Coming off his directorial debut on last year’s brilliant horror film The Cabin in the Woods, it appears that Drew Goddard has settled on a follow-up directorial project. Goddard will write and direct The Martian for 20th Century Fox, which is based on the e-book by Andy Weir.  The story centers on an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars and must figure out how to survive long enough to return home.  The premise is not dissimilar from Alfonso Cuaron’s long-in-the-works Gravity, which opens later this year, but Goddard showed tremendous promise as a filmmaker with Cabin so he’ll no doubt deliver something interesting with The Martian.  Hit the jump for more.

Lincoln director Steven Spielberg is poised to have a big day tomorrow when the 85th Academy Awards are announced, but it appears that the filmmaker has decided to put the brakes on his next project.  Spielberg has decided to indefinitely postpone his big budget sci-fi adaptation of Robopocalypse, which was to have starred Chris Hemsworth in the lead role.  Production was set to get underway this spring, but apparently Spielberg decided the project wasn’t ready and is now going “back to the drawing board to see what is possible.”  The filmmaker isn’t dropping out of the pic entirely, he just didn’t want to rush such an expensive film.  Hit the jump for more details.

We’re continuing on with our weeklong preview of the upcoming 85th Academy Awards, and after running down both acting categories it’s time to take look at some of the other races.  Today we’ll be looking at the Best Animated Feature, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Screenplay categories in depth, and I’ll also make some way-too-early quick picks in the technical categories.  The fun begins after the jump.

One of my favorite movies of 2012 is director/co-writer Drew Goddard and producer/co-writer Joss Whedon‘s The Cabin in the Woods.  In fact, it’s also one of the best “horror” movies I’ve ever seen.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the film turns “horror” on its head, and I loved every second of it.  Make every effort to see this film!

Shortly after winning the Filmmakers Showcase Award at this year’s Saturn Awards, I was able to speak with Goddard backstage.  We talked about the success of Cabin in the Woods, whether it has led to a lot more meetings, his love of Daredevil (specifically Frank Miller‘s run), if he’s interested in writing a superhero property, and he reveals that he’s currently writing his next screenplay.  In addition, with Goddard supposedly re-writing the end of the Brad Pitt-fronted zombie pic World War Z, I asked how he got involved in the project and what exactly he’s been working on for the production.  Hit the jump for more.

In the long line of complications accompanying the adaptation of the Max Brooks’ novel, World War Z, yet another writer has come on to hash out the script.  Damon Lindelof was previously reported to be working on the ending of the troubled picture starring Brad Pitt, but it’s now being reported that his Lost co-writer, Drew Goddard, actually did the majority of the writing.  Lindelof apparently dreamed up the possible ending of the film but ran out of time to do the actual scripting.  That chore fell to Goddard, who recently co-wrote Cabin in the Woods with Joss Whedon and also scripted the Robopocalypse adaptation for Steven Spielberg. Hit the jump for more on the fate of World War Z.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.