Tag: Fox

INDEPENDENCE DAY Sequel Still on the Horizon?

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After raking in over $300 million back in 1996 (which amounts to almost $500 million adjusted), it’s a wonder a sequel to INDEPENDENCE DAY never happened.  There have been rumors for years, and the people over at Latino Review recently had a sit-down with director Roland Emmerich about the project.  It wasn’t their first question, but let’s start with Emmerich’s answer to whether or not there is a story.

Oh yeah! There’s a story. There’s a very really good great story, a very cool one.

Great, so what’s the hold-up.  Essentially, Emmerich states in the interview that Will Smith and Fox’s idea of fighting gross players are butting heads.  A sequel to INDEPENDENCE DAY is trapped in the middle, fighting to get made.

FOX has not quite figured out how to incorporate Dean’s and my deal, and Will’s (Smith) deal.

Emmerich also states in the interview that Fox suggested to he and producer Dean Devlin that they make the film without Smith, something Emmerich  emphatically  states is an impossibility.  That part of the interview, I have a tough time believing.  Fox knows that Smith was a huge part in INDEPENDENCE DAY making so much money, and their suggestion to make a sequel without him would be less than intelligent.

For more of the interview as well as a nice breakdown on Gross Point, check out Latino Review.

As a related note, Devlin and Emmerich haven’t collaborated on a film since 2000’s THE PATRIOT.  The two split in 2001 after Sony failed to renew a multi-year deal with their production company, Centropolis.  Devlin formed his own company, Electric Entertainment.  While I’m not saying this has anything to do with ID2 not getting made, there certainly seems to be an amount of smoke there.

Fox Moving Forward With ‘Fantastic Four’ Sequel

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20th Century Fox is seemingly responding to Disney’s major purchase of Marvel and is moving forward in it’s “reboot” of the their Fantastic Four franchise, with plans to take the story beyond it’s two previous films.

The project will be produced by Akiva Goldsman (CONSTANTINE, HANCOCK) and written by co-executive producer of HEROES, Michael Green, who also co-wrote the coming big screen version of GREEN LANTERN.

Fox hasn’t divulged any information on exactly what their plans for the new film are, nor is there any word on whether the original cast of Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis will return to this film.

Source: Variety

‘Heathers’ Getting an Update

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It’s the remake roulette wheel.  Around, around she goes and where she stops, no one knows.  This week, she’s stopping on 1989, where the black teen comedy, ‘Heathers,’ resides.  This time, however, Fox is developing an updated version of the film for TV.  Why not?  Every other movie in the ’80s had its shot at a TV series.  Why not ‘Heathers.’  It’s just that it’s about 20 years too late.

As reported on Variety, the series is being developed by screenwriter Mark Rizzo and “Sex and the City” writer and producer, Jenny Bicks.  The series will be developed in hand with Lakeshore Entertainment, who holds the rights to the original, 1989 film.

The original film followed a clique of snotty, rich girls at a high school.  One of the girls, Veronica, played by Wynona Rider, isn’t so sure she wants to be one of the “popular” girls.  Her dreams are answered when a new kid, JD, played by Christian Slater, comes to the school and the popular kids start turning up dead.  As noted in the Variety article, look for most of the characters to be back for the series.

While the idea of reviving a story set in a high school seems ideal for TV, the fact that the film was so centered on the murders makes it seem like the series is going to be very limited.  Perhaps, like this Summer’s “Harper’s Island,” Fox is only planning on running the series for one season.  We’ll see.

Ben Stiller may stick with ‘Used Guys’

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Not long ago, a comedy called ‘Used Guys’ was in development at Fox which was intended for Jay Roach to direct and for Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller to star as two “obsolete pleasure clones” in the future.

1,095 days later, Fox is attempting to recharge the project as a romantic comedy and is in talks with Ben Stiller to star and also produce the film. The new version will be written by Valerie Faris and directed by Jonathan Dayton (Little Miss Sunshine). The lead female role is being offered to Reese Witherspoon.

