NEWS

All the news from film and the world of the gays

The Last Stand Red Band Trailer – Arnie is keeping things R rated

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

If you were worried that reaching his 60s and spending time as Governor of California would make Arnold Schwarzenegger stop, this new red band trailer for The Last Stand is here to show us he has no plans to wuss out on the swearing and blood flying.

In the film, after leaving his LAPD narcotics post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with remorse and regret, Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) moved out of Los Angeles and settled into a life fighting what little crime takes place in sleepy border town Sommerton Junction. But that peaceful existence is shattered when Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega), the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the western hemisphere, makes a deadly yet spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy. With the help of a fierce band of lawless mercenaries led by the icy Burrell (Peter Stormare), Cortez begins racing towards the US-Mexico border at 250 mph in a specially-outfitted Corvette ZR1 with a hostage in tow. It’s nice in the trailer that Arnie acknowledges he’s getting older, while still piling on the action.

The film hits UK cinemas on January 25th. Watch the trailer below.

Pacific Rim CES Trailer – Guillermo Del Toro shows off more monster madness

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

It’s always a big job selling massive budget movies based on new ideas, partly because studios are so paranoid about have spent hundreds of millions on something nobody knows anything about. As a result, the publicity blitz for Pacific Rim has started early, with a second trailer released just a few weeks after the first.

It all looks rather cool in this CES promo, with Idris Elba introducing us to the 300ft tall monsters that are spewing out of a portal deep beneath the Pacific and attacking the coast, and so humanity fights back with gargantuan robots piloted by people.

The film is due out July 12th, 2013.

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ACTORS: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam DIRECTORS: Guillermo Del Toro FILMS: Pacific Rim

The Human Centipede III Plans 500 Person Centipede, With Dieter Laser Returning

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac 1 Comment

tom-six-dieter-laser For a series of movies that’s so defiantly unpleasant, The Human Centipede never fails to be intriguing. Now a third instalment is gearing up and it’s been revealed that actor Dieter Laser, who played the villainous Dr.Heiter in the first movie, has agreed to return.

That’s a bit of a surprise as he left The Human Centipede 2 just a few weeks before production began and then sued director Tom Six’s production company for breach of contract. They’ve now settled their differences and agreed to work together once more on a third centipede flick.

Human Centipede 2’s Laurence R. Harvey will also return, although interestingly he and Laser won’t be playing Martin and Dr. Heiter, but will be a new villainous duo.

The second film certainly set out to top its predecessor in terms of shocks, to the point where the initial cut was rejected by the BBFC and refused a certificate. So how do they plan to top it? The idea is that the film will include a 500-person centipede, attached mouth to butt, with ‘a storyline no one will expect’! There’s also been the promise, via producer Ilona Six that “a big American celebrity” will make an appearance in the sequel, although there’s no hint as to who that might be.

Tom Six commented, “I know my Human Centipede III will be very politically incorrect, but I didn’t want to change anything in the script. I am very happy Dieter will follow my vision for a full 100% now and know he is absolutely the most brilliant actor I could wish for.”

Dieter Laser meanwhile says, “I never ever would have thought that all our differences and misunderstandings would in the end lead to an even deeper and warmer understanding and appreciation of each other. In this regard I am actually thankful about the whole fuss because it turned out to be an advantage and a wonderful present for our film and for our friendship.”

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Brad Pitt May Play Pontius Pilate In Warner Epic

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

You wouldn’t think playing the man who condemns Jesus to death would be a coveted role, but Deadline reports that Brad Pitt is circling the role of Pontius Pilate in Warner Bros’ planned biblical epic that will look at the Roman soldier and speculate as to why he did what he did.

No director is currently attached, but Vera Blasi’s script is described as as being, ‘Almost like a Biblical era Twilight Zone episode in which a proud, capable Roman soldier gets in way over his head. His arrogance and inability to grasp the devoutness of the citizenry and its hatred for the Roman occupiers and their pagan gods leads him to make catastrophic decisions.

‘All of this puts him in a desperate situation and in need of public approval when he is asked to decide the fate of a 33-year old rabbi accused by religious elders of claiming he is King of the Jews. Along the way, such Roman emperors including Caligula and Tiberius and New Testament figures like John the Baptist, Salome and Mary Magdalene are seen in a tale that culminates with Pilate’s fateful decision to allow Jesus Christ to be crucified.’

