Two New TV Spots & Parody Video For Disney•Pixar’s ‘Brave’
May 23rd
Put together in the form of a Scottish music compilation, this funny parody video and two TV spots have emerged online for Disney•Pixar’s upcoming fantasy-adventure flick ‘Brave.’ The film is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida (Kelly Macdonald) one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest – and serving as comic relief – are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Look out for Disney•Pixar’s ’Brave’ this summer from June 22nd in the US and August 17th in the UK. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, the film features the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane.
Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In “Brave,” a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.
Debut Trailer & Poster For ‘The Great Gatsby’ – Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire & Carey Mulligan
May 23rd
Warner Bros has debuted this first trailer and poster for Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby.’ Scheduled for a December 25th release, Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge!”) directs the film in 3D from a screenplay co-written with frequent collaborator Craig Pearce, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel of the same name. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the title role, Tobey Maguire portrays as Nick Carraway, Joel Edgerton and Carey Mulligan play Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke star as Myrtle and George Wilson, newcomer Elizabeth Debicki portrays Jordan Baker and Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan will play the role of Meyer Wolfsheim.
‘The Great Gatsby’ follows Fitzgerald-like, would-be writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz and bootleg kings. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles. ‘The Great Gatsby’ will be distributed in 3D and 2D by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Natalie Portman To Team Up With Lynn Ramsay For ‘Jane Got a Gun’
May 22nd
Awesome news! THR bring word that Natalie Portman is set to star in the revenge-driven Western ‘Jane Got a Gun.’ Written by Brian Duffield, ‘Jane Got a Gun’ made the 2011 “Black List,” a compilation of the “best” unproduced scripts making the rounds of Hollywood, as voted on by hundreds of film executives. The report also reveals that Lynne Ramsay is attached to director the film. Ramsey was responsible for the acclaimed adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s novel, ’We Need to Talk About Kevin,’ unquestionably one of my favourite films of 2011.
‘Jane Got a Gun’ centers on a woman whose outlaw husband returns home riddled with bullet wounds and barely alive. When her husband’s gang eventually tracks him down to finish the job, she is forced to reach out to an ex-lover and ask if he will help defend her farm. While the film is still coming together, sources say a bidding war has erupted at the Cannes Film Festival. Multiple financiers and foreign sales agents are in the mix, along with several studios in Los Angeles. Fingers crossed this project can come together with the aforementioned onboard.
Six New Character Posters For ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Showcase Batman, Bane & Catwoman
May 22nd
Hot on the heels of yesterdays new theatrical poster, Warner Bros has today released these six character posters for Christopher Nolan’s hugely-anticipated conclusion to his Batman trilogy, ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ highlighting Tom Hardy’s ruthless and methodical villain, Bane, Christian Bale’s Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Anne Hathaway’s Selina Kyle/Catwoman. I’m definitely intrigued to see how Anne Hathaway’s Selina Kyle/Catwoman fits into the story. Also, to see what Tom Hardy brings to the table as Bane, Batman’s new physically imposing and intellectual foe, is one of the MANY reasons I’m supremely excited for ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’
The plot for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is currently being kept under wraps. Judging by the latest theatrical trailer and the previous two films, I think it’s safe to say that we can expect something E P I C. ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Tom Hardy as Bane, Gary Oldman as Commissioner Jim Gordon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake, Michael Caine as Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate. Juno Temple, Josh Pence, Daniel Sunjata, Nestor Carbonell, Tom Conti, Joey King, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis, Josh Stewart, Christopher Judge, Adam Rodriguez and Rob Brown co-star. ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is scheduled for release July 20th. Christopher Nolan directs the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan. The production notes for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ are below.
UK Posters & Trailer For ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ – Starring Steve Carrell & Keira Knightley
May 22nd
Studiocanal has unleashed these UK posters and trailer for Lorene Scafaria’s pre-apocalyptic dramedy ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.’ The all-star ensemble cast features the likes of Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Patton Oswalt, Rob Heubel, Connie Britton, Gillian Jacobs, Rob Corddry, Adam Brody, Derek Luke, Melanie Lynskey, T.J. Miller, and Melinda Dillon. The film centers on the events surrounding an asteroid spiraling towards Earth, threatening to end all life. Carell plays a man whose wife leaves him as a result of the whole “the world is ending” news, and decides to seek out his high school sweetheart. Knightley stars as Carell’s neighbor who decides to accompany him on his journey. ‘Seeking a Friend for the End of the World’ is released June 22nd in the US and July 13th in the UK.
Taking audiences on a humorous, moving, and intimate journey against an epic backdrop of Earth’s final days, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist). Set in a too-near future where time at once stands still and is slipping away forever, the writer/director explores what people will do and how they will feel when humanity’s end is near.
Brad Pitt Interview For ‘Killing Them Softly’
May 22nd
When their poker game is knocked off by petty thieves, the Mob calls in their best enforcer, Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), to make things right. Under the eye of a mysterious driver (Richard Jenkins), Jackie must track down and punish those responsible for the heist. His assignment is complicated by those he comes up against along the way – an aging, drunken hit man (James Gandolfini), some bumbling local gangsters, and the ladies’ man who ran the ill-fated game (Ray Liotta). ‘Killing Them Softly’ is adapted from George V. Higgins novel ‘Cogan’s Trade.’ Direct by Andrew Dominik, the film also stars Ben Mendelsohn, Scoot McNairy, Bella Heathcote, and Sam Shepard. Look out for ‘Killing Them Softly’ in cinemas September 21st.
What was it about ‘Killing Them Softly’ that interested you in starring and co-producing the film? Also, as a producer, is there something in particular you look for in a story?
Brad Pitt: First and foremost, Dede Gardner (producing partner) and I have focused on films that might have a difficult time in getting made, and help them get made. To get behind filmmakers like Andrew Dominik who we believe very strongly in, and have great admiration for. That would be the first impetus. But we are also looking for stories that say something about our time and who we are. I certainly felt upon reading this that this was making those comments, a commentary. We were certainly at the apex of the Mortgage loans debacle, people were losing homes right and left. It was at the forefront of the newspapers, as the economy still is. But this commentary and the way it’s done in this film where you believe you’re watching a gangster film, or I felt like I was reading a gangster film, and then it wasn’t until the end when it coalesced for me as far as maybe what direction the film is pointing to overall. That this microcosm actually was saying something about the greater, the macro world.