Doug Liman Set To Direct "Splinter Cell" Starring Tom Hardy

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Doug Liman is set to direct the film adaptation of Ubisoft's long-running video game franchise, Splinter Cell. THR also notes that the film is gearing up for a production start of August 2014 and is being eyed for a release sometime in 2015, although when is unknown at this point.

Ubisoft has several other films in the works including Assassin's Creed starring Michael Fassbender and an adaptation of their upcoming game, Watch Dogs. Obviously, Ubisoft is playing a bold game with these video game movies as they're becoming more popular. Disney just recently released Need For Speed starring Aaron Paul, an adaptation of the EA racing franchise. Check out our article talking about some of the best video game films.

Splinter Cell is set to star Tom Hardy in the title role of Sam Fisher, whose had an impressive string of films lately and is set to appear in Mad Max: Fury Road as well as Child 44. Doug Liman is known for directing Jumper, The Bourne Identity and this year's Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise. Splinter Cell is written by Eric Singer.

First Trailer for Ambitious Sci-Fi Film THE SIGNAL Drops Online

The first trailer for the upcoming science-fiction film The Signal is nerve-rattlingly crazy and promises a visually dazzling treat while also retaining a quiet and brooding atmosphere that has been lost in recent science-fiction mainstream releases.

The Signal, directed by William Eubank, stars Lawrence Fishburne (NBC's HANNIBAL, Man of Steel), Sarah Clarke (Twilight, The Tomorrow People), Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel) and star of the upcoming dystopian adaption of the acclaimed YA novel, The Giver, Brenton Thwaites.

The story centers on 3 college freshmen who become targets of a rival computer hacker, and who are lured to an abandoned shack in the middle of the desert. Suddenly everything goes dark. When one of the students, Nic (Thwaites), regains consciousness, he is in a waking nightmare…

The Signal releases June 13.

GAME OF THRONES Might Hit The Big-Screen

 

The Hollywood Reporter snagged an interesting bit of information from acclaimed fantasy writer George R.R. Martin at last night's premier of Game of Thrones in New York City regarding the hit tv-series transition to the big-screen.

"It all depends on how long the main series runs," Martin told The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday following the Season 4 premiere of the hit HBO series in New York. "Do we run for seven years? Do we run for eight? Do we run for 10? The books get bigger and bigger (in scope). It might need a feature to tie things up, something with a feature budget, like $100 million for two hours. Those dragons get real big, you know."

Given the fact the scope of the novels reaches heights that HBO has tried really hard to accommodate on a TV budget; the big money will be needed for the sure-to-be huge climaxes featured in the forthcoming Winds of Winter and Dream of Spring novels that will close out the A Song of Ice and Fire series on which the show is based.

 

According to Martin, the Dunk and Egg series of novellas (The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword, and The Mystery Knight) might also be adapted into feature films.

"They could be the basis for (a film)," Martin added at the post-premiere bash held at the Museum of Natural History, where a suspended giant whale cast a shadow over the crowd not unlike one of Martin's dragons. "I have written these three stories, and I have about a dozen more."

Given the fact the Dunk and Egg stories are signifigantly smaller in scope and more light-hearted i nature than the grim and dark series of books in the main storyline, this is a double-edged comment to take.

Ideally, Dunk and Egg would be an in-between prequel miniseries to pad out the TV series from catching up with the novels, and Martin and HBO would adapt Robert's Rebellion, the war that Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon fought in against the Mad King and his son, Prince Raeghar, after the kidnapping of Eddard's sister, Lyanna.

This would introduce the fans of the show to important back-story that comes (and might come) heavily into play, as well as allowing the fan-favorite characters Mark Addy and Sean Bean played to come back as well as giving the audience more Targaryens and more dragons.

THR also notes that if this were to happen, Warner Brothers would be HBO's ideal partner.

