"Dredd"
The upcoming "Dredd" reboot was screened at Cannes this past week and the reaction was very encouraging with the majority viewing the film really liking what they saw.  Here is the Deadline piece that ran about the screening...

Of today’s Dredd screening, IM Global’s Stuart Ford says, “The reaction was great. It was as packed as any screening I’ve seen in Cannes. There were people sitting on the floor in the front and the back of the room.” (And that was after the air-conditioning had gone on the blink just ahead of the movie; Ford says there were no walkouts, “even though it was about a hundred degrees.”) Dredd, directed by Pete Travis, stars Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby and Lena Headey. It’s a project that would also normally have been set up at a studio, but instead, Reliance Big Entertainment and IM Global financed DNA Films’ $40M adaptation of the UK comic created by John Wagner and illustrated by Carlos Ezquerra. Today’s screening allowed “people who bought it for a lot of money 18 months ago” to get a look at what Ford says is “an edgy, cool film with a rocking soundtrack.” Compared to other superhero pictures coming down the pike, Ford says it “appears very fresh and distinctive. It’s Dirty Harry meets District 9.” Lionsgate is releasing in the U.S. on September 21 and there are two territories remaining that Ford expects to close possibly “before the evening is out.”

"Alex Cross"
The first images from Summit/LGF's upcoming film have hit the net (see them here on our Facebook page).  The images show actor Tyler Perry in the title role (which had been played by Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman in "Kiss the Girls" and "Along Came a Spider"), as well as actor Matthew Fox as the film's villain and Edward Burns as a Cross' partner.  The film is based on the novel "I, Alex Cross" by James Patterson in his long running series (17 novels).  The film hits theaters on October 26th.  Here is Amazon's synopsis of the novel "I, Alex Cross"...

You can’t run
Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington’s wildest scenes. And she was not this killer’s only victim.
You can’t hide
The hunt for her murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Alex and Bree are soon facing down some very important, very protected, very dangerous people in levels of society where only one thing is certain–they will do anything to keep their secrets safe.
Alex Cross is your only hope to stay alive
 As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable–a revelation that could rock the entire world.

"Evil Dead"
The reboot which launched the career of director Sam Raimi has started principle photography in New Zealand.  Raimi is serving as one of the producers of the reboot while Fede Alverez will make his feature directing debut at the helm.  Filming is slated to wrap in July.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" Trailer Review
Sony has released the latest and what I feel is the best look at their upcoming Spidey reboot.  I caught the trailer in 3D at the midnight launch of "The Avengers" (awesome movie by the way) and the 3D looks absolutely incredible.  This trailer also showcases more of the storyline as Peter Parker deals with not only his new powers but the mystery surrounding his parents' disappearance when he was a child.  I still think Sony should've called this "Spider-Man Begins", but that's just me.  Anyhoo, the movie looks great and the film's villain, The Lizard, looks extremely menacing as this promises to be the most intense of the Spidey adventures.  I firmly believe that  Andrew Garfield is going to knock it out of the park in the title role as his take on the character seems to be much more rooted in Spidey's depiction in the comic books.  His Spider-Man is, simply put, a smartass, which was shown to great effect in a scene where Spidey captures a would-be car thief.  In most any other summer, "The Amazing Spider-Man" would be the film to beat at the box office, but with "The Avengers" off to a record start and the finale of 'The Dark Knight' trilogy hitting theaters in July, Peter Parker and co. will likely have to settle for the bronze medal this summer.  I know, who can quibble if your movie makes over $300 mil domestically? 

