FROM MOVIES BLOG: Back in May, J.J. Abrams delighted fans and newcomers alike with his mass audience-friendly (yet still fan-serving) reboot of "Star Trek." It's been a six month wait, but finally we all get to enjoy the movie at home thanks to today's Blu-ray/DVD release. What many people may not realize however, is that the wait could have been longer.
"Trek" was originally set to hit theaters on Christmas Day in 2008. Paramount chose to delay that release to May 2009, which turned out pretty well. Abrams didn't mind either, since it gave him extra time to ensure that the movie would have something for all who might be interested. "We had the luxury of time," he said in a recent interview with MTV's Josh Horowitz. "I would argue that literally the last ten days of our post process we did 30% of the work."
Continue Reading: J.J. Abrams Describes The Cut 'Star Trek' Scene He Would Have Liked To Keep
FROM MOVIES BLOG: File this one under "here's hoping." Brian Cox is a gifted performer. One of those actors whose mere presence is enough to elevate a movie. "Troy" wasn't that great, but Cox helped make it bearable as Agamemnon. And his roles in "X2: X-Men United" and "Super Troopers" -- already fine films -- are unforgettable, career highlights without question. Also don't forget: Cox was the first person to fill the role of man-eater Hannibal Lecter (spelled Lecktor back then), in Michael Mann's "Manhunter."
Now the word is that Cox is up for one of the dwarves in director Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of "The Hobbit." The news comes from AICN, with Cox being described as a "major contender." The report is clear to state that there's no way of knowing right now if the role is cast or if the producers are just looking at the veteran actor, but either way -- I'll take any Cox/"Hobbit" association I can get.
Continue Reading: Brian Cox A Contender For One Of 'The Hobbit' Dwarves
FROM MOVIES BLOG: A few months ago, Viggo Mortensen told MTV that he could see his "Lord of the Rings" character, Aragorn, popping up in a film meant to bridge the stories between "The Hobbit" and the "Rings" trilogy. The only problem there is that the bridge chapter is looking increasingly unlikely.
Then again, maybe not. "Hobbit" director Guillermo del Toro may have ruled out the possibility of directing the bridge movie, but that doesn't mean someone else -- even Peter Jackson himself -- can't step in to do it. That's what I find most interesting about Mortensen's words in a recent interview with ComingSoon. It sounds like he's clearer on the franchise plans since we last spoke from him, and still that talk of a bridge film persists...
Continue Reading: Viggo Mortensen On Aragorn In 'The Hobbit' And Beyond
FROM MOVIES BLOG: In 2002, hip hop star Eminem impressed a helluva lot of people with his work in the sort-of-biographical drama, "8 Mile." He's been relatively quiet on the Hollywood front since then, other than a few publicity stunts. All that is about to change however, as Eminem is preparing to return to the silver screen.
Next up for Slim Shady is "Shady Talez," a 3-D horror anthology described as "'Twilight Zone' meets 'Creepshow'" by ScreenDaily, which broke the news. The project is a collaboration between "I, Robot" producer John Davis and writer/producer Dallas Jackson, under the D.J. Classicz/Davis Entertainment label. Jackson will co-write the story with "Underworld" creator Kevin Grevioux; the duo will also produce a four-issue comic book miniseries based on the movie under the Marvel Icons label, for a 2010 release.
Read more about Eminem's "Shady Talez" movie and comic at MoviesBlog.MTV.com.
FROM MOVIES BLOG: Remember kids, the truth is always far, far stranger than fiction. It was a little more than a year ago that we found out the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon series "Yogi Bear" would be getting a big screen treatment. There was no casting announced or anything like that; just that the project was happening with "Surf's Up" director Ash Brannon at the helm and that it would feature a mix of live-action and CG animation.
Well today, the plot thickened. Variety reports that Anna Faris, Justin Timberlake and Dan Aykroyd are all in negotiations to join the cast of the movie, which will now be directed by "Journey to the Center of the Earth" helmer Eric Brevig from a script by Brad Copeland ("Wild Hogs").
