Box Office Results and Weekly Movie News

Movies coming out this week!

Halloween II - Laurie Strode (Taylor-Compton) struggles to come to terms with her brother Michael's deadly return to Haddonfield, Illinois; meanwhile, Michael prepares for another reunion with his sister.

Taking Woodstock - When Woodstock organizers have the plug pulled on their event, Elliot Tiber (Martin), a young man who is spending the summer working on his parents' farm, helps the event land a permit, and puts the organizers in touch with Max Yasgur (Levy), a dairy farmer whose plot of land could serve as a perfect spot for the concert.

The Final Destination - After Hunt's (Zano) premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of his peers, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their fate.

Movies coming out on DVD and Blu-ray!

Duplicity
Adventureland
Sunshine Cleaning

Box Office results for the weekend!

1 Inglorious Basterds $37.6 M

2 District 9 $18.9 M

3 G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra $12.5 M

4 The Time Traveler's Wife $10.0 M

5 Julie & Julia $9.0 M

6 Shorts $6.6 M

7 G-Force $4.2 M

8 Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince $3.5 M

9 The Ugly Truth $2.8 M

10 Post Grad $2.8 M

"Inglourious Basterds" is the biggest Tarantino opening ever, by a hefty $12.5m over "Kill Bill Vol. 2" ($24.1 M domestically).

Other films dropped, but not by much given other releases this past weekend failed to make much of an impact on the Top 10. "Shorts" failed miserably and Robert Rodriguez should stay away from children movies from now on. "Spy Kids" is done with.

Somehow "G-Force" keeps going strong and "Harry Potter 6" is just about to crack $900 M worldwide. Now that made some money as "Post Grad" did not. Nor do I expect a lot of these lower numbered films to be here next weekend as two horror films come out as well as a nice hippie flick.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!

New Screenwriter Hired for 'Bourne 4'

Universal is keeping its plans for a "fourth Bourne" movie on track by hiring a new writer.

Writer George Nolfi was due to hand in his screenplay for the next "Bourne" film in June. But at the end of July, franchise star Matt Damon said they still didn't have a script for the next installment.

The studio has now hired Josh Zetumer to write a "parallel script", reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Zetumer, a Hollywood newcomer, is gaining a reputation after penning a big-screen remake of "Dune" for director Peter Berg and Paramount. That project was due out in 2010 but there's been no casting and production has not yet started, so it's likely to be after that when it hits the big screen.

Nolfi, who worked on "The Bourne Ultimatum," has been busy writing, producing and directing "The Adjustment Bureau," an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story which will also star Matt Damon.

As that movie nears its September start date, Nolfi has had to put aside his "Bourne 4" screenplay, which has prompted execs to bring in Zetumer so the project is not slowed down and is still able to meet its 2011 release date.

A Universal spokesman said: "Our hope is that Nolfi, a key member of the Bourne team, will return after he is done with 'The Adjustment Bureau.'"

Story details of the "fourth Bourne" adventure are not yet known. Robert Ludlum wrote three Bourne novels, each adapted into a film; after Ludlum's death in 2001, Eric Van Lustbader penned five more: The Bourne Legacy (2004), The Bourne Betrayal (2007), The Bourne Sanction (2008), The Bourne Deception (2009) and The Bourne Objective (due out in 2010). It's possible one of the Lustbader novels is the basis of the next film installment.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Source: The Geek Files

Martin Scorsese’s 'Shutter Island' Pushed Back To 2010

Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Paramount has pushed back Martin Scorsese’s latest film, "Shutter Island", from Oct. 2 this year, to February 19, 2010. The Leonardo DiCaprio-starring adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s ("Mystic River," "Gone Baby Gone") novel is the second high profile project to be pushed back from Fall this year to February next year. Earlier this month they moved "The Wolfman" to Feb. 19 (a week before "Shutter Island’s" new date).

