Oblivion

Universal Wins CinemaCon By Premiering Footage from 9 Movies Including LES MISERABLES, SAVAGES, THIS IS 40, TED, R.I.P.D., OBLIVION, BOURNE LEGACY, More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 27th, 2012 at 10:20 am

While Universal Pictures skipped CinemaCon/ShoWest the past couple of years, they more than made up for it with the best presentation of 2012.   While all the studios have great-looking movies arriving in 2012 and 2013, I wanted to see every single movie Universal talked about at CinemaCon  In addition, not only did they bring in the movie stars and directors, they world premiered footage from nine movies including Les Miserables, Ted, Savages, This is 40, R.I.P.D., Oblivion, The Bourne Legacy, Snow White and the Huntsman, and 47 Ronin.  In addition, they made sure to remind attendees that while filming hasn’t started on Fast and Furious 6 (the working title), it’s arriving next May, and Despicable Me 2 opens in July.  For what I thought about all the movies plus a complete video blog recap, hit the jump.

Melissa Leo Joins Tom Cruise in Sci-Fi Film OBLIVION

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 23rd, 2012 at 12:47 pm

Oscar winner Melissa Leo is going sci-fi. Deadline reports that The Fighter actress has signed on to join the cast of Joseph Kosinski’s (Tron: Legacy) sci-fi pic Oblivion. Tom Cruise stars as a veteran soldier who’s banished to the surface of a post-apocalyptic Earth and tasked with repairing ships that hunt down the aliens who destroyed our planet. When a mysterious woman (Andrea Riseborough) crash-lands nearby, their encounter sets off an eye-opening chain of events. Deadline’s report doesn’t mention what role Leo will play, but she joins an impressive cast that also includes Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, and Game of Thrones star Nickolaj Coster-Waldau.

Leo recently wrapped a role in Robert Zemeckis’ return to live-action, Flight. The drama stars Denzel Washington as an alcoholic and drug-addicted pilot who rises to fame after flying a damaged plane to safety. The actress is currently shooting the third and penultimate season of HBO’s Treme in New Orleans, which is also where filming on Oblivion just got underway. The sci-fi pic is slated to open on April 26th, 2013.

Universal Moves Sci-Fi Film OBLIVION Starring Tom Cruise Up to April 26, 2013

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 15th, 2012 at 4:48 pm

Director Joseph Kosinski’s (Tron: Legacy) sci-fi pic Oblivion will be arriving a few months earlier next year. Deadline reports that Universal has shifted the Tom Cruise-fronted Oblivion up to April 26th, 2013 from a previous release date of July 10th. There are currently no other film slated for that April weekend, but The Evil Dead remake opens a couple weeks earlier. No reason is given for the release date shift, but another Cruise film, One Shot, was recently moved up from early 2013 to December of this year.

In Oblivion, Cruise plays a veteran soldier who’s banished to the surface of a post-apocalyptic Earth and tasked with repairing ships that hunt down the aliens who destroyed our planet. When a mysterious woman (Andrea Riseborough) crash-lands nearby, their encounter sets off an eye-opening chain of events. The cast also includes Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko and Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Production on the film just began in Louisiana.

GAME OF THRONES Star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Joins Tom Cruise in OBLIVION

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 13th, 2012 at 10:41 am

Director Joseph Kosinski’s (Tron: Legacy) upcoming sci-fi flick Oblivion (formerly titled Horizons) recently added Morgan Freeman to its increasingly impressive cast, and now Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is poised to co-star alongside Tom Cruise. Cruise plays a veteran soldier who’s banished to the surface of a post-apocalyptic Earth and tasked with repairing ships that hunt down the aliens who destroyed our planet. When a mysterious woman (Andrea Riseborough) crash-lands nearby, their encounter sets off an eye-opening chain of events. Olga Kurylenko also stars.

Deadline reports that Coster-Waldau will play “Sykes, a battle-hardened, physically imposing, intelligent and extremely athletic military technology and weapons expert.” The actor is best known for playing the sinister Jamie Lannister on HBO’s stellar series Game of Thrones. He’s incredibly effective on the HBO series, and I’m interested to see how he’ll fare as a decidedly less-evil character. He recently wrapped the Guillermo del Toro-produced horror film Mama alongside Jessica Chastain. Production on Oblivion begins in March in Louisiana.

Morgan Freeman Joins Tom Cruise in OBLIVION

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 10:55 am

Morgan Freeman has joined Tom Cruise, Andrea Riseborough, and Olga Kurylenko in Joseph Kosinski’s sci-fi action flick Oblivion (formerly titled Horizons).  Cruise plays a veteran soldier who’s banished to the surface of a post-apocalyptic Earth and tasked with repairing ships that hunt down the aliens who destroyed our planet. When a mysterious woman (Riseborough) crash-lands nearby, their encounter sets off an eye-opening chain of events.  Deadline reports that Freeman’s role is currently unknown, but it’s a “critical part.”  I don’t have those details either, but I’m willing to wager it will be a dignified, intelligent character who is either a mentor and/or a nemesis.  Call it a hunch. [Update: Variety's Jeff Sneider tweets, "Morgan Freeman will play Malcolm Beech, the leader of the human resistance on Earth."]