NEW International Trailer for GODZILLA

 

If you thought Walter White screaming and crying about hurricanes in the last trailer was just "too much" and that there wasn't enough bleak landscape shots of destruction akin to Gareth Edward's MONSTERS well this new international trailer for the rebirth of the King of Monsters should be good for you. 

Less than 2 months until #GODZILLA.

Watch the new international trailer now:

We see a pretty good glimpse at the general scope of the film through this, it's not all about Godzilla, which people might complain about; but it's "about" Godzilla, similar to Man of Steel's depiction of a world with a God-alien and how our world would react to that, we see the destruction and  disaster that Godzilla leaves behind or begins.
These shots are gorgeous and heavy, promising Edward's rendition of the Japanese classic will not be a very happy film. 

The trailer comes from the Official Facebook Page of the film.

An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

The film stars Bryan Cranston, Aaron Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, and Sally Hawkins and released May 16.  

Zhang Yimou to Direct Legendary's 'Great Wall'

You may recall a couple years back when Edward Zwick (The Last Samurai) was set to helm The Great Wall for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, telling the story of two traveling British soldiers (Henry Cavill & Benjamin Walker) in 15th century China who witness the construction of what will be known as the Great Wall, only to learn its purpose is not to keep out humans, but terrifying creatures.

Long story short, the project fell apart.

Now though, Legendary Pictures (no longer working under Warners) wants to put the project back together and have hired one of China's own greatest living directors:  Zhang Yimou.

Not known to many here in the States, this man has directed such notable films as Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Flowers of War (starring Christian Bale), as well as the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

He's long looked to make his transition to American film, and this certainly seems to be a perfect fit for him.

The project will undergo a rewrite - being overseen by Legendary CEO Thomas Tull who conceived the film's premise with World War Z writer Max Brooks - and it's not known if the 'supernatural' element will remain, but the premise will stay the same:  the mystery and secret origin behind the Great Wall.

More on this project as it becomes available.

Source:  Heat Vision

B.D. Wong Returns to Isla Nublar in JURASSIC WORLD And Other News

 

"What species is this?"
"Uh, It's a velociraptor."
"You bred raptors?"

 Before leaving for beautiful Hawaii to begin filming the most anticipated film of 2015 that doesn't involve superheroes, Safety Not Guaranteed director Colin Trevorrow talked with entertainment giant IGN about the film.

The interview is brief but confirms two things: the casting of Bryce Dallas-Howard and the surprise return of B.D. Wong's character of Dr. Henry Wu from Spielberg's benchmark 1993 film, Jurassic Park.

Speaking of Dr. Wu's character and the involvement of the franchises' past leads:

 I know a lot of fans want to see the original characters back. They’re iconic. But I respect those actors too much to shoehorn them into this story for my own sentimental reasons. Jurassic Park isn’t about the bad luck of three people who keep getting thrown into the same situation. The only reason they’d go back to that island is if the screenwriters contrived a reason for them to go. But there is a character from the first film who makes sense in our world. This hasn’t been announced yet, but BD Wong will be returning as Dr. Henry Wu. He had a much larger role in the original novel, he was the engineer of this breakthrough in de-extinction. He spent two decades living in Hammond’s shadow, underappreciated. We think there’s more to his story.

Trevorrow also went onto speak about break-out star Chris Pratt's (The LEGO Movie, Guardians of the Galaxy) role in the film:

He’s a classic hero in a very modern context. He’s the guy who will get you through the jungle alive – but like Malcolm, Grant and Sattler, he’s an expert in a scientific field that’s connected to our story. The character allows us to explore some new ideas about our relationship with these animals, without losing the humor and sense of adventure. He’s a great contrast for Bryce Dallas Howard’s character, who starts off very corporate, very controlled. Until the running and screaming starts. Then they need each other.

Trevorrow also said like many fans of the original films, he grew up on Amblin movies, saying that the film will have new ideas that will come naturally; but above all "the spirit will be familiar", and "it will have an old soul."

Jurassic World, starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Ty Simpkins, Irrfan Kahn, and Vincent D'Onfrio stars principal photography this month, and will release June 12 2014 in theaters and IMAX.

