Michael Bay

Michael Bay to Produce Treasure Island Prequel BLACK SAILS for Starz

by Matt Currie    Posted: May 3rd, 2012 at 2:45 pm

With the Spartacus series continuing to anchor its original programming, Starz has ordered another blood-and-boobs historical epic to series in the form of the Michael Bay-produced Black Sails. Set to film in South Africa, the tentatively titled show is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate tale Treasure Island. It will take place 20 years before the events of the novel, following Captain Flint (the deceased pirate who literally put the treasure in Treasure Island) and a young Long John Silver as they buckle swash in defense of “notorious criminal haven” New Providence Island. Hit the jump for more, including a full press release.

Ehren Kruger Returns to Write TRANSFORMERS 4; Shia LaBeouf Definitely Out

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 26th, 2012 at 7:13 am

If you were hoping the script for Transformer 4 would be better than the previous movies, it’s time to let that hope go.  THR reports that Ehren Kruger, who co-wrote Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and took sole credit on Transformers: Dark of the Moon, will once again be breaking out his cocktail napkins for Michael Bay‘s reboot of the series.  Paramount Pictures’ President of Production Adam Goodman also confirmed that Shia LaBeouf will definitely not return for the franchise’s next installment.

Hit the jump for a recap on what we know about Transformers 4, and click here for Goodman’s updates on other Paramount projects.  Transformers 4 is slated for June 29, 2014.

Dwayne Johnson Talks G.I. JOE: RETALIATION, Michael Bay’s PAIN AND GAIN, FAST SIX (Which is Filming in London) and HERCULES

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 24th, 2012 at 12:07 am

With director Jon M. Chu‘s G.I. Joe: Retaliation opening June 29, Paramount has been amping up the promotional campaign this past week by debuting a ton of character posters and a great looking trailer.  As a fan of the first film, I’ll admit the sequel looks even better and it’s rocking a great cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Adrianne Palicki, Channing Tatum, Walton Goggins, Ray Park, Byung-hun Lee, Elodie Yung, RZA, Ray Stevenson, and D.J. Cotrona.

Earlier today at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, I got to sit down with Dwayne Johnson for an extended interview.  We talked about how he was approached to play Roadblock, the tone of the film, how he collaborated with director Jon M. Chu before production began, his thoughts on the brand new trailer and the sizzle reel I saw last night (here’s my recap), and more.  In addition, with Johnson currently filming Michael Bay‘s Pain and Gain, we talked about the crazy story it’s based on, the style Bay is going for, and he also said that after he wraps, he’ll start shooting Fast Six in London and Berlin and then he heads to New Zealand for director Brett Ratner’s Hercules.  Hit the jump to either watch or read what he had to say.

Ken Jeong to Join Michael Bay’s PAIN AND GAIN

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: April 5th, 2012 at 6:43 pm

After starring in Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Ken Jeong will be reuniting with the director for his upcoming true crime drama, Pain and Gain.  You might be most familiar with Jeong from his role as Mr. Chow in The Hangover or as Señor Chang in NBC’s Community.  In Bay’s last film, he played a character named Jerry Wang. THR reports that Jeong will be keeping with the naming theme as he will be playing Johnny Wu; few other details are available for his character at the moment.  Pain and Gain, a long-gestating passion project for Bay, tells the story of the Sun Gym gang, a group of Miami bodybuilders whose extortion scheme went terribly awry.  Since the film just began shooting recently in Miami, we posted some new images of stars Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg. A dark comedy, Pain and Gain also stars Ed Harris, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shaloub, Rebel Wilson, and Bar Paly.  Look for it to hit screens sometime next year.

First Images of Dwayne Johnson on the Set of Michael Bay’s PAIN AND GAIN

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 5th, 2012 at 11:48 am

Production is currently underway on Michael Bay’s (relatively) small dark comedy Pain and Gain, and just the other day we got our first look at Rob Corddry and Mark Wahlberg on the set.  Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson star in the Fargo-esque true story of two bodybuilders who got caught up in an extorition ring and kidnapping scheme that went terribly wrong.  We got a glimpse of Wahlberg doing some harness-enhanced wall sit-ups in the first batch of set photos, but today we get a great look at Wahlberg and Johnson together.  We already know that the two have proven comedic chops, so I’m eager to see how they play off of each other.  If the goofy costumes are any indication, we may be in for a really fun ride.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The film also stars Ed Harris, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shaloub, Rebel Wilson, and Bar Paly.

