Sony

Watch the 4-Minute “Super Preview” for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 14th, 2012 at 8:01 pm

Sony premiered a 4-minute “super preview” for The Amazing Spider-Man tonight during America’s Got Talent.  For those of you wondering, a super preview is about 90 seconds of one extended (and cut-down) action set piece, followed by two-and-a-half minutes of trailer (this trailer, pretty much).  Thankfully, the scene in question is absolutely justifies the super preview treatment.  I love that the sequence, in which the Lizard (played by Rhys Ifans) knocks several cars off a bridge, is uniquely Spider-Man rather than something you could insert into any superhero movie.  Not just in the way Spidey snatches every car from the water below with his web shooters, but also the way Peter Parker (played by the soulful Andrew Garfield) can relate to the young kid he saves thanks to his relative youth among the premier comic book heroes.

Emma Stone, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field also star in The Amazing Spider-Man, directed by Marc Webb for a July 3 release.  Watch the super preview after the jump.

Sony CinemCon 2012 Video Blog Recap Includes World Premiere of SKYFALL Teaser and New Footage from LOOPER, TOTAL RECALL and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 26th, 2012 at 9:35 am

When Sony took the stage at CinemaCon 2012 yesterday afternoon in Las Vegas, they had a short one hour window to show off their various upcoming movies.  As we sat in the darkened theater waiting for the presentation to begin, we debated how could they have the stars and filmmakers talk about their movies and also show off tons of footage.  But rather than follow the typical studio roadmap, Sony decided to just show a non-stop sizzle reel sans movie stars that included the world premiere of Skyfall footage (a teaser trailer) and tons of new footage from all their 2012 films included The Amazing Spider-Man, Total Recall, Looper, Resident Evil: Retribution, Hope Springs, Premium Rush, Hotel Transylvania, Sparkle, That’s My Boy, and Men in Black 3.  More after the jump.

Sony Re-Releasing Sam Raimi’s SPIDER-MAN Trilogy on Blu-ray June 12

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: April 2nd, 2012 at 8:09 pm

Before you check out the purportedly untold story of The Amazing Spider-Man, Sony wants to give you an opportunity to revisit the told story… on Blu-ray!  The studio will re-release Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man trilogy on Blu-ray June 12, just prior to the July 2 release date of the Amazing reboot.  According to Heat Vision, the new set won’t add too much to the previously released Blu-rays for Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3.  But there is the promise of “collectable O-Ring packaging” and a code for a free ticket to The Amazing Spider-Man.  At the very least, the known quality of the trilogy (two-thirds of it, anyway) will serve as a good hedge in case the reboot is only as good as most reboots are.  To get you in the mood, I embedded the Tobey Maguire-narrated trailer for the first movie after the jump.

George Clooney To Write, Direct and Star in MONUMENTS MEN

by Ben Garman    Posted: January 8th, 2012 at 10:42 am

George Clooney has kicked off work on a new project, a big-budget affair set in Europe during World War II. Clooney will be writing, directing and starring in the movie, entitled Monuments Men, which will follow a group of art experts selected by the US Government to locate and retrieve artwork stolen by the Nazis. The film will be based on the Robert M. Edsel book “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History”. Hit the jump for Clooney’s comments, as well as the full synopsis of the book.

Sony Says DRAGON TATTOO Sequel Still Moving Forward

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 2nd, 2012 at 4:11 pm

While director David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is far from a box office bomb, the feature film adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling crime novel hasn’t exactly broken records. The $90 million pic has grossed a little over $60 million domestically since its release on December 20th, but given the widespread popularity of Larsson’s book series many believed the film would be performing better. While Sony has been planning on adapting all three books in Larsson’s Millennium series from the start, Dragon Tattoo’s box office performance had me wondering if their plan would be altered. My question was given an answer today, with the news that Sony is still moving forward with an adaptation of The Girl Who Played with Fire. Hit the jump for more.

ASSASSIN’S CREED Deal Terms May Neutralize the Project

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 3:57 pm

When we reported that Sony Pictures had planned to adapt Assassin’s Creed, we told you that “Ubisoft has set the terms of the deal to be a more active participant in the movie’s development.” Mark that as the understatement of the year, because details have emerged suggesting that Ubisoft now exercises an unheard of amount of control over the project. Says one insider: “As a director, even Steven Spielberg cannot get this kind of deal.”

