***First Trailer for Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE ***Casting Call: Allison Janney STRUCK BY LIGHTNING; Giancarlo Esposito Joins I, ALEX CROSS; HBO Casts Dev Patel in MORE AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS ***Warner Bros. Wants Johnny Depp to Revive Adaptation of CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL ***Will Smith Wants Denzel Washington for Katrina Drama THE AMERICAN CAN

Casting Call: Allison Janney STRUCK BY LIGHTNING; Giancarlo Esposito Joins I, ALEX CROSS; HBO Casts Dev Patel in MORE AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 28th, 2011

Allison Janney has signed on to star opposite Chris Colfer (Glee) in the coming-of-age comedy Struck by Lightning.  Colfer also wrote the script which, per Variety, “opens with Colfer’s character being struck and killed by a bolt of lightning; flashbacks will chronicle his exploits as he blackmails his classmates into contributing to a literary magazine he’s publishing.”  The independent production will shoot this July in Los Angeles during Colfer’s summer hiatus from Glee.  Brian Dannelly (Saved!) will direct.
Hit the jump for more Giancarlo Esposito’s role in I, Alex Cross, and the casting of Dev Patel in More As This Story Develops. http://collider.com/allison-janney-struck-by-lightning-giancarlo-esposito-i-alex-cross/99456/

First Trailer for Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 28th, 2011

A Spanish trailer for Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of War Horse has leaked online.  The movie charts the journey of a horse named Joey and his quest to reunite with a farmer’s son named Albert (Jeremy Irvine) against the backdrop of World War I.  Disney should release the official trailer soon, but the quality of this version is sufficient for now.  If you were hoping for a sweeping epic with a soaring John Williams score, the new clip promises just that.
Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberpatch, Patrick Kennedy, Emily Watson, Toby Kebbell, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan, and Peter Mullan also star.  War Horse opens December 28th. Watch the trailer after the jump. http://collider.com/war-horse-trailer/87032/

Warner Bros. Wants Johnny Depp to Revive Adaptation of CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL

by Brendan Bettinger   Posted: June 28th, 2011

An adaptation of the Glen David Gold novel Carter Beats the Devil has stagnated in development at Warner Bros. since it was published in 2002.  24 Frames hears the studio is ready to revive the project.  Johnny Depp tops the wishlist to star as Charles Carter (aka Carter the Great), a master illusionist in the 1920s: “[Carter] stages a sawed-in-half trick on President Warren G. Harding, only to be forced on the lam after Harding mysteriously dies shortly after.”  The plot features other historical figures, including Harry Houdini, BMW founder Max Friz, and television pioneer Philo Farnsworth.
Depp isn’t locked in, but Carter sounds like a character that would intrigue the idiosyncratic actor.  A Warner Bros. spokesperson declined to comment, but word on the street says a new draft of the script was just turned in, and the studio is reaching out to agencies to find a director.  Read the book synopsis after the jump. http://collider.com/johnny-depp-carter-beats-the-devil/99439/

Will Smith Wants Denzel Washington for Katrina Drama THE AMERICAN CAN

by Adam Chitwood   Posted: June 28th, 2011

Will Smith has been working on getting his Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can made for a while now, and it looks like he’s found his star. While Smith originally intended to both produce and star in the film, a schedule conflict with filming M. Night Shyalmalan’s One Thousand A.E. has forced him to take a strictly behind-the-scenes role on the flick. Vulture reports that Smith is now keen on casting Denzel Washington in the lead role.
John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) wrote the script and will direct the film, which tells the true story of a group of residents who were trapped in their apartment complex when the levees broke during Katrina. An ex-Marine named John Keller stayed with the group for days, which included dozens of aged (and white) residents, warding off looters and successfully obtaining much-needed air-dropped food, water, and medical supplies. Washington is currently giving notes on the project, and apparently Smith and Sony will make their casting decision based on his input. http://collider.com/denzel-washington-the-american-can-will-smith/99403/

**New Images Of Spielberg On The Set Of War Horse **Ryan Gosling: Dog Days in Detroit **Reese Witherspoon & Robert Pattinson: More 'Elephant' Stills! **Emma Stone Gets 'Help' with Her Curly Hair

New Images Of Spielberg On The Set Of War Horse
published: 2011-03-14 16:32:34 Author: Katey Rich
I don't think any of us are quite grateful enough that this year we're getting two new Steven Spielberg movies. Two! And none of them are an ill-begotten Indiana Jones sequel, and both might actually be really good! I know, I know, it truly is wonderful to be alive. Though the bigger and more expensive of the projects is doubtlessly The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, coming on December 23, the one we've been hearing the most about lately is War Horse, the period epic opening in the United States not even a week later, on December 28.


Last week we saw the first official images from the film, about a young English boy who enlists in World War I to reunite with his beloved horse, and now many more images have popped up at the Italian film site Bad Taste: you can see them below and click for the larger versions. The new photos include a few shots of Spielberg working on the set, a really striking silhouette image of a horse in motion, and the somewhat inexplicable image of a horse nudging a young girl in bed. The movie stars newcomer Jeremy Irvine as the boy who enlists but many notable English actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch, David Thewlis and Emily Watson, round out the cast. None of them are particularly featured in these images, but the horse itself is striking enough that you won't even notice.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/New-Images-Of-Spielberg-On-The-Set-Of-War-Horse-23644.html



Mon, 14 March 2011
 Ryan Gosling: Dog Days in Detroit

Ryan Gosling takes his dog, George, for a walk on Monday (March 14) in Detroit, Michigan.


