A wonderful guide to 11 Oz films you may be seeing in theaters soon

From: http://blastr.com/

Fairy-tale fever seems to have struck Hollywood, with all signs pointing to the hallowed green halls of the Emerald City. Oz has suddenly become the premier destination for a battalion of producers, directors and studios stampeding to stake their claim for the next lucrative franchise from the lands of children's literature.
An avalanche of sequels, prequels and just plain freaky distortions of the original material looms just over the rainbow, including live action, CGI, stop-motion animation, classically adapted, steampunk renditions, dark takes and contemporary visitations. Nothing is sacred in the magical land of Oz anymore.

Warner Brothers just won a copyright infringement case on Oz-related merchandise that could give them the upper hand as these icons return to the screen. The ruling states that filmmakers who wish to create a new version of a literary work—even one in the public domain—must be careful not to use copyrightable elements of characters that first appeared in protected motion picture versions of the works, meaning screenwriters and directors will have to craft their characters carefully without trading on previous renderings. Easier said than done, Dorothy.

As with our feature on Frankenstein projects in the laboratory, many of these Oz projects will get lost, trip or stumble, never making it to the screen. Whatever the results, that swirling crystal ball is showing there may be a whole lotta Oz in your future. One thing is certain ... ruby slippers, flying monkeys, charlatan wizards and feuding wicked witches are steadily marching toward Tinseltown.

Here's Hollywood's current Oz lineup so you can click your heels and keep score at home ...

OZ, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

The most visible of all Oz projects in development. Disney swung hard and hired Spider-Man director Sam Raimi to command this prequel centering on the legendary wizard (James Franco), telling the story of a carnival barker who accidentally discovers the magical land of Oz and is mistaken for a sorcerer.

Robert Downey Jr. was attached to star, but commitments to Sherlock Holmes 2 and The Avengers delayed production and he exited. Rachel Weisz is negotiating to play Evanora, the wicked broom rider of the East opposite Black Swan's Mila Kunis as Theadora, the nasty one of the West. (Who knew they had names?) Michelle Williams plays sugary-sweet Glinda, and affable Zach Braff is the great Oz's faithful assistant.

Danny Elfman does the score! Shooting starts July with a planned March 2013 release.

DOROTHY OF OZ

Set to open in theaters in spring 2012, this lavish animated version comes from indie studio Summertime Entertainment and is directed by Disney animation veteran Dan St. Pierre. An awesome voice cast includes Glee's Lea Michele as Dorothy, Dan Aykroyd as the Scarecrow, Kelsey Grammer as the Tin Man and James Belushi as the Cowardly Lion.

The cartoon outing is based on an original story by Baum's grandson Roger S. Baum, as Dorothy returns to Oz to help her friends defeat an evil entity known as the Jester. Sappy Canadian pop star Bryan Adams has written songs for the project. Ouch, that cuts like a knife.

THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ

John Boorman (Deliverance, Excalibur), whose 1974 sci-fi film Zardoz was inspired by Baum's book, enters the mix with a big-budget CGI-animated version of The Wizard of Oz with no catchy dance numbers, primed for a 2012 release. The British director states they're still deep in production and word is the story is dark.

This will be Boorman's first animated feature and the script was written by Ron Mita and Jim McClain (Robots). Baum's material is ripe for creative interpretation and Boorman, who deftly adapted Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur for his visionary King Arthur epic, may strike gold again.

OZ: RETURN TO THE EMERALD CITY

Here's the second of Warner's two Oz flicks in the works. In this modern-day sequel, Chicago lawyer Dorothy Neil, granddaughter of the original Dorothy, is whisked away to Oz with her boss's daughter where they team up with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion to take down a tyrannical witch who threatens to destroy all the magic in Oz. (Why do they ALWAYS do that?)

This project originated back when comic artist Todd McFarlane offered Thunder Road Productions an Oz film based on his "Twisted Land Of Oz" toy line. Thunder Road passed but decided to develop an Oz update of their own. Screenwriter Josh Olson (A History Of Violence) pitched them a family-friendly fastball right down the plate and Warner was in love. Producer Basil Iwaynk (The Town, Clash of the Titans) could direct.

TWISTED LAND OF OZ

This is one we'd truly sign away our immortal souls to see. It's a project based on Spawn-daddy Todd McFarlane's disturbingly cool line of Oz action figures that debuted in 2003. The horrific playthings feature a sexy, S&M Dorothy, monstrous Tin Man, a savage Cowardly Lion and demonic Scarecrow along with an entire demented host of supporting characters. This one is definitely somewhere WAY, WAY over the rainbow.

According to McFarlane, the script is currently getting some second draft revisions but thinks his sick toybox might be a little too scary for Warner Brothers to embrace. Scary? Wait, we love scary!!

 WICKED

Gird yourselves for Universal's musical adaptation of Gregory Maguire's best-selling novel. It's an origin story that tells how the Wicked Witch of the West became Oz enemy number one. Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003 and is still packin' 'em in every night. Kristin Chenoweth originated the glittering role of Glinda in the stage show and will surely reprise it in the big screen version with Wicked star Idina Menzel.

Wicked writer, Winnie Holzman has finished the screenplay but no casting choices have been finalized. JJ Abrams, James Mangold (Walk The Line) and Rob Marshall (Chicago) have been discussed as directors for the girl-power gala.

DARK OZ

The sinister Caliber Comics Oz series was first optioned way back in 2008, with Pearry Teo set to direct and Pras Michel of The Fugees lined up to star. Teo has visions of giving the film a decisive steampunk look, distinguishing the project from the scrambling mob of similar versions. Scriptwise, Dorothy returns to Oz to find that it is under the spell of three evil kings- the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man! This production is currently on hold pending financing and distribution issues.

SURRENDER DOROTHY

We first heard of this project in 2002, with Drew Barrymore attached to star from an Oz-inspired script written by Zach Helm (Stranger Than Fiction). Similar to Oz: Return To The Emerald City, Barrymore would play a descendant of the original Dorothy Gale, who has to stop the original and still-living Wicked Witch of the West from taking over the kingdoms of Oz and Earth, using the atomic power of her ruby slippers.

It was announced last year that Barrymore was thinking of directing the film as a follow-up to 2009's Whip It. Munchkins on rollerskates? Hmm, she may have something there.

LAND OF OZ

The other Wizard of Oz film being developed at Warner Brothers under their New Line banner. Shrek Forever After screenwriter Darren Lemke is adapting the original novel in the series as a faithful, non-musical version.

Brought to you by Temple Hill, the production company behind the Twilight saga, Oz skips back to where it all began and reportedly follows the book page for page. Rumors say this one's head may be on the emerald chopping block if Warner passes.

OZ WARS

This one has a high salivation factor. Oz Wars is a new stop-motion animated film set within the vast fantasy world first visited in The Wizard Of Oz. The project is fronted by The Corpse Bride co-director Mike Johnson and merrily joins the crowded competition.

Variety reports Vanguard Films will be producing the movie. Johnson was quoted as saying: "It's an animated action-adventure story, but unlike most animated films, it's not just for kids. The Land of Oz will be reimagined using stop-motion to create a world that's dark, slick, sexy and dangerous." Really? You had us at dark!

THE WITCHES OF OZ

This baby is in the can and awaiting a distribution deal. Originally set for television, it may get a 3-D release in theaters or be destined for the direct-to-video bin. It's another sequel to the first book and follows successful children's author Dorothy Gale as she discovers her stories about a magical land are actually repressed childhood memories. Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Christopher Lloyd and Lance Henriksen star opposite newcomer Paulie Rojas as Dorothy. Writer/ director Leigh Scott is known for his cheap, knockoff films like Transmorphers, but behind-the-scenes clips show there were a few bucks spent on the production.

Exhausted? That's an army of Oz assaulting us over the next few years. Which one do you think will move on down the yellow brick road?

Now it's 4D film: The high-tech cinemas which will make you feel sick, damp... and punched

By Daily Mail Reporter
From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Hollywood is converting blockbuster films into 4-D because cinemagoers are shunning pricey multi-dimensional 3-D versions


But the experience has left some fans feeling sick, damp and pummeled after watching movies like Kung Fu Panda 2 and the latest Pirates of the Caribbean box-office hit.

