All Articles by Brendan Bettinger

Jon Favreau and Willem Dafoe Discuss the Legacy of JOHN CARTER in New Blu-ray Featurette Clip

Posted: May 25th, 2012 at 8:34 am

John Carter is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on June 5, and I hope it finds a second life in home release.  I don’t know what it would take to justify a sequel, but for the sake of ambitious, lush science fiction like this, it would be unfortunate if the lasting legacy was that of a flop.  The expansive universe, as designed by Edgar Rice Borroughs, is really built for serialization.  We have seen this potential realized on screen in the many properties that were inspired by John Carter of Mars.  Jon Favreau points to Star Wars and Superman as two indelible franchises that benefit from the Mars mythos in the featurette, “Influence of John Carter,” which will appear on the Blu-ray.  We were provided a one-minute clip from the featurette, with supporting remarks by Willem Dafoe (the voice of Tars Tarkas in the movie), and we’d like to share it with you after the jump.

Exclusive Featurette from Ralph Fiennes’ CORIOLANUS Blu-ray

Posted: May 24th, 2012 at 12:31 pm

Coriolanus is due on Blu-ray and DVD May 29, and to give you a taste, we have been provided a featurette to share.  In the clip, director/star Ralph Fiennes comments on his adaptation of the Shakespeare play.  Fiennes updated the story to the modern day, but the story remains the same.  Things go awry during Coriolanus’ (Fiennes) campaign for the consulate, and he’s kicked out of Rome: “The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city.”  Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, and Jessica Chastain also star.  Watch the featurette after the jump.

THE HOST Giveaway: Win a Signed Copy of Stephenie Meyer’s Book

Posted: May 24th, 2012 at 10:39 am

The feature adaptation of The Host doesn’t hit theaters until March 29, 2013, but Stephenie Meyer‘s bestselling book dropped in 2008, so we have the material for a very early giveaway that should appeal to the many Twilight/Meyer fans out there.  Here’s the official logline:

“The Host is an enchanting and fateful story about the survival of love and the human spirit in a time of war. Our world is invaded by an unseen enemy, humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over, while their bodies remain intact. Most of humanity has succumbed.”

Hit the jump to find out how you can win a signed copy of The Host.

Paul Thomas Anderson Screened Scientology-Related Drama THE MASTER for Tom Cruise

Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 10:08 pm

In the early days of reporting on Paul Thomas Anderson‘s latest movie, before it was called The Master, we tentatively referred to it as PTA’s Scientology Film.  The conception of the movie has since evolved, focusing on a man (Philip Seymour Hoffman) so shaken by the horrors of World War II that he creates a new, nonspecific religion.  But still, there are similarities between this story and the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard—specifically the post-WWII time frame and the philosophical epiphany on a boat trip.  This seems enough cause for tension between Anderson and Tom Cruise, his Magnolia star and outspoken Scientologist.  Anderson, giving us yet another reason to respect him, decided to address the conflict head on and screen a rough cut of The Master for Cruise.  Hit the jump for Cruise’s reaction.

Hailee Steinfeld to Star in WHY WE BROKE UP; Matt LeBlanc Leads LOVESICK; Scoot McNairy and Ruth Negga Join TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE

Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 9:07 pm

All the casting news that money can buy:

• Hailee Steinfeld is in negotiations to star in the high school comedy Why We Broke Up
• Matt LeBlanc will headline the indie rom-com Lovesick
• Scoot McNairy and Ruth Negga will join Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender Twelve Years a Slave

More on each project after the jump.

Zach Galifianakis Attached to Star in A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES; James Bobin in Talks to Direct

Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 8:10 pm

Zach Galifianakis and director James Bobin (The Muppets) are a match made in heaven, to the degree that I had to check IMDB to see if Galifianakis ever hopped over from his HBO show Bored to Death for a guest spot on Bobin’s HBO show, Flight of the Conchords.  Nope.  But the pair may make up for the lost opportunity on Paramount’s feature adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces.  Vulture hears Galifianakis is attached to star as Ignatius Reilly and Bobin is in talks to direct.  Scott Rudin (Moneyball) will produce, and Phil Johnston (Cedar Rapids) is reportedly working on the screenplay.

