Frankenstein

Danny Boyle’s Stage Adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller Heads to U.S. Theaters This Summer

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 2:07 pm

Director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) made waves last year when he returned to the stage and helmed a stage adaptation of Frankenstein at the Royal National Theater in London.  Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Jonny Lee Miller (Dark Shadows) traded off playing Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, and both shared an Olivier Award for Best Actor.  I was incredibly jealous of those that got to witness the production live, but now THR reports that Fathom Evens will be presenting a taped recording of the show in hundreds of theaters across the U.S. on June 6 and 7.  One night Cumberbatch’s performance as the monster will be shown, while another night we’ll see the actors swap roles.

This is fantastic news for fans of Cumberbatch, Miller, and Boyle and I’ll most definitely be grabbing a ticket.  Cumberbatch is currently filming J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel and will be seen later this year in The Hobbit.  Miller stars in Tim Burton‘s Dark Shadows and recently landed his own Sherlock Holmes role in the CBS pilot Elementary. [Update: We've added a stellar trailer for the stage production after the jump.]

Shawn Levy Talks Carlton Cuse/Hugh Jackman Project, HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS, DEADLIEST WARRIOR, HENCHMAN, INTERNS, and NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 22nd, 2012 at 1:30 pm

We’ve been bringing you a multitude of updates from director/producer Shawn Levy regarding his upcoming projects over the past few days, and today we’ve got some fascinating info on a couple more films in development.  Steve recently sat down for an extended interview with Levy in which he talked about a Real Steel sequel, Frankenstein, Fantastic Voyage and Interns, The Ten Best Days of My Life starring Amy Adams and Home Movies, the animated re-imagining Kong, The Devil You Know and Fancy Nancy, and yesterday we brought you what he had to say about Table 19, Kodachrome, and Mr. Men.

Today we’re sharing what Levy had to say regarding his untitled Hugh Jackman project that’s being written by Lost co-showrunner Carlton Cuse, an adaptation of How to Talk to Girls, Henchman starring Bill Hader, a Deadliest Warrior movie, Neighborhood Watch, and Levy reveals what’s likely to be his next directorial project and discusses the difficulty of getting Frankenstein and Fantastic Voyage into the production stage. Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

Exclusive: Shawn Levy Talks INTERNS, FANTASTIC VOYAGE & FRANKENSTEIN; Says INTERNS Might Shoot This Summer

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 14th, 2012 at 5:36 pm

Coming off the success of Date Night and Real Steel, director Shawn Levy has a number of high-profile projects on his plate. He’s been attached to a 3D remake of Fantastic Voyage for quite a while, with James Cameron onboard as producer, and he’s set to take on a new iteration of Frankenstein. While Levy became involved in both of these projects last year, we haven’t heard much about their status as of late. Steve recently got the chance to sit down for an exclusive interview with Levy regarding the Best Visual Effects Oscar nomination for Real Steel, and the director talked quite a bit about what he has coming up. Yesterday we ran the portion of the conversation where Levy discussed the visual effects in Real Steel and the status of the Real Steel sequel, and today we’ve got updates on a few more of his upcoming projects.

Levy revealed that he’ll be using motion-capture SimulCam for the monsters (plural) in Frankenstein, and he also talked about how they’re tweaking the development status of the film in response to the competition project I, Frankenstein starring Aaron Eckhart. In addition, Levy talked about his ambitious practical effects approach to Fantastic Voyage, and revealed that he may actually film the comedy Interns with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson this summer. Hit the jump for much more.

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson Reunite for INTERNS; Shawn Levy Directing from a Script by Vaughn

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 7th, 2012 at 7:38 pm

Wedding Crashers buddies Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are set to reunite for Interns, with Shawn Levy (Real Steel) directing.  As a producer, Levy is currently in post-production on the Vaughn-led comedy Neighborhood Watch.  Levy was hoping to make Frankenstein next, but Vulture hears that he’ll have to cut the $80 million budget before Fox is willing to consider the project.  Vaughn is in a similar position since The Inane Laws is reportedly having trouble getting off the ground over at Universal.  (The rumor mill whispers that Vaughn is still demanding a Wedding Crashers-era paycheck in the wake of The Dilemma.)  The serendipity led Vaughn and Levy back to Fox to pitch Interns, a comedy that Vaughn wrote about fortysomething friends who get laid off: “Convinced they’ve gone about managing their careers entirely wrong, they resolve to become interns at a Google-like dotcom and start anew.”  Hijinks ensue when Vaughn and Wilson compete against “wily, fresh-faced 22-year-olds” to advance in the company.

Vaughn and Wilson have shown interest in re-teaming, but 2 Guns somehow transformed from a Vaughn/Wilson vehicle to an actioner starring Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington.  Interns sounds like a suitable replacement, with a fruitful premise for their style as a comedy duo.