A Korean company has built cinemas with seats which rock and special effects like wind, fog, strobe lights and scents are synchronised with the on-screen action.

Success in 4-D: Kung Fu Panda 2 with the voice of Jack Black as panda Po

The company, CJ 4DPlex, has opened an office in Los Angeles where computer programmes are written for the action films.

It plans to build America's first 4-D screen multiplex in New York and if it is a success, they will expand into Europe.

The biggest 4-D film in Seoul last week was Kung Fu Panda, the martial arts cartoon adventure with the voices of Jack Black, playing panda Po and Angelina Jolie.

 

A Korean blogger called Prof Miscreant reported in the Sunday Times: 'The seats have massage chair motors so that they punch you (lightly) in the kidneys or bottom when Po gets hit or falls down.

'At the end bubbles floated down from the ceiling to simulate fireworks - hilarious and well worth the 18,000 won (£10) ticket price.'

Blockbuster Avatar: Special 4-D audience effects were a huge hit with Korean movie fans

But not every movie fan is happy with the physical effects. 


Some customers complained of feeling damp from the water effects after watching Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides but 'smelling sweet' like Captain Sparrow star Johnny Depp.

And there were reports of people becoming nauseous and going temporarily deaf after watching Transformers: Dark of the Moon where the major smell is the scent of burnt rubber.

CJ 4DPlex was the first company to make a 4-D version of James Cameron's 3-D futuristic blockbuster Avatar. 


Audiences lapped up the smell of explosives and the howling wind effects so much so that the company is opening another three 4-D cinemas with seats that bend backwards and fly into the air.

A Seoul film distributor told Variety magazine: 'They are in a niche right now, like Imax giant screens a decade ago.'

Movie Geeks Mobilize to Save the Iconic Bottle Rocket Motel

by Jen Yamato
from: http://www.movieline.com/

When fans of Wes Anderson’s 1996 debut feature Bottle Rocket heard that the iconic motel used in the film was in danger of going under, they sprung into action to save it. So this July 9, devotees will gather en masse in Hillsboro, Texas for the ultimate event, hosted by the Alamo Drafthouse: a special screening of Bottle Rocket, with co-star Robert Musgrave in attendance, held at the very same motel off of I-5 where aimless crooks Dignan, Anthony, and Bob hide out in the film.

Rooms at the motel (now a Days Inn suffering from poor sales and greater competition) are on sale for now, though tickets are currently sold out for the screening. It’s the rare chance to celebrate a film while staying at the very same location where it was filmed, and could become a recurring event. And if you can’t make it to Hillsboro for the big day, Mondo enlisted artist Rich Kelly to design these limited edition posters, the sales of which will partially go to support the cause.

[via Reservoir Geeks, Alamo Drafthouse]

Evangeline Lilly Cast As An Elf In The Hobbit

Author: Josh Tyler
From: http://www.cinemablend.com/

Liv Tyler won’t be in The Hobbit. While her Arwen character is an ancient immortal and thus technically alive at the time this prequel story takes place, Tyler confirmed awhile back that she hasn’t been asked to show up on set. So if you’re looking for a new female elf character to replace the Arwen in these new Middle Earth movies, who do you cast? Evangeline Lilly, of course. She’s like Liv Tyler, except without the Aerosmith connection.

Hobbit director Peter Jackson confirmed her involvement today on his Facebook page. Lilly has been hired to play a character newly created specifically for the feature version of The Hobbit. She’ll be a Woodland Elf named “Tauriel”. That name even has a translation already, because of course that’s how back-story obsessed author J.R.R. Tolkien would have wanted it, were he the one inventing this new elf-babe. PJ says “Tauriel” means “daughter of Mirkwood”. So now you have a pretty good idea of where she lives.

The addition of Lilly is important, not only because she’ll look good in pointy ears, but because it could help solve one of the 4 big story problems we predicted Peter Jackson would encounter in adapting Tolkien’s book for the screen. If Evangeline’s role is big enough, it could help clear up problem #4, which is that the original Tolkien version of The Hobbit contains no female characters. None. In Hollywood, the general consensus seems to be that girls need someone to identify with, if you want them buying tickets.

Evangeline isn’t the only person getting in the Middle Earth makeup chair down in New Zealand. Jackson has also confirmed the casting of actor Barry Humpries, to play the Goblin king. This is a villain character encountered by Bilbo and his Dwarf companions on their journey. You won’t see a lot of him, but he does play a pivotal role in the story. Jackson says he’ll portray the character “in much the way Andy Serkis created Gollum”. In other words, you won’t actually see him on screen, but you will see a computer generated character created based on his performance.

Sacha Baron Cohen's 'The Dictator' (First Look)

The Paramount Pictures project is loosely based on the novel "Zabibah and the King" - by Saddam Hussein.

by THR staf
from: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/

Paramount

Paramount Pictures has released the first images of Sacha Baron Cohen as The Dictator.

The film, due out May 11, 2012, tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed, the studio said earlier this year.

It is inspired by the novel Zabibah and The King by Saddam Hussein.

Producing alongside Baron Cohen are Scott Rudin, Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer and David Mandel.

Richard Donner on Superman, Directing Again, and The Goonies Musical

The Movieline Interview  ||  by Christopher Rosen  ||

from: http://www.movieline.com/

To give you an idea about what kind of mark Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie left on the pop culture landscape, think of it like this: 33 years later, the Donner origin story — and its sequel, which he didn’t get to finish — is still being talked about in reverent tones. No disrespect to this summer’s overloaded crop of superhero films, but: Does anyone think that 33 years from now people will still be talking about Thor?
Despite what Donner accurately described as a “shitty connection,” the legendary 81-year-old director phoned Movieline late last week to discuss the Blu-ray release  Superman The Movie Anthology 1978-2006, Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman reboot, his own future plans behind the camera, and just when fans can expect to see that Goonies musical.

This December marks the 33rd anniversary of Superman: The Movie. This week, the film and the subsequent sequels, get released on Blu-ray. There’s another Superman reboot in the works. In 1978 did you ever imagine that Superman would still be so relevant to pop culture in 2011?

Hell no! No, no, no, no, no. I was hoping just to get a movie in the theaters and see it do well and have people enjoy and keep Superman alive. I had no idea whatsoever.

Why do you think Superman still resonates as a character today?
That’s a tough question. I just think he’s very much a personification — a memorial of — Americana. He’s something the world was brought up on, but America, specifically, was brought up on him. Because when you say, “Truth, justice, and the American way” now, that sounds so stupid; but there was a time where that really meant something, and I think that time somewhat still exists. And you’re talking to a liberal. I think he was really the living shape of that period of time. I think if he was alive and back on Earth, he would have some very interesting things to say about America today.

Like…
I ain’t getting into that! No way, baby!

Ha! Well, then back to Superman: The Movie. Nowadays there seems to be a new superhero movie in theaters every week, but back in 1978 it was an anomaly. What was the reaction you received when you told people you were directing Superman?
When I said to my friends, “I’ll see you, I’m going away for two years,” they said, “What are you doing?” (whispers) “I’m doing Superman.” They said, “What?!” I said, “I’m doing Superman. I’m going to make the film.” My friends, who were real filmmakers, said, “Wow, what a great opportunity.” The ones that really weren’t — y’know, I’m not going to knock anybody. Most of my friends said, “Go to it, what a great opportunity.” And it turned out to be just that: a great opportunity. And I’ve never heard anything but niceties from them.

It might have been a great opportunity, but then you ran into some trouble when trying to complete Superman II.  That story is Hollywood lore, of course, but how does it feel to have your version of Superman II available, again, for the masses.
I made one, and I made two at the same time. We had to because, supposedly, the time wasn’t there to complete both and deliver the picture on time. I never actually thought that — I had full intentions of going back and finishing it. But when the producers felt the picture was such a success, they didn’t need me anymore, I figured well, that’s it — nobody will ever see that again. Then, a young filmmaker named Michael Thau kept pursuing the fact that there’s an audience that wants to see it. I would say, ‘You’re nuts!’ He says, ‘No, I’m telling you, there’s a fan base.’ So I said, ‘Look, Michael, if you can get it going, fine.’ And sure enough, one day he called and he said, ‘People are pressuring the studio that they want to remake it now. They want to take all your footage and release a cut of yours.’ I was thrilled! It was something that I never thought would happen, and I quite honestly owe to Michael Thau.