It’s an intriguing idea to look at things from Pilate’s point of view, with Deadline comparing it to Braveheart and Gladiator. It’s bound to be expensive, so getting Pitt onboard would give the project a lot more impetus as it’s likely Warner will want a big star to try and lure viewers in.

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ACTORS: Brad Pitt

Anjelica Huston & David Thewlis Join Milla Jovovich In The Winter Queen

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Anjelica-Huston A few months ago, Milla Jovovich signed up to star in The Winter Queen. Now she’s got some company as it’s been announced that both Anjelica Huston and David Thewlis are in talks to join her. They will play Lady Astair and Count Zurov opposite Jovovich’s Lady Amalia.

Based on the internationally best selling novel by Boris Akunin and helmed by acclaimed Russian director Fedor Bondarchuk, The Winter Queen tells the story of intrepid young police detective Erast Fandorin and a mystery that begins with the suicides of several wealthy young men throughout 1886 Russia and ends in an extensive plot for global domination.

Fandorin’s naïve wit and the suave yet volatile Count Zurov are his only protection from the ever more elaborate attempts on his life as he follows the conspiracy from Russia to England and back again; navigating unknown worlds with charm if not with ease. The enigmatic femme fatale Amalia seems to be somehow at the centre of it all, but can the saintly British aristocrat Lady Astair, founder of a string of orphanages which have greatly benefited from the wills of the affluent dead men, really be trusted?

Additional casting announcements will be made shortly with principal photography expected to commence this April.

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ACTORS: Anjelica Huston, David Thewlis, Milla Jovovich FILMS: The Winter Queen

Guillermo Del Toro Enters DC’s Dark Universe, A Different Kind Of Superhero Ensemble

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Following The Avengers, superhero teams are all the rage. DC is already planning a Justice League movie and now it’s been confirmed that they’re teaming up with Guillermo Del Toro for a slightly different kind of comic book team-up, Dark Universe, which will team up some of the company’s darker characters.

Del Toro has been talking to IGN about it, confirming that an unspecified writer is in talks to work on the script, “I’m working on it. I’m writing the outline and we’re already in talks with a writer. A very, very good writer. People are probably going to be happy with who we have chosen. He accepted. I’ve been courting this writer, who I think is the perfect guy for this job. We’re doing it. Hopefully it will happen. We don’t know until they greenlight the movie.”

When asked which DC characters may be included, he said, “You’re talking about my childhood. Swamp Thing, for me, is a rock star. You know, Demon, Zatara, Zatanna, it’s amazing. You go to John Constantine, who I thought was an amazing creation. I want to do the Constantine of the comics, Deadman. It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun.”

He wouldn’t be drawn on exactly which character will be in the movie, other than saying that The Spectre will be in the movie.

He also mentioned that Warner Bros. was onboard with this type of ensemble even before Avengers was released, “The movement for this happened before The Avengers. They were already galvanized to launch Justice League and they were galvanized to make their universe cohesive. What I feel now is with Superman, they feel very, very confident with what they have. They are now feeling they have two pillars, Batman and Superman, for the DC Universe. Tonally, they have a darker tone, sort of urban and sophisticated. There’s a foundation that now they can build on.”

The filmmaker also revealed that he is trying to move ahead with At the Mountains of Madness, with Tom Cruise still attached to star, “I’m going to try it one more time. Once more into the dark abyss. We’re going to do a big presentation of the project again at the start of the year and see if any [studios are] interested. Yeah, Tom is still attached. I think it would be so fantastic to make it with him. He’s been such a great ally of the project.”

Del Toro has also recently said that he was approached about Star Wars: Episode VII, but had to pass as he’s too busy.

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DIRECTORS: Guillermo Del Toro FILMS: Dark Universe

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Joins Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, While He Passes On Guardians Of The Galaxy

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Premium Rush

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a busy man, but thanks to the way Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller can shoot Sin City – where not all the actors have to be on set at the same time – he’s managed to find time to slot in a role as one of the lead characters in the highly anticipated Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.

Gordon-Levitt will play Johnny, a cocky gambler who disguises a darker mission to destroy his most foul enemy at his best game. Here’s what co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller had to say, “Johnny is a new character in the Sin City world and we are excited for what Joseph will bring to the role.”

