New Photos from Where the Wild Things Are March 23, 2009 5:24 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Images/Photos, Movies, News.Tags: Spike Jonze, Where the Wild Things Are
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USA Today has posted several new photos from the Spike Jonze directed feature, Where the Wild Things Are. I’ve posted one above, click here to see more. The article also features some quotes by Jonze, and also confirms that the first trailer for the film will be attached to Monsters vs. Aliens on March 27th.
Where the Wild Things Are hits theaters on October 16, 2009.
President Obama’s Appearance on Leno Nets Highest Ratings in Four Years March 21, 2009 2:21 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Barack Obama, Broadcast TV Ratings, Jay Leno, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
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President Barack Obama’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Thursday night gave the show its highest ratings in four years. The episode drew an 11.2/26 HH rating/share (in the overnight metered markets), matching the number that Leno pulled in a January 2005 tribute episode following the death of Johnny Carson.
The highest rated episode of the series came on the night of the Seinfeld finale in May 1998 (a 12.4 HH rating). To put the number in perspective, it’s 187% above the show’s average this season of a 3.9 HH rating. The episode also lifted lead-out Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to its highest numbers in three weeks (a 3.9/13 HH rating/share in the overnights).
Source: Variety
Brief Description of Avatar Footage March 21, 2009 2:07 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in 20th Century Fox, Movies, News.Tags: 3-D, Avatar
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The latest issue of TIME Magazine features an article about 3-D films and the reporter got to see some footage from James Cameron’s upcoming 3-D epic Avatar. Here’s a small excerpt from the article:
I couldn’t tell what was real and what was animated–even knowing that the 9-ft.-tall blue, dappled dude couldn’t possibly be real. The scenes were so startling and absorbing that the following morning, I had the peculiar sensation of wanting to return there, as if Pandora were real.
Sign me up! I’m really looking forward to the film. Which reminds me, where’s the teaser trailer?
Be sure to head on over to TIME to read the entire article. It’s a great piece on the (hopefully) re-emergence of 3-D films. Well worth the read.
Avatar is scheduled to hit theaters on December 25, 2009.
Peter Segal Frontrunner for Little Fockers March 21, 2009 1:40 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Universal Pictures.Tags: Little Fockers, Peter Segal
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Variety is reporting that Peter Segal (Get Smart) has emerged as the front runner to direct Little Fockers, the third film in the Meet the Parents/Meet the Fockers Universal Pictures franchise. Segal came available after Steve Carell decided to hold off on Get Smart 2, opting instead to work with Tina Fey in the Shawn Levy-directed comedy Date Night for 20th Century Fox.
Segal is still expected to direct Get Smart 2.
Casting Bites: Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Justin Long and more March 19, 2009 5:04 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, Movies, New Line, News, Television.Tags: Alexandra Daddario, Eric McCormack, Going the Distance, Justin Long, Kevin Costner, Lightening Thief, The Company Men, Tommy Lee Jones
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Here are some of the latest casting hires for film and television.
- Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) is returning to comedy, landing the starring role in the untitled Tad Quill half-hour pilot for ABC. [THR]
- Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones have been cast in The Company Men, an independently financed drama about the impact of corporate downsizing. They join Ben Affleck, who was cast last fall. [Variety]
- Alexandra Daddario has landed the female lead in 20th Century Fox’s Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief, a fantasy/adventure movie bieng directed by Chris Columbus. [THR]
- Nanette Burstein’s romantic comedy Going the Distance, has landed Justin Long to play the lead role. [Variety]
Disney/Pixar’s Up To Open Cannes March 19, 2009 4:44 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures.Tags: 62nd Festival de Cannes, Up
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Disney/Pixar’s Up will be opening the 62nd Festival de Cannes. This is the first time that an animated film, and a 3D film, will be the opening ceremony film at the festival.
Up hits conventional and 3D theaters on May 29, 2009. The 62nd Festival de Cannes opens on May 13th and runs through Sunday May 24th. The full press release follows after the jump. (more…)
Green Lantern Begins Shooting in September March 19, 2009 4:31 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Warner Brothers.Tags: Green Lantern, Martin Campbell
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Production Weekly is reporting that Warner Bros’ Green Lantern will begin shooting mid-September. The comic book adaptation, to be directed by Martin Campbell, is scheduled to hit theaters on December 17, 2010.
