Eli Roth

Edgar Ramirez Set as Lead in Richard Kelly’s CORPUS CHRISTI; Robert Rodriguez and Eli Roth Will Produce

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 9th, 2012 at 3:01 pm

Carlos star Edgar Ramirez was on the shortlist of possible replacements for Benicio Del Toro when the actor dropped out of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel, but the role ultimately went to Benedict Cumberbatch. Now the much buzzed-about star has landed the lead in the next effort from Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly. Variety reports that Ramirez will star in Kelly’s Corpus Christi, a thriller set in 2014 that finds the actor playing an Iraqi war veteran with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. The character forges a dangerous alliance with a wealthy industrialist in Texas. The film is said to be a departure for Kelly as it has a more traditional narrative than his past features.

Eli Roth and Robert Rodriguez are producing the pic, which will start shooting on location in Austin this July. Kelly followed-up the well received Donnie Darko with the confusing Southland Tales, which of course was followed by the disappointing sci-fi thriller The Box. While I’m dismayed that we haven’t seen anything from Kelly that matches up to the wonder and darkness of Darko, I’m intrigued to see him take on a more straightforward story. Ramirez is currently filming Kathryn Bigelow’s action drama Zero Dark Thirty which centers on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, and he’ll next be seen in the sequel Wrath of the Titans as Ares.

Kaare Andrews to Direct CABIN FEVER: PATIENT ZERO

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 14th, 2012 at 7:08 pm

One of the two Cabin Fever prequels is almost ready to shoot, as director Kaare Andrews (Altitude) is in final talks to helm the project. The first prequel, Cabin Fever: Patient Zero will trace the roots of the deadly virus witnessed in the 2002 original directed by Eli Roth. The plot will follow passengers aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean as they deal with an outbreak of the virus following a collision with an abandoned research vessel. Andrews will direct from a screenplay by Jake Wade Wall (The Hitcher) and filming will take place in the Dominican Republic. Hit the jump for more.

New Images from ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, SAFE, AFTERSHOCK, CASA DE MI PADRE, BYZANTIUM, THE CROODS and THE LORDS OF SALEM

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 13th, 2012 at 8:03 pm

We’ve got a bunch of new images for you from the following projects:

• Safe, starring Jason Statham, opens April 27th.
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, starring Benjamin Walker, opens June 22nd.
• Casa de mi Padre, starring Will Ferrell, opens March 16th.
• Aftershock, starring Eli Roth, opens next year.
• Byzantium, starring Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton, opens later this year.
• The Lords of Salem, from writer/director Rob Zombie, opens later this year.
• The Croods, starring Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone and Nicolas Cage, opens March 22nd of 2013.

Hit the jump to check them out.

THE LAST EXORCISM Sequel Gets Director, Start Date, and R-rating; Star Ashley Bell to Return

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 21st, 2012 at 1:51 pm

As the beginning of January saw the box office smash, and subsequent fall, of the found-footage exorcism pic The Devil Inside, the sequel to another film in the “found-footage exorcism movie” genre is moving full speed ahead. We first heard movement on the follow-up to 2010’s The Last Exorcism last August, but now the sequel has a director, star, and new rating. Ed Gass-Donnelly (This Beautiful City) will direct the untitled sequel, which begins production next month in New Orleans, and instead of sticking with the original’s PG-13 rating, the sequel will be going R. Hit the jump for story details, and to find out what’s behind the rating switch.

Netflix Finalizing a Deal for 13-Episode Horror Series HEMLOCK GROVE from Eli Roth

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 2:06 pm

With Netflix taking on original programming through their streaming service for the anticipated return of Arrested Development and a new series from David Fincher and Kevin Spacey called House of Cards, the DVD mailing and online streaming outlet is really making a stride to compete with cable television providers. Their most recent effort comes in the form of a horror series as Deadline reports Netflix is currently negotiating with Gaumont International Television for a 13-episode horror series called Hemlock Grove backed by Hostel mastermind Eli Roth. The series is based on an upcoming horror novel of the same name by Brian McGreevy the series is said to be set against the backdrop of our darkest myths, adolescent deceptions, ravenous relationships and rumors of a werewolf lurking about and aims to reimagine everything it means to be a monster as reflected in the struggle to be human. More after the jump.

