Disney

Disney Acquires SAVING MR. BANKS, a Black List Script on the Making of MARY POPPINS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 8th, 2012 at 8:04 am

Disney has picked up Kelly Marcel‘s Black List script, Saving Mr. Banks.  The story centers on how Disney persuaded P.L. Travers sold the studio the rights to make Mary Poppins, and how Travers was dissatisfied with aspects of the film, especially since the story was deeply personal to her.  Per Deadline, “Mary Poppins was highly personal, and reflected hardships in her own life and her relationship with her father, who died when she was 7.”

The movie became one of the biggest hits in Disney’s history, but Travers hated the animated sequences, and she refused to sell any of her other works to Disney (somehow, Disney managed to survive).  Present-day Disney is already looking to make the film a star-studded affair, and according to Deadline, “There have been rumors of the script being considered by Tom Hanks (for Walt Disney) and Meryl Streep (for Travers).  I don’t know if I can buy Hanks as an anti-Semite.

Disney Picks Up Untitled Space Adventure from CHRONICLE Scribe Max Landis

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 26th, 2012 at 6:13 pm

Walt Disney Pictures has been busy as of late: they recently landed Dan Harris (X2: X-Men United) to pen the sci-fi adventure adaptation Hover Car Racer, landed directors for both Matterhorn and Maleficent, and have secured Seth Rogen as a producer and possible star in the spy comedy, The B Team. Now we have word that the Mouse House has picked up an untitled space adventure from Max Landis, the scribe behind the upcoming superhero found-footage flick, Chronicle. The project will center on a brother and sister and their emotional journey as they undertake an adventure through space. Andrew Panay (Wedding Crashers) is set to produce. Hit the jump for more on this project.

THE MUPPETS Blu-ray/DVD Release Set for March 20

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 19th, 2012 at 2:59 pm

If you’ve been itching to revisit the delightfully charming The Muppets over and over again in the comfort of your own home, itch no more. Disney today announced that The Muppets will be released on March 20th on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download, and On Demand. Additionally, the studio is releasing a “Wocka-Wocka Value Pack” which includes the movie on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Copy plus a download card that allows fans to own all the songs from the glorious soundtrack.

Special features on the home video release include a feature called “Disney Intermission” which allows the viewer to pause the movie and watch as the Muppets come onscreen and entertain until the movie resumes playing. Also included is the extended version of Tex Richman’s Rap (sung so eloquently by Chris Cooper), a blooper reel, a look inside the making of a Muppet, deleted scenes, all the spoof trailers, and audio commentaries with star/co-writer Jason Segel, writer Nicholas Stoller, and director James Bobin. Hit the jump to check out the cover art for the different video formats and to read the full press release, which includes pricing, specs, etc.

Disney Sets X2 Writer for HOVER CAR RACER; Warner Bros. Taps David Auburn to Adapt A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 11th, 2012 at 1:51 pm

We’ve got a couple of writer stories to share with you today. First up, Disney is continuing development on an adaptation of Matthew Reilly‘s young adult book series Hover Car Racer as they’ve set a new writer on the project. Heat Vision reports that X2: X-Men United scribe Dan Harris has been tapped to work on the script for the sci-fi adventure pic. The film takes place in a future where humans travel in vehicles that float a few feet off the ground. As such, racing the vehicles has become “a glamorous sport” and the story centers on a young man who enters an international race.

The Mouse House has been trying to crack the adaptation since 2004, as David DiGilio, John Sayles and Blaise Hemingway have all taken a pass at the script. They’re no doubt hoping that the fourth time’s the charm with Harris now onboard. The scribe also wrote 2006’s Superman Returns, but hasn’t had a feature produced since 2007. Hit the jump for the news regarding Warner Bros.’ adaptation of the supernatural fantasy novel A Discovery of Witches.

Paramount, Universal, and Disney Will Promote Their Upcoming Movies during Super Bowl XLVI

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 11th, 2012 at 8:23 am

Whenever it comes time to prepare for the onslaught of Super Bowl advertising, I always think back to the old Daily Show line, “This year’s Super Bowl will feature over two hours of advertising interrupted by football.”  Being the most-watched TV event of the year warrants the ever-increasing price tag for 30-second spots, which this year reportedly cost $4 million.  In between funny Doritos commercials and misogynistic Bud Light commercials, three studios will be broadcasting ads for their major 2012 films.  According to THR, this year’s Super Bowl will have ads from Paramount, Universal, and Disney while 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Sony will be sitting out.  Also, Lionsgate isn’t showing off anything so don’t expect a spot for The Hunger Games.

