Screen Junkies » David Cronenberg

Fox Swats Down David Cronenberg’s ‘The Fly’ Sequel

Jame Gumb — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:44:58 +0000

I’ve got some “buzz”-kill news for fans of David Cronenberg and, or Musca domestica. Those maggots at Fox have passed on the famed director’s followup script for his 1980′s horror masterpiece, The Fly, a move which leaves a shitty taste in my mouth. I could make fly jokes all day, but I’d get fired.

“I wrote a script and at the moment Fox is not wanting to do the project,” said Cronenberg, who reportedly finished writing the screenplay last month. In the interview, Cronenberg also stated that he may turn his attention to Eastern Promises 2, so at least there’s a silver lining.

Perhaps the studio is apprehensive about putting millions of dollars into a movie about household pests. But I find that hard to believe, since Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwreched had no problem getting a green light. Are rodents really preferable to insects?

Source

Viggo Mortensen And David Cronenberg Kicking Around ‘Eastern Promises 2′

Penn Collins — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:31:18 +0000

Good news for people who like things that are awesome. The Russian mob film Eastern Promises, starring Viggo Mortensen and directed by David Cronenberg may have a sequel picking up where the original left off.

It was only a matter of time before A Dangerous Method, A History of Violence, and Eastern Promises star Mortensen got back together with Cronenberg after sitting out the director’s next film Cosmopolis, which stars Robert Pattinson.

While Viggo didn’t exactly fill in a lot of gaps, he acknowledged that they’re cracking on the sequel, saying, ““I think that’s still a possibility, but something we’ll definitely do [together] I’m sure and I’m looking forward to it already, whatever it is.”

That makes two of us, Viggo.

The original closed with a twist ending that could have taken the story in any one of a number of directions, so they’re no doubt hacking out in what capacity that want Mortensen to be a total badass. Here’s to hoping they figure it out sooner rather than later.

Cronenberg To Make Another Awesomely Weird Film With ‘Across The Table’

Penn Collins — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:36:22 +0000

Ask David Cronenberg to do a film about a love triangle, and you’ll be given As She Climbed Across the Table. The film is a love triangle all right, between a man, a woman, and a…black hole. Don’t act so surprised. It’s Cronenberg. The relationship between a professor and his physicist girlfriend gets strained as she gets closer and closer to replicate the origin of the universe in her lab by manufacturing a black hole. She dumps her man to spend more time with the black hole, which she calls “Lack,” because that’s a pretty awesome name for a man-made black hole.

The film is based on a novel of the same name by Jonathan Lethem, which I am going to buy this afternoon because it sounds so weird it could melt my face off. Bruce Wagner will be adapting the work for the screen.

Upon reading Deadline’s rundown of the project, I have to disagree with their assertion that this is the story of a love triangle. The man loves a woman who loves a black hole. Unless the black hole loves the man or the woman back, it’s really more of a love line, which somehow makes this whole thing even cooler.

Mind-Blowing News: They’re Doing A ‘Scanners’ TV Series

Joseph Gibson — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:26:27 +0000

David Cronenberg’s scifi/horror/head-explodey movie Scanners is famous even to people who haven’t seen it (like me, yet) for its scene of a guy’s head exploding. Perhaps, if we’re lucky, they’ll be more to the upcoming Scanners TV series being developed by Dimension Films.

Horror-remake-master Alexandre Aja has been signed to executive produce and “possibly direct” the pilot episode. Apparently the original plan was for a big-screen remake, but with genre TV like The Walking Dead making head-exploding amounts of cash for AMC, this was re-jiggered into a small-screen series. I wonder if this show’s success could lead to more Cronenberg TV series – I’d just love to see a show based on Crash– no, not that Crash, the other one. (Deadline)

Keira Knightley Wants Punishment In Cronenberg’s ‘A Dangerous Method’ Trailer

Wookie Johnson — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:33:05 +0000

7 photosKeira Knightley

David Cronenberg‘s A Dangerous Method has debuted a trailer that is just the most Cronenberg thing I’ve seen all day. It’s got Viggo Mortensen as ~~Mr. Pringles~~ Dr. Sigmund Freud, forbidden eroticism, and repressed feelings exploding and scattering emotional shrapnel in every direction. No people turning into flies though. Saving it for the sequel I bet. Smart.

The cast and material both look great. Mortensen plays Freud and Michael Fassbender plays Carl Jung. Keira Knightley plays the sexed-up looney bird he plows and Vincent Cassel rocks a beard.

Just Look At Robert Pattinson In ‘Cosmopolis’

Joseph Gibson — Sat, 28 May 2011 20:47:47 +0000

My god, look at Robert Pattinson. He’s a busy movie star, the idol of millions of teenage girls across the globe. Now look at him, acting in David Cronenberg‘s Cosmopolis, about a billionaire who embarks on a whirlwind limo ride through Manhattan. You can see a larger version of the first image from the movie by clicking the image above. It’s also inhabited by Sarah Gadon, who presumably is playing Pattinson’s love interest.

4 photosSee Some New 'Twilight' Pics Before It's Too Late

The movie also star Paul Giamatti, Juliette Binoche, Jay Baruchel and Samantha Morton, all of whom are not pictured here (you’re welcome). Now would you just look at that Robert Pattinson already!

Kevin Durand To Run Around With A Walkie-Talkie In ‘Cosmopolis’

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:06:46 +0000

Hollywood’s tallest actor Kevin Durand has joined the cast of David Cronenberg‘s Cosmopolis. In the film, he will play Robert Pattinson‘s head of security. To prepare for the role, he will practice stiff-arming overzealous teenage girls and some weird moms.

