The Villains of Iron Man 2

Entertainment Tonight has posted a new featurette on the villains in Iron Man 2, opening in most international countries on April 30th and in North America on May 7th. You can check out the behind-the-scenes clip with a few glimpses of new footage using the player below.



Fans of Iron Man have been very lucky when it comes to casting, Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, that's amazing. The more I see for this, the bigger it seems like it'll be. Does anyone else agree this probably has a serious chance of passing 1 billion world wide at the box office?

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Renew Contracts

For anyone that's a fan of late night talk shows or news/comedy parodies such as the Daily Show or The Colbert Report will be happy to hear the recent press release from Comedy Central:

COMEDY CENTRAL has reached individual agreements with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to extend the contracts of the hosts of the Emmy(R) and Peabody(R) Award-winning series "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report," it was announced today by Michele Ganeless, president, COMEDY CENTRAL.

Stewart's contract extension with COMEDY CENTRAL will keep him at the helm of "The Daily Show" through June 2013. He will continue to serve as executive producer, writer and host. Colbert's extension will keep him and "The Colbert Report" at the all-comedy channel through the end of 2012. Colbert serves as executive producer, writer and host for "The Report."

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," a nightly news parody launched in the summer of 1996, takes a reality-based look at news, pop culture, politics and the media. In each show, Stewart and a team of correspondents, featuring Samantha Bee, Wyatt Cenac, Jason Jones, Aasif Mandvi and John Oliver comment on the day's stories employing actual news footage, taped field pieces, in-studio guests and on-the-spot coverage of important news events.

Among the show's many plaudits since Stewart took over on January 11, 1999 are a grand total of 32 Primetime Emmy(R) nominations for "The Daily Show." It has received a record seven consecutive Emmy(R) Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series; six Emmy(R) Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program; and Stewart has been nominated for five Emmy(R) Awards for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. The series is also a two-time winner of the prestigious Peabody(R) Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.

Stewart, Rory Albanese and Josh Lieb are the executive producers of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" with Kahane Corn serving as co-executive producer. Supervising producers are Steve Bodow, Jennifer Flanz, Hillary Kun, Adam Lowitt and Jim Margolis. The series' head writer is Steve Bodow and it is directed by Chuck O'Neil.

Hosted by Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report" features no-holds-barred discussions in which the important topics of our time and the daily news are treated with absolutely no seriousness whatsoever. Colbert preaches truthiness - his version of the truth and the only version that matters. Since the series' launch on October 17, 2005, "The Colbert Report" has received a total of 15 Primetime Emmy(R) Award nominations, including four consecutive nominations for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. The series broke through with its first Emmy(R) win in 2008 when it received the Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Colbert has been nominated three times for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. The series was also honored with a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in the 67th Annual Peabody Awards competition (2008).

"The Colbert Report" is produced by Jon Stewart's Busboy Productions, Inc. in association with Colbert's Spartina Productions, Inc. Stewart, Colbert and Tom Purcell are the executive producers with Meredith Bennett and Richard Dahm as co-executive producers. Jim Hoskinson is the director.

RKO acquires 'The Architect' ?

As it turns out RKO is currently in negotiations to buy the screen play for 'The Architect', the Craig Stiles script is being described as a "Hitchcock'ian" thriller, set in Dubai.

According to /Film, Craig Stiles‘ screenplay has been going around Hollywood since February, and has finally found a buyer in RKO. The contemporary Hitchcockian Thriller is said to be more akin to North by Northwest than Vertigo of Strangers on a Train. I’ve heard that it will probably draw more comparisons to Taken or Breakdown.

The story follows Mitch Avery, a New York City hot-shot up and coming architect who gets the opportunity of a lifetime — to build his dream building in Dubai. Once on the ground on the Arabian Peninsula, all hell breaks loose. Of course, this is just the beginning.  It turns out everything was a gigantic set-up which results in a chase to find his kidnapped wife Carlie and uncover the bigger conspiracy. I’ve heard that a big director has shown interest in the script.

I don't know about you, but I loved Taken, I'd definitaly be down for something like this. If the right people were involved this could be a great film by the sounds of it.

Diaz and Del Toro Attached to An Ex to Grind

20th Century Fox has acquired the film rights to Jane Heller's novel "An Ex to Grind" with Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro attached to star in the romantic comedy.

Diaz career' is doing fine, what with starring along side the newly revived Cruise in this summers blockbuster 'Knight and Day', but Del Toro needs "something" to bring him back from movie star jail after that flop piece of garbage 'Wolfman', I'm actually surprised that Marvel decided to keep Johnston on for Captain America after that as well. Anyways...

The following is how publisher William Morrow describes the book:

The battle of the sexes rages on in this smart, witty, and extremely timely comedy from the phenomenally popular Jane Heller.

At first, Manhattan financial planner Melanie Banks adores Dan Swain, her pro football player husband who's got a sexy Oklahoma drawl to go with his athletic good looks. But then his career comes to a screeching halt and he spends the next few years out of a job, seemingly unconcerned about it. Suddenly, she's the one bringing home the bacon and falling out of love with the paycheck-devouring, couch-sitting mooch. Divorce is the answer, she decides -- only to learn she has to fork over alimony while he lives like a prince on her income and she has to share custody of their precious dog, Buster. Consumed with the unfairness of it all, she plays dirty, hiring a high-profile matchmaker to find some unsuspecting female she can dump on Dan for ninety days and cause him to violate their cohabitation clause.

