Drew Goddard

Drew Goddard Talks THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, the CLOVERFIELD Sequel, ALIAS, BUFFY, LOST, Spielberg’s ROBOPOCALYPSE, THE AVENGERS and More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 16th, 2012 at 6:07 pm

As I’ve said again and again,  Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon‘s The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily one of my favorite films this year.  While many of you might love the horror genre, I find it repetitive and stale.  It seems like the genre is stuck in neutral, and no one is making any progress forward.  But that all changed after I saw Cabin in the Woods.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head, and I loved every second of it.  For more on the film, here’s Matt’s glowing review and interviews with Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford as well as Anna Hutchison, Jesse Williams & Kristen Connolly.

Right before this year’s SXSW, I sat down with co-writer and director Drew Goddard for an extended video interview. Since we both didn’t want to spoil any of the twists and turns of the movie, our conversation is spoiler free.  During the wide ranging conversation we talked about making The Cabin in the Woods, the status of the Cloverfield sequel, Alias, Buffy, Angel, Lost, (he was a writer on all four series) Steven Spielberg‘s Robopocalypse (which he’s writing), his reaction to seeing The Avengers, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Fran Kranz Talks THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, DEATH OF A SALESMAN and More

by Christina Radish    Posted: April 10th, 2012 at 8:26 pm

The Cabin in the Woods, from Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon – and opening (quite appropriately) in theaters on Friday, April 13^th – is a great horror film that is just so much fun to watch.  It’s creative, imaginative and hysterically funny, all while turning horror on its head and challenging anything that follows.  So as not to ruin any aspect of the film, I will just include the official synopsis which says: “Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods.  Bad things happen.”  And, do they ever!

During this recent phone interview with Collider, actor Fran Kranz (Dollhouse), who plays a pot smoking guy named Marty in the film, talked about what a big classic horror fan he is, his unusual auditioning process for the role (that included reading a monologue about his friend having gotten his head chopped off by The Clickety Clack Man), how he thought it was one of the best scripts he’s ever read, that the finished film is pretty much exactly what he originally read, how there could be some amazing bonus features on the DVD because of all the behind-the-scenes footage that was shot, and how he hopes people will love the film as much as he clearly loved getting to be a part of it.  He also talked about he got to be a part of the backyard production of Much Ado About Nothing that Joss Whedon shot at his house, what a fun and relaxed experience it was, and how he’s looking forward to seeing it, along with what it’s like to be a part of the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield, among other notables.  Check out what he had to say after the jump.

Joss Whedon and Director Drew Goddard Talk CABIN IN THE WOODS, SXSW, Deleted Scenes, and More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 9th, 2012 at 4:33 pm

I want to make this very clear: Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard‘s The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily one of my favorite films this year.  While many of you might love the horror genre, I find it repetitive and stale.  It seems like the genre is stuck in neutral, and no one is making any progress forward.  But that all changed after I saw Cabin in the Woods.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head, and I loved every second of it.  Trust me when I say: Stop watching the trailers.  Don’t watch any TV spots.  Do not read the reviews.  Just go see the film on opening day next week (and then read Matt’s glowing review).  I promise, it’s worth the price of admission, and after you see it, you’ll want to see it again.

At this year’s SXSW, I got to talk with the cast and filmmakers for both our partners at Omelete and Collider.  Over the next week, I’ll be posting a new interview each day.  Today’s is Joss Whedon and Director Drew Goddard.  During the interview we talked about premiering the film at SXSW, their writing process, deleted scenes, and more.  Hit the jump to watch.

Reader Reactions from Collider’s THE CABIN IN THE WOODS Screening

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 6th, 2012 at 10:14 am

I want to make this very clear: Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard‘s The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen, and it’s easily one of my favorite films this year.  While many of you might love the horror genre, I find it repetitive and stale.  It seems like the genre is stuck in neutral, and no one is making any progress forward.  But that all changed after I saw Cabin in the Woods.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head, and I loved every second of it.  Trust me when I say: Stop watching the trailers.  Don’t watch any TV spots.  Do not read the reviews.  Just go see the film on opening day next week (and then read Matt’s glowing review).  I promise, it’s worth the price of admission, and after you see it, you’ll want to see it again.

Last week, Collider held a free screening of the film in Boston, and I spoke with a number of people after the screening to get their reactions.   Hit the jump to watch what they had to say.

