Movies Movie News and Notes

Steven Spielberg Developing DC Comics Movie BLACKHAWK for Warner Bros.

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Steven Spielberg is jumping into the world of DC Comics. The iconic filmmaker is tackling his first DC Comics property, the World War II action-adventure hero Blackhawk.

Spielberg, along with his Amblin Entertainment, will produce Blackhawk for Warner Bros., and is developing it as a directing vehicle, the studio announced Tuesday. The move reteams him with the studio behind his latest tentpole, Ready Player One.

David Koepp, who has work with Spielberg writing blockbustersJurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds andIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is writing the script.

The material seems tailor-made for the filmmaker behind the Indiana Jones movies. Blackhawk told of an international squadron of heroic pilots led by a man named Blackhawk who fought the Nazis and their ilk in World War II.

The series debuted in 1941’s Military Comics No. 1,published originally by Quality Comics before DC acquired the property in 1956. Co-created by comic book legend Will Eisner, along with Bob Powell and Chuck Cuidera, the comic was one of the biggest sellers in the 1940s.

Spielberg will produce the film together with Kristie Macosko Krieger, under the Amblin Entertainment banner, while former studio executive Sue Kroll will executive produce under her Kroll & Co. Entertainment shingle.

“We are so proud to be the studio behind Steven Spielberg’s latest hit, and are thrilled to be working with him again on this new action adventure,” said Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich. “We can’t wait to see what new ground he will break in introducing ‘Blackhawk’ to movie audiences worldwide.”

Spielberg is still on track to make Indiana Jones 5 his next movie and is still developing a remake of West Side Story for which he is trying to cast his leads. Player One has made over $476 million worldwide since its March 29 opening.

Steven Spielberg Tackling DC Comics Movie 'Blackhawk with David Koepp Writing the Script

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Vin Diesel Buys Rights to xXx, Returning for xXx4 with D.J. Caruso Directing

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Vin Diesel is now the proud co-owner of the xXx franchise. Diesel and his One Race Films has teamed up with finance and production company The H Collective to acquire the rights to the action adventure franchise from Revolution Studios, the two companies announced Tuesday.

At the same time, Diesel and H Collective are suiting up to make a new installment, xXx 4. The aim is to begin production December 2018.

D.J. Caruso, who helmed xXx: Return of Xander Cage, as well as movies such as Disturbia, will return to direct xXx 4 with Diesel reprising his role as extreme sports athlete-turned-reluctant agent Xander Cage.

This isn’t the only franchise that Diesel owns. The actor-producer also own the rights to Riddick/Pitch Black, which he acquired from Universal, who wanted him to return to the Fast & Furious movie series.

H Collective will finance xXx 4 alongside investment partners including Sparkle Roll Media, HCH Media, Dadi Cinema, and Angeleno Studio. Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum will produce with Diesel and Samantha Vincent for One Race Films and The H Collective.

In a statement, H Collective CEO Nic Crawley said: “During my time at Paramount I was lucky to be involved in the development and distribution of xXx: Return of Xander Cage. The response from the Chinese box office was unprecedented. Bringing the next installment of the xXx franchise to The H Collective complements our diversified slate and mission to produce content for a global audience.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h...collective-buy-rights-xxx-plot-sequel-1103599
 
Vin Diesel Buys Rights to xXx, Returning for xXx4 with D.J. Caruso Directing

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Vin Diesel is now the proud co-owner of the xXx franchise. Diesel and his One Race Films has teamed up with finance and production company The H Collective to acquire the rights to the action adventure franchise from Revolution Studios, the two companies announced Tuesday.

At the same time, Diesel and H Collective are suiting up to make a new installment, xXx 4. The aim is to begin production December 2018.

D.J. Caruso, who helmed xXx: Return of Xander Cage, as well as movies such as Disturbia, will return to direct xXx 4 with Diesel reprising his role as extreme sports athlete-turned-reluctant agent Xander Cage.

This isn’t the only franchise that Diesel owns. The actor-producer also own the rights to Riddick/Pitch Black, which he acquired from Universal, who wanted him to return to the Fast & Furious movie series.

H Collective will finance xXx 4 alongside investment partners including Sparkle Roll Media, HCH Media, Dadi Cinema, and Angeleno Studio. Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum will produce with Diesel and Samantha Vincent for One Race Films and The H Collective.

In a statement, H Collective CEO Nic Crawley said: “During my time at Paramount I was lucky to be involved in the development and distribution of xXx: Return of Xander Cage. The response from the Chinese box office was unprecedented. Bringing the next installment of the xXx franchise to The H Collective complements our diversified slate and mission to produce content for a global audience.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h...collective-buy-rights-xxx-plot-sequel-1103599
China keeps fucking up the curve for the rest of the world. I'm a xXx fan and even I thought the last installment had some serious issues.
 
