Universal Pictures

Relativity Sets STRETCH ARMSTRONG for April 11, 2014; Taylor Lautner No Longer Attached

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 30th, 2012 at 9:58 am

That Stretch Armstrong movie no one wanted is now set for April 11, 2014.  The film was previously set up at Universal, but the studio has been dumping its Hasbro properties as fast as possible, and the adaptation Stretch Armstrong was left looking for a new home.  The film has now landed at Relativity, the studio behind Haywire and the upcoming Mirror, Mirror and The Raven.   Taylor Lautner was previously attached to star with Rob Letterman (Gulliver’s Travels) set to direct, but they’re both no longer attached.

Hit the jump for the press release, which is more about Relativity being happy to team with Hasbro rather than any explanation about why anyone should make a movie about Stretch Armstrong.

Paramount, Universal, and Disney Will Promote Their Upcoming Movies during Super Bowl XLVI

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 11th, 2012 at 8:23 am

Whenever it comes time to prepare for the onslaught of Super Bowl advertising, I always think back to the old Daily Show line, “This year’s Super Bowl will feature over two hours of advertising interrupted by football.”  Being the most-watched TV event of the year warrants the ever-increasing price tag for 30-second spots, which this year reportedly cost $4 million.  In between funny Doritos commercials and misogynistic Bud Light commercials, three studios will be broadcasting ads for their major 2012 films.  According to THR, this year’s Super Bowl will have ads from Paramount, Universal, and Disney while 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., and Sony will be sitting out.  Also, Lionsgate isn’t showing off anything so don’t expect a spot for The Hunger Games.

Hit the jump for my predictions on what ads we can expect to see.  Click here to see all the movie ads that ran during last year’s Super Bowl.

Universal May Do BRIDESMAIDS Sequel without Kristen Wiig

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 4th, 2012 at 11:11 am

Kristen Wiig co-wrote her own breakthrough role in last year’s Bridesmaids.  The film is Universal’s highest-grossing romantic comedy ever and naturally the studio would love to have a sequel.  However, Wiig tells THR, “We aren’t working on that.  Annie [Mumolo] and I aren’t planning a sequel. We are writing something else.”  There’s some speculation that Wiig and her co-stars were unhappy with the $100,000 bonus they received for the movie even though it ended up grossing $288 million worldwide.  Universal reportedly offered Wiig and eight-figure payday to return, but she declined the offer and now the studio is looking to hang the sequel on Bridesmaids‘ other breakout star, Melissa McCarthy.

Hit the jump for more.

Universal Picks up Rights to Young Adult Novel DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 14th, 2011 at 10:55 am

A couple weeks ago, we reported that Paramount was in a bidding war with two other studios for the rights to Laini Taylor‘s young adult novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone.  Paramount was reportedly putting up $700,000 to get the rights, but it wasn’t enough. According to THR, Universal has won the bidding war between four studios for the rights to what could be the next Twilight (like every other young adult novel optioned since 2008). When I first wrote about Smoke and Bone, I commented on how unintentionally hilarious it sounds (globe-trotting art student collects teeth, discovers she’s in the middle of a battle between devils and angels, and falls in love with a warrior angel), but it’s got the sales and praise to back up Universal’s big purchase.  The book’s honors include “Amazon Ten Books of 2011, Amazon’s #1 Teen Book of 2011, a Publishers Weekly Best Books 2011, a Huffington Post Top 10 YA Book of 2011, and a New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2011.”

Hit the jump for the official (and highly amusing) synopsis of Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Universal to Distribute Luc Besson’s Sci-Fi Film Starring Angelina Jolie

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Last week we reported that Angelina Jolie was looking to star in an untitled sci-fi thriller set to be directed by Luc Besson. At the time the project was without a studio, but now Deadline reports that Universal has closed a deal to distribute the pic. Plot details are currently under wraps, but the feature is described as a “large-scale dramatic thriller” and is said to be rooted in true scientific elements. Besson wrote the script and will direct. The film is said to be in the vein of Besson’s earlier work like The Fifth Element and The Professional. The director recently helmed the drama The Lady, and Jolie is readying the release of her directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey. Production on the untitled pic is set to get underway in April.

Universal Pictures to Make Young Leonardo da Vinci an Action-Star in LEONARDO

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: November 7th, 2011 at 5:06 pm

In an action-adventure spec script by Jonny Kurzman (M.I.High), a young Leonardo da Vinci embarks on a quest to prevent the Dark Ages from reclaiming Renaissance Europe. Leonardo was recently picked up Universal Pictures International after it was brought in by Philip Westgren at Lawrence Gordon Productions. The production company counts Watchmen and Hellboy under its recent producing credits. According to Variety, Westgren will oversee the project.