Continue reading 'Yogi Bear' May Get A Ghostbuster, An N Sync'er And Anna Faris over at MoviesBlog.MTV.com.
The last time we saw actor Owen Wilson playing with dogs, it was in the 2008 adaptation of John Grogan's touchingly heartbreaking book "Marley & Me." In this latest bit of news, we learn that Wilson will move from playing with dogs to simply playing one.
Wilson is locked to star in "Marmaduke," a big-screen adaptation of Brad Anderson's long-running newspaper comic strip. The adaptation had itself been revealed a couple of weeks ago, but this final bit of news puts the finishing touch on a cast that includes William H. Macy, Judy Greer, Lee Pace as the titular great dane's human family and Fergie, Emma Stone, George Lopez, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Steve Coogan, Damon Wayans and Marlon Wayans as the voices of Marmaduke's pals in the animal kingdom. Read more...
FROM MOVIES BLOG: Those shouts of "D'oh!" you're hearing this morning are coming from a nation of "Simpsons" fans who must now come to terms with the fact that another movie about the Springfield's favorite yellow-skinned, four-fingered family is a long way away. How long? At least until the series, now in its 21st season, is finished.
Speaking to filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who is currently working on a 20th anniversary documentary about the series, creator Matt Groening and showrunner Al Jean at least had a good reason for not wanting to board the Hollywood train again so quickly, Variety reports.
"It took 18 years to get around to doing the movie," Groening said. "We got very frustrated. We thought it would take two years but it ended up taking four. Some day maybe we'll do another one -- but don't hold your breath."
For more on Matt Groenig's plans (or lack thereof) for another "Simpsons" movie, head over to MoviesBlog.MTV.com.
FROM MOVIES BLOG: This week, fans get to celebrate almost a century of "The Wizard of Oz" with a 70th Anniversary DVD/Blu-ray release of the 1939 film. It's fitting then that we have some exclusive new information to share with you on the screen adaptation of Todd McFarlane's "The Twisted Land of Oz" toy line.
MTV Splash Page editor Rick Marshall spoke to the man himself recently, and he was more than happy to delve into the project's genesis, some basic story elements and what the future holds. There's new stuff in here, things you haven't heard yet. The short version: this ain't your granddaddy's "Wizard of Oz." "Spawn" creator McFarlane has some dark ideas kicking around in his head, and they mesh very well with the inherently creepy qualities of "Oz."
For more of Todd McFarlane's plans for a new "Oz" movie, head over to MoviesBlog.MTV.com.
FROM MOVIES BLOG: In case you missed it, we started doing a little bit of TV coverage here on MTV Movies Blog last week. With the second season of J.J. Abrams' "Fringe" in full swing, MTV contributor Josh Wigler will be providing weekly recaps and opinions on the night's episode.
There's more to come though. Tonight marks the start of a brand new series on ABC, "FlashForward," which is loosely adapted from the Prix Aurora Award-winning sci-fi novel "Flashforward" by Robert J. Sawyer. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" writer Brannon Braga and "Batman Begins"/"The Dark Knight" writer David Goyer are the showrunners, and the duo took time out of their busy San Diego Comic-Con schedule in July to chat with MTV Splash Page editor Rick Marshall.
For the rest of our "FlashForward" interview with David Goyer and Brannon Braga, head over to MoviesBlog.MTV.com.
FROM MOVIES BLOG: I'm being mocked in the MTV newsroom for my excitement over this news, but I don't care. He-Man is a badass, and not because his alter-ego -- Prince Adam -- is named like my name. That's not the only reason anyway. No. He-Man is a badass because he rides a Battle Cat and talks to his magical sword and still wins the day every time. He was also brought to life by Dolph Lundgren in the first movie adaptation of the Mattel toy line, and you just don't mess with that man.
Don't count on Lundgren coming back for the long-gestating second attempt at an adaptation, which has finally found a home with Sony, according to a report in Variety. Sony is partnered with Escape Artists, with the project being led by producers Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch, who intend to start "from scratch."
For more on the "He-Man" movie's new life, head over to MoviesBlog.MTV.com.