The reasons for "Shutter Island’s" release date move - a film that some people already have on their predicted Oscar nominee list - are many, but the main ones are a lack of financing (for the home video market) and DiCaprio’s lack of availability to promote the film internationally. An insider (of Nikki Finke’s at Deadline Hollywood) is saying that the studio is hoping that "Shutter Island’s" chances will be helped with the new date because of the multi-Oscar-winning "The Silence of the Lambs" being released in a similar February date back in 1991. And now that the Academy has expanded the amount of Best Picture nominees from five to ten, it will be easier for the film to get an nomination.

Along with the DiCaprio promotion availability problem, and the Oscar nomination attempt for 2011, there could be a couple of other reasons for this move: The studio thinks it will make more money early next year and wants to spend their money on other projects before the end of 2009. And expanding on the Oscar nomination thing, they may think there are other Oscar-worthy films this year that will be severe competition.

Either this is an early warning sign that "Shutter Island" is really not that great and is being dumped to cover that up quickly and quietly (a lot like Paramount's decision to move "The Soloist" to April). Or just a sign that Paramount is out of their minds and somehow thinks that they can get more out of it running it in February. Either way, this is a very shocking decision. The official trailer has been playing since June and the film was supposed to only come out in a few months.
What do you think about the studio pushing Shutter Island back to next year?
As stated, "Shutter Island" has had its release date changed from October 2, 2009, to February 19, 2010.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Screen Rant, First Showing

New Writers for DC's 'Shazam'

Two new writers have joined Warner Bros' big-screen adaptation of "Shazam," the DC Comics' title named after the magic word uttered by teenager Billy Batson to transform into Captain Marvel.

The latest draft is to be penned by Bill Birch, who's currently writing One Finger Salute for Warners, and DC Comics scribe Geoff Johns. Johns is also a consultant on the project.

"Get Smart" director Peter Segal remains on board to direct the film. He started working on "Shazam" three years ago at New Line before it moved over to Warners.

Previous drafts have been penned by John August, William Goldman, Bryan Goluboff and the team of Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow.

Billy Batson is a radio news reporter chosen to be a champion of good by the wizard Shazam, whose name is an acronym for six gods and heroes of the ancient world.

When Billy speaks the wizard's name, he is transformed into the adult superhero Captain Marvel with the abilities of the six figures: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas,the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury. Several friends and family members can share the power, forming what's called the Marvel Family.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: The Geek Files, THR

'Twilight' Director to Make 'Red Riding Hood'

Catherine Hardwicke, the director of the first "Twilight" movie, is set to direct a gothic reimagining of the Little Red Riding Hood story for Leonardo DiCaprio's production company Appian Way, reports Variety.

Screenwriter David Johnson ("Orphan") is penning the project, entitled "The Girl With the Red Riding Hood." The project is set up at Warner Bros, where Appian Way has a first-look deal.

It's described as a werewolf movie and a gothic retelling of the story with a teenage love triangle at its center.

Hardwicke has several other development projects on the go, including "Hamlet" at Overture and "If I Stay" at Summit, plus "21 Jump Street" and "Maximum Ride" at Sony.

"21 Jump Street," which Jonah Hill is writing to also star in, will be an action-heavy retelling of the late 80's Fox television series. The show - which was one of the first hits for the then-fledgling network and launched the career of Johnny Depp - centered on a group of twenty-something policemen who looked young enough to go undercover in high schools and colleges.

With the "Hood" deal basically in place, it's unclear if Hardwicke could also helm "Jump Street" -- while both projects are at the development stage, they're considered priorities for their respective studios, which could create a scheduling issue if both go next year. On top of that, the Emile Hirsch modern-day adaptation of "Hamlet" could shoot later this year and/or early next year.

So she has five upcoming films to choose from and the different studios want to get them all made. Will Hardwicke try and tackle them all or can we expect to hear her ditching some of these offers?
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: The Geek Files, Variety, First Showing, Risky Biz Blog

Jon Hamm Joins 'Sucker Punch'

Zack Snyder certainly had his fair share of problems early on wrangling a cast for his latest project "Sucker Punch." Amanda Seyfried was supposed to play the lead Baby Doll, then dropped out only to be replaced later by Emily Browning and not long after that both Emma Stone and Evan Rachel Wood left the project due to "scheduling conflicts." Now THR tells us that a bit of good fortune has finally been sent Snyder's way in the form of "Mad Men" actor Jon Hamm being the first male to join the, thus far, all-female cast that also includes Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone and Carla Gugino most recently.

