Film
Debut ‘The Bourne Legacy’ Trailer & Poster – Starring Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton & Rachel Weisz
Feb 8th
This first trailer and poster has emerged online for the impending Bourne spinoff, ‘The Bourne Legacy.’ Directed by Tony Gilroy (The Devil’s Advocate, Michael Clayton), ‘The Bourne Legacy’ will feature a whole new hero (Jeremy Renner) in the same universe as the first three Bourne films – though the character of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) will be absent. ‘The Bourne Legacy’ comes to cinemas August 3rd in the US, and August 17th in the UK. The likes of Ed Norton, Oscar Isaac Joan Allen, Albert Finney, Stacy Keach, Rachel Weisz and Scott Glenn co-star. While details on the film are currently kept under wraps, Jeremy Renner recently had the following to say about the project: “My character is called Aaron Cross, but he ends up having a bunch of different names. For fans of the franchise, [The Bourne Legacy] has that same ticking clock, but it’s a new programme and new characters.” So is Treadstone still involved? “Yeah, it’s that same deal, it’s just a new set of agents with a different leash. It’s the same tempo and pace but more expansive and bigger. The differences are pretty vast but you’ll know it’s a Bourne movie.”
The films official synopsis is as follows: The narrative architect behind the Bourne film series, Tony Gilroy, takes the helm in the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise that has earned almost $1 billion at the global box office: The Bourne Legacy. The writer/director expands the Bourneuniverse created by Robert Ludlum with an original story that introduces us to a new hero (Jeremy Renner) whose life-or-death stakes have been triggered by the events of the first three films. For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles.
Jason Statham To Star In Brian De Palma’s Remake Of ‘Heat’
Feb 8th
Sierra/Affinity has announced today that Jason Statham is set to star in Brian De Palma’s (The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way, Scarface) remake of the 1987 action flick ‘Heat.’ The script for the film is adapted by two-time Oscar winner William Goldman (All The Presidents Men, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Goldman also wrote the original screenplay of the 1987 version of the film which starred Burt Reynolds. Both the modern take as well as the film from the 80’s are based on Goldman’s novel of the same title. Steven Chasman will produce alongside Statham. ’Heat’ will commence principal photography in France in late 2012 or early 2013.
Described as a “tightly-wound, fun action-thriller,” ‘Heat’ tells the story of a tough recovering gambling addict (Statham) who makes his living providing protection in the rough edges of the gambling world. Statham’s character refuses to resort to gunplay, strictly using hand and edged weapon combat. When a dear friend is brutally beaten by a high-rolling mobster, he helps her get her revenge and he ends up in more trouble than he ever imagined.
Natalie Portman Joins Terrence Malick’s ‘Lawless’ & ‘Knight Of Cups’
Feb 8th
Deadline bring word that Natalie Portman has put pen to paper on her first two movie roles since winning the Best Actress Oscar for Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Black Swan’ and taking maternity leave. Portman has reportedly signed up to join Terrence Malick’s next two films, ‘Lawless’ and ‘Knight Of Cups.’ These two films will presumably follow Malick’s untitled romantic drama which is currently in post-production, that films stars Ben Affleck, Olga Kurylenko, Javier Bardem, Barry Pepper, Rachel McAdams, and Rachel Weisz.
‘Lawless’ will also star Ryan Gosling (Drive, The Ides of March) and boasts a supporting cast that includes Academy Award Winners Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, The Flowers of War), Cate Blanchett (The Hobbit, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) plus Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network) and Haley Bennett (Marley & Me, The Haunting of Molly Hartley). The second film, ‘Knight Of Cups,’ will star Christian Bale with a supporting cast including Cate Blanchett and Isabel Lucas (Immortals, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen). Both films are currently in pre-production and will shoot back-to-back in 2012. Since Malick’s debut film ‘Badlands’ in 1973, the acclaimed filmmaker has only made four other films, ‘Days Of Heaven,’ ‘The Thin Red Line,’ ‘The New World,’ and this years ‘The Tree of Life’ - which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and is nominated for Best Picture and Best Director Oscars. Expect more details regarding Malick’s forthcoming films soon.
More Axe-Wielding Images Released From ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’
Feb 8th
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s five images, USA Today has premiered six more stills from Timur Bekmambetov’s upcoming film adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith‘s best-selling horror mashup, ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.’ In the vampire-slaying re-imagining of the iconic sixteenth president of the United States, Benjamin Walker stars as the titular Abraham Lincoln, while Anthony Mackie will play the role of Will – Abe’s best friend. Dominic Cooper will play the president’s mentor and teacher in the story, a mythic, ageless figure named Henry Sturgess who turns Lincoln into an axe-throwing expert slayer of vampires. Mary Elizabeth Winstead will play Mary Todd Lincoln – Abe’s wife. ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ is scheduled for release June 22nd in the US, and August 2nd in the UK.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter explores the secret life of our greatest President, and the untold story that shaped our nation. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted) bring a fresh and visceral voice to the blood-thirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history’s greatest hunter of the undead. The screenplay is by Seth Grahame-Smith, based on his novel of the same name.
New ‘Bel Ami’ Quad Poster – Starring Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman & Kristin Scott Thomas
Feb 8th
StudioCanal has just sent me over this new quad poster for the upcoming adaptation of Guy de Maupassant’s 1885 novel, ‘Bel Ami.’ Directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod, the film stars Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci, and Colm Meaney. ‘Bel Ami’ chronicles a young man’s (Pattinson) rise to power in Paris via his manipulation of the city’s most influential and wealthy women. The film is set for release March 2nd in the US and March 9th in the UK.
Bel Ami is the story of Georges Duroy (Robert Pattinson), who travels through 1890s Paris, from cockroach ridden garrets to opulent salons, using his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth, from a prostitute’s embrace to passionate trysts with wealthy beauties, in a world where politics and media jostle for influence, where sex is power and celebrity an obsession.
Extended TV Spot For ‘John Carter’ – Starring Taylor Kitsch, Mark Strong & Lynn Collins
Feb 8th
Comingsoon has released this great new TV spot for Andrew Stanton’s (WALL•E, Finding Nemo) action-adventure epic ‘John Carter.’ ‘John Carter’ chronicles the journey of Civil-War veteran John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who finds himself battling a new and mysterious war amidst a host of strange Martian inhabitants, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). Set for release March 9th, the film also stars the likes of Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston, and Thomas Hayden Church. ‘John Carter’ is an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs ‘John Carter of Mars.’
From Academy Award(R)-winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes “John Carter”–a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). “John Carter” is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands. The cast also includes Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Daryl Sabara, Polly Walker, Bryan Cranston and Thomas Haden Church.