STAR WARS: EPISODE VII Films in May, Takes Place 30 years After RETURN OF THE JEDI

 

Here's some more news about S7AR WARS EPISODE VII Into Darkness to keep you nerds on your toes, it appears Disney CEO Bob Iger let some "new" (common knowledge) slip at a Shareholders meeting for Walt Disney taking place in Orgeon. 

"There will be some very familiar faces along with a trio of new young leads," said Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger during Disney's annual shareholder's meeting in Portland, Ore.

Iger then went on about casting:

"Rumor has it that almost every actor in the world has been cast in this movie, but so far, the official castmember that we've confirmed -- the only one --  is R2D2," said Iger on the call.

So who knows. Basically the only thing confirmed at this point is J.J. Abrams is directing, the movie released on December 18, 2015, and it will go on to probably make 6 billion dollars opening weekend.

Stay tuned for more casting rumors, bogus logos, and much much more as the fan community kill themselves trying to find out some more info about the next adventure in a galaxy far, far, away. 

Trailer for THE HUNGER GAMES 2 1/2: THE MAZE RUNNER Premiers

 

The trailer for Divergent 2 I mean, The Hunger Games: Mocking Fire, shit, The Maze Runner premiered last night for those tuning into MTV's Teen Wolf.

All joking aside, it does actually look somewhat interesting. 

Part Lord of the Flies and a quarter of The Hunger Games; the film tells the story of Thomas, who wakes up in a mysterious elevator taking him to an unknown location where his found by a large group of boys who are all trapped in a wilderness where the only thing in sight is a giant labyrinth that no one has ever solved, or come out alive. 

Everything changes for Thomas when a girl shows up from the elevator, and knows him, leading to a game of life and death as friendships are forged and broken, and destiny is challenged all while trying to survive to solve the mystery of the large maze before them. 

The Maze Runner, based on the series by YA auhor James Dashner, hits theaters September 2014. 

WB's PAN finds It's...Well, PAN.

 

The search is over for the role of Lost Boy Peter Pan for Joe Wright's dramatic re-telling of J.M. Barrie's classic novel.
Levi Miller, who has been the star of the cancelled FOX science fiction program Terra Nova, has breathed his pixie dust to fly for WB's summer-tentpole, Variety reports.

 After a long search to find Peter Pan for its origins tale “Pan,” Warner Bros. has tapped newcomer Levi Miller to play the title role.

Miller will join Rooney Mara as Princess Tiger Lilly of the Picaninny tribe, Hugh Jackman as the villainous Blackbeard, and Garrett Hedlund as Captain Hook.

PAN tells the story of an orphan boy brought to Neverland during World War II by pirates who will eventually go on to forge his destiny as leader of the ageless Lost Boys in a battle over the islands future against treacherous Pirates, alongside fairies, mermaids, and hungry scheming crocodiles. 

The film releases June 2015. 

Sofia Coppola Brings Depressing Hipster Version of THE LITTLE MERMAID to Universal

 

With "classic fantasy works" seeming to be the next big thing with two adaptions of Jungle Book in production as well as a few Sleeping Beauty movies, WB's PAN, and so on, it now appears Sofia Coppola (The Bling Ring) will bring the classic Hans Christian Anderson story of Ariel and all her friends under the sea to the big screen for Universal, who had pretty good luck with their latest fairy-tale outing, Snow White and the Huntsman a few years ago.

Variety by way of Deadline reports: 

Caroline Thompson will rewrite the script with previous drafts penned by Kelly Marcel and Abi Morgan.

Not much is known about how this take will compare to previous versions of the Hans Christian Andersen novel, which followed a mermaid who wished to become human after falling in love with a man she saved from drowning.

Thompson is best known for Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands and the Hot Topic merchandise cash-cow The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Expect more controversy as people on the internet complain about the race of mystical under-water mermaid people and an Octopus-witch queen.