When you revisit your cut of Superman II on occasions like this anthology Blu-ray release, do you find things you would have liked to have done differently?
When we made Superman I and II, we put most of it away. If I had gone back — and I wanted to: there was a lot of II that was never shot by me, and there was a lot of II that I would have reshot, given the opportunity; I either shot it on the run or tried to get it in before somebody left or something happened. We were always against the clock. So when this thing came along, I was thrilled because it was pretty well patched together. But there are scenes in there that are actual screentests with Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, both with each other and with other people, that are part of that film now. It’s not exactly the way you want to make a movie, but that’s the way I had to.

Obviously finding the perfect Superman is the key to making a good Superman. What was it about Christopher Reeve that stood out to you initially?
Chris came in, and we were casting in New York, and I always say the reason he got the job was that we were on the 55th floor and he flew in. But he was 25 pounds skinner than he was in the film. His hair was honey brown; he had good strong features, but he blew me away as an actor. Then I went downtown, to the Village, and saw him in a play, and I thought he was really great. He came back and we talked, and I said, ‘Look, I really respect you as an actor, and I think you’ve got a lot going for you.’ And he really was inside Superman. But I said, ‘This guy is Superman. He looks like Superman. But he’s got to be buff. He’s got to be our hero that we’ve known since the 30s.’ And he said, ‘When I decided to become an actor, I lost 25 pounds. I used to be a jock.’ So I said, ‘You’re telling me the truth.’ He said, ‘I swear to you.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m gonna go on a limb, pal.’ And we went on a limb.

David Prowse (who played Darth Vader in Star Wars) — he came in and was Chris’ trainer. Months and months and months. Everyday you could see the difference. He built up, and he built up. He was — in his mind, as an actor — he was Superman. And then there are others out there that are and could be wonderful in the role, but to me — in my heart — there will always be one Superman. [Pauses] And I will miss him forever.

He is the person people think about when they think of Superman now. Henry Cavill certainly has a lot to live up to.
You know what, that’s very right. He’s got a lot to live up to. But he’s really qualified; as long as he has the belief in the character that is required of any good actor, he’ll bring him to life.

Which is a roundabout way of talking about the new Superman reboot. Zack Snyder is directing — as a former Superman director, what would you tell him given the opportunity?
Hey, good luck, Zack Snyder! He’s the new kid on the block, I’m the old fart. I wish him all the love and luck in the world. I do that for anyone who is making a movie. It’s such a tough process. Anybody that I know that’s making a movie, I wish them all the luck in the world.

Speaking of making movies: Your last directing credit is 16 Blocks. Are you comfortable with that being your last film? Do you want to direct again?
I want to direct again, but I only want to direct — it’s tough. I have the opportunity to direct some films on a fairly — somewhat — regular basis. But, it’s got to be something different. I can’t just go back to things that I’ve done in the past. I have a wonderful life now — if I’m going to give up those days and months, it has to be something I’m really dedicated to. I assume it will come along. [Dramatically] I assume it will come along!

One of your other beloved past projects is The Goonies. Any update on the Broadway musical adaptation that has been discussed for the past year?
We’re really trying extraordinarily hard to get it made. It’s a tough road — Broadway is another world totally — and hopefully, probably around September, we’ll be talking a lot more positively. We have Tim Long doing the book, and it’s quite good. The process on Broadway is another world. But if we’re going there with Goonies — which has such a great following, a great life — it has got to be the right thing. Hopefully we’ll be presenting it to you in the spring of the following year.

I would imagine the recent run of successful film-to-stage adaptations has made things a bit easier: The Producers, Catch Me If You Can…
Hopefully they all succeed! But if they do, it’s going to make it easier for the next one. But Goonies has an incredible following, and we must be true to it. Hopefully Broadway accepts what has worked for Goonie fans before. If they do, we’re a hit; if they don’t…

'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' at 25: Where Are They Now?

Steven Bryan
from: http://news.yahoo.com/

On June 11, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," an iconic movie from the 1980s, will celebrate its 25th anniversary. To honor the silver anniversary of Ferris' golden day off from school, here's a look at what happened to some key cast members.

Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller)
1983's "Wargames" made Matthew Broderick a household name and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" turned him into a star. Broderick took the audience on a glorious joyride through Chicago, making stops at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Wrigley Field before taking over an afternoon parade. Broderick's performance inspired the "Ferris Bueller" TV series, which featured a pre-"Friends" Jennifer Aniston, and the cult series "Parker Lewis Can't Lose."

Broderick, the son of "Family" star James Broderick, continued his onscreen career, even starring opposite Marlon Brando in the hilarious comedy "The Freshman." Broderick also lent his voice to the adult Simba in "The Lion King," a film that continued Walt Disney's animation domination of the early 1990s. The actor also received critical acclaim for playing a conflicted high school teacher in 1998's "Election," a dark comedy featuring Reese Witherspoon as ambitious honor student Tracy Flick.

For Broderick, however, the Broadway stage offered even greater rewards. The actor starred in the Broadway revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" before teaming up with Nathan Lane for Mel Brooks' stage adaptation of "The Producers."

In May 1997, Broderick married future "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker, a union that has been rocked by allegations of infidelity. Still, as these recent Memorial Day photos show, Broderick and Parker are still maintaining their family unit.

Alan Ruck (Cameron Frye)
The talented Alan Ruck played Cameron Frye, the hypochondriac best friend of Ferris Bueller. Though Cameron was intended for comic relief, his neglectful father was shown as the root cause for his paranoia and unhappiness.

In the years following his success in "Ferris Bueller," Ruck has been a frequent guest star on such shows as "Mad About You," "Scrubs" and "Stargate Atlantis." He also completed a six-season stint on "Spin City," the popular sitcom that featured Michael J. Fox and Charlie Sheen. Recently, Ruck appeared as Dean Bowman on "Greek," which gave the writers the opportunity to throw in some "Ferris Bueller" references.
Mia Sara (Sloane Peterson)

Pretty Mia Sara played Sloane, the only girl capable of keeping up with Ferris as he mapped out his wild day in the city of Chicago. Sara starred opposite Tom Cruise and Tim Curry in the 1985 cult classic "Legend" and later played the wife of a time-traveling Jean-Claude van Damme in 1994's "Time Cop." One year earlier, she also was the love interest of another time-traveling peace office in the syndicated TV series "Time Trax."
More recently, Mia Sara played Princess Langwidere in "The Witches of Oz," a television mini-series slated for a fall debut in the United States. The series looks at Dorothy Gale's continuing battle with the Wicked Witch of the West.

Jeffrey Jones (Dean of Students Ed Rooney)
1980s films often portray educators as clowns or buffoons, and no one did it better than Jeffrey Jones. As Dean of Students Ed Rooney, Jones waged a battle of wits against Ferris Bueller and his school-skipping ways. By the end of "Ferris Bueller," however, Dean Rooney hobbles away in a shredded suit and muddy shoes, his car having been towed to the police impound.

Jones' life and career has at times been marred by controversy. After co-starring in the cult classic "Beetlejuice," Jones appeared with "Saturday Night Live" alum Mary Gross in "The People Next Door," an innovative CBS comedy created by Wes Craven that lasted only five episodes.

In 2003, Jones was arraigned on charges of hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose for sexually explicit photos. Jones pleaded no contest to the charges and became a registered sex offender. He has since been twice arrested for failing to keep his sex offender status current in Florida and California.

Jennifer Grey (Jeanie Bueller)
Though most people thought her brother was a "righteous dude," Jeanie Bueller, played by Jennifer Grey, couldn't stand his slacker ways. Jeanie spends the bulk of "Ferris Bueller" trying to expose her brother's illness as a con to get out of school, but she relents in the end, saving Ferris from another year of school under the close personal supervision of Ed Rooney.