Sony apparently has granted Ubisoft control over the budget, casting, script and release date, in a deal that sets a dangerous precedent. Though, in the history of video game franchises made into movies, there have been more busts than blockbusters. Perhaps Ubisoft and Sony think this is the answer to the problem. Or perhaps Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot threatened the studio execs with a hidden blade. Hit the jump for more details.

Sony Pictures Acquires BZRK for Sam Raimi; Davis Films Picks Up Teen Fantasy Series HOUSE OF NIGHT

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: November 2nd, 2011 at 3:28 pm

Studios continue the search for the next great teen franchise to fill the void left behind by Harry Potter and Twilight. Today, two novel series have been picked up for film adaptations. BZRK, by author Michael Grant, has been acquired by Sony Pictures as the first of a trilogy for Sam Raimi and Josh Donen at Stars Road. The premise pits a team of guerilla-group teenagers against supervillain conjoined twins, with both sides battling it out through the use of nanobot warriors.

The wildly successful House of Night series by mother-daughter authors P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast has been acquired by Samuel Hadida of Davis Films. Firmly entrenched in vampire mythology, the series follows teenager Zoey Redbird as she journeys to the House of Night boarding school where she is trained to survive as an adult “vampiyre.” Hit the jump for more on both projects.

Sony Looking at Jason Segel and Reese Witherspoon to Star in Nicholas Stoller’s SEX TAPE [UPDATED]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 27th, 2011 at 12:15 pm

Sony is moving forward with the comedy Sex Tape, as they’ve got their eye on a couple of actors to take the leads. Deadline reports that the studio is keen on Jason Segel and Reese Witherspoon to star in the Kate Angelo-scripted pic. The film centers on a married couple who, on a night off from their kids, decide to make a sex tape. When they wake up in the morning to find the tape missing, they head out on an adventure to find it. Nicholas Stoller, who helmed Forgetting Sarah Marshall and co-scripted The Muppets alongside Segel, is in talks to direct. The concept sounds fun, if a little similar to the Steve Carell/Tina Fey comedy Date Night. Hopefully Sex Tape is a good deal less PG than the Shawn Levy pic. Judging by the title, I’d say it’s a safe bet that this won’t be one for the whole family.

Segel has more than proven himself a comedic talent, and Witherspoon can actually be quite good in the genre given the right material, so I actually quite like this pairing. Segel recently wrapped The Five-Year Engagement, and Witherspoon is currently filming the Jeff Nichols drama Mud. [Update: Variety reports that Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Rose Byrne, and Jennifer Garner are also in the mix with Witherspoon as possible female leads.]

Aaron Sorkin Being Courted to Pen Steve Jobs Biopic

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 24th, 2011 at 5:56 pm

Mere days after the incredibly sad passing of pioneer Steve Jobs, we reported that Sony had acquired the rights to the authorized biography by Walter Isaacson and was planning a biopic. Jobs’ life is definitely one of great interest, but nailing down a tactful film based on his life is going to be a very tough task. Sony seems to be moving ahead with the film, and apparently Aaron Sorkin is being courted to take on scripting duties. Sorkin is an inspired choice, and I could really think of no one better to capture the visionary spirit of Jobs. Though no decisions have been made, the Social Network writer is said to be considering the prospect. Hit the jump for more.

Sony Scales Back ANONYMOUS to Limited Release, Shifts KILL BIN LADEN and HERE COMES THE BOOM

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: October 19th, 2011 at 9:33 pm

The October 28 release date of Anonymous is fast approaching, but Sony is making a last-minute change in the distribution plan.  Pre-release surveys predict a weak opening weekend (under $5 million) if Anonymous were thrust into the unforgiving expectations of a wide release.   Instead, per Company Town, Sony will scale back the open the film in just 250 theaters rather than thousands.  Anonymous came out of Toronto with surprisingly positive early reviews for a Roland Emmerich picture.  Sony distribution president Rory Bruer explained the plan: “We love the picture and think it’s going to get great word of mouth.  We’re committed to expanding it until it plays wide.”  The Shakespearean tale at the center of Anonymous could play well in the arthouses—I am very curious to see how the platform plays out.

Hit the jump for details on the postponement of Kathryn Bigelow’s Bin Laden movie and the move of the Kevin James MMA comedy Here Comes the Boom.

