Screen Junkies » Warner Bros

‘Archie’ Movie Adaptation In The Works Because Reasons

Wookie Johnson — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:09:59 +0000

The world apparently hasn’t moved on from Archie Comics as Warner Bros is now reportedly working on a feature film adaptation. Pitch Perfect director Jason Moore will helm with scripting duties falling on Carrie remake writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who previously wrote the comics Afterlife with Archie and Archie Meets Glee. One of those projects featured zombies and the other featured moaning hell-beasts.

However, this adaptation will not feature the supernatural or Broadway versions of Britney Spears songs. Variety reports that this film we see Archie in a “teenage midlife crisis.” So, probably no chance of seeing a creepy, middle-aged Jughead spitting hot fire.

Walmart Shoppers Will Get To See ‘Man Of Steel’ Before Normal People

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:05:28 +0000

If you’d like to be one of the first to see Man Of Steel but your pussy won’t allow you to stay awake for a midnight screening, Walmart has an offer that might intrigue you. Those willing to wait in line and eventually be greeted by a retiree, could receive tickets to advance screenings of Man of Steel to be shown June 17, 7pm. If this appeals to you, show up to one of your local Walmarts to line up by 8am on May 18th.

Sounds like a pretty good deal except when you stop to think about who you will likely end up sharing a theater with.

(USA Today)

Warner Bros. Decides They May As Well Make A ‘Justice League’ Movie

Wookie Johnson — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:05:37 +0000

For those who weren’t into the thrills, excitement, and charm provided by The Avengers, you now have a bland, charmless version headed to theaters. That’s right. Warner Bros. is moving forward with a big screen Justice League film which will hit theaters in summer of 2015 — as will The Avengers 2.

Details are few right now, but it’s a given that the realism established in Christopher Nolan’s Batman series will be thrown out the window as the Caped Crusader and Superman begrudgingly team up and get all bitchy with one another while Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Green Lantern watch awkwardly. Seriously, you two. There’s a world to be saved. (The LA Times)

Warner Bros. Converting Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pacific Rim’ From 2-D To Ugly

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:54:41 +0000

Despite the director’s objections, Warner Bros is reportedly strong-arming Guillermo del Toro into converting his 2-D film, Pacific Rim, to 3-D. This comes on the heels of del Toro telling the crowd at Comic-Con that he doesn’t feel the imagery of huge mechanized robot suits beating the frig out of giant monsters will look very good in three dimensions. And if anyone would know for sure, it’s Guillermo del Toro. He’s consistently delivered awesome cinematic experiences and should be trusted in this regard.

Of course, it has to come down to money for the studio. 3-D still plays really well overseas even though American audiences are growing increasingly turned off by it. If given a choice I’ll buy a ticket for the 2-D screening, especially considering it wasn’t shot with 3-D in mind. Clash of the Titans looked way too dark and muddy after undergoing post-conversion, and I don’t think I’m ready to see Charlie Day in three dimensions. He’s got those eyes. (Variety)

Warner Bros. Tells Ron Howard’s ‘Dark Tower’ To Eat A D*ck

Wookie Johnson — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:11:52 +0000

Ron Howard continues to have a tough time with his ambitious take on adapting Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. Howard envisions the project as a three movie and two television miniseries package. Warner Bros. is reported to have reviewed the package over the weekend and passed with a ‘TLDR’ response. In all fairness to Warners, it was the weekend.

The studio is the second to pass. Universal was previously involved but pulled the plug just before going into production. In light of this, Javier Bardem left the project leaving producers with the task of finding some other guy to sling guns in that thing. (THR)

‘Gangster Squad’ Theater Scene Reshoot Will Delay Release

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:37:42 +0000

Gangster Squad, the goofy upcoming movie about Ryan Gosling beating up bad guys with his muscles, is the latest victim of the tragedy in Aurora. The film’s trailer features a scene where agents violently murder gangsters in a movie theater by shooting their way through the screen. That will now obviously need to change before the film’s release.

Warner Bros is scrambling to figure out the logistics of reshooting, but have come to the realization that the release date will need to push back, possibly until 2013.

