Angelina Jolie

Robert Stromberg to Direct Disney’s MALEFICENT Starring Angelina Jolie

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 6th, 2012 at 3:12 pm

Apparently it’s Disney’s day to attach directors to their projects. Just after the Mouse House filled the director’s chair on their Matterhorn movie, Deadline reports that Disney has finally settled on Robert Stromberg to helm Maleficent. The revisionist take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale has been gestating for some time now with Angelina Jolie attached to star, but it now looks as though things are finally moving forward. Though Maleficent will act as Stromberg’s feature directorial debut, he’s no stranger to big-budget Hollywood movies. He’s served as production designer on films like Avatar and Alice in Wonderland (he won the Academy Award for Art Direction on both films), and he’s most recently been working on Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful. Hit the jump for more, including how soon production on Maleficent could begin.

Goran Kostic and Zana Marjanovic IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY Interview

by Christina Radish    Posted: December 20th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

In the war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey, which marks the writing and directorial debut of Angelina Jolie, Danijel (Goran Kostic) is a Bosnian Serb police officer and Ajla (Zana Marjanovic) is a Bosnian Muslim artist. Together before the Bosnian War that tore the Balkan region apart in the 1990′s, their relationship quickly changes, as violence engulfs the country. When Ajla is taken from the apartment that she shares with her sister, Lejla (Vanesa Glodjo) and Lejla’s infant child, she comes face-to-face with Danijel and his troops, under the command of Danijel’s father, General Nebojsa Vukojevish (Rade Serbedzija). As the conflict takes hold, their connection to one another grows uncertain, and the war takes a physical and emotional toll that neither of them will ever recover from.

At the film’s press day, co-stars Goran Kostic and Zana Marjanovic talked about revisiting this war for the experience of making the film, the difficulty of getting through some of the more emotionally intense scenes, the experience of shooting in both Bosnian and English, and the importance of having somebody like Angelina Jolie bring this particular chapter of history to the world’s attention. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Angelina Jolie IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY Interview

by Christina Radish    Posted: December 19th, 2011 at 6:10 pm

Set against the backdrop of the Bosnian War in the 1990′s, In the Land of Blood and Honey tells the story of Danijel (Goran Kostic) and Ajla (Zana Marjanovic), who are on very different sides of the brutal ethnic conflict. As that conflict takes hold of their lives and their relationship changes, their connection to one another becomes strained and their allegiances grow uncertain. Portraying the incredible emotional and physical toll that the war takes on individuals, the unrelenting brutality is intended to make audiences question why it took so long for anyone to intervene in a society plagued by such horrific acts.

At the film’s press day, Angelina Jolie talked about making her writing and directorial debut with this war drama, what led her to tell this particular story, cutting the film down from the initial four-and-a-half-hour version that was way more brutal, deciding to shoot the film in two different languages (Bosnian and English), that writing is a cathartic process for her, and that this experience taught her how much she loves being on the other side of the camera. She also talked about a script she’s written about Afghanistan, but said that she doesn’t know if it’s any good, or if she’ll ever show it to anybody. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

Universal to Distribute Luc Besson’s Sci-Fi Film Starring Angelina Jolie

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Last week we reported that Angelina Jolie was looking to star in an untitled sci-fi thriller set to be directed by Luc Besson. At the time the project was without a studio, but now Deadline reports that Universal has closed a deal to distribute the pic. Plot details are currently under wraps, but the feature is described as a “large-scale dramatic thriller” and is said to be rooted in true scientific elements. Besson wrote the script and will direct. The film is said to be in the vein of Besson’s earlier work like The Fifth Element and The Professional. The director recently helmed the drama The Lady, and Jolie is readying the release of her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey. Production on the untitled pic is set to get underway in April.

Angelina Jolie in Talks to Star in Untitled Thriller for Director Luc Besson

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 6th, 2011 at 2:04 pm

While she’s currently prepping for the release of her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey, Angelina Jolie is also looking towards her next acting vehicle. Deadline reports that Jolie is in serious talks to star in a big scale action thriller written and directed by Luc Besson (The Professional, The Fifth Element). Besson just finished his own prestige pic The Lady, but it looks like he’s itching to get back to his action roots with his next project. The film is described as a dramatic thriller “rooted in true scientific elements” and the plan is to shoot with Jolie next spring. Hit the jump for more on Jolie’s upcoming slate of projects.