MGM and Sony Near Deal to Acquire SOUTHPAW; Kurt Sutter Says the Boxing Tale Parallels Eminem’s Career

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: October 19th, 2011 at 4:39 pm

It’s time for a status check on Southpaw.  Last we heard, DreamWorks let the project go, and the filmmakers were shopping it elsewhere.  I have been rooting for Southpaw to find a home because of the intriguing collection of talent: Eminem starring, Antoine Fuqua (Brooklyn’s Finest) directing, a script by Kurt Sutter (Sons of Anarchy).  Southpaw won’t need to wander too much longer, because that project also enticed a number of studio suitors.  MGM is reportedly the frontrunner to acquire the film with a bid that places Sony in charge of distribution.

Sutter’s script follows a welterweight boxing champion (Eminem) whose life is upended when tragedy strikes.  Hit the jump for more on the story, including Sutter’s explanation of how it parallels Eminem’s career.

Sony Pictures Plans Steve Jobs Biopic

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: October 7th, 2011 at 4:44 pm

By now, most of the world knows that Apple visionary Steve Jobs has passed away from his battle with pancreatic cancer. As is normally the case with such high-profile individuals as Jobs, people want to know their life story to commiserate with their struggles and celebrate their successes. So it comes as no surprise that the soon-to-be-published biography, Steve Jobs, has already sold its feature rights.

Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to the only authorized bio by Walter Isaacson, the former CNN chairman and Time Magazine managing editor. The hot commodity became even hotter with the news of Jobs’ death, moving its publication date up almost a month. This feature will mark the second movie chronicling Jobs’ rise, the first being The Pirates of Silicon Valley, which TNT re-aired recently. Hit the jump for more on the project.

Sony Sets SOURCE CODE Scribe to Write FLATLINERS Remake

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 26th, 2011 at 12:46 pm

As confirmation that anything and everything is getting a remake, Sony has tapped a scribe to start work on a contemporary update of Joel Schumacher’s 1990 thriller Flatliners. Heat Vision reports that Ben Ripley, who most recently scripted Duncan Jones’ sci-fi surprise hit Source Code, will pen the screenplay. The original flick tells the story of a group of medical students who willingly induce clinical death in order to find out if there’s anything on the other side. The super 90’s cast includes Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, Billy Baldwin and Oliver Platt.

The original film isn’t really anything special, but it’s endearing in a silly 90’s sci-fi sort of way. I really enjoyed Source Code, so maybe Ripley can bring something new to the table. Laurence Mark (Julie and Julia) is set to produce.

THE SMURFS Writers Return for THE SMURFS 2

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 17th, 2011 at 6:51 pm

Never underestimate the power of kids. While all eyes were on Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens, Sony’s The Smurfs ended up being the film that brought audiences in in droves this July, raking in $35 million in its first weekend. Suffice it to say, kids the country over were begging their parents to take them to the movie with the little blue guys, and a large number of parents acquiesced. We reported last week that Sony had already slated The Smurfs 2 for August 2, 2013, and now THR reports that the first film’s writers have just turned in a draft for a sequel.

Writing teams David Stem and David Weiss and Jay Scherick and David Ronn began working on the sequel’s story back in the spring (a bit confident, eh Sony?), and Stem and Weiss then went off to write the actual script, which director Raja Gosnell and producer Jordan Kerner told Steve about in their interview back in June. So it sure sounds like things are off and running for the follow-up.

BREAKING BAD Renewed for a 16-Episode Final Season

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 14th, 2011 at 7:23 pm

AMC may have some of the best dramatic series on TV right now, but they’ve had a hell of a time working out the details.  There was the negotiations drama with Mad Men, the behind-the-scenes creative shuffling on The Walking Dead, and recently trying to get more Breaking Bad to stay on AMC while controlling costs.  Deadline reports that Sony (the company behind the show) and AMC have come to an agreement over the $3 million price tag for the series’ budget.  The new agreement will bring a 16-episode final season to the series, although the final season may be split into two halves.  While AMC is a cable network and doesn’t have the cash of network TV or the premium channels, I think this is money well spent.  I’m slightly biased because I think Breaking Bad is the best show on TV right now.

But the drama isn’t over yet.  Vince Gilligan doesn’t have a contract beyond this season so he’ll be renegotiating his contract with Sony. The cast can renegotiate their contracts as well.  Click here for what star Bryan Cranston had to say about next season of the show and beyond.

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