Category: In the Works

Depp To Replace Ledger In “Imaginarium”?

johnnydepp.jpg

In a potential change of luck for beleaguered director Terry Gilliam, there’s talk of Johnny Depp stepping in to replace Heath Ledger in Gilliam’s current project, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. UK’s The Sun elaborates, citing a studio source as saying:

“There is a point in the film when Heath falls through a magic mirror. He could change into another character after that and that is where Johnny would come in.

It’s a weird, fantasy, time-travel movie so Heath’s character could easily change appearance. It would be a poignant moment.”

If speculation is true, it will mark the second attempted collaboration between Depp and Gilliam, the first being legendary disaster The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, which had its production chronicled in the documentary Lost In La Mancha. If Depp doesn’t sign on, things are looking pretty bleak for the production. Production scheduled to shoot today in Vancouver has apparently shut down completely as Gilliam and the film’s insurers sit down to consider their options.

(This post comes to you from the very late night hours, which is a direct result of the night owl who posted it. My name is Brett and I’m a new writer for the site, as evidenced by the cheeky photo staring out at you from the bar to the right. I’m happy to be aboard WAMG, and I look forward to keeping you entertained.)

Big Rumor News … ‘Hobbit’ a la del Toro

Del Toro directing Wesley Snipes in Blade 2

Now that the bitter disagreement between Peter Jackson and New Line/MGM is no more, we’ve heard some really great news. First, we found out that Jackson is definitely interested in making not one, but two Hobbit films. However, due to existing projects under way, he has decided only to fill the role of producer instead of making fans wait for him to be available to direct. Well, apparently the studios are in talks with Guillermo del Toro to direct back-to-back Hobbit films. No agreements have been reached, but wouldn’t this be grand? Guillermo del Toro has one helluva fascinating resume, including Mimic, The Devil’s Backbone,  Blade 2, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth and the 2008 release of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.

Ray Park lands role as Snake Eyes

Darth MaulRay ParkSnake Eyes

In case you haven’t heard, a live-action movie of G.I. Joe is currently being developed. The film is currently in the pre-production phase and slated for a 2009 release, but there’s already been a lot of casting news. Perhaps the biggest is that actor/stuntman Ray Park (Star Wars: Episode I, X-Men) will play the part of Snake Eyes, hand-to-hand combat specialist and expect with any sharp-edged weapon. Marlon Wayons has also been rumored to play the role of Ripcord, but this has not been confirmed. G.I. Joewill be directed by Stephen Sommers (Catch Me if You Can, Deep Rising, The Mummy).

Lionsgate/Marvel reach terms with WGA!!

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Film and television studio Lionsgate on Thursday said it reached an interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) enabling striking Hollywood writers to work on its projects. Comic-book-hero movie company Marvel Studios, a unit of Marvel Entertainment Inc., and the guild also said they had reached an agreement.

Writers and producers resumed talks this week aimed at ending a nearly three-month strike that has stopped most prime-time television production, and some hope smaller deals put pressure on the big studios.

Writers already have reached interim deals with studios including United Artists, the film production house backed by Tom Cruise, and The Weinstein Co., run by media-mogul brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein.

Representatives of the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) went back to the table for informal talks this week for the first time since their contract talks collapsed on December 7.

The “informal discussions” are aimed at laying the groundwork for official bargaining to resume.

“The writers’ issue seems on its way to being solved, and Lionsgate felt it was an important time, particularly in view of our TV series, to have our writer partners get back to work,” Lionsgate said in a statement. “We look forward to a broad industry agreement soon,” the company said.

Upcoming Lionsgate films include “Rambo,” “The Eye” and “Saw 5,” while its television series include “Weeds,” “Mad Men” and a new show, “Fear Itself.”

DIRECTORS’ MODEL

The AMPTP’s recent labor pact with Hollywood directors is expected to be a centerpiece of the informal talks with the

WGA.

The directors’ deal contains several key provisions to pay union members more for work distributed over the Internet, the chief sticking point in the studios’ dispute with writers.

Some 10,500 writers represented by the union went on strike against major film and TV studios on November 5, throwing the television industry into disarray, disrupting various film projects and casting a shadow over Hollywood‘s awards season.

Formal contract talks between the two sides broke down December 7, and the union began pursuing separate talks with smaller, independent production companies.

