Christopher Meloni Joins 'Man of Steel'

While it's sad we'll no longer get to see Detective Stabler screaming, "She's the same age as my daugther!", on a weekly basis anymore, it sounds as if Christopher Meloni will be doing just fine without Law & Order: SVU.

Deadline Hollywood is reporting that Meloni is currently in negotiations for a "major role" in the Zack Snyder directed, Christoper Nolan produced Superman reboot, Man of Steel.  No specifics are given as to what role Meloni could be playing, but one could assume based on his stature and hairline, he might be playing a character with the initials LL.

Meloni joins a cast that already include Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Russell Crowe as Jor-El, Julia Ormond as Lara, and of course, Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman.

I have to say, with the cast shaping up around this film, not to mention the behind-the-camera talent involved, it's hard not to have high expectations for this thing.  We'll see come Christmas 2012.

Source: Deadline Hollywood

Update on Sun, June 26, 2011 by John DiNicola

Guess it won't be Lex Luthor after all.  Vulture caught up with Meloni earlier this week in which he stated he'd be playing a "General."  However, he didn't say if that'd be of human or Kryptonian military.  Hmm...

Source: Vulture

'The Dark Knight Rises' Teaser Trailer?

ComicBookMovie.com as apparently got their hands on a bootleg teaser trailer for The Dark Knight Rises, playing somewhere internationally.  While they do stress the possibility that it may indeed be fake, it's hard to judge, which is why a question mark still remains in the title of this story.

Judge for yourself below:

Update on Sat, June 18, 2011 by John DiNicola

Looks like this trailer has been debunked as fake.  Must say though, whoever made this, you fooled me.

'Moneyball' Trailer

For anyone who is both a baseball and movie buff like myself, it's more than likely you've heard of the long in-development adaptation of Michael M. Lewis's best-selling baseball novel, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game.

Moneyball is the story of how a once truly gifted baseball player, Billy Beane, becomes General Manager of the Oakland Athletics and turns them into a winner using a new-age data approach called sabermetrics, despite the team's small revenue.

I have read Moneyball and can vouch it is a great book and always hoped it would make for a hell of a movie.  After seeing this trailer, I don't need to hope anymore.  I know it will be.

Take a look for yourself below:

Columbia Pictures presents Moneyball, directed by Bennett Miller from a script by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. Opening in theaters on September 23, the drama stars Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Stephen Bishop, Kathyrn Morris and Chris Pratt.

Based on a true story, Moneyball is a movie for anybody who has ever dreamed of taking on the system. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's and the guy who assembles the team, who has an epiphany: all of baseball's conventional wisdom is wrong. Forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget, Beane will have to outsmart the richer clubs. The onetime jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) in an unlikely partnership, recruiting bargain players that the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games. It's more than baseball, it's a revolution – one that challenges old school traditions and puts Beane in the crosshairs of those who say he's tearing out the heart and soul of the game.

New Trailer for 'Super 8'

Before I even get to this footage that premiered at the MTV Movie Awards last night, let me just say this: Bravo to J.J. Abrams for sticking to his guns.  In a world today where everything and the ending is spoiled for a movie whether online, or in trailers, or in commercials, Abrams has kept the secrecy on Super 8.  I appreciate going into a film and not having been spoiled of knowing already what's going to happen and what to expect.  There's an article over at TOLDJA! that discusses this very situation and how it might hurt the film's box office opening weekend.  You know what I say to that?  Fuck 'em.  Because when this movie is as good as it's going to be, it's going to make a shit load more money weekend after weekend than a front-loaded can of crap *cough* Hangover 2 *cough* ever will.  That's what studios forget these days, if the quality is there, the movie will makes money, big opening weekend or not. 

Anyway, enough with my rant.  Last night, J.J. Abrams, Steven Speilberg and some of the cast from Super 8 premiered a brand-new look at the film at the MTV Movie Awards.

I can't wait to see this film!  I'll be there opening night.

More Acting in 1 Minute 'Fright Night' Remake Clip Than Entire Original

While most will probably say otherwise, I somehow think this remake will be better than the original.

Yes, the Fright Night we all know and love is full of camp and the vintage 80s feel, but from just watching this less than 60 second clip from the Colin Farrel starring redo, it looks to be more than just a straight up horror movie.

