***Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Gillian Anderson, and Mark Williams to Star in 18th Century Zombie Film THE CURSE OF THE BUXOM STRUMPET ***Mel Gibson in Talks for SLEIGHT OF HAND ***Ryan Reynolds to Choose Between "Deadpool" and "The Flash" ***Todd Phillips Says "The Hangover" Will be a Trilogy

Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Gillian Anderson, and Mark Williams to Star in 18th Century Zombie Film THE CURSE OF THE BUXOM STRUMPET

by Matt Goldberg   Posted: May 18th, 2011 at 8:40 am

It looks like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies isn’t the only period-piece/zombie flick mash-up in town.  ScreenDaily reports that Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Gillian Anderson, and Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley from the Harry Potter films) are attached to star in Matthew Butler’s The Curse of the Buxom Strumpet.  The film is based off Butler’s 2010 short comedy E’gad Zombies, which also starred McKellen.  The plot of Buxom Strumpet, co-written by Tori Hart, is about the “inhabitants of a small seaside town who are struck down with a deadly illness.”  No details are provided on that deadly illness, but I imagine it involves glassy eyes, coming back to life, and a hunger for human flesh.
While I’m a fan of this cast, I’m still not sold on the appeal of these movies beyond the novelty they provide.  I can understand Butler using the premise for a short film, but I’m worried that the joke becomes stale when stretched out to feature length.  Hit the jump to read a synopsis of E’gad Zombies and to see a trailer for the short.
http://collider.com/ian-mckellen-judi-dench-curse-of-the-buxom-strumpet/91508/

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/

Ryan Reynolds to Choose Between "Deadpool" and "The Flash"

Posted: May 19th, 2011 by WorstPreviews.com Staff


Ryan Reynolds played Deadpool in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which is why it was surprising that Warner Bros hired the actor to play the title role in "Green Lantern."

But there were also talks of Reynolds playing The Flash, which may be difficult to do if Green Lantern and The Flash both appear in the upcoming "Justice League of America" movie.

We know that the actor has been prepping "Deadpool," which Reynolds says may be the reason why he will have to pass on "The Flash." "I always thought if I did a 'Deadpool' film, I wouldn't do a 'Flash' movie," he told CBR, adding that he's comfortable with playing Deadpool after playing Green Lantern because the characters are so different. "The [Deadpool] movie we're working on is more of a deconstruction of superhero movies."

Source: CBR



Read more: http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=21709&count=0

 

 

 

Todd Phillips Says "The Hangover" Will be a Trilogy

Posted: May 19th, 2011 by WorstPreviews.com Staff


During a press conference for "The Hangover Part 2," director Todd Phillips confirmed that he would like the franchise to become a trilogy if audiences come out to see the second film.

"We always envisioned it as a trilogy," he said. "The third would very much be a finale and an ending. The most I could say about it, and I haven't discussed it with these actors, is that it is not following that template but very much a new idea."

When asked where he would like "The Hangover Part 3" to take place, Phillips joked: "I'm very open, like the Olympic committee, to being pitched and presented cities. Flown around with wine and women and bribed and then I will make my decision."

Source: Collider



Read more: http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=21703&count=0

 

**First Clip from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES **Justin Bartha On Set Interview THE HANGOVER PART II **THE HANGOVER PART II On Set Interview with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Director Todd Phillips **Saoirse Ronan to Star in Adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s THE HOST

First Clip from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 3rd, 2011

Disney has released the first clip from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.  I’ve always felt like I was in the minority of being interested in a new Pirates film since I don’t know many folks who enjoy the sequels (they’re big, bombastic, and don’t always hit their mark, but they take a lot of chances that pay off).  However, last week, Company Town reported that On Stranger Tides could be the year’s first $100m+ opening weekend because the film is tracking so well.
But this first clip from the film gives me pause.  The way Jack frees himself from the guards with a simple flip of the wrists looks silly and for an escape from the palace, I’m confused as to why he’s going away from the window.  Of course, the big problem with clips is that they lack context, so hopefully this scene will work better when I see the film.  Hit the jump to check out the clip.  The film stars Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, and Geoffrey Rush.  Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opens in 3D on May 20th.
.......... http://collider.com/pirates-4-movie-clip/88711/

Justin Bartha On Set Interview THE HANGOVER PART II

by Andre Dellamorte   Posted: May 3rd, 2011

For The Hangover Justin Bartha’s Doug was the impetus for the story, but he spent much of the movie sidelined as his disappearance fueled the story. For the sequel, The Hangover Part II, Bartha returns as Doug and from his own words has a bit more to do this time out. We got a chance to talk to him as the movie was filming – he wasn’t on set the day we visited, and he talked about his character in the film, The Hangover’s cultural resonance and what it’s like to return to a character. Check out our interview after the jump.
........ http://collider.com/justin-bartha-interview-the-hangover-part-2/88445/

THE HANGOVER PART II On Set Interview with Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Director Todd Phillips

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: May 3rd, 2011

For the set visit to The Hangover Part II, secrecy was critical. What we saw we were told not to write about until now, and what we were told was minimal. Though now the general premise and storyline has been outed by the trailer, when we came on all that was known was that the boys would be going to the Far East for their adventures.
When we went to the Warner Brothers lot, it was dressed as a shitty Thai apartment, where Ed Helms was running around in his underwear with a tattoo on his face, Zach Galifianakis had a shaved head, and Bradley Cooper was wrestling with a monkey. Even that was deemed too much new information. Check after the jump for more.
........... http://collider.com/the-hangover-2-interview-bradley-cooper-ed-helms-zach-galifianakis/88442/