One date the studio is looking at is Jan. 11. Before making a final decision, though, the studio is currently looking at several factors, according to sources, such as how quickly the cast can be reassembled for the reshoot, concerns about cast availibility to do press in January and the competition on the calendar. The only other release currently scheduled for Jan. 11 is Paramount’s Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton. [THR]

There is no information about the new location in which the filmmakers will now have the gangsters violently murdered.

‘Man Of Steel’ Teases Us With Very Little Man-Of-Steeling

Wookie Johnson — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:54:16 +0000

The teaser(s) for Zack Snyder‘s Man of Steel have found their way online and all of online is all like, ‘What the Hell?!” Instead of seeing a super-powered man throw around cars hide his identity behind stylish frames, we see him working on a Deadliest Catch boat while he gets some dadly advice from his biological, Russell Crowe. Those scenes must focus on the year he decided to find himself and act like Wolverine.

Second teaser below because the first one wasn’t Kevin Costner-y enough.

Warner Bros Hires ‘Gangster Squad’ Writer To Assemble ‘Justice League’ Script

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:29:38 +0000

With The Avengers record-breaking box office performance filling the Marvel money bin with an extra twelve feet of swimming dollars, it only makes sense that Warner Bros is like, “Hey! Me too!” And so, they’ve brought in Gangster Squad writer Will Beall to pen a new draft of a Justice League movie.

You might remember that Justice League almost went before cameras a few years back but was killed due to the WGA writer’s strike. We were all relieved back then but has your mood toward this project change in light of The Avengers‘ success? I still feel like bringing the teaming of a vigilante, an alien, another alien, a guy who got powers from an alien, an Amazonian princess, and a chemically-mutated really fast guy to the screen is going to be a clunky endeavor. Have some respect for the fans. We’re still hurting from Green Lantern.

Warner Bros Now Going Steady With Ron Howard’s ‘The Dark Tower’

Wookie Johnson — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:40 +0000

After Universal coldly returned Ron Howard’s The Dark Tower promise ring, it was looking like the project would never find love again. However, it seems a relationship may have been struck up with the most unlikely studio. And just in time for prom.

Warner Bros, the quiet and sensitive studio that wears glasses and hangs out in the pottery classroom during lunch, has agreed to team up with Howard on at least one film based on Stephen King‘s The Dark Tower. Initial plans with Universal were for three films and two short-run TV series, and to throw a rager at Universal’s lake house after graduation. Whether or not more films or Javier Bardem‘s involvement are on the slate remains to be seen. However, producer Brian Grazer has mentioned that Warner Bros sister studio HBO (who Warners pretty much raised after their mom died and dad fell into the bottle) will handle the television adaptation.

Project is expected to go before cameras in first quarter of 2013. Which seems like forever in high school years. (Deadline)

Warner Bros Realizes That Guy Ritchie Is Perfect For ‘Man From U.N.C.L.E.’

Wookie Johnson — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:19 +0000

Now that Steven Soderbergh has soderberghed his way out of directing Warner Bros‘ Man from U.N.C.L.E. adaptation, it is free to court other suitors. Though it’s not always healthy to bounce from relationship to relationship (ask Thor 2), Warner’s Man from U.N.C.L.E. is now getting involved with director Guy Ritchie and Sherlock Holmes producer Lionel Wigram. And you know what? They’re really cute together.

It’s just talks right now, but I could see them totally going steady. It’s really just a matter if Ritchie and Wigram are willing to up route their lives and move to the 1960′s for the adaptation. (THR)

Ben Affleck Randomly Selected To Direct Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’

Wookie Johnson — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:58:30 +0000

Nevermind that whole David Yates is adapting Stephen King‘s The Stand business. Yates is now out and Warner Bros. wants Ben Affleck to be in.

