J.K. Simmons Joining 'Terminator: Genesis'

While nothing about the film's plot is still officially known, next summer's Terminator reboot - entitled Terminator: Genesis - is gearing up for filming starting next month and now word comes that the always great J.K. Simmons (most well-known for the original Spider-Man trilogy) is in-talks to join the cast.

Simmons would play 'weary and alcoholic detective who has followed a bizarre case involving Sarah Connor and robots for more than three decades (since 1984 which, not coincidentally, is the year the original movie, directed by James Cameron, was released).'

The report of Simmons signing on also notes that this new film 'will thread together multiple ideas from the previous movies as it relaunches the story of a cyborg from a future where computers gained intelligence and waged war against mankind.'

Even though I think Simmons joining the cast is a great thing as the guy is a fantastic actor, I'm still curious as to what and how exactly this film will play out.  We've known for months that this reboot will tie in both the original 1984 film and it's 1991 sequel, but now with word coming that Simmon's character has been following the case for 'three decades', it's almost baffling as to how this will all come together post-1991 as it was assumed the 2003 threequel and 2009 future world entry were being ignored.

Regardless, this whole damn thing has me curious so let's see where it goes.

Terminator: Genesis - to be directed by Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World) and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in his title role, Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor, Jai Courtney as Kyle Reese, Jason Clarke as John Connor, and now J.K. Simmons - is set to open July 1st, 2015.

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter

New Red-Band Trailer for 'Sabotage'

With its release coming in a few short weeks, a new red-band trailer as been released for the Arnold Schwarzenegger starring Sabotage.

Though previous trailers have emphasized the film's extreme violence and intense action, this new footage actually shows the more 'humanistic' side of Schwarzenegger's character, which hopefully bodes well for the film itself.  I'd love to see Schwarzenegger prove he can play a real, three-dimensional role.

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Sabotage - directed by David Ayer (End of Watch) - also stars Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello, Mireille Enos, Josh Holloway, Olivia Williams, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Max Martini, and Kevin Vance.

The film opens March 28th.

R.I.P. Harold Ramis (1944 - 2014)

Though most know Harold Ramis most famously as Egon from Ghostbusters, it was actually his talent behind the camera that made him a name in the film industry, writing and directing such classic comedies as Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, Groundhog Day, and Analyze This.

Ramis sadly died today at the age of 69, sucummbing to an autoimmune disease that he had battled for the past four years.  He passed in his Chicago-area home, surrounded by family.

He leaves a mark on Hollywood in terms of 'the American comedy' and is responsible for many quotable lines from a variety of films, with my most favorite being, "He had a business card?  Wow, that's a real fuckin' acheivement." 

Condolences to his family and friends.

Op-ed: Give 'Terminator: Genesis' A Chance

I'm not sure how many daily visitors to this site are or once were 'Terminator fans', but if any are like myself, you still hold out hope that one day Hollywood will get a non-James Cameron entry in the franchise right.

As you are probably aware, a new Terminator film - entitled Terminator: Genesis - is set for release next year on the long 4th of July weekend.

It's being termed a reboot of the series that will be set against the events of the original 1984 classic.  Arnold Schwarzenegger will be back (though his official capacity as yet to be announced) along with Games of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke playing a young Sarah Connor and Jason Clarke (no relation) playing her son, a futuristic John Connor.  Alan Taylor (who has quite a lot of quality directorial experience in TV) will direct the film.  His most recent effort was last year's Thor: The Dark World.

Just this week though - after a long, drawn out search - it was announced Jai Courtney (A Good Day to Die Hard, Jack Reacher) would be playing Kyle Reese, the role made famous by Michael Biehn in the original.  Many fans (already on the fence about how to feel about this new film) were quick to throw their cautious optimism out the window, including myself.  

Courtney may be a nice guy in real life and take his career as an actor seriously, but the guy looks nothing like how we imagine the character of Kyle Reese to be.  Boyd Holbrook - the other final contender for the part - was thought of as a much more ideal fit, having not only the physical similarities to the aforementioned Biehn, but also thought of as a more talented actor.

With that said though (and having a few days to let the news sink in), I sort of realized:  give the film a chance.

Not every fan outrage over a casting decision has been warranted (see Michael Keaton as Batman), and for all we know, maybe Courtney WAS the better choice.  Reportedly, Holbrook did indeed test TWICE for the past and still didn't get it.  The filmmakers obviously didn't feel he was the best fit even after that and decided to go with Courtney instead.  Maybe he really showed them something in his audition that gave him the leg up for the role.

Not to mention too, it's not exactly like the cast and crew announced for this project are necessarily bad.

The director, Taylor, has worked on some great dramatic television shows such as The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, and Mad Men.  He also is seemingly not a 'yes man' in Hollywood, reportedly having butted heads with Marvel about how to cut Thor: The Dark World.  Both Emilia and Jason Clarke, mind you, aren't exactly slums when it comes to acting either.  The former has been nominated for an Emmy and the latter has done solid work in films like Zero Dark Thirty and Lawless.

I guess what I'm saying is, don't let one so called 'poor' casting choice be your odometer for the quality of this movie when not a single piece of footage has even been shot yet.

Who knows, the might end up being a pretty damn good film.  I mean, did anyone think Dawn of the Planet of the Apes would be as good as it was?

Give it a chance, that's all I'm saying.

Edward Norton to Produce, Write, Direct and Star in Passion Project 'Motherless Brooklyn'

Many seem to forget the 'overnight sensation' that was Edward Norton almost 20 years ago.

He went from being a complete unknown to getting an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor in his first-ever acting role in Primal Fear at the age of 27.

Just two years later he scored another Oscar nomination, this time as Best Actor for the modern classic, American History X.