The 30-year-old actor walked George around the campus of the University of Michigan while on a break from shooting his latest movie, The Ides of March.


Ryan and co-star George Clooney also shot scenes in Cincinnati and Oxford, Ohio.


Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei also star in the new project.
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/03/14/ryan-gosling-dog-days-in-detroit/




Mon, 14 March 2011
Reese Witherspoon & Robert Pattinson: More 'Elephant' Stills!

Robert Pattinson moves in to kiss Reese Witherspoon in these stills from their upcoming movie, Water for Elephants.


In the film, out April 22, Robert plays Jacob, a veterinary school student who falls for Marlena (Witherspoon), even though she’s married to a charismatic but dangerous husband (Christopher Waltz).


WATCH: Water for Elephants Trailer


Reese gushed about working with the Twilight star, calling him “so amazing and wonderful and sweet and just the nicest guy.”
..... http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/03/14/reese-witherspoon-robert-pattinson-more-elephant-stills/






Mon, 14 March 2011
Emma Stone Gets 'Help' with Her Curly Hair

Emma Stone walks around the set of her new drama, The Help, with a head full of curls on Sunday (March 13) in Los Angeles.


The 22-year-old actress plays Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan in the film, which centers around three women living in the South who strike up an unlikely friendship.


Emma is back in the States after spending time in France for Paris Fashion Week.


Emma sat in the front row for the Louis Vuitton Ready to Wear show, which Alex Pettyfer also attended.
.... http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/03/14/emma-stone-help-curly-hair/

**New Images from THE HANGOVER PART II **First Image from Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE **First Trailer for J.J. Abrams SUPER 8! **Darren Aronosky to Produce New Drug Drama INTRICATE for Director Brad Furman [UPDATED]

New Images from THE HANGOVER PART II
by Matt Goldberg Posted: March 11th, 2011 at 9:06 am

New images from Todd Phillips’ The Hangover Part II have gone online. Also, Justin Bartha explains how his character Doug will factor into the shenanigans this time around:


“Doug isn’t lost in this one. There are similar circumstances, but he’s a little bit more involved.”


Hit the jump to check out the images as well as Paul Giamatti providing minor details on his character. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis. The Hangover Part II opens May 26th.


.......read more; http://collider.com/hangover-2-movie-images/80058/

 



First Image from Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE [Updated with More Images]
by Matt Goldberg Posted: March 11th, 2011 at 8:35 am



While it could be nice to say it’s too early to consider any movie as a leading contender in the 2011 Oscar race, I’m pretty sure a Steven Spielberg war movie automatically gets printed on every ballot. Spielberg’s adaptation of the World War I drama War Horse centers on Joey, a farm horse that’s sold to the military and sent to the front lines. With the brutality of the first great war as a backdrop, Joey struggles to make his way home to the farmer’s son, Albert (played by newcomer Jeremy Irvine). DreamWorks has released the first official image from the film and while it doesn’t feature Albert or Joey, it does show off co-stars Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock), Patrick Kennedy (Atonement), and Tom Hiddleston (Thor).


Hit the jump to check out the full image along with quotes from Irvine on the film’s production. The film’s impressive cast of British thespians also includes Emily Watson, Toby Kebbell, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan, and Peter Mullan. War Horse opens December 28th. [Update: We have updated this article with more images from the movie. Hit the jump to check them out.]
..........read more; http://collider.com/war-horse-movie-image/80052/


 

First Trailer for J.J. Abrams SUPER 8!
by Jason Barr Posted: March 11th, 2011 at 5:41 am


Paramount has released the first trailer for writer/director J.J. Abrams’ Super 8. We will update with our thoughts shortly. In the meantime, we wanted to get the trailer to you ASAP. [Update: Matt here. I think the trailer looks fantastic. It really nails the Amblin vibe that Abrams is going for and I like that there's more of an emphasis on characters and mystery than on special effects. This is one of the few films this summer that isn't a sequel or based off an existing property so I hope that it works out.]


Super 8 stars Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Zach Mills, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, and Amanda Michalka. The film opens later this year on June 10th. Hit the jump to check out the trailer.
.......... read more;
http://collider.com/super-8-trailer/77181/



 

Darren Aronosky to Produce New Drug Drama INTRICATE for Director Brad Furman [UPDATED]
by CJ Simonson Posted: March 11th, 2011 at 10:34 am


Darren Aronofsky is no stranger to drugs and movies coming together; his 2000 drama Requiem for a Dream is one of the most haunting portrayals of drug addicts ever seen on film. 24 Frames is now reporting the acclaimed director is returning to the world of drugs in a new movie he’s producing entitled Intricate. Brad Furman, the director of the upcoming thriller The Lincoln Lawyer, has been tagged to direct the film, which is based on a true story about a college basketball star who falls into the seedy underbelly of New York’s drug world in the 1990s. Protozoa Pictures, Aronofsky and Black Swan producer Scott Franklin’s production company, will be helping to fund the movie.


