If the public likes Avatar, it’s a possibility. After all, here we are exploring the surface of the planet Pandora. The interior remains to be seen.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is visionary director Wes Anderson’s first animated film, utilizing classic handmade stop motion techniques to tell the story of the best selling children’s book by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach).

Mr and Mrs Fox (George Clooney and Meryl Streep) live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Jason Schwartzman) and visiting young nephew Kristopherson (Eric Anderson). But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers - Boggis, Bunce and Bean - who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr Fox at any cost. The film also stars Bill Murray, Wally Wolodarsky, Eric Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson and Jarvis Cocker.

Watch the trailer in High Definition on Apple.com. Fantastic Mr. Fox hits theaters on November 13th 2009.

I personally am glad to see Wes doing something fresh. We've got some familiar faces in the mix, but this is new territory for him - and it's quite refreshing.

In what could be the first film in a noirish franchise for 20th Century Fox, Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to star as Travis McGee, a fictional Floridian gumshoe who lives on a houseboat, in The Deep Blue Goodbye. The film is an adaptation of the popular 1964 novel—nearly identical in title—by late pulp-fiction author John D. MacDonald. It marked the debut in an influential, entertaining 21-book series that spans an American landscape from the Kennedy to the Regan administrations. The screenplay was written by Dana Stevens (Sam Raimi’s For the Love of the Game, Blink).

In the novel, McGee, a trusty and attractive 6′ 4″ bachelor, faces anxiety and financial woes and works as a “salvager” in Fort Lauderdale, collecting monies and property for his clients. The plot revolves around treasure buried in the Florida Keys during WWII, a murderous felon who catches wind of this while incarcerated, and an eventual showdown between the two. Also: shady women with bedroom eyes. McGee’s aforementioned houseboat is called the Busted Flush, a prize won in a poker game that helps define his marina-bum lifestyle. 

Firm details on producer Robert Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal’s Predators are pretty thin on the ground. We know that Alex Litvak has been writing the script and that much of the film is going to be shot on Rodriguez’ Troublemaker lot with some location shooting likely to take place in Hawaii, but besides the much discussed and seemingly impossible cameo role from Arnold Schwarzenegger there hasn’t even been much talk of any possible cast members. Who will be making up the human contingent, the team of commandos facing off against a whole heap of crab-faced Predators? The first name has been revealed, and it’s not a surprisingly a member of the Rodriguez rep company, none other than Machete himself, Danny Trejo.

In a short video interview with the Punch Drunk Critics, Trejo sings minor-key updates on Machete, Sin City 2 and Predators. As far as Machete goes, Trejo simply lists the other cast members, but when asked if he’ll be doing Sin City 2, says:

It’s kind of in the works. We’re going to do Predators next. So Sin City’s kind of… er… a thought process… We’ll be doing Predator[s] I think in about a month.

While this doesn't say that he will be acting in the film - it is hard to believe that it would be any other situation. I personally think it's about time Trejo gets some big, well deserved screen time in a major film. Although I'm a bit sketchy on this whole Predators thing to begin with.

We’ve known for some time now that Ron Howard’s first comic book adaptation will be a film version of the Image Comics series, The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft. The comic is a fictionalized story featuring a young Lovecraft who goes from a wimpy writer to an ass-kicker of the supernatural.

Speaking to the LA Times Hero Complex blog, Howard shared his excitement for the material—a project he will most likely direct:

Look, it’s challenging, but if we get it right, it could be really original and psychologically interesting and scary in a great way. And it’s a graphic novel, this is new territory for me.

So I’ve got literally half-a-dozen projects where essentially I’m waiting for drafts to come in, and there’s something I love about all of these ideas. We’ll just have to wait to see what comes to fruition. I sort of can’t bear the thought of letting any of them go. So maybe I’ve got the next five years spoken for.