Exclusive: Producer Brian Oliver Talks THE WOMAN IN BLACK and Eli Roth’s Upcoming Films CLOWN and THE AFTERSHOCK Which Start Production in 2012

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 5th, 2011 at 10:57 am

All eyes were on Daniel Radcliffe wondering what kind of project he would choose for his first post-Harry Potter role as the franchise came to an end. It was a bit of a surprise for some, then, when Radcliffe signed onto the Gothic horror pic The Woman in Black. The story centers on a young lawyer who encounters a seemingly haunted town marred by countless accidents and suicides. Steve recently got the chance to speak with producer Brian Oliver (President of Cross Creek Pictures) about his upcoming political drama The Ides of March, and Oliver talked a bit about the horror film as well as a couple of upcoming Eli Roth projects. He spoke about how they settled on Daniel Radcliffe as the star of Woman in Black, almost making the film in 3D, and revealed that he’s readying two films for Eli Roth: The Aftershock and Clown. Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

Richard Kelly to Direct CORPUS CHRISTI; Casting Announcement Expected by End of March

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 16th, 2011 at 7:32 pm

It’s evident in Richard Kelly’s work that he’s one of the best idea men in the business.  But he’s struggled to capitalize on the backdoor success of Donnie Darko: audiences were understandably baffled by Southland Tales, and notoriously slapped the more mainstream The Box with a grade “F” CinemaScore.  The admittedly uneven film didn’t deserve that “F,” but it’s gotta be hard to rebound from such a negative reaction.

Yet, the resilient Kelly is busy setting up his next film, a Texas-set thriller titled Corpus Christi.  The story revolves around the strange friendship between a mentally unstable Iraq war veteran and his boss, the wealthy owner of a supermarket chain with political ambitions.  Variety suggests a more traditional narrative, but the publication seems to be responding to the lack of overt sci-fi.  With a mentally unstable lead character, I expect some grade “A” Kelly weirdness.

Kelly will produce with Darko Entertainment partner Sean McKittrick and Eli Roth.  They have begun the casting process, with an announcement expected by the end of March.  Corpus Christi is set to begin filming on location in July.

Eli Roth to Produce CLOWN and AFTERSHOCK

by Ramses Flores    Posted: November 17th, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Eli Roth has signed on to produce two horror projects for Cross Creek Pictures and Vertebra Films.  The first project is Clown, the story of “a loving father who dons a clown outfit and make-up to perform at his son’s sixth birthday, only to later discover the costume — red nose and wig included — will not come off.”  A fake trailer for the film made the rounds around the internet a couple of weeks ago, and included Eli Roth’s name in its faux credits.  The trailer got Roth’s attention: “I was blown away when I saw that Clown trailer.  Everyone thought it was real, or that I had at least made a fake trailer.  I called the guys right away and their first response was ‘Thank you for not suing us!’  I said ‘Sue you?  Let’s make this into a real film!’ ” Jon Watts will direct from a script he will co-write with Christopher D. Ford.

The second project is Aftershock, a high-octane horror-thriller set during the aftermath of the February 27, 2010 Chilean earthquake.  Roth will co-write the film with Nicolás López and Guillermo Amoedo; López is set to direct.  Hit the jump to read the full press release and to see the “trailer” for Clown.

Eli Roth and Eric Newman Reunite for PSYCHO KILLER

by Ashley Melonson    Posted: November 2nd, 2010 at 7:57 pm

Eli Roth and Eric Newman teamed up as the creators of this August’s The Last Exorcism, and are getting together once again to produce the suspense thriller Psycho Thriller. Gavin Polone (producer of Zombieland) is set to direct, while Andrew Kevin Walker (Seven) penned the script. If you’re interested from those names and the title of the film alone, wait until you hear the plot… after the jump.

Russell Crowe to Star in RZA’s Kung Fu Flick THE MAN WITH THE IRON FIST

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 14th, 2010 at 12:26 pm

Russell Crowe has signed on to star opposite RZA in the kung fu film The Man with the Iron Fist.  Speaking to E! Online, RZA (who co-wrote the script and will also direct) wouldn’t talk about Crowe’s role in the film other than to say, “Russell’s gonna be the baddest man alive.  That man is in fighting shape. That man will knock you out.”  RZA, who will play “a weapons-making village blacksmith in feudal China”, added “It’s nerve-wracking.  [Crowe's] a master of the craft. I’m quite sure that I may learn something from him.”  Filming is set to begin in December in Shanghai.  Eli Roth is a co-producer and co-writer on the movie.

RZA and Crowe previously worked together in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster and even recorded a song together, but the film’s producers decided not to use it on the soundtrack.  The two are also co-starring in Paul Haggis’ thriller The Next Three Days, which opens on November 19th.