It was announced over the summer that the screenwriter and the director of several Harry Potter films, Steve Kloves and Yates, would adapt King’s post-apocalyptic doorstop across three sweeping films. However, Yates lacks the hunk status so the intent is to now replace him with the guy from Gigli. Affleck, who is currently directing the hostage drama Argo, has two films under his belt as of this moment. Argo will make it three. He seems like a strange pick for a genre project like this. First of all, it’s massive. Secondly, it doesn’t take place in Boston. Can he find as much success with the Maine accent? (Deadline)

The Wachowskis Return To Awesome Movie-Making With ‘Jupiter Ascending’

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:32:46 +0000

The elongated bullet-time-like wait is over. Lana and Andy Wachowski are planning a return to making awesome sci-fi action films. The siblings have set up Jupiter Ascending at Warner Bros.. Plot elements are being kept under wraps but we do know this is an original project from the Wachowskis and they are now discussing which A-list star to will lead the cast.

Lord only knows what film technology they’ll invent next. They’ve already raised the bar on the genre pretty high with the crazy sequences they composed in The Matrix and Speed Racer. Whatever they end up bringing to the table will have to be fresh and inventive. And, most importantly, easily copied in future Scary Movie films. (Deadline)

Load Your Weapons, ‘Akira’ Gets The Green Light

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:59:53 +0000

After years of rumors and false starts, Warner Bros. has finally given the official green light to a live-action remake of Akira. Does this news surprise or upset you? Do you even have any nerd-scorn left for the project? Don’t worry. If you’re a fan of the classic anime, there’s enough going on with the remake to obsess about.

First, Jaume Collet-Serra is in the director’s chair with production slated to begin early next year. He’s the man behind House of Wax, The Orphan, and Unknown. That news gets me pretty riled up and I have no emotional connections to Akira. The next update is that, based on his light-cycle experience, Garrett Hedlund is the favorite to zip around Neo-Manhattan in the lead role. I know how upset this must make you die-hards. Maybe you should go outside and get some air or a bialy. Treat yourself. (Variety)

Robert Downey Jr. To Put The System On Trial In ‘Perry Mason’ Franchise?

Penn Collins — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:00:21 +0000

The remake news is flooding in so fast that our interns just took their own lives. Today’s big story (so far) is that Robert Downey Jr. and Warner Bros have teamed up to co-produce a feature adaptation of the famed TV show Perry Mason that ran from 1957-1966 starring Raymond Burr. Of course, there was a radio series and film franchise in the 1930′s as well, but people who watched that are too old for the internet, so we needn’t harp on it.

The films will be set in the world of 1930′s Los Angeles, where Perry Mason will have his hands full representing those rightfully and wrongfully accused of crimes. While I’m not thrilled of the idea of yet another remake, this thing is far away enough from my consciousness that it might as well be new to me. It sounds a bit like L.A. Confidential, so I’m gonna go ahead and take off my “cynical” hat and put on my “Yay because this sort of sounds like L.A. Confidential” hat. It’s a very specific hat that I don’t get to break out as often as I’d like.

Where Are They Now?: Ryan Reynolds

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:41:40 +0000

Summer 2011. A simpler time. The nation was boogeying to the latest Cee Lo Green recording, and Ryan Reynolds was poised to rul the box office with not just one, but two, surefire hits. However, as Reynolds found out, things don’t always go as planned.

First, there was The Green Lantern. Reynold’s third foray into the comic book movie genre and his biggest role to date. Unlike Thor, which was released a few weeks before, Lantern was not a runaway hit. Poor reviews and bad marketing sealed this film’s fate and it didn’t not earn back its $200 million budget. Then there was The Change-Up. Which also suffered from lame marketing that didn’t highlight the film’s strengths. Reynolds co-starred with Jason Bateman in the gross-out comedy about people getting pooped on. Which is exactly what happened to The Change-Up at the box office, earning only $34 million dollars in three weeks of release like some kind of jerk.

So what’s next for Reynolds after back-to-back summer bombs? The SJ Detectives did a little digging to find out what Reynolds has been up to over the last four days since the summer movie season ended.

Sadly, Reynolds is taking the news pretty hard and has sank into a deep depression. He’ taken to sleeping in the coffin used to film Buried and has grown a beard — a style he has only worn in darker films like The Amityville Horror and Blade: Trinity. He’s also been spotted hanging around the campus where Van Wilder was filmed, attempting to ingratiate himself to the incoming freshmen with the promise of showing them the way to a laid-back, college existence. Perhaps not surprisingly, Kal Penn has also been seen hanging around. At last report, Campus Public Safety had placed a boot on his golf cart.

