Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

Alice Creed’s J Blakeson May Take On Alien Invasion Flick, The Fifth Wave

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J-BlakesonJ Blakeson made quite an impression with his directorial debut with The Disappearance of Alice Creed, but we haven’t had anything from him since then. Now he may have found his next project, as he’s circling the science fiction thriller The Fifth Wave, according to Variety.

Sony is backing the movie, which is based on the Rick Yancey’s novel. It follows a girl searching for her brother after a series of alien invasions have destroyed humanity’s resolve. She is on the run from being that look human but aren’t, and then runs into the mysterious Evan Walker, who may be her and her brother’s only hope.

Graham King and Tobey Maguire are producing (Maguire isn’t currently attached to star), with the hope that this can become a franchise.

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Apes Sequel Eyes Directors Matt Reeves and J Blakeson

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The sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes was thrown into a bit of a confusion last week when director Rupert Wyatt pulled out of the movie, currently titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Now Fox is scrambling to find a replacement, with the hope they can keep the May 2014 release date they’ve set.

At the top of the list at the moment are Matt Reeves (Let Me In), J Blakeson (The Disappearance of Alice Creed), Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Intruders), and Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy), Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible) and Rian Johnson (Looper). It is said that Matt Reeves is at the top of the studio’s short list, although the others are still in contention. That may be a bit of a surprise to some, as Reeves is supposed to be putting together a Twilight Zone movie, but apparently he stepped away from that recently, freeing up his schedule.

Wyatt reportedly left because he wasn’t comfortable with meeting the May 26, 2014 release date Fox had already set for the effects heavy film. The studio is hoping to find somebody who thinks that date is do-able. (Source: Deadline)

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Warner Bros Drops Biopic Of Gay Codebreaker Alan Turing

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Towards the end of last year it was revealed Warner Bros had picked up a script about gay codebreaker and computing pioneer Alan Turing, with an eye to making a biopic starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In March, director J. Blakeson (The Disappearance Of Alice Creed) came onboard  to helm the film, called The Imitation Game.

However, it now appears Warner has dropped the movie after DiCaprio stated he was no longer interested in playing the lead role, according to The Wrap. It seems Warner believes the film needs a a-list star attached as it doesn’t just just telling the story of Turing’s heroic attempts to crack the various Nazi codes during World War II and his work that led to the birth of the computer revolution, but also covers his homosexuality and how after the war he was prosecuted for being gay, chemically castrated and is eventually believed to have taken his own life (although some believe his death was actually a tragic accident).

This isn’t necessarily the end of the movie, as Blakeson remains attached and now other studios and production companies will have the opportunity to snap it up. Blakeson is apparently trying to repackage the film, which may involve getting another star attached, and then sell it to a new home. Turing definitely deserves a biopic, as he led a truly incredible life, much of which went unreported for decades due to the secrecy around his wartime work, but is now finally getting the recognition it deserves.

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Bradley Cooper Joins Bad Blood and Trouble

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Before he returns to the wolf pack this Autumn to make The Hangover Part III, Bradley Cooper is making sure his future is all planned out with a few projects set for after that sequel has wrapped. Variety reports that he is currently in talks to star in Bad Blood and Trouble for director J Blakeson (The Disappearance of Alice Creed) and he is also considering an offer to join the cast of Clint Eastwood’s long-delayed A Star Is Born remake.

Bad Blood and Trouble is set in the 1950s and centres on a Miami private detective (Bradley Cooper) who is in love with a married woman. Complications arise when her husband is targeted by a criminal group. Production will begin in the second half of 2013 in London.

It isn’t known what role he is considering in A Star Is Born, which already has Beyoncé Knowles attached to star. He would seems a bit young for the main part of an aging star whose career is slipping away from him and drowns himself in alcohol, but it’s possible that’s who he’ll play.

Neither of these projects will come for a whiel though, as after The Hangover Part III, the actor will start production on American Bullshit for director David O. Russell. There may be enough of a window between that project and Bad Blood and Trouble to squeeze in A Star Is Born.

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J. Blakeson Directing Alan Turing Biopic The Imitation Game

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A biopic of Alan Turing is long overdue, but has probably been a long time coming as the film world was scared off by his sexuality and the rather tragic end to his tale. However a few months ago Warner Bros. bought the spect script The Imitiation Game, which is about Turing, and at the time Leo Dicaprio was said to have the inside track on the main role.

Now Variety reports that J. Blakeson has come onboard to direct The Imitation Game, although there’s no word on whether DiCaprio is still involved. Blakeson wrote the screenplay for The Descent Part 2, but really made waves writing and directing The Disappearance Of Alice Creed.

Graham Moore’s script is about British mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist Alan Turing. ‘Informed’ by Andrew Hodges’ biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma, the film will look at the shy man who is now seen by many as the father of modern computing. His work led to the creation of some of the first computers, which were used to help the Allies decode German communications during WWII. However due to the sensitive nature of his work, his contribution wasn’t officially recognised for many years.

Indeed, rather than being praised by his country, he was persecuted for being gay, which led to depression, the destruction of his career and him eventually killing himself by eating a cyanide-laced apple. In 2009 PM Gordon Brown made an official apology for the way he was treated, although his convictions for being gay still stand.

Hopefully there’ll be news soon on whether Leo will play Turing, or if the role has gone to someone else.

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