro? Will it finally stop hitting all these road-blocks to get made?), Chris Pine headlining another reboot of the Jack Ryan franchise (while simultaneously still cruising the galaxy as Captain Kirk in the forthcoming Star Trek sequel), Bill Murray shitting on the chances of seeing Ghostbusters 3 in our lifetime and the long-last meeting between Roland Emmerich and William Shakespeare.

All of those topics in addition to Phil's man-love for Yul Brynner (and Sam Raimi), Matt Helm, whether or not The Avengers will make its projected May 2012 release date and past memories of "Hype!"

Movie Moan - Honestly Who Cares?

Iron Man & Thor Updates

Stan Lee is most definitely a comic book legend, you won't here and argument from me, but does that mean he has to enjoy a cameo in every Marvel related film? To me it has lost it's charm, at first I found myself looking for him and almost felt comforted by the gray mustached legend. Now it's like playing being forced to play "Where's Stan Lee" while in a room of nude models serving beer and fried food. Unfortunately for me this trend is going to continue according to Mr. Lee's conversation with Collider at the "Scream 2009" awards. He discusses his cameo in "Iron Man 2" and his potential cameo in "Thor", video below.

SuperHeroHype via Marvel Movies as gotten their fanboy hands on a shot of the Iron Man 2 Mark VI suit courtesy of the movie tie in action figure and packaging.

Last but certainly not least let's go over the "Thor" cast list:

Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Jaimie Alexander, Colm Feore, Samuel L. Jackson and Stellan Skarsgard.

Not exactly household names if you take away Samuel L. Jackson and Natalie Portman. According to the grizzly keyboard veterans over at Ain't It Cool News, the cast is about to grow both in size and stature.  Matthias Schweighofer talked "Thor" with GQ magazine, German edition, and revealed he was in the running for a role in the film. I know what you're saying, who? There is bigger news to be found here, Schweighofer also let loose that Robert Deniro and Jude Law have joined the cast. If it turns out to be true, not a bad way to pad the cast.