|
February 28th 1998 - Movie News/Rumours
A Midsummer Night's Dream - "Ally McBeal" star Calista Flockhart is in final negotiations to join Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Everett in Fox Searchlight's feature adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Pic is slated to begin shooting April in Tuscany under Michael Hoffman's helm. Hoffman also penned the script.
Man on the Moon - Nicolas Cage has taken himself out of the running to play Andy Kaufman in "Man on the Moon,'' the Jersey Films biography to be directed by Milos Forman. Cage was considered a strong contender, along with Jim Carrey, Edward Norton and John Cusack. Cage was the only one who refused to do an audition tape for Forman, who'll make a decision shortly. Cage, busy filming "8 Millimeter'' and locked into a probable summer start for "Superman Reborn,'' likely would have experienced a scheduling nightmare on "Moon.''
Brown's Requiem - Michael Rooker, who starred in "Rosewood'' and "The Replacement Killers,'' has signed to play the lead in "Brown's Requiem,'' a $5 million film noir. The independent project, which is based on the James Ellroy novel, is the story of repo man Fritz Brown (Rooker), who is hired to expose an illegal bookmaking racket headed by a corrupt police officer. It will be adapted by first-time director Jason Freeland.
Editors Note - Very slow news day today, but hopefully there will be a small update tomorrow, and a big update on Monday. I have a few cool posters coming this way within Monday, so keep sending in cool scoops, and I'll see you all then!
February 26th 1998 - Movie News/Rumours
Images - Thanks to Jawad for a beautiful "Mulan" poster, check out his site for six nice "Prince Of Egypt" pictures too. And a huge thanks to Reddie for three very cool images from the upcoming "Wing Commander" movie!
Farenheit 451 - A potentially intriguing twist is in the works for "Farenheit 451,'' the Warner Bros. adaptation of Ray Bradbury's novel to be directed by Mel Gibson from a Terry Hayes script. While Gibson originally planned to direct and play the lead, Variety hears he might replace himself as star with Tom Cruise. After pulling double duty on the Oscar-winning "Braveheart,'' Gibson would prefer to concentrate on directing. A Gibson-Cruise combination would supply plenty of heat for the film, with Gibson directing Cruise in the role of a fireman who questions his book-burning role in a futuristic, repressive society.
The Big Lebowski - The Official Big Lewbowski trailers are now available for downloading on the Official Site. Haven't seen them myself, but from what I hear, they are very nice!
Mission: Impossible 2 - Tom Cruise is in talks with "Face/Off'' director John Woo to take the helm of the sequel to "Mission: Impossible,'' sources say. Cruise, who is set to reprise his role as ``team leader'' Ethan Hunt, and producing partner Paula Wagner have been seeking a director for the Paramount project since Oliver Stone pulled out to focus on another film. While Woo is said to be Cruise's top choice for the post, the director is also set to direct the long-in-development "King's Ransom'' for Fox. Scripts for both projects are said to need some polishing, and neither has a start date.
Article - This week's exciting new movie article is about horror movies, check it out and don't forget to send Jeffery Sanders some comments on how you like his articles, and which articles you would like to see in the future.
The Black Dahlia - "Seven" helmer David Fincher has made a deal to develop the James Ellroy novel "The Black Dahlia" as a directing vehicle, possibly to follow his next film, the Fox 2000 adaptation of "The Fight Club." Though Ellroy has become a suddenly hot author after the Curtis Hanson-directed adaptation of his novel "L.A. Confidential," Fincher has had a long dalliance with "Dahlia," a fictionalization of the never-solved murder of Elizabeth Short.
February 24th 1998 - Movie News/Rumours
In Dreams - A nice image from the upcoming DreamWorks flick. I don't really know what the movie is about, but the image was cool. Thanks to Jawad for the alert!
Lost In Space - I was sent a poster today that is suppose to be the official Lost In Space poster, but since I haven't seen it anywhere else, I can't be sure. Can anyone confirm if it's real or not - either in the movie forum or by E-Mail.
Thick As Thieves - Alec Baldwin, who currently is in previews of "Macbeth'' at New York's Public Theater, has agreed to star in the independent crime drama "Thick as Thieves.'' Set in Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis, the film's twisty plot focuses on a professional crook who seeks revenge against a crime lord for whom he once worked. Baldwin will next appear on screen in Universal's "Mercury Rising,'' which opens April 3. He was last in movie theaters with "The Edge,'' opposite Anthony Hopkins.
Eaters of the Dead - Coming Attractions report that the title may be changed to "Battleground", and that the movie will possibly be pushed back to August... Also, still no sign of Arnold Schwarzenegger in any of the screenings, I guess that means the cameo isn't in there - sorry.
Titanic - Emerging from its 10th weekend in release, James Cameron's epic period romance "Titanic" has ascended to the top of the list among all-time worldwide box office champs, earning an estimated global gross of $919.8 million by the close of business Monday. Still in active release, the Fox/Paramount co-production appears likely to pull ahead of former champ "Jurassic Park" by at least $200 million when the final tally is rung. - I recently saw Titanic myself, and I think it deservers every penny!
Sean Connery has closed a multiyear first-look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment for films that he will produce and may star in, sources said. Connery's Los Angeles-based Fountainbridge Films has two untitled projects in development at Sony. The first is described as a "procedural detective story" set in the wake of the 1988 terrorist attack on a Pan-Am 747 over Lockerbie. The second is a golf-themed project.
February 23rd 1998 - Movie News/Rumours
Movie Posters - Lots of exciting, new posters today, including one for the third MTV-flick "Dead Man On Campus", a bigger poster for "The Truman Show" and some great adverts for "The Avengers." Enjoy!
Black to the Future - Variety reports that Warner Bros. has hired Takashi Bufford (Booty Call) to script a comedy with the working title "Black to the Future," about two gangsta rappers who travel back through time, visiting significant points in history. Story is based on a pitch from writing team Adam Broder and Tony Abrams, who are signed on to produce with Jonathan Krane.
Box Office - "Titanic'' has steamed past ''E.T.'' to become North America's second-biggest grossing film of all time at the box office, according to studio estimates. After 10 weekends at No. 1, the maritime behemoth has now pulled in about $402.5 million, said a spokesman for Paramount Pictures. Only "Star Wars'' has earned more, with a lifetime total of about $461 million since its original 1977 release. The total for 1982's "E.T.'' is $399.8 million. This past weekend, ''Titanic'' earned $21 million. It was followed by "The Wedding Singer'' with $12.7 million and "Sphere'' with $7.3 million. Rounding out the top five were "Good Will Hunting'' with $6.4 million and "Senseless'' with $5.5 million.
Adam Sandler - After scoring a $22 million opening last weekend for his crooning in "The Wedding Singer," comedian Adam Sandler and his "Wedding" writing and producing team have tied the knot for another comedy at New Line Cinema. The studio will pay Sandler $12.5 million as part of a pay-or-play deal for his acting duties on the untitled film. Moreover, New Line paid $2 million for the project, based on a one-line pitch -- $1 million of which has been designated for the writing services of Tim Herlihy (who scripted "Wedding Singer").