That’s quite a lineup, but Confederacy of Dunces has a long history of trying and repeatedly failing to become a movie.  Harold Ramis set up the first attempt in 1982, but was derailed when his Ignatius, John Belushi, died.  The role subsequently passed from John Candy to Chris Farley to John Goodman over the years, but never stuck.  The most recent iteration was led by Will Ferrell and director David Gordon Green, but fell by the wayside at Paramount.  When asked what happened to it, Ferrell could only respond, “It’s a mystery.  For some reason that’s a very scary project for people to take on.”  Hit the jump for a synopsis of John Kennedy Toole‘s seemingly unadaptable novel.

Disney Hires Dave Green to Direct Untitled Wolf Adventure

Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 7:28 pm

Dave Green just made a deal with Disney for his feature directorial debut.  The studio declined to release a logline, but Variety describes it as a “wolf adventure.”  Do you need to know any more?  They ought to title it Wolf Adventure and call it a day.  Andrew Panay (When in Rome) will produce; the plan is to start production this fall.  Given the fresh director and the original property status, Variety speculates this will be a low-budget affair, perhaps in response to the money Disney poured into developing their Snow White remake before halting production earlier this evening.

Green comes from the world of commercials and music videos.  He made a minor splash in industry circles with his comedic shorts Pinkberry: The Movie and WME Staff Meeting, which stylishly mock Hollywood agencies.  Both are embedded after the jump.

Will Dwayne Johnson Play LOBO in the Warner Bros. Adaptation of the DC Comic?

Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 9:50 pm

Last week, a random Twitter user mentioned her desire to see The Rock as a DC superhero.  Dwayne Johnson, forever in touch with his fans, tweeted in response, “Funny U say that…“  That obviously sparked fervent speculation.  Bleeding Cool followed up with an interesting possibility: the antihero biker Lobo.  Bleeding Cool admits their source is untested, one who purportedly overheard Johnson boasting at a party that he will play Lobo.  But the rumor is a good fit.  There is a Lobo adaptation in development.  Brad Peyton, the director of Johnson’s last movie Journey 2: The Center of the Earth, is steering the ship.  And no actor really has that Lobo physique other than The Rock.  So all the pieces fit—we’re just missing the important ones that spell “O-f-f-i-c-i-a-l” across the top.  We’ll put a pin in this for now.  In the meantime, hit the jump for background on Lobo.

James McAvoy to Star Opposite Jessica Chastain in Double Feature THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY

Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 8:44 pm

James McAvoy has signed on to star opposite Jessica Chastain in one of the most intriguing projects in development right now, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.  It is a double feature that explores “how a married couple in New York City deals with an emotional, life-altering experience, from two different perspectives.”  The perspective of the husband (McAvoy) is seen in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, while the story of the wife (Chastain) is told in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her.  (It used to be His and Hers, back when Joel Edgerton was attached to play the husband.)  This ambitious project is the feature debut of writer/director Ned Benson.  Hit the jump for the full press release.

Catherine Keener to Star in HBO Comedy Series Written and Directed by Charlie Kaufman

Posted: May 21st, 2012 at 7:52 pm

HBO’s current comedy roster is stacked with some of the best writers in the business: Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Lena Dunham/Judd Apatow (Girls), Armando Iannucci (Veep), Mike White (Enlightened).  If you count the hourlong The Newsroom, Aaron Sorkin seemed like the apex in terms of pure writers.  Yet HBO has outdone themselves, entering into development on a half-hour comedy series with Charlie Kaufman.  Even better, frequent collaborator Catherine Keener is set to star and produce alongside Kaufman.  The untitled series is described as “an exploration of one day in a woman’s life and how the events leading up to it can affect, or not, the reality in which she lives.”  What?  More after the jump.

Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy to Star in Buddy Cop Movie Directed by BRIDESMAIDS’ Paul Feig

Posted: May 19th, 2012 at 4:58 pm

Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy have signed on to star in a buddy cop movie that Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) will direct.  The script by Katie Dippold (Parks and Recreation) centers on “the strained working relationship between a high-strung FBI agent (Bullock) and an unconventional Boston cop (McCarthy) who team up to take down a Russian gangster.”  The logline is nothing special, but the talent attached is.  According to Variety, the Fox production is expected to shoot during McCarthy’s next hiatus from her sitcom, Mike & Molly.  Hit the jump for the rundown on the rest of their upcoming projects.