In a statement, the WGA said on Thursday that the Lionsgate deal was similar to interim deals reached recently with other independent film and television companies.

“We are pleased Lionsgate has joined the growing number of companies that have signed interim agreements with the Writers Guild,” said Patric Verrone, president of WGA West, and Michael Winship, president of the WGA East, in a joint statement.

The WGA reached its first interim deal with Worldwide Pants, the production company owned by late-night TV host David Letterman, that allowed his show and another one produced by his firm, “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” to return to the air during the strike with writing teams intact.

The WGA said it also has reached deals with Spyglass Entertainment, MRC, Jackson Bites, Mandate Films, and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

Reuters

‘Bush’ Beyond 2008

George W. BushJosh Brolin

Regardless of our own personal political beliefs, we are all on some level looking forward the the 2008 elections being behind us. With this comes the end of the George W. Bush tenure. However, it certainly does not mean the end of Bush. As it turns out, as is the Hollywood way, the studio machine is already spinning its cogs on a motion picture centered on George W. Bush and he’s not even out of office yet. I am sure this news doesn’t come as any more of a surprise to you as it does to me, but what is interesting is the early talk about who’s involved. Apparently there is word that Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men)Â  is interested, assumingly as Bush, but nothing is confirmed. More interesting, is who will be helming this project. At first, I wondered if this movie about President Bush will be a comedy or a drama. Well, it could perhaps end up being something more sinister. Veteren director Oliver Stone is apparently opting to make this his next project. Mr. Stone is known for films laden with controversy and are usually centered on some sort of cinspiracy theory. Hmm… not sure what material he could see in a movie about George W. Bush?

‘Avengers’ … The Legend Cometh

DVD Cover of Animated Avengers

Oh, my God!!! Alright, I apologize for that momentary lapse into my child-like geekdom, but come on … it’s the freakin’ Avengers. Hmm … Let me digress for a moment, just as a courtesy for those of you who likely are not privy to what I am speaking of. I grew up not just reading comic books, but more-or-less living on them. They were like oxygen. I honestly didn’t think I could survive without them. Then, I grew up… sort of. I went to college, got a job, got married, then unmarried, then realized we are in the middle of a comic book renaissance return. Of course, we are seeing many comic book movies being made with many more to come, but we are also seeing a revival of the medium itself in some very new ways. I think these occurences  are clearly symbiotic, which will surely result in a long and fruitful run of movies. And believe me, there is a lot of great source material out there.

Iron Man

The Avengershas consisted of a fluctuating potpourri of very diverse superheroes throughout its long and glorious comic book lifespan. However, a single movie cannot possibly do justice to the true nature of The Avengers, but can certainly start us off with a bang. By now, I’m sure you have witnessed a rising  onslaught of media attention to Iron Man, which already looks promising beyond our wildest dreams. A major factor behind this, I believe, is the talented filmmaker Jon Favreau, making his superhero movie debut. His devotion to his craft translates well to this new and growing genre of movies.

  Incredible Hulk

However, what’s really exciting is that in recent interviews with Favreau, he has made some very intriguing statements. The biggest of which is that he has a very strong interest in directing The Avengers. In addition, he also said that he agrees with others involved in the Marvel family that the Avengers movie should carry its characters’ actors from their solo films into the Avengers film. This would mean Robert Downey, Jr. would reprise Tony Stark/Iron Man and Edward Norton would also return as Dr. Banner/Hulk. Wow… we already have a very talented (and expensive) cast and we haven’t even determined who is going to portray the other likely heroes from the most traditional Avengers lineup, including Thor, Captain America and possibly Ant-Man.

Now, there is also a DC Comics movie in the works calls Justice League of America  which is similar, but I was always more of a Marvel fan. But hold on!!! JLA still promises to be good, assuming it gets made. My biggest complaint however, is that the filmmakers are approaching the film with a different mindset. They intend to cast entirely different actors, mostly unknowns and young ones at that. Only time will tell. Thus far, DC has Batman and Superman to play with. The likely characters of The Flash, Aquaman and Green Lantern haven’t ever had a big screen treatment yet.  In addition,  we have yet to see which side of  director George Miller will show up, the Mad Max director or the Happy Feet and Babe director.