A few new trailers

The screenplay for Source Code is rightly lauded as one of the more original of the past few years, but even though I’ve read it and know the story, I found the teaser trailer slightly confusing. It looks visually appealing, and Michelle Monaghan is always worth watching, but there’s some worry that they might have made an already complicated story muddled. There was a rewrite by Billy Ray apparently, but I’m putting my trust in Moon director Duncan Jones that this will turn out as good or better than that film.

I read Michael Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer on a trip years ago and enjoyed it. A well written but standard crime novel seems to have been made into a well made but standard crime film, judging by this trailer. Matthew McConaughey stars as the slightly amoral lawyer and Ryan Philippe his client. Both are good actors that got pigeonholed as pretty boys for a long time, but they might be slowly climbing out of that hole.

Found this trailer for Green Hornet better than the previous one. It still looks like a superficial sfx bonanza, but we see more of the interaction between Rogen’s character and Kato, and they look to have more personality and interplay than the previous hinted at. I like that there seems to be some buried rage that Rogen is hinting at, what with the last scene in the trailer, but perhaps that’s just me.

Another Green-something superhero film trailer is the one for The Green Lantern. I don’t think I’m the only fan here of Martin Campbell’s craftsmanship as a director, but even I’m wondering about the overabundance of cgi here. Even the suit? He looks like a sequined disco queen out of Studio 54. So this one gave me pause, despite the pedigree of many of those involved.

The teaser for Cowboys & Aliens is one of those that will divide people into two groups. Either you like it or you just wonder wtf that’s supposed to be. Since I’ve admitted that Wild, Wild West is one of my critical blind spots, you all know where I fall. I mean, it has Harrison Ford back in a saddle again, so I don’t know how not to love it. But I’ll admit that it didn’t exactly make my heart start racing. On the other hand, it is just a teaser.

The Red, White and Blue Bunny? Vincent Gallo to hoist flag for Marvel/Paramount’s ‘Captain America’

Marvel chief Kevin Feige has announced that the studio is in final negotiations with Vincent Gallo (The Brown Bunny) to write and direct 2011′s Captain America: The First Avenger.

Pic will be a more intimate, character-based drama (described as the “calm before the storm” by Faige) serving as launchpad for the hero before he headlines the studio’s mega-budget The Avengers later that summer. Marvel is currently sewing up a multi-picture pact with helmer John Cameron Mitchell (Shortbus, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) for that franchise.

Gallo cites CBS’s series of Captain America telefilms in the late 1970′s (featuring the character as a cross-country driving motorcycle enthusiast) as major inspiration on his later works, including ‘Bunny’.  Helmer plans to incorporate a modernized version of that storyline into his tale. Pic will not shy away from political commentary, as Gallo feels Cap could serve as “antidote” to the overabundance of “Liberal, Anti-American fag talk” infecting most mainstream Hollywood productions.

Director has not ruled out Feige’s suggestion that he step in front of the camera as the star-spangled Avenger, but plans to actively explore other casting options.

While the studios have certainly not shied away from unorthodox hires for their super hero tentpoles (Christopher Nolan, Bryan Singer and Gavin Hood all cut their teeth on low-budget indies) the hiring of Gallo is surprising given the mixed reception to his earlier directorial efforts. 2003′s The Brown Bunny was savaged at that year’s Cannes Film Festival for it’s pretentious nature and raw presentation of human sexuality. In what would lead to a war of words with the director, film critic Roger Ebert labelled Bunny “the worst film in the history of Cannes”. IMDB reviewer shannygoat1 added “if you’ve ever seen, given or received head, you’ve seen it before.” Ebert and Gallo later reconciled after the critic gave a “thumbs up” to the director’s 2004 cut of the film.

Marvel will self-finance the film via its $500 million credit facility through Merrill Lynch with distribution handled by Paramount worldwide. Pic is part of an aggressive slate that includes two sequels to 2008′s Iron Man, Kenneth Branagh’s Thor and Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man.

Gallo recently completed filming the title role in Francis Ford Coppolas’s Tetro and called Molly Friedman a “slut” in New York magazine.

James’ ideal Captain America casting is now an official rumor

I’ve been shouting this idea from the rooftops for months and now MTV reports that my insane rantings might be reality:

Marvel and Paramount have ALLEGEDLY offered the role of Captain America (which would begin in Iron Man 2, lead to a solo film and then The Avengers, whatever sequels) to WILL SMITH.

The fanboys at AICN, etc. are already spitting venom and I really don’t know why. This makes perfect sense from a historical perspective; instantly wipes out ALL of the international sales issues the studio would have with the property; and makes their interconnected suicide pact-style release slate a heck of a lot closer to a safe bet.

No word on Smith’s potential deal could be or even how serious talks are – but expect pay records to be shattered.