Overall, this trailer was fantastic and this summer is going to be one for the record books ladies and gents.  A+

"The Dukes of Hazzard"
Writer/director Jody Hill ("Observe and Report") has been tapped by WB to write a script that could end up becoming a reboot to "The Dukes of Hazzard".  The script is going to be set in the American South during the 1970s, and is said to be inspired by the style of the great Sam Peckinpah ("The Wild Bunch", "Straw Dogs", "The Getaway", "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid", "The Osterman Weekend").  WB brass aren't going to decide whether or not this will be a 'Dukes' reboot until they get the first draft of the script, but with the huge success Sony's "21 Jump Street" is currently enjoying (earning $132.5 million domestically thus far) it's of no surprise that WB would be thinking of revamping 'Dukes'.  This would be the studio's second attempt at a movie based on the popular television show that ran from 1979-to-1985.  In 2005 the studio released the film that starred Johnny Knoxville, Sean William Scott, Jessica Simpson, and Burt Reynolds.  It earned $80 million domestically ($111.1 million globally) and spawned a direct-to-video prequel.  A sequel never got off the ground and the studio moved on to other projects.  Again, thank the current interest in reviving the series on "21 Jump Street".

"The Mummy" & "Van Helsing"
Fresh off of inking a two-year deal with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci's KO Paper Products, Universal Studios announced today that the first two films under the KO Paper Products banner will be the studio's reboots to "The Mummy" and "Van Helsing".  The duo who are mainly known for their screenwriting will join producer Sean Daniel and writer Jon Spaihts on "The Mummy", while "Van Helsing" already has megastar Tom Cruise set as the lead.

"The Dark Knight Rises" Trailer Review



WB released their third trailer for their highly anticipated "The Dark Knight Rises".  What's the verdict?  Incredible!  This is what most trailers strive for and easily the best look we've gotten of the movie.  Director Christopher Nolan looks to have closed out his trilogy in grand style.  We see all the major players of the movie as the trailer pretty much spells out just how scary a villain Bane (Tom Hardy) is going to be.  Anne Hathaway looks as if she's going to be amazing as Catwoman, while Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman looks to be put through hell both physically and mentally in the movie.  Two bits of dialogue really stuck out for me.  The first being where the man asks Bane who he is and he simply replies, "Gotham's reckoning."  Whoa.  The last bit was an exchange between Catwoman and Baman.

Catwoman: "You don't owe these people any more. You've given them everything."

Batman: "Not everything.  Not yet."

Simply amazing.  I'm starting to see why WB is planning an aggressive Oscar campaign for this one.
Grade: A+

"Daredevil"
Fox has hired David James Kelly to rewrite the studio's upcoming reboot.  The film will still be directed by David Slade ("Hard Candy", "30 Days of Night", "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse") who is currently at work on the pilot episode of the new "Hannibal" series (yes, THAT Hannibal).  Fox is hoping to have to have the DD reboot going before cameras next year for a spring/summer 2014 release. 

EW's Summer Preview
Entertainment Weekly's 2012 Summer Movie Preview will hit shelves on Tuesday, subscribers like myself will get the mag on Friday or Saturday.  This year's issue features an absolutely killer shot of Batman and Catwoman from what will surely be one of the summer's biggest (if not the biggest) box office hits "The Dark Knight Returns".  Follow the link to EW's website to read a very informative article on TDKR. 

http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/04/11/this-weeks-cover-the-dark-knight-rises-headlines-our-2012-summer-movie-preview-issue/

"Prometheus"
The folks at HeyUGuys.co.uk have posted some spectacular images from director Ridley Scott's upcoming "Alien" prequel.  Follow the link the check them out.
http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2012/04/11/discover-prometheus-with-these-new-exclusive-images/

"Total Recall" Trailer Review
Sony released the teaser trailer for the upcoming remake of the 1990 sci-fi hit that starred Arnold Schwartzenegger.  What's the verdict?  I have to admit that I really dug what I saw.  The teaser does a fantastic job of setting up the story, showing us eye-popping visuals, and not giving too much away for those that didn't see the original.  Add this to the list of 2012 entries that I'm excited to see.
Grade: A

"The Mummy"
Universal has hired "Prometheus" co-writer Jon Spaihts to write the script for the studio's planned reboot to "The Mummy".  The first three films, which starred Brendan Fraser, earned $1.1 billion worldwide at the box office so it's of no surprise that the studio is anxious to make a fresh series of movies.  Though there is no official word on what the plot will be, here is what Spaihts had to say on his plans for the script, “I see it as the sort of opportunity I had with Prometheus: to go back to a franchise’s roots in dark, scary source material, and simultaneously open it up to an epic scale we haven’t seen before.”  From the sounds of it, don't expect to see too much comedy in this new version.  Universal is aiming for a 2014 summer release.

