Possible Strikeout for Soderbergh’s Moneyball

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, Adaptation, Sports, Filmmaking, Scripts

It looks like Moneyball may have struck out just days before its planned start.

Although production was set to begin on Monday, Columbia Pictures head Amy Pascal has placed the film in limited turnaround. This means the adaptation of Michael Lewis’ Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game might not be seen at all. Brad Pitt had been committed to play Billy Beane, the real-life baseball player turned Oakland A’s manager. The book told the story of Beane’s use of computer-based analysis - instead of a deep pocket book - to build a competitive baseball team.

Click to continue reading Possible Strikeout for Soderbergh’s Moneyball

Read More | Variety

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Frost/Nixon’s Writer Pens New 007 Film

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, MGM, Action, Sequels, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Bond duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade will be joined by a new scribe for the next 007 film.

Oscar-award winning screenwriter Peter Morgan will join the two franchise vets for the 23rd installment. In addition to work on both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Purvis and Wade have also contributed to Die Another Day and The World is Not Enough.

Morgan’s previous credits include Best Picture nominees Frost/Nixon and The Queen. He also co-wrote 2006’s The Last King of Scotland.

No start date has been set for the film’s production, though a 2011 release is projected.

Read More | Variety

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Carradine’s Death Forces Production Changes

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Casting, Obituaries, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

The sudden - and currently unsolved - death of David Carradine last week has forced several projects to readjust.

According to TMZ, the producers of Stretch, the movie David was filming in Thailand, are now working on retooling the script. The 72-year-old still had critical scenes yet to complete at the time of his passing.

Meanwhile, two other movies will simply replace the actor altogether: Portland, an indie film that was nearing the principal photography phase, and Beyond Legend, Johnny Kakota. The producers of the latter project are now hoping to fill the void with Jon Voight.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Star Trek Writers Detail Rejected William Shatner Scene

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Scripts

Interested in knowing how William Shatner might have been incorporated into Star Trek? Well - if you haven’t seen the movie yet, don’t read any further. The details involve an alternate ending for the film.

In an interview with MTV, the prequel’s two writers - Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman - explain that the ultimate decision to leave out Shatner was a difficult one. In fact, the two even disagree on whether the idea could have worked.

“We did write a Shatner scene,” Orci revealed. “But we didn’t want it to be a gimmick. We didn’t want it to be….to really bring him back in the right way would have required an entire movie to devote itself to that plot similarly to The Search for Spock (Number 3).” He added, “But we did write a scene and I think ultimately we all decided internally that it….We were split. But I think the decision was that it wasn’t quite enough to justify wasting [Shatner’s] time.”

Click to continue reading Star Trek Writers Detail Rejected William Shatner Scene

Read More | MTV Movies

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Sex and the City Sequel is a Done Deal

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: New Line, Warner Bros, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Casting, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Ladies, get your high heels ready. All the appropriate contracts have been signed, and Sex and the City is becoming an even bigger franchise. That’s right: a Sex sequel will be forthcoming.

A spokesperson for New Line has confirmed that the movie’s four female stars and head writer Michael Patrick King have signed on for much more Sex. This news probably doesn’t come as much of a shock. After the money the first flick made, New Line would probably do anything to get the girls back on the set.

The movie will be in theaters, if all goes according to plan, sometime in the summer of 2010. And what’s the word on the script? In a recent statement, King had this to say: “I’m very excited to work with these amazing actresses again and would love to give everyone more information about the sequel…but I’m busy with my Sex life.”

Read More | MSNBC

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Dominic Monaghan Talks About the Lord of the Rings Prequels

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: MGM, New Line, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Casting, Rumors, Scripts

While he’s quick to point out that The Hobbit is “not Lord of the Rings,” Dominic Monaghan told MTV that he is open to joining the upcoming adaptations.

Monaghan, who played Merry in the three LOTR films, said neither the fans nor his former coworkers should worry about their popular trilogy being diluted. “It’s being produced by Peter Jackson, who obviously made the first films, and his special-effects company are making it,” he explained. “It’s directed by Guillermo del Toro, who I think, outside of Peter Jackson, would be the number-one person to give this any amount of the tenderness that it deserves. Obviously, Ian McKellen’s going to be back for it, and Andy Serkis is going to be back for it.”

Click to continue reading Dominic Monaghan Talks About the Lord of the Rings Prequels

Read More | MTV Movies

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Star Trek: Going into the Future…a Little Too Boldly?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Science Fiction, Casting, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

I’m not old enough to have watched the original Star Trek when it first appeared on TV…but I was around for at least some of the first episodes of the Next Generation. In fact, I’ve seen all those episodes. I’ve watched every re-run of every Trek ever created. I’ve seen the movies (one of them in theaters). I’ve played the games. I might have looked through some of the literature. And maybe I once looked up a few words in the online Klingon dictionary.

Okay, fine. So I’m a Trekkie. And that’s the biggest reason why I think I may not like the new take on Trek. Is J.J. Abrams going to be the one who shoves me out of the scifi genre for good…or will he simply open the door for all the Trekkies of the future?

Click to continue reading Star Trek: Going into the Future…a Little Too Boldly?

Read More | MSNBC

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The Big Batman Riddle

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Action, Adventure, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Early today, Popeater started reporting that (of all people) Eddie Murphy has been cast in the role of The Riddler. The character was played by funnyman Jim Carrey in the 1995 Batman film, and Carrey was soundly abused by critics for his efforts.

Britain’s The Sun broke the Murphy news and the story was quickly picked up elsewhere in the world. The newspaper further reported that Murphy would hit the screen in the role in 2010, and that the movie has a working title of Gotham. Murphy as The Riddler? Well, he is pretty funny. Sure, that could work. Right?

Wrong. MSNBC reports that Murphy will not be play the villain. His rep has stepped forward to deny the story first appearing in The Sun. “No one has talked to me about it ever - never.” One rumor connects Johnny Depp to The Riddler role instead.

Who will play The Riddler? Since those behind the Batman film say they haven’t even worked out the story for the film, it’s a little premature to assume the character will even make the final cut.

Read More | Popeater

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Sarah Jessica Parker - No Plans for Bradshaw Baby

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: New Line, Sequels, Comedy, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

“We need to figure this out in the next couple of months,” Sarah Jessica Parker recently told MTV News, discussing a possible timetable for the next Sex and the City movie. The actress hopes to start shooting the film next summer, saying “that’s when we’d start shooting to be out in 2010.”

“We’ve had very general conversations about the idea,” she said, saying “that’s the big hurdle: the idea.” But, apparently (and despite rumors), motherhood for Carrie isn’t on the agenda.

Click to continue reading Sarah Jessica Parker - No Plans for Bradshaw Baby

Read More | MSNBC

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Sequel News: Hulk, Wall Street, Evil Dead and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, New Line, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Musicals, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Here’s the latest scoop on the sequel buzz spreading across Hollywood:

• Hairspray: Earlier this summer, New Line announced plans to produce a Hairspray follow. Unfortunately, the studio - which has already asked John Waters to write a treatment - may have a major casting issue to deal with. In a recent interview with Australia’s Sunday Herald Sun, John Travolta said he wasn’t looking forward to putting Edna Turnblad’s fat suit back on. “I think once is enough. I did it and I did it well but I’m not a big sequel guy,” the Look Who’s Talking Too star claimed. No other stars from the original cast have yet been confirmed for the new musical.

Click to continue reading Sequel News: Hulk, Wall Street, Evil Dead and More

Read More | MTV Movies


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