Sam Raimi (Evil Dead series, Drag Me To Hell) has signed on to produce a supernatural horror film titled Refuge. British screenwriter Tom De Ville will write the script based on a pitch from up-and-coming British director Corin Hardy. At the very least, Hardy’s stop-animation work, is impressive. Very stylized, and likely to draw comparisons to Tim Burton. Check out some of Hardy’s music videos in our commercial director spotlight.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story “centers on a remote town terrorized by a Yeti, the mythological creature native to the mountains of the Himalayas.”

But before Hardy and De Ville tackle the feature, they will first produce a short film with the same premise. The hope is that the short film will help Hardy refine his vision as the script is being developed. It seems to me that, while not stated, the short film test might also act as a proving ground for the yet-unproven young director.

The only thing that could make this better is Raimi directing. Although, if he is willing to produce, it means he may have some high hopes for the concept and the director. In any case - it could be about time we get a good horror film about the Yeti - a much under appreciated mythical creature.

David Goyer is currently in talks to write the story and then oversee another writer’s screenplay, but his spokesperson says that Goyer hasn’t actually signed on at this point. Variety does report that the current plan is to base Ghost Rider 2 on a Goyer script written some time ago. Weird, since we’ve heard in the past that Columbia had already gone out to writers for the sequel. That’s all the data we’ve got at this point, but revisit Nic Cage’s comments from a couple of months ago to get an idea of what Ghost Rider 2 (or Ghost Rider v2.0, as it may be) might be like.

The Variety source article also mentions in passing that Marvel is “quietly developing a new version of Daredevil and working on a Silver Surfer film.” We’ve known both of those projects existed in theory, but this is the most recent word of forward motion.

This is getting ridiculous. That's all I have to say. I mean seriously...knock it off with all the reboots and sequels to shitty films. I love my superheroes...but you guys are seriously effing this up.

Earlier this month Warner Bros completely dropped the development of the live action He-Man adaptation Grayskull: The Masters of the Universe, despite Justin Marks’ screenplay gaining big traction from internet buzz and Kung-Fu Panda director John Stevenson signing on to direct. Heatvision is now reporting that the project might not be completely dead after all.

Apparently Columbia Pictures / Escape Artists are in negotiations to pick up rights to the Mattel property. Stevenson and Marks are both no longer involved with the project, which will be developed from the ground up.

Speaking to MTV News, Keanu Reeves has offered up a slight update on the live-action adaptation of the anime series Cowboy Bebop, in which he’ll be playing the lead role of Spike Spiegel. Reeves mentions that a draft of the script currently exists, penned by Peter Craig, but it’s apparently too elaborate to be filmed. The current script would require a budget of near-Avatar proportions—Reeves mentions that Fox thinks it would cost around $500 million.

But now, as THR reports, the the highest grossing film of all time, James Cameron's Best Picture winning epic Titanic, might not be far behind.

Over at Cameron's production company, Lightstorm Entertainment, insiders are saying it will be less than a year before we see Titanic sink again in front of our eyes in digital 3-D. Apparently the guys at Lightstorm have already done 3-D tests on both Titanic, and another little film of Cameron's, Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Over the weekend Disney released a new television spot for the limited engagement 3D rerelease of Toy Story and Toy Story 2, which you can check out embedded after the jump. Attached to the special double feature on October 2nd will be the first real trailer for Toy Story 3. Jim Hill has the scoop on the new trailer, which gives a ton of new details on the upcoming third film. SPOILER ALERT EVEN THOUGH IT'S FOR A TRAILER YOU WILL SEE ANYWAY If you don’t want to know, don’t read on.

[The new trailer shows] Woody and the gang at Sunnyside Daycare. Where life among the toddlers looks like something out of “Lord of the Flies.” … Buzz and Co. get absolutely brutalized by these 3-year-olds. Which is why they decide that “We’re busting out of here.” The only problem is – during their initial escape attempt – the Space Ranger gets severely damaged. To the point that Woody & friends are forced to hit Lightyear’s reset button. Which then puts Buzz into Spanish-speaking mode. … When Buzz is in Spanish-speaking mode – he then becomes this hot-blooded, flamenco-dancing romantic figure prone to grand gestures. Which Jessie winds up being quite taken with.

Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of Sherlock Holmes won’t hit the big screen until Christmas, but Warner Bros is already developing a sequel.

According to Risky Business, Kieran and Michele Mulroney have been hired to pen a draft for a continuation. The brother screenwriting team wrote the imaginary Superhero coming-of-middle-age dramedy Paper Man which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the dumped DC Comics live-action film Justice League: Mortal. Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, Lionel Wigram and Simon Kinberg all worked on the screenplay for the first film.

This isn’t surprising news as the project has been groomed as a potential franchise. Last month, it was rumored that Brad Pitt had filmed some scenes as Holmes’ nemesis Moriarty during a set of secret reshoots, but Warner Bros denied these claims. The character does make a brief cameo appearance in the first film, setting up a potential sequel, but those who know claim the character remains in the shadows and cannot be recognized.

We assumed the previous rumor was a complete fabrication but, The Hollywood Reporter now claims that Brad Pitt has in fact had discussions with producers to play Moriarty in the developing sequel, though there is no deal in place as of yet. Pitt starred in Ritchie’s second feature film Snatch.

What do you think about this whole planning a sequel before the film even comes out business? Do you think Brad Pitt would be a good choice for a Sherlock Holmes sequel? And what do you think of the how the film is coming along in the first place?

Personally, I was really interested at first, as I am quite a Guy Ritchie fan, but I will say that all of this footage has done nothing for me yet.

Yesterday Nikki Finke and THR confirmed that Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook was stepping down after working at the company for 38 years.

We've already started to see producers and filmmakers around town expressing their sadness. Indiana Jones producer Frank Marshall said on Twitter: "Woke up to find Dick Cook has resigned from Disney. One of the most respected and classy executives in town. I will miss our breakfasts." Nikki Finke got an update from Disney insiders saying: "I hear that Steven Spielberg is devastated by the news of Dick Cook's ouster. Dick was a major reason why Spielberg and Stacey Snider brought the new DreamWorks to Disney. 'Steven worships Dick,' an insider told me tonight." But one of the most upset individuals is not a producer or a director, but rather an actor, and a very big one at Disney - Johnny Depp.

The LA Times' Claudia Eller caught up with Depp in London the night the news broke. Depp was "shocked and very sad" to hear about the abrupt departure of Cook, whom he called "the sweetest man on the planet and such a gent." They were so close that Cook even called Depp hours before to alert him that this news was coming. "He is the utmost gentleman, so he made the call himself." But now he's not so sure about working on the next Pirates movie, to be titled Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, without Cook around. "There's a fissure, a crack in my enthusiasm at the moment," Depp said. "It was all born in that office."

Screen Rant via The Hollywood Reporter, reports that Eastwood will direct Hereafter, with Matt Damon Leading the film. The project will reunite the two after they just worked together on the not-yet-released Nelson Mandela pic, Invictus.

Movie Line, via The Playlist, provides some plot details

“Damon plays a character named George, a factory worker with the ability to commune with the dead, not a talent he’s so thrilled about. There are two other plotlines involving a French journalist coping with the aftermath of a near-death experience during the 2004 tsunami, and a 12-year old British boy searching for a way to contact his dead twin.”

Fox 2000 has signed screenwriter John Logan to adapt the Jordan Ainsley vampire novel The Passage. Fox is developing the project as a potential directing vehicle for Ridley Scott, who last teamed with Logan on the Academy Award-winning film Gladiator.



Fox purchased the film rights two years ago, paying seven-figures for the three book series, based solely on the first 397 pages of an outline. The writer is almost a complete unknown, yet somehow his book spawned a five day bidding war between Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox in July 2007. The finished novel is said to be nearly 1,200 pages, but no release date has been announced, although the Random House owned Ballantin books purchased the publishing rights for a reported $3.75 million.