The legend goes that all the big offers he got for movies like The People vs. Larry Flynt, Rounders, and Fight Club were all based off of his audition tape for Primal Fear.  It was THAT DAMN GOOD.

In recent years though, Norton's mainly fallen off the map, with his last notable role being 2012's The Bourne Legacy as the main antagonist.

Today however, comes word that Norton has finally secured full-financing and the greenlight for a project he's been working on for the past 15 years, Motherless Brooklyn.

The actor penned the adaptation of the Jonathan Lethem novel of the same name, which will change settings from modern day in New York to 1954.  Norton will direct and star as Lionel Essrog, a secluded private detective afflicted with Tourette's syndrome, whose trying to solve the murder of his only friend and mentor.  

The actor will produce as well along with director Brett Ratner and his production company RatPac Entertainment.

This sounds like a great role for Norton and huge stepping stone in his career which will hopefully get him back to the Oscar limelight.

Production his scheduled to begin at the end of this year.

Source:  Deadline

First Look at Angelina Jolie's 'Unbroken' Debuts During Olympics

The first footage of Angelina Jolie's 2nd directorial effort, Unbroken, debuted last night in a special TV spot during the Olympics.

For those unfamiliar, the film tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympian and WWII bombardier whose plane crashed at sea in 1943.  Zamperini - along with two other crew members - drifted at sea for 47 days, only to be captured by the Japanese and sent to a POW camp.

The real Louis Zamperini is featured in the footage shown as he recounts his story along with pictures of Jolie working on the film.

Newcomer Jack O'Connell plays the title role of Zamperini, and with the impressive footage shown (courtesy of legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins), this looks to be a breakout role for the young actor.  Nice to see an unknown getting such a high-profile project.

Unbroken opens in theaters Christmas Day.

'Brick Mansions' Trailer and Poster Starring the Late Paul Walker

While Fast & Furious 7 will certainly be Paul Walker's final film, Brick Mansions is actually his last completed film, the American remake of the popular French parkour-action film, District B13.

In the flick, Walker stars an undercover cop looking to take down a notorious drug dealer (played by RZA) who threatens to destroy the entire city of Detroit, but must team with an ex-convict (David Belle who starred in the original and co-founded parkour) to stop the sinister plot.

It's funny how simliar Walker's character looks like Brian O'Conner from the Fast & Furious films, but hey, people will still pay to go see it.  Looks pretty well done.

Brick Mansions opens April 25th.

Seth Rogen & Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Reteam with '50/50' Director for Xmas Comedy

50/50 director Jonathan Levine - who also helmed last year's modest hit Warm Bodies - is set to reunite with both Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt for an untitled Xmas comedy, set to start shooting this summer.

Sony Pictures reportedly beat out several studios to land the project which revolves around three childhood best friends who reunite in New York City for their annual tradition of going out on Christmas Eve.  Both Rogen and Gordon-Levitt will play two of the best friends with a third yet to be cast (James Franco maybe?).

Levine wrote the screenplay which will also reunite 50/50 producers and co-financers Madate Pictures (now called Good universe) with the filmmaker.  Rogen's company, Point Grey Pictures, will produce as well.

I personally found 50/50 to be an absolutely great film (it got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy and should have gotten more Oscar buzz) so any project involving that collection of talent I'm more than excited to see.

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter 

Kyle Reese Role Down to Jai Courtney & Boyd Holbrook for 'Terminator: Genesis'

After hearing about who would be testing for the role exactly a month ago, word has finally come out in regards to who the finalists are for Kyle Reese in the Terminator reboot, Terminator: Genesis:

Jai Courtney & Boyd Holbrook.

You might find Courtney's face a lot more recognizable as he's been in quite a few high-profile projects the past couple years including A Good Day to Die Hard, Jack Reacher, and this year's I, Frankenstein.

Holbrook, on the other hand, is more of an unknown, having appeared in more dramatic fare including Milk, Out of the Furnace, and this year's upcoming Gone Girl.

I'm not going to lie here, I'm pulling for Holbrook all the way.  He has that underdog, heroic look about him where you sense he grew up living a hard life, fighting off jerks trying to kick the crap out of him.

Courtney, ironically enough, looks like he could be one of those jerks; the pampas jock who seemed to have everything handed to him.

I wonder if this is another case of the director (Alan Taylor) pulling for his guy (Holbrook) while the studio wants more of their choice (Courtney).  It happened with the Sarah Connor role as Taylor wanted Emilia Clarke and the studio wanted Brie Larson.  Look who won out.  Courtney also has an existing relationship with the production company, Skydance Productions, as they produced Jack Reacher.

The winner of the Kyle Reese role would join Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to his signature role, the aforementioned Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor, and Jason Clarke as John Connor.

Terminator: Genesis is set to starting filming the beginning of April and is to be released July 1st, 2015.

Source:  Deadline

Red-Band Trailer for David Ayer's 'Sabotage' Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger

A great looking 3-minute trailer has been released online for David Ayer's Sabotage starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ayer (who wrote Training Day and directed last year's underrated End of Watch) has seemingly put together an extremely realistic, violent adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic mystery novel, And Then There Were None.

The film follows a DEA task force (led by Schwarzenegger) who heist a drug cartel's safe house, only to start getting picked off one-by-one by an unknown assasin.

Schwarzenegger looks like he's given one of his most hard-nosed performances of his career that'll hopefully get him back into the good graces of movie audiences after last year's underperformance of both The Last Stand and Escape Plan.

Sabotage - also starring Sam Worthington, Olivia Williams, Terrence Howard, Joe Manganiello, Josh Holloway, and Mireille Enos - opens March 28th.

Source:  IGN