Take a look for yourself and sound off below courtesy of MTV Movies Blog:

Leaked Red Band Teaser Trailer For 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'

The first footage from David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo has gone online.  A Red Band teaser trailer started playing in theaters internationally this weekend and has leaked onto YouTube.

Word is the domestic teaser trailer will debut this coming Thursday, June 2nd, and start playing in theaters this upcoming weekend.

Hitting theaters on December 21, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo stars Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright, Max von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, Joely Richardson, Steven Berkoff, David Dencik, Alexandra Daddario and Goran Visnjic.

The film is based on Stieg Larsson's posthumously published crime thriller trilogy, The Millennium Series, which was first adapted by the Swedish film production company, Yellow Bird, back in 2009 with Noomi Rapace in the lead role.

Have a look:

I never saw any of the Swedish films, but I have to say, this looks fucking amazing.

Matt Reeves Taking Frankenstein's 'Dark Endeavor'

Well this sounds like an odd spin on a horror classic.

TOLJDA! reports Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In) will direct the adaptation of Kenneth Oppel's upcoming novel, This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, a prequel to Mary Shelley's iconic horror tale.

The novel tells the story of a young Victor Frankenstein who sets out to find a mysterious alchemist and create the Elixir of Life in order to save his twin brother Konrad's life.  This adventure includes his twin, Konrad, and his friend Elizabeth.  Obviously foreseen, a love triangle occurs along with suspense.

The film, being produced and distributed by Summit Entertainment, was scripted by Jacob Aaron Estes (The Details).

The official synopsis is listed below [via Amazon]:

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

This sounds like it could be an interesting movie.  Trust be told, I haven't seen a good horror film in quite a long time (thought Scream 4 was pretty solid), and Matt Reeves seems to have an ideal visual flare for the genre.

More updates as this project develops.

New 'Green Lantern' TV Spot

Even though most of these TV spots are all starting to look the same, this film is looking better and better after some early negative buzz.  Let's hope this one is a winner (or not for those wanting to see Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool).

Warner Bros. Pictures has debuted the 10th TV spot for Green Lantern which shows some new footage from the June 17 release. Directed by Martin Campbell, the action adventure stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins, Temuera Morrison, Jay O. Sanders, Taika Waititi, Jon Tenney, Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan.

First Poster for 'The Amazing Spider-Man' is Kind of Underwhelming

Total Film got their hands on what looks to be the teaser poster for next summer's reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man.  While I do like how the logo sets it self apart from the one used for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films, the background is very poorly done.  It seems like they were going for that gritty, realistic tone (which it kind of does and is what the film has said to be shooting for) but looks to have failed in execution.  See for yourself below.

The Amazing Spider-Man, starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary, and Sally Field, hits theaters on July 3, 2012.

Update on Sun, May 22, 2011 by John DiNicola

Yup, this has been confirmed as fake.  Sorry folks, we all make mistakes.

'Terminator' Franchise Finally Has A Quality Producer!

Well Terminator fans, after the past decade or so of being shit on by money hungry production companies (C2 Pictures, The Halcyon Company), the Terminator franchise is finally in the hands of a smart and quality-driven producer: Megan Ellison of Annapurna Films.

TOLDJA! reports from Cannes that Ellison has won the auction to the rights to make at least two more Terminator films with Justin Lin set to direct and Arnold Schwarzenegger attached to star.

The bidding war came down the Ellison's Annapurna Films and Lionsgate, who all but had the rights bagged until Ellison came in at the 11th hour and outbid the studio.  While I think Lionsgate would have brought Terminator back to that low-budget, R-rated territory, I think it would have lacked the quality that Ellison can bring to the franchise.  Translation: substance over style, and yes, free of studio control with the ability to make the film dark and R-rated.

Ellison has been making a name for herself recently as she's been funding terrific films such as last year's True Grit from The Cohen Bros., and next year's The Wettest County in the World being directed by John Hillcoat.  She's also been linked with talented Hollywood names such as Kathryn Bigelow, Paul Thomas Anderon, and Spike Jonze.

Point being, this is exactly what the Terminator franchise ordered as they needed a production company that would put story and characterization first.

Terminator fans rejoice.