Freeman will be seen in theaters later this summer reprising his role as Lucius Fox in The Dark Knight Rises.  He’s also co-starring in Louis Leterrier‘s magician heist flick Now You See Me.

Olga Kurylenko and Andrea Riseborough Join Tom Cruise in Untitled Sci-Fi Pic

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 19th, 2012 at 3:54 pm

The female leads in writer/director Joseph Kosinski’s Untitled Tom Cruise Project have changed almost as often as the film’s title (which has previously been referred to as Horizons and Oblivion). Last year we reported that a number of actresses were vying for two lead roles opposite Tom Cruise in the sci-fi pic. Then, it seemed as if Jessica Chastain (The Help) had landed one of them with the other role still being sorted out. Now it seems that Chastain has backed out in order to work on the Kathryn Bigelow picture about the death of Osama Bin Laden. That left the door open for Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), who previously auditioned and relative newcomer to American cinema, Andrea Riseborough (Happy-Go-Lucky) to join Cruise.

The film, whatever its name is, revolves around Cruise who plays a veteran soldier banished to the surface of Earth which has been destroyed by an alien attack. When a mysterious woman crash-lands nearby, their encounter sets off an eye-opening chain of events. Hit the jump for more.

Kate Beckinsale, Diane Kruger, and Hayley Atwell Up for Lead Opposite Tom Cruise in HORIZONS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 26th, 2011 at 1:41 pm

Back in August, we reported that a number of actresses were in the running to star in one of two lead female roles opposite Tom Cruise in Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski’s sci-fi pic Horizons (the project has also been referred to as Oblivion, but every story seems to go back and forth on what the title is). Jessica Chastain eventually won the role, and since “shortlist” and “reading with” stories are all the rage, three actresses are now apparently poised to read for the other lead role with Cruise this weekend: Kate Beckinsale, Diane Kruger, and Captain America’s Hayley Atwell. Hit the jump for more.

Jessica Chastain Lands Opposite Tom Cruise in HORIZONS

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: September 26th, 2011 at 5:40 pm

After an exhaustive search of some of Hollywood’s most gorgeous and talented women, Jessica Chastain (The Help) has won one of two female leads in the writer/director Joseph Kosinski (TRON: Legacy) pic, Horizons.  Formerly known as Oblivion, Horizons features two female leads: a mysterious traveler and the wife of the protagonist.  It’s not yet clear which role Chastain is negotiating for, but it is being reported that one of the above-mentioned actresses may land the remaining lead.

Horizons also stars Tom Cruise as a veteran soldier who gets court-martialed (probably for buzzing the tower) and sent to the surface of the uninhabitable Earth which has been destroyed by an alien race.  At some point, Cruise’s character discovers a woman who crash lands in a pod, which catalyzes his questioning of his lot in life. Hit the jump for more on Horizons.

Jessica Chastain, Olivia Wilde, Noomi Rapace, Brit Marling and Olga Kurylenko Testing Opposite Tom Cruise for OBLIVION, Now Titled HORIZONS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 25th, 2011 at 6:55 pm

Just last week we reported that a shortlist of actresses were set to test opposite Tom Cruise for his action flick One Shot. Now another set of leading ladies are poised to test opposite Cruise for a different project, Joseph Kosinski’s (Tron: Legacy) sci-fi film Horizons. Showblitz reports that Jessica Chastain, Olivia Wilde, Noomi Rapace, Brit Marling and Olga Kurylenko are the thesps vying that will vie the role this Saturday. Additionally, Universal has scrapped the title Oblivion and is now referring to the project by its former working title Horizons for the time being.

The story takes place in an apocalyptic future that finds humans living in clouds above the uninhabitable Earth, and Cruise plays a soldier relegated to staying on the planet to work on drones that seek out and destroy a savage alien life form. Hit the jump for more information on the contending actresses. 

Universal Sets Release Dates for Oliver Stone’s SAVAGES, DESPICABLE ME 2, and OBLIVION Starring Tom Cruise

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 16th, 2011 at 1:55 pm

Universal has announced release dates today for three of its high-profile upcoming properties. First up, Oliver Stone’s Savages is set to hit theaters on September 28^th, 2012 (via Deadline). The film stars Benecio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Emile Hirsch, John Travolta, and Uma Thurman. Based upon the book of the same name, the plot revolves around on two Laguna Beach marijuana kingpins (Kitsch and Johnson) who encounter a world of trouble when their shared girlfriend (Lively) is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel.

In what will undoubtedly be a never-ending franchise Universal has set Despicable Me 2 for a July 3^rd, 2013 release. Though no plot details are known, the original voice cast, including Steve Carell, is expected to return. The studio has also set a July 19^th, 2013 release for Joseph Kosinski’s (Tron: Legacy) sci-fi flick Oblivion. Starring Tom Cruise, the story centers on an ex-soldier left on a deserted Earth following a full-scale war with an alien race.

