Scoop This: 'Superman', 'The Hobbit', 'Wizard of Oz' Prequel

By: Erik Davis
From: http://www.fandango.com/

'Superman: Man of Steel' Story Revealed?

In the day or so since it was announced that Zack Snyder would be directing Superman: Man of Steel, new reports have surfaced claiming to know a little of the story surrounding this latest incarnation. Vulture reports that the original script featured Clark Kent as he traveled the world as a journalist, trying to figure out whether he still wants to be Superman. This would be in line with the modern spin Christopher Nolan (who's producing) has talked up in the past; one that would allow the film to possibly tie in current events from around the world and make the story more relatable.

In the same story, however, they claimed the script was a bit messy, and so hopefully that will be worked on now that Snyder is onboard; fine-tuned to the point where it sings to all the fanboys out there hoping and praying for Warner Bros. to give them a kickass Superman movie.

Peter Jackson Close to Directing 'The Hobbit'

People keep going back and forth on this, but according to The Wrap, Peter Jackson is close to finalizing his deal to direct The Hobbit, which in all likelihood will be shot in 3D. Production on the two films is supposed to begin in January at a price tag of upwards of $500 million. Guillermo Del Toro left the project after MGM's money woes delayed it for months, and now it would appear as if Jackson will need to direct this sucker himself if he ever wants to see it hit screens. Look for an official announcement soon. Meanwhile, LOtR fans should start getting excited.

Sam Raimi Will Direct 'Wizard of Oz' Prequel

It's been awhile since we heard anything regarding Oz: The Great and Powerful, but now, according to Deadline, the deal is done and Sam Raimi will officially make this his next project. The film will most likely star Robert Downey Jr. (he's still negotiating ) as the man who would eventually become the Wizard of Oz, following his story from the time he was a circus wrangler on earth to his crazy fantastical journey via a tornado to Oz. Disney will make this their next big film following the very lucrative 'Alice in Wonderland', so look for Oz to become Raimi's first 3D film as well. Do you think Sam Raimi is the right director for this project?

Sam Raimi will reboot the Wizard of Oz for Disney. Really.

From: http://scifiwire.com/

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Sam Raimi has signed to direct Oz, the Great and Powerful for Disney, according to Deadline. The 3-D prequel to the original Wizard of Oz (it's kind of hard to write that, actually) will start with the character in his pre-wizarding days, when he's just a circus performer who suddenly gets whisked away in a hot air balloon by a tornado to the land of Oz and ... well, you can figure out the rest, right?

Raimi apparently beat out candidates like Sam Mendes, Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and even Guillermo del Toro for the job. Robert Downey Jr. has been heavily rumored to star in the film but has not confirmed his involvement yet. A source told Deadline, "They are going to develop [the movie] for him, if things go right. The script will be rewritten."

Which might not be the worst idea in the world, according to The Playlist, which got hold of a draft of the script and found it, shall we say, lacking. But with Downey facing a pretty busy year anyway, with Sherlock Holmes 2, Gravity and The Avengers all coming up, this might give Raimi a chance to give the screenplay a long, hard look and get it into better shape than it's apparently in now.

Oz is Raimi's first official project since leaving the Spider-Man franchise behind, and his involvement also throws the future of the World of Warcraft adaptation—which he was supposed to direct—into doubt. It also all but takes him out of the running to direct The Hobbit. Harry Potter director David Yates is still the front-runner for that.

The bigger question is, even if you think Raimi could do a good job, does the world want a prequel to The Wizard of Oz? Or is this Hollywood thinking at its most desperate?

'Alien' prequel takes off: Ridley Scott attached to return as director

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Twentieth Century Fox is resuscitating its "Alien" franchise. The studio has hired Jon Spaihts to write a prequel that has Ridley Scott attached to return as director.

Spaihts got the job after pitching the studio and Scott Free, which will produce the film.

The film is set up to be a prequel to the groundbreaking 1979 film that Scott directed. It will precede that film, in which the crew of a commercial towing ship returning to Earth is awakened and sent to respond to a distress signal from a nearby planetoid. The crew discovers too late that the signal generated by an empty ship was meant to warn them.

The deal gives Fox another chance to keep the "Alien" franchise alive. There were three sequels to Scott's original, but it is the first time the director has set his mind on directing one.

Spaihts has become a go-to-guy for space thrillers. After Keanu Reeves became attached to his Warner Bros. sci-fi script "Shadow 19," Reeves hired Spaihts to write the space journey epic "Passengers," which is berthed at Morgan Creek. That script got Spaihts the meeting with Fox and Scott Free, and he won the job with an "Alien" reboot take that the studio and Scott loved.

Fox has separately hired him to rewrite "The Darkest Hour," which Timur Bekmambetov to produce with Tom Jacobson. Spaihts is writing "Children of Mars" for Disney and Scott Rudin, and he will follow by rewriting "St. George and the Dragon" for Sony and Red Wagon.