[Captain America]

According to a scoop from Latino Review, Marvel is ready to bring another character to life on the big screen.

Which character, is it, you ask?

None other than Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America.

And who is it they'd like to play the shield-weilding super soldier?

Drum roll, please...

Leonardo Dicaprio.

Thoughts?

I'd like to see a Captain America origin story: set during World War II, with lots of Nazi-bashing action, ending with the Captain being cryogenically frozen to set up a sequel. I think there's a lot that can be done there.

As for Dicaprio? I could certainly see it, and he'd bring a lot to the table.

Personally, though, I'd rather see Matt Damon fill the red boots. Just a thought.   

Here's hoping they follow up on the success of their first two outings (as an independent company), Iron Man and The Hulk.

Rogen and Baruchel, from 'Knocked Up' fame, are to be making a feature film out of a story written by the scribes of 'Superbad'.

I've been fans of the two ever since 'Freaks and Geeks' and 'Undeclared', so I'm thrilled of their successful transition to the big screen.

The following article from Variety details their new project:


The end days are near for Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel.

The pair will star in the action comedy "Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse" for Mandate Pictures.

Film is based on a comedy short from "Superbad" scribes Rogen and Evan Goldberg, which in turn was based on a story by Goldberg and Jason Stone. Rogen and Goldberg will write and produce the feature.

Several production companies vied for the rights to the comedy, which revolves, as the title implies, around two guys dealing with the apocalypse. Last summer, the project caused a stir in the blogosphere when a trailer for the short appeared on YouTube.

Mandate prexy Nathan Kahane is exec producing alongside Stone and Baruchel.

Mandate is aiming to shoot the pic in 2009.

Should be interesting. Rogen seems to be on a roll, and the plot sounds intriguing.

Clint Eastwood recently addressed comments expressed by director Spike Lee in regards to Eastwood's World War II films, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima.

Lee protested the lack of African-Americans in the films; claiming the director neglected to include them despite their presence in the actual battles.

When asked about Lee's comments, Eastwood suggested that Lee should brush up on his history, adding that "a guy like him should shut his face."

Wow. Shut his face? Is that a little Dirty Harry coming out?

Lee responded:

"First of all, the man is not my father and we're not on a plantation either. He's a great director. He makes his films, I make my films. The thing about it though, I didn't personally attack him. And a comment like 'a guy like that should shut his face' — come on Clint, come on. He sounds like an angry old man right there."

Lee continues: "If he wishes, I could assemble African-American men who fought at Iwo Jima and I'd like him to tell these guys that what they did was insignificant and they did not exist," he said. "I'm not making this up. I know history. I'm a student of history. And I know the history of Hollywood and its omission of the one million African-American men and women who contributed to World War II."

And Lee's response to Eastwood's claim of his lack of historical knowledge?

 "I never said he should show one of the other guys holding up the flag as black. I said that African-Americans played a significant part in Iwo Jima," he said. "For him to insinuate that I'm rewriting history and have one of the four guys with the flag be black … no one said that. It's just that there's not one black in either film. And because I know my history, that's why I made that observation."

Yikes.

Two great talents, one awkward situation.

And I'll leave it at that, because that's all it is at this point: a rumor.

At least I hope it is. Because if this is true, then, well---The Terminator franchise might just be over---or forever altered.

Thanks to AICN for the scoop.

BEWARE OF MAJOR SPOILERS.

...and possible stress-induced nightmares.




"Alright so the main character is a cyborg named Marcus. For some background, Marcus was a criminal who was executed in 2003. He donated his body to Project Angel which was involved with SkyNet. They take his body and make a terminator out of him so he's a terminator skeleton but has living muscle/skin and a beating heart too. At the end of the movie John Connor is fighting a T800 model 101 and loses. He dies and the top resistance people come up with a plan to help the resistance keep fighting on. The resistance feels that it's important to keep the image or idea that John Connor is still alive so the resistance keeps going. So they rip off Marcus' skin and put John Connor's on the skeleton so now Marcus is John Connor."



I don't really know what to think---I like that they're getting creative with the Terminators, and I know we can't have Arnold running around forever, but come on: John Connor, a machine?

That's sort of a leap, isn't it? Considering he's supposed to be mankind's last and only hope? The one human willing to stand up to the machines and fight?

