Robert Zemeckis

Paramount Sets Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT for November 2 Release; THE GUILT TRIP Moves to Christmas Day

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 10th, 2012 at 12:29 pm

Paramount has made a welcome release date announcement today.  Director Robert Zemeckis’ (Back to the Future) long-awaited return to live-action, the drama Flight, has been slated for release on November 2nd (per Box Office Mojo).  Zemeckis has been making creepy motion-capture films like The Polar Express and Beowulf for the last decade, but Flight marks his first live-action feature since 2000’s Cast Away.  Denzel Washington stars as an alcoholic and drug-addicted pilot who safely lands a damaged plane and is quickly heralded as a hero, despite having been under the influence during the accident. The fantastic cast includes John Goodman, Melissa Leo, and Don Cheadle.  The film will square off against the R-rated comedy 21 and Over and Disney’s animated feature Wreck-It Ralph on that November date.

In order to put Flight on the 2012 release schedule, Paramount has pushed the family comedy The Guilt Trip (formerly My Mother’s Curse) from October 2nd to a prime Christmas Day slot.  The film centers on a mother/son road-trip and stars Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand.  The coveted December 25th date also includes Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained and Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby.

James Badge Dale Talks SHAME, Director Steve McQueen, Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT, RUBICON, THE LONE RANGER, and a Lot More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 20th, 2012 at 12:32 pm

James Badge Dale is one of those actors that while you know his work, you don’t yet know his name.  However, I think that’s about to change.  Because after starring in HBO’s The Pacific, AMC’s short lived but really well done Rubicon, and as Michael Fassbender’s friend and boss in Steve McQueen‘s Shame, Dale has shown his versatility and range and he’s become one of those actors that I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.  And with his roles in Joe Carnahan‘s The Grey, Robert Zemeckis‘ Flight, Marc Forster‘s World War Z alongside Brad Pitt, and Gore Verbinski‘s The Lone Ranger, it looks like I’m not the only one who is a fan of his work.

Last week I got to sit down with Dale for an extended interview at The Grey junket.  Since I spoke to him on camera for The Grey before this interview, I decided to use this time to ask other questions.  We talked about how he got into acting, does he still have to audition, what making Shame was like (he tells some great behind the scenes stories), Rubicon (for fans of the show he talks about a different final episode that was never shot), how he had to fight to be in Robert Zemeckis’ Flight and what he did to land the role, comments on McQueen’s Twelve Years a Slave, and discusses The Lone Ranger.  He calls it a “big, fun Western” with “a different take on it.”  Hit the jump for more.

Screenwriter Graham Yost Says MAJOR MATT MASON, Starring Tom Hanks, Is a Tale of Moon Survival

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 18th, 2012 at 8:11 am

Tom Hanks may want to seriously consider ever going into space.  His character in Apollo 13 didn’t even make it to the moon, and he and his crew had to defy the odds to make it safely back to Earth.  Last summer, we reported that director Robert Zemeckis was in talks to re-team with Hanks for Major Matt Mason, a 3D film adaptation based on the popular 1960s astronaut action figure.  But it doesn’t sound like things will be any easier for Major Mason.  Screenwriter Graham Yost (FX’s Justified) revealed new details on the upcoming adventure film.

Hit the jump for more.

Robert Zemeckis to Produce Early 20th Century Paranormal Feature CHARLES FORT for Universal

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: October 6th, 2011 at 5:54 pm

The name Charles Fort may not be familiar to many, so perhaps H.P. Lovecraft will ring a few more bells. Some of Lovecraft’s works were influenced by the scientific work of American writer and paranormal researcher Charles Fort in the early 20th century. Now, in an adaptation of the Dark Horse comic Fort: Prophet of the Unexplained, Robert Zemeckis will attempt to bring this relatively unknown character to the screen. Converting the comic will be Evan Spiliotopoulos, who has most recently worked on the script for Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman. If that hasn’t sold you yet, Charles Fort is being billed as a “period Ghostbusters.”

For more on Charles Fort, hit the jump.

Melissa Leo and James Badge Dale in Talks for Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 30th, 2011 at 3:10 pm

Robert Zemeckis continues to fill out the cast for his next live-action feature Flight, and he’s looking to add two more names. Melissa Leo and James Badge Dale are in negotiations to join the drama, which stars Denzel Washington as an alcoholic and drug-addicted pilot who rises to fame after flying a damaged plane to safety. THR reports that Leo will play an investigator who is determined to expose the fact that Washington was under the influence while flying the plane, while Dale will be playing a dying cancer patient. Based on her past performances, Leo will most likely be shrill and incessantly mean. The impressive cast now includes Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, and Brian Geraghty. Production on the alchy pilot movie is set to begin next month in Atlanta.

