Film News Around Hollywood!

Film News Around Hollywood:

Over the past week or so, I’ve been hearing and reading lot’s of exciting and intreiguing tidbits about prospective films. I am 99.9% sure these ARE NOT rumors, but there may be a spoiler for those wishing to remain naïve to upcoming movies. Here are just a few bits that caught my attention:

Christopher Nolan to Mentor the Previously Failing Superman Franchise
Anyone who was privy to Brian Singer’s “Superman Returns” may know that it was a financial bust, especially when considering its massive budget. It is reported (Hollywood Deadline) that Warner has approached Christopher Nolan (director of the current/badass Batman Franchise) to take on a mentoring role in the revamping of the Superman Franchise. While Nolan is not expected to direct (he’s got his hands full working on the third Batman installment), he will “oversee” and “give advice” to the new Superman movie. The movie will not be a sequel to the previous “Superman Returns”, but instead the slate will be wiped clean to take a fresh crack at the franchise. This is very exciting news for DC Comic fans, Superhero movie fans, and action lover fans. Maybe we’ll finally get a truly epic Superman hit! (Hollywood Deadline)

“If there’s something strange in your neighborhood; who ya gonna call?”
BILLY MURRAY?
Ghostbusters fans will love this! As you may or may not have known, "Ghostbusters 3" is in the works. While the rumor mill was running amuck with reports of fan favourite Bill Murray to reappear in the film, it can now be confirmed as true! In an interview with The Daily Mail, Murray confirmed he will indeed be back for the third installment, under specific stipulations, of course:

"I said to them, 'I'll do it if you kill me off in the first reel,'" he said. "So now they are going to have me as a ghost in the film." – Billy Murray

Let’s hope for another epic and hilarious film! I look forward to hearing more about the production of this film! (MTV Movie Blogs)

National Lampoon’s Vacation Reboot?
Variety reports that New Line Cinemas in the works of revamping the “National Lampoon’s Vacation” franchise! According to Variety, “the new film is being described as more of an update than a sequel and will be closer in tone to “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” than the previous chapters”. (Rotten Tomatoes)

21 Jump Street to jump to the big screen?
80’s television series “21 Jump Street”, starring Johnny Depp and Richard Grieco is being brought to the big screen. Columbia Pictures announced that the movie is slated for an August 2011 release. It will star funny man Jonah Hill. Personally, I think this is a TERRIBLE idea. (Comingsoon.net)

This Weekend at the Box Office
Avatar may be the highest grossing movie of all time (domestically and internationally), but it was no match for LOVE! This weekend’s box office top five are as follows:

1. Valentine's Day - $66,855,000
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighting Thief - $38,750,000
3. The Wolfman - $36,489,150
4. Avatar - $30,000,000
5. Dear John - $18,800,000

Formula to get the top stop: make a movie about the worlds mushiest, chick holiday, throw in like, 50 fucking huge and gorgeous celebrities, stir, and distribute on said holiday weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing how long Valentine’s Day is going to hold the top spot. My thoughts? Let it have a nice run this week, because upcoming movies to be released are going to kick some fucking ass! I am speaking mainly of course of the new Scorsese film, “Shutter Island” starring a little known fellow, Leo DiCaprio. This is the film I’m looking forward to the most, aside from Tim’ Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”. I purchased the novel “Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane yesterday, so I hope to finish it before the movie release on Friday. There are sure to be a lot of great movies coming out in the next few weeks, and a lot to review up ahead!

Upcoming films to be sure to look out for:
- “Shutter Island” (3/19/10)
- "The Crazies" (2/26/2010)
- "Alice In Wonderland" (3/5/10)
- "Green Zone" ( 3/12/10)
- "Clash of the Titans" (3/26/10)
- "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (4/30/10) [sure to be a train wreck, but I LOVE Freddy!]
- "Robin Hood" (5/14/10)