New Images from CABIN IN THE WOODS

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: March 28th, 2012 at 5:01 pm

Before Joss Whedon’s The Avengers hits theaters this summer, fans can get a look at his written effort in the horror/thriller, Cabin in the Woods. We’ve brought you some previous images as well as screened the entire movie for a select audience along with stars Kristen Connolly and Fran Kranz. Now, we’ve got a few new images for you to check out along with a trailer from Cabin in the Woods. The plot follows five friends who rent a cabin in the woods, but find more than they bargained for. Directed by Drew Goddard, Cabin in the Woods also stars Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford and opens April 13th. Hit the jump to check out the new images, along with the synopsis and trailer.

First Clip from THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 23rd, 2012 at 7:47 am

Director Drew Goddard and co-writer Joss Whedon‘s The Cabin in the Woods is a masterful take down of the supernatural horror genre, and that about all I can say since some people believe the “twist” is half of the film’s appeal.  I would argue that it’s the hook, and since it’s revealed in the first scene of the movie, it’s not much of a spoiler.  Nevertheless, I won’t reveal it here, and if you’re curious about it and how it functions in the film, you can click here to read my review.

The first clip has gone online and doesn’t reveal “the spoiler”, so I’d say the coast is clear.  It also shows how Fran Kranz is the movie’s scene stealer.  Hit the jump to check out the clip.  The film also stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins.  The Cabin in the Woods opens April 13th.  Boston readers: click here for a chance to attend an advance screening.

SXSW 2012: THE CABIN IN THE WOODS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 10th, 2012 at 12:22 am

The Cabin in the Woods is one of the sharpest satires of the horror genre ever made.  Great satire can only come from intelligent, witty, and devious minds.  Director Drew Goddard and his co-writer Joss Whedon have those minds.  They have dissected not just the “cabin in the woods” sub-genre, but the entire horror genre, and most importantly, our enjoyment of it.  Rather than just point out the tired clichés we all know, Goddard and Whedon use the deconstruction as a starting point rather than a dull summation.   It is an exciting, exhilarating, and bloody means to a thoughtful, rewarding, and bloody end.

New Images from Drew Goddard’s THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 9th, 2012 at 12:54 pm

The lucky bastards at SXSW in Austin will be treated to Drew Goddard’s much buzzed-about horror film The Cabin in the Woods this evening, and while the rest of us will have to seethe with jealousy from afar, a couple new images from the pic have been released to tide us over. Written by Goddard and Joss Whedon, the film tells the story of five friends who go to a remote cabin in the woods where bad things happen. Though the logline is simple, it’s evident from the trailer that this isn’t exactly the most straightforward of horror films. I’ve been told that the movie is excellent, with enough twists and turns to make your head spin. Goddard and Whedon apparently tackle the horror genre head-on, and I can’t wait to finally be privy to the results. For now, these very creepy images will have to do. Be sure to check back on Collider late tonight or tomorrow to read our own Matt Goldberg’s review of the film from the festival.

Hit the jump to check out the images. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins. The Cabin in the Woods opens on April 13th.

Drew Goddard Gives His Reaction to Joss Whedon’s THE AVENGERS; Says “As a Life-Long Avengers Fan I Couldn’t be Happier”

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: March 8th, 2012 at 9:33 am

With Disney and Marvel’s Avengers movie less than two months from release, it’s no surprise that the studio and Joss Whedon have been screening the film for selected folks.  The fact is, every movie gets screened early; it’s how a director learns what needs additional photography and what scenes need to be tightened up or removed.  Usually a director will show his first cut to a selected group of friends, and the group will give honest notes about what needs work.  Then, down the road, the movie will be shown to preview audiences, studio execs, and tons of other people involved in the marketing of the film.  This happens on every single movie unless you’re David Fincher or Steven Spielberg and want to keep everything under wraps.

Anyway, over the past few weeks I’ve spoken to a few people that have seen The Avengers, and I’ve also overheard a few people talking about it when they didn’t realize I was listening (sorry, I was).  The consensus seems to be it’s a fantastic film and the best Marvel movie thus far, which is awesome to hear.  When I sat down the other day with writer-director Drew Goddard for Cabin in the Woods (which Joss Whedon co-wrote) I asked if he had seen an early cut of The Avengers.  He has.  More after the jump.

Drew Goddard Gives Update on CLOVERFIELD Sequel

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 6th, 2012 at 4:30 pm

Talk of a Cloverfield sequel has been around for quite some time now. Fans were eager to see more of the found footage monster pic after its 2008 release, and producer J.J. Abrams, director Matt Reeves, and screenwriter Drew Goddard have been plagued with Cloverfield sequel questions for the past three and a half years. All involved stressed that it was more important to have a story worth telling than to rush straight into production on a follow-up, and major movement on the sequel has yet to happen.

