Strong chance new 'Terminator' film will drop the subtitle 'Genesis'

While most people agree that Terminator: Salvation sucked endoskeleton balls, I'm actually looking forward to the next Terminator film.  AH-NULD is back and the rest of the cast is solid.  And the fact that they are doing what is now being referred to in the industry as an "imaginative sequel" (i.e. a sequel that's more tangential to the original film) I'm reasonably certain this film will not taint my memory of the original movie.

All previous press releases had the new film titled as Terminator: Genesis.  Well in effort to make sure no one associated the film with Phil Collins, it looks like the producers have dropped the subtitle.  According to "Bleeding Cool" they have cited several merchandising sources that are creating items that will tie into the movie.  All of these have been labeled as Terminator only, with no Genesis. 

Now this doesn't necessarily mean that the Genesis has been absolutely dropped but since this is presumably the start of a new trilogy, they may want to go with a basic and recognizable name.  TECHNICALLY it's not even copying the original title, as the 1984 version was called The Terminator.  Personally I don't care if they have Genesis in there or not as long as they deliver a quality film. 

Terminator releases July 1, 2015.

Andy Serkis will play a role in Avengers: Age of Ultron

Turns out the King of the Motion Capture performances, Andy Serkis, may be making an appearance in another major movie franchise, namely next May's Avengers: Age of Ultron.  At least if "Variety" is to be believed. 

Serkis, who has already made ground-breaking work in films like The Lord of the Rings and Rise of the Planet of the Apes was brought in as a consultant on the film.  He's coaching Mark Ruffalo whose character of the Hulk will appear much more prominently in the upcoming sequel.

However it appears that Serkis may not just be on the sidelines waving the towel for Ruffalo.  Serkis apparently told "Variety" that he's playing a role in the new film, although he wouldn't say if the role would be motion capture in origin.  Either way I think this is just going to be a cameo.  With Serkis doing press for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, shooting Star Wars Episode VII, and possibly doing pickups for The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, I seriously doubt the man has much room for more than a five minute appearance.  It's still pretty awesome that he'll be associated in some capacity with this movie.  LOTR, Star Wars and now the world of Marvel.  I hope this guy knows how lucky he is.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1, 2015 while you can next see Serkis as the titular ape Caesar on July 11th in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Marvel is considering a solo 'Hulk' film after the next 'Avengers'

I think there's no disputing that one of the best, if not THE best, aspect of The Avengers was The Hulk and Mark Ruffalo's excellent performance as Dr. Bruce Banner.  So of course since then fans have been clamoring for another Hulk film from Marvel.  And in response Marvel has hemmed and hawed and given nothing really concrete.

Now we....sort of have something concrete?  I'm Ron Burgundy?

In a recent interview with "Digital Spy" actor Mark Ruffalo revealed that Marvel is now "seriously entertaining" a solo movie for the big green guy after The Avengers: Age of Ultron.  Plenty of the Marvel Phase III films remain unannounced and I highly doubt that a Hulk film won't be one of them.  Couple that with the fact that Ruffalo's role is even more expanded in the next movie and I think the idea of another film starring everyone's favorite raging Jolly Green Giant becomes inevitable.

I tell you what though I'm getting a little sick of Marvel being so coy about this.  The fans want it, Ruffalo wants it, Hell Stan Lee's dog probably wants it!  Just give the people what they want.  It's like Kim Kardashian.  She can pretend to act all classy and sophisticated but you know inevitably she's going to do a sex tape and show her tits.  Same thing applies here.  Marvel can bluster and equivocate all they want but at the end of the day you know they are going to give us another Hulk  film.  It's gonna happen.

You can next see Bruce Banner and his alter ego in The Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1, 2015.

Director James Wan may helm a movie based on his own graphic novel

Being a graphic novelist AND a Hollywood film director is pretty much living the dream for a common nerd.  Not many people get to do that but director James Wan is one of them.

