Scarlett Johansson Will Be Your GHOST IN THE SHELL

 

The first bit of news to break from the Ghost in the Shell project- under the watchful eye of Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks- since Margot Robbie was in talks for the films lead, comes that the rumors are true and that LUCY and Captain America: The Winter Soldier actress Scarlett Johansson has signed on for the cyberpunk thriller.

Variety Reports with the Exclusive:

Johansson is set to star in DreamWorks’ adaptation of the popular anime pic “Ghost in the Shell.” Deadline Hollywood had reported that the actress had the offer to star but at the time she was still undecided about taking the role. Sources now say she has agreed to star in the pic.

This is slowly shaping up to be Hollywood's first major foray into the live action world of Anime adaptations since the long shelved AKIRA project at WB keeps bouncing around, and Tom Cruise's Edge of Tomorrow proved to be a critical darling; but didn't ignite a very profitable money machine.

Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) will be helming the actioner. 

Ghost in the Shell  was released in 1995 directed by Mamoru Oshii and based off of the manga of the same name which ran from 1989 to 1997 by Masamune Shirow and went on to spawn a sequel, an Anime series, an OVA, and 3 video-games.  

The film follows Section 9, a high-tech security division led by Motoko Kusanagi, as they track down a cyber-terrorist known as The Puppet Master, which draws them into a web of political corruption and intrigue.

2014 'The Hollywood Reporter' Roundtable - The Actors

One of the things I've come to love about awards' season the past couple years is the annual roundtable The Hollywood Reporter puts together for reps from different categories of filmmaking; these can be actors, actresses, writers, directors, cinematographers, etc.

The point of these roundtables though is get a handful of individuals together who work in the same profession (and do the same job specifically) and allow them to discuss their craft along with the motion picture they are involved with that's being touted for annual awards.

In the video below, you will see this year's Actors Roundtable - Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Channing Tatum (Foxcatcher), Michael Keaton (Birdman), Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner) and Ethan Hawke (Boyhood).

To call the discussion amongst these actors 'entertaining' is a bit of an understatement.

You can tell through the first five minutes that these actors - who have all followed their own, unique path - are so respectful and inquisitive about both their craft and each other.  To hear Ethan Hawke talk about his fondness for Michael Keaton, or Channing Tatum discuss how he is pretty much scared of every role he takes for fear of failure, or Benedict Cumberbatch discuss the detailed research he did for his role as Alan Turing...it's all utterly fascinating.

For any genuine film buff (you know, not the ones who are just curious about which comic book movie is coming out next year), this video is worth a near 49 minutes of your time.  You will not be disappointed.

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter

Happy Holidays From The Team @ThinkMcflyThink.Com

I know it's been sort of a slow year on the site but we wanted to reach out and wish our core loyal readership Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

Shortly after January 1st we will provide an update on the future of the site along with the possible return of everyone's favorite podcast, Movie Moan. Our future is still Merry & Bright.

Trailer for 'True Story'; A New Jonah Hill / James Franco Film...and it's a Drama

Rummaging through the daily Hollywood news scene - or lack thereof during the Holidays - I came across this new trailer that's just been released for a film starring Jonah Hill and James Franco.

Now you probably assume reading that sentence that it's some sort of comedy or satire based upon the type of films these two usually team up for - but in this case - it's actually a full fledged drama, and from the looks of it, a pretty damn interesting one.

True Story is centered around actual events involving disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) who meets accused killer Christian Longo (James Franco) - after taking on Finkel's identity - to uncover the truth behind the murder of Longo's wife and children, leading him on a path deceit and redemption.

This certainly looks to be a change of pace for both Hill and Franco in terms of what we usually see the duo in, but for Hill specifically, it's his first drama since last year's The Wolf of Wall Street (which earned him his 2nd Oscar nomination).

Felicity Jones (likely Oscar nominee for this year's The Theory of Everything) also stars.

True Story is set for release sometime in 2015.

Sound off of what you think of the trailer below.

