Mel Gibson in Talks for SLEIGHT OF HAND
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: May 17th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Mel Gibson is in talks to star opposite Kiefer Sutherland, Gerard Depardieu, and Thomas Jane in the heist comedy Sleight of Hand. According to Variety, the story centers on “a bunch of bungling burglars in Paris who inadvertently steal a rare gold coin belonging to a gangster.” Til Schweiger, Johnny Hallyday, Jon Lovitz, and Eric Cantona also star. The initial announcement at the Cannes Film Festival indicates Sleight of Hand will be shot entirely in Paris from July to September. Brad Mirman (The Confession) will direct from his own script.
It’s hard not to think of every news item involving Gibson as a step in his public image rehabilitation, but I have nothing insightful to say about this possibility. Everyone loves a good heist film, especially if you let the crew loose in Paris. I like that the cast skews a bit older, and Gibson seems like a fine fit in however big a role he plays. (See, banal.)
Gibson has How I Spent My Summer Vacation in the can, but the action movie is still in search of distributor for a domestic release. (The rights to most international territories sold quickly.) Read the official synopsis for Sleight of Hand after the jump.
http://collider.com/mel-gibson-sleight-of-hand/91497/
Peter Berg’s Adaptation of LONE SURVIVOR Is a Go at Universal; Taylor Kitsch in Talks to Play Navy Seal
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: May 17th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Peter Berg has been attached to direct an adaptation of Lone Survivor, the autobiography of Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell, since 2007. Berg bonded with Luttrell during the making of The Kingdom, and penned the adaptation after spending a month with a Navy Seal unit. The idea was to make Lone Survivor his next film, but desert war films (including The Kingdom) were tough sells to moviegoers, and thus to studios. Universal made a deal with Berg: “You direct Battleship, we’ll fund Lone Survivor.” Flash forward a few years — Berg is in post-production on Battleship, and the Navy elite are en vogue following the triumphant and cinematic assassination of Osama Bin Laden by “Seal Team 6.” Disney and Kathryn Bigelow appear to have first dibs on that particular story, but Luttrell’s tale covers the same subject matter with comparable heroism. Luttrell was one of four Seals on a Bin Laden-related reconnaissance mission to a Taliban stronghold — only Luttrell made it back alive.
Lone Survivor is up and running again at Universal; with a script ready, Berg and the studio are targeting a January start date for production. Berg reached out to Battleship star Taylor Kitsch to play one of the Seals; he will continue to meet with other actors to fill out the foursome in the coming weeks.
Hit the jump for quotes from Berg on his approach to Luttrell’s story and a tongue-in-cheek response to the Battleship backlash.
http://collider.com/peter-berg-taylor-kitsch-lone-survivor/91457/
Oscar Isaac Joins Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis in STILL I RISE
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: May 17th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Oscar Isaac (Sucker Punch) has signed on to play the male lead in Still I Rise. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis star as “two frustrated mothers who team up to transform an inner-city public school.” Variety says Isaac will play a “sexy, ukulele-playing teacher” (is there any other kind of ukulele-playing teacher?) who romances and inspires Gyllenhaal’s character. Director Daniel Barnz (Beastly) is now polishing a rewrite of the original Brin Hill screenplay. Production on the Walden Media/Fox collaboration begins next week in Pittsburgh.
Isaac will next be seen among the impressive likes of Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, and Bryan Cranston in Drive when the movie opens September 16. Later in the year, Isaac will appear as one of the high school reunionites in the ensemble drama Ten Year; the role features a performance of a song Isaac wrote exclusively for the film. (Prior to his acting career, Isaac was the lead singer and guitarist for The Blinking Underdogs.) Finally, Isaac has a role in W.E., the romantic drama co-written and directed by Madonna.
http://collider.com/oscar-isaac-still-i-rise/91449/
Showing posts with label Oscar Isaac. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oscar Isaac. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
***Oscar Isaac Joins Maggie Gyllenhaal and Viola Davis in STILL I RISE ***Mel Gibson in Talks for SLEIGHT OF HAND ***Peter Berg’s Adaptation of LONE SURVIVOR Is a Go at Universal; Taylor Kitsch in Talks to Play Navy Seal
Thursday, December 16, 2010
***Oscar Isaac Joins Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Anna Faris, Justin Long, and Chris Pine in TEN YEAR ***Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry and Zac Efron Set to Party on NEW YEAR’S EVE
Oscar Isaac Joins Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Anna Faris, Justin Long, and Chris Pine in TEN YEAR
by Laura Kelley Posted: December 15th, 2010
Oscar Isaac (Robin Hood) has joined the cast of the ensemble drama Ten Year, the directorial debut of We Are Marshall screenwriter Jamie Linden. The film also stars Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan, Brian Geraghty, Anna Faris, Justin Long, Kate Mara, Chris Pratt, Chris Pine, Scott Porter and Anthony Mackie as friends reconnecting ten years after their high school graduation. According to Risky Business, Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are producing with Tatum’s 33andOut Productions partner Reid Carolin.
Ten Year is set to begin shooting this month in New Mexico. Oscar Isaac will be seen next in Sucker Punch in March.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry and Zac Efron Set to Party on NEW YEAR’S EVE
by Jeff Ames Posted: December 15th, 2010
As the list of actors continues to pile up on Garry Marshall’s New Year’s Eve, one has to wonder if everyone involved will have little more than brief cameos. But who would do such a thing as place the likes of Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jessica Biel together in a film and then give them little more than 10 to 15 minutes of screen time? Probably the same guy who directed Valentine’s Day.
THR reports the already very large ensemble — which includes Hilary Swank, Sofia Vergara, Lea Mitchele, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift and Abigail Breslin — will have to make room for three more. Namely Sarah Jessica Parker, recent Golden Globe nominee Halle Berry and Zac Efron. The cast has yet to commit to the film, but negotiations are underway with everyone involved. (“So Mr. De Niro, who would you like to play?” “I’ll take the 12-minute role for $10 million.” “Done.”) New Year’s Eve is set for release December 9, 2011.