John Goodman Joins Denzel Washington in Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 28th, 2011 at 8:16 am

Director Robert Zemeckis has added one more name to his growing cast for Flight. John Goodman is the latest actor to board the pic, which will serve as Zemeckis’ first live-action film since 2000’s Cast Away. Denzel Washington stars as an alcoholic and drug-addicted pilot who safely lands a damaged plane and is quickly heralded as a hero. An investigation by the FAA reveals that the pilot was under the influence while flying, but decides to hide the evidence in order to solidify the Washington’s newfound hero status while the substance-troubled pilot tries to get his life together.

Deadline reports that Goodman will be playing “a friend of the pilot who helps him come to terms with his problems.” The actor joins a solid cast that includes Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, Kelly Reilly, and Brian Geraghty. Goodman can next be seen in the Stephen Daldry drama Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and is currently filming Ben Affleck’s Argo. You can also catch the thesp on the small screen as he’s currently in the middle of a stint on NBC’s fantastic comedy Community. Shooting begins on Flight in Atlanta next month.

Brian Geraghty Joins Denzel Washington in Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 26th, 2011 at 1:59 pm

Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker) has joined Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, and Kelly Reilly in Robert Zemeckis’ Flight.  Washington plays “an alcoholic and drug-addicted pilot whose plane engine malfunctions, forcing him to rescue the aircraft and its passengers, becoming a hero in the process. When the FAA investigates and finds evidence of drug abuse, it tries to sweep the evidence to the side to help preserve the image of the captain, who is trying to change the course of his life.”  There’s no word yet on who Cheadle, Greenwood, and Reilly are playing, but THR reports that Geraghty will play “Washington’s co-pilot, a man who finds religion after the crash.”  Flight is set to begin shooting in Atlanta next month.  It will be Zemeckis’ first non-motion-capture movie in over a decade.

Geraghty is briefly in the comedy Ten Year where he participates in a good running joke with Aubrey Plaza who plays his character’s wife.  He also recently wrapped on the thriller ATM with Alice Eve (She’s Out of My League) and Josh Peck (The Wackness).  Geraghty’s also set to co-star in Aubrey Hepburn’s Neck and Refuge with Krysten Ritter, and he’s also signed on for the comedy Gay Dude.

Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood Join Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT; Kelly Reilly Confirmed as Female Lead

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 21st, 2011 at 6:40 pm

Director Robert Zemeckis is filling out the cast for his return to live-action. Denzel Washington is set as the lead in Flight, where he will play an a pilot who is heralded as a hero after safely landing a damaged plane. His newfound hero status comes under scrutiny as an investigation is launched to determine whether or not he was drunk while flying. Now Moviehole reports that Don Cheadle and Bruce Greenwood have joined the cast. No word on what their roles entail. The report also confirms that Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes), who was in negotiations to take on the female lead, is officially onboard as a drug addict who befriends Washington’s character.

Flight will be Zemeckis’ first live action film since 2000’s Cast Away, as he’s been dabbling in motion-capture fare such as The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol for the past 11 years. Filming on the project is set to get underway next month in Atlanta.

Kelly Reilly in Talks for Female Lead in Robert Zemeckis’ FLIGHT; Vanessa Hudgens Joins John Cusack in FROZEN GROUND

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 12th, 2011 at 8:06 am

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this morning. First up, Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes) is in negotiations for the lead female role in Robert Zemeckis’ Flight.  The Polar Express director’s return to live-action following his ten-year stretch of motion-capture movies stars Denzel Washington as an airline pilot who is heralded as a hero after he flies a damaged plane to safety. Washington’s heroic achievement becomes overshadowed by an investigation into whether or not he had been drinking before the flight.

Deadline reports that Reilly was one of three actresses that were shortlisted for the role of Nicole, a drug addict who befriends Washington’s character as each tries to get their demons under control. Olivia Wilde and Dominique McElligott (Moon) were the other two actresses in the running, but Reilly ultimately came away with the part. Flight starts shooting this October. Hit the jump for the casting news of Vanessa Hudgens in the serial killer drama Frozen Ground.

First Official Synopsis for Robert Zemeckis and Denzel Washington’s FLIGHT; Film Begins Shooting in October

by Jason Barr    Posted: September 9th, 2011 at 2:25 pm

 

Back in June, we were pretty sure that the live-action drama Flight was going to be Robert Zemeckis’ next film. We were also confident that Denzel Washington would star. Today, we have confirmation of both courtesy of a press release from Paramount. Per the release, Flight (written by Real Steel‘s John Gatins):

“…tells the redemption story of “Whip” (Washington), a commercial airline pilot who pulls off a heroic feat of flying in a damaged plane, saving 98 lives on a flight carrying 106 people. While the world begs to embrace him as a true American Hero, the everyman struggles with this label as he is forced to hold up to the scrutiny of an investigation that brings into question his behavior the night before the doomed flight.”

Like many, I’m a huge fan of much of Zemeckis’ previous work so I’m always excited for anything he puts his directorial stamp on. Moreover, I’m especially happy to see the filmmaker back in the live-action arena after nearly a decade removed from the format (2000′s Castaway was his last). Per the release, the film is slated to begin shooting in Atlanta this October which means a 2012 release is more than likely in sight. For a little more on Flight, read the full press release after the jump.