Covert Wolverine Trailer Images look blurry, Elektra-y

Direct from Comicon comes a series of camera phone snapshots of the trailer for FOX’s Wolverine. While the images are low-resolution, badly framed and out-of-focus, they’ll have to do until the studio releases a Quicktime version of the footage (probably sometime in the next few days).

Initial thoughts: Wolverine looks the same.  Good seeing my favorite character, Emma Frost.  Not good seeing her in this instead of the solo film David O. Russell was toying with.  Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool seems to be casting perfection, but not sure why they ditched the character’s (mostly excellent) costume in favor of slapping a red t-shirt on the actor.  The sheer number of B/C level Marvel characters in garish colors reminds me of FOX’s ill-fated Elektra spin-off.

Source and additional images can be found HERE, courtesy of Photobucket User ‘Untiltied’

Marvel / Paramount announce five films

After earning 200 million worldwide in three days, Marvel felt that this morning’s conference call with investors would be a good time to officially announce their upcoming theatrical slate:

Iron Man 2
April 30, 2010
Original creative team returns (EDIT: Maybe not).

Thor
June 4, 2010
Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Layer Cake), Screenplay by Mark Protosevich (James: review coming soon)

The First Avenger: Captain America
May 6, 2011
Creative team to be named.

The Avengers
July 2011.
Creative team to be named, but Jon Favreau has commented that he would like the gig.

Ant-Man
Date TBD
Directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz)

Jake Gyllenhaal is Spider-Man 4 (or 2nd? Whatever)

Joblo.com has the scoop. Spider-Man Strikes Back, coming summer 2010.

Gyllenhaal is a good fit for the role (he’s been rumored for it even before Maguire was cast) but more important is who they’re getting to direct, which of course has not been decided. Screenplay is barely written (Zodiac writer James Vanderbilt is on it) but they’ve already cast the main role. Good luck with having the director not feel like a whore.

Studio Head: So, we’ve already cast all the parts, hired all the people involved, decided where it’s going to shoot, how it’s going to look, the marketing is all in place and we’re having U2 do the theme song in conjunction with the musical.
Potential Director: So what do you need me for?
Studio Head: We need you to tell the actors where to stand. And say their lines right.
Potential Director: Okay.
Studio Head: It eliminates insecurities, both yours and ours. Look at it like a package. A gift, from us to you.

Warner Brothers releases first images of Watchmen Cast

Despite my usual hatred of geek hyperbole, I am legitimately giddy looking at these first pictures of the Watchmen characters in film form:

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’s Little Green Men?

Courtesy of the recently released cover design for Dark Horse Comics’ adaptation

(potential spoilers after jump)

Julie Taymor’s Spider-Man (Part 2): Potential Casting/Concept

More on the endlessly fascinating (to me, anyway) Spider-Man musical:

According to this report, Julie Taymor wants and is talking to Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood (both from Across the Universe) for the lead roles.

As for the show itself:

Ms Taymor, who mixed puppets with stunning imagery to make The Lion King into a 20th-century theatrical extravaganza (the Disney show had its tenth anniversary on Broadway last Sunday), has been working with U2′s Bono and the Edge on the score and lyrics.

Ms Taymor plans to weave her Spider-Man into a magical event, with trapeze artists, giant puppets and incredible costumes.

“I hope it will be a cross between a play, rock ‘n’ roll and circus. The movies with Tobey Maguire worked on their terms, but the show will be very different.

“In fact, it’s based more on the original comic books than the movies,” Ms Taymor explained.

Julie Taymor’s Spider-Man?

Buried within Marvel Entertainment’s Q3 Earnings Report is this little nugget to boggle the mind:

Marvel Character Live Stage Projects
Spider-Man the Musical, Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Martin McCallum, Marvel Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment
In development/opening date to be determined; Julie Taymor director; music & lyrics by U2’s Bono and The Edge

Julie Taymor and U2 collaborating on a Spider-Man musical? I typically avoid Broadway like the plague, but this has all the marks of a truly must-see production (worst case: if only from a train-wreck perspective).

JFK and Jackie O on Watchmen Set

This kind of hammers it into reality. After almost twenty years of delays…Watchmen really is becoming a movie.

Source: Watchmen Comic Movie

First DC/Marvel Crossover Film Shooting!

A lucky cameraman managed to snap a few covert shots of the upcoming superhero epic, currently shooting in Detroit…

In Case You Missed It

Here is a copy of that 7-minute X3 preview I taped from the local FOX station last night (RapidShare, 75mb, avi w/XviD codec)….

I don’t know. Something about it just seems….cheesy. Can’t put my finger on it. Perhaps it’s just too weird to see the Beast and hear Dr. Frasier Crane.

I’ll still be there opening evening, however.