Steve sat down with Goddard earlier today to talk about his upcoming directorial debut The Cabin in the Woods (co-written by Joss Whedon), and the scribe gave an update on the status of the sequel and why it hasn’t come to fruition sooner. Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

New Trailer for THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 6th, 2012 at 11:13 am

A new trailer for the horror film The Cabin in the Woods has gone online. Directed by Drew Goddard and written by Goddard and Joss Whedon, the film takes the horror genre and turns it on its head as five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods where bad things start happening. The logline is simple, but the buzz on this film is incredibly positive. I’ve been told that the movie’s twists and turns are best left as surprises, so I’m pretty in the dark about what exactly happens in this cabin in the woods. Needless to say, I’m incredibly excited to go into the film relatively cold. This trailer is much more along the lines of your typical horror film that the first trailer, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. The big sell for movie fans is the involvement of Whedon and Goddard, but this trailer should appeal to the average moviegoer who’s up for two hours of good ol’ fashioned horror fun.

Hit the jump to check out the new trailer. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins. The film opens on April 13th, but our own Matt Goldberg will have a review from the film’s premiere at SXSW this Friday.

First Trailer for Joss Whedon’s THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (Now with Forcefields)

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 11:11 am

Producer Joss Whedon and director/co-writer Drew Goddard have been coy about how The Cabin in the Woods turns the eponymous horror sub-genre on its head.  The first trailer for the movie has gone online and now we can see what they meant.  The Cabin in the Woods genre usually revolves around something supernatural with only a mystical explanation as a vague guide.  Judging by the trailer, it looks like Whedon and Goddard have thrown together the scientific in the supernatural.  It was an approach Whedon took in the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but instead of Frankenstein, Cabin looks something more along the lines of Hostel where hapless tourists are subjected to the sadistic whims of a shadowy organization.  That organization also has forcefields.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kanz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins.  The Cabin in the Woods opens April 13, 2012.

New Teaser Poster for THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 1st, 2011 at 2:40 pm

In April, Drew Goddard‘s The Cabin in the Woods finally found distribution.  The movie was set to be released by MGM, but then the studio had a financial meltdown and the horror film (co-written by Joss Whedon) became trapped in limbo.  Nothing is known about the film other than the vague synopsis, which claims the horror flick will turn the Cabin-in-the-Woods sub-genre inside-out.  Judging by this new teaser poster, that description may be literal.  It’s an eye-catching image, but I prefer the taglines from the 2009 series of teaser posters.

Hit the jump to check out the poster.  The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kanz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins.  The Cabin in the Woods opens April 13, 2012. [Update: We've been sent the high resolution version of the poster, which is now included after the jump.]

DreamWorks and Fox Join Forces for Steven Spielberg’s ROBOPOCALYPSE [Updated with July 3, 2013 Release Date]

by Jason Barr    Posted: September 7th, 2011 at 11:40 am

It’s been a while since we’ve heard much regarding Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the Daniel H. Wilson novel Robopocalypse. Almost a year ago, we reported that the director would make the pic his next film after War Horse (due out this December 28th). However, it now looks as if his historical drama Lincoln starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt will take on that role with a potential December 2012 release in sight. All of that no news stuff ends today, though, as reports are filing in that DreamWorks and Fox will co-finance Robopocalypse with the former distributing the film domestically and the latter internationally (news that should be welcomed by those hoping to see the film follow Lincoln).

Cloverfield‘s Drew Goddard has penned the script for Robopocalypse based upon the aforementioned Wilson novel which hit bookshelves this June. For those unfamiliar, the book is set in the near future and tells the story of an artificial intelligence named Archos who assumes the persona of an innocent boy and takes over control of the global network, turning our own technology against us. For a little more on the project, hit the jump to read a full synopsis of Wilson’s novel.

[Update: THR reports that Robopocalypse will hit theaters on July 3rd, 2013.]

First Image from Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon’s THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 6th, 2011 at 9:05 am

After sitting on the shelf for two years due to MGM’s financial difficulties, director Drew Goddard and co-writer Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods finally found a distributor in Lionsgate this past April.  The first image from the film has finally gone online and shockingly it shows people in a cabin (cabin may or may not be in the woods).  Details on the plot have remained scarce since the project was first announced but Goddard and Whedon have indicated that the film will be their spin on the “Cabin in the Woods” horror sub-genre.

Hit the jump to check out the image.  The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kanz, Jesse Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Jenkins.  No release date has been announced but there are rumors Lionsgate could open it in the fall to replace the Saw franchise.

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