"Man of Steel"
WB has released the official banner to the upcoming Superman reboot.  The studio also launched the film's official Facebook page.  "Man of Steel" is expected to be one of next year's biggest summer hits.

"Total Recall"
Sony has released the teaser poster as well as the motion poster for the upcoming remake of the 1990 sci-fi film.  Check them out...

Teaser Poster | Motion Poster

"RoboCop"
Sony has chosen a release date for the upcoming reboot of "RoboCop".  The movie will hit theaters on August 9th, 2013. 

"RoboCop"
MGM has inked a deal with actor Joel Kinnaman to take on the title role in the studio's "RoboCop" reboot.  Jose Padilha is directing from a script written by Josh Zetumer.  Production is slated to begin later this year.

"Vacation"
John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writing duo that penned the hit "Horrible Bosses", are in negotiations with New Line/WB to make their directorial debut on the "Vacation" reboot.  The new film is set up more as a sequel/reboot following the exploits of Rusty Griswald (son of the Chevy Chase character in the original films) and his family as they set across country on a family vacation where everything imaginable goes wrong.  No word on casting or if Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo (who played the Chase character's wife) will be appearing in cameos in the new movie.  Look for this one to hit theaters sometime next year.

"Star Trek II"
More set photos have hit the interweb showcasing more of the fight sequence between Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) taking on the film's villain (Benedict Cumberbatch).  If I had to guess I'd say that Cumberbatch is playing a Romulan. 

"Star Trek II"
New photos have surfaced from the set of the upcoming sequel to the hugely successful "Star Trek" reboot. The photos show Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) confronting the film's (still unknown) villain (played by Benedict Cumberbatch).

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
Director Jonathan Liebesman ("Battle: Los Angeles", "Wrath of the Titans") is in negotiations to helm Paramount's upcoming "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" reboot. The project would reunite Liebesman with producer Michael Bay. The two last worked together on the 2006 prequel "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning". There are very little details at this time on the storyline of the new 'Turtles' flick, but the studio is calling this a "re-imagining" the respective comic book and television versions of the characters.

"Transformers 4"
Director Michael Bay will return for a fourth outing at the helm of Paramount's hugely successful "Transformers" franchise. Bay will first direct the film "Pain and Gain" which will star Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson. "Transformers 4" is set for a June 2014 release and will be a reboot of sorts of the franchise, meaning that while the film will stay with the current continuity, it will feature new characters as well as a new lead. Here is the studio's official press release...

HOLLYWOOD, CA (February 13, 2012) – Paramount Pictures announced today that director Michael Bay has signed a two-picture deal with the studio, which will commence this spring with the filming of "Pain and Gain," and will be followed by the next installment in the hit "Transformers" franchise.

Based on a true story, "Pain and Gain" follows a group of bodybuilders who engaged in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. First told in an article from the Miami New Times, "Pain and Gain," will be directed by Bay and will star Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Expected to begin production in early spring, the movie’s producers include Bay, Donald De Line and Ian Bryce.

Following "Pain and Gain," Bay will bring audiences a new take on the "Transformers" franchise as he begins production on the fourth installment in the hit series of movies based on the best-selling Hasbro toyline. The third, and most recent installment of the franchise, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," is the fourth highest global grossing film of all time with 1.24 billion dollars of worldwide box office success. Directed by Bay, the movie will re-unite the filmmaking team from the hit franchise, including producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce; and executive producers Steven Spielberg, Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Paramount Pictures will release the film on June 29th, 2014.

"Michael has been working on PAIN AND GAIN for a number of years but has patiently waited for the perfect casting to trigger a start," said Adam Goodman, President of Paramount’s Film Group. "Clearly his patience has paid off as we couldn’t be more excited about this combo. His passion for this project is just awesome."

