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Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
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Sequel News: X-Men, Vacation, Kill Bill and More


X-Men: Although it’s been six years since X2, Bryan Singer says he may not be done with the comic book franchise. The director recently revealed that he’s entertaining the thought of another installment. “I’m still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I’ve been talking to Fox about it,” Singer said. “I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast,” he admitted. Brett Ratner was at the helm for 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand while Gavin Hood directed 2009’s Wolverine.

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Guy Ritchie Attached to Lobo

Guy Ritchie is set to direct a live-action adaptation of Lobo, a DC Comics story.

The filmmaker has signed on for the sci-fi action film, which follows a seven-foot tall intergalactic bounty hunter.

Despite speculation, the Warner Bros. movie will not be based on comic book miniseries Lobo: The Last Czarnian, in which the anti-hero discovered he was not the last of his race left alive as his former history teacher was still living. Instead, it follows the title character as he teams up with a teenage girl to hunt down four fugitive aliens.

The movie is being written by Don Payne and is based on the character created by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen in 1983. Joel Silver, Akiva Goldsman and Andrew Rona are to produce the movie, with work scheduled to begin early next year.

No casting information has been announced yet.


Warner Bros. Casts Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern

Ryan Reynolds cast as Hal Jordan/Green LanternFor what seemed like decades, Warner Bros. had been searching for the star of their latest comic book adaptation, Green Lantern. They finally announced yesterday that they would be picking The Proposal star Ryan Reynolds, who beat out The Hangover‘s Bradley Cooper, Justin Timberlake, and Jared Leto.

He also beat out my beloved Nathan Fillion, whom fans have shown support for through homemade trailers. Of course, unfortunately studios tend to pick the bigger names over those who are more capable and suitable for the role. I mean we’re talking about Ryan Reynolds, the current king of romantic comedies who somehow conned Scarlett Johansson into marrying him (and did so by asking via text message). And as such, if he’s not in a romantic comedy, he’s always playing a wise-cracking smart-ass with little or no dynamic.

I have to give credit where credit is due, and unfortunately he does get kudos for scoring roles as both Marvel and DC superheroes—he’s so far the first and only.

He’ll be playing the Silver Age version of the Green Lantern, test pilot Hal Jordan. The film is expected to hit theaters December 2010.

Read More | E! Online

Mark Millar Already Plotting Kick-Ass Sequel

Kick-Ass sequel already in works

Despite the fact that Mark Millar has yet to finish neither the first arc of his Kick-Ass comic nor the film adaptation of it (he has so far only published six issues in thirteen months), the Scottish author already wants the sequel to shoot within two years.

Kick-Ass 2 is already being plotted out. We’re planning it, because all the actors are quite young and we have to make it relatively quickly. So we’ll definitely do that inside the next 18 to 24 months,” he told Sci-Fi Wire.

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Read More | Sci-Fi Wire

Shaun of the Dead Stars in Tintin Projects

Simon Pegg and Nick FrostA big-name directing duo has just landed a hot acting pair.

and Nick Frost have just joined Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s upcoming productions of Tintin. The two pictures, which will be filmed as 3-D performance-capture projects, is based off The Adventures of Tintin, a popular Belgian comic book series.

The actors will play Thompson and Thomson, identical-yet-unrelated detectives who sport slightly different mustaches. The duo joins Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings), who had already been cast as Captain Haddock. Meanwhile, the role of Tintin, the young reporter at the center of the stories, has not yet been filled. (A previous selection had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.)

The first of the two planned Sony/Paramount co-productions will be helmed by Spielberg. Jackson will direct the second.

Read More | Variety

The Case of Batman vs. Batman

The Dark Knight

Oh, the comedians are going to have a field day with this. In a just-strange-enough-to-work, headline-grabbing lawsuit, Batman will face off against the minds behind . But will the case ever see the inside of a courtroom?

Batman isn’t just a comic book character who first appeared on the scene in 1939 (then called the Bat-man), it’s also an oil-producing town in Turkey. Batman has been refining the fuel since 1955 and boasts Turkey’s oldest refinery. But now, the issue of name infringement has been raised.

Huseyin Kalkan, mayor of Batman, has legally filed suit against Christopher Nolan (who directed The Dark Knight) and Warner Bros. in hopes of gaining a cut of royalties from the film (sure, aren’t there enough to go around?).

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Read More | E! Online

Watchmen Fans Protest Fox’s Lawsuit

Fox attempts to stop Watchmen movie's releaseEven though the much-anticipated film’s premiere is not scheduled until March 6, true Watchmen fans are not taking any chances with Fox’s plans to completely prevent the release.

ComicBookMovie.com has organized a petition in hopes that the people over at Fox change their minds about touching the classic graphic novel’s film adaptation. One fan named Wyatt Barlup is even planning to picket the Fox lots with like-minded, passionate comrades.

There are even those that are on the offense: readers at Comics2Film.com have suggested taking action against Fox‘s upcoming films The Day the Earth Stood Still and X-Men Origins: Wolverine by calling for a boycott. Whoever knew real life drama could be better than fiction!

Why such extreme action, one might ask? Well, probably the fact that Fox isn’t planning on settling this—the studio heads don’t want to see Zack Snyder‘s film released, period.

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Read More | Variety

Casting Corner: James McAvoy, Ben Affleck, Nicolas Cage

James McAvoy

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

It seems as if there isn’t a woman can’t romance. In the past few years, he’s been paired with Gillian Anderson, Keira Knightley, Anne Hathway and, of course, Angelina Jolie. Now the rising actor will be taking on his biggest chemistry challenge yet.

In Gnomeo and Juliet, McAvoy and Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) will voice characters in a CGI-animated version of the Shakespeare drama. But those looking for any Montagues or Capulets will be pleasantly surprised. In this version, the lovers will actually come from rivaling families of garden gnomes.

This film, co-produced by Elton John, will also feature music from the Lion King musician. The feature should be completed by 2010.

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Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Snyder Pleases Fans at Comic-Con With Additional Watchmen Footage

New Watchmen posterContinuing to update you on everything Watchmen related, we’ve got the news from San Diego this past weekend.

Absolutely everyone and their mother were talking about Watchmen after Comic-Con, drooling over the eight new posters revealed, as well as an extended trailer.

One of the last shots of the trailer, that which depicts Mr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) blowing up enemy soldiers, is more gore-happy detailed. The trailer also included quick shots of the Comedian’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) scar origins as well as Laurie (Malin Akerman) unzipping her costume…

“People are starting to realize that superhero movies don’t just exist as mindless entertainment. They talk about stuff that’s serious,” director Zack Snyder commented in reference to The Dark Knight. And that’s exactly why we love you and Nolan, Mr. Snyder!

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Read More | E! Online

Pineapple Express Meets Disinterest at Comic-Con

Comic-Con goers didn't care much for Pineapple ExpressWhile it never appears to be a good sign when at least a third of an audience leaves prior to one’s panel at Comic-Con, I am definitely rooting for Pineapple Express when it hits theaters in a couple weeks!

As depressing as that can be for anyone at such a hyped event, I would venture to say that Judd Apatow‘s latest project failed to meet success at the event due to misplacement. I mean, promoting a stoner movie to die-hard comic book fans? These are audiences who went crazy last year over The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk, and this year with Watchmen—not exactly the type whose favorite movies include Dazed and Confused or Dude, Where’s My Car?.

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Read More | E! Online

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