Posted 4/15/09 2:40 pm EST by Larry Carroll in Hot Stuff, News
Ever since Michel Gondry landed the gig as director of Seth Rogen’s highly-anticipated “Green Hornet” movie, we’ve been eager to get any details we can on the project. Now, the casting is coming together -- and includes a special cameo by the old Hornet.
“Yeah, I think we’re going to have Van Williams,” Gondry revealed to MTV News during a recent interview. “We’re going to find a cameo for him.” Read More...
Posted 4/15/09 1:30 pm EST by Rick Marshall in Adapt This, Hot Stuff, Top Shelf
There's been no shortage of comic books jumping from the shelves to the big screen lately, but as any true comics fan will attest, there are still a lot of great books out there flying below Hollywood's radar. In this weekly feature, we'll take a look at a story that should merit attention from filmmakers -- and offer some thoughts on why (and how) it should be brought to the big screen.
THE STORY: "Too Cool To Be Forgotten" by Alex Robinson
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: In "Too Cool To Be Forgotten," acclaimed writer Alex Robinson tells the tale of Andy Wicks, a 40-year-old man who agrees to undergo hypnosis to quit smoking, only to wake up from his trance in the body of his 15-year-old self, forced to re-live his late-'80s high school experience. Yet, while various films over the years have sent their adult leads back in time to learn valuable lessons about appreciating their future lives (including this week's "17 Again"), "Too Cool" offers a dramatically different take on the old standard. Read More...
Posted 4/15/09 12:21 pm EST by Josh Wigler in Boom Studios, News
Comic book movies are about as rare as oxygen these days, from superhero fare like "Iron Man 2" to lesser-known properties such as "American Jesus." Today, you can add one more to the latter pile -- and from the title, it sounds like a double-barreled doozy.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Boom Studios' graphic novel "2 Guns" is heading for the big screen. Blake Masters, the creator of the Showtime series "Brotherhood," will adapt the comic book for Universal. Read More...
Posted 4/15/09 10:21 am EST by Caleb Goellner in Marvel, News
Despite the controversy surrounding Wade Wilson's connection to the Weapon XI character in the upcoming "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," insiders keep dropping hints that Ryan Reynolds could reprise his mercenary role in a standalone "Deadpool" spin-off – that is, if fans pony up enough at the box office.
As Splash Page has been reporting since last fall, Fox bigwigs understand the "Merc with a Mouth" is solo material and Reynolds has been a contender to star for years. But who better than Deadpool co-creator Robert Liefeld to drive these points home? Read More...
Posted 4/15/09 9:35 am EST by Josh Wigler in Marvel, News
When "X-Men: First Class" was initially announced, there was some confusion about the nature of the film. Would it follow the exploits of a younger X-squad? Will we see characters from the previous films, or would this follow an all-new (but hopefully comic-friendly) cast of characters?
The answer is significantly clearer today, thanks to comments from "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" producer Lauren Shuler Donner. During an interview on Fox Movie Channel's Life After Film School transcribed by Comics Continuum, the producer revealed that "First Class" will truly live up to its name by focusing on the founding days of the mutant group. Read More...
Posted 4/14/09 6:50 pm EST by Elisabeth Rappe in Marvel, News
Joining the Marvel Universe takes a lot of commitment -- and we’re not just talking about those 9-movie contract deals, either. We’re talking about the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to assume a superhero physique, which is a requirement whether you’re laced with adamantium or hidden in an Iron Man suit. The endless crunches and strict diets is what separates the men from the boys -- and the men from the women, as "Iron Man 2" actress Scarlett Johansson discovered.
“While training for an upcoming film, I've come to this conclusion: chin ups are near impossible and lunges suck," Johansson wrote in a recent Huffington Post column. "There is no magic wand to wave over oneself to look good in a latex catsuit.” Read More...
Posted 4/14/09 5:45 pm EST by Casey Seijas in News, Radical
Last month, we spoke with "Caliber" writer Sam Sarkar and got an update on the status of the in-development adaptation of that series he's currently writing the screenplay for -- a film that action director extraordinaire John Woo is likely to helm. Sarkar told MTV News that Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil production company (where Sarkar serves as head of development) has officially signed on to produce "Caliber," but the popular actor won't star in the film.
So, with that in mind, we asked Sarkar if there's been any other movement in terms of casting for the film ("A few people have responded already," he told us) and which characters were likely to be the standouts in the big-screen version of his unique, Wild West-era take on the Knights of the Round Table. Read More...
Posted 4/14/09 4:01 pm EST by MTV News Team in Marvel, News, Video
FROM MTV.COM: It's guaranteed that if Adam Lambert wins "American Idol," he'll release at least one major-label album. But even if this year's runaway leading contender pulls a Chris Daughtry/ Jennifer Hudson and is booted before making it to the show's finale, two of Broadway's leading casting directors say he's got a great shot at finding fame on the Great White Way.
In fact, before taking a detour from musical theater and glam-rock cabaret performances, Lambert was on the short list to potentially play the lead in the Broadway Spider-Man musical "Turn Off the Dark," which will feature music by U2's Bono and The Edge, according to casting director Bernie Telsey.
"We started working on 'Spider-Man' a year and a half ago, and [Lambert is] someone we know because we cast him in 'Wicked' and knew he had that kind of range," Telsey said of the San Diego-bred singer.
For more on Adam Lambert and "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark," head over to MTV.com.
Posted 4/14/09 3:01 pm EST by Larry Carroll in News
Ever since Seth Rogen told us about the top-secret fight scene that director Michel Gondry shot with his own money as an audition for “The Green Hornet” movie, I’ve been dying to know what visual tricks the distinctive filmmaker has up his sleeve. Now, Gondry is finally talking about the groundbreaking technique he’ll be bringing to the film.
“It was not elaborate,” Gondry modestly began the MTV News interview. “I’m glad [Rogen is even] paying any attention to what I’m suggesting.” Read More...