Gordon-Levitt commented, “I love how the first movie uses VFX, not to make fake things look real, but to create a heightened world unburdened by the look and feel of reality. Plus, nobody makes a badass like Mr. Rodriguez.”

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For weaves together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales in which the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more repulsive inhabitants. Returning cast members include Mickey Rourke as Marv, Jessica Alba as Nancy, Rosario Dawson as Gail, and Jaime King as Goldie/Wendy with new cast members Dennis Haysbert as Manute, and Jamie Chung as Miho. It’s believed the role of Johnny was originally offered to Johnny Depp, who was unable to be part of the film.

This isn’t the only JGL news that’s dropped, as Deadline reports that while reports emerged last week that early talks had begun between the actor and Marvel about the possibility of him taking the lead role of Peter Gunn in Guardians Of The Galaxy, Gordon-Levitt has now passed on the role (which would make it easier for him to play Batman in Justice League is DC decides to go in that direction).

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ACTORS: Joseph Gordon-Levitt DIRECTORS: Robert Rodriguez FILMS: Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, Guardians Of The Galaxy

Connie Nielsen Joins Kevin Costner In McG Directed Action Thriller

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

connie-nielsen We already knew that Amber Heard and Hailee Steinfeld were in talks to join Kevin Costner in McG’s currently untitled thriller (previously known as Three Days To Kill), and now it’s been revealed that Connie Nielsen (Gladiator) will join them.

McG will directs the action flick from a screenplay by Luc Besson (Taken, The Transporter) and Adi Hasak (From Paris with Love). The darkly comedic action film is about a secret service agent who’s agreed to return from retirement for one last mission – in exchange for access to an experimental drug that could save his life. Hallucinatory, narcoleptic action ensues as he tries to complete the mission while battling the side effects of the drug.

The film is currently in production in Paris and will continue in Serbia, where it will wrap on April 22nd. The hope is to get it in cinemas before the end of the year.

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ACTORS: Connie Nielsen, Kevin James DIRECTORS: McG FILMS: Three Days To Kill

Frank Darabont Rewriting Gareth Edward’s Godzilla Reboot

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

frank-darabont Frank Darabont, director of Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, has been brought on for a final rewrite of the Godzilla screenplay, just a few weeks before the Gareth Edwards directed reboot is due to go into production in March.

David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight Rises), Max Borenstein (The Seventh Son), and Drew Pearce (Iron Man 3) have previously worked on the script. While the project has gained another writer, it has also lost two producers, Dan Lin and Roy Lee, who initially secured the rights from the Japanese company Toho. They’re apparently now in a bit of a war with the film’s production company, Legendary, presumably over compensation.

Although bringing Darabont on and losing two producers could be a sign of problems with the production, it’s easily possible these are just normal changes, with Frank asked to do a final polish before production gets underway.

Darabont has been keeping busy with television projects over the last few years, creating The Walking Dead and his new series L.A. Noir. His last work on the silver screen was Stephen King’s The Mist in 2007, which he wrote and directed.

Godzilla is due for release May 16th, 2014. (Source: Deadline)

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DIRECTORS: Frank Darabont, Gareth Edwards FILMS: Godzilla

Snakes On A Plane Director Director David R. Ellis Dies Aged 60

January 8, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

david-r-ellis David R Ellis, best known as the director of Snakes On A Plane and two of the Final Destination movies, has died in South Africa aged 60. No cause of death has been determined yet, although the filmmaker was in Africa preparing a new film called Kite, which would have reunited him with Samuel L. Jackson.

Born in Santa Monica, California on David R. Ellis began his career in the mid-1970s as an actor, stuntman, and stunt coordinator, working on films a diverse as Smokey And The Bandit, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Lethal Weapon and The Addams Family. He continued to work his way up the ladder as a second unit director on films such as Thunderheart, Clear and Present Danger, Waterworld, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and The Matrix Reloaded.

He made his feature directorial debut with the 1996 movie Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco. He followed that with Final Destination 2, Cellular, Snakes on a Plane, Asylum, The Final Destination, and 2011’s Shark Night 3D.

The director is survived by his wife Cindy, and their daughter, Tawny.

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DIRECTORS: David R. Ellis