Hit the jump for my predictions on what ads we can expect to see.  Click here to see all the movie ads that ran during last year’s Super Bowl.

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.

Brian Beletic to Direct Disney’s Matterhorn Movie

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 6th, 2012 at 1:30 pm

Yes, that Matterhorn movie is still happening. Last summer we learned that Disney was prepping a feature film inspired by their popular Matterhorn ride (the one with the toboggans and snow). Now Deadline reports that commercials director Brian Beletic has been set to make his feature directorial debut on the project. While the initial logline involved kids confronting Yetis at the top of a mountain, the new logline is much, much worse:

“A small group of young, super adventure/explorers, each with a specific skill set, are brought to the remote backcountry of the Pennine Alps under various guises for a trek across one of the planet’s remaining untouched realms. They do this with extreme skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering.”

Essentially, it’s one long ChapStick commercial. The pic is currently without a title, but they’re calling the film “Untitled Explorers Project.” Jason Dean Hall (Spread) wrote the script. There’s no word on when production might begin, but expect some extreme casting news for the extreme adventurers relatively soon.

Seth Rogen to Produce and Possibly Star in Disney Spy Comedy THE B TEAM

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 22nd, 2011 at 2:09 pm

Fresh off a supporting role in this year’s stellar 50/50, Seth Rogen is looking to expand his talents behind-the-scenes. While it’s well known that Rogen co-wrote Superbad, Pineapple Express, and The Green Hornet, the actor has also been credited as an executive producer on a number of Judd Apatow’s projects. He was a producer on 50/50, and now Variety reports that Rogen is coming on as a producer of an upcoming Disney property. The project is a spy comedy called The B Team that centers on a top secret agent’s tech support team and researchers who are tasked with rescuing him after he’s kidnapped. Rogen will produce with an eye towards starring, though it’s not specified what role he would take on.

Disney bought the pitch from Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman (Chasing Liberty), but with Rogen’s penchant for writing I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a pass on the script. Rogen will next be seen in My Mother’s Curse opposite Barbara Streisand, and is gearing up to make his directorial debut with Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse.

Disney Confirms THE AVENGERS Will Be 3D, Moves Untitled Marvel Film to April 2014; Disney Animation’s THE SNOW QUEEN Now Titled FROZEN [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 22nd, 2011 at 12:36 pm

bits of news about some highly anticipated projects. First up, and to the surprise of no one, the studio confirms that The Avengers will be in 3D. This was already assumed, given that all of Marvel’s recent movies have been post-converted to the format. In other Marvel news, the studio has shifted an untitled project from June 2014 to April 4th, 2014, a month before the opening of another untitled Marvel project that’s scheduled for May 16th.

The nature of the untitled Marvel projects is currently unknown. They could include a Captain America or The Avengers sequel, but the studio is also working on spinoffs for Hawkeye, Black Widow, and S.H.I.E.L.D. so those are other possibilities as well. Hopefully the studio will announce their full development slate soon, but for now it looks like this: The Avengers in May 2012, Iron Man 3 in May 2013, Thor 2 in November 2013, Untitled Marvel 1 in April 2014, and Untitled Marvel 2 in May 2014. Hit the jump for info on Pixar’s now-titled movie about dinosaurs.  [Update: It appears Frozen is the new title of The Snow Queen and has nothing to do with Pixar. More after the jump.]

Tom Wilkinson and Ruth Wilson Return to THE LONE RANGER; Movie Trying to Reassemble Supporting Cast

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 7th, 2011 at 9:10 am

Earlier this summer, Gore Verbinksi‘s adaptation of The Lone Ranger was rounding up its cast.  Johnny Depp was signed on to play Tonto, Armie Hammer was playing the Ranger, and the movie was lining up Tom Wilkinson, Ruth Wilson (Luther), Dwight Yoakam, Barry Pepper, and Helena Bonham Carter for supporting roles.  But then Disney pumped the brakes and wanted a lower budget, they eventually got it after some protracted negotiations, and now pre-production is back underway.

However, this delay moved back the start of production which meant that scheduling had changed for the actors.  Depp and Hammer never really left, and now it looks like Verbinski is trying to get his other actors back.  Deadline reports that Wilkinson has returned to play the villain Latham Cole while Wilson is still playing the movie’s female lead.  Disney is talking again with Carter, Pepper, and Yoakam as well as James Badge Dale.  Production on the $215 million cowboy movie begins in February 2012 for a May 31, 2013 release.

Andrew Stanton Explains Why JOHN CARTER Dropped “of Mars” from Title; also Talks about Trying to Change Live-Action Filmmaking

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 8:55 am

Did you know that marketing decisions can be condescending and sexist?  It’s true! (and those two qualities usually go hand-in-hand so you shouldn’t be surprised)  I’ve been puzzled as to why Disney changed the title of John Carter to John Carter of Mars.  To me, “of Mars” is the hook.  John Carter is “Some Guy” particular because of his generic name.  If his name was “Captain Billyboots Spaceship” then I can see dropping the “of Mars”.  So why did half the title disappear?

Director Andrew Stanton recently told BleedingCool that the title had already been changed from A Princess of Mars because it was a “truth” that boys wouldn’t go see it if they kept author Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original title. But then, when they changed it to John Carter of Mars, Stanton believed it was also a “truth” that girls wouldn’t see it because apparently girls hate planets.  So the compromise was to make it John Carter and now no one will see it.  Hit the jump for more from Stanton and my thoughts on this idiotic decision.

What Awards Can THE MUPPETS Actually Win?

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 3rd, 2011 at 3:56 pm

The Muppets returned to theaters this year in a big way with director James Bobin’s aptly named The Muppets. While the film could have easily become a heavy-handed and groan-worthy kids movie, Bobin and Co. delivered a sweet, funny, and ultimately touching flick that is just as effective for 7-year-olds as it is for cold, cynical cinephiles. When the Oscar hosting gig was once again up for grabs earlier this year, a campaign to have our lovely Muppets take up the duties gained some significant traction. While producers ultimately went with Billy Crystal, the whole idea got us thinking: what awards could the film actually win?  Hit the jump for our take on The Muppets’ chances in this coming awards season.

Full Trailer for JOHN CARTER Starring Taylor Kitsch

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: November 30th, 2011 at 9:24 pm

Good Morning America had a sneak peek of the new John Carter trailer earlier today, which probably wasn’t the best way to present a hard sell to an unfamiliar audience, not to mention a critical group of fans ready to tear into the film adaptation that dropped the most interesting half of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars. Disney followed up quickly with the full trailer that gives you a better sense of the film.  It looks big, like the event film that Disney needs it to be.

Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Haden Church, and James Purefoy star in director Andrew Stanton‘s first live-action feature. John Carter opens in 3D on March 9, 2012.  Watch the trailer after the jump.

“Sneak Peek” at New Trailer for JOHN CARTER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 30th, 2011 at 8:45 am

A new trailer for director Andrew Stanton‘s John Carter has been released. The film centers on a former Confederate soldier who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he finds himself in the middle of a epic war between the planet’s inhabitants. The trailer (or at least the cut that aired on Good Morning America) is short and not sweet. It features lines like “That don’t look like a fair fight,” and “We did not cause this, but we will end it!” Hoo-boy.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer. The film stars Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Bryan Cranston, Thomas Haden Church, and James Purefoy. John Carter opens in 3D on March 9, 2012. [Update: Stanton has tweeted [via @Illusion0fLife] that the full trailer will air tonight online and during Jimmy Kimmel Live. ] [2nd Update: Disney has asked us to refer to this as a "sneak peek" of the trailer.  That means it's a preview of a trailer, which is the idiotic world of double-marketing we live in.  If you want to see the full trailer in all its wonder, it will run tonight at 9:00pm PST on IGN]

THE LION KING Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: October 24th, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Though there’s no touching the early wave of classic Disney animated features, when the studio reinvented its animation department in the late 1980’s they had a run of successful and impactful films that deserve to be shelved near those great works. 1994’s The Lion King is the best of that run (which arguably goes from 1989’s The Little Mermaid through to 1999’s Tarzan) and a film that captures much of the same terrain of those classics, but reimagines those stories in a way that feels fresh. It’s a crowning achievement, and the Diamond Edition Blu-ray presents the film in a pristine transfer. Our review of The Lion King on Blu-ray follows after the jump.

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