Aug 27 2009 Spielberg, Crichton Semi-Posthumously Re-Team for Pirate Region Movie
Your favorite author and director for the six months following the release of Jurassic Park may be teaming up again. Following Michael Crichton's death, looters who went through the writer's computer found an unpublished pirate novel (Pirate Latitudes, set to be published in November); Steven Spielberg just heard about this and decided, hey, time to make a pirate movie based on that!
JP screenwriter David Koepp is set to adapt. It's still unclear whether or not Spielberg will only produce or also direct, but he did say this about the half-posthumous collaboration:
"Michael wrote a real page-turner that already seems suited for the big screen," Spielberg said of Pirate Latitudes. "Michael and I have had almost two decades of solid collaborations. Whenever I made a film from a Michael Crichton book or screenplay, I knew I was in good hands. Michael felt the same, and we like to think he still does."
Don't worry, Stevesy, I'm sure Michael still loves you up in author heaven. He's probably out there right now, somewhere, looking down at you and thinking, "God, I am still so pissed I didn't get to see the end of ER."
(Thanks, Thundergirl.)
Aug 3 2009 Spielberg Hops on the Remake-Go-Round
Steven Spielberg, the man who famously presented Animaniacs, has announced he'll be shooting a remake of Harvey, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play-turned-Jimmy Stewart movie about a man and his six-and-a-half-foot rabbit friend only he can see. From Variety:
Steven Spielberg has committed to his next film, and it will be an adaptation of the Mary Chase Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Harvey,” which will be done as a co-production between 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks.It is the first screenplay by the bestselling novelist Jonathan Tropper.
It is the story of an amiable eccentric, Elwood P. Dowd, and his friendship with a six and one-half foot tall invisible rabbit, and how it affects every member of his family and community. The play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944, and was previously turned into the 1950 Universal film that starred Jimmy Stewart and Josephine Hull.
Spielberg later added, "This shit's going to be SO fucked up, dude. Like, did you see Donnie Darko? Like that times a billion in fucked-upitude, man."
Jul 30 2009 Spielberg Doing Spy Movie After All the Other Crap He Says He's Doing?
Steven Spielberg, director of an episode of Columbo and some other things, might be looking to add yet another project to his ever-growing list of films he'll never complete. Variety is reporting the director--who currently has an Oldboy remake, a film about gravity fields, his forever-talked-about Lincoln biopic, and the in-progress Tintin movie on his to-do list--is pondering taking on a film about fictional governnent spy Matt Helm:
Spielberg's camp said he is attached to produce, but it's unclear if he's going to direct. Clearly, Spielberg is excited about the project again after the rewrite that Paul Attanasio delivered last week."Matt Helm" is based on a series of 27 novels written by Donald Hamilton about a government agent whose mission is to take down enemy agents. While the novels were set in the post-WWII Cold War era, the current script is set in the present. While a series of tongue-in-cheek films were made with Dean Martin playing Helm as a playboy spy, the tone of Attanasio's script is closer to that of "The Bourne Identity."
If Spielberg ever does get to this, I wouldn't expect it would be before 2020. That should give him time for Oldboy, Interstellar, another Tintin, a fourth Jurassic Park, an E.T. sequel (E.T.: He's Home), and a decade of telling Liam Neson, "Look, I swear, you'll get to play Lincoln so soon--let me just finish up on Duel 2: Reduel."
Jun 16 2009 Indiana Jones, Shia LaBeouf Searching for Futher Religious/Alien Artifacts?
Ut oh, Shia, you've just caused hubbub! Speaking to an obviously-possessed BBC interviewer, LaBeouf gave the following brief-but-terrifying response when asked if we'd see him in another Indiana Jones movie:
"Steven just said that he cracked a story on it before I left, and, uh, I think they're gearin' that up."
I can appreciate the spirit of being launched out of a nuclear test site and climbing right back into that fridge to try again, but this is not a good idea, Steven Spielberg. You (along with Oprah) are the most powerful person in media (source: I think I read that in a magazine once); can you not use that power for good? Just finish Tintin, throw Liam Neeson in a top hat and do the Lincoln thing you've been talking about for a decade, and put this Indiana Jones thing to bed. Thank you.
I'm not sure I believe the story anyway. LaBeouf using the phrase "cracked a story" makes me think maybe Spielberg's quote was mistranslated when converted from English to 1920s Reporter Speak.
May 29 2009 See You Guys at 'Tintin' Around Christmas 2011
Something for your kitten calendar: Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn will be released internationally in late October/early November 2011 before arriving in US theaters December 23. Try to mark it down, but in case you forget, I'll try to remind you sometime that calendar year.