Spike TV Announces Nominees for SCREAM 2010

by Jason Barr    Posted: September 1st, 2010 at 9:18 pm

The nominees for Spike TV’s “Scream 2010” have been announced and Christopher Nolan’s Inception leads all films with fourteen nominations.  While there are certainly more prestigious awards that films (especially Inception) would like to be honored with, the award show always looks like a good time from my couch and I imagine it’s nice to be recognized for your work regardless of the outlet.  Moreover, while fans may vote for the winners, the nominees themselves are chosen by an advisory board made up of industry professionals including: Tim Burton, John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Neil Gaiman, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, and Joss Whedon.  In short, it’s not like the kind people at Spike are calling me up asking for my opinion on who deserves a “Scream” nod (Note: I am available just in case though).

Officially, the “Scream Awards” honor “the best in sci-fi, fantasy, comics, and horror” and will air on Spike on October 19^th.  In addition, they are responsible for one of the few times a year that I feel compelled to watch Spike TV (I’ll admit to occasionally indulging in an episode or five of Pros vs. Joes).  To check out the press release which includes a full list of this year’s nominees, hit the jump.

Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, The Weinsteins, Eli Roth, and More to Roast Quentin Tarantino

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 26th, 2010 at 9:51 pm

You may believe that, by the time we’re celebrating the career of David Hasselhoff, the celebrity roast is a dying art form.  And you’d be right.  But the Friars Club does its best to maintain the tradition of the gin-soaked roasts of the Dean Martin era.  Case in point: the club has announced a roast centered on Quentin Tarantino, with Samuel L. Jackson serving as “Roastmaster.”  Such former Tarantino collaborators as Uma Thurman, Pam Grier, Michael Madsen, Eli Roth, Rosario Dawso, and Harvey Weinstein(!) will  be on hand to poke fun at the idiosyncratic director.  Sounds like it’ll be loads of fun, and I can only hope that some internet-friendly videographer is on hand to capture it.  Hit the jump for the official press release.

Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell Interview THE LAST EXORCISM

by Christina Radish    Posted: August 26th, 2010 at 8:45 am

In the documentary-style horror thriller The Last Exorcism, the Reverend Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) expects to perform another routine exorcism, which he admits to being smoke and mirrors, when he arrives at the rural Louisiana farm of Louis Sweetzer with a film crew in tow. Living there with his two children, the earnest fundamentalist has contacted the preacher in an attempt to save his teenage daughter Nell (Ashley Bell), who he is convinced is possessed by a demon. However, things quickly become more bizarre than Cotton ever could have imagined, and it soon becomes clear that nothing could have prepared him for the true evil he encounters there.

Promoting the film at the press day, co-stars Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell talked about what drew them to this project, what it was like to study real exorcisms in preparation for the film and their own personal beliefs about demons. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Eli Roth Exclusive Interview THE LAST EXORCISM; Plus Updates on FUNHOUSE 3D, MAN WITH THE IRON FIST, ENDANGERED SPECIES, More

by Christina Radish    Posted: August 25th, 2010 at 10:14 am

In talking to filmmaker Eli Roth, one thing becomes immediately clear, he is equally passionate and knowledge about his chosen career path, which presumably accounts for his huge success in the film industry.

As the man behind Cabin Fever and Hostel (along with its sequel Hostel II), he proved that you can make films with a modest budget and no major stars that audiences will love. Now the producer of the documentary-style thriller The Last Exorcism, which he is bringing to the big screen with German filmmaker Daniel Stamm at the helm, he is focusing much more on psychological horror than gore, which is no less effective in its creepiness factor.

While promoting the film at the press day, Eli Roth talked to Collider about what drew him to this script, why he sees film as the perfect outlet to release your life’s fears and his desire to make a 3D feature. He also gave us updates on Man with the Iron First (which he expects to go into production in the Fall), The Other Woman (which he’s producing), Endangered Species (which he plans to direct) and a remake of Funhouse (which he plans to do in 3D). Check out what he had to say after the jump:

THE LAST EXORCISM Review

by Bill Graham    Posted: August 24th, 2010 at 1:00 pm

Despite every bad trend that lies in waiting for The Last Exorcism to fall into, director Daniel Stamm deftly provides the route for this “found-footage” horror to excel and give us a lean and thrilling character study with scary results. Certain rules simply do not exist as a subtle but involving musical score accompanies the story of a reverend that is out to disprove exorcisms by unwittingly taking on a final challenge that puts everything in doubt. The film is all the more remarkable for the sparse special effects and the PG-13 rating that defies the odds with crafty camerawork. For those not seeking the blood bath often associated with horror these days and willing to put up with a genuine storyline being established in the first third, you will be rewarded with a horror flick that makes you think more than it will make you jump.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design