The story is described as “a futuristic fable” about death row inmates transformed into vampires by a government-spawned virus. According to Variety, “terminally ill patients become healthy after they are bitten by bats in South America, and the government conducts secret tests on human subjects to see if the virus can cure illness. The result is an apocalyptic unleashing of bloodthirsty vampire test subjects that include death row inmates.”

John Logan’s other films include The Last Samurai, Gladiator, Any Given Sunday, Sweeney Todd, The Aviator and the 1999 film Bats. Scott has a lot of projects in development. He is currently working on Robin Hood, producing The A-Team, and is in various stages of development on an Alien prequel, The Kind One, Factor X, and a dozen other optioned properties.

I find this a bit hard to believe considering all of the current projects Scott has underway, but I guess only time will tell who ends up directing this - or even if the film will get made at all. I personally am getting a little sick of this whole vampire fad that's happening right now.

IMAX and Sony Columbia have today announced that the fourth film in their money-spinning Spider-Man franchise will hit both traditional cinema screens and the global network of IMAX theatres on May 5, 2011. Like the IMAX release of Spider-Men 3 and 2 before it, this will be via the up-scaling technology that takes the 35mm master and digitally pumps it up a bit for IMAX screens.

IMAX CEO Raymond Gelfond says:

Spider-Man continues to be one of the world’s most popular motion picture franchises, and we are very excited to include the latest chapter as part of our 2011 slate. Our network has grown significantly and we continue to roll-out new theatres virtually every week, giving more moviegoers the opportunity to experience the movie in IMAX.

At the end of the press release, where Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and so on get their names dropped, there is also mention of Gary Ross as currently ‘adapting’ the screenplay.

This press release also seems to confirm that Spider-Man 4 will neither be shot in the IMAX format or in 3D.

Now that all that is cleared up. TELL US WHO THE VILLAIN IS GOING TO BE AND HOW SIGNIFICANT A ROLE BRUCE CAMPBELL WILL HAVE!!!!

As for what he thinks of Redford's film,

Speaking to Peter Bart at Variety, Spielberg says:

We are very happy that Redford will be doing this Lincoln movie. It is completely different from what our DreamWorks Lincoln movie will be, and we believe that it will add to the commercial potential of our film. Lincoln as a subject is inexhaustible.

JoBlo came across a poster promoting upcoming Disney Digital 3D releases while walking around the floor of Disney’s D23 fan convention. The big surprise — Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was listed on the line-up. Disney reps confirmed that the film would be released in Digital 3D in addition to the regular 2D release. The film was not shot in 3D however, and is being converted in post production.

This isn’t the first time that producer Jerry Bruckheimer has made this decision. The family action-adventure film G-Force was converted to 3D after the fact, but most of the film’s creatures were computer generated, which makes things a bit easier. While I’m one of the few web bloggers who believes that 3D is more than a gimmick, I still am not convinced that post production 3D processing is good enough for public consumption.

This doesn't make much sense because it totally ruins any of the 3D experience you might receive, but a trailer for the revamp of Star Tours - wonderfully titled Star Tours II has made it's way onto the interspace.

[The] revamp will incorporate prequel characters (like Naboo citizens and Geonosians) along with many aliens from the original trilogy (Aqualish. Bith, Rodians, etc). In the action sequence, the Star Tours vehicle is now going to be chased by Boba Fett.  C3PO and R2-D2 are still the hosts… Admiral Ackbar holographically communicates with the Star Tours vehicle. Right now they’re shooting mostly green screen footage, as it is the middle part of the production timeline.

The ride will launch at the Californian and Floridian Disney parks in 2011.

Antichrist is both written and directed by prolific Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, of an extensive number of past films, including Nocturne, The Element of Crime, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, Manderlay, and The Boss of It All most recently. After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film was picked up for US distribution by IFC. They're now bringing Antichrist to very limited theaters starting on October 23rd.

