Movie News Mash 9

"The Kung Fu Kid"

According to First Showing, "Last year it was announced that Columbia Pictures was remaking the 1984 classic 'Karate Kid' with Jaden Smith set to star. In January, we announced that Jackie Chan had been cast as the lovable Mr. Miyagi, stepping in for Pat Morita. As far as I know, not a single person was excited by any of this news, but of course Sony is pushing forward with the production in hopes of convincing audiences later with marketing. Well, a good friends of ours dropped by with a tip recently letting us know that in a recent interview with Jackie Chan, he let slip that this remake is actually going to be called Kung Fu Kid, not Karate Kid.

'They don't want to call it Karate Kid any more,' Chan said. 'They want to call it The Kung Fu Kid.' He quickly changed topics and unfortunately didn't add any more about as to why this change was being made. Our guess is that since this remake is a Chinese co-production and being shot in Beijing, it's much more relevant today to use kung fu as opposed to karate (which isn't as popular as it was back in the 80's) and also more appropriate considering karate actually has its historical roots in kung fu. As in, story updates and Chinese influence caused them to change the title to be more culturally relevant and accurate."

Having the title of "Karate Kid" could have had people want to see the movie based on name recognition alone. Now that won't happen.
Why does this movie need to be remade again?


"Wonder Woman"

According to IESB, "Looks like WB and Silver Pictures are now looking for a director. The studios are enthusiastically working together to attach elements to the film to get it up and going quickly.

"There was a regime change late last year over at Silver Pictures, Andrew Rona is now the man in charge and will be the man spearheading the live action Wonder Woman project along with mega producer Joel Silver.

"WB and Silver Pictures are in the early stages but they are eager to get started on the movie. Sources tell IESB that WB is looking for new writers on the project and have been taking pitches the last few weeks."

Joss Whedon, famous for his hit TV show "Buffy," wrote a screenplay - for which he envisaged Eliza Dushku in the lead role - but it was rejected by studio bosses.

Hollywood babe Megan Fox (pictured) is so keen on the role that she promoted herself as Wonder Woman in a poster via a viral marketing website.

I am still hesitant to think that a "Wonder Woman" movie will be coming out soon, but with the general good responses coming from the recently released animated movie, maybe a director will soon be chosen.



"Sucker Punch"

According to Rope of Silicon, "Following the unfortunate departure of Amanda Seyfried from the lead role in Zack Snyder’s upcoming 'Sucker Punch' the role of Baby Doll has been filled by Aussie actress Emily Browning, one of the stars of this year’s thriller 'The Uninvited.'

Browning replaces Seyfried as Baby Doll, a role described as an insane asylum inmate who loses herself in a fantasy world where she dreams about escaping with her fellow inmates. She will be joining Evan Rachel Wood, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, and Emma Stone in the film described as 'an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ with machine guns.'

Filming is set to begin this fall with a October 8, 2010 release date already scoped out by Warner Bros."

I liked her in "A Series of Unfortunate Events." Though Jim Carrey might have outdone everyone in that film.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!