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.Play Video
Brad Pitt’s World War Z to Be a Trilogy?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Paramount, Adaptation, Horror, Sequels, Thrillers, Rumors, Upcoming Releases
Brad Pitt's World War Z is being considered as a potential trilogy. Director Marc Foster and Paramount Pictures are both thought to view the post-apocalyptic horror film as a trilogy, which could see the 48-year-old star finally get a big movie franchise of his own.
The motion picture - which is set to be released later this year - sees Brad portray the role of a United Nations fact-finder and family man who travels around the world to visit survivors of a zombie apocalypse which is referred to as World War Z. Should the film be turned into a trilogy, it is thought it will take on the same realism of Matt Damon's Bourne series.
Brad recently starred as Billy Beane in baseball drama movie Moneyball and director Bennett Miller - who stepped in following the summer 2009 departure of Steven Soderbergh, who had been developing the script for two years - found the Hollywood actor's experience on both sides of the camera to be invaluable: "You work all day with Brad the actor and there's that energy, and then we'd wrap at the end of the day and maybe half an hour later we'd get together in this little area outside his trailer and he'd be Brad the producer. We would look at the next day, just go over things and maybe have a glass of wine. Sometimes it would be two or three hours of discussing and planning, and it's pretty exhausting making a movie, but it became this ritual for us. And then early the next morning, Brad the actor is back, being on set and making things happen in a totally different way."
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Kristen Wiig Won’t Write or Star in Bridesmaids Sequel
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Universal, Sequels, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases
Kirsten Wiig won't write or star in any potential Bridesmaids sequel. Universal is keen to capitalize on the success of the comedy - which grossed $288 million worldwide and was produced for just $32 million - with a follow-up film, but the actress, who co-wrote the script with writing partner Annie Mumolo, is busy with other commitments.
"We aren't working on that. Annie and I aren't planning a sequel. We are writing something else," Kristen said.
A Universal source added to The Hollywood Reporter, "We are over the moon with the success of Bridesmaids, and if we do a sequel we want to get it right. We are talking to filmmakers now about concepts, and if the right one emerges, we'll move forward."
Producer Judd Apatow is open to a sequel, but only if the idea is "great" and insiders believe he will only stay involved if Kristen remains on board: "The key is we have to come up with an idea that is as good or better than the first one. We don't want to do it unless it can be great. I don't think anyone has had the brain space to think about it yet. Hopefully that can begin this year."
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J.J. Abrams: ‘Star Trek 2 is Mine to Mess Up’
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Paramount, Action, Adventure, Classics, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Filmmaking, Scripts, Technology, Upcoming Releases
J.J. Abrams believes it will be his fault if Star Trek 2 is not a success. The director - who returns to the sci-fi franchise for the follow-up to the hugely successful 2009 film - admits the script by Damon Lindelof, Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman is "amazing" and it is up to him to make it into a decent movie.
"It's a little early to be talking about Star Trek, but I will say that they wrote, the three writers Damon, Bob and Alex, they wrote the most amazing script and I'm thrilled to get a chance to direct it. It's totally mine to screw up, so if you don't like it, it's completely on me. Our sets are almost done, so we're going to go back and start shooting next month."
He also revealed the movie will not be shot with special 3-D cameras but instead converted in post-production. "We're shooting on film, 2-D, and then we'll do a good high-end conversion like the Harry Potter movie and all that. Luckily, with our release date now we have the months needed to do it right because if you rush it, it never looks good."
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana are all returning to the film, which is set for release in 2013.
The Dark Knight Rises Extra Dies on Set
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Noir, Sequels, Thrillers, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

Tragedy strikes during production of The Dark Knight Rises. Warner Brothers confirmed that an unidentified male extra passed away from natural causes on the set of the new Batman film.
"The studio can confirm that a male extra passed away while on a break during an off-set crowd rehearsal for a sequence with several hundred extras in early November. The production crew fully cooperated with the authorities' investigation, which established that he died of natural causes," a studio representative said.
Sources reveal that the man's unconscious body was found after he had walked away from the other extras; a medical crew was called immediately. "He was taken to the hospital straight away... It was during a period when the film was shooting a huge sequence with several hundred extras in the Wall Street area," a source said.
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| Daily Mail
Benicio Del Toro Pulls Out of Star Trek 2
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Rumors, Upcoming Releases
Benicio Del Toro has pulled out of negotiations to appear in Star Trek 2.
The Wolfman actor was in talks to play the lead bad guy in the forthcoming J.J. Abrams-directed sequel - starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana - but "monetary issues" have ended chances of him starring. Although no details of who the character is have so far been leaked, NYPost.com's Vulture blog claims he was set to play Khan Noonien-Singh in the much-hyped project.
The character - a genetically engineered super-human - originally appeared in the original Star Trek TV series and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and was played by Ricardo Montalban. No actors have been named as possible successors to Benicio, but with the film due to begin shooting in January a replacement will have to be found shortly.
The sequel is set to be shot in 3-D by director J.J., while Alice Eve - best known for the role of the Irish nanny in Sex and the City 2 - is signed up to star.
Bradley Cooper: ‘Hangover III to Shoot Next Year’
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Warner Bros, Sequels, Comedy, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases
Bradley Cooper has confirmed The Hangover III will shoot next autumn in Los Angeles. The actor - who played the part of Phil in the first two instalments of the Todd Phillips-directed comedy - admitted he is keen to get to work on the third in the franchise, and doesn't think it will follow the same path as the previous films.
"I personally want to do it. I hope we're going to start shooting in September. We adhered to the formula in the second one, for those of you who've seen it, and the third one, which would close the whole, sort of, trilogy, which now it would be a trilogy - even though we thought we would never make a second one, let alone anybody see the first one. I think it will take place in Los Angeles and maybe not adhere to the structure. It might be different."
Bradley - who stars alongside comedy star Zach Galifianakis in the movies - previously claimed he was very keen to appear in a third installment despite the second being one of the hardest projects he has worked on. "I'll do whatever Todd wants to do, he's the best, he's the greatest. And I love those guys and I love my character Phil so I would do it in a heartbeat. It was the hardest shoot I've ever done but I just love it. There's got to be a trilogy, you've got to close it up."
Paranormal Activity 3 Scares Off Competition
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Buena Vista, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Period, Remakes, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Distribution, New Releases