Bruce Campbell, was stopped at the red carpet premiere of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and pressed for details on the upcoming Spider-Man 4. Seeing as he’s had a role in each of the three Sam Raimi Spidey pictures so far it wasn’t too much of a stretch to assume he’d be on the call sheet for the next go around too. Not only did he confirm that, he also claimed a January start date for the project. But what could he reveal about his appearance in the film?

Campbell told Access Hollywood that Spider-Man 4 is set to begin shooting January 2010, and that he's been told by Raimi that he has "a major part". The kicker is that the well-chinned actor knows not what that role might be.

There is lots of speculation floating around the internet that he may be up for a villainous role. One name floating around is Mysterio - something I know I have mentioned and talked with Derek about. While there is no indication as to this in what Bruce had to say - at least we know he is in it and Sam has talked to him! This is good news - and shooting isn't too far off - more good news! For the record though - I say it's about time Bruce gets a shot at what he deserves - so I say bring on the Mysterio!

After Disney announced that they would be acquiring Marvel Entertainment, Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed during a confrence call that “Pixar boss John Lasseter talked to the Marvel guys about” the possibility of working together on a Pixar film, and “they all got excited about it. We think there’s ultimately some exciting product that come of that. Sparks will fly!” Then earlier this week Entertainment Weekly reported that “Pixar already has their eye on Ant-Man.” If that is true, both director Edgar Wright and Marvel head Kevin Feige know nothing about it…

CHUD contacted Wright, who has been developing the big screen adaptation for the last five years, for comment. Wright confirmed that he’s still attached to the project, but hasn’t had much time to work with Joe Cornish on the second draft because of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

“I just spoke to Kevin Feige for the first time since I wrapped and we are meeting this week to discuss the next phase,” wrote Wright. “The news that Pixar is involved is not wholly accurate and a little premature to comment on. I love Pixar’s work more than anyone and indeed would love to collaborate with them.”

“It’s true that the character is not considered one of the Marvel brand leaders and that is precisely what excites me about it. I want to make a film inside the Marvel Universe that is something a little different; a genre film within the superhero genre so to speak,” says Wright. “My spin on Ant Man is very different than a straight superhero origin - and very much live action. At some point in this century, I intend to stop talking about it and make the damn thing.”

Bloody Disgusting has confirmed that the Resident Evil franchise will be getting a slight reboot after the next film, Resident Evil 4: Afterlife. Tentatively titled Resident Evil Begins, the new project will take us away from the increasingly convoluted adventures of Milla Jovovich’s Alice, and will potentially retread the events of the first film by focusing on a military unit tasked with taking down a rampaging supercomputer, while also fighting off former-scientist zombies.

News is that the previously briefly mentioned David Gordon Green remake of Suspiria will begin shooting next year. Green, who has managed to maintain his indie cred (Snow Angels) and establish box office pull and mainstream cachet (Pineapple Express), is currently in Ireland helming the Danny McBride stoner fantasia Your Highness for Universal.

Natalie Portman had been mentioned as a name floating around for the lead in this film, but has since taken on other roles and may have too much on the table - although she is playing McBride's "fantasy woman" in Green's Your Highness and so this may be the beginning of a collaboration between Portman and Green.

Green also has his plate full with some other films and potential films: an adaptation of Steve Niles’s Southern horror comic book, Freaks of the Heartland, and possibly a semi-mysterious take on ’80s Amblin blockbusters called Mr. Machine, which would star McBride as a “robot [built by science fair nerds] that get a life of its own.

I'm a fan of David Gordon Green for the most part, but am constantly baffled by his recent choices of films. I also recently saw Suspiria for the first time (I know, a little late to the game) a few years ago after being almost forced to by a fellow horror film friend. Derek 8-Track and I watched it and were hardly impressed. I can understand why it was a good film at the time, but frankly it was too slow and boring and lacked the action and blood for my taste...and had WAY too many colored gel filters over the lights...trippy, I know...but not suspenseful or frightening. More like a slightly bloody Candyland with ballet dancers. Let's just hope the remake fixes that problem.