The mastermind behind plenty of Hollywood horror movies like the Saw franchise, and the director on the next Fast and the Furious installment, Wan also happens to have his own graphic novel called "Malignant Man."  And if "Deadline" can be believed, Wan may soon be directing his own creation.

"Deadline" reports that 20th Century Fox has purchased the rights to the graphic novel published by Boom Comics three years ago.  20th Century Fox is also interested in having Wan direct the film as well.  Seems like a perfect hand-in-glove situation to me.

For those of you not familiar with the premise of the graphic novel:


Malignant Man focuses on Alan Gates, a cancer patient with a terminal diagnosis who is resigned to his fate until he discovers that his tumor is actually a mysterious parasite. Granted a second lease on life and incredible, otherworldly powers, Alan must fight against an evil army buried beneath society’s skin, all the while unlocking the secrets of his forgotten past.

Sounds like an intriguing concept.  Doesn't seem like your typical run of the mill comic book.  I know innovative ideas are a novel concept in Hollywood here but sometimes even execs can stop swimming through there oodles of cash to embrace an original idea.

No news on a cast or production start date.  Fast and Furious 7 hits theaters next year.

Two films already in development for Bowe Bergdahl story...

Well that was fast.

Everyone seems to have an opinion one way or another about the Bowe Bergdahl story.  Was he really a deserter?  Was the release five Islamic terrorists worth the exchange?  Is the whole situation just another shady move by the Obama administration?  Whatever you political or country affiliation, opinions are vast and varied.

This is drama on a national scale and not surprisingly Hollywood is already developing not one but two movies on the Bergdahl story according to "Deadline." Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow has been developing a movie with screenwriter Mark Boal for several years and artistic director Todd Field, best know for Little Children, is working on  adapting the screenplay based on  author Michael Hasting's book The Last Prisoner of War. 

I'd put my money on Bigelow here.  She's already familiar with military films with The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.  Plus I think this story deserves more of a hard hitting story and Field is a bit too much of an auteur. 

No word yet on production dates or a cast but with the recent release of Bergdahl look for this movie to pick up steam.

Classic 90s card game Magic: The Gathering to be written by 'Game of Thrones' writer Bryan Cogman

As big of a nerd as I am I never got into fantasy card games.  However, I do remember the 90s and one of the hottest games out there was hands down Magic: The Gathering.  In fact the game was so popular that I remember seeing a Magic: The Gathering tournament broadcast from Las Vegas on ESPN 2.  No joke.  The guys doing the color commentary alone, was worth tuning in.

Back in January it was reported that 20th Century Fox was developing a movie and potential franchise (natch) based on the popular card game.  The studio has brought in "Game of Thrones" writer Bryan Cogman to write the screenplay.  While Dan Weiss and David Benioff usually do most of the writing, Cogman does write a few episodes here and there.  X-Men producer Simon Kinberg will also produce the film. 

For those of you not familiar with the specifics of the game:


Launched in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is set in a realm inhabited by Wizards known as Planeswalkers. Using five different colors of magic, players do battle with one another using customized card decks that contain creatures, spells, artifacts and other fantasy elements.


Seems to me that this might be better off as cartoon.  It's an awful risk to base a movie off a card game but then again there's been tons of movies based off video games and we can't forget the epically bad Battleship.

No cast has been announced and there is currently no director either.

Guillermo Del Toro drops out of live "Beauty and the Beast" adaptation

I love Guillermo Del Toro as a director.  Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, Blade 2, most of the stuff he puts out is dynamite.  What I can't stand is the fact that he gets attached to so many projects and then he drops out for one reason or another.  I still wonder what it would have been like if The Hobbit films had been directed by him. 

Well you can add the live action BEAUTY AND THE BEAST film adaptation to that list now.  While the movie has been in development and set to role since 2012 with Emma Watson to star, "Deadline" reports that Del Toro has officially dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts. 