The definition of a Renaissance man, da Vinci was a master of arts and sciences. Best known for his paintings, the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” da Vinci was also an inventor who possessed staggering foresight. There are records of blueprints for his conceptual designs of helicopters, tanks, calculators and possibly the world’s first robot. In times of trouble, perhaps he’ll call in his fellow Renaissance men, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo.

Universal Pictures President Ron Meyer Talks Candidly about the Studio’s Recent Flops, 3D, Prestige Movies, and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 10:07 am

Like any studio, Universal has had a tough time with movies they expected to be hits.  The Fast and Furious series is one of their killer franchises and they landed a sleeper hit with Bridesmaids, but the studio had to suck up bombs like Land of the Lost, The Wolfman, Robin Hood, Cowboys & Aliens, and even the geek-beloved Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.  Ron Meyer, Universal’s President and COO for the past sixteen years, spoke about the studio’s flops at the Savannah Film Festival.  He also talked about 3D, avoiding prestige pictures, and their controversial move to try and rush Tower Heist onto VOD.

Hit the jump for When Studio Execs Speak Honestly.

Syfy Films Acquires George R.R. Martin’s Superhero Anthology WILD CARDS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 28th, 2011 at 11:03 am

Coming off the wild success of HBO’s series adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy book series Game of Thrones, another of the author’s works is getting the Hollywood treatment. Heat Vision reports that Syfy Films (a joint venture between Syfy and Universal) has acquired the screen rights to the superhero anthology Wild Cards. Martin co-created, co-wrote, and edited the anthology which centers on an alien virus being unleashed over New York City, turning its inhabitants into two classes of mutant: deformed creatures called Jokers or special power-enhanced beings called Aces. Melinda Snodgrass, a co-creator and co-writer of the series, is set to write the screenplay.

The first book in the series was published in 1987, and the series has seen a slew of writers contribute over the years including Doctor Who’s Paul Cornell and Carrie Vaughn. No plot details are known at the moment, but Martin revealed that the character of The Sleeper would definitely appear and the film will be set in contemporary times. This certainly sounds like an ambitious undertaking, and it’ll be interesting to see how the first film in the potential franchise will look like in terms of scope and tone.

Universal Halts VOD Plan for TOWER HEIST

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 12th, 2011 at 12:30 pm

Last week, we reported that Universal Pictures had made the controversial decision to release Brett Ratner’s Tower Heist on Video on Demand only three weeks after the film had hit theaters.  The test case would only be implemented for Comcast digital subscribers in Atlanta and Portland, Oregon, but theater owners finally drew a line in the sand against the studios’ continuing encroachment into the theatrical exhibition business.  Major theater chain Cinemark threatened to ban the movie from its theaters and smaller theater chains refused to screen the innocuous-but-most-likely-lucrative comedy.  In response, Universal has relented and “continues to believe that the theater experience and a PVOD window are business models that can coincide and thrive and we look forward to working with our partners in exhibition to find a way to experiment in this area in the future.”

Or to read it another way, “You’ve won this round theatres but we’ll be baaaaaaack!” (and then Universal’s hot air balloon flies away).  Tower Heist opens in theaters on November 4th.

Cinemark Threatens to Ban TOWER HEIST from Its Theaters in Response to Universal’s VOD Plan

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: October 6th, 2011 at 6:38 pm

Just yesterday, Universal Pictures announced it would be releasing Brett Ratner’s Tower Heist to premium VOD subscribers a mere three weeks after the movie opens in theaters on November 4th. In direct response to this announcement, Cinemark (the nation’s third largest theater chain) has threatened to ban the movie from all 300 of its locations. This is a bold move that our own Matt Goldberg agreed with in principle, but didn’t expect to happen. As Matt mentioned, Tower Heist could potentially be a very successful film as it “has the stars, a sound comic premise, and it covers multiple demographics.” Will Cinemark really risk the tens of millions of dollars it stands to lose by taking a stand? Or will Universal Pictures blink first rather than risk losing the revenue?

Hit the jump for more info.

TOWER HEIST to Hit Video-on-Demand Three Weeks after Theatrical Debut

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 5th, 2011 at 2:36 pm

In what is the most audacious VOD plan to date, Universal Pictures will release Brett Ratner’s Tower Heist on VOD three weeks after the movie opens in theaters on November 4th.  However, the rental will cost a hefty $59.99.  This VOD plan marks the biggest move yet in the recent battles between studios and theaters over when movies should go to VOD.  This past spring, Warner Bros., Sony, Universal, and 20th Century Fox launched Home Premiere, a premium VOD service that offers movies for home viewing only two months after their theatrical debut.  While these VOD rentals aren’t cheap (it costs $30 to rent a movie on Home Premiere), studios have been looking for new revenue streams since the collapse of the DVD market, and they believe (correctly) that the high price of tickets and concessions coupled with the poorly-run theater experience could drive consumers to premium VOD.