The lead role has yet to be cast.
50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson) Replacing Forest Whitaker in Stallone’s The Expendables March 19, 2009 4:21 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, Movies, News.Tags: 50 Cent, Curtis Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables
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AICN is reporting that Forest Whitaker has had to pull out of Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming action pic The Expendables due to conflicts with other projects. Replacing the award-winning actor will be rapper 50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson). There’s been some backlash to the casting, which has prompted Sly himself to respond. Here’s an excerpt via AICN:
A player is only as good as his coach. If a man can communicate in one medium, he can communicate in another if his strengths are brought out and he has the support of well-wishers. So, trust me, the change of Forest Whitaker to 50 Cent AKA Curtis Jackson is a good one.
CBS Hands Out Multi-Year Renewals for Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory March 18, 2009 7:30 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in CBS, News, Television.Tags: The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men
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CBS and Warner Bros. television have announced a multi-year broadcast agreement for Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. The agreement renews the Two and a Half Men through the 2011-2012 season and The Big Bang Theory through the 2010-2011 season. There was news of this development about a week ago. The full press release follows after the jump. (more…)
Casting Bites: Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, Freddie Prinze Jr. and more March 18, 2009 6:54 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, Movies, News, Paramount Pictures, Television, The CW, Walden Media.Tags: Brad Pitt, Ellen DeGeneres, Freddie Prinze Jr., Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris Including Books Street Fashion and Jewelry, Jessica Lucas, Melrose Place, Natalie Portman, No Heroics
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Here are some of the latest casting news for television and film.
- Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman have signed on to a film based on the new Leanne Shapton book Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry. The film, from Paramount Pictures, will be developed as a romantic comedy, with Pitt to play Morris and Porman to play Doolan. [Variety]
- Jessica Lucas (Cloverfield) has landed a lead role on the CW’s new Melrose Place series. Lucas will play Riley Richmond, a wealthy and beautiful 24-year-old who works as an inncer-city elementary school teacher. [THR]
- Freddie Prinze Jr. is returning to ABC for the network’s comedy pilot No Heroics. The pilot is about four B-list superheroes living among us. Prinze’s character, Bradley aka Ultimatum, is the nemesis to the group’s leader Pete aka Chillout. [THR]
- Walden Media has signed Ellen DeGeneres as Mother Nature in a currently untitled comedy that is being produced by the company. Walden says that DeGeneres “will return to Earth for the first time since the planet’s creation.” The film will co-star Jim Carrey.[First Showing]
Dan Harris To Write Dante’s Inferno March 18, 2009 6:31 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Universal Pictures, Video Games.Tags: Dan Harris, Dante's Inferno
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Variety is reporting that Dan Harris (Superman Returns, X2: X-Men United) has been tapped by Universal Pictures to write the adaptation of Dante’s Inferno, the the studio’s project based on the yet-to-be released video game from Electronic Arts.
Writer Signed for The Lost Boys 3 March 18, 2009 6:20 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, Movies, News, Warner Premiere.Tags: Corey Feldman, Jamison Newlander, Lost Boys 3
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Bloody-Disgusting is reporting that TV writer Evan Charnov has been tapped by Warner Premiere to pen a screenplay for The Lost Boys 3, the studio’s next direct-to-video sequel of the classic 1987 vampire film. The site also reports that Corey Feldman has come on to executive producer and will also return again as Edgar Frog, and perhaps more importantly, this film will actually focus on Feldman’s character.
In related news, Moviehole.net reporst that Jamison Newlander has also been cast.
Lost Season Finale “Nickname” Will Be Decided by Fans March 17, 2009 8:03 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, News, Television.Tags: Carlont Cuse, Damon Lindelof, Lost
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In this week’s official Lost podcast, to be posted on ABC.com on Thursday, executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof will formally invite viewers to suggest a nickname for the season’s final moment.
From TV Guide:
In seasons past, that head-scratcher has been dubbed “Bagel” (Walt is abducted by the Others!), “Challah” (Penny’s research team locates the island!), “The Rattlesnake in the Mailbox” (Jack is flashing forward!) and “Frozen Donkey Wheel” (which, quite literally, Ben rotated to move the island).