In a few days there will be a BIG announcement (big for me, at least) that is not-Hobbit related. BEFORE anyone starts wondering the usual “how does he have time?, Is this detracting form The Hobbit?” etc It is a project that started over 2 years ago, before The Hobbit and will render fruits in the mid-term, not intruding on my Hobbit duties. Rest assured. The key letter is “D”

Just last week we found out that Nikolaj Arcel has been tagged to direct Deadman, the DC comics adaptation that del Toro is producing. That’s three Ds, at least (throw in another if you count producer Don Murphy, maybe even another if you expect Doug Jones to take the lead role, as many do) and this film also fits the “over 2 years ago” clue nicely, with Peter first reporting on the film in 2006. But… is this really a big announcement? And would del Toro really try such an elliptical tease when he’s talking about a film that was in the trades just days ago?

Even though del Toro has a famously full slate of projects in development, it has been suggested several times that his first post-Hobbit picture will be an adaptation of Dan Simmons‘ novel Drood. It’s a historical murder mystery narrated, and most unreliably so, by a fictionalised version of the novelist Wilkie Collins. Collins embarks upon a journey into a threatening underworld with his friend Charles Dickens, in pursuit of the mysterious titular Drood. Though I’ve not read the book myself, those I trust have only positive things to tell me about it and as soon as I stop being lazy, I’m going to leap right in.

The last possibility is another comics adaptation. Back in 2008, del Toro told Empire magazine that he’d spoken to Neil Gaiman about a possible adaptation of Marvel’s Dr. Strange. Gaiman later clarified that he’d spoken to the big man about the job and was very excited, adding “I would love to write Dr. Strange. It would be absolutely one of my dream jobs, a Dr. Strange movie”.

So that’s a D for Dr. and, given the recent Marvel maneuvres, a D for Disney too. Kevin Feige at Marvel has said “as we start putting together our film slate for 2012 and 2013, I would not be shocked if we saw Dr. Strange on those lists”. The timing seems right, I think. del Toro could be ready to film Strange in early 2012, perhaps? That would give Gaiman plenty of time to get the script in shape.

I remember reading a while ago that he was really interested in the Drood novel. I don't remember where I read it, but that seems like it would be a good fit for him and I'm kinda hoping that's what the news is. Although I'd be fantastically happy with Dr. Strange as well.

Warner Bros’ live-action adaptation of Akira is not dead afterall. Collider has confirmed that screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby are hard at work on the project.

Fergus and Ostby wrote earlier drafts of Children of Men and are credited with Iron Man. The screenplay is set in a post-apocalyptic “New Manhattan” and will feature Akira’s famous red motorcycle. The original Katsuhiro Otomo anime was set in a futuristic and post-war city, Neo-Tokyo, in 2019. The film has been in development by Warner Brothers and Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way for some time, and Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli) had previously worked on the project.

This past week Nu Image/Millennium Films officially announced a greenlight for Rambo’s fifth mission, with Sylvester Stallone signed on to return to star and also direct. Stallone had previously hinted that the character would venture into a “slightly different genre,” leaving many fans to speculate sci-fi or a more comic bookish approach. But the plot synopsis released to the Hollywood trade papers was something else entirely… and apparently false.

Variety reported that Rambo would fight his way “through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border.” But Sly now confirms to AICN that the storyline is much different than what the trades had reported. Rambo will not be returning to the United States, and the story will instead be set in the Pacific Northwest.

The story involves a secret U.S. military installation where they are doing experiments to create “brilliantly instinctual killer soldiers that have no qualms about taking life.” And when things go wrong, Rambo is brought in with a Black Ops squad to hunt, capture and kill these chemically engineered creations.