Hit the jump for more.

Michael Brandt and Derek Haas Return to Write WANTED 2

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 27th, 2011 at 12:36 pm

I thought I could rest easy knowing an unncessary sequel to 2008′s Wanted was pretty much dead.  Turns out I’m in for some sleepless nights.  The Wrap has confirmed a tweet from screenwriter Derek Haas than he and his writing partner Michael Brandt will return to pen the script for Wanted 2.  Wanted co-writer Chris Morgan (Fast Five) wasn’t mentioned so presumably he’s currently out on this one although it’s possible he could be brought in down the road.  Additionally, it’s unknown whether Timur Bekmambetov will return to direct.

The new movie is “going to take off after the events of what just happened,” says Haas. “Pick up Wesley a few years later and go back in for another round.”  Putting aside the fact that taking off after the events of what just happened is the standard definition of a sequel, it’s noteworthy that Haas says they intend to bring back Wesley (James McAvoy) but makes no mention of Fox (Angelina Jolie).  You may recall that getting Jolie back was a major sticking point in getting the sequel off the ground but she dropped out to do Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity (which she also dropped out of).  No word if they plan to recast the role or simply bring in a new love-interest.  My guess would be the latter since it’s a difficult plot move to bring back the character in the first place.

Universal to Make New Version of SCARFACE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 21st, 2011 at 5:30 pm

A third version of Scarface is on its way. Universal is currently developing a new version of the gangster film. The first iteration was the Howard Hughes-produced 1932 classic that was based on the life of Al Capone. Brian De Palma put his own spin on the story in 1983, this time with Al Pacino playing a Cuban immigrant who rises to prominence in the Miami cocaine world. Now, Deadline reports that Universal is taking another go at the title. The report is quick to point out that Universal does not intend for the new film to be a remake or sequel to either previous films, but hopes to infuse the basic elements of the other Scarfaces into a new version (read: they want name recognition).

Martin Bregman, who produced De Palma’s Scarface, is producing the new version alongside Marc Shmugar. Scarface ’83 is far from perfect, and Universal is really only taking the title, so this news doesn’t necessarily come off as offensive. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of approach the studio will take. I’d be shocked if the new version goes the R route, as that puts a ceiling on the gross. It’s possible they could target the teen audience with a young lead, but at this point their approach is anyone’s guess. The studio is currently meeting with writers to get a script going.

More Synopses for Universal 2012 Films Including SAVAGES, DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX and Untitled Judd Apatow Comedy; Title Change for EVERYBODY LOVES WHALES

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 15th, 2011 at 11:17 am

Earlier this year, we posted the first synopses for a few of Universal Pictures’ films slated for release next year. Today, we’ve got a few more synopses to share with you from some the studio’s upcoming slate. Included is Oliver Stone’s drug-smuggling drama Savages, the 3D animated feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, and the Knocked Up spinoff Untitled Judd Apatow Comedy. Additionally, we have a new synopsis and a title change for Big Miracle, the Drew Barrymore-starred family film that was formerly titled Everybody Loves Whales.

Hit the jump for a rundown of the cast and synopsis for each film. Big Miracle opens February 3, 2012, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax opens March 2, 2012, Savages opens September 28, 2012, and Untitled Judd Apatow Comedy opens December 21, 2012.

Universal Sets LES MISERABLES Starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe for December 7, 2012 Release Date [Updated]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 8th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Prepare to get your Broadway on. Universal has set director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) adaptation of Les Miserables for a December 7, 2012 release date. Not only that, but Deadline’s report confirms that Russell Crowe will be starring as the nefarious Javert opposite Hugh Jackman’s Jean Valjean. This is quite an impressive roundup for the musical flick, and if any of the other casting rumors end up to be true it only gets better. William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) wrote the script based on Victor Hugo’s novel and the stage musical.

This news comes on the heels of word that production on James Mangold’s The Wolverine has been pushed back to next year. Mark Bomback is currently rewriting Christopher McQuarrie’s screenplay. Although I wasn’t the biggest fan of The King’s Speech, count me as one of those excited for this adaptation. Crowe’s no stranger to the music scene, as he takes his band “Russell Crowe and the Ordinary Fear of God” very seriously.

[Update: THR also reports that Helena Bonham Carter is now officially in talks to star in the film as Thenardier's greedy wife]

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