People Magazine reports that he’s been seen stopping by Sandra Bullock‘s house unexpectedly. Though gossips are speculating a romance between the now single former co-stars, this is clearly a case of one friend supporting and counseling another. Reynolds has had it rough recently and Bullock knows all too well what it feels like to be publicly embarrassed. Lest we forget what Bullock suffered? That’s right. I refer of course to the double whallup of Speed 2: Cruise Control and Hope Floats.

What Reynolds needs to remember is that it’s not his fault. He’s an actor. He did his part by reading the lines and being polite to Kathie Lee and Hoda. Despite the public reaction, word of mouth is that he was very funny in The Change-Up and his head did a wonderful job as the Lantern. What he needs now is a more lighthearted romantic comedy to ease him back into the audience’s good graces. Then he can move back into action movies. Then a tense hospital/legal drama. This method has worked for Matthew McConaughey for years. And if he can achieve a hit without calling upon Kate Hudson, he truly is a master.

Until that time, he’ll have to be content with being in the physical prime of his life, driving his awesome motorcycle around, getting occasional modeling work, and dating insanely hot women. It will be tough. But he’ll pull through.

Robert Downey Jr. Bringing Plight Of USS Indianapolis To Screens

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:44:58 +0000

Robert Downey Jr. is swimming with sharks. More so than usual.

RDJr. and Susan Downey are teaming up with Warner Bros to bring the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis afloat. They’ve purchased the story rights to the life of Hunter Scott, the 11-year old boy who set out to exonerate the ship’s court-martialed captain, Charles McVay.

The Indianapolis was sunk by torpedoes and the crew was feasted upon by sharks while stranded without rescue for five days. Scott became familiar with the case after watching Robert Shaw’s character recount the ordeal in Jaws. Believing that justice was miscarried, Scott spoke before Congress and had McAvay’s record corrected…thirty-three years after his suicide. Hey, better late than never though. (THR)

Graphic Novel ‘Bone’ To Get Its Very Own Animated Trilogy?

Penn Collins — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:26:30 +0000

Fans of the comic book Bone, rejoice. Now rejoice again. And a third time. You just rejoiced once for every installment of the film trilogy based on the popular comic. Warner Bros, after an erratic development timeline over the past few years, has put pen to paper and is reportedly planning on adapting the series into an animated three-part series.

Jeff Smith had spent 13 years crafting the 1,300 page story garnering many awards in the process. Bone follows the journey of three cousins as they face dragons and other mythical powers and beasts that are out to conquer humankind. The black-and-white drawings, as well as the unique look of the comic have many clamoring for a hand-drawn approach, rather than the usual CGI treatment.

Considering no script nor director has been announced, it could be a mad minute before we get much more clarity, but it’s nice to know that such an irreverent (albeit popular) work is getting the big picture treatment.

Universal To Catch Ron Howard On The Rebound With ‘Under The Banner Of Heaven’?

Penn Collins — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:35:37 +0000

Recognizing a gap in Howard’s schedule after Universal passed on the epic The Dark Tower project(s), Warner Bros is attempting to woo Ron Howard by bringing out the big guns. The studio is preparing a project for him based on Jon Karkauer’s (Into Thin Air) Under the Banner of Heaven, which follows two murderin brothers who claim they were acting on instructions from God.

The source material will be adapted by Dustin Lance Black, who has J. Edgar and Milk to his name. Howard’s Imagine Entertainment worked production on J. Edgar, though Clint Eastwood took the helm.

