Casting Corner: Anthony Hopkins, January Jones and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Remakes, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

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

Anthony Hopkins: The Wolfman actor will soon play dad to another large character: Thor. Hopkins has been cast as Odin, father of the title character (Chris Hemsworth) who is sent down to Earth after reigniting an ancient war. The film - which also includes Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston - will open May 20, 2011.

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Spider-Man Writer Announced

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Columbia Pictures, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Romance, Sequels, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

Just as Sony is in the midst of prepping Spider-Man 4 for filming, the studio made little hesitation with Spider-Man 5 and Spider-Man 6 by hiring Zodiac writer James Vanderbilt to pen the scripts.

Vanderbilt isn’t new to the Spider-Man films—he wrote the initial script for Spider-Man 4, which was later revised by Inkheart screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire (Seabiscuit writer/director Gary Ross is currently revising that script).

Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios clearly have faith in Vanderbilt, whose ideas director Sam Raimi didn’t necessarily embrace (leading him to rewrite). Nonetheless, he has now been given a second chance with the scripts for the fifth and sixth installations, which are expected to have an interconnected storyline. With that said, executives are planning to use Vanderbilt’s two scripts as a franchise reboot in case Raimi and stars Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst do not return.

While I find it amusing that they’re considering a reboot for the series, I admire that they’re wasting no time in seeing these films made. Let’s just hope that the producers can assure the involvement of the Spidey trio in all of them!

Read More | Variety

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Casting Corner: Jon Hamm, Billy Crudup and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate, Paramount, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Comedy, Thrillers, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

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

Jon Hamm: The Mad Men star has been cast opposite Ben Affleck in The Town, a film that Affleck will also direct. Ben will play a career thief who becomes romantically-involved with a bank manager (Vicky Cristina Barcelona‘s Rebecca Hall). Unfortunately, an FBI agent (Hamm) hunting the criminal also has his eyes set on the same woman. Production starts this month in Boston.

Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Jon Hamm, Billy Crudup and More

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Terrence Howard Says Marvel Made “Bad Choice” with Iron Man Snub

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Casting, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Depending on how you feel about karma, Terrence Howard and Marvel could both have some stuff coming their their way. Whether it’s good or bad remains to be seen.

In an interview with Parade magazine, the Fighting star talked about being replaced for Iron Man 2. Although it was rumored that Howard’s monetary demands were too high, the Oscar nominee claims it was the greedy studio that dropped the ball.

Click to continue reading Terrence Howard Says Marvel Made “Bad Choice” with Iron Man Snub

Read More | Parade

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Bring Wolverine Premiere to Your City

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels

Interested in seeing People’s Sexiest Man Alive in the flesh? Well, here’s your chance!

Effective immediately, fans of the X-Men series can vote to bring the premiere of X-Men Origins: Wolverine to their hometown. Submissions will be accepted until April 17 with the winning city announced on April 20.

The lucky city will get Hugh Jackman - and the whole red carpet treatment - on April 27, just days before the nationwide debut on May 1.

Read More | Us Magazine

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Sequel News: Spider-Man 4, Center of the Earth and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: New Line, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction, Sequels, Upcoming Releases

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Last year’s 3-D hit has spawned a second installment from New Line. The original film, which was based on a Jules Verne novel, earned over $100 million domestically ($140 internationally) after its release last July. Both Brendan Fraser (Prof. Trevor Anderson) and Josh Hutcherson (Sean Anderson) are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel.

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Read More | E! Online

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Iron Man’s Downey Jr., Cheadle and Favreau Inked to The Avengers

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Robert Downey Jr. has signed on to reprise his role as Iron Man in the second and third installments of the series, as well as the forthcoming Avengers franchise launch, reports Marvel Entertainment.  The first Iron Man film has grossed $578 million in worldwide box office, and Downey Jr.‘s portrayal of Iron Man (Tony Stark) is regarded as crucial to the success of the production plan.

Not so Terrence Howard (who played Stark’s friend Colonel Jim Rhodes in the first film.)  Howard has been replaced in the role by Don Cheadle, who’s signed a contract that will have him appearing along alongside Downey Jr. in Iron Man 2 and 3 and the first installment of The Avengers.  Rhodes will eventually become an armored crime-fighter in his own right, as Iron Man’s ally War Machine.

Click to continue reading Iron Man’s Downey Jr., Cheadle and Favreau Inked to The Avengers

Read More | Variety

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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.

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Read More | MTV Movies

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Don Cheadle Takes Over Terrence Howard’s Iron Man Role

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

UPDATE: You can read Howard’s reaction to this casting change here.

When Iron Man 2 eventually begins production, one cast member will be missing from roll call: Terrence Howard.

As Jim Rhodes, Tony Stark’s best friend, Howard was looking at picking up more screen time in the franchise’s next installment. Unfortunately, several factors - including a financial disagreement - reportedly forced Marvel to look elsewhere. Now audiences will see Don Cheadle (Ocean’s Eleven) as the man who may one day become War Machine.

Even though Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow are both expected to join Cheadle, director Jon Favreau is the only other confirmed return at this point. Meanwhile, very little is known about the script though it’s rumored the sequel will “go beyond high-tech villains.”

Iron Man 2 will blast into theaters on April 30, 2010.

Read More | The Hollywood Reporter

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Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau Talk Iron Man 2

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Political, Thrillers, Celeb News, Corporate Shakeups, Distribution, Filmmaking, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases

UPDATE: Thanks to one of those smarter people who actually brought a camera, The Game Jerk has posted a video of the Q&A that you can check out after the jump.

Although I have continuously kicked myself repeatedly for not bringing a camera last night, I was still at least able to mentally hold on to the great moments witnessed last night at a special screening of Iron Man. While the director was already scheduled to appear for a live commentary at Santa Monica’s Aero Theater, fans of Marvel’s first self-financed film were in for an even better treat when Tony Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr., showed up at the last moment.

Because of the fact that he had not recorded a commentary for the upcoming DVD, director Jon Favreau was quite exuberant over the fact that he was able to do so in person (also because he was not obligated to be politically correct).

Click to continue reading Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau Talk Iron Man 2

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