In the film, Pattinson plays a newlywed billionaire who loses his riches and lady in the course of one day. One very shitty day. There’s no word yet whether Durand will be expected to make love to an insect, turn into an insect, make love to James Spader, have a butt-naked knife fight, ward off mutant children, or have his head explode. But given that this is a Cronenberg film, you can expect any of those events are likely to happen within the first act. (Variety)

Casting Round-Up: Penelope Cruz, Thandie Newton, Jay Baruchel, And Maggie Grace

Geoffrey Golden — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:45:45 +0000

It’s time for another casting round-up, cowpokes. We sat ourselves down in front of studio lots, waited fer critters (celebrities) to walk out, hog tied ‘em, and asked them what parts they got. Here’s what y’all need to know:

PENELOPE CRUZ will team up with director Woody Allen once again, this time on a film set in Rome. There are no plot details yet, but the computer program I wrote says the odds are very high that it won’t be as good as earlier Woody Allen movies. (EW)

THANDIE NEWTON will play opposite Tyler Perry in his next film Good Deeds, which Perry will write and direct as well. The film is about a successful businessman who must choose between his rich fiancée and a down-on-her-luck single mother. Even if it’s bad, Newton can take comfort that it can’t be worse than Norbit. (TheWrap)

JAY BARUCHEL will join Robert Pattinson, Samantha Morton, and Paul Giamatti in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis. Pattinson plays a billionaire who loses everything he has in one day, including his new wife. Bad things happening to Pattinson, I can get on board with. Baruchel plays the original founder and conscious at Pattinson’s company. (Deadline)

MAGGIE GRACE will star alongside Liam Neeson in Taken 2, produced by Luc Besson. And yes, the will-he-or-won’t-he-tension of whether Neeson would take on Taken 2 has been resolved in the affirmative. Eight-time “Namey” award winner Olivier Megaton will direct. (Deadline) (Collider)

Samantha Morton Wants To Get With Robert Pattinson In ‘Cosmopolis’

Joseph Gibson — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:45:44 +0000

David Cronenberg‘s upcoming movie version of Don DeLillo’s novel Cosmopolis is continuing to add ringers to its cast. The latest addition is Samantha Morton, who’s been in a lot of stuff but will always be Agatha the precog from Minority Report to me. The star of the movie, Robert Pattinson, spilled the info in a recent interview:

“I know Juliette Binoche is in it now, and Samantha Morton. It’s going to be a crazy cast. Like, I have a feeling it’s going to be amazing.”

I have a feeling it’s going to be amazing too, Mr. Pattinson. Here’s a plot synopsis, in case you’re not rabidly following news about Don Delillo adaptations by David Cronenberg:

“[The movie] follow 24 hours in the life of newly married billionaire Eric Packer (Pattinson) as he cheats on his wife, is pursued by a stalker (Paul Giamatti), gets attacked by a protester and gradually loses his entire fortune over the course of a single day. “

Sounds pretty good, right? No word yet on who Morton is playing, but hopefully the movie will live up the promise indicated by the involvement of Robert Pattinson. And, uh, those other people. (via The Playlist)

Juliette Binoche To Ride Robert Pattinson’s Coattails In ‘Cosmopolis’

Joseph Gibson — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:54:51 +0000

David Cronenberg‘s upcoming adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel Cosmopolis already managed to get America’s Albino Robert Pattinson for the lead role. Now, clamoring to get on the Pattinson bandwagon, Juliette Binoche is also signed on for the movie. She’s joinin Paul Giamatti and (possibly) Mathieu Almaric in a movie about Pattinson cruising through Manhattan in his limo getting into all kinds of shenanigans:

“[A] young billionaire, who during the course of one day traveling across Manhattan in his limo, manages to cheat on his wife, deal with protesters and another antagonist or two, and encounter some financial trouble.”

No word on what part Binoche will actually be playing. Back when Colin Farrell was cast in the lead it was speculated she would be playing the main character’s wife, but that seems a little less likely given Pattinson’s age. (via /Film)

Someone Will Assassinate Robert Pattinson

Col. Longshanks — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:38:02 +0000

David Cronenberg has kicked Colin Farrell out of his limo and invited Robert Pattinson in. The Team Edward ambassador himself has signed on to play Eric Packer in Cosmopolis. Let’s assume I made a joke about his surname and move right on to the synopsis provided by Deadline:

“A financial wunderkind, Packer risks his entire fortune to bet against the yen on a tumultuous day. His deed puts him in the crosshairs for assassination in a drama that is a study of capitalism in a slightly futuristic metropolis. Most of the scenes in the book take place in the limousine that transports Packer from place to place. Marion Cotillard and Paul Giamatti are also reportedly doing the film.”

I can understand Cronenberg wanting to spend his time cooped up in a limo with Pattinson rather than Farrell. He probably smells better and drinks less. But does an audience that’s comprised of more than just horny tweens and horny housewives want to take that ride? Maybe if only to see something horrific birth from Pattinson’s stomach.

David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen Back for ‘Eastern Promises 2′

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Citing the lack of buck naked knife fights in recent films, David Cronenberg has reteamed with his muse Viggo Mortensen once more for a sequel to the 2007 film Eastern Promises. Steve Knight, who wrote the original as well as David Fincher’s upcoming Pawn Sacrifice, has finished the script and Cronenberg is scheduled to begin filming next winter after he and Mortensen wrap The Talking Cure.

At this time it in unknown if Naomi Watts and Viggo’s manhood will reprise their roles but we should hope that Mortensen’s package makes another appearance, because it was by far and away the breakout star of the original. Perhaps there’s room for a naked rake fight in the script. (Deadline)