Lionsgate Bringing NARUTO to the Big Screen...Believe It.

 

The studio that has made billions off watching teenagers fight to the death with The Hunger Games is jumping into the anime-fray with the wildly popular manga/anime series Naruto apparently coming to a theater near you, from director Michael Gracey. From Variety:

 Avi Arad and his son Ari Arad are producing through Arad Productions. Erik Feig, Geoff Shaveitz and Kelly O’Malley will oversee for the studio. [...]
 Gracey is a former visual effects specialist who has moved into directing. He’s been attached to several studio projects that are in development — Universal’s adaptation of the New York Times best-seller “Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” his Elton John biopic “Rocketman” with Tom Hardy attached and Fox’s P.T. Barnum biopic “The Greatest Showman on Earth.”

Naruto follows the titular Naruto Uzumaki as he champions to become "Hokage", the highest title a ninja warrior can achieve, in a world divided by different villiages and ninja clans, each with their own special set of powers. The manga features a wide cast of diverse characters.
If done right, the action-adventure fantasy could be a mega hit, and it certainly has the potential to be, the only major setback being the series is deeply rooted in Japanese myths and legends; but who knows.

The series recently just ended it's almost 20 year run.  

Robert Rodriguez Talks JOHNNY QUEST

Sim, Sim, Sala Bim! While Robert Rodriguez is currently busy working on his From Dusk Till Dawn series for his El Rey network, the Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Spy Kids director has shared some details to /Film about his upcoming Johnny Quest adaptation, promising it's different than anything he's ever done. 

 “I thought it’d be really cool to do a legitimate action/adventure film that just happens to have a kid in it,” Rodriguez said. “Not a kids film; the Spy Kids were more like kids films, this would be like a real action-adventure film because that’s what the original series was like. It was a hard hitting, kickass action-adventure series. That’s what enticed me to go do it. My own series had already played out. That was a cool property still that the studio had. I thought I would go see what they thought of it and they were really into it.

Rodriguez is no rookie to hard-hitting action, as evident in his "Mariachi" trilogy with Antonio Banderas, and went on to compare hsi forthcoming adaptation of the mid-60's Hanna Barbara cartoon as doing a "James Bond/Indiana Jones" film:

 It’d be different from anything that I’ve done. I’ve never done anything really that wasn’t either a really small little kid type movie or a more violent action film. This would be like doing a James Bond/Indiana Jones movie. Imagine you’re a kid and James Bond is your bodyguard and your dad is Indiana Jones. It’s one of those movies and you just happen to be in it.

Johnny Quest was last revived in the 1990s as a more modern, cyber-thriller, cartoon series that involved then-cutting edge CGI animation. It wasn't until the mid 2000's where Zac Efron and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson were in talks to star in a big budget film.

The series follows Johnny Quest, son of the famous scientist Dr. Benton Quest, his friend Hadji, their dog Bandit, and Dr. Quest's bodyguard Roger Bannon as they embark on adventrues accross the globe to face threats both paranormal, and incredibly real. The series is inspired by pulp adventure comics. 

The film, directed by Rodriguez, will be written by Terry Rossio (Pirates trilogy) for Warner Brothers, and produced by Adrian Askarieh, who has had his hand in the globe-trotting Hitman films as well. 

Michael Bay's Benghazi Drama, 13 HOURS, Has a Trailer

Since the summer of 2007, Michael Bay has been a little busy directing a multi-billion dollar franchise out of the Autbots and Decepticons, with his only in-between being the black-comedy/crime-drama Pain and Gain before he went back to Optimus for one more ride in 2014.

SInce then, the "love him or hate him" Bay has been hard at work on 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi to bring him back into his element: R-rated, adult themed action pieces. This one, like Pain and Gain being based off a true story- only this time it's a bit more timely. 

 13 Hours tells the story of the six members of the security team that fought to defend the Americans stationed at the embassy in Benghazi when it came under attack. John Krasinski leads a cast that includes James Badge Dale, Max Martini (Pacific Rim), Pablo Schreiber (Orange Is the New Black), and David Denman (The Office). The screenplay was penned by The Strainauthor/writer Chuck Hogan, adapted from the book by Mitchell Zuckoff.

The film opens January 15, 2016. 

Trailer for 'Before We Go' Starring Chris Evans and Alice Eve

The Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight Trilogy are three of my favorite movies of all-time (yeah that's right, I'm a hopeless romantic, sue me). The simplicity of watching two people on camera for two hours interact with each other while being real and authentic in their conversations about everything to do with life is just...beautiful.

Anyway, I bring that up because today we have the trailer for Chris Evans' directorial debut Before We Go (formerly titled 1:30 Train) about two strangers who find themselves stranded in New York City one night, only to grow closer to each other as the hours go on, putting them on new paths in the direction of their lives.