This thing on?

And things were going so well today.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Michael Bay will be teaming up with the writer of The Haunted Mansion (yes, that Haunted Mansion) for a film based on Hasbro's OUIJA board game.

Yawn.

Make it stop, Michael Bay. Make it stop!

According to The Reporter:

Although the specific log line for the film is being kept under wraps, the film will be a supernatural adventure with the Ouija board playing an integral part of the story. The movie is not taking a "Jumanji"-like approach, which involved a game coming to life.


Yipee.

[Host: What are the next films that you are going to be making? We're hearing KILL BILL 3, KILL BILL 4, which one is it?Tarantino: The next movie I'm doing is my World War II movie. I just finished up the first draft and if ALL GOES WELL, I will be here, in Cannes, in 2009 with INGLORIOUS BASTARDS]

This just in from Cannes: Looks like Tarantino has found his next project.

In an interview with a television station at Cannes, Quentin Tarantino had this to say about his next feature film:

Host: What are the next films that you are going to be making? We're hearing KILL BILL 3, KILL BILL 4, which one is it?

Tarantino: The next movie I'm doing is my World War II movie. I just finished up the first draft and if ALL GOES WELL, I will be here, in Cannes, in 2009 with INGLORIOUS BASTARDS

Well, you heard it folks---I'm super thrilled about this one. I've been hearing about Inglorious Bastards for years now---seems like one of those scripts that was never going to get made. Here's to hoping I was wrong.

Thanks to JoBlo for the scoop.

I agree. The Venom saga was a disaster.

...and we're off.

Shooting has begun on McG's fourth installment of the Terminator franchise; this time focusing on John Connor leading mankind's last resistance against the formidable killing machines known as terminators.

As skeptical as I've been about McG, I just read a production blog of his, and I gotta say, my geek meter just went off the charts. I didn't know Kyle Reese would be making an appearance, and it seems as if Christian Bale's Connor will be playing an important role, after all.

I'm feeling a lot better about this---his blog, plus some bad-ass concept art, is posted below:

We’ve officially started principal photography on Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. Like you guys, I’ve been a long-time fan of the series and I understand your passion for the Terminator movies -- and it’s my full intention to deliver a film that lives up to the previous three installments. I’ve spent time with James Cameron, spoken to Arnold Schwarzenegger, gone over the story with Jonah Nolan, and enlisted Stan Winston.

Everything we’re shooting is designed to be tactile and real, you’ll be seeing a whole set of inspired designs you’ve never seen before, and best of all you’ll finally get to see some of the post-judgment day future that was only hinted at in the previous movies.

John Connor will be pushed to the brink. And for me, Christian Bale embodies Connor’s strength and tenacity perfectly. And after visiting Sam Worthington on the set of Avatar, I know he’s perfect for his role.

As you know, Anton Yelchin is playing Kyle Reese, and his prep has been unbelievable. The guy's been watching all three Terminators incessantly and he’s definitely going to capture the essence of the character Michael Biehn created in Cameron’s first film.

We started principal photography with a sequence at Griffith Observatory. I've already seen a cut of it -- Anton and Sam are excellent. I’ll have more on that soon, and can’t wait to share some of what we’re doing with you all. Stay tuned for more.

McG

I think Spider-Man 2 is certainly up there---as much as I loved Iron Man and Batman Begins I still don't think either tops Spider-Man 2.

In my opinion, that will all change once The Dark Knight comes out on July 18th.

I see your point with Raimi sort of ruining the Spider-Man story line, but he really didn't fuck it up until the 3rd one, and fortunately, since there are so many villains and plot lines in the comic, they still have the chance to redeem themselves.

But Evil Dead 2 sucked?! Are you kidding me, man? It's a classic! Oh well. I guess it's not for everyone. But come on---Army of Darkness was a sequel. As was Spider-Man 2, which almost anybody would say is superior to the first---so I think Raimi does know a thing or two about sequels.

Looks like we've got plenty of Hulk action online to tide us over until The Incredible Hulk hits theaters next month.

Pretty cool stuff, if you ask me. This is definitely going to be a departure from Ang Lee's Hulk...less talking. More smashing.

In my opinion, if your main character is a giant green monster it might be best to go with the smashing route. 