Grey was hilarious here and, a year later, she starred opposite Patrick Swayze in the mega-hit "Dirty Dancing." Before the film came out, Grey and Matthew Broderick, then her boyfriend, were involved in a car crash in Ireland, resulting in the death of two people. Broderick came out of the crash with a broken leg while Grey suffered only minor injuries.

Considered unconventionally pretty by fans, Grey had cosmetic surgery to remove a bump on her nose, but the results of the surgery were far more dramatic than she intended. Almost unrecognizable next to photos of her classic 1980's look, Grey has said she went from being a celebrity to anonymous. Grey made lemons out of lemonade on the short-lived series "It's Like, You Know" playing an actress named Jennifer Grey who had botched plastic surgery.

In 2010, Grey slipped on her dancing shoes once again for "Dancing with the Stars," becoming the Season 11 winner.

Ben Stein (economics teacher)
Delivering a hilarious explanation of " voodoo economics," Ben Stein also is credited for saying the classic "Bueller? Bueller?" line in the movie. A former speech writer and lawyer for President Richard Nixon, Stein has a dry, slow manner of speaking that makes him instantly unforgettable. Stein's acting ability is second only to his intelligence, which became the basis of "Win Ben Stein's Money," a game show where contestants matched wits with Stein to win $5000 of the host's money. Jimmy Kimmel appeared as Stein's announcer on this Comedy Central show.

Stein came under fire, though, in 2008 for "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," an anti-evolution documentary. Critics specifically attacked the film's position that Darwin's Theory of Evolution contributed to Nazi atrocities during the Holocaust.

John Hughes (director)
The director who set the tone for many 1980s teen movies, John Hughes suffered a fatal heart attack on Aug. 9, 2009, but his legacy continues to inspire and recruit new legions of fans. After the successes of "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club," Hughes offered up mature comedy in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," a road trip film featuring the odd couple of Steve Martin and John Candy.

Hughes also had great success as a screenwriter, creating the script for "Home Alone," the wild Christmas comedy about a little boy accidentally left at home. Hughes' films and style are so recognizable that the parody film "Not Another Teen Movie" both honors and tweaks his work. Director Joe Gallen even had his characters attend John Hughes High School.

Edie McClurg (Grace, the school secretary)
Herb Tarlick's wife finally hit the big time thanks to John Hughes. Appearing as school secretary Grace in "Ferris Bueller," McClurg, a featured played on "WKRP in Cincinnati," explains to boss Ed Rooney why Ferris Bueller is so popular. A talented character actress, McClurg had Grace using her wig as a place to store pencils and pens.

Now a recognizable voice-over actress, McClurg has done character for "Cars" and "The Rugrats Movie." Arguably, she will be fondly remembered as the overly chipper car rental agent in another Hughes project, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," who delivers a memorable variation of the F-bomb.

Charlie Sheen (Garth Volback)
Before "Platoon," "Wall Street" and the failed "Torpedo of Truth" tour, Charlie Sheen had a memorable cameo in "Ferris Bueller" as Garth Volback, a scruffy teen who charms Ferris' sister Jeanie. Currently, Sheen is between jobs and seeking new career opportunities

Quentin Tarantino Eyes Lady Gaga For Film Role

By Emily Zemler
From http://www.myspace.com/

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Quentin Tarantino reportedly wants to cast Lady Gaga in one of his upcoming films. The director and singer are both in Cannes this week, where Gaga recently performed for a star-studded crowd that included Tarantino.

A source told U.K. tabloid The Daily Mail, “It’s no secret Quentin’s been eyeing up Gaga for a role in one of his up-and-coming films. And now they’re both in Cannes, he’s keen to show off his movie star credentials.”
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Gaga and Tarantino have known each other for a few years and he famously lent her the Pussy Wagon from his Kill Bill movies for her video for Telephonelast year. Tarantino also reportedly introduced Gaga to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who stood side stage at her Cannes performance. The source told The Daily Mail, “Tarantino knows Gaga’s a big fan of Brangelina. When she heard they were both in Cannes, too, she mentioned that she’d love to have them come and watch the show. So Quentin gave his pal Brad a bell to ask the couple to join them. As one fiery woman to another, Gaga’s always been really into Ange and she thinks the glamorous location of Cannes is just the place for them to get pally.”

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Tarantino recently announced that his next film will be Django Unchained starring Will Smith. We’ll see if Gaga ends up cast in that one too.

Keanu Reeves Announces Bill & Ted 3, Reveals Excellent Plot Details

By: by Julie Miller
From: http://www.movieline.com/

Apparently, 20 years isn’t too long to wait before making a sequel. Two decades after the last Bill & Ted movie hit theaters, Keanu Reeves has announced that franchise writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon are feverishly working on a script, the details of which the actor shared on Monday afternoon.

The actor sat down with MTV to promote his indie film Henry’s Crime and assured the outlet that the third Bill & Ted installment is very much underway — in spite of the fact that the titular characters, played by Alex Winter and Reeves, would be 50 today.

“I know a little bit,” Reeves revealed about the plot. “When we last got together, part of it was that Bill and Ted were supposed to have written the song that saved the world, and it hasn’t happened. […] So they’ve now become kind of possessed by trying to do that. Then there’s an element of time and they have to go back.”

So yes, the Wyld Stallyns may reunite onscreen one more time to achieve the greatness that George Carlin’s Rufus predicted in the 1989 original film. Party on, dudes.

DreamWorks Animation Reveals Release Slate Through 2014

By Krystal Clark
From http://screencrave.com/


DreamWorks Animation has decided to let us in on their theatrical plans for the next three years. The studio has announced their release schedule that’s booked all the way up to 2014, and features several anticipated tentpoles. Some of the notable films on the list include the Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots, How to Train Our Dragon 2, and the Robert Downey Jr. voiced Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Check out the roster…

Here’s the schedule (via Deadline)

• May 26, 2011: Kung Fu Panda 2
• Nov. 4, 2011: Puss In Boots (Chris Miller director; Joe Aguilar and Latifa Ouaou, producers)
• June 8, 2012: Madagascar 3 (Eric Darnell, director; Mireille Soria and Mark Swift, producers)
• Nov. 21, 2012: Rise of the Guardians (Peter Ramsey, director, William Joyce, co-director; Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein, producers)
• March 1, 2013: The Croods (Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, directors; Kristine Belson and Jane Hartwell, producers)
• June 7, 2013: Turbo (David Soren, director; Lisa Stewart, producer)
• Nov. 8, 2013: Me and My Shadow (Mark Dindal, director; Melissa Cobb and Teresa Cheng, producer)
• March 21, 2014: Mr. Peabody & Sherman (Rob Minkoff, director; Jason Clark and Denise Nolan Cascino, producers)
• June 20, 2014: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Dean DeBlois, director; Bonnie Arnold, producer)

We forgot all about Madagascar 3! Granted we love the franchise, but the fact that a third one was on the horizon completely slipped our minds. In terms of the non-sequel projects, we’re interested in seeing Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Anything with Robert Downey Jr. deserves a little bit of attention.

Trent Reznor Is Now A Pretty Oscar-Winning Hate Machine

Posted by Joshua_Kopstein

From http://motherboard.tv/

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This year, for the first time in at least a decade, I cared about the Oscars. I didn’t expect that I would, but sure enough, there I was: sat down with two friends over a bowl of homemade nachos, suffering through an ostentatious red carpet display to see who’d get their mitts on a few of those little gold men. Why? Because this year, only one film had gotten me hooked through its soundtrack alone. And it was going up against Hans Zimmer.

At first The Social Network had seemed like the dumbest idea in movie history: The tale of a petulant nerd who finds himself an overnight billionaire after building a website that forever shapes the online world into a crutch for his own social anxieties. Of course as we all know, the website, and the nerd who runs it, actually exist (although the nerd is perhaps more awkward than ruthless), and they’ve captured a decent chunk of the planet’s population. The addition of Aaron Sorkin on screenplay and David Fincher directing got me curious. But it wasn’t until it was announced that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails would be scoring the film that it had my full attention.



