Category: Actors

The Govern-ator Confirms Appearance in ‘Terminator Salvation’… Sort Of.

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Rumors have been flying around for months regarding the “will-he-or-won’t-he” status of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in the highly anticipated Terminator Salvation. In recent weeks, updates have been given via both Arnold’s and director McG’s Twitter, foreshadowing various stages of commitment– but were ultimately inconclusive.

Well, long story short, Variety announced this morning that the main reason for all the ambiguity in regards to this issue was that no one was certain whether or not a CGI image of the iconoic Governator would be convincing enough to actually be a part of the movie. However, recent reports are claiming that Schwartzenegger has given his official and final consent for his likeness to be used, supporting the idea that by the grace of movie magic itself, they’ve found a way.

Will it be even mildly realistic? Will it even fit with the storyline the producers have been keeping so top secret? Who knows. What we do know is that the CGI Schwarzenegger will be restored in all of his 1984 cyborg glory, and will most likely deliver one, if not more, of those iconoic lines we’ve all been waiting for. Hey, he said he’d be back. And if he reneged on his word, what kind of terminator would he be? Not a good one, people. Not a good one.

First Look: Wolf Pack From ‘New Moon’

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Are shirtless and ripped Native Americans your thing? Â  Well have at it. Â  Above, you will find a picture of (left to right) Alex Meraz, Chaske Spencer, Alex Meraz, Bronso Pelletier, and Kiowa Gordon who make up the Wolf Pack in the new ‘Twilight Saga’ film, ‘New Moon.’

This first pic of the Wolf Pack comes to us today courtesy of USA Today

The four actors join  Taylor Lautner, who returns as Jacob Black.   The film’s story tells of Black growing closer to Bella (Kristen Stewart) after her vampire boyfriend, Edward (Robert Pattinson), runs off.

The film has been shooting in Vancouver for the past several weeks, a location that makes wearing little to nothing a difficult shoot.

“It’s not pleasant for the actors,” says director Chris Weitz. “But they have all been good-natured. They show up on location in drenching, cold rain, and I say, ‘OK, off with the robes.’ ”

‘New Moon’ comes out on November 20th. Â  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go do 800 crunches and tan.

Source: USA Today

Angelina Jolie Starring as Patricia Cornwell’s Lead Character

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Fox 200 has acquired the rights to author Patricia Cornwell’s series of books featuring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Â  The studio plans to develop the books into a series of starring roles for Angelina Jolie.

Based on real life medical examiner Marcella Fierro, MD, Scarpetta has appeared in 16 Cornwell novels. Â  However, Fox and Jolie plan to not adapt any one, particular Cornwell novel. Â  Instead, the film will be an original mystery culminated from the books. Â  The studio hopes to adapt the series into a franchise of mysteries in the vein of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ and ‘Seven.’

The rights to Cornwell’s novels were in Columbia Pictures’ court for years, but the studio was unable to develop a film before the rights lapsed. Â  Producer Mark Gordon picked the rights up and brought the idea to Jolie and her manager. Â  Cornwell only released the filmming rights to her novels after Jolie and her manager met with the author to discuss the direction they had for her character.

What do you think? Â  Is this a good fit for Jolie, who can pretty much do any project she wants? Â  Do these films seem like they would be a more apt fit on Lifetime Movies than in theaters? Â  What other long-running characters from novel would you like see be adapted for the big screen? Â  Let us know by commenting below!

Fox and Jolie are currently meeting with writers to adapt the screenplay.

Source: Variety

Range of Actors Joins ‘Sex & Drugs’ Biopic

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Naomie Harris, Olivia Williams, Toby Jones, Noel Clarke, MacKenzie Crook, Ray Winstone, and Bill Milner have all signed on for ‘Sex & Druges & Rock & Roll.’ Â  The film is being directed by Mat Whitecross (‘The Road to Guantanamo’).

The slew of actors join Andy Serkis, who stars as punk rocker and Ian Dury and the Blockheads frontman, Ian Dury. Â  The band’s song “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” never found the success of other bands of the early New Wave scene, but lyrics have had a lasting effect on those within the industry. Â  The band found the most success with their song “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.”

Principal photography begins May 3rd in London.

Source: Variety

Demetri Martin & Brad Pitt on ‘Moneyball’ Roster

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Steven Soderbergh (The Girlfriend Experience) will be directing Brad Pitt and now Demetri Martin in ‘Moneyball’ for Columbia Pictures. The film will be an adaptation of the book by Michael Lewis. The screenplay was written by Stan Chervin. The story is about Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a baseball player who became the general manager of the Oakland Athletics. The movie will focus on Beane’s efforts to build a competitive team with a small budget.

I am instantly interested as the project involves two of my favorite things… a good director and the game of baseball. What’s even cooler is that the cast will also include a lineup of actual retired baseball players. That roster will include David Justice and Scott Hatteberg playing themselves. Darryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra will also be seen on camera being interviewed about their experience working with Beane during his time with the New York Mets.