The script for the finale has recently been completed and filming on the episode is at least a week away. Submissions can be directed to ABC.com/asklost. The pick will be announced on ABC’s March 26th podcast.
Transformers 3 Set for July 1, 2011 But Michael Bay Unhappy About Date + Thor Changing Dates Again March 17, 2009 7:01 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in DreamWorks, Marvel, Movies, News, Paramount, Release Dates.Tags: Michael Bay, Thor, Transformers 3
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Last night Paramount/DreamWorks announced a July 1, 2011 release date for Transformers 3. But apparently they forgot to inform director Michael Bay who isn’t so pleased with the early release. Bay wrote the following post on his official message boards:
Wait a minute! I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 – they asked me on the phone – I said yes to July 4 – but for 2012 – whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots.
Paramount/DreamWorks say they wanted to get ahead of the competition in announcing an early release date, but honestly, what’s the deal with setting dates so early?
In other news, Paramount, on behalf of Marvel, is moving up the release of Thor from June 16, 2011 to May 20, 2011. (Paramount is the distributor of the film, while Marvel Entertainment is producing and financing.)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hits theaters on June 24, 2009.
Linda Hamilton is In Terminator Salvation March 17, 2009 6:38 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Warner Brothers.Tags: Linda Hamilton, Terminator Salvation
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CHUD is reporting that Linda Hamilton is officially in Terminator Salvation. The site reports that they’ve heard from a source that the actress, who played Sarah Connor in Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, has already recorded a voiceover for the film.
News of Hamilton doing a voice over first broke when director McG hinted at it back in January. The actress herself confirmed that she was in talks for the role last month.
Not much is known about the role, other than the voice over will be relatively short and come at the very beginning of the film. The source compared it in tone and style to her voice over in T2.
Terminator Salvation hits theaters on May 22, 2009.
Two New Harry Potter and the Half Blood-Prince Photos March 17, 2009 6:28 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in 'Til Death, Images/Photos, Movies, News, Warner Brothers.Tags: Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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Warner Brothers has released two new photos of Daniel Radcliffe from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. You can check out the two photos — one is shown to the right — in high resolution after the jump.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters on July 17, 2009. (more…)
Where the Wild Things Are Trailer In Front of Monsters vs. Aliens? March 17, 2009 5:49 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.Tags: Monsters vs. Aliens, Where the Wild Things Are
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A scooper has written into CHUD to reveal that a full-length trailer (3-minutes in length) of Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are will play in front of the DreamWorks 3D animated-feature, Monsters vs. Aliens on March 27, 2009.
The scooper actually saw the trailer and provided a report on it, calling it “beatiful”, “gorgeous’ and “breathtaking”. Head on over to CHUD to read the full report.
Where the Wild Things Are hits theaters on October 16, 2009.
Natalie Portman Cast in Thor? Plus Casting Notes for the Lead Role March 17, 2009 5:38 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, Movies, News.Tags: Alexandar Skarsgard, Charlie Hunnam, Josh Hartnett, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, oel Kinnaman, Thor, Tom Hiddleston
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Over at Deadline Hollywood Daily, Nikki Finke reports that Natalie Portman “is in the lead for the female lead” in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor. Finke also provides a run down of all the actors that have tested for the role, including Josh Hartnett, Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston, Alexandar Skarsgard, Liam Hemsworth and Joel Kinnaman.
Andy Samber to Host 18th Annual MTV Movie Awards March 17, 2009 5:28 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, MTV, News, Television.Tags: 18th Annual MTV Movie Awards, Andy Samberg
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Saturday Night Live comic Andy Samberg has been tapped by MTV to host the 18th annual MTV Movie Awards, the network announced:
“I’m super excited to host the movie awards,” Samberg said in a statement released to Usmagazine.com. “I grew up watching the show and a lot of the past hosts are heroes of mine. Plus my friends and I were writers for the show prior to working at SNL, so it will be a sweet and satisfying homecoming.
MTV says they’re giving the comedian free range to do whatever he wants to parody this year’s movies.