Enjoy:

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1588023&vid=235404

http://movies.ign.com/



Clips courtesy of IGN and MTV

Dear God, should I be excited about this or dreading it?

Lost Boys is a classic---something that I don't think should be tampered with. Certainly one of the best vampire flicks of all time.

So, naturally, I'm protective.

I look at it like this: Lost Boys has aged well with time. Keifer Sutherland, one of the stars of the original? Also aged well with time.

Corey Feldman---another star from the first flick---didn't age so well with time.

Guess who's coming back for the sequel, and who passed?

Sure, sure, Sutherland bit the dust in the first one; but still, we're relying on Feldman to carry this picture?

This sequel should be epic. Be fun. Whether it will be either of those things is unclear. Here's to hoping we get the kick-ass fun of the original, minus the feathered hair.

Here's the official site: http://lostboysthetribe.warnerbros.com/

I'll tell you what, though. After watching that trailer, I can't help but be pumped up about this one. Call me crazy, but campy vampire slaying is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Sources say that Beyonce Knowles is on hand to record the theme song for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

Amy Winehouse was originally signed on for the gig, but dropped out due to...personal reasons. Meaning, of course, crack.

Just kidding. 

I, for one, have never been a big fan of the opening numbers---while the visuals are cool, the credits seem to go on for a bit too long.

Regardless, I think Beyonce will do a fine job---she's got a great voice, and she certainly has the looks to boot.

Quantum of Solace is to pick up right where the last Bond film, Casino Royale, left off.

I'm continually puzzled by Warner's plans for Terminator 4.

When I heard they were planning on shooting a film that chronicled the epic battle between humans and robots, I was thrilled---it's something that I've wanted to see since we first saw glimpses of it in the original Terminator.

Then, I heard McG was directing...and my heart sank.

McG? Charlie's Angel's McG?! Really?

But then, a ray of hope: CHRISTIAN BALE cast as the leader of the human resistance, John Connor. Brilliant casting. Suddenly, this wasn't looking so bad.
After all, with a plot so inherently bad ass, how could you fuck it up? Throw Christian Bale in the mix and I think you've got yourself a winner.

But then, things started to take a turn for the worse: rumors arose that Bale would not be the lead character, with that part instead going to a man by the name of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). Um...who? Isn't the WHOLE SERIES about John Connor?

Now we have a press release from Warners that gives a bit more insight to the plot of the film and leaves me even more confused:

"In the highly anticipated new installment of The Terminator film franchise, set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Christian Bale stars as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet's operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind."

Hmm...

This seems odd to me. Why complicate things? Why not just have Connor leading a revolt against the Terminators?

Regardless, it's still too early to pass judgement.

Here's hoping that Warners doesn't ruin one of the greatest franchises of all time.

In Bale We Trust.

In McG...We Don't.

According to various reports, Sony and Marvel might be teaming up to bring Spidey back to the big screen in 2010 or 2011.

Take it from the horse's mouth: Marvel's Vice Chairman had this to say about a possible sequel to the wildly successful franchise:

"As far as Spider-man 4, it's really up to Sony, it's up to them, most likely scenario is 2010 or 2011 but we can't speak for them and I think, that we don't know. They have given us their re-up payment for that film so you know they're going to make it within a reasonable timeframe. Sony may be looking at some issues with the cast and so on, I think they have to make some decisions."

Issues with the cast? Would this be a reference Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dundst? Hard to say. But the real question is the directing: since 'The Hobbit' is now officially in the hands of Guillermo Del Toro, this frees up some space on former director Sam Raimi's calendar. Raimi had expressed interest in taking a break from the series and tackling Middle Earth.

As to whether or not Raimi wants to come back for another film is uncertain, but one thing is for sure: as long as Marvel and Sony dish out flicks about the friendly neighborhood crime-fighter, there's money to be made.

It's hard to imagine a Spidey film without the pairing of Dundst and Maquire, and as much as the last installment made my skin crawl, I still have the utmost confidence in Raimi's work. After all, Spider-Man 2 just might be the best superhero film of all time.

Things get even more interesting now that Cinematical is reporting James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) is on board to write the screenplay.

The kicker? The script will be two feature lengths, shot at once.

Be sure to check back for more updates on the project.