[Update: Franklin now tells 24 Frames that while he gave notes on the project and introduced Furman to a screenwriter, Protozoa is not currently attached to produce.]
........read more; http://collider.com/darren-aronosky-intricate-brad-furman/80081/



New Photos From The Hangover Part II; Justin Bartha Says Doug Doesn't Get Lost This Time
published: 2011-03-11 14:56:17 Author: Eric Eisenberg
We've seen quite a few images and even a teaser trailer from Todd Phillips' The Hangover Part II, but each one has made us ponder the exact same question, a question first asked in the 2009 blockbuster: Where's Doug, a.k.a. Justin Bartha? Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helmes) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) have all been part of the marketing, but we've been left wondering if Doug disappearing would play into the plot. While all signs would point to yes, the answer is apparently no.


The print edition of Empire (via The Playlist) recently ran a feature on the upcoming comedy sequel and Bartha says flat out that missing Doug won't be a part of the plot this time around. But just because someone's not lost doesn't mean that their absence doesn't play a part of the bigger picture, the actor saying, "There are similar circumstances, but he’s a little bit more involved." The story also features a bit about the cast's experience off the set in Bangkok, which apparently was almost as crazy as what their character's go through in the movie. Said Cooper, "I didn’t feel like we’d started the movie ‘til we were in Bangkok - things started getting crazy, people started getting sick. We needed to get it into our blood. Literally. On a bacterial level."


The article also came with two new stills which - surprise! - still don't include Bartha as part of the gang. You can check out one of the scans below and head over to The Playlist for the other.
.......... http://www.cinemablend.com/new/New-Photos-From-The-Hangover-Part-II-Justin-Bartha-Says-Doug-Doesn-t-Get-Lost-This-Time-23606.html



 

First Official Images From Steven Spielberg's War Horse
published: 2011-03-11 10:45:50 Author: Katey Rich

 Anyone keeping an eye on up-and-coming actors out of England will have a lot to enjoy in Steven Spielberg's War Horse, the epic hitting theaters at the end of this year, just weeks after Spielberg's other new film The Adventures of Tintin comes out. The film stars Jeremy Irvine, who was playing a spear carrier with the Royal Shakespeare Company when Spielberg picked him to play the lead, a boy who enlists as a soldier in World War I solely to be reunited with his beloved horse.


Also on board are actors with more familiar film credits, and they're at the center of the first official image from the movie, which ran alongside an interview with Irvine in The Daily Mail. Check out Benedict Cumberbatch (of TV's Sherlock, Four Lions and Atonement), Patrick Kennedy (also of Atonement) and Tom Hiddleston (playing Loki in this summer's Thor) as soldiers on horseback in the image below.
.......... http://www.cinemablend.com/new/First-Official-Images-From-Steven-Spielberg-s-War-Horse-23602.html

***Official Synopsis for Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE

Official Synopsis for Steven Spielberg’s WAR HORSE

by Jeff Ames    Posted: December 14th, 2010

Things are heating up for Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated drama War Horse, starring Emily Watson, David Thewlis and Jeremy Irvine. After a few brief set photos a while back, and that release date fiasco – which bumped War Horse from its initial August 10, 2011 opening to a more awards-savy December 28, 2011 – we are now pleased to unveil the film’s official synopsis, courtesy of DreamWorks.

Okay, so maybe the news isn’t that ground breaking, but at least it’s something. We have long been privy to the film’s synopsis (it is based on a play that was, in turn, adapted from a children’s book after all), but even so, the Beard has seen fit to grant us an “official” rundown of his flick, which adds a few minute (even spoiler-ish) details. Hit the jump for the synopsis and more.

Here’s the official synopsis:

From director Steven Spielberg comes “War Horse,” an epic adventure for audiences of all ages. Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war—a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

Here’s the synopsis for the book via Amazon:

In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey’s courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer’s son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?

I must say I’m a huge fan of all things Spielberg. Unfortunately, the most recent projects we can link him to are Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Hereafter and The Lovely Bones. (Okay, he produced the terrific HBO mini-series The Pacific as well, but cinematically speaking the man’s track record of late has been quite average.) And yet, here we are on the brink of a possible (maybe even monumental) comeback, what with True Grit (which he produced) lingering around the corner; not to mention upcoming a slew of promising new films Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, J.J. Abram’s Super 8, Real Steel and Cowboys and Aliens on the horizon. Add in next Christmas’ The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, War Horse plus his planned adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson’s Robopocalyspe and you have yourself an impending return-to-form for The Beard, whose last great film came way back in 2002’s Catch Me If You Can (if you ask me). War Horse in particular looks likely to place him back in the Oscar race, what with its WWI backdrop, and little-horse-that-could storyline. Call it Saving Private Seabiscuit, if you will.

This is shaping up to be a nice drink of water after a long drought indeed.

http://www.collider.com/2010/12/14/war-horse-movie-synopsis/