Lionel Wigram

Guy Ritchie to Produce and Possibly Direct THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 8th, 2011 at 1:57 pm

Warner Bros. looks to have found their point man for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The studio has been searching for a suitable replacement since director Steven Soderbergh left the long-in-development project over budget and casting disagreements, and now Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie has signed on as producer with an eye to direct. Deadline reports that Ritchie and his Sherlock Holmes partner Lionel Wigram have signed on to produce the pic, with the intention of having Ritchie take the helm.

The film is based on the 1960s spy TV series and has a script by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion). There’s no word on whether Ritchie will want a new draft, but one assumes he’d like to tailor the project to his strengths. Production was set to begin this spring, but depending on how drastically Ritchie wants to change the project it may be a while before it goes in front of cameras. As for the lead role, Ritchie has gotten along famously with Robert Downey Jr. on the two Sherlock Holmes pics and the actor would certainly bring a great deal of fun to the role, so I’d be all for the two teaming up again on U.N.C.L.E. At this point though, there’s no new information regarding casting. Hopefully we’ll hear more soon.

TOP 5: SHERLOCK HOLMES Set Visit Coverage, BREAKING DAWN, MIRROR MIRROR Trailer, THE HUNGER GAMES Trailer, Wizarding World of Harry Potter Coverage

by Jason Barr    Posted: November 19th, 2011 at 11:48 am

As I write today, in the back of mind rests more than a handful of permutations for my Black Friday plan of attack. Do I really need a new 42 inch HDTV? How about various seasons of television on DVD/Blu-ray for rock bottom prices? What about one of those sweet Dyson vacuum cleaners with the roller ball? The answer to all of the above is most likely a resounding “no”, but need isn’t what Black Friday is all about. Not even close. Black Friday is all about getting something/anything on the cheap if for no other reason than because if you don’t, then the person behind you in line will. Oh, America. How I love thee.

In this week’s “Top 5″ installment you’ll find our set visit coverage for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, our review and interviews for a little movie you may have heard about called The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, the first trailer for director Tarsem Singh’s Snow White-tale Mirror Mirror, a new trailer for Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games adaptation, and Steve’s coverage from his visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando. Hit the jump for a brief recap and link to each.

Producers Susan Downey and Lionel Wigram On Set Interview SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 10:00 am

As the producers of the Sherlock Holmes movies, Susan Downey and Lionel Wigram (who helped write the first film) deserve a lot of credit for bringing Holmes into the 21st Century and making him appeal to a new generation of moviegoers.  If you’re a movie nerd, you know the challenges of trying to bring classic literary characters to life.  Especially ones that have been done many times before.

Anyway, earlier this year I got to visit the set of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows when the production was filming about forty-five minutes outside of London. While on set, I got to participate in a group interview with Downey and Wigram.  We talked about the new cast members (Stephen Fry, Noomi Rapace and Jared Harris) and why they wanted them, Moriarty’s plan, where and when the sequel takes place, if there were any discussions about 3D, their thoughts on a 3rd Sherlock Holmes, and a lot more.  Hit the jump for more.

Producer Lionel Wigram Acquires Sci-Fi Comic Series RASL

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 11th, 2011 at 5:39 pm

Lionel Wigram, who produced Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes and was an executive producer on the Harry Potter series, has grabbed the rights to Jeff Smith’s sci-fic comic series RASL. The series centers on a former military scientist who becomes an art thief with the ability to go to parallel worlds. Variety reports that Smith, who previously wrote the comic series Bone, will produce the film version of RASL alongside Wigram. No stranger to comics himself, Warner Bros.-based Wigram wrote the comic series that spawned the Sherlock Holmes reboot, and subsequently wrote the screenplay to that film.

Collider Goes to the Set of SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS; Read a Preview Here

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: February 22nd, 2011 at 10:00 am

Moriarty (Jared Harris) is sitting at a table inside the Hotel De La Ville in Paris surrounded by people.  He’s reading a newspaper inside the cafe.  After a few seconds, someone walks in to tell him something.  While I can’t hear what they’re saying, the news must be important, as he gets up after hearing it.  As he rises out of the chair, the focus of the shot pulls to an old man sitting at a table in the foreground of the frame.  The man is unremarkable.  He wears a suit of no importance.  He has a long grey beard and long grey hair.  I didn’t notice him until the camera pulled focus.  As Moriarty leaves the room and the man jumps out of his chair, I realize it’s Sherlock Holmes in disguise.

But let me back up a second.

Last month, on the day the Sundance Film Festival started, I got to visit the set of Sherlock Holmes 2 (now called Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) when the production was filming 45 miles outside London at Waddesdon Manor.  While the filming that day was supposed to be taking place in Paris, director Guy Ritchie was using the manor as a stand-in for the city.  The manor was built to look like a French Renaissance-style château, and standing inside the breathtaking building, I understood why they’d want to film there.  Read more about  my visit to the set of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows after the jump.

BOURNE Director Paul Greengrass Won’t Take a FANTASTIC VOYAGE, But May Visit TREASURE ISLAND

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 19th, 2010 at 8:26 pm

Apparently the talk that Bourne Ultimatum director Paul Greengrass was ready to board James Cameron’s production of Fantastic Voyage was a bit premature.  Greengrass was in talks to direct the remake of the 1966 film about a group of shrunken scientists who explored the human body, and is in fact the only director to have seen Shane Salerno’s script, but a deal was never finalized.  Even though there were questions about how Greengrass’s shaky-cam style would suit the sci-fi tentpole, it was an interesting combination of auteur and concept, so it’s too bad things didn’t work out.  It coulda been one of the good ones (whatever that means).

