Johnny Depp Close to Signing on for Fifth PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
by Adam Chitwood Posted: July 5th, 2011
For a while there, it looked as if we might be spared another rushed entry in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, as star/lynchpin Johnny Depp was reportedly not entirely certain he wanted to return. Well apparently the actor realized that he doesn’t own enough houses in France and/or armbands, because now The Wrap reports that Depp is close to a deal to return once again in a fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film. (The Wrap now reports that Depp’s total profits from the entire franchise so far is $350 million. Holy hell).This really isn’t all that surprising. The latest sequel, On Stranger Tides, just crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box-office. Obviously Disney and everyone involved behind the scenes that stands to make even more money was itching to go back to the well. Hit the jump for more. http://collider.com/johnny-depp-pirates-of-the-caribbean-5/100506/
Adam Sandler to Lead Voice Cast for Animated Family Film HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA
by Matt Goldberg Posted: July 5th, 2011
Sony Pictures Animation has lined up the voice cast for their 3D family comedy Hotel Transylvania. Adam Sandler, King of the Family-Films-I-Never-Want-to-See, will play the lead voice of Dracula, the head of the lavish “five-stake” resort for monsters, Hotel Transylvania. Dracula tries to prevent his teenage daughter Mavis from adventuring into the outside world, but runs into a complication when an ordinary guy (voiced by Andy Samberg) stumbles into the hotel and falls for Mavis. The voice cast also includes Kevin James as Frankstein, Fran Descher as his bride Eunice, David Spade as Quasimodo, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon as a pair of married werewolves, and Cee Lo Green as a Murray the Mummy. Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack) will direct.Hit the jump for the press release which includes a longer synopsis and the box office clout of Sandler as if that were some indication his movies were actually good. Hotel Transylvania is due out September 21, 2012.
http://collider.com/hotel-transylvania-adam-sandler-voice-cast/100460/
Official Synopsis Revealed for LAY THE FAVORITE
by Matt Goldberg Posted: July 5th, 2011
We’ve received a press release announcing that Stephen Frears’ adaptation of the Beth Raymer’s memoir Lay the Favorite wrapped principal photography today. The release includes the first official synopsis of the film and there are (unsurprisingly) some variations from the book. While the book covers Raymer’s rise through the ranks of sports gambling, the movie apparently adds romantic entanglements and drama that, going by the synopsis, seem awfully forced. But with Frears at the helm and a cast that features Rebecca Hall, Bruce Willis, Joshua Jackson, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, I’m still interested in seeing this flick.Hit the jump for the full synopsis. http://collider.com/lay-the-favorite-movie-synopsis/100456/
Clark Gregg and Rachel Bilson Join Amazing Cast of THE TO DO LIST
by Matt Goldberg Posted: July 5th, 2011
The raunchy comedy The To Do List (formerly titled The Hand Job) already has an outstanding cast and now has added two more great names to the list. The Playlist reports that Clark Gregg and Rachel Bilson have signed on to the flick which stars Aubrey Plaza as a sexually inexperienced teenager with a type-A personality who decides to engage in numerous sex acts before she goes to college. Allow me to blow your mind with a rundown of who else is in this film: Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Alia Shawkat, Mae Whitman, Johnny Simmons, Donald Glover, Connie Britton, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Scott Porter, D.C. Pierson and Dominic Dierkes. The Playlist speculates that Gregg will play the conservative father of Plaza’s character and Bilson will play her older sister.Written and directed by Maggie Carey, filming is likely to get underway soon before the majority of the cast has to return to their various TV shows.
http://collider.com/to-do-list-clark-gregg-rachel-bilson/100444/
Danny Boyle Eyeing Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson for TRANCE?
by Matt Goldberg Posted: July 5th, 2011
Danny Boyle has settled on the heist thriller Trance as his next film, but it’s going to have an odd schedule. He plans to shoot it in 2012, break to direct the Summer Olympics, and then edit it with an eye towards a March 2013 release. Michael Fassbender was rumored for the lead role he shady leader of a heist team gang partners with an art gallery assistant who masterminds the crime but then gets amnesia and forgets the location of the stolen portrait. Fassbender ultimately passed on the role, but James McAvoy started circling another role in the flick.Twitch now reports that Boyle is courting Oscar-winner Colin Firth to replace Fassbender (not a step down by any means) and he’s also looking at Scarlett Johansson for a supporting role. Presumably, the role for Johansson would be the hypnotist the gang hires to get into the assistant’s memory. Twitch also reports that Zoe Saldana and Mélanie Thierry (Babylon A.D.) are also on his short-list for the part. Hit the jump for a refresher on Firth and Johansson’s other projects. http://collider.com/trance-colin-firth-scarlett-johansson/100429/
New Posters for FINAL DESTINATION 5, TYRANNOSAUR, DREAM HOUSE, and THE ICEMAN
by Phil Brown Posted: July 5th, 2011