Tom Cruise Confirmed for Joseph Kosinski’s OBLIVION

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 20th, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Tom Cruise has committed to star in Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski’s sci-fi flick Oblivion (also referred to as Horizons). Kosinski was originally going to make the film at Disney, until the Mouse House decided the PG-13 material didn’t fit with their model and dropped the film. They allowed the director to shop the project around, and it landed at Universal with a budget of $100 million. The script, originally written by William Monahan then rewritten by Karl Gajdusek, is based on an idea hatched by Kosinski himself.

The story takes place in an apocalyptic future where humans have been forced to live in clouds above the uninhabitable Earth below. Deadline reports that Cruise will play a soldier stuck on the planet, working on drones that patrol the surface searching out and destroying a “savage” alien life form. Naturally, he meets a woman who crash-lands and gets him thinking about his larger role in life. Production begins this October. The report also states that Cruise has also been mentioned in connection with Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim. More after the jump.

HORIZONS Likely to Land at Universal with Tom Cruise Attached to Star

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 12th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Director Joseph Kosinski’s (Tron: Legacy) sci-fi actioner Horizons may have found a new home. After being released from Disney over fear of the PG-13 rating and subject matter, Heat Vision reports that Universal is now in negotiations to pick up the picture with Tom Cruise attached to star. The Mouse House felt that Horizons didn’t fit well with their brand, but graciously allowed Kosinski to shop the project around to other studios.

Based on an upcoming graphic novel from Radical Publishing, the story involves a soldier assigned to patrol a desolate planet who meets a mysterious traveler. Kosinski is producing alongside Barry Levine and Jeffrey Silver. Kosinski recently became the highest grossing first time director after Tron: Legacy surpassed the gross of J.J. Abrams’ Mission: Impossible 3. An October production start-date on Horizons is now being eyed.

Disney Drops Joseph Kosinski’s HORIZONS (aka OBLIVION); Project Currently Being Shopped to Other Studios

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 29th, 2011 at 3:18 pm

Disney has decided to let go of the sci-fi project Horizons (also known as Oblivion), which had Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) attached to direct. The Mouse House is allowing the director to shop the project around to other studios. Heat Vision reports that Disney was uncomfortable with the reported $150 million price tag for the flick, but have such a good rapport with Kosinski that they’re letting him take the project around town.

The film has a script from William Monahan (The Departed), but it was recently reported that Karl Gajdusek (Dead Like Me) would be performing a re-write. It’s unknown if that re-write still stands, as the project is now looking for a new home. However, apparently Warner Bros., Fox and Mandate Pictures are all interested in the film, so it won’t be without a studio for long. Tom Cruise is also very interested in the project, so that shouldn’t hurt either. Based on an upcoming graphic novel from Radical Publishing, the re-worked story involves a soldier assigned to patrol a desolate planet who meets a mysterious traveler.

Joseph Kosinski’s OBLIVION Re-Titled HORIZONS; Karl Gajdusek to Re-Write Script

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 16th, 2011 at 2:25 pm

Oblivion, Joseph Kosinski’s follow-up to TRON: Legacy, is getting a new title and a new draft.  Heat Vision reports that the sci-fi action film will now be titled “Horizons“, which makes the movie sound less like the popular Elder Scrolls sequel and more like an out-patient drug rehab facility. In addition to the title change, Karl Gajdusek has been brought in to re-write the script.  When we previously reported on this movie, the plot was based on Radical Publishing’s upcoming graphic novel that was “set on a future Earth, where civilization lives above the clouds and scavengers collect ancient artifacts from the polluted surface below. When one young scavenger finds a crashed spacecraft planetside, it lead him on a journey filled with romance and adventure.”  However, the story now seems to be about “a soldier assigned to patrol a desolate planet who meets a mysterious traveler.”

Oscar-winning screenwriter William Monahan (The Departed) wrote the previous draft, but it’s unknown how much of his story they’ll keep since the story being reported now  sounds drastically different from the original logline.  For those unfamiliar with Gajdusek, he worked on the TV series Dead Like Me and penned the upcoming Joel Schmuacher thriller Trespass starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman.

Director Joseph Kosinski and Producer Sean Bailey Exclusive Video Interview TRON: LEGACY

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: December 13th, 2010 at 9:52 pm

In the summer of 2008, at Comic-Con, Walt Disney Studios stunned attendees by premiering footage from what appeared to be the sequel to Tron.  While a sequel to Tron had been a rumor for many years, this was the first proof that Disney might be serious.

Since that summer, fans have waited patiently for the return of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges).  But with December 17th just a few days away, the world only has to wait a few more nights to see the grid come back to life with 21st century graphics. As a lifelong fan of Tron, trust me when I say, this is a film that needs to be seen in a theater and I really recommend IMAX 3D as the screen fills up during certain scenes on the grid.  Also, the Daft Punk score is amazing and hearing it in a huge theater with the volume turned up…that’s how it’s meant to be seen.

Anyway, I was able to do video interviews with most of the cast, director Joseph Kosinski, and producer Sean Bailey. Every day this week I’ll be posting a new video interview and up first is Kosinski and Bailey.  Hit the jump for our interview:

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