While it would have been interesting to see a dark (presumably) take on the classic fairy tale, I'm actually OK with this.  Del Toro's got Crimson Peak coming up, he's currently writing the sequel to Pacific Rim, and he's an executive producer on FX's vampire television show "The Strain" based off of  his and Chuck Hogan's horror trilogy.  The guy is busy.

Crimson Peak hits theaters next year while "The Strain" debuts next month.

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling may join director Shane Black's new film

Shane Black seems to be one of those guys that people in the industry have a lot of respect for, but isn't a household name like Spielberg.  Hard to believe, considering the guy did Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.  He also did a little low budget film last year called Iron Man 3.

In any event Shane's followup movie The Nice Guys sounds fantastic.  The film has been in development since 2011 and now there's word via "The Wrap" that Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are up for the two main roles.

Here's a brief synopsis of the plot:

In smoggy 1970s Los Angeles, Jackson Healy (muscle-for-hire, recovering alcoholic) and Holland March (private eye, practicing alcoholic) are brought together by the suicide of a fading porn star. Problem is, the dead girl’s aunt is convinced she saw her niece alive and well, AFTER the highly publicized incident. March needs money, takes the case-and within days, it’s blossomed into a far-reaching murder conspiracy, bizarrely rooted in smog and the U.S. auto industry.

This film sounds like Serpico crossed with All the President's Men.  I am down.

Presumably Crowe would play the role of the muscle-for-hire and Gosling as the private eye but nothing is confirmed yet.  Two great actors on the same screen with an incredibly talented director at the helm.  I repeat:  I am down.

No word on a production start date yet but hopefully we'll hear something soon.

"Avengers" star Tom Hiddleston to take on the role of country singer Hank Williams

Well this is an intriguing casting choice.

"Deadline" reports that the man who played Loki in both The Avengers and Thor, Tom Hiddleston, has signed on to play the role of iconic country star Hank Williams.  Hiddleston later confirmed this via Twitter.

The film is titled I Saw the Light and will be directed by Marc Abraham and will be based on the biography by Colin Escott.  The film will chronicle the life of the iconic star who wrote such hits as "Your Cheatin' Heart" but died tragically at 29 years old of heart failure.

Although Hiddleston is best known for his roles in the Marvel films, this guy is an excellent actor showing range in such movies as The Deep Blue Sea (Not the one where Sam Jackson gets eaten by a shark) and Midnight In Paris.  Rumor has it that he will play the guitar and sing as well.  I say bring it on.  This could be a career making performance.  This guy is bound to get nominated for an Oscar someday.  No reason it can't be for this film.

Filming is set to begin this Fall.  Hiddleston is currently filming Guillermo Del Toro's film Crimson Peak.

Jeremy Renner back for Mission Impossible 5?

While I wasn't overwhelmed by Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol it was certainly entertaining and was a critical and commercial success.  There wasn't really a question of if there was going to be a sequel but when.

One of the highlights of GP for sure was Jeremy Renner's performance.  He definitely breathed some new life into the franchise.  While the only person confirmed to be in the next film was Tom Cruise, in a recent interview with Yahoo, Renner gave a strong indication that he was coming back for the film.

When asked if he would be up for a role in the second season of "True Detective" he said the possibility was unlikely because of his current involvement in Avengers: Age of Ultron and that Mission Impossible 5 was" rearing it's head".  While that's not completely definitive, I'm going to take that as he will have some involvement.

Mission Impossible 5 is slated to hit theaters next year with Christopher McQuarrie directing.

Nicolas Winding Refn to followup "Only God Forgives" with sex film "I Walk With the Dead"

It seems like Nicolas Winding Refn's film Drive generates a lot of debate.  The film seems to be one of those love it or hate it movies.  I loved it and it's ridiculous Ryan Gosling didn't get nominated for an Academy Award.  His followup film Only God Forgives wasn't quite as successful though just as controversial.

Looks like that pattern isn't going to stop any time soon as his next film I Walk With the Dead apparently revolves around one thing: sex.  In fact that's the ONLY thing we know about the plot and that, according to Refn it will contain, "lots and lots of sex."  Ooookaay.  So a porno then?  Kind of need more than that.