Maybe it was my inner angst-ridden 15 year-old self that allowed the smug grin to crawl over my face when Trent and Atticus walked up to grab the gold. Or maybe it was that many of us had never expected a soundtrack like this one to be recognized by the Academy. I realized at that moment how rare a score like The Social Network’s is, and how its prestigious recognition could represent a sea change in the appeal of experimental electronic music.

But I didn’t get ahead of myself. If anything, Reznor and Ross’ score is a shared victory for those already interested in the things like swarmatrons and stylophones. Still, there’s definitely something notable about how those otherworldly, deep-mooded textures and largely improvised instrumentation have played such an important role in defining the tone of a major film. Even if it’s a film about the world’s most awkward billionaire.

Trent, who is usually not too keen on award ceremonies, said the experience was “humbling and flattering beyond words.” The duo’s next project is a film adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which we’re looking forward to because let’s be honest: these guys could make a Twilight movie sound good if they wanted.

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA / HANS ZIMMER : PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

SOUNDTRACK TO FEATURE FIRST TIME COLLABORATION WITH HANS ZIMMER AND RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

SOUNDTRACK SET FOR RELEASE ON WALT DISNEY RECORDS MAY 17th

Rodrigo Y Gabriela are proud and excited to announce a new musical venture. After months of hints and rumours they can now confirm that one of the summer’s most highly anticipated blockbuster movies, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” will features original music by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer and Rod and Gab.

Rodrigo y Gabriela by Jeremiah Garcia

This summer's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" will feature original music by acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer and a first-time collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Walt Disney Records will release the soundtrack for "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" on May 17.

"We'd always felt it a creative necessity that the 'Pirates of the Caribbean 4' score have an original sound all its own and to distinguish itself from the first three films. With the inspiring addition of Rodrigo y Gabriela's unique artistry under the direction of maestro Hans 'Long John' Zimmer, this iconic score franchise take its next step forward with an imaginative, fresh and individual new sound," says Mitchell Leib, President of Music and Soundtracks for the Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Group and Disney Music Group, in a press release.

From the press release:
Rodrigo y Gabriela are considered the premier guitar-playing duo in the world. They have sold over one million albums, have sold out arenas and headlined festivals worldwide, and in 2010 they were invited to share the stage with Beyonce for a state dinner at the White House. The collaboration with Hans Zimmer is their first film score-an exciting and defining moment in their career. Their willingness to explore musical expression and to embrace new sounds irrespective of fashion or trends, as well as their point blank refusal to be pigeonholed as any particular genre, is the very foundation of Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Back to the Future With 17 Cool Gadgets and Designs

By Chip
From http://walyou.com/

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Those who were grown up in the 80s must not forget the science fiction movie that was storming cinemas in 1985 – “Back to the Future”. The amazing journey of the everyday teenager Marty McFly made all the kids go crazy over time traveling machine. Let’s hop on a DeLorean and take a trip back to Back to the Future era with these 17 amazing Back to the Futre gadgets and designs below.

Dolerean Hovercraft

Anyone who has watched Back to the Future must have dreamed of the Dolerean Hovercraft, but Matthew Riese is one of few people who have found the way to make his childhood dream come true. He launched a project on Kickstarter to raise $5500 for the project, and the result is the craft that can hover over flat surfaces like sand sand or water at the speed of approximately  45 miles per hour.

Delorean DMC-12 Flash Drive

This 1:18 scale model of Delorean is an amazing toy car which will drive you right from the 1980’s flick into the present with an impressive capacity of 500GB. Invented by Flash Rods, the flash drive is available at $250 each.

Back to the Future Lights and Sound DeLorean

Image Source: Indian Car and Bike Blog
This Back to the Future II DeLorean doesn’t come with 500GB capacity but is complete with a cool electronic system of lights and sounds, gull-wing doors that swing open and wheels that pop out for flight mode. The model was built as limited edition on 1:15 scale.

Back to the Future DeLorean Model

This perfect toy car is a replica that will make McFly proud. The Back to the Future DeLorean die cast model is 1:18 scale and 9.5? in length, and is available at $49.99.

Lego RC Back to the Future Delorean

Image Source: Seriously Geek
As a combination of Lego, radio control and the epic sci-fi movie, this Lego RC Back to the Future DeLorean is geeky – beautifully geeky – from every perspective.

DeLorean Perler Bead Sprite

Image Source: GadgetHim
Playing with Perler beads is one of the newest geeky trends. Doctor Octoroc has created some amazing Perler bead sprites of famous vehicles including our beloved DeLorean.

Authentic Back to the Future Hovercraft

Image Source: Radar/Nois
As one of the hero Mattel Hoverboards used by Marty McFly in the classic 80s trilogy, this Hovercraft drove the fans crazy when it went on auction with starting bid of $30,000. Nostalgia doesn’t come cheap.

Hoverboard Project

If $30,000 is a bit out of your budget, you might want to learn from Nils Guadagnin as he created his own hovercraft. To defy gravity, the French artist uses an electromagnetic system to levitate the board,  and a laser system to stabilize the object in the air.

Nike 6.0 SE DeLorean Shoes

Nike made a breakthrough in shoes design when it introduced the shoes that look like a car in the classic sci-fi – dubbed as Nike 6.0 SE DeLorean. The soles mimic the tail lights of the classic DMC-12, the exterior is designed to look a lot like the stainless steel frame and the bottom of the shoe has the same gridded red-yellow-white pattern.

Marty McFly’s Back to the Future Shoes

To celebrate Back to the Future’s 25th anniversary, a fan decided to make a version of Marty McFly’s auto closing shoes. The mod uses an Arduino micro-controller and two servo motors. As you step inside the shoe, the force sensor feels the additional pressure, adds tension to the lases, tightens the shoe.

Marty’s Color Changing Hat

Available at $21.39, this famous color changing Marty Cap will help you show off your crazy love for the 80s sci-fi on your face.

Back to the Future Camcorder

Image Source: retromax
Retromax is the luckiest Back to the Future fanboy. He has a real 1984 JVC GR-C1 Camcorder, the same model Marty McFly used in Back To The Future. Listed on top 100 gadgets of all time, this was the first ever combined camera and recorder.

Back to the Future Flux Capacitor Replica

People tend to go nuts over DeLorean and forget what really started everything: the Flux Capacitor. This cool replica, sold at $230, finally gives Flux Capacitor justice.

iPhone 4 Flux Capacitor Decal

Image Source: CrunchGear
With just $6, you can change the sleek appearance of the latest version of iPhone into something retro and geeky with this iPhone 4 Flux Capacitor decal.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Cake

Made to celebrate Back to the Future’s 25th anniversary, this stunning DeLorean Cake is the sweetest thing any fan can dream of.

Back to the Future Birthday Cake

Even though it was not made for the official 25th anniversary, this DeLorean cake is no less cool and geeky.  The cake retains the original shape and color of the car with interesting details like the 2.12 gigawatt nuclear generator and the windshield wipers. I want one for my birthday too.

Back to the Future Mug

Image Source: Gadgetshop
A coffee in this Back to the Future mug – featuring the logo of the film and the famous DeLorean – is the perfect way to start a day full of adventures.

Help Tim Burton Write A Story On Twitter

From: http://www.movieline.com/

Tim Burton has started a collaborative storytelling project that anyone can contribute to…provided they use only 127 characters and that they are selected. Burton posted the opening to a story about his character Stainboy on Twitter, and starting today, users can post follow-up passages. The best posts will be selected and posted on the twitter feed, culminating in some sort of complete Stainboy short story on December 6th. The adventure begins with mysterious goo…

It seems like Burton could have worked on his syntax a bit more for the opening line of a short story, but you get the idea. Burton first introduced the Stainboy character in a series of Flash animation shorts in 2000.

Thousands of submissions have already appeared on the Burton Story site, but none have been posted to the Twitter account yet. The tweets are split between those responding to Burton’s first post and several probably very stressed-out people who are trying to build a story out of every submission. From what I can tell, that one has something to do with kittens at this point.