The film also stars Alice Eve, with Evans of course playing the male lead. Judging by the trailer, it looks like a pretty cute but solid movie. It's certainly a breath of fresh air for Evans whose been doing nothing but CGI-filled popcorn blockbusters with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I had read somewhere that he wants to keep making movies like this where the story is simple, without any special effects or things like that. I hope he keeps his word.

The film debuted last year at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and is finally hitting screens this summer. It's currently available via iTunes and VOD, and will have a limited release in theaters September 4th.

You can view the trailer for the film below along with the official poster.

Disney Developing Live-Action 'Aladdin' Prequel, 'Genies'

Well I guess this isn't too surprising given the trend lately, but if you ever wondered how Genie got stuck in that lamp...

Disney is resurrecting another one of it's classic animated films for live-action form, the next being 1992's Aladdin.

Oh, but it's not what you think. Instead of getting a live-action version of an animated classic (this year's Cinderella, next year's The Jungle Book, 2017's Beauty and the Beast, undated Mulan and Pinocchio), we're getting a prequel, entitled Genies, about the realm of, well, Genies.

Not sure why that is. I mean the story of Aladdin pretty much sells itself. Not to mention the late Robin Williams famously voiced the original blue-skinned big guy so they're actually making it more difficult to fill those shoes by making that character the lead.

But don't worry, if this film is a success (which, come on, it will be), they hope it will then lead to a live-action version of Aladdin (ah...it's about more money to make, isn't it?).

The prequel is being described as a 'comedy-advenuture', currently being written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift whose notable credits as screenwriters include Freddy vs. Jason and the recent Friday the 13th remake. Wait, what?

(By the way, think they've thought about trying to do The Lion King live-action? Just saying.)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Sam Mendes Done with James Bond After 'Spectre'

It's crazy to think that it was three years ago in November when director Sam Mendes completely knocked it out of the James Bond park with Skyfall.

The film was not only one the best in the James Bond series but also just a great film, period. And oh yeah, it made over $1 billion at the box office and nearly landed a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.

With all that, it's hard to imagine trying to top that kind of success, by Mendes is indeed doing it with this year's next James Bond film, Spectre, once again starring Daniel Craig as 007.

However, coming straight from the horse's mouth himself, Mendes has declared he's done with Bond after this (though for the record, he said that after Skyfall too).

Speaking with BBC News, the director states:

"I said no to the last one and then ended up doing it, and was pilloried by all my friends, but I do think this is probably it. I don't think I could go down that road again. You do have to put everything else on hold. It really is more a lifestyle choice than a job."

While the plot is still a near mystery (we know Bond is trying to track a secret organization), Mendes states the flick is actually bigger than Skyfall in terms of location shooting:

"This is a bigger movie than Skyfall. It's shot in more places - we were in Mexico City and Tangiers and northern Sahara and Rome and the Alps and London. It's been an enormous undertaking."

Finally, to probably not many Bond's fans surprise, he reveals the theme song for the film has actually already been recorded, but won't say who the artist is or the title:

"I can say that the song's been recorded and it's fantastic and I'm very excited about it. You won't have to wait long."

One thing to note is that this will actually be the 24th Bond film with, obviously, the next being the milestone 25. I wonder if that will allure Mendes to come back a third and final time, and maybe even be Craig's swan song to the franchise as well. We'll see.

Spectre also stars film stars Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Wishaw as Q, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Christoph Waltz as Oberhauser, Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra, David Bautista as Mr. Hinx and Léa Seydoux as Madeleine Swann.

The film opens stateside November 6th, but in the U.K. over 10 days earlier on October 26th. Damn Brits (well, he is your character so, that sort of makes sense).

A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

Source: BBC News

"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" Theaterical IMAX® Trailer #2

After the internet blew up last week due to the release the Comic-Con footage for Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice Warner Bros is insisting that the movie going public enjoying their own version via IMAX. Check out the tighter but still impactful version below.

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

"Pan" Official Adventure Trailer - Featuring Hugh Jackman & Rooney Mara

The story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny -- to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.

COURTESY OF MOVIECLIPS TRAILERS

Three Posters For Upcoming "Justice League Mortal" Documentary

I really appreciate the fact that there are people out there who want to put the effort in to uncover the truth behind some of these failed film productions. Warner Bros is especially ripe with doomed projects and Purberry Productions is looking to walk in the same boots as Jon Schnepp with a documentary about George Miller's canceled Justice League Mortal. 

Schnepp's The Death Of Superman Lives; What Happened was decent doc on the ups and downs of Tim Burton's attempt at Superman. It was interesting to see Nicholas Cage's take on Clark Kent and a further glimpse of what the finished classic Superman suit would have looked like. To Schnepp's credit, it did make me want to see Superman Lives, maybe an animated version with the actor's voices?

I really look forward to an inside look at some of the suits that Weta worked on for JLM, I think geekdom would agree. Until then, here are three posters to kick of the marketing of the project. 

"Fantastic Four" Trailer #2 - Featuring Michael B. Jordan & Kate Mara

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

COURTESY OF MOVIECLIPS TRAILERS