Robert Zemeckis Re-Launches ImageMovers at Universal

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 2nd, 2011 at 5:34 pm

Following a rather bitter end to his deal with Disney, Robert Zemeckis has closed a deal to re-launch his Imagemovers company at Universal. The director’s studio was previously set up at Disney, but the Mouse House shut it down and cancelled his motion-capture remake of Yellow Submarine after Mars Needs Moms flopped in theaters. THR reports that this new deal encapsulates two years at Universal and calls on Zemeckis to produce both live-action and motion capture projects.

Additionally, this new deal does not include the construction of new campuses or soundstages for Zemeckis’ motion-capture technology. While it’s nice to see that the director’s company has found a new home, I’m hoping he doesn’t delve back into creepy motion-capture animated films too soon. The technology occupied Zemeckis for the past decade and I’m eager to see some rubber face-free filmmaking from the Back to the Future director. Hit the jump for more on Zemeckis’ upcoming slate of live-action projects.

Robert Zemeckis in Talks to Direct HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 26th, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Now that he’s moved off his motion-capture kick, director Robert Zemeckis is headed back to live-action films.  His next film will be the drama Flight starring Denzel Washington, and Zemeckis has also been in talks to direct the time-travel flicks Timeless and Replay along with a 3D adaptation of the 1966 Mattel action figure Major Matt Mason starring Tom Hanks.  Now Zemeckis is circling yet another picture as The Wrap reports that the Oscar-winning director is in talks to helm Here There Be Monsters.

Brian Hegleland (Robin Hood) wrote the screenplay which imagines that real-life Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones fought sea monsters.  Back in April, we reported that the plot “focuses on a former British naval officer (presumably Jones) who’s hired to investigate the disappearance of a number of merchant ships. Once there, he and his crew encounter a sea serpent (naturally) and must battle the monster in order to get out alive.”  I imagine the script leaves out the parts about Jones’ early career working on slaving ships or how in 1770 he flogged one his sailors to death.  That’s not heroic at all.

Robert Zemeckis in Talks to Direct MAJOR MATT MASON in 3D; Tom Hanks Stars

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 11th, 2011 at 12:15 pm

Tom Hanks initiated development Major Matt Mason, a feature based on the Mattel astronaut action figure, in 2009.  Hanks wrote the screenplay with Graham Yost (who scripted episodes of Hanks-produced miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific) and, as a producer with Playtone partner Gary Goetzman, earmarked the lead role for himself.  For a director, Hanks is turning to the man who directed him to Oscar nominations in Forrest Gump and Cast Away: Robert Zemeckis.

According to THR, Zemeckis is in talks to direct Major Matt Mason in 3D with a tentative budget over $100 million.  We heard recently that Zemeckis’ next project is likely to be Flight, which may shoot as early as the fall.  Post-production could occupy Zemeckis through a good portion of 2012, though Major Matt Mason could get in front of cameras next year when schedules align.

Hit the jump for background on the toy.

Robert Zemeckis’ Next Project Confirmed to Be FLIGHT; Set to Shoot This Fall With Denzel Washington Attached to Star

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: June 4th, 2011 at 5:00 pm

It looks like after a decade wading in motion-capture films, Robert Zemeckis’ next film will be the live-action drama Flight. The Back to the Future director first entered negotiations to helm the flick back in April, but no one was certain which project he would choose as his next. He’s flirted with the time-travel films Replay and Timeless, and there’s always the ever-elusive Who Framed Roger Rabbit? sequel. Now 24 Frames reports that Zemeckis has firmed up Flight as his next project, with Denzel Washington expected to close his deal to star shortly and filming aimed for the fall.

The plot of Flight centers on an alcoholic/drug addicted pilot who saves a flight in distress, becoming an American hero in the process. The newfound fame comes with an investigation by the FAA to see whether drugs played a factor in the distress, while Washington’s character attempts to turn his life around. Hit the jump for more on Flight and Zemeckis’ other non-motion-capture projects in the works.

Robert Zemeckis in Talks to Direct Time-Travel Film REPLAY

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: April 29th, 2011 at 2:56 pm

Could Robert Zemeckis finally be returning to live-action? And with a time-travel film to boot? It appears so, as Vulture reports that the director is in ”serious talks” to helm the adaptation of Ken Grimwood’s novel Replay. The thrilling premise centers on a radio journalist in his forties who dies, but awakes back in 1963 in his 18-year-old body with all of his previous memories intact. The kicker? He always dies in 1988, but returns to 1963 to start the whole 25 years over again with every single memory intact and the ability to make different life choices (spouse, kids, etc.)

This sounds like a fantastic concept, and a return to form for the Back to the Future director. Following the demise of his motion-capture Yellow Submarine remake, Zemeckis has been tooling around with a couple of live-action flicks. Most recently, he entered early negotiations to helm Flight with Denzel Washington. Hit the jump for more on both projects, as well which one Zemeckis might film first, and a synopsis of the novel Replay.

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