Evan Peters and Juno Temple Join TRUCK STOP; Michael Bay’s PAIN AND GAIN Adds Rebel Wilson

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: March 28th, 2012 at 3:59 pm

Here are some recent casting additions at a glance:

• Evan Peters (American Horror Story) and Juno Temple (Atonement) are set to join Truck Stop, the 1970s era coming-of-age drama that will be the directorial debut of Tony Aloupis (Sugar).
• Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids) will join Pain and Gain, the Michael Bay-directorial passion project based on the true-crime drama surrounding a group of bodybuilders whose extortion and kidnapping scheme takes a disastrous turn.

Hit the jump for more details on both projects.

Michael Bay Confirms Live-Action TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Movie Will Be Called “NINJA TURTLES” and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 27th, 2012 at 7:34 am

Last week, producer Michael Bay and director Jonathan Liebesman had to wade through the overblown reaction to making the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the upcoming live-action movie originate from an “alien race” even though that’s where the infamous ooze comes from in the original comics.  Then a new spat came about from the rumor that the live-action film would simply be called “Ninja Turtles“.  On his official website, Bay has confirmed the new title, and Paramount dropped the “teenage” and the “mutant” for simplicity (read: marketing).  He also added that “The characters you all remember are exactly the same, and yes they still act like teenagers.”

I don’t mind the title change.  However, it does seem like they’re moving away from making the characters teenagers.  It looks like the Turtles will be adults who “act like teenagers.”  You know, like the adults who are losing their shit over a title change.  Hit the jump for Bay’s full quote.  Ninja Turtles is set to open on December 25, 2013.

THE HUNGER GAMES Posters as Directed by Michael Bay, Woody Allen, Christopher Nolan, Federico Fellini and More

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: March 24th, 2012 at 11:30 am

It’s obvious that Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) was the right man for the director’s chair as The Hunger Games is off to a roaring start at the box office. But what would the film have looked like if it were helmed by a different director? Michael Bay, Brett Ratner and Roger Corman would certainly have emphasized the sex appeal and violence. Garry Marshall and Nancy Meyers would probably focus on the romantic side.  How would Terrence Malick, Federico Fellini and Werner Herzog have approached the source material? What about Christopher Nolan or Woody Allen? Thanks to these alternate reality movie posters for The Hunger Games, we can get a glimpse of what might have been. Hit the jump to check them out.

TOP 5: THE HUNGER GAMES Interviews, Michael Bay Turns TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES into Aliens, Teaser Trailer and Poster for COSMOPOLIS, New PROMETHEUS Trailer, WonderCon 2012 Coverage

by Jason Barr    Posted: March 24th, 2012 at 11:14 am

In this week’s opening paragraph I want to use a few lines to encourage reader feedback. The “Top 5″ weekly feature has been up and running since May of 2011 and has undergone very few presentation and/or aesthetic changes along the way. Because I’m thrilled when you, the reader, chooses to spend a few weekend minutes with me, I want to make sure that I’m consistently delivering something you look forward to checking out. That said, I invite any and all “Top 5″ feedback be e-mailed to me directly at colliderjason@gmail.com. Don’t worry, constructive criticism isn’t required. We could all use a good “you suck because you suck” sentiment to keep us honest every now and then.

Awaiting you in this week’s “Top 5″ is a slew of interviews for The Hunger Games, a recap of Michael Bay‘s campaign to turn Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into aliens so as to make them more believable (yes, you read that right), a NSFW international teaser trailer for David Cronenberg‘s Cosmopolis, a sparkling new Prometheus trailer, and all of our WonderCon 2012 coverage. In case you don’t know the drill, I’ll remind you that a brief recap and link to each follows after the jump.

Michael Bay Responds to Fan Outrage over “Alien Race” TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 20th, 2012 at 8:24 am

Yesterday, some people found a new reason to dislike Michael Bay when he revealed that the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be “from an alien race.”  Even though I liked TMNT as a kid, I wasn’t outraged as much as I was confused.  If they’re aliens, then where does the “mutant” part come in? (Matt Patches pointed out on Twitter that aliens could have been the ones to do the mutating as opposed to the ooze from the TV series and 90s movies)  I was also confused by Bay’s comment that because of the change from mutants to aliens, “kids are going to believe, one day, that these turtles actually do exist when we are done with this movie.”  I didn’t see the value in making kids believe the turtles are non-fictional characters.

