"Catching Fire" gets it's senior citizen

     For those of you familiar with the second "Hunger Games" novel you already know that the 75th Hunger Games involves a kid of all-star team of past winners, one of which is an 80 year old woman named Mags.  Mags is a former District 4 winner and mentor to another prominent character Finnick Odair.
     Well "Deadline" reports that "Lionsgate" has officially found their lady.  Seventy-five year old Lynn Cohen will play the role of Mags.  The Munich actress will begin filming the sequel next month along with Joshua Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Chris Hemsworth.

Three films to rule them all: "The Hobbit" is officially a trilogy

     Sigh.
     Well I suppose once serious negotiations started that this news was probably inevitable, but Peter Jackson and company have officially announced that The Hobbit will now be a trilogy.  I thought about paraphrasing the actual announcement but upon further reflection I thought that Middle Earth's biggest ambassador summed it up best:



"It is only at the end of a shoot that you finally get the chance to sit down and have a look at the film you have made. Recently Fran, Phil and I did just this when we watched for the first time an early cut of the first movie - and a large chunk of the second. We were really pleased with the way the story was coming together, in particular, the strength of the characters and the cast who have brought them to life. All of which gave rise to a simple question: do we take this chance to tell more of the tale? And the answer from our perspective as the filmmakers, and as fans, was an unreserved ‘yes.'

We know how much of the story of Bilbo Baggins, the Wizard Gandalf, the Dwarves of Erebor, the rise of the Necromancer, and the Battle of Dol Guldur will remain untold if we do not take this chance. The richness of the story of The Hobbit, as well as some of the related material in the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, allows us to tell the full story of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and the part he played in the sometimes dangerous, but at all times exciting, history of Middle-earth.

So, without further ado and on behalf of New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wingnut Films, and the entire cast and crew of “The Hobbit” films, I’d like to announce that two films will become three.

It has been an unexpected journey indeed, and in the words of Professor Tolkien himself, "a tale that grew in the telling."

Cheers,

Peter J"Peter J"

     Although I still have some concerns about this decision (I mean let's be real here this action intentionally or not will maximize profits) I only recently discovered that the entire Hobbit shoot*, took only ten days less than the ENTIRE shoot for all three Lord of the Rings films.  That tells me that Jackson and company filmed a hell of a lot of material not directly depicted in "The Hobbit" but only alluded to in the novel or described in The Lord of the Rings appendices.  As such, it would probably be impossible to cram all that material into just two films.  To do so, at least as Peter Jackson implies from the above statement, means that a massive chunk of what was filmed would be completely trashed.  In light of this...well I guess more Middle Earth is always a good thing.
     This decision raises an interesting question when it comes to subtitles however.  Obviously the first film, An Unexpected Journey, is set in stone, but will the second film still be called There and Back Again?  Doubtful.  I think that title will go to the third and final film and that the second film will take on a different title.  Maybe The Desolation of Smaug? 
     Also as to the release date of the third film the logical choice would be December 12, 2014, however various reports are stating that the third film may actually be released in summer 2014.  More on this story as it develops.
     In the meantime the debut of the first part in this new trilogy is now just slightly over four months away!

*By shooting time I mean the actual number of days that filming took place.  The amount of days for all three films was about 250 however actually principal photography began in March 2011 and ended a little over four weeks ago.

Ah Mission Control to "X-Men First Class" sequel we have a subtitle

     After the critical and box office success of X-Men: First Class it was inevitable that there would be a sequel.  Well now we have a title AND a release date for said sequel.
     According to "IGN" and producer Bryan Singer, the sequel will be titled X-Men: Days of Future Past.  Now if that title sounds odd it's because it's probably meant to.  Apparently the title refers to a two part story arc published in "Uncanny X-Men" back in 1981.  (And no I didn't know that off the top of my head.  Contrary to popular belief I do have somewhat of  a life.)
     The story "deals with a dystopian alternative future where mutants are incarcerated in internment camps."  It also involves time travel to "prevent a fatal moment in history which triggers anti-mutant hysteria." 
     Let's see.  Mutants? Check.  Hot mutants?  Check.  Dystopian sci-fi plotline?  Check.  Time travel?  Check.  Social relevance?  Check.  Yeah, I'm all in on this one.
     Filming is slated to begin this January with a release date of July 18th, 2014.
    

The final word on GBIII? Get your proton packs primed but without Bill Murray

     I made a solemn vow to fans of Flicktastic that I would not report anymore information on the proposed Ghostbusters III until there was a definitive answer as to whether it was actually happening.
     That answer has arrived.
      After much equivocation, delays, screams, threats, promises, and (reportedly) shredded scripts, Mr. Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd) sat down for an interview with "The Metro" regarding the project.  According to Aykroyd the third installment in the franchise IS happening with production set to begin next year.  Aykroyd says they "have a great new writer on it" that's going to "satisfy the fans."
     For those of you hoping that Bill Murray would be a part of this film, you can put that desire in the Ecto Containment Unit.  Aykroyd says Murray will not be involved and though he's sad about the prospect of a Ghostbusters movie without Murray, he goes on to say that "Ghostbusters III can be a successful movie without Bill."  The vodka magnate* also says that the third film will be a passing of the torch to a new generation of ghostbusters.  This makes sense because the other three of them (Ray, Egon, and Winston) will all be in their 60s when the next film takes place.  However, it does seem like a blatant move to restart the franchise.  As long as they get the right people (Jessie Eisenberg anyone?) I'm totally on board with this.
     I can honestly say that I'm relieved to see Ghostbusters III finally moving forward, even if it is without Bill Murray.  Although he would have added value to the film, the bottom line is that he dragged his feet on this project for over two years.  He's about 70% to blame for Ghostbusters III not already being on DVD, rather than months away from production.  Frankly, I no longer care that he's not a part of this movie. 
     Furthermore, Akyroyd reveals that the project has the studio's full backing which is excellent news.  There were rumors circulating that the studio wouldn't get behind the project without Murray but with the recent financial success of the last Indiana Jones movie and also Rambo, they've obviously changed their tune.
     If production starts next year I anticipate a summer 2014 release date which would dovetail nicely into the 30th anniversary of the original Ghostbusters.
     My only question is if Ray Parker Jr. is going to make another music video.  Well that and who ya gonna call?

*Dan Aykroyd has his own brand of vodka called Crystal Vodka that comes in a skull bottle.  Weird.