Lynne Ramsay Talks WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, the Patti Smith Biopic, Adapting FRANKENSTEIN & Her Sci-Fi Take On DAS BOOT Meets MOBY DICK In Outer Space

by Ron Messer    Posted: January 15th, 2012 at 10:22 am

We Need To Talk About Kevin has been gathering acclaim since its debut at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.  Lynne Ramsay‘s first film since her 2002 critical hit Morvern Callar, paints a claustrophobic nightmare for the mother of an evil son whose committed unspeakable acts.

The film begins a gradual, national rollout this weekend in New York as its star, Tilda Swinton is a Best Actress nominee (Motion Picture-Drama), across the country, at Sunday’s Golden Globes in Beverly Hills.  Ramsay’s also seen her share of glory for Kevin, including a Best Director win at the British Independent Film Awards (England’s equivalent of the Indie Spirits).  The writer/director made time for Collider during a hectic press tour.  Hit the jump for the transcription and audio of her interview about Kevin, including lots of exclusive details on why she probably won’t give Patti Smith‘s autobiography a big screen treatment, other biopics of rock icons she’s turned down and what she really thought of Peter Jackson‘s King Kong. Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Universal Pictures to Celebrate Centennial with Restorations of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, FRANKENSTEIN, JAWS, DRACULA, and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 10th, 2012 at 7:21 am

Universal Pictures has been around for 100 years and to celebrate their 10-carat diamond anniversary, the studio has big plans for 2012.  The most exciting aspect of this celebration is the studio’s plan to restore and release 13 of their classic titles including All Quiet on the Western Front, The Birds, Buck Privates, Dracula (1931) , Frankenstein, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Out of Africa, Pillow Talk, Bride of Frankenstein, The Sting, and To Kill a Mockingbird.  To Kill a Mockingbird will be the first out the gate with the release of the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack on January 31st.  The restorations will also be released as a limited edition collector’s set, and near the end of the year we can look forward to Blu-ray releases for Universal’s Classic Monster and Alfred Hitchcock series.  Here’s hoping the restorations are worthy of their movies.

Hit the jump for the full press release, which also includes info on Universal’s planned events and promotions for their centennial celebration.

Director Shawn Levy Talks FANTASTIC VOYAGE, FRANKENSTEIN, and Which Project Will Be His “Spring Movie”

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: September 24th, 2011 at 3:16 pm

Over the past few months, we’ve been reporting on director Shawn Levy’s future projects.  As most of you know, he’s been attached to direct the James Cameron-produced 3D remake of Fantastic Voyage, as well as  a retelling of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, written by Max Landis.  What has been unclear is which project would go first.  So when I spoke to him today at the Real Steel press junket, I asked which was going to be his next project.  He said:

“They’re both possibilities.  I’m meeting with actors regarding both movies right now.  I love them both and I want to make them both, but I don’t know if it’s one two or two one.  But I’d say within a month I will be able to tell you with certainty which will be my spring movie.”

He also admitted the possibility exists that another project could happen instead of these two films.  Hit the jump for more.

Shawn Levy Confirmed to Direct FRANKENSTEIN for 20th Century Fox

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 1st, 2011 at 1:30 pm

Last week, we reported that director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) was in talks to helm 20th Century’s Fox new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  Today, Variety confirms that Levy has gotten the gig and beaten out talented directors like Paul Greengrass and David Yates.  Levy’s film will work from a script by Max Landis (Chronicle) and will compete with the six other Frankenstein films currently in the works at other studios.  I hope that Levy’s adaptation is so full of slapstick and bad jokes that it inadvertently becomes a backdoor Frankenberry movie.

Hit the jump for a recap of the other Frankenstein flicks in development.

Shawn Levy May Direct Fox’s FRANKENSTEIN, Could Be Off FANTASTIC VOYAGE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 24th, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Just the other day, we reported that director Shawn Levy (Date Night) was growing impatient with his James Cameron-produced 3D remake of Fantastic Voyage, threatening to walk away if he couldn’t get an A-list star (specifically Will Smith) to topline. Well now it looks like he may be done with the project after all, as he’s considering taking the reins of Fox’s Frankenstein. Max Landis (Chronicle) wrote the script for the retelling of Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic, and the studio is eager to get production moving in order to beat the other 12,000 Frankenstein projects currently in development. Hit the jump for more, including a rundown of those other iterations of Frankenstein.

NBC Orders Modern-Day FRANKENSTEIN Script from HOUSE Executive Producers

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: August 9th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

There’s not much more to this than the revelation of a new series being in development at NBC, but here we go. THR has word that the network has ordered a script for a new horror series described as a modern-day take on Mary Shelley’s classic tale of Frankenstein. Written by House M.D. executive producers Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner, the series is just one of a couple recent attempts at bringing horror to the small screen again after FX ordered American Horror Story from Glee duo Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. That series has also remained shrouded in mystery, as all good horror should, but it sounds like the genre could be coming back to TV in a big way. I’m not sure a new take on Frankenstein is the most intriguing idea, but I’ll wait until details emerge before passing any real judgment.