But other fans were greatly upset over the change, and to those fans, Bay has a message: “Chill.”  Hit the jump for more.  The live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie will be directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles) and written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol).  The movie is slated to open on December 25, 2013.

Michael Bay Says the Turtles in New TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Movie Will Be Aliens, Not Mutants

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 19th, 2012 at 7:57 am

My beloved franchise when I was a kid was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I was a little too late for Thundercats and too early for Power Rangers, and for this I am grateful.  In retrospect, TMNT is just as goofy, but the turtles still have a place in my heart.  Keeping this in mind, I’m trying not to get too upset over producer Michael Bay‘s recent revelation that the turtles in the upcoming live-action movie will be aliens, not mutants.  Hit the jump for what Bay had to say about the change along with my thoughts about it.

[Note that this project is separate from the new animated TV series that's airing on Nickelodeon in the fall.  The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is due out on December 25, 2013.]

Tony Plana Joins Michael Bay’s PAIN AND GAIN, Kelsey Chow Leads Indie Thriller RUN and C. Thomas Howell Joins the Indie Crime Drama MAGIC HOUR

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: March 12th, 2012 at 6:51 pm

Here is today’s casting call round-up. Check out the new additions at a glance below:

• Tony Plana (Ugly Betty) is the latest to join director Michael Bay’s low-budget passion project, Pain and Gain.
• Disney XD’s Pair of Kings star, Kelsey Chow, has landed the female lead in the indie thriller, Run.
• C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders) has joined the indie crime drama, Magic Hour.

Hit the jump for more details on each project.

Universal Puts OUIJA Back on Track with PARANORMAL ACTIVITY Producer for 2013 Release

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 5th, 2012 at 11:59 am

Almost two years ago, a bevy of board games were targeted for big-screen adaptations. Stretch Armstrong, Monopoly, Candy Land, Clue, etc. have all been in the development line towards big-screen adaptations, but recently (and on the heels of the release of Battleship) movement on the aforementioned projects has slowed. McG was set to direct an adaptation of the supernatural game Ouija, but Universal decided to pass on the project back in August. Hasbro continued to develop Ouija, and after numerous rewrites, the studio has now changed its mind and is now moving forward with a completely retooled version of Ouija for a targeted 2013 release.

Compared to McG’s previous $100 million Ouija, Deadline reports that this new version will be produced by Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum for a budget close to $5 million. Blum has made a name for himself with low budget/high profit films like the Paranormal Activity series and Insidious, and now it appears Universal plans to take that approach with Ouija. Hit the jump for more.

Supermodel Bar Paly and Tony Shaloub Cast in Michael Bay’s PAIN AND GAIN

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 28th, 2012 at 7:28 pm

It must be tough being Michael Bay. He gets to play with life-sized Transformers, blow stuff up all day and hang out with Victoria’s Secret supermodels. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Bay has cast Israeli supermodel Bar Paly (The Ruins) in his upcoming project, Pain and Gain. The director’s passion project will also feature non-supermodel, Tony Shaloub (Monk). The film’s premise is taken from the true life tale of bodybuilders, played by Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson, who got caught up in an extortion scheme that goes south, turning to kidnapping and murder. The film also stars Anthony Mackie, Rob Corddry and Ed Harris. Hit the jump for more on Paly and Shaloub’s characters.

John Turturro Circles PAIN AND GAIN, Adrianne Palicki Goes to COFFEE TOWN and Nonso Anozie Joins ENDER’S GAME

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: February 17th, 2012 at 6:24 pm

In between rebooting his own series with Transformers 4 and producing a live-action reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Michael Bay has finally managed to find some time for his passion project, Pain and Gain. John Turturro, a familiar face to the Transformers franchise, is reportedly circling a role. The dark comedy is based on the true story of two Miami bodybuilders who get caught up in an extortion scam and a kidnapping gone awry.

Other casting news reports that Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights) will join Glenn Howerton (Always Sunny in Philadelphia) for the R-rated CollegeHumor picture, Coffee Town. Production is set to begin next week in Los Angeles. Finally, the most recent addition to the superb Ender’s Game cast is The Grey’s Nonso Anozie. Hit the jump for details on each project.

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