In any case Refn confirmed on Twitter the other day that the film will in fact be his next movie but there's currently no cast and no production start date.  It will be interesting to see if Gosling will join Refn for this film as well. 

"The Stand" to be a standalone 3 hour film and rated R

The Stand remains one of my all-time favorite Stephen King books.  I've read it at least ten times.  And while the 1994 mini-series does have a special place in my heart, it hasn't held up well over time. 

We've been hearing about a new film adaptation for several years now.  Ben Affleck was once attached but he's off doing some movie where's he's dressed as a bat or something.  The current directorial duties are with Josh Boone who recently had some interesting things to say about the state of the project.

In a recent interview with "Vulture," Boone stated that the film was definitely going to be a hard "R" and contain an all-star cast, although no word on who would be in it.  Boone also went on to say the movie would be a three hour stand alone film and would stay true to the source material.  Boone went on record as saying that he's always been a huge fan of the book and cites Stephen King as one of his biggest influences.

I'm kind of torn about this news.  On the one hand I'm glad that the project is in the hands of a person so passionate about the book.  The fact that he's dedicated to having a strong cast and having the film be R rated is great news.  (Can you imagine a watered down PG-13 film?  Yuck.)  However, I don't see how you do this film justice as a three hour stand alone movie.  The book itself (the unedited version anyway) is over 1,000 pages long and even though the mini-series had a six hour plus run time, it didn't cover all the characters or plot points.  I think they'd be much better served splitting this film into two, and better yet three films.

Still no time frame on a production start date or a cast.

Emma Watson and Miles Teller in talks to join new Damien Chazelle film

Hard to believe that Emma Watson is now in her early twenties and just graduated Brown University.  Seems like only yesterday audiences were watching her for the first time in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  But time marches on and it's nice to see Watson has branched out into films like The Perks of Being A Wallflower and The Bling Ring.  She wasn't even that bad in that turdburger of a movie Noah.

No rest for the graduate however, as the young actress is set to team up with actor Miles Teller (the future Mr. Fantastic in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot) for director Damien Chazelle's next film La La Land.  The film:

follows an aspiring actress Mia, who's lonely desperate to fit in, and cocky yet charismatic jazz pianist Sebastian — who fall in love in Los Angeles. However, the city that brought them together may tear them apart, as they soon discover that balancing love and art in such a cutthroat climate isn't easy.

Most of you probably don't know who Chazelle is but chances are you soon will.  His film Whiplash won the top prize at Sundance four months ago so look for him to become a hot commodity. 

I'm not into musicals really so I won't rush out to see this one but it will be interesting to see Watson show off her singing prowess.

Whiplash releases October 10th.

Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington set to team up again

It's hard to believe that Training Day is thirteen years old and in that time Denzel Washington hasn't aged.  (Seriously does this guy bathe in unicorn blood?)  The film (one of my personal favorites) marked the first time the actor worked with director Antoine Fuqua.  Since the collaboration ended in Washington winning the Oscar for Best Actor I'd say it worked out pretty well.  The tandem will re-team later this year for their second film, The Equalizer, based on the 1980s television show, and now comes word via "Deadline" that the two may pair up to make a third film, one that happens to be a classic.

The website reports that Fuqua and Washington are both in talks to join a remake of The Magnificent Seven, the classic Western from the 1960s that starred Steve McQueen and Yul Brenner.  That film was also inspired by Kurosawa's classic The Seven Samurai. Sadly I've never seen either of these films, however I think both men are extremely talented and could make this work.

Thankfully "Deadline" also indicates that this will  not be a modern day take on the film, but a traditional Western set after the Civil War just like the original.  I'm down for this.  Washington rarely makes a bad film and although remakes (especially of classic films) don't always succeed, I think this one has better odds than most.

The Equalizer explodes into theaters this Fall.