Ed Skrein to Play the Villain Opposite Angelina Jolie in MALEFICENT Sequel

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Ed Skrein is stepping into the Disney kingdom. The Deadpool actor will play the villain opposite Angelina Jolie in Disney's Maleficent sequel. Jolie and Elle Fanning are set to return for the follow-up of the 2014 hit that grossed $758 million at the global box office.

Pirates of the Caribbean 5 co-helmer Joachim Ronning will direct the feature that centers on the Sleeping Beauty antagonist. Joe Roth will produce the pic, with Jez Butterworth and Linda Woolverton working on the screenplay.

After a brief Game of Thrones stint, Skrein's breakout role came as the main villain in 2016's Deadpool. He will next be seen in the Fox tentpole Alita: Battle Angel, playing (you guessed it) a villain. Skrein also earned praise last year when he stepped aside from a role in the Hellboy reboot to allow an actor of Asian descent to play the part of Major Ben Daimio, who in the comic books is Asian. Daniel Dae Kim later stepped into the role.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/maleficent-2-casts-ed-skrein-as-villain-1103578
 
Final Trailer for JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM is Here

 
Trailer for JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN Starring Rowan Atkinson

The new adventure begins when a cyber-attack reveals the identity of all active undercover agents in Britain, leaving Johnny English as the secret service’s last hope. Called out of retirement, English dives head first into action with the mission to find the mastermind hacker. As a man with few skills and analogue methods, Johnny English must overcome the challenges of modern technology to make this mission a success. In theaters Sept. 20.



the last one had me laughing my ass off, will watch
 
FATE OF THE FURIOUS' F. Gary Gray to Direct Hasbro's M.A.S.K. Movie

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It's game on for F. Gary Gray and Hasbro's M.A.S.K. property. The Fate of the Furious filmmaker will direct the project for Paramount, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

No writer is yet attached to the film, based on the '80s property created by the now-defunct toy company Kenner. M.A.S.K. (which stands for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), centers on a task force and its battle against the evil V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem), and spawned a cartoon series and comics in addition to a number of toys. Gray is producing the film along with Hasbro.

Gray's Fast and Furious installment grossed $1.2 billion worldwide last year, and the director next tackles Sony's Men in Black reboot, which is to star Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson and is set for a July 2019 launch.

No date has been set for the M.A.S.K. movie, one of multiple Hasbro properties Paramount is developing for the big screen for a potential shared universe.

'Fate of the Furious' Helmer F. Gary Gray to Direct Hasbro and Paramount's M.A.S.K. Movie
 
Firstly, that's something one critic said about the film, which has been latched onto by the distributors and used out of context in the marketing of the film, not surprising since this happens all the time. They do this with any snippet of a review they think will bring in more money to the film.

Secondly, is not a story about a teenage girl who writes one of the most iconic novels of all time, and pioneered the horror and science fiction genres naturally a feminist one?
Boom , well said !
 
Final Trailer for DEADPOOL 2 Finally Reveals the Sequel's Villain

 
Denzel Washington is Back as Robert McCall in the First Trailer for THE EQUALIZER 2

Denzel Washington returns to one of his signature roles in the first sequel of his career. Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed – but how far will he go when that is someone he loves? Directed by Antoine Fuqua. In theaters July 20, 2018.

 
First Official Poster for HALLOWEEN Features an Aged Michael Myers

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China keeps fucking up the curve for the rest of the world. I'm a xXx fan and even I thought the last installment had some serious issues.
Do you need to see the second one in order to watch the third? I had no desire to see the one with Ice Cube, but got the dvd of the third one from netflix to check out. Thought they might be stand alone stories and missing the second one wouldn't really matter.
 
The Nee Brothers to Direct Sony's He-Man Movie MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

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He-Man has found new masters. Sony Pictures and Mattel have tapped the directing duo of Aaron and Adam Nee to helm the He-Man movie “Masters of the Universe,” sources tell Variety.

The movie will be based on the beloved Mattel toyline, which spawned a successful animated TV series (1983-85) as well as a 1987 film. The property centers on the warrior He-Man, the last hope of a magical land called Eternia. Dolph Lundgren starred in the original pic as the title character, while Frank Langella played the villainous Skeletor.

The pic is written by David Goyer, who is also an executive producer. Goyer had circled the director’s chair, but prior engagements forced him to pass on directing, though insiders say he is extremely involved in the development of the film.

Sony has already dated the movie for 18, 2019, with exec Matt Milam overseeing it for the studio. Escape Artists’ Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch will produce with DeVon Franklin.

Sony is coming off one of its more successful years, following smash hits like “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” both of which have future installments planned. Though “Masters of the Universe” has encountered hurdles over the years, Sony still views it as a valuable property and hopes to add it to its list of major franchises in the works.

As for the Nee brothers, the gig marks a major milestone for the rising stars whose 2015 indie thriller “Band of Robbers” earned critical acclaim and put the brothers on the map.