But then Melanie's scheme backfires. Her ex's new love revitalizes him, miraculously transforming him into the focused, responsible go-getter she always hoped he'd be. And now, with the ninety-day clock about to chime, she realizes she wants him back.

Mark Hamill Directing 'The Black Pearl'

The Wrap reports that Mark Hamill may be directing a feature version of his comic "The Black Pearl." Participating in the Los Angeles Comedy Shorts Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday, Hamill hinted at the project:

Then Hamill dropped numerous hints about the film: it’s based on a comic book that Hamill wrote, it’s set in the real world, and “at first glance it’s a drama, but it has dark humor.”

“My two co-writers wrote a David O. Russell film for Paramount,” he said, “and now they’ve very hot. So now there are people who are willing to give us $30 million to make the movie. But if we took that deal, I wouldn’t get to direct.

“If you go over about $8 million, you have to start getting foreign sales before you start shooting. But if you stay in the $5-to-$7 million range, you don’t have to do presales and you can maintain much more creative control.”

Published by Dark Horse Comics in 1996, the five-part comic was co-written by Hamill and Eric Johnson, illustrated by H. M. Baker, and inked by Bruce Patterson and Dan Schaeffer. The story focuses on Luther Drake, a troubled man who becomes a costumed vigilante "hero" by accident and media pressure.

An official announcement is expected at the Cannes Film Festival.

Red Riding Hood Cast's Male Lead

Shiloh Fernandez will star opposite Amanda Seyfried in Girl With the Red Riding Hood, Warner Bros.' gothic horror re-imagining of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale.

Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) is directing the film, in which Seyfried will play a woman in a medieval village being terrorized by a werewolf.

Fernandez has nabbed the role of Peter, an orphaned woodcutter for whom Seyfried falls, much to the displeasure of her family. I would be willing to bet that he's also the werewolf.

Does this not sound like a medieval twilight to anyone?

Appian Way's Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran are producing with Julie Yorn.

Sam Jackson not in 'Thor'

IESB reports that Samuel L Jackson will NOT be appearing in the upcoming Marvel film 'Thor' as Shield agent Nick Fury. He was in both Iron Man films and is said to appear in the upcoming Captain America as well.

In addition to this he also confirmed that filming for 'The Avengers' to be directed by Joss Whedon will start  in February.

For the full story go HERE.

Box Office Actuals April 16-18

The top five movies at the box office were all well off from studio estimates as well as my own predictions this weekend. Everyone thought that Kick-Ass the R rated comic book adaption had in fact got its ass kicked by How to Train Your dragon.

However this was not the case, Dragon came in slightly below Kick-Ass but still in 2nd after four weeks. Date night in its second week beat out Death at a Funeral which also opened this weekend landing in only 4th place. While Clash Of The Titans has been steadily decreasing every week, landing in 5th place this week.

1. Kick-Ass (Lionsgate) - $19.8 million

2. How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation/Paramount) - $19.6 million

3. Date Night (20th Century Fox) - $16.7 million

4. Death at a Funeral (Sony/Screen Gems) - $16.2 million

5. Clash of the Titans (Warner Bros.) - $15.3 million

6. The Last Song (Walt Disney Pictures) - $5.9 million

7. Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? (Lionsgate) - $4 million

8. Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney Pictures) - $3.6 million

9. Hot Tub Time Machine (MGM) - $3.4 million

10. The Bounty Hunter (Sony) - $3 million

Check back on Thursday for my predictions for this coming weekend April 23-25



New Iron Man 2 Tv Spot

A ninth TV spot for Iron Man 2 began airing last night and can now be watched using the player below! The Jon Favreau-directed sequel stars Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Garry Shandling, John Slattery, Kate Mara, Clark Gregg and Olivia Munn.

I think this movie is going to be huge! It likely has a chance at beating The dark Knight at the box office and making more then 1 billion word wide. That is until Batman 3 comes out in presumably 2012...

James Bond Put On Hold Indefinitely

 

007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, today announced they have suspended development on the next James Bond film previously scheduled for release 2011/2012.

"Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on BOND 23 indefinitely. We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of BOND 23," stated Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli jointly.

EON Productions have produced twenty two James Bond films since 1962. In 1995, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the 007 franchise from Albert R 'Cubby' Broccoli and are responsible for producing some of the most successful James Bond films ever, including CASINO ROYALE and more recently QUANTUM OF SOLACE. The James Bond franchise is the longest running in film history. EON Productions and Danjaq LLC are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising for James Bond.

As a life long fan of the 00 agent I was dreading this news, but on some level I think we all knew it was coming. I just hope they're able to figure things out sooner then later, I'd hate for them to re-cast Bond after a long length of time passing between Quantum and its sequel and having Craig not suit the part anymore, or worse yet getting another re-boot to the franchise. I like the current formula of having one story arc develop over the course of a presumed trilogy, rather then every film being "stand alone" like the previous bond films were.