Dimension Picks Up COMPULSION; SPC Acquires Susanne Bier’s LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

Posted: May 16th, 2012 at 8:22 pm

Two movies found their North American distributors today.

• Dimension Films picked up Compulsion, a psychological thriller led by Heather Graham, Carrie-Anne Moss, Kevin Dillon, and Joe Mantegna.
• Sony Pictures Classics acquired Love Is All You Need, a romantic comedy set in Italy, directed by Susanne Bier (In a Better World).  Pierce Brosnan, Trine Dyrholm, and Paprika Steen star.

The announcing press releases provide all the details after the jump.

Larry David in Talks to Star in Untitled Comedy Directed by Greg Mottola

Posted: May 16th, 2012 at 7:23 pm

Fox Searchlight is developing a comedy that, if it comes together, offers a very exciting team-up.  Larry David is and Greg Mottola (Superbad) are in talks to star and direct, respectively.  The screenplay is credited to Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer, and David Mandel, a trio who works with David on Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-wrote The Dictator.  THR was unable to ascertain any details about the plot, other than it will be improvised as David does with Curb.  (David and his writers outline the plot, but the dialogue is largely improvised by the actors.)

Last night it was announced Mottola will adapt Jeffrey Eugendies’ novel The Marriage Plot—at the time, there was curiously only speculation that the writer/director might also take the helm.  This report paints a clearer picture, suggesting Mottola might be saving the spot for this project.  I am very eager to hear more about what they have in mind—we will pass along the details once they surface.

Trailers for New ABC Comedy Series THE NEIGHBORS, MALIBU COUNTRY, HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS, and THE FAMILY TOOLS

Posted: May 15th, 2012 at 10:23 pm

ABC announced their Fall 2012 schedule this afternoon, and followed up with trailers for the 10 new series.  The drama trailers are here.  Now for the comedies:

• The Neighbors – Jami Gertz and Lenny Venito star as the Weavers, who just bought a house in a gated New Jersey community.  The twist: everyone else in the neighborhood is an alien from the planet Zabvron.
• Malibu Country – Reba McEntire plays a divorcee who moves her family to Malibu with dreams of becoming a country star.
• How to Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life) – Sarah Chalke plays another divorcee who moves back in with her parents, played by Elizabeth Perkins and Brad Garrett
• The Family Tools – Kyle Bornheimer stars as a son eager to take over the family handyman business when his father (J.K. Simmons) has a heart attack

Hit the jump for the trailers and series synopses.

Trailers for New ABC Dramas 666 PARK AVENUE, LAST RESORT, NASHVILLE, MISTRESSES, RED WIDOW, and ZERO HOUR

Posted: May 15th, 2012 at 10:22 pm

ABC announced their Fall 2012 schedule this afternoon, and followed up with trailers for the 10 new series.  We’ll start with the dramas:

• 666 Park Avenue – Terry O’Quinn stars as the manager of The Drake, an apartment building that offers the ultimate luxury yet “maintains a dark hold over all of its residents.”
• Last Resort – This is the latest tense thriller from Shawn Ryan, who created The Shield.  After the captain (Andre Braugher) and commanding officer (Scott Speedman) of a submarine defy firing orders, they flee with the sub’s patrons to find refuge at an exotic island.
• Nashville – The country music drama centers on an aging legend (Connie Britton) who must deal with a scheming young talent (Hayden Panettiere).
• Mistresses – Alyssa Milano toplines the soap about the “scandalous lives of a sexy and sassy group of four girlfriends.”
• Red Widow – After her husband is brutally murdered, Marta Walraven (Radha Mitchell) “takes on the gangsters and the FBI to unveil the truth about her husband’s death.”
• Zero Hour – Anthony Edwards stars as a skeptic who gets sucked into an ancient mystery—the kind that involves treasure maps symbol-deciphering—when his wife (Jacinda Barrett) is abducted.

The comedy trailers are here.  Hit the jump for the trailers and series synopses.

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