The Academy Library to Archive Mondo Posters including New FRANKENSTEIN Poster by Drew Struzan

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 11th, 2011 at 10:47 am

Today is a great day for the fine folks at Mondo.  The company has just sent out a press release announcing that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library will archive Mondo’s growing collection of original film posters.  One of the first Mondo posters to go into the archive will be Drew Struzan’s gorgeous poster for Frankenstein, which is part of Mondo’s Universal Monsters series.  In Struzan’s long career of designing posters, this is his first screenprint.

The Mondo posters will be housed in Herrick’s existing collection of more than 38,000 posters, stored in climate-controlled vaults, and scanned into the library’s online catalog.  Speaking of finding the Mondo posters online, the company has now started up mondoarchive.com where you can check out all of the posters released thus far.  The only way the site could be better is if they told you how fast the poster sold out.  Hit the jump to check out the press release along with the Struzan Frankenstein poster. Details on the sale date, price and edition size will be revealed soon so be sure you’re following @MondoNews for the announcement.

Haley Joel Osment to Star in Frankenstein Retelling WAKE THE DEAD

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 27th, 2011 at 8:02 pm

After an eight year hiatus from the movies, Haley Joel Osment is making a return to acting with three independent projects.  The first two are in post-production, with no release set and truly unfortunate titles: Sassy Pants and Montana Amazon.  The third has a fine title (Wake the Dead) and should have no trouble finding distribution given the marketability.  Variety reports that Osment will play Victor Franklin, a college student who experiments with raising the dead in a present-day retelling of Frankenstein.

Wake the Dead is set up at Slasher Films, a production company launched by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.  Jay Russell (The Water Horse) will direct from a script he co-wrote with James V. Hart (August Rush), based on Steve Niles comic of the same name.  Wake the Dead is one of many upcoming projects based on the Frankenstein tale.  Hit the jump for a recap.

Fox Taps Max Landis to Pen Frankenstein Project

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 at 5:29 pm

20th Century Fox has thrown its hat into the Frankenstein ring, hiring Max Landis (Chronicle) to pen a take on the Mary Shelley 1818 classic. Per Variety, the project is still in its infancy and the studio has yet to even put together a list of front-runners for the director’s chair. Nevertheless, the report claims that Fox is looking to land a big name, citing Paul Greengrass, David Yates, and even Ron Howard (who is apparently interested in every project currently circling Hollywood) as potential candidates for the gig.

Although the plot details surrounding Landis’ untitled take are currently under wraps, soon you may be able to crack the code simply by process of elimination. As of now, there are several Frankenstein projects in development (no surprise, as the classic tale resides in the public domain) including: playwright David Auburn’s The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein, author Kenneth Oppel’s This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, Sony Pictures’ contemporary version, and the take Guillermo del Toro has been working on at Universal. Davis Entertainment will produce Landis’ version with Fox set to distribute.

Playwright David Auburn to Write Adaptation of THE CASEBOOK OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 23rd, 2011 at 3:53 pm

Following in the footsteps of vampires and zombies, it looks like Frankenstein may be Hollywood’s next supernatural obsession. Pulitzer-prize winning playwright David Auburn (Proof) has been tapped to adapt Peter Ackroyd’s novel The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein. The story focuses on a young Frankenstein who spends his days experimenting with corpses. Mary Shelly, who wrote the original novel and created the character, appears as a character in Ackroyd’s book alongside her mother. Deadline reports that RT Features and Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures will produce.

This is one of a number of Frankenstein-centered projects currently in development. Summit acquired the rights to Kenneth Oppel’s upcoming novel This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, Sony is working on a contemporary version of the story, and Guillermo del Toro has been working with Universal on an adaptation for quite some time. Hit the jump to read a synopsis of Ackroyd’s novel.

Naomie Harris Interview THE FIRST GRADER

by Christina Radish    Posted: May 11th, 2011 at 3:00 pm

The biographical drama The First Grader tells the story of Maruge (Oliver Litondo), an old Mau Mau veteran, and the Kenyan teacher who had enough compassion to help make his dream come true. In 2003, when a free education was promised by the Kenyan government to all who could produce a birth certificate, an 84-year-old villager decided that he wanted to educate himself and learn how to read. Once he arrived at a classroom in a small, remote primary school in the bush, he met the school principal and head teacher, Jane Obinchu (Naomie Harris), who was quickly impressed by his tenacity and supported his struggle to gain admission at the school, even though they faced fierce opposition from parents and officials who didn’t want to waste one of the children’s precious spots on an old man. As he worked to overcome memories of living under British colonial rule and the harsh conditions of the British detention camps, the students formed friendships with Maruge and his determination allowed him the chance to learn that he so longed for.

At the film’s press day, actress Naomie Harris talked about meeting the real Jane Obinchu, researching the history of this story, how spending so much time in Kenya inspired her, and what it was like to work with real school children as her co-stars. She also talked about the direction her career has taken, reuniting with 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle to do Frankenstein on the stage (opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, alternating in the lead role), and how she’s hoping to take the summer off. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

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