While Howard did lose an enormous project in The Dark Tower, he was busy enough even without that project that timing on Under the Banner of Heaven is a bit of a question. He’s currently prepping Rush with Chris Hemsworth right now, and recently announced his involvement in a film based on the Mad Magazine comic Spy. Vs. Spy. Don’t be surprised if this project takes priority over Spy Vs. Spy, because Krakauer beats Mad Magazine. Probably. Maybe. Who knows? (Deadline)

Tom Hardy Will Burn It All Down As Al Capone In ‘Cicero’

Wookie Johnson — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:03:22 +0000

6 photosBonnie Wright

Director David Yates is looking to cool his heels with a smaller project now that Harry Potter has taken his final bow. If Warner Bros allows him to take a breather, he’ll be directing the Al Capone biopic Cicero, now starring Tom Hardy.

Hardy’s currently filming The Dark Knight Rises and then he’s headed over to Mad Max: Fury Road. And Yates may be attached to both The Stand and Fables. Both are pretty busy and in-demand guys. I’d love to see this come together though. So if they want to see this happen, they’d better move quick. Cicero focuses on Capone’s rise to power in Chicago but there is franchise potential which means we’d get to see Tom Hardy go mad with syphilis some day. On-screen, guys. (Vulture)

Alexander Skarsgard To Play A Non-Vampire Viking In ‘The Vanguard’

Penn Collins — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:19:15 +0000

Alexander Skarsgard will break away from his role as a sexy vampire with viking blood on True Blood to play a regular sexy viking with WB‘s purchase of The Vanguard, a viking epic in which Skarsgard will star in and produce.

He will play one of two vikin brothers who embark on a mission back to their native Sweden after getting banned from North America. The script is written by Chris Boal, who is having a career day with Warner Bros, having just gotten the greenlight for his Julius Caesar script earlier today. See kids? It pays to be a history buff.

According to Variety, the film is expected to be a tentpole for Warner, along the lines of a Braveheart or Gladiator. He should be careful, though. His success with this film could seriously hurt his camp value as an actor on True Blood. Just something to think about.

All Hail Caesar’s Biopic!

Penn Collins — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:28:03 +0000

This is really turning into a banner month for hungover history teachers. First there’s news of an I, Claudius retelling that’s supposed to clock in at over eight hours, and now Warner Bros picks up a Julius Caesar film that chronicles his detail in Spain and eventual reign over the Roman Empire. With these educational historical dramas, they’ll be able to quietly nap through the entire semester.

The untitled Caesar film will be directed by Jonathan Liebesman, who recently finished Battle: Los Angeles. The film will be written by Chris Boal, who has something of an affinity for Caesar scripts, recently wrote the play 23 Knives, which focuses on Caesar’s autopsy. Should everything come together on this project, the idea is to follow it up with a second film that follows Caesar’s entry to Egypt and his (*spoiler alert for dropouts*) eventual assassination. (Deadline)

Peep This: ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Teaser Poster

Wookie Johnson — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:51:50 +0000

Christopher Nolan is officially teasing us. This newly-released teaser poster for The Dark Knight Rises, in a scene reminiscent of Nolan’s Inception, casts a view up at the Gotha skyline as the buildings shake and rain debris down creating the shape of a bat. Shit. I just parked my car on that street.

The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters July 20th, 2012, and a teaser trailer will be released this week attached to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. In the meantime, the full poster is below. You should totally think about getting it as a back tatt.

(The Dark Knight Rises)

Bruce Wayne Learns The Vigilante Ropes In ‘Batman: Year One’ Trailer

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:02:21 +0000

7 photosEliza Dushku

Warner Bros has released this trailer for Batman: Year One so that we’re all very clear that Bruce Wayne‘s parents were murdered and years later he saw a bat and that prompted him to karate chop brick piles and become Batman. We’re all good on those facts now, right?

Adapted from Frank Miller‘s classic graphic novel (which served as an influence to Nolan’s Batman), the animated film follows Bruce Wayne through his first year as Batman, back when he was still super-pissed about the whole murder of his parents thing. The O.C.‘s Ben McKenzie stars as Batman (naturally) with Bryan Cranston as Jim Gordon, Katee Sackhoff as Sarah Essen, and Eliza Dushku as Catwoman. Because everyone knows that Catwoman has a wicked Boston accent.