Source:  YouTube

A Shock To Nobody From Planet Earth; Their Might Be A "Frozen" Sequel

Would it really surprise anybody if Walt Disney Animation Studios greenlit a sequel to the #1 animated hit of all time? Frozen earned almost $1.3 Billion worldwide and has spawned a ride at Disney, a Disney On Ice show, and a run on ABC's Once Upon A Time. It's only a matter of time before there is a sequel, no the animated short Frozen Fever doesn't count.

That's why it shouldn't come as a shock that Idina Menzel aka Elsa might have mistakenly revealed there is a Frozen 2 in the works while talking shop with THE TELEGRAPH.

What can you say about the short, the sequel rumors & stage musical? (Paraphrase)

“That they’re all in the works, ha ha!”

Are you signed up for all of them? (Paraphrase)

“Ah, yeah sure… Not the stage show – I don’t know what will happen with that – but the movie hopefully. We’ll see. I’m just going along for the ride."

Even if Menzel was referring to the short as the "movie" in question it is inevitable that there will be a Frozen sequel. They are making a Toy Story 4 after the perfect ending courtesy of it's predecessor. Nothing is sacred because MONEY.

COMINGSOON.NET VIA THE TELEGRAPH

Jake Gyllenhaal Will Dent Your Face In - First Still From "Southpaw"

Fresh off his well received performance as adrenaline junkie/criminal journalist Lou Bloom in Nightcrawler, Jack Gyllenhaal has wasted no time jabbing his way back into the spotlight. Courtesy of @GOLDENGLOBES is the first still from Gyllenhaal's next flick, Southpaw.

As you can see from the still Jake looks like a damn comic book character, a complete 180 from his gaunt appearance in Nightcrawler. He was chewing gum and and drinking almond tea with barely 1 calorie and running 15 miles to the set while absorbing himself into the character of Lou Bloom. Looks like Jake might have had enjoyed a steak or two since then.

"Shaun The Sheep Movie" Poster & Trailer

From Aardman, the creators of Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run, Shaun the Sheep The Movie is coming to cinemas worldwide in 2015! In this new trailer, watch more of Shaun and The Flock’s hilarious adventures in the Big City as they search for the missing Farmer!

When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for! Shaun’s mischief inadvertently leads to The Farmer being taken away from the farm, to the Big City…

Join Shaun, Bitzer and The Flock on their hilarious, action-packed, big screen adventure as they make plans to rescue the missing Farmer. A story about how we sometimes forget to appreciate the things we have in life, and the people who love us. Shaun the Sheep The Movie introduces us to two new Aardman characters; Trumper the animal warden who rules the city’s animal shelter with a rod of iron and Slip, an inner city orphan dog who helps Shaun save the day.

TRAILER COURTESY OF SHAUN THE SHEEP VIA YOUTUBE

2nd Banner For "Inherent Vice"

“Inherent Vice” is the seventh feature from Paul Thomas Anderson and the first film adaption of a Thomas Pynchon novel. When P.I. Doc Sportello’s ex-old lady shows up with a story about her current billionaire land developer boyfriend and a plot by his wife and her boyfriend to kidnap that billionaire and throw him in a looney bin… well, easy for her to say. It’s the tail end of the `60s, paranoia is running the day and Doc knows that “love” is one of those words going around, like “trip” or “groovy,” that’s way too overused–except this one usually leads to trouble. With a cast of characters that includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, LAPD Detectives, a tenor sax player working undercover and a mysterious entity known as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentists… Part surf noir, part psychedelic romp–all Thomas Pynchon.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Teaser Trailer

Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives in theaters December 18th 2015. Directed by J.J. Abrams and starring Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Crystal Clarke, Pip Anderson, Christina Chong and Miltos Yerolemou.

TRAILER COURTESY OF FANDANGO MOVIECLIPS TRAILERS

Poster For "Peanuts" - Dream Big

For the first time ever, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang we know and love from Charles Schulz's timeless "Peanuts" comic strip will be making their big-screen debut; like they've never been seen before in a CG-Animated Feature film in 3D.

POSTER COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX