D.J. Caruso

D.J. Caruso to Direct Sci-Fi Disaster Film INVERTIGO; Release Date Set for March 7, 2014

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 29th, 2012 at 2:53 pm

Coming off the failed franchise-starter I Am Number Four, director D.J. Caruso is looking to take another stab at sci-fi. The director is now in final negotiations to direct the sci-fi disaster film Invertigo. The story concerns a long-lost NASA space probe under the influence of “dark energy” that mysteriously crashes on earth and proceeds to disrupt and reverse the pull of gravity. Skyscrapers and bridges are ripped from the ground and rivers “rain from the sky” as a team mounts a mission into upside-down Manhattan to avert the planet’s destruction. Hit the jump for more on this ludicrous premise.

D.J. Caruso Casts Chandler Canterbury and Annalise Basso in Adaptation of THE GOATS

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: October 1st, 2011 at 1:53 pm

Director D.J. Caruso (I Am Number Four) is attached to several projects at the moment, including Beat the Reaper, Walk Among the Tombstones, and most notably, Preacher.  But first Caruso will move forward on an indie passion project, The Goats, after more than a decade in development.  Step 1: casting the young leads, Chandler Canterbury (Knowing) and Annalise Basso (Bedtime Stories).  Based on the young adult novel by Brock Cole, the story centers on two kids stranded on Goat Island after a summer camp prank: “Rather than face the humiliation of returning to camp, the duo decides to run away together and what follows is a three-day journey of self-discovery.”  The premise is intriguing, but the translation to the screen will be tricky given the reliance on child acting.  Put it this way: The Goats reminds me of The Hunger Games and Lionsgate cast 21-year-old Jennifer Lawrence (playing 16) in the lead.  I’m not familiar with Canterbury or Basso’s work, and can’t vouch for Caruso’s ability to draw a good performance out of his young actors.  But I wish them the best of luck in pulling it together in service of a premise that, again, I’d like to see work on screen.

According to Variety, production will begin in October in Georgia.  The book synopsis is after the jump.

D.J. Caruso in Negotiations to Helm A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 30th, 2011 at 4:40 pm

Director D.J. Caruso (I Am Number Four) is in talks to direct an adaptation of the Lawrence Frank book A Walk Among the Tombstones for Cross Creek Pictures. Centering on the character Matthew Scudder, A Walk Among the Tombstones sees the alcoholic ex-cop investigating the kidnapping of a heroin drug lord’s wife. If Caruso’s negotiations go through, it isn’t clear whether Tombstones or the John August-penned adaptation of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher will be his next project.

Deadline reports that Scott Frank (Minority Report) will pen the adaptation which has been rolling around Hollywood for some time now and is expected to take on an “R-rated tone.” A nearly two-decades younger Harrison Ford was once interested in making a turn as the protagonist Matthew Scudder when the pic was set up at Universal. There is no word on who might be interested in starring in the project’s most recent development attempt, but given that Scudder’s character is retired, I’m going to go ahead and say that the 69-year-old Ford should still give it a shot. For more, hit the jump to check out a synopsis for Frank’s book.

I AM NUMBER FOUR Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: June 9th, 2011 at 6:00 am

There are filmmakers without much personal style or perceptible storytelling interests. Not every director is an auteur – nor should directors be harshly judged for simply delivering something that’s just entertaining (entertaining is hard enough) – but director D.J. Caruso (Suburbia, Eagle Eye) is a workman to a fault. That in mind, when you partner him with three writers who have specialized in television, and with the open-ended storytelling that comes from adapting a series of books, you get a non-film like I Am Number Four, featuring non-stars Alex Pettyfer, Teresa Palmer and Dianna Argon. It’s not terrible, but it feels more like a pilot than a movie. My review of the Blu-ray follows after the jump.

D.J. Caruso Doesn’t Understand PREACHER; Drops Names for Major Characters

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 17th, 2011 at 3:37 pm

Throughout the day, movie news sites have been picking up a quote from director D.J. Caruso (I Am Number Four) about various actors he sees for major characters in his adaptation of Preacher.  But this is just Caruso dropping names.  While I’m sure actors have been approaching him, the fact that he wants Chris Pine for Jesse Custer or that Shia LaBeouf wants to play Arseface (and I assume Caruso is joking when he says Alex Pettyfer is interested in The Saint of Killers), those are just empty conversations.  There are no serious negotiations going on and who knows if the scheduling would pan out.  We’re so far away from casting at this point that a director dropping names of famous actors off the top of his head in the middle of an interview shouldn’t be newsworthy.

What is newsworthy is Caruso revealation that he doesn’t understand what makes Preacher work.  Hit the jump for more.

Kevin Durand Exclusive Interview I AM NUMBER FOUR

by Christina Radish    Posted: February 23rd, 2011 at 7:41 am

In the action thriller I Am Number Four, directed by D.J. Caruso and currently in theaters, actor Kevin Durand plays the imposing commander of the Mogadorian army that is in pursuit of the nine Lorien teenagers who have escaped their own planet with their guardians and come to Earth. It is his job to track them down and eradicate them, one by one, wherever they are hiding.

During a recent exclusive phone interview with Collider, Kevin Durand talked about getting offered this unusual role, developing the character into something more multi-dimensional and playful, learning the complicated Mogadorian language, and trying to keep his make-up from melting off during a Florida summer. He also talked about his role opposite Hugh Jackman in the upcoming action drama Real Steel, opening in November. Check out what he had to say after the jump.

D.J. Caruso to Direct PREACHER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 22nd, 2011 at 10:08 am

The screen adaptation of Garth Ennis’ Preacher has been stuck in development hell for years.  The latest incarnation has I Am Number Four helmer D.J. Caruso stepping up to the plate to direct the flick.  /Film first mentioned his name in connection to the film last week, and now Caruso has announced the deal on his Twitter page.  We have independently confirmed that the deal is in the final stages.

Preacher has had a rough road to the screen. Back in 2008, HBO decided to nix an adaptation directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil).  Then Sam Mendes got into the director’s chair with John August set to write the script.  Mendes eventually moved on to do the 23rd James Bond film and it’s unknown whether or not Caruso will use August’s script.  Hit the jump for my thoughts on Caruso getting the gig.

I AM NUMBER FOUR Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 18th, 2011 at 7:42 am

If you wanted to make Twilight but without the personality, you would have a film akin to the cynical cash-grab that is I Am Number Four.  Sure, Twilight‘s personality is creepy and misogynistic, but it’s genuinely offering something to a particular audience even though I find that “thing” (idolization of possessive stalkers) repulsive.  I Am Number Four, on the other hand, is a vapid shell of a presumptuous franchise.  The film never bothers to establish compelling characters or compelling situations.  Every time I Am Number Four could do something interesting or inventive, it scurries away to the most predictable, bland solution it can find.  There’s nothing redeeming about I Am Number Four, from the script, to the action, to the visuals, to the performances, to presumably the craft services.  It rarely even shows the courtesy to be laughably bad.  It simply carries on and on and on and assumes the audience is enraptured in the adventures of dull, attractive teenagers.

Screenwriters Al Gough and Miles Millar Exclusive Interview I AM NUMBER FOUR

by Christina Radish    Posted: February 17th, 2011 at 3:52 pm

The suspense thriller I Am Number Four, adapted from the YA book of the same name, tells the story of nine members of an alien race, each with their own talents and legacy, who are being hunted on Earth by ruthless enemies sent to destroy them, one by one. The next one in line is Number Four, John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), the new kid in a small Ohio town, where he unexpectedly meets his first love, Sarah (Dianna Agron), and a curious teenager named Sam (Callan McAuliffe). As he discovers his powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his destiny, John must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to meet his true potential.

The screenwriting team of Al Gough and Miles Millar were first hired to write the script for I Am Number Four while the manuscript was still in its first draft. In this exclusive interview with Collider, they talked about how they were intrigued by the project from the moment they heard about it, the collaborative process between them and the author, the changes that they needed to make and the things that they wanted to keep the same, and how they left the story open for possible sequels, as it was sold as a four-book series. They also talked about their process of writing together, and how they never like to focus on just one project at a time. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

D.J. Caruso to Direct BEAT THE REAPER; Leonardo DiCaprio to Possibly Star

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 9th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

Director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia) is currently doing the press rounds for his upcoming sci-fi film I Am Number Four, and it looks like he’s already decided what his next project will be. Caruso is set to direct the film adaptation of Josh Bazell’s suspense novel Beat the Reaper for 20th Century Fox. Leonardo DiCaprio acquired the film rights to the novel through his production company Appian Way a couple of years ago. He’s currently set to produce, but The Playlist reports that Caruso and DiCaprio are now trying to figure out if DiCaprio will be available to star in the film as well.

Beat the Reaper tells the story of a former mobster-turned-doctor whose past comes back to haunt him and ends up trying to tie up loose ends. Brian Koppelman and David Levian (Ocean’s Thirteen) wrote the script. Reaper is apparently the first in a series of novels, so this could be the first in a franchise of films for Caruso and possibly DiCaprio if he signs on to star. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of the book.

6 Movie Clips from DreamWorks’ I AM NUMBER FOUR

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 29th, 2011 at 4:41 pm

In addition to the hi-res images it released yesterday, DreamWorks is taking its promotional efforts up a notch with the release of six new movie clips from its upcoming sci-fi/action film I Am Number Four.  Starring Alex Pettyfer, Dianna Agron, Timothy Olyphant, and Teresa Palmer, the film tells the story of a teen named John (Pettyfer) whose mysterious abilities make him a target for death.  To check out all of our previous coverage of I Am Number Four, click here.

Hit the jump to check out the clips.  Directed by D.J. Caruso, I Am Number Four hits theaters on February 18th.

Callan McAuliffe Interview I AM NUMBER FOUR

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 17th, 2011 at 7:03 am

If you’ve been reading Collider over the last year, you know we’ve been covering director D.J. Caruso’s I Am Number Four since the project was still being put together.  Starring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Kevin Durand, and Callan McAuliffe, the suspense-thriller centers on nine aliens who escaped the destruction of their planet and landed on Earth, but are now on the run from those who destroyed their home world.  Alex Pettyfer plays number four and he’s the next one being targeted for death.  While the first teaser trailer showed you with some cool images, the full trailer does a great job at explaining the story and introducing us to the characters and their special powers.

Anyway, DreamWorks recently held a long lead press day and I got to participate in a roundtable interview with McAuliffe. In the film, he plays a close friend of Pettyfer.  During the interview he talked about his character, how almost everyone cast in the film has an accent, how he got into acting, his last movie Flipped, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to read or listen to what he had to say.  I Am Number Four gets released February 18.

Alex Pettyfer and Director D.J. Caruso Interview I AM NUMBER FOUR

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: December 28th, 2010 at 3:50 pm

If you’ve been reading Collider over the last year, you know we’ve been covering director D.J. Caruso’s I Am Number Four since the project was still being put together.  Starring Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Kevin Durand, and Callan McAuliffe, the suspense-thriller centers on nine aliens who escaped the destruction of their planet and landed on Earth, but are now on the run from those who destroyed their home world.  Alex Pettyfer plays number four and he’s the next one being targeted for death.  While the first teaser trailer showed you with some cool images, the full trailer does a great job at explaining the story and introducing us to the characters and their special powers.

Anyway, DreamWorks recently held a long lead press day and I got to participate in a roundtable interview with Pettyfer and Caruso.  During the interview they talked about filming in Pittsburgh, the differences between the book and the movie, the casting process, filming with big special effects, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to read or listen to what they had to say:

New Extended Trailer for I AM NUMBER FOUR

by Jason Barr    Posted: December 22nd, 2010 at 11:21 am

An extended trailer for D.J. Caruso’s sci-fi/action film I Am Number Four has hit the interwebs.  Starring Timothy Olyphant, Alex Pettyfer, Dianna Agron, and Teresa Palmer, the film tells the story of “Number Four” (Pettyfer) an alien who landed on Earth only to be pursued by the people responsible for the destruction of his own planet.  While this extended look doesn’t provide a ton of new footage, it does give us a better glimpse at “Number Four’s” pre-existing life (prior to being hunted down by Earth ruffians, that is).

To check out the extended trailer for yourself, hit the jump.  I Am Number Four hits theaters on February 18th, 2011.  Also, in case you missed it before, click here to check out Steve’s edit bay visit with director D.J. Caruso.

I AM NUMBER FOUR Edit Bay Visit; Steve Watches 20 Minutes of Footage and Also Interviews Director D.J. Caruso

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: December 8th, 2010 at 3:14 pm

With director D.J. Caruso’s I Am Number Four almost finished, DreamWorks invited a few online reporters to visit the editing room to check out about twenty minutes of footage and also talk with Caruso.  Since we’ve been covering the movie since its inception, you know the film stars Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Kevin Durand, and Callan McAuliffe and the plot centers on nine aliens who escaped the destruction of their planet and landed on Earth, but are now on the run from those who destroyed their home world.  Alex Pettyfer plays number four and he’s the next one being targeted for death.  While the first teaser trailer showed you with some cool images, the just released full trailer does a great job explaining the story and introducing us to the characters and their special powers.

Anyway, in the editing room Caruso showed us the opening ten minutes, a few scenes towards the middle, and then he showed us some of the awesome action in the 3rd act.  Hit the jump for a more detailed description including an interview with Caruso:

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