Drew Barrymore To Direct (And Probably Make Out With Star Of) ‘Heist Society’

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:36:51 +0000

Drew Barrymore is set to direct again after her directorial debut Whip It with Heist Society. Though based on a young adult novel, the movie will skew a bit older placin the master burglar characters in their early 20′s. The movie’s plot revolves around one young woman from a long-line of thieves who must steal back a powerful mobster’s art collection after her father is framed for its initial theft.

There’s no word on whether or not Barrymore will take a role on-screen and subsequently be spotted at a Panda Bear concert making out with her co-star. (THR)

Will Ferrell To Yell Skyward In ‘Swear To God’

Wookie Johnson — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:07:04 +0000

Will Ferrell is being called upon because of his talent for screaming at the Heavens. Warner Bros has bought the pitch Swear To God with the intention of attaching Ferrell and his main man Adam McKay. Written by Due Date scribes Alan Cohen and Alan Freedland, Swear To God stars Ferrell as a hedge fund manager who believes he saw God.

It’s also described as a buddy comedy though there are not details available about who Ferrell will be in a confined space with. Aziz Ansari? Yeah, sure. That sounds good. (Deadline)

Ed Helms To Star (And Probably Sing) In ‘True North’

Wookie Johnson — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:58:17 +0000

6 photosKim Lee

Warner Bros is developing a new talkie titled True North and they’re using it as a vehicle for a member of the Wolfpack. Ed Helms is set to star in the moving picture as a selfish radio DJ who falls into a two-year coma after a plane crash. After waking to find his looks have been surgically altered, he sets out to find and reconnect with his family. Doesn’t sound like that harrowing of a journey but then again, dude is probably hesitant to fly.

The pitch was bought from Rob Pearlstein, who has written for Medium and The Inside. Pearlstein is currently at work on his directorial debut, Someone Marry Barry. (Variety)

A Buttload Of Warner Bros TV Shows Are Coming To Comic-Con

Wookie Johnson — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:37:53 +0000

7 photosYvonne Strahovski

The major studios may have decided not to show their work, but that doesn’t mean Comic-Con 2011 won’t be awesome. Though Warner Bros doesn’t have plans to show us what their Dark Knights or Supermen are gonna look like, they’re making up for it by bringing along their television stars.

Superfans will have the chance to touch their favorite actors from shows like “Chuck,” “Alcatraz,”"Fringe,” “Nikita,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Person Of Interest,” “The Secret Circle,” and for the first time in convention history, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles of “Supernatural.” But please limit your touches to under two seconds. There are still laws even though Superman won’t be there to uphold them.

Here’s the current rundown of Warner’s TV Schedule.

THE TV SERIES SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JULY 22

“MAD”: 10:00–11:00 a.m., Room 25ABC
“The Big Bang Theory”: 12:30–1:30 p.m., Ballroom 20
“Childrens Hospital”: 1:30–2:20 p.m., Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
“Green Lantern: The Animated Series”: 2:00–3:00 p.m., Room 6BCF
“ThunderCats”: 3:30–4:30 p.m., Room 6A

SATURDAY, JULY 23

“Chuck”: 10:00–10:45 a.m., Ballroom 20
“The Vampire Diaries”: 3:30–4:15 p.m., Ballroom 20
“Fringe”: 4:15–5:00 p.m., Ballroom 20
“Alcatraz”: 5:00–6:00 p.m., Ballroom 20
“The Secret Circle”: 5:10–6:00 p.m., Room 6BCF
“Nikita”: 6:00–6:45 p.m., Room 6BCF
“Person of Interest”: 6:45–7:30 p.m., Room 6BCF

SUNDAY, JULY 24

“Young Justice”: 10:00–11:00 a.m., Room 7AB
“Supernatural”: 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Hall H
“Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated”: 1:00–2:00 p.m., Room 6A
“The Looney Tunes Show”: 2:15–3:15 p.m., Room 6A

WB Bestows Dobkin With Lots Of Coin For ‘Arthur And Lancelot’

Penn Collins — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:35:01 +0000

Warner Bros has paid $2 million for the Arthur and Lancelot spec script from David Dobkin in a deal that will also see him directing the story of the chivalric heroes, set in modern times.