4 Clips and Over 30 New Images from Angelina Jolie’s IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 4th, 2011 at 8:27 am

Last week, we brought you this stylish poster from Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey. Now we have a host of new images and clips to share with you from the Bosnian war drama. Set against a backdrop of the Bosnian War in the 1990s, the story centers on the relationship between a Serbian soldier, Danijel (Goran Kostic) and a Bosnian native, Ajla (Zana Marjanovic). In the Land of Blood and Honey explores how the dynamics between the two change with the outset of the war, in which Ajla becomes a captive at a camp overseen by Danijel.  Also starring Rade Serbedzija, the film will be released both in English and BHS, the native language of Bosnia.  In the Land of Blood and Honey opens in limited release on December 23^rd with a wider release in January.  Hit the jump to check out the clips and images.

New Posters for JOHN CARTER and IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 28th, 2011 at 2:24 pm

We’ve got a couple of new posters to share with you today. First up is a new one sheet for Andrew Stanton’s John Carter. In anticipation of the new trailer (which his Thursday), a few new images debuted this weekend and now we’ve got a new poster. I kind of liked the teaser poster for what it was, but this new one seems a bit dull and is sure to further confuse those who know nothing about the movie. At least they’re starting to hint at the whole Mars thing with the red background, because the first trailer did nothing to inform audiences that Taylor Kitsch was on another planet and not just wandering around a weird desert.

On the flip side of things, we’ve got a gorgeous poster for Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey. It effectively conveys the plot (centered around the Bosnian war) in an incredibly pretty and artful manner. Hit the jump to check out the posters. John Carter opens in 3D on March 9th, and In the Land of Blood and Honey opens in NY and LA December 23rd.

Producer Graham King Provides Update on TOMB RAIDER Reboot; Says It’s More of a “Character Study” and Goes Back to Her Roots

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 20th, 2011 at 1:25 pm

While a reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise has been in the works for quite some time, we hadn’t really heard much about the film until early this year when a 2013 release was targeted.  Iron Man scribes Mark Fergus and Hawk Otsby came aboard the project in May.  They stated at the time that their intention was to craft an origin story and solidify Lara Croft as a strong female character in the vein of Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor.

Steve is currently in New York covering press for Martin Scorsese’s Hugo and he sat down with producer Graham King who gave an update on the Tomb Raider reboot.  King said that they just got the script in and they hope to start production next year.  The producer also spoke about the direction and tone of the story they’ve come up with, and even mused on the prospect of bringing Angelina Jolie back in some capacity.  Hit the jump for the full interview.

Angelina Jolie Attached to Middle East Biopic GERTRUDE BELL; Ridley Scott May Direct

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 17th, 2011 at 1:57 pm

Angelina Jolie is set to premiere her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey next month, but the actress is also looking towards future acting gigs. Fresh off the Bosnian War-set Honey, Jolie is eyeing another socially conscious pic: a biopic of Gertrude Bell. Jolie has attached herself to the project, titled Gertrude Bell, which centers on the early 20th century pioneer. Described as the female Lawrence of Arabia, Bell worked extensively in the middle east and was responsible for establishing what would become the modern framework for Jordan and Iraq. She worked for British Intelligence during World War I, and was key in the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire and subsequent founding of Iraq. Hit the jump for more, including Ridley Scott’s involvement and what projects the director is considering for his next film.

Angelina Jolie’s IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY to Be Released in Official Language of Bosnia

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: November 15th, 2011 at 3:05 pm

While the first trailer for In the Land of Blood and Honey is in English, the war drama by writer/director Angelina Jolie will be released in the native language of Bosnia. Although it was shot in both the native language of Bosnia (Bosanski/Hrvatski/Srpski or BHS) as well as English, Jolie decided to go with the more authentic version. The film will obviously have English subtitles for those of us who don’t speak BHS, or Serbian-Croatian, as it was known during the war.

Jolie’s directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey is set against the Bosnian War of the 1990s, in which the conflicted relationship of Ajla (Zana Marjanovic) and Danijel (Goran Kostic – Taken) evolves. The film opens in New York and Los Angeles on December 23^rd, but you have until January to brush up on your BHS when In the Land of Blood and Honey widens its release. Hit the jump for more.