Demetri Martin will play Paul De Podesta, a bright Harvard grad who turned down Wall Street to put his statistical talents to work creating a more efficient way of scouting for talented young players on the cheap. Production on ‘Moneyball’ is set to begin in June 2009.

[source: Variety]

Director Simon West Could be Directing Statham as ‘The Mechanic’

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‘The Mechanic’ is one of those films that I regretted passing up for so long.   However, just a few weeks back, i rectified that situation, and, now, I am proud to say I experienced the glory of some Bronson badassery.

However, word comes to us today from Production Weekly (via their Twitter posts) that director Simon West (‘Con Air’, ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’, and ‘When a Stranger Calls’) is in talks to direct a remake of ‘The Mechanic.’   The man set to fill Bronson’s shoes?   None other than the equally badass Jason Statham.

These are the rumors, anyway.   Screenwriting duties are in the court of Shane Salerno, who worked on the screenplay about ten years ago on another remake of a badass, ’70s film, ‘Shaft.’   While that remake wasn’t exactly all it probably should have been, I’m psyched to see what Statham can do with this role.   Of course, if West takes the helm, the film will surely lose all of its grit and harshness for slick and stylish.

What do you think?   As far as remakes go, is ‘The Mechanic’ that bad of a choice?   Is Statham a good choice to fill the role?   Do you think the remake will keep the original film’s ending?   Let us know by commenting below!

Source: Production Weekly

Two More Up for Zack Snyder’s ‘Sucker Punch’

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Jena Malone and Jamie Chung have signed on to star in Zack Snyder’s next film, ‘Sucker Punch.’Â   The two actresses join a cast that already has Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, and Abbie Cornish.

‘Sucker Punch’ takes place in the 1950s and follows a young girl whose stepfather admits her into a mental institution.   With five days before she is to be lobotomized, the girl begins imagining an alternate universe where she is allowed to escape.

Malone and Chung replace Evan Rachel Wood and Abbie Cornish respectively, both of whom had to drop out of negotiations for the film due to scheduling conflicts.   Amanda Seyfried also had to drop out of negotiations on the film.

Snyder is directing and producing along with wife, Deborah.

Source: THR

Bale to Duke it Out with Wahlberg in ‘The Fighter’

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David O. Russell is going Rocky on us, as he will be directing Relativity Media’s new movie ‘The Fighter’ to be distributed by Paramount, which is expected to begin shooting this July.

The movie tells the story of “Irish” Mickey Ward, a fighter from Boston who was helped by his half-brother Dicky Eklund to the world lightweight championship. Eklund (Bale) is remembered for his career prior to drugs and crime, when he went toe to toe with Sugar Ray Leonard, and then afterwards when he trained Ward (Wahlberg) Rocky-style.

I have to admit, I would have rather seen Arronofsky direct this, but due to the long-running issues with getting the project off the ground, Arronofsky backed out and moved on. However, that’s not to say Russell isn’t a capable director. The project has also gone through it’s share of actors, including Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, before steeling on what looks to be Bale and Wahlberg, although they are apparently still negotiating.

One thing’s for sure, filming in a boxing frame of mind, Wahlberg shouldn’t do anything to “piss” Bale off or they may find themselves in real-life fisticuffs as a result of Bale’s temper.

[source: Variety]

Marlon Wayans to Spend a ‘Year Living Biblically’

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I don’t really mind talking about Marlon Wayans and his upcoming projects. Â  He’s had his sure-misses, but he’s really the only Wayans brother who has shown he can act when his life seems to depend on it. Â  Hopefully he can pull off some decent producing along with that acting as he next takes on the nonfiction book ‘The Year of Living Biblically.’

Written by A.J. Jacobs, ‘The Year of Living Biblically,’ the book tells of the year Jacobs spent attempting to live his life by Old and New Testament rules. Â  Wayans will star and will produce along with Plan B Films. Â  Julian Farino (“Entourage” and “The Office”) is attached to direct.

Source: THR

‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ Finds a RocknRolla

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Toby Kebbell, last seen kicking ass on screen as the real ‘RocknRolla,’ has joined the cast of Disney’s ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.’Â   Kebbell has joined the film as Drake Stone, a celebrity illusionist in the vein of Chris Angel who joins forces with the evil sorcerer, Horvath, played by Alfred Molina.

Kebbell also joins Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, and Teresa Palmer in the film, which is based on the Mickey Mouse segment of ‘Fantasia.’   The story revolves around a college student (Baruchel) who is given a crash course in magic by a sorcerer (Cage) to do battle with the evil forces that are invading.   Jon Turteltaub is directing the film, which is currently shooting.

‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ is set for a July 16, 2010 release.

Source: Variety