It appears Greengrass may have left the high profile project for greener pastures, though, as he is in talks to direct an upcoming adaptation of Treasure Island from Sherlock Holmes producer Lionel Wigram.  Details after the jump:

Warner Brothers Seeks the Map to TREASURE ISLAND

by David Corbin    Posted: April 20th, 2010 at 7:01 am

Warner Bros. is joining the latest Hollywood craze.  Hot on the heels of the blockbuster success of Sherlock Holmes, Warner Bros. has begun developing a new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. In the same fashion as Gladiator, X-Men and The Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes has become a trendsetter and now Hollywood execs are convinced that modern, kinetic adaptations of 19^th century novels are the way to go. Warner Bros. is producing in conjunction with Lionel Wigram, who was also the man behind Sherlock Holmes.  More after the jump:

Zach Snyder’s Animated Film GUARDIANS OF GA’HOOLE Now Titled LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS

by Bill Graham    Posted: March 1st, 2010 at 5:23 pm

Zach Snyder’s (Watchmen, 300) first animated film was plagued by a title that would have likely had people scratching their heads when it hits theaters on Sept. 24.  So, in the name of mass consumption, Warner Bros. has switched from Guardians of Ga’Hoole to just simply Legend of the Guardians, according to Heat Vision.  I am all for helping audiences pronounce your film, but did they nearly neuter the film by overdoing it a bit?

Despite that concern, the film, based on a book series about owls (I know, let me explain) by Kathryn Lasky, is shaping up nicely, with a voice cast including Hellen Mirren, Hugo Weaving, Abbie Cornish, Geoffrey Rush, Emilie de Ravin, and Sam Neill. According to IMDb, the film revolves around this interesting plotline:

Soren, a young barn owl, is kidnapped by owls of St. Aggie’s, ostensibly an orphanage, where owlets are brainwashed into becoming soldiers. He and his new friends escape to the island of Ga’Hoole, to assist its noble, wise owls who fight the army being created by the wicked rulers of St. Aggie’s.

Sounds cool, doesn’t it.  Hit the jump for the official synopsis from Warner Bros.:

The Success of SHERLOCK HOLMES Ensures Audiences Will Take Another Trip to TREASURE ISLAND

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 15th, 2010 at 6:54 pm

Amidst all the Avatar hoopla, Guy Ritchie’s fresh take on Sherlock Holmes has quietly tallied more than $460 million worldwide: hence, the sequel.  But it looks like Hollywood is looking to expand the influence outside the franchise.  Last week, we reported that Sherlock producer Lionel Wigram wants to update The Three Musketeers in a similar manner and today, Empire informs us that Ecosse Films is looking to make a Treasure Island for the new generation, influenced by the irreverent, non-traditional style of Sherlock.  Details after the jump.

SHERLOCK HOLMES Producer Lionel Wigram Raises His Sword to THE THREE MUSKETEERS

by Bill Graham    Posted: February 11th, 2010 at 9:38 pm

Producer Lionel Wigram looks to breathe new life into Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale The Three Musketeers, just as he did with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, according to Variety. Wigram, who oversaw the first three Harry Potter films at Warner Bros. as a creative executive, will naturally set the film up at WB. Wigram co-wrote and produced Guy Ritchie’s Holmes, and added key elements like Holmes’ skills in hand to hand combat, according to Variety.

For more on the possibility of a franchise and who Wigram has tabbed to sexy up the 17^th century tale, hit the jump.

SHERLOCK HOMES DVD and Blu-ray Info and Cover Art

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 29th, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Warner Home Video has just announced director Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes will be hitting DVD and Blu-ray on March 30.  While James Cameron’s Avatar has dominated the box office and news the past two months, Sherlock Holmes has quietly made almost $400 million at the worldwide box office and it’s still making money.  For a movie that cost around $100 million to make, Holmes is one of the big success stories of 2009.  That’s probably why the studio is moving forward with a sequel as I type these words.

Hit the jump to check out the cover art and the info we were provided about the DVD and Blu-ray:

37 High Resolution Images from SHERLOCK HOLMES. Plus Steve Says the Film is Great

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: December 11th, 2009 at 9:38 am

While Warner Bros. released the final batch of images from Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes yesterday, due to being in London covering the Avatar premiere last night, I’m a bit late posting them.  But while I may be a bit behind, I have another reason for posting the images today…I wanted to say what I thought about Sherlock Holmes as I saw the film and loved it.  While I was nervous about Robert Downey Jr.’s accent, I couldn’t have been more wrong.  Not only does he sound the part, he’s absolutely kick started the Holmes franchise and I would be shocked if they aren’t making a sequel as soon as possible.

Also, even though I love to nitpick movies, this is one of the rare films that I walked out completely satisfied.  Great script. Fantastic performances from everyone involved.  Amazing chemistry between Jude Law and Downey Jr.. A third act that doesn’t suck.  Action scenes that sell why Sherlock Holmes is Sherlock Holmes.  But more than anything, the film is just a lot of fun.  Trust me, this movie is going to be huge and people are going to love it.

But enough of my ramblings, check out all the new high resolution images from Sherlock Holmes after the jump.

New SHERLOCK HOLMES Trailer

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 4th, 2009 at 11:03 am

A new trailer for Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” has been released and it looks fantastic.  If you weren’t excited after watching the first trailer all those months ago, this trailer is going to get you.  It’s loaded with new footage and it really showcases the action.  Also, we get to see some great bromance between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

The only thing I’m still nervous about is Downey’s accent.  While it’s not terrible, there is something about it that isn’t working for me. I’m just hoping when I finally see the movie his accent isn’t a distraction.  Check out the trailer after the jump and tell me this doesn’t look like a fun ride.  “Sherlock Holmes” gets released Christmas Day.

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