[Burton Story via Badass Digest]

Here’s Your First Look at Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s The Adventures of Tintin

First Looks || by Christopher Rosen
From: http://www.movieline.com/

Unless you’re one of those people who call Doctor Who their favorite television series, the chances are good that you’ve got limited knowledge of Tintin and his trusty dog, Snowy. The cub reporter, made famous by Belgian artist Hergé (really Georges Rémi), is huge abroad, but barely known here in America. That will likely change come 2011, when Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson unleash their motion capture-palooza, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, on the unsuspecting public.

British film magazine Empire brings you the first looks at Tintin (fitting since the film will hit UK cinemas before arriving in the United States), and they’re…like Polar Express only without snow? But with Snowy? They’re only three pictures, but it appears the uncanny valley has yet to be mastered, even by two visual effects masters. Still: Intriguing. Check out the images below.

In case you’re wondering, that is Andy Serkis as Tintin’s (voiced/played by Jamie Bell) pal Captain Haddock. The Adventures of Tintin hits theaters on Dec. 28, 2011.

· Exclusive: First Full Tintin Pictures [Empire]

Tom Cruise Hangs From Tallest Building in Dubai

By Krystal Clark
From http://screencrave.com/

Tom Cruise is turning into an adrenaline junkie. It’s no secret that he likes to perform his own stunts in movies, whether they include fight choreography, motorcycle riding, or car chases. He’s currently in Dubai filming the latest installment of his Mission Impossible franchise entitled Ghost Protocol and he’s hanging off the tallest building around — literally.

On Saturday afternoon, Cruise was photographed dangling from the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Why wasn’t a stunt double used for this? Because that’s not Cruise’s style. He has to be giving the executives over at Paramount heart problems after pulling a move like this.

The Burj Khalifa is just one of the locations used for a fast-paced action sequence featured in Ghost Protocol. Cruise loves doing his own stunts. He’s stated in the past, “I love having the camera right there in front of me, where you can see me holding a shot all the way through. I think it adds to the excitement for an audience. It’s something that is challenging to do and fun for me.”

Touche Tom. Touche.

50 Upcoming Movie Remakes (Yep, 50!)

By Scott Harris

From http://www.nextmovie.com/

Paramount

Whenever a movie studio announces plans for another remake, the reaction among fans and pundits is always the same: Hollywood doesn’t have any new ideas.
But we like to look on the bright side of things, which is why we’re so happy when we hear of a cool remake or reboot. Hey, who needs new ideas when there are already so many great old ideas waiting to be rediscovered?
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 50 — that’s right, 50! — upcoming Hollywood remakes that tickle our fancy (like “Footloose,” left). Because if these films were good the first time, you never know, you might just enjoy them even more the second time around.

‘Red Dawn’

Attached: Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Status: Hemsworth (“Thor”) headlines this updating of the 1984 cold war classic, which this time around features an invasion from China rather than the Soviet Union. First-time director and former stuntman Dan Bradley has kept the rest of the premise intact though, so expect to see plenty of heroics from America’s youth as they lead a Midwestern resistance against our commie foes. This film has been completed and has been delayed a couple times now by its struggling distributor, MGM.
Release Date/Year: November 24, 2010 (supposedly)

‘The Tourist’

Attached: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany
Status: Depp stretches his acting skill to the max in this remake of the 2005 French thriller “Anthony Zimmer” — he has to play a totally average guy. “The Lives of Others” director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck helms this adaptation, which also stars the totally non-average Angelina Jolie as the dangerous spy who gets Depp caught up in a deadly game on intrigue along the canals of Venice.
Release Date/Year: December 10, 2010

‘True Grit’

Attached: Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Jeff Bridges
Status: Joel and Ethan Coen went back to the original source material for their version of the 1968 novel “True Grit” by Charles Portis, meaning this remake of 1969′s John Wayne movie technically isn’t a remake at all. Still, considering Wayne won his only Oscar for the role of Marshall Rooster Cogburn (this time played by Oscar winner Bridges), there’s sure to be plenty of comparisons made when this lands on Christmas day.
Release Date/Year: December 25, 2010

Everett Collection

‘Footloose’

Attached: Kenny Wormald, Andie MacDowell, Dennis Quaid
Status: Director Craig Brewer is no stranger to big screen musicals: his indie smash “Hustle & Flow” earned two Academy Award nominations. He’s already faced his share of obstacles with “Footloose,” though; after headliners Zac Efron and Chace Crawford both dropped out of the lead role, Brewer had to turn to his third choice, Kenny Wormald, star of MTV’s “Dancelife.” Still no word yet on whether Kevin Bacon will make an appearance in the film or not.
Release Date/Year: April 1, 2011

‘The Thing’

Attached: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Eric Christian Olsen, Joel Edgerton
Status: Coming off her breakout role in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” Winstead headlines this prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 shockfest “The Thing,” which itself was a remake of the 1951 sci-fi thriller “The Thing From Another World.” Whew. This time around, the film, which is being directed by first timer Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., features a much younger cast than the prior versions, with Joel Edgerton taking the lead.
Release Date/Year: April 29, 2011

‘Child’s Play’

Attached: Brad Dourif
Status: Universal is keeping the details of their latest deadly doll adventure under close wraps, but we do know that original writer Don Mancini is back on board — and this time around he’ll be directing as well. Also back for another go-round is Brad Dourif, who will once again provide the voice of Chucky. “Machete” star Danny Trejo is among a number of rumored cast members, along with Jensen Ackles and Lauren Graham.
Release Date/Year: July, 2011

‘Straw Dogs’

Attached: Alexander Skarsgard, James Woods, James Marsden, Kate Bosworth
Status: “The Contender” director Rod Lurie takes on this controversial and ultra-violent 1971 Sam Peckinpah film about a couple who move to the country only to find that small-town harassment can be just as bad as anything they faced in the big city. James Marsden steps into the lead role made famous by Dustin Hoffman, while “True Blood” hunk Alexander Skarsgard is on board as the leader of the local ruffians.
Release Date: September 16, 2011

‘Fright Night’

Attached: Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots
Status: “Lars and the Real Girl” director Craig Gillespie is currently filming this remake of the 1985 horror-comedy about a kid who believes his new neighbors are vampires — and of course turns out to be right. “Star Trek’s” Anton Yelchin plays the lead, with McLovin himself (Mintz-Plasse) as the best friend and charismatic bad boy Colin Farrell playing the vampire.
Release Date/Year: October 7, 2011

‘The Three Musketeers’

Attached: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Christoph Waltz, Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom
Status: “Resident Evil” mastermind Paul W. S. Anderson directs his wife Jovovich once again in the latest version of the classic 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas. This latest effort, which is being filmed in 3-D, marks at least the 20th time “The Three Musketeers” has been adapted for the big screen. Bloom, the world’s premiere swashbuckler thanks to “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Lord of the Rings,” co-stars — but not as a Musketeer. Lost opportunity.
Release Date/Year: October 14, 2011

‘Arthur’

Everett Collection

Attached: Russell Brand, Jennifer Garner, Nick Nolte, Helen Mirren
Status: Brand takes over the title role from the legendary Dudley Moore, playing a drunken playboy, ironic considering that Brand himself is stone sober after shedding his addictions. Dame Helen Mirren plays Arthur’s butler, a role popularized by another member of the acting aristocracy, Sir John Geilgud. “Arthur” just recently wrapped filming on location in New York City.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Battle Royale’

Attached: N/A
Status: One of the most hotly anticipated horror remakes in recent memory, “Battle Royale” has been languishing in development hell for years; a remake of the shocking 2000 Japanese film of the same name about a group of teenagers forced to fight to the death on a deserted island, “Battle Royale” is still tentatively scheduled for 2011 release despite having no director or stars attached. Very tentatively.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Commando’