“Andy’s connection with the MTV audience is so strong…it’s electric,” said Stephen Friedman, General Manager of MTV. “We can’t wait to see what subversive take he’ll have on our audience’s favorite movies of the year. We, like Andy’s many fans, are thrilled he’s decided to grace MTV with his unique talent.”
David Chase Working on HBO Miniseries March 16, 2009 3:11 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.Tags: A Ribbon of Dreams, David Chase, HBO
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David Chase, creator of the hit HBO series The Sopranos, is returning to HBO to develop a miniseries about the history of the Hollywood film industry. A Ribbon of Dreams, also reunites Chase with ‘Sopranos’ executive producer Brad Grey, who is now chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures.
“It gives me pleasure to think of working, together with Brad, with HBO again,” Chase said. “These are all people who, obviously, occupy a special place in my heart.”
Here’s a little bit on the background of the series, via THR:
[W]ill begin in 1913 and follow two men, one a college-educated mechanical engineer, the other a cowboy with a violent past, who form an unlikely producing partnership. The duo will start off as employees of D.W. Griffith, and then cross career paths with such Hollywood greats as John Ford, John Wayne, Raoul Walsh, Bette Davis and Billy Wilder. Through the eyes of the two main characters — as well as their offspring — the mini will chronicle the growth of the film industry from the age of rough-hewn silent Westerns, to the golden era of talkies and the studio system, to the auteur movement, to television, and finally to the present day.
President Barack Obama Appearing on Leno This Thursday March 16, 2009 3:02 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Television.Tags: Barack Obama, Jay Leno, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
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The White House has announced that President Barack Obama, during a trip to Los Angeles on Thursday, will appear on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. NBC will tape the program and air it that night, after the president has returned to Washington.
Sam Raimi Talks Spider-Man 4 March 16, 2009 2:56 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.Tags: Sam Raimi, Spider-Man 4
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At SXSW to show off an early cut of his new horror film Drag Me to Hell, Raimi took some time out to give some updates on Spider-Man 4, the latest film in the incredibly popular film franchise. Details after the jump. (more…)
SCI FI Channel Changing its Name to SyfY March 16, 2009 2:39 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, SCI FI Channel, Syfy, Television.add a comment
NBC Universal has announced that beginning this summer, the SCI FI Channel is changing its name to Syfy. The switch will happen, on-air and online, beginning July 7th. The network will also get a new tagline: Imagine Greater. Now it may seem odd to change your network name to a name that is so similar to its original, but there is reason to it, explains Dave Howe, President of SCI FI:
“While continuing to embrace our legacy and our core audience, we needed to cultivate a distinct point of view with a name that we could own that invites more people in and reflects our broader range of programming,” said Dave Howe, who made announcement. “Syfy allows us to build on our 16 year heritage of success with a new brand built on the power that fuels our genre: the Imagination. Syfy ushers in a new era of unlimited imagination, exceptional experiences and greater entertainment that paves the way for us to truly become a global lifestyle brand.”
Also, the new name, while phonetically identical to the original, allows the network to have a brand name all to its own.
“We couldn’t own SciFi; it’s a genre,” said Bonnie Hammer, the president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions. “But we can own Syfy.”
I’ve included the full press release, plus a high res version of the logo above, after the jump. (more…)
Daily Show Gets Boost with Cramer Appearance March 14, 2009 11:51 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in 17879034, Broadcast TV Ratings, CNBS, Comedy Central, News, Television.Tags: Cable TV Ratings, Jim Cramer, Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
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Thursday’s episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, featuring the highly anticipated interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer, drew the show’s second largest audience of the year. An average audience of 2.3 million viewers tuned in, ranking second only to January’s inauguration day episode, which delivered 2.6 million viewers.
Overall, the episode ranks in the all-time top 10 for the show, which scored a record-high 3.6 million viewers for an October episode that had Stewart conduct a one-on-one interview via satellite with then-candidate Barack Obama.
Source: Variety
First Look at The Goon March 14, 2009 11:47 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Images/Photos, Movies, News.Tags: David Fincher, Eric Powell, The Goon
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AICN has an exclusive first look at the David Fincher-produced big screen adaptation of Eric Powell’s Dark Horse comic The Goon. Powell is directing the computer-animated film. Head on over to AICN by clicking the image above to see it, and two others, in high resolution.
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