Saoirse Ronan to Star in Adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s THE HOST

by Matt Goldberg   Posted: May 3rd, 2011

Saoirse Ronan is one of the best young actors working today and she’s managed to give impressive performances regardless of whether she’s in a great film (Hanna) or an atrocious one (The Lovely Bones).  Here’s hoping that The Host is the former because Deadline is reporting that Ronan has landed the lead role.  Based on the novel by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer, The Host is about an alien species called “Souls” that latch on to human hosts, destroy their consciousness, and erase their personalities.  Ronan would play Melanie Stryder, one of the remaining free humans who is captured by the aliens and implanted with a Soul called “Wanderer”.  Wanderer intends to make Stryder give up the location of her cohorts, but instead becomes impressed by Melanie’s unwillingness to surrender her consciousness, and Wanderer becomes driven to connect the young woman to her former life.
Writer Andrew Niccol (The Truman Show) wrote the script and was set to direct before moving on to the sci-fi drama Now starring Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake.  But since that film is now mostly finished, it’s possible that Niccol may return to The Host.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.
.......... http://collider.com/soairse-ronan-the-host-stephanie-meyer/88722/

***Hollywood’s Top Earners in 2010

Hollywood’s Top Earners in 2010

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 2nd, 2011

Vanity Fair has posted their annual list of the Hollywood folk who earned the most from making movies in 2010, and I love that they break every total down into upfront fees, back-end, and ancilliary revenue.  The top 10 is split between actors — Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler, Taylor Lautner, Robert Downey Jr. — and producer/directors — James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, Todd Phillips.  Hit the jump to see how they ranked and what they earned.

The list only counts money made from film-related projects (i.e. no television or advertisement paychecks), and counts the income made from January 1 to December 31, 2010 no matter when the movie was/will be released.  This excludes $50 million Cameron’s 2010 total, but he had no problem claiming the top spot with all his Avatar funds.

It’s funny to that Theme Park Consultant was Spielberg’s most profitable job last year.  I was taken aback by his $20 million upfront fee to write and produce War Horse — never got the sense the drama would have the scale that merits such a large paycheck for behind-the-camera talent.

Kinda sad to see only 6 females in the top 40, none of whom made the top 10.  But man is it cool to see Christopher Nolan in the top five without any help from Batman — his only source of income an entirely original property.

Vanity Fair posted the top 40 at their site.  Here are the top 10:

1. James Cameron – $257 million

• $248 million: Avatar (back-end for writing, producing, and directing, based on 2010 worldwide box-office gross of $1.95 billion, and share of DVD and pay-television revenue; excludes $50 million earned in 2009)
• $5 million: Avatar (share of toy licensing, other revenue)
• $4 million: Older film revenue (e.g., back-end and royalties from earlier projects, other payments)

2. Johnny Depp - $100 million

• $40 million: Alice in Wonderland (back-end for starring, based on worldwide gross of $1.02 billion)
• $35 million: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (up-front money)
• $20 million: The Tourist (fee for starring)
• $5 million: Older film revenue

3. Steven Spielberg – $80 million

• $50 million: Universal-theme-park royalties and consulting fees
• $20 million: War Horse (fee for directing and producing)
• $10 million: Older film revenue

4. Christopher Nolan – $71.5 million

• $69 million: Inception (back-end for writing, producing, and directing, based on worldwide gross of $823 million, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)
• $2.5 million: Older film revenue

5. Leonardo DiCaprio -  $62 million

• $59 million: Inception (back-end for starring)
• $3 million: Back-end for starring in Shutter Island, older film revenue

6. Tim Burton - $53 million

• $50 million: Alice in Wonderland (back-end for directing, based on worldwide gross of $1.02 billion, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)
• $3 million: Older film revenue

7. Adam Sandler – $50 million

• $25 million: Just Go with It (fee for producing and starring)
• $20 million: Jack and Jill (fee for producing and starring)
• $3 million: Grown Ups (back-end for starring and writing, based on worldwide gross of $271 million, plus share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)
• $2 million: Older film revenue

8. Todd Phillips – $34 million

• $15 million: The Hangover Part II (fee for writing, producing, and directing)
• $13 million: The Hangover (back-end for producing and directing; excludes $39 million earned in 2009)
• $3 million: Due Date (back-end for producing and directing, based on worldwide gross of $200 million, as of December 31, 2010)
• $2 million: Older film revenue
• $1 million: Project X (fee for producing)

9. Taylor Lautner – $33.5 million

• $12.5 million: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1 (fee for starring)
• $12.5 million: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2 (fee for starring)
• $7.5 million: Abduction (fee for starring)
• $1 million: Older film revenue, mostly from Twilight franchise

10. Robert Downey Jr. – $31.5 million

• $15 million: Fee for starring in upcoming untitled Sherlock Holmes sequel
• $12 million: Iron Man 2 (back-end, based on worldwide gross of $627 million, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)
• $3.5 million: Sherlock Holmes (back-end, based on worldwide gross of $523 million, and share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)
• $1 million: Older film revenue

http://collider.com/hollywood-top-earners-2010/74275/