On a somewhat related note, I finally started reading the Tintin comics, and they are nuts. Every page introduces a new conflict that is serendipitously resolved by the next page. For example: "Ut oh, Tintin has been tied to a massive dumbbell and thrown into Lake Michigan! Oh, phew, it turns out they accidentally tied him to a circus strongman's fake, wooden dumbbells that float. Tintin is safe!" Something like that happens every page. It's madness. Who knew the series would be so amazingly ridiculous, besides the millions worldwide who read it decades ago?
May 19 2009 Martin Luther King Jr.: DreamWorks Owns Your Life
Will Smith, time to start putting on a little weight. DreamWorks has acquired the "life rights" of Martin Luther King Jr. and plan to make a biopic with Steven Spielberg serving as a producer. From Variety.
King, who was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis at the age of 39, copyrighted his speeches, books and famous works during his lifetime. The DreamWorks project marks the first film to be authorized by King's estate and gives the producers the right to utilize King's intellectual property -- including his famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered during the 1963 March on Washington -- to create the definitive portrait of his life."We are all honored that the King Estate is giving us the opportunity to tell the story of these defining, historic events," Spielberg said. "It is our hope that the creative power of film and the impact of Dr. King's life can combine to present a story of undeniable power that we can all be proud of."
I told this news to someone and their reply was, "Tyler Perry?" First I laughed, but the more I think about it, the more I'm worrying. With his recent part in Star Trek--and seeing how everyone in that is so hot right now--could Tyler Perry end up somehow playing Martin Luther King Jr. That couldn't happen, could it? He'd be too insistent that the drama of King's life be interspersed with out-of-place drag comedy to ever get the role, right? Tell me that's the case.
Apr 17 2009 From the Set of 'Tintin': Actors in Motion Capture Suits
Empire has been on location on the set of Steven Spielberg's chapter of the Tintin trilogy, The Secret of the Unicorn, where the magazine took the above shot of actors Jamie Bell and Andy Serkis motion-capturing their respective parts as Tintin and Captain Haddock. The shot obviously reveals nothing about the look of the film, but I have to say, Serkis is doing a pretty good job masking his resentment that he has to wear one of these futuristic American Gladiator suits every fucking time Peter Jackson gets near a camera. Well done, Gollum.
Apr 15 2009 Michael Bay is Living Your Steven Spielberg Fantasies
Some Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen news from Michael Bay's forum: it's AWESOME. To quote Bay:
Steven Spielberg sat next to me in a big 100 person theater at Sony today. There were 98 empty seats. The lights came up after we just watched my cut of Revenge of the Fallen. He turned to me and said "It's awesome".
And I was like, "Sweet, I know. It rules." And then we started making out, but it wasn't gay because it was all just mutual respect oozing between our slightly parted lips. And then he was all like, "Do you have a hoverboard?" And of course I'm like, "No." And he's like, "Good, then you can take mine--I'll ride this dragon." And this giant dragon bursts out from behind the screen! And then--wait, did I say the rest of the seats were empty? Sorry, I meant at first. By this point there were all these babes--swimsuit models--in them, and you could tell how bad they wanted to make it with us. It was really awesome.
(via CS.)
Mar 10 2009 Spielberg, Lucas, Kasdan Show Their Work on 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'
Ready to take your Indiana Jones fandom to the next level? Mystery Man on Film has posted a 125-page transcript of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan brainstorming what would become the character of Indiana Jones (née Smith) and the film Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's like an origin story of the origin story, and overall a pretty good read. Who would believe the idea of adding a fourth, lackluster chapter thirty years later wasn't part of the original schema?
(via the Boing Boing.)
Jan 27 2009 Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Good Writers Making 'Tintin'
Paramount and Sony Pictures have put out a full press release for Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, revealing that Daniel Craig will play the antagonist and Jamie Bell will play the lead. Sounds like someone (Steven Spielberg) saw Defiance!
Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced the start of principal production in Los Angeles on the 3D Motion Capture Film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot," "Defiance") as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig ("Quantum of Solace," "Defiance") as the nefarious Red Rackham.Bell and Craig are joined by an international cast that includes Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook.
"The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," from a screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, is produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy, is the first in the series of 3D motion capture films based on the iconic character created by Georges Remi, better known to the world by his pen name "Herge" and is due for release in 2011.
Edgar Wright, Steven Moffat, and Joe Cornish wrote the screenplay, too? I might have to watch this in a theater. You know?
Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig Join Tintin! [Coming Soon]
Nov 19 2008 'Poseidon' Writer Taking a Crack at 'Oldboy'
Mark Protosevich, writer of The Cell, The Poseidon, and The I Am Legend, is being courted by Steven Spielberg and Will Smith to write their ill-conceived Oldboy remake. From the Hollywood Reporter:
In a potential high-profile star-writer reunion, "I Am Legend" co-scribe Mark Protosevich is in early talks to pen the remake of "Old Boy" that boxoffice king and "Legend" star Will Smith is developing with director Steven Spielberg.DreamWorks secured the remake rights from Mandate Pictures, which also is staying involved in the project. Although the studio was meeting with several high-profile writers to do the adaptation, Smith invited Protosevich to meet with Spielberg on the project.