Even though its predecessor received mixed reviews, Paranormal Activity 3 still managed to come out on top this past weekend, bumping last week's robot-packed action film Real Steel down to the #2 spot.
The sequel prequel horror film took in $54 million for its first week, which established the new record for largest Fall opening (September and October). Real Steel came in second at $11.3 million while the Footloose remake raked in $10.8 million, down one spot from its debut. Summit's The Three Musketeers pulled in $8.8 in its first week as George Clooney's film The Ides of March rounded out the top five at $4.9 million.
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| Box Office Mojo
Liam Hemsworth Joins Expendables Sequel
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Lionsgate, Action, Sequels, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors, Upcoming Releases

Miley Cyrus' ex Actor Liam Hemsworth has joined the cast of The Expendables 2. The Hunger Games actor will play a sniper in the forthcoming blockbuster sequel, though no other details of his exact role in the film have yet been revealed.
Liam is the latest in a long line of stars to be confirmed for the cast of the action film, which will be directed by Simon West. Sylvester Stallone heads the movie, reprising his role as team leader Barney Ross, with Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Randy Couture also returning. In addition, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, who made cameo appearances in the original 2010 movie, will also return, but with their roles expanded.
Other newcomers to the series include Jean-Claude Van Damme, Nicolas Cage, John Travolta and Chuck Norris. "We'll have a big showdown between me and Van Damme, which has been anticipated for a long time, so it should be a good one. We've got Chuck Norris. I think Nic Cage. We're trying to work out different scenarios. I like using people that had a moment and then maybe have fallen on some hard times and give them another shot," Stallone said.
The Expendables 2 is due in cinemas in August 2012.
Spider-Man Sequel Greenlit
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Columbia Pictures, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Thrillers, Celebrity Gossip, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases
Although The Amazing Spider-Man starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker and his superhero alter-ego and Emma Stone as his first love Gwen Stacy won't hit cinemas until July 2012, film bosses are so confident it will be a success, they have already commissioned a sequel. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be released in May, 2014.
"It speaks volumes about our confidence in what we are seeing on the new film and our desire to move quickly on the next instalment," an insider said.
While Emma, 22 and 27-year-old Andrew are said to be contractually obliged to make a sequel, Denis Leary - who plays Captain Stacy, the father of Emma's character - has confirmed he will also return, although he refused to give any other details: "I guess they officially announced it. I don't know if I'm allowed to say. Every time you say something about this f***ing movie, they go crazy!"
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be released in May, 2014.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Sequel Already Planned
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: 20th Century Fox, Action, Classics, Remakes, Science Fiction, Sequels, Box Office, Filmmaking, New Releases
Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt is already planning a sequel.
The movie - starring James Franco as San Francisco scientist Will Rodman and Frieda Pinto as primatologist Caroline Aranha - performed strongly on its US release last weekend, and Rupert believes the possibilities for a new film are endless.
"There's so much we could do. The ideas I've had are all sorts of things, ranging from Full Metal Jacket with apes, you could start this story again eight years from where we left off, the next generation of apes, those that have come from our protagonists, perhaps going in to a conflict with humans and showing real fear, in the same way as going into war for young soldiers in this day and age, telling their story."
Rupert believes the interactions between apes and humans is a fascinating story and is keen to explore this more in any future sequels: "Or we could look at how apes are taking over cities, and being moved into human environments and having to interact with them and deal with things that are part of our culture and understand and evolve through them. Spies that are in the employ of the apes, working against humans and humans maybe existing underground, because that's a way they can avoid the virus, coming up above ground wearing gas masks, and maybe that's what dehumanizes them."
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