First Trailer for Angelina Jolie’s Directorial Debut IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 21st, 2011 at 7:52 am

FilmDistrict has released the first trailer for Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey.  The drama centers on a Muslim woman (Zana Marjanović) and a Serbian soldier (Goran Kostic) who fall in love days before Bosnian war.  If I didn’t tell you that Jolie was the movie’s writer-director, you would still want to see the movie based on the trailer.  That’s not to say that Jolie is a distraction, but plenty of actors step behind the camera or try to write screenplay, but not all of them are successful.  Jolie looks like she’s nailed not only a serious war movie, but also a tender, heartbreaking love-story.  The trailer has certainly put the film on my radar.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  In the Land of Blood and Honey opens in limited release on December 23rd.

Watch 25 Actors Before They Were Famous in Three Minutes, Including Seth Rogen, Jack Black and Natalie Portman

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 15th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Thank the Maker for YouTube. With the advent of the video-on-demand digital age, no longer is that TV movie role that Actor X did when he was 11-years-old lost forever, and now someone’s put together a compilation of 25 “before they were famous” first roles for our viewing pleasure. Did you know that Daniel Craig was in A Kid in King Arthur’s Court? How about Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Roseanne or Jake Gyllenhaal in City Slickers? No need to hit up Netflix, some choice scenes are now all in one place.

Hit the jump to watch the montage, which includes 25 sometimes painful scenes featuring Jim Carrey, Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves, Nicole Kidman, Seth Rogen, Jake Gyllenhaal, Harrison Ford and more.

Quasi-Casting Call: Jolie May Star in O. Russell’s THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; Williams May Join HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 8th, 2011 at 10:53 am

We have two stories that are almost casting news, but nothing has been confirmed for either film.  First up, Angelina Jolie hasn’t settled on her next acting project yet.  Her directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey is set for December 23rd, she’s attached to star in Cleopatra, and Salt 2 recently got the greenlight.  Now Just Jared reports that Jolie is meeting with director David O. Russell to discuss his adaptation of The Silver Linings Playbook.  Mark Wahlberg is already attached to play at Pat Peoples, a former high school history teacher who has just been released from a mental institution and plans on reconciling with his estranged wife.  However, Pat believes he’s only been in the institution for a few months, when actually he’s been inside for several years.  Presumably, Jolie is interested in playing Peoples’ wife.  However, even if she takes the role, it’s unknown where it fall into her schedule.  Cleopatra and Salt 2 are both looking for directors.

Hit the jump for casting news regarding Hyde Park on the Hudson.

Sony Moves Forward With Sequel to SALT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 6th, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Apparently the world needs more Angelina Jolie action movies. Sony has officially started moving forward with a sequel to last year’s Jolie-starred action flick Salt. Deadline now reports that Sony has set the first film’s screenwriter, Kurt Wimmer, to start working on a script. Jolie is keen to reprise her role from the first flick, though director Phillip Noyce turned down the offer to return.

A follow-up has been rumored since last August, after Salt took in almost $300 million worldwide. While reviews were mixed to positive, one can’t deny Jolie’s international draw (did anyone from America actually see The Tourist?). No word on how soon the sequel will go into production, but we’ll know more once Wimmer turns in his first draft of the screenplay.

KUNG FU PANDA 2 Review

by Bill Graham    Posted: May 26th, 2011 at 7:25 am

Kung Fu Panda 2 stands as a shining example of DreamWorks finally getting the sequel formula right. Building off of the success of the original 2008 hit, Panda 2 delivers more laughs, larger scale, finer animation, and arguably more heart. Jack Black returns as the  incompetently powerful Po the panda to battle the next stage in warfare that threatens to make hand-to-hand combat extinct. Joined by the Furious Five, the group wages war amidst the beautiful landscape of China in thrilling sequences of 3D combat that highlight the evolution of the fighting in the first film. With newcomer Jennifer Yuh at the helm, backed by the returning talents of writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger along with the full voice cast, Kung Fu Panda 2 is the latest animated film to blur the lines between the admiration from adults and kids alike, and brings bang for your buck in 3D. Hit the jump for the full review.

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