In case you're unfamiliar with Protosevich's writing, here are some samples of what the IMDb has deemed "memorable quotes" from films he's written.
From Poseidon:
Jennifer Ramsey: [walks to poker table with Christian] We're going downstairs now. Robert Ramsey: Ok, have fun... Hey Jen... Jennifer Ramsey: [looks down at her cleavage] The twins? Dad...Elena: I feel like I know your dad.
Jennifer Ramsey: He was mayor of New York for a while, back when I was a kid.
Elena: Cool.
Jennifer Ramsey: It wasn't.
From The Cell:
Carl Stargher: Why are you here... don't lie. Catharine Deane: I came to help you. Carl Stargher: Bitch, whore... Catharine Deane: You sound like your father. Carl Stargher: [in a monster's voice] HE WAS NOTHING, HE IS NOTHING!Carl Stargher: Me got boy! Boy me got!
And from I Am Legend:
Neville: Eat your vegetables. Don't just push 'em around, eat 'em. I ain't playin'!Neville: I like Shrek.
So, in addition to Will Smith starring in an Oldboy remake, this is the kind of writing you can expect. Because out-of-context quotes (some of which may have been added in re-writes by other writers) are always an accurate test of someone's writing ability.
Nov 7 2008 Spielberg Remaking 'Oldboy'--with WILL SMITH
Steven Spielberg (Duel) is in talks to remake the Korean film Oldboy with Will Smith (co-rapper, Summertime) in the lead. Not a joke:
Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are in early discussions to collaborate on a remake of Chan Wook-park's "Oldboy." DreamWorks is in the process of securing the remake rights, and the new pic will be distributed by Universal.In the 2003 Korean original, a man gets kidnapped and held in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. Suddenly, he's released and given money, a cell phone and clothes and is set on a path to discover who destroyed his life so he can take revenge.
Spielberg had been looking for an opportunity to make a film with Smith, who would play the kidnapped man if all the pieces fall into place. Spielberg is looking for a writer to begin the development process.
If you haven't seen Oldboy, it's really good, and don't get me wrong, I still like Steven Spielberg despite the Indiana Jones incident, but this like somebody saying, steak is really good, and I really like milkshakes, so I'm going to make a steak milkshake (starring Will Smith).
(Thanks, Chris)
Spielberg, Smith in talks for 'Oldboy' [Variety]
Nov 3 2008 Someone Might Pay for 'Tintin' After All
You may recall, back in September, Universal told Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, "Look, buds, you've made some great films, and we plan to re-buy them on Blu-Ray, but we're not going to give you $130 million dollars and 30% gross revenue to make a few films about some Belgian comic that isn't all that popular here." Now it looks like Sony and Paramount have stepped in, and might co-finance the films despite losing the prospective star:
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Paramount Pictures are in talks to co-finance "Tintin," Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s digital 3-D pic based on the Belgian "Tintin" comics.While neither Sony nor Paramount would comment, both confirmed talks are under way for one film.
Spielberg had hoped to be in production by fall. However, when financing fell apart at U on the eve of the DreamWorks/Par divorce, he lost the participation of his lead actor, Thomas Sangster.
Well, guys, if this doesn't work out, there's always being selected as a contestant 130 times and playing all perfect games on Howie Mandel's Pick a Box. That's what I always consider my greatest possibility of making enough money to get haircuts.
Sony, Paramount financing 'Tintin' [Variety]
Oct 23 2008 Either Starsky or Hutch Directing 'Chicago 7'?
Well, DreamWorks, looks like you aren't going to get Spielberg to direct The Trial of the Chicago 7, Aaron Sorkin's script about the 1968 riots at the Democratic convention. Time to move on to plan B. Has anyone directed Robert Downey Jr. in blackface for a popular comedy spoofing Hollywood? Yes? That's perfect, second only to Steven Spielberg. Get that person. That's your man. Thusly:
"The Trial of the Chicago 7," the DreamWorks project about the 1968 riots at the Democratic convention and their aftermath, is a high priority for the newly configured studio and is moving forward quickly.The latest well-known director who has met on the project is Ben Stiller; while the discussions for Stiller to helm the film are very much at the exploratory stage, the actor and DreamWorks are mulling whether such a pairing would work for both parties. A "Chicago" gig would mark a departure for Stiller, who has directed such successful comedies as "Tropic Thunder" and "Zoolander," but has not helmed a serious political picture of this kind before.