Aaron and Adam Nee to Direct Sony and Mattel's Live-Action 'Masters of the Universe' (Exclusive)
 
Do you need to see the second one in order to watch the third? I had no desire to see the one with Ice Cube, but got the dvd of the third one from netflix to check out. Thought they might be stand alone stories and missing the second one wouldn't really matter.
Nope. You know Ice Cube was the second xXx. That's enough.
 


Christopher Nolan in this Infinity War hype wants to remind people about a movie from 50 years ago set the stage for almost all science fiction films that followed.
 
DEADPOOL 2 and JOHN WICK Helmer David Letich to Direct Ubisoft's THE DIVISION

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Deadpool 2 director David Leitch is getting into the video game business. The filmmaker will helm The Division, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The film is an adaptation of the Ubisoft game and is to star Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal. Previously, Stephen Gaghan was attached to direct.

The third-person shooter is set in dystopian New York City after a smallpox pandemic. The player is an agent of the Strategic Homeland Division (The Division) and searches for the cause of the outbreak. Following the game's release in 2016, Ubisoft declared the online-only title broke the studio's record for highest number of first-day sales. It has generated over $300 million globally and has reached 20 million users. A sequel game is in development, with plans to be unveiled at E3.

Here's the films official logline: "In the near future, a pandemic virus is spread via paper money on Black Friday, decimating the city of New York and killing millions. By Christmas, what’s left of society has descended into chaos. A group of civilians, trained to operate in catastrophic times, are activated in an attempt to save who and what remains."

Producers are Kelly McCormick Leitch of 8711, Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker of Nine Stories and Chastain and Kelly Carmichael of Freckle Films, alongside Ubisoft Motion Pictures.

Leitch's Deadpool 2 opens May 18, and he is also set to direct next year's Fast and Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.

Leitch, known for his impressive action sequences, helmed last year's Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron and began his career as a stunt coordinator and second unit director, breaking through with partner Chad Stahelski on their directorial debut John Wick in 2014.

'Deadpool 2' Director David Leitch to Helm Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain in Ubisoft's 'The Division'
 
First Trailer for GODZILLA: CITY ON THE EDGE OF BATTLE; May 18 Release Date

 
Universal Wins Bidding War Against Sony, Netflix for THE TOMMYKNOCKERS

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Universal Pictures has won an intense bidding war to pick up the screen rights to Tommyknockers, the 1987 sci-fi/horror novel from Stephen King.

James Wan, the director and producer behind the Conjuring horror movies, and Roy Lee, one of the producers behind the adaptation of King’s It, are producing with Larry Sanitsky, the veteran producer who executive produced the 1993 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel.

Universal beat out Sony and Netflix, both of whom made aggressive overtures for the package. In the end, it came down to Sony and Universal.

No writer is attached and Wan is not attached as director but sources say that could change depending on development.

The story focuses on a town in Maine that falls under the influence of a dangerous gas from an unearthed space craft. The gas begins to transform the people, giving them enhanced abilities, but also making them violent and subject to an alien hive mentality. One man, thanks to a steel plate in his head, is immune to the effects and tries to stop the townspeople.

“It is an allegorical tale of addiction (Stephen was struggling with his own at the time), the threat of nuclear power, the danger of mass hysteria and the absurdity of technical evolution run amuck. All are as relevant today as the day the novel was written. It is also a tale about the eternal power of love and the grace of redemption,” wrote Sanitsky, in a mission statement sent to buyers when the package when out a few weeks ago.

Universal Pictures Wins Stephen King's 'Tommyknockers' Bidding War Against Sony and Netflix
 
IT Star Sophia Lillis to Play Nancy Drew in Warner Bros.' New Movie Adaptation

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It star Sophia Lillis will play teen detective Nancy Drew in Warner Bros.’ movie adaptation of Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase.

The producers are Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Kleeman through their A Very Good Production company, along with Chip Diggins. Filming is expected to start in May. Wendy Williams is executive producing.

The story, first published in 1930, was written by Mildred Wirt Benson. Warner Bros. also made a film adaptation of the book in 1939, starring Bonita Granville.

The story centers on a pair of elderly sisters and their strange experiences in their Victorian-era house, leading to the duo being accused of murder. Nancy must act quickly to save the sisters from jail.

Warner Bros. released 2007’s Nancy Drew, starring Emma Roberts as Nancy Drew, Josh Flitter, and Max Thieriot. The pic was directed by Andrew Fleming and grossed $30 million worldwide.

Lillis, 16, made her acting debut in 2014 in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She starred as Beverly Marsh in the horror blockbuster It — the only female member of the Losers Club. Her character is bullied at school and abused at home. Lillis will next be seen in HBO’s eight-episode drama series Sharp Objects.

http://variety.com/2018/film/news/sophia-lillis-nancy-drew-movie-1202776283/
 
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