This $90 million project will serve as something of a departure for Dobkin, who has trafficked in mid-budget comedies such as Wedding Crashers, Fred Claus, and several other films that have no connection at all to Vince Vaughn. His most recent project, The Change-Up, bows in a few weeks.

Warner Bros beat out Universal and Fox for the rights to the script and Dobkin’s talents, which would indicate some buzz around the project. Whether or not this will be a straight actioner or something more akin to Dobkin’s Shanghai Knights is not yet known. They’d have to work in a reason for roundhouse kicks. (Deadline)

Review: Green Lantern

Fred Topel — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:04:02 +0000

Green Lantern looks like a big cartoon, but it’s a really cool cartoon. What can you do when all the environments and most of the main characters are CGI? It’s bright, sharp and detailed (well, it won’t be bright if you see the 3D version).

The film opens with an explanation of the guardians and will power constructs. There’s still no other way to explain this crazy mythology than flat out exposition. A little more is explained as Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) trains on Oa so he’s ready to fight the Parallax, a creature using fear as its power source.

New ‘Green Lantern’ Trailer Lays It All Out For You

The will power constructs are intricate and clever. That’s really the victory of creative screenwriting, to say “instead of just green energy blasts, what temporary devices could we use to have this guy beat that guy?” Even constructs as simple as swords are meaningful as an homage to the classical duel.

A thrilling air sequence spells out Hal’s personality. His rogue tactics are cool in a training exercise, since it’s hypothetical. Wouldn’t be so cool if real lives were at risk. It spells out all the conflicts between fearless Hal and by the books Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), but it’s a fun Bruckheimer style Top Gun sequence.

It’s simple fun. That’s okay, but we do like our superheroes to have a little metaphor. Jordan ultimately gets to the value of admitting fear, but it really stays on the surface of the whole will vs. fear debate. Maybe in the sequel. It’s more fun than Thor, because the constructs are just more fun to watch than big dudes hitting each other.

8 photosBlake Lively

I was worried that Green Lantern would be inaccessible since it’s all in space with aliens. If anything, the movie spends too much time on earth. There’s not much epic space battle at all. The rescues and battles on earth are fine but the “character” scenes sort of force contrived human moments in there. They want to have fun with the powers and be romantic, but it feels like screenplay template.

Maybe the biggest component that’s missing is that earth really has no say in this. Hal decides whether or not to join the guardians and the guardians debate sacrificing earth to Parallax, but earth never speaks up. Earth doesn’t even know what’s going on? They see a few disasters but that’s just a reaction shot while other forces control the plot of the film. Hal doesn’t even get to experience the superhero phenomenon, since nobody he rescues really comments on it.

So Green Lantern doesn’t make me a comic book fan, but as a “superhero saves the world” movie, it’s fun. Sinestro (Mark Strong) brings it, lending gravitas to the formula. Hector (Peter Sarsgaard) is the typical mad scientist with new power, but Sarsgaard makes him really weird and uncomfortable to watch. The film is a mixed bag, but the joyful spectacle wins out.

‘Boiler Room’ Writer/Director FINALLY Gets His Racing Movie

Penn Collins — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:48:57 +0000

Ben Younger hasn’t been much of a mainstay in Hollywood since he made a splash writing and directing the sleazy stock-broker study Boiler Room in 2000, stepping away to spend most of his time on his newest obsession: auto racing.

Ever since Ben Affleck gifted Younger a motorcycle after his feature debut, Younger has had racing on the brain, stepping back into the director’s chair only once in 2005 Meryl Streep film Prime, to little fanfare. It looks like it has taken the world of racing to get him back behind the camera (and penning the script), with a big-budget racing film that he refers to as “a $150 million movie.” Warner Bros. has yet to confirm that statement, but they have yet to deny it either.

This is hardly a fluke. Younger and Warner Bros. have been dancing around a racing film for quite some time. Younger came to them with the auto racing story Isle of Man, to which they countered, saying that they wanted him for other racing project Formula One. And now they’ve landed on a third racing pic, this one untitled.

Man, this guy was really holding out for a racing movie, wasn’t he? (THR)