Attached: Sam Worthington
Scoop: “Avatar” and “Clash of the Titans” star Worthington is set to fill Arnold Schwarzenegger’s combat boots in this remake of the Governator’s 1985 ode to machine guns and one-liners. The rest of the cast is still up in the air – no word yet on who will play the kidnapped daughter (originally Alyssa Milano) – but “Training Day” writer David Ayer is on board to both write and direct the new version.
Release Date: 2011

‘Conan’

Attached: Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Ron Perlman, Stephen Lang
Status: Momoa of “Stargate Atlantis” fame has a big loincloth to fill as he takes over the role that made Arnold Schwarzeneggar a household name. Buzz has already been building over the return of the original fantasy hero to the big screen, but not for the reason you may expect; leaked set photos of topless barbarian women from an apparent orgy sequence have overshadowed the usual swords and sorcery chatter online.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’

Attached: N/A
Status: First-time director Carl Rinsch got the job after “Sahara’s” Breck Eisner passed. Both Rinsch and fans of the original 1954 version are in good hands, though; screenwriter Gary Ross, who penned the updated script, is the son of original “Creature From the Black Lagoon” writer Arthur Ross. No stars are yet attached.
Release Date/Year: 2011

Everett Collection

‘The Crow’

Attached: N/A
Status: Despite the fact that no lead has yet been selected, this update of the 1994 goth comic book adventure is still on the fast track for a 2011 release; director Stephen Norrington, who previously brought comic book properties “Blade” and “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” to the big screen (with wildly different results), is currently casting and expects to shoot before the end of the year.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Death Note’

Attached: N/A
Status: The good news for Warner Bros. regarding their remake of this 2006 Japanese horror hit is that they already have a script in hand from the brother team of Vlas and Charley Parlapanides (“Immortals”). Plus, the original story, about a guy who finds an evil notebook that kills anyone whose name is written inside it, has proven to be popular in everything from manga to anime to live action. Still, no stars or director have yet been attached, making the 2011 target date seem unlikely at best.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Death Wish’

Attached: Sylvester Stallone
Status: Ever since Charles Bronson’s original “Death Wish” hit theaters in 1974, its tale of a man seeking revenge for the death of his family has become the basic template for an entire genre, rendering a remake almost inevitable. Sly Stallone is currently attached as director and star; given the success of “The Expendables,” “Death Wish” is likely to get the fast track treatment should Stallone sign the dotted line.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘The Howling’

Attached: N/A
Status: Director Joe Nimziki isn’t exactly a household name — he has just one episode of “The Outer Limits” on his resume — but that isn’t stopping him from both helming and writing this remake of the 1981 horror flick about a city couple who get more than they bargained for when they move to the country (like werewolves). The film was originally expected to be released this year, but since no cast has been chosen, that seems unlikely; production is proceeding, though, and the film should see the light of day sometime next year.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Judge Dredd’

Everett Collection

Attached: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby
Status: The good news for director Pete Travis (“Vantage Point”) and star Urban (“Star Trek,” “The Lord of the Rings”) is that they won’t have to do much to meet fan expectations; Sylvester Stallone’s 1995 version of “Judge Dredd” is widely considered the low point of his career and led to a decade of flops and cameos. Better news for fans: “28 Days Later” scribe Alex Garland, who is handling the screenplay, has vowed to return to the character’s original, gritty comic book roots.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Overboard’

Attached: Jennifer Lopez, Julian Scott Urena
Status: J-Lo is set to take time out from her “American Idol” judging gig to star in the remake of the 1989 romantic comedy that originally paired real-life couple Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as a mismatched pair that meets cute (sorta) after she tumbles off a ship. Will Smith is producing.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Porky’s’

Attached: N/A
Status: Howard Stern has been ramrodding this remake of the raunchy 1981 teenage sex comedy through the system, with little success to show for it. Until now, that is; a script has reportedly been completed, meaning the goal of a 2011 release date now seems likely, as is the idea of giving the feature the unwieldy name “Howard Stern’s Porky’s.”
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘Short Circuit’

Attached: N/A
Status: “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” director Steve Carr is developing this remake of the 1986 fan favorite about a sentient robot named Johnny Five who goes on the lam. In a pleasantly oddball pick, “Robot Chicken” and “Greg the Bunny” scribe Dan Milano has been tapped to write the screenplay, which is being produced by “Collateral Damage’s” David Foster for Dimension Films.
Release Date/Year: 2011

Everett Collection

‘The Warriors’

Attached: Brenna Roth
Status: Director Tony Scott is no stranger to remakes, having helmed “Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ and produced “The A-Team.” His latest effort takes on the seminal 1979 gang flick “The Warriors;” this time around, the action has been moved from New York to Los Angeles for the story of a group of gang members who have to make their way through enemy territory to escape a bogus murder rap. A script has reportedly been completed.
Release Date/Year: 2011

‘The Blob’

Attached: N/A
Status: This remake of the 1958 horror classic “The Blob” — which was already remade once back in 1988 — appeared to be on the development fast track with “Halloween” director Rob Zombie attached to helm and his scream-queen wife Sheri Moon Zombie on board to star. Zombie, however, has since dropped out, weary of the remake game, leaving this production up in the air.
Release Date/Year: 2011 is appearing less and less likely

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’

Attached: Daniel Radcliffe, Bernard Hill
Status: Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, the 1930 version of “All Quiet on the Western Front” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation on their Film Registry. Cool as it is, though, that adaptation of Erich Remarque’s classic novel about the horrors of trench warfare during World War I didn’t feature Harry Potter; as lead character Paul, Radcliffe should help further establish himself as a serious adult actor. No director is yet attached.
Release Date: 2012

‘Barbarella’

Attached: N/A
Status: Legendary producer Dino De Laurentis is back with another version of “Barbarella,” the sci-fi sex comedy which he originally put together for Jane Fonda back in 1969. This time around, Rose McGowan was originally rumored to be taking on the lead role, but appears to have moved on; meanwhile screenwriter Joe Gazzam is hard at work on a script, which may or may not be directed by Robert Luketic. The announced 2012 release date seems iffy at best.
Release Date/Year: 2012

‘The Black Hole’

Attached: Hayden Panettiere
Status: “Clash of the Titans” writer Travis Beacham is behind the latest attempt to re-imagine Disney’s 1979 sci-fi epic “The Black Hole, which is now slated to be directed by “Tron: Legacy” helmer Joseph Kosinski. Also on board is “Heroes” ingénue Hayden Panettiere, who will apparently be playing an all-new character; the rest of the cast, however, has yet to be announced.
Release Date/Year: 2012

‘Mad Max’

Everett Collection

Attached: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Theresa Palmer, Zoe Kravitz
Status: Hardy follows up his breakout role as “The Forger” in “Inception” with an even more action-packed role; this new take on Mel Gibson’s classic “Mad Max” reportedly features over 300 different stunts. Gibson isn’t expected to appear in the film, which may be a good thing considering his current status as Hollywood pariah.
Release Date/Year: 2012

‘Westworld’

Attached: Russell Crowe
Status: Crowe is rumored to be attached to this updating of Michael Crichton’s 1973 sci-fi cautionary adventure, which tells the story of two people who, after becoming trapped in a futuristic theme park, are hunted by the park’s animatronic cast members. As you might guess, this isn’t a Disney film; Warner Bros. is currently working with “The Karate Kid” producer Jerry Weintraub to get it ready for production.
Release Date/Year: 2012

‘The NeverEnding Story’

Attached: N/A
Status: Frank Marshall may seem like an unlikely choice to reinvent the 1984 fantasy about a kid who travels to an alternate universe and rides and befriends a giant luckdragon; after all, he’s best known for producing adult fare like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and the “Bourne” series. Still, he has the experience to help untangle the complex legal issues regarding the film rights and with Leonardo DiCaprio also on board as an executive producer, “The NeverEnding Story” may finally be close to having a beginning.
Release Date/Year: 2012

‘Pet Sematary’

Attached: N/A
Status: Stephen King’s classic horror novel “Pet Sematary” is about to get its second adaptation courtesy of “Transformers” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventuara, who has already brought “1408″ scribe Matt Greenberg and “Invasion” writer David Kajhanich on board to pen an R-rated version.
Release Date/Year: 2012

‘Yellow Submarine’