[source: Variety]

Fox to Present ‘World Without Us’

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Fox has acquired the rights to Alan Weisman’s nonfiction book ‘World Without Us.’Â   The plan is for Mark Protosevich (‘I Am Legend’ and ‘Thor’) to write the screenplay with Francis Lawrence (‘I Am Legend’) to direct.

The book is a “what-if” look at our world were humans to suddenly disappear.   The book explored how edifices and houses would deteriorate, how long and which man-made objects would linger and last, the environmental impact nuclear waste and other pollutants would have left unchecked and how nature would spread over built environments.

The film will not be a documentary, but a fictional feature film based on the science explored within the novel.   For example, we may see what causes man’s disappearance.

The plan is for Protosevich to tackle “Without Us” before working on Universal/DreamWorks’ “Old Boy” remake, which has Smith attached to star and Steven Spielberg attached to direct.

It’s interesting that the writer and director behind ‘I Am Legend’ are being groomed to take on this project.   Lawrence really captured New York City were it to suddenly be without any kind of human interference or upkeep.   I’m sure he, as well as Protosevich, will be able to capture the novel’s themes with great success.

Source: THR

Jonah Hill Developing ’21 Jump Street’ Movie

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So, Jonah Hill is working with Sony Pictures to write and executive produce a feature film based on the old Fox program (and Johnny Depp career starter) ’21 Jump Street.’

That show blew major ass, so Hill’s involvement will probably be for the best, as he will most likely take the source material and turn it into an intentional comedy.

I must be honest, this news neither interests or excites me. Another P.O.S. television show is being made into a comedy. Why not make a feature film of ’24,’ starring  Leslie Nielsen as  Agent Jack Bauer. Or a live-action ‘Simpson’s’ movie directed by Martin  Scorsese, starring the cast of ‘Sopranos.’ Everything is genius on Opposites Day.

  

In other news, a cat was found inside a $27 used couch. Adorable and sad, because if there is one thing that the internet has more of than porn, it’s junk about cats. Sad, though, because this is the kind of news that makes it to MSNs main page.

  

source: Entertainment Weekly

Second ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ TV Spot

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The second of three 60-second spots for ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ aired last night.   This one is titled “Brothers”, and you can check it out right here:

The third spot airs tonight during “American Idol”.   If you aren’t interested in watching that, though, we’ll be sure to have the clip for you as soon as it airs.

Source: First Showing

3 Minutes of ‘Wolverine’ Coming to Fox

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The Fox network is given us a slightly late Valentine’s Day gift starting this Sunday.   Three 60-second spots are being shown on Fox that, when strewn together, form one, complete narrative.

The first spot will air Sunday, Feb. 15 during “Family Guy” (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT); the second on Monday, Feb. 16 during “House” (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT); and the third will air Tuesday, Feb. 17 during “American Idol” (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on Fox.

Following Tuesday night’s clip, all three will be released to Yahoo!

This is a pretty cool way to promote the film, as well as a good way for Fox to get people to watch their shows.   Not that any of these three shows have any ratings problems, but I don’t watch “House” or “American Idol”, and, now, I’ll be sure to set these episodes up on my Tivo.

What do you think?   Is this a good way for Fox to promote the film?   Are we still into these “multiple-minute” clips that studios release to promote their films?   Will you be tuning in to any shows you regularly don’t watch just to see these clips?   Let us know by commenting below!

Source: Official Site

Segal and Blunt consider ‘Gullivers Travels’

Fox is developing a “new” take on Jonathan Swift’s classic “Gullivers Travels” that will star Jack Black. Nicholas Stoller and Joe Stillman wrote the screenplay. News got out today that Jason Segal (in negotiations) and Emily Blunt have been offered roles in the film. If the deals go through, Blunt would play the island princess and Segal would play the Lilliputian named Horatio.

Rob Letterman is directing the story of free-spirited travel writer Lemuel Gulliver (Black), who on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle washes ashore on the hidden island of Lilliput, home to a population of industrious yet tiny people. — HR

[source: Hollywood Reporter]