While it's been revealed that Hamm's character goes by the name High Roller, all other details are being kept under tight wraps. And it's not easy to figure out what his role might entail with a movie described as "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns." The only story details known about Sucker Punch are that it follows a girl named Baby Doll when she is banished to a mental institution by her step-father who has intentions for her to be lobotomized in five days. While imprisoned, she imagines herself in a fantasy world where she and her friends must steal five objects in order to help her escape before a sinister man has her way with her.

Maybe he might be that sinister man...
More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Source: First Showing

Comic Reveals Mickey Rourke's Whiplash for 'Iron Man 2'

A new comic book series being published as a prequel to "Iron Man 2" indicates that Mickey Rourke's primitive costume from first images of him as the villainous Whiplash develops into a sophisticated armor.

Teaser footage screened at San Diego Comic-Con showed Rourke as a Russian criminal who somehow gets his hands on technology to create electrically-charged whips.

He takes the name Whiplash and will be a combination of the comic book foe of that name as well as another baddie called Crimson Dynamo.

Marvel Comics has announced it is launching a four-issue Iron Man vs Whiplash limited series in November to get superhero fans up to speed on the movie version of the villain.

Marvel said: "As Tony Stark heads back to the big screen for 'Iron Man 2,' he brings with him a host of new problems and big enemies. One particularly painful thorn in his side will be the armour-clad, energy whip-wielding villain known as Whiplash."

Editor Bill Rosemann added: "Before he flays the metal off of Tony Stark's hide in 'Iron Man 2,' this is every true believer's chance to crawl inside the twisted head of the wicked Whiplash.

"If it's jet-setting, globe-trotting, eye-popping action you crave, Iron Man vs Whiplash will make you believe that Tony Stark is indeed a cool exec with a heart of steel...and Whiplash is the fiend that will break it!"

"Iron Man 2," starring Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and Sam Rockwell, opens on May 7, 2010.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Source: The Geek Files

Even though fans have yet to be treated to a trailer for the upcoming "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," that doesn't mean there haven't been plenty of peeks into production courtesy of director Edgar Wright's blog. With shooting entering its final stages, Wright's most recent video update hints at the final showdown between protagonist Scott Pilgrim and his love's most evil ex-boyfriend Gideon Graves.

Blog 11 - Battle Scars - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World from Scott Pilgrim The Movie on Vimeo.

Jason Schwartzman, who plays the as-yet-unseen Graves can be seen laughing on set with Pilgrim himself, Michael Cera. The two will most likely duke it out for the film's climactic final confrontation for the love of Ramona Flowers...or will they?

MTV News spoke with Schwartzman about his work on "Scott Pilgrim."

“One moment that was quite surreal was myself on a wire—like a wire that’s attached to a pulley system—and I’m being pulled 30 feet above the ground, sword-fighting in mid-air. I was also jumping on trampolines and flipping, and doing all this stuff. That was the ‘If-my-friends-from-high-school-could-see-me-now’ moment,” he said.

“I’ve played people who have some villain-esque tendencies, but I’ve never played an-out-and-out enemy of the people before,” he explained of his character, Gideon Gordon Graves. “It was incredible. I loved it.”

“Basically, Michael Cera falls in love with a woman,” Schwartzman said of the plot. “And in order to go out with her and win her affection, he must defeat her seven ex-evil boyfriends in a series of battles. And I am the final boyfriend; I’m the mastermind. And I am quite lethal.”

So, one would assume he was sword-fighting Cera on those wires for the final battle, right? Not so fast, cautioned Schwartzman.

“No, not Michael—somebody else,” he explained cryptically. “But I can’t say who.”

Then what happens during the climatic battle of "Scott Pilgrim?" Guess we'll have to find out next year when the film hits theaters.

More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Source: MTV News (1,2)