Attached: Cary Elwes, Peter Serafinowicz, Adam Campbell, Dean Lennox Kelly
Status: Perhaps the strangest Hollywood remake yet, “Yellow Submarine” is a big budget 3-D animated reworking of the classic Beatles cartoon from 1968. “Beowulf” director Robert Zemeckis brings his patented motion capture, photo-realistic rendering of live action actors to this new version. Ambitious to say the least.
Release Date/Year: 2012

‘Heavy Metal’

Attached: Jack Black
Status: David Fincher leads a legion of high-profile directors trying to pull together this anthology remake of the 1981 sci-fi film based on the comic book magazine of the same name. James Cameron, Zack Snyder, Gore Verbinski and Kevin Eastman are just some of the other directors in the mix to film short segments; Jack Black has also been confirmed, though in what role it’s hard to guess. The project does currently lack two essentials: a distributor and financier.
Release Date/Year: 2012, money permitting

‘Dune’

Attached: N/A
Status: This big-budget, big-expectation adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel “Dune” is currently being re-re-imagined after director Peter Berg dropped out of the project. “Taken” helmer Pierre Morel has signed on to replace Berg, but he also wants to replace the entire script to be more faithful to the book, meaning they are essentially starting again from the ground up.
Release Date/Year: 2012 at the earliest

Everett Collection

‘My Fair Lady’

Attached: Carey Mulligan, Emma Thompson (screenwriter/producer)
Status: Mulligan has a closet full of shoes to fill as Eliza, the working class girl who is turned into a paragon of the upper crust as part of a social experiment; not only is she stepping into a role that Audrey Hepburn made famous, she’s also replacing Keira Knightley, who dropped out of the production along with director John Madden.
Release Date/Year: Unknown, but now looking like 2013

‘Akira’

Attached: N/A
Status: Katsuhiro Otomo’s 1988 masterpiece “Akira” is considered one of the seminal films in the history of anime and animation in general. The cartoon, though, only covered a small portion of the original comic book series, something Warner Bros. is looking to capitalize on with a series that presents the entire story — in live action. “Iron Man” scribes Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby have written a script that may be directed by the Hughes Brothers.
Release Date/Year: 2013

‘The Birds’

Attached: Naomi Watts
Status: Everything is in place for this big-budget remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1963 horror film “The Birds:” them movie has a director (Dennis Iliadis), a bankable star (Naomi Watts) and a completed screenplay (writers too numerous to mention). What it doesn’t have yet is a greenlight from Universal, which explains why the original 2011 release date has been pushed back to 2013.
Release Date/Year: 2013

‘Escape From New York’

Attached: Timothy Olyphant or Bradley Cooper
Status: Fresh from his success reworking the cult horror film “The Crazies,” director Breck Eisner has turned his attention to John Carpenter’s sci-fi nightmare “Escape From New York,” which imagines a future where the Big Apple is a giant prison. Olyphant and Cooper are currently under consideration to take over Kurt Russell’s role as one-eyed badass Snake Plissken, but no deal has yet been signed with either.
Release Date/Year: 2013

‘The Phantom Tollbooth’

Attached: N/A
Status: “Seabiscuit” writer/director/producer Gary Ross is in the process of developing this re-imagination of the 1970 Chuck Jones animated feature, which itself is an adaptation of the beloved children’s fantasy book by Norton Juster. Like the Jones version, this new edition will feature a mix of live action and animation to tell the story of a boy who travels to a magical world. Ross is still working on the script, so no casting has yet been done.
Release Date/Year: 2013

‘The Orphanage’

Attached: Kaley Cuoco
Status: “The Big Bang Theory’s” Kaley Cuoco is slated to star in this English-language version of the acclaimed Guillermo Del Toro-produced 2007 horror film “El Orfanato.” Little-known director Mark Pellington takes over as director, but don’t worry; Del Toro is producing again from a script he co-wrote.
Release Date/Year: 2013

‘Poltergeist’

Attached: N/A
Status: The long-awaited remake of the iconic 1982 horror film may finally be gaining some traction; after delays forced the release date to be pushed back to 2013, “Poltergeist” has finally found a director in “The House of Sand and Fog’s” Vadim Perelman. Also on board: the writing team of Juliet Snowden and Stiles White, who previously brought the world “Boogeyman” and “Knowing.”
Release Date/Year: 2013

‘An American Werewolf in London’

Attached: N/A
Status: Producer Sean Furst knows a thing or two about horror remakes, having helped bring “Let Me In” and “The Crazies” updates to the screen. He and his brother, co-producer Bryan Furst, have optioned “An American Werewolf in London” and have hired “The Number 23″ writer Fernley Phillips to pen the screenplay. Decisions about cast and crew are awaiting the script’s completion.
Release Date/Year: Unknown

‘Drop Dead Fred’

Attached: Russell Brand
Status: When “Drop Dead Fred” hit theaters back in 1991, its blackly funny look at a girl whose life is turned upside down by the return of her now-adult imaginary friend didn’t exactly set the box office on fire. But Universal thinks it can top the original’s $13 million take thanks to the presence of Russell Brand, who is set to play the title character in a new version penned by former “Saturday Night Live” head writer Dennis McNicholas.
Release Date/Year: unknown

‘F/X’

Attached: N/A
Status: This one is still so early in the development process that it doesn’t seem to have anyone attached to it, even a producer, much less a director or actors. Still, reports surfaced earlier this year that MGM is looking to redo the Brian Dennehy vehicle about a special effects artist who finds his life in danger after he helps fake a mobster’s death for the witness protection plan. Considering how far special effects have come since 1986, this could be an interesting showcase.
Release Date/Year: Unknown

‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’

Attached: N/A
Status: Not much is known about this hush-hush attempt to remake the popular Rick Moranis series about a nutty scientist who accidentally shrinks his family to microscopic proportions. Moranis has retired from acting, so we do know he isn’t involved, but otherwise the only information from Disney is that a script is being worked on.
Release Date/Year: Unknown

Everett Collection

‘Meatballs’

Attached: N/A
Status: Still in the early stages of development, this modernization of the raunchy 1979 summer camp classic is being shepherded to the big screen by a somewhat unlikely team: director John Whitesell is best known for “Big Momma’s House,” while writers Sean Anders and John Morris most recently hit it big with “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
Release Date/Year: Unknown

‘Robocop’

Attached: Darren Aronofsky (director)
Status: Like everything else at beleaguered MGM, the status of the new “Robocop” remake is up in the air until the studio figures out its finances. Still, here’s what we do know: acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler,” “Black Swan”) is attached to film a script by “Road to Perdition” scribe David Self once its distributor gets their business in order.
Release Date/Year: Unknown

‘Romancing the Stone’

Everett Collection

Attached: N/A
Status: 20th Century Fox is still in the early stages of this remake of the 1984 adventure movie that starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner as an unlikely couple who spars over a giant gemstone. “Killers” director Robert Luketic was rumored to be eying the film as a possible vehicle for Katherine Heigl, but that appears to be increasingly unlikely, leaving “Eagle Eye” writer Dan McDermott’s new screenplay up in the air.
Release Date/Year: Unknown

‘Suspicion’

Attached: Will Smith
Status: Alfred Hitchcock’s 1941 film “Suspicion,” which was based on the 1932 Frances Iles novel “Before the Fact,” earned a Best Picture nomination for its story of a man who marries into money and who may or may not be plotting to kill his wife for the insurance payoff. Will Smith is reportedly looking to produce a remake with himself in the lead role — a role originally played by Cary Grant. The project has yet to find a home, though, so this one is still a long ways off.
Release Date/Year: unknown

‘Fletch’

Attached: Everyone and/or No One
Status: Pretty much nothing is known about the proposed prequel/reboot/remake of Chevy Chase’s beloved “Fletch” franchise; everyone from John Cusack to Zach Braff to Chase himself has been rumored to star in this movie, which has languished in development hell for well over a decade now. Word is a script based on the novel “Fletch Won” has actually been completed, though, so this movie may finally be moving towards reality.
Release Date/Year: Infinity +1