"The Amazing Spider-Man" Trailer 2 review...
The second trailer for the upcoming reboot debuted last night (technically this morning) and expanded even further on the film's plot.  While this movie is very much the Spidey version of "Batman Begins", it looks incredible and far more impressive than the Sam Raimi films (in my humble opinion).  In fact, I'll go as far as saying that this is easily the best trailer for the entire Spidey franchise.  I've said it before, but it needs to be repeated, writer/director Marc Webb may be on the verge of doing for this franchise what Christopher Nolan did for Batman, the new trailer is that good. 

The reboot looks closer to the comic books in terms of plot and the overall tone, while the action looks spectacular with the Lizard making for a legitimately scary villain.  The thing that impressed me the most about the trailer wasn't the visuals though, but the easy chemistry between the two leads, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.  Both looked to have really done their homework on the characters of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. 

Many predicted that "The Amazing Spider-Man" would be one of the top three biggest summer 2012 hits (along with "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Avengers"), and this latest preview does nothing to dispute that. A+

"Total Recall"
Sony released the official synopsis of the upcoming "Total Recall" reboot which will be hitting theaters on August 3rd of this coming summer.  Check it out...

"Total Recall" is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.

"The Dark Knight Rises"
More new pics from "The Dark Knight Rises" hit the net, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.  My fave being the shot of Bruce Wayne standing in front of the Batsuit "locker" in the Batcave. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE IMAGES

"The Amazing Spider-Man"
Several amazing (sorry, couldn't help myself) new shots from the Spidey reboot are now available (from the official site as well as Empire Magazine).  Enjoy.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE IMAGES

"Police Academy"
"Tosh.0" director Scott Zabielski has inked a deal with New Line/WB to helm the reboot to the popular "Police Academy" series.  The franchise was launched in 1984 and spawned six sequels.  No plot details have emerged, but expect this one to be every bit as raunchy as the original flick was back in '84.  Let's hope they're not going for a PG-13.  Look for this one to hit theaters sometime next year.

New Posters...

It's not difficult to see how Nolan's BATMAN franchise went on to inspire subsequent superhero reboots. If nothing else, the poster comparison above unquestionably validates that inspiration. The line between DC and MARVEL films has been indefinitely blurred...

New - Dark Knight Poster | New - Amazing Spiderman Poster

"He-Man"
In a move that is sure to excite fans of 'He-Man', Sony has opted to extend its current contract with film production Escape Artist through 2015. The deal will see the two sides producing and distributing many film projects, which includes the long dormant re-imagining of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe."

There have been a few attempts to get this one off the ground since the poorly received 1987 film which starred Dolph Lundren and Frank Langella.

"Starship Troopers"
Sony has hired writers Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz to pen the reboot to Paul Verhoeven's 1997 sci-fi flick "Starship Troopers".  The duo also scripted last summer's "Thor" and the reboot "X-Men: First Class".  The latest 'Troopers' flick will be produced by Neal Moritz, who is currently producing the big screen remake of another Verhoeven flick, "Total Recall".  "Starship Troopers" was made popular in the novel of the same name by author Robert A. Heinlein which was published in 1959. 

"Mad Max"
The Bleeding Cool website has revealed that writer/director George Miller's 'Mad Max' (titled 'Fury Road') will be the first of a trilogy of new films.  The script for the second film (titled 'Furiosa') is complete and the third is nearly done.  Tom Hardy ("Bronson", "Inception", "The Dark Knight Rises") will be playing the role of Max, following in the footsteps of Oscar-winner Mel Gibson (that role essentially put Gibson on the Hollywood map).  Despite massive delays in production the current plan is to start shooting the first film sometime in 2012 to make a 2013 release.  Stay tuned.

"The Amazing Spider-Man"
The spidermedia.ru (link: http://spidermedia.ru/news/amazing-spider-man-lizard-exclusive-first-look) has revealed concept art showcasing what we're in store for in terms of the look of The Lizard (portrayed by Rhys Ifans) in new 'Spider-Man' reboot.  Check it out.