Disney is soon going to run out of classic animated movies to turn live action, as after the likes of Maleficent, Cinderella and The Jungle Book, we’ve got films such as Beauty & The Beast, Mulan and Aladdin coming. The latter now has a director, with Guy Ritchie stepping into the breach.
The Sherlock Holmes and Man From U.N.C.L.E. helmer is in talks to help develop the movie and direct, with John August (Big FIsh) writing the script. It’s not known how closely it will stick to the 1992 animated version, about a street urchin in who gets hold of a magic lamp with a genie inside that grants him three wishes. It’ll be interesting to see if they keep the genie as a shapeshifting, pop culture reference spewing comic force, or whether they turn him into something a little more sinister.
As well as the films mentioned above, Disney is also developing Jungle Book and Maleficent sequels, as well as live-action takes on The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. So they’ve certainly got a very full slate.
Very few gay-themed films get a sequel, but The Falls is now preparing for the release of its third instalment. That’s thanks to the fact the first two movies are good, and that it’s gained enough fans to help with crowdfunding to get part three made.
For the past few years, Sara Ramirez has played one of the greatest bisexual characters ever on TV, Grey’s Anatomy’s Callie Torres. She’s recently left the show behind, but has left a great legacy with a character who had complex relationships with both men and women, and who never equivocated about the fact she was bisexual, and not gay or straight.
Many people have someone from their past where they wonder if they could have made it work, but where for some reason things went wrong. That’s the setup for Lazy, where a man is contacted out of the blue by an ex-lover, who hopes they can rekinkdle they relationship.
With China now the second biggest market for movies in the world and Chinese companies investing heavily in film, Hollywood is on the lookout for ways to tap in the Middle Kingdom’s money. There’s also Legendary Pictures – makers of Godzilla and The Dark Knight Movies – which was bought by Chinese investors. That’s helped result in The Great Wall, which star Matt Damon but takes us into Chinese history and one of its most iconic structures.
Shiny lycra, men in monster suits, stunningly cheap looking special effects – that’s what Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is all about, right? Well, not any more, as for its movie reboot it’s been given a bigger budget and some far better production values.
John Wick got a lot of praise, not necessarily for its plot, but for its almost comic book style and for the quality of its action. Indeed, it reminded many of why pure action has always been so popular. Now it’s coming back for a sequel.
Believe it or not, Resident Evil is the most-successful videogame-to-movie franchise ever. Now it’s returning once more with a fifth film featuring Milla Jovovich as Alice – although as the title suggests, this one is planned as the last instalment (until they inevitably decide to reboot it).
Matthew McConaughey has certainly come a long way from being the king of awful rom-coms. Indeed, he hasn’t made one for year. Next up he’s got Gold, which those behind it must feel could be an awards contender as it’s being given an Oscar friendly Christmas release in the US.
The documentary Jewel’s Catch One is screening as part of the BFI London Film Festival’s SONIC program on October 8th & 9th, and it certainly looks like one it’ll be interesting to catch.