Despite all of the horrible comedies he's been in, Stiller isn't a bad director, and could probably do a very competent job with this. But at the same time, when I hear Ben Stiller is directing a serious film, all I can think is when he directed a war drama on Extras. Regardless of how well he might direct The Trial of the Chicago 7, the real disappointment is going to be if we don't hear that he quoted Meet the Fockers box office figures on set.
Sep 22 2008 Universal Will Not Pay For Your 'Tintin' Movie, Steven Spielberg
Universal has rescinded financing on Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's CGI motion-capture Tintin project after learning they would never make any money on this whole Tintin scheme:
The two legendary directors submitted to Universal a 130 million dollar budget to produce a trilogy of films based on the beloved Belgian comic-strip boy reporter.But Universal refused to green light the project, and production, scheduled to begin in October, is on hold until Spielberg and Jackson find other financing, the Times said.
Universal officials winced when they saw the two Hollywood luminaries demanding about 30 percent of the movie's total gross revenues, meaning that "Tintin" would have to rake in some 425 million dollars globally before the studios could break even, according to the newspaper.
In my understanding, the main problem is the price of digitizing the actors, which involves hiring a programmer to write an evil program and then waiting for a computer to get hit by lightning while the actors make a quiet wish that they could live in the video game, thus sucking them inside the screen for use in computer-animated films. We need to get that cost down somehow. Any ideas?
Jun 25 2008 New 'Eagle Eye' Trailer with Even Stevens: Action Star
Eagle Eye, starring Michelle Monaghan and Shia LaBeouf, has a new trailer. The film is directed by Disturbia's DJ Caruso based on a story by Steven Spielberg, that story being that a terrorist group enlists the unwilling help of a patchy-bearded youth and a single mom by way of cell phone--one more reason to fear technology. It looks a surprisingly decent thriller considering an estimated 80% of the dialogue looks to be LaBeouf shouting, "Who are you?? Why/how are you doing this??" (Thanks to Kyle for the tip.)
Continue Reading " New 'Eagle Eye' Trailer with Even Stevens: Action Star "
May 22 2008 'Eagle Eye' Teaser Trailer Saves Tonight
Eagle Eye, Shia LaBeouf's newest attempt at making the name Even Stevens synonymous with action, has a new teaser trailer online at the official site. It's already drawing criticism for its ridiculous phone-call-guides-you-exactly-where-and-when-to-move similarities to The Matrix, but with an original story by Steven Spielberg--his first since The Goonies--I'd urge you to give it a shot. Especially since I've heard the "projectile speed" sequences are radically different than The Matrix's "bullet time."
Continue Reading " 'Eagle Eye' Teaser Trailer Saves Tonight "
May 20 2008 David Lynch Puts Some Still Warm Panties in His Mouth
As much as I try to keep abreast of developments from big-name directors, sometimes, despite my best efforts, things slip between the cracks. I missed that Frank Darabont will be directing Law Abiding Citizen with Gerard Butler in the lead; that Spielberg plans to return attention to his long-rumored Abraham Lincoln biopic once he finished work on Tintin; oh, and that David Lynch put a pair of a fan's still "very warm" panties in his mouth.
I find out the very day Lynch releases a video monologue complaining about the iPhone, but somehow no one thinks to send me the one where he shoves a girl's unmentionables in his mouth--even when it's been around long enough to be re-mixed with Twin Peaks music. (IT HAS.) Thanks for nothing, internet denizens.
Disturbing video below the cut.
Continue Reading " David Lynch Puts Some Still Warm Panties in His Mouth "
Apr 17 2008 Spielberg & Lucas Talk About 'Indy 4', 'Internet'
How can you tell whether or not an interview is going to be hard-hitting? Usually when it begins "This is like having Superman and Batman in the same room. [Laughter]," that's a good indication. So begins this Entertainment Weekly interview with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, which--despite rattling on about how this crazy "internet" and "blogosphere" have made "spoilers"--reveals some mildly interesting motivations for some decisions on this last Indiana Jones adventure.
Or, if interviews aren't your thing, there's the above new shot from USA Today. Zoinks! Indy and Mutt found a skeleton!
Mar 24 2008 'Love, Actually' Drummer Kid Might Be Tintin
Thomas Sangster, the drumming, now awkwardly-aging kid from Love, Actually, has reportedly taken the role of douchebag-haired protagonist Tintin in the Steven Spielberg/Peter Jackson adaptations of the comic. Wikipedia describes the eponymous hero as a young reporter somewhere between 16 and 18, so 17-year-old Sangster certainly fits the bill age-wise. And since the films will use motion-capture technology á la Beowulf, there's still a chance to digitally edit out the sinister, elf-like qualities of the actor that make me fear for my soul every time I stare into his large, empty eyes.
Spielberg, Jackson may have a Tintin [Hollywood Reporter]
