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Movie Gossip
Adrien Brody to play Ant-Man? Wednesday 21st July 2010
Edgar Wright has long been toiling away at his Ant-Man script and storyboards, hoping to get the film greenlit sooner than later. At this week's Comic-Con, many details about almost all of Marvel Entertainment's upcoming projects will make their way to the public, but one burning question that I'm personally interested in is whether or Ant-Man will, in fact, be a part of Paramount Pictures The Avengers and, if so, who will play him.
According to AMC's John Campea, that question may have already been answered as he has received word that Adrien Brody is at the top of a shortlist for actors to play Henry Pym, who fashions technology that allows him to shrink to the size of and communicate with the insects. Latino Review confirmed the scoop from a contact at the actor's agency (Paradigm), who said that 'at press time, they were pursuing Ant-Man but got nothing yet.'
The Playlist has challenged the rumor, stating that they have 'checked with sources very close to the project this morning and it's evidently untrue.' This conflicting report also states that recent claims that fanboy favorite Nathan Fillion is also in the running for the part are untrue. Brody's significantly higher industry status suggests that, of the names mentioned, he'd be the studio's choice.
By Daniel Hubschman, Hollywood.com
MTV, The Playlist, Latino Review
Brian Cox Joins Rise Of The Apes Wednesday 14th July 2010
I can't help welcoming our new primate overlords. It's hard to have high hopes for the Planet Of The Apes prequel, since Tim Burton's recent foray into the franchise was so dismal, but there seems to be a lot of talent involved. Brian Cox is the latest to join the impressive cast of Rise Of The Apes. Cox, known for his impressive scenery-chewing capabilities, has been cast as 'the villainous owner of a primate sanctuary' who will inevitably be first up against the wall when the Ape uprising starts. Cox joins cast members James Franco, John Lithgow, and Andy Serkis, who is putting the motion capture suit back on to play the ape leader Caesar.
Rise Of The Apes will be set in the modern day and serve as an origin story for the primate franchise. The story follows a scientist (Franco) whose genetic engineering accidentally creates an advanced race of apes, led by Caesar. The film is being directed by Rupert Wyatt, who previously worked with Cox on The Escapist, and written by Amanda Silver and Rick Jaffa.
By Natalie Silverman
The Wrap
Polanski Is A Free Man Tuesday 13th July 2010
Roman Polanski is a free man. Swiss authorities have decided not to extradite the director to the US to face sentencing in his 1977 unlawful sex case. Polanski has been under house arrest in Gstaad since December last year pending the decision. In a statement, the Swiss Justice Minister said the 'measures of restriction on his liberty have been lifted.'
Polanski was released from electronic monitoring, the Justice Ministry said yesterday. 'Mr. Polanski is able to move around freely,' Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said at a press conference in Bern. 'He's been a free man since 11:30 a.m. today. He’s free to leave.'
Widner-Schlumpf added, 'The reason for the decision lies in the fact that it was not possible to exclude with the necessary certainty a fault in the US extraditionary request.'
'Today it's about a remaining sentence of maximum of two years,' Widmer-Schlumpf said. After his imprisonment and house arrest, 10 months remain, she said. 'Under consideration of all aspects, we've decided to reject the extradition request.'
According to Widmer-Schlumpf, the US has accepted the decision. It does not have the possibility to appeal.
George Kiejman, Polanski's lawyer, told Swiss Info, 'I pay tribute to the Swiss justice system; its legal analysis is very fair. I think the continuing misunderstanding with the American authorities will be easier to settle and I hope he will one day be able to return to the US.'
By Nancy Tartaglione, Hollywood.com
Hollywood.com
Kevin Bacon In Talks to Play X-Men Villain Monday 12th July 2010
The X-Men: First Class casting process will not slow down for you, or for me, or for anyone. Now we are hearing that the illustrious Kevin Bacon (of Footloose fame) has been made an offer to play the unnamed villain in the Matthew Vaughn-directed prequel/reboot, and is currently in talks with 21st Century Fox.
If Bacon joins the roster for First Class, he'll be in good company with the likes of James McAvoy (Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Alice Eve (Emma Frost), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Caleb Landry Jones (Banshee), and Lucas Till (Havoc).
I'm sure this announcement has people turning heads ('Kevin Bacon' is not a name we hear too often in Hollywood, and yet he has a sort of je ne sais quoi cachet), but I think Bacon could be perfect for this feature's villain. Observe his sallow face, the surly demeanor, the high cheekbones and thin lips. He really is aging just perfectly for a villainous turn.
By Ben Landy , Hollywood.com
Deadline
MGM Cancels 'Bond 23' Wednesday 7th July 2010
Even more bad news for Bond fans as the financially drained MGM has officially cancelled Bond 23 until it can find a buyer/saviour. Though we've all known about the delays on the film that follows the phenomenal reboot of Hollywood's longest running film franchise, today marks the lowest point in 007's storied history.
AICN broke the story today and it's a sad, sad development to an already dismal scenario. After nabbing Oscar winner Sam Mendes to direct Daniel Craig in his third outing as Britain's suave secret agent and Peter Morgan to write the script for it, MGM's publicized bankruptcy brought the production to a screeching halt. The project was classified as 'delayed' since then, but is now to be considered scrapped.
True: this is a major blow to fans like myself and all the hard working hands that make Bond the globe-trotting, girl-getting, villain-thwarting hero we love, but we shouldn't go to Defcon-5 just yet. MGM will be purchased by a movie studio, hedge-fund, billionaire or Santa Claus at some point, or the property will be sold to a party that is willing and able to continue the adventures of MI:6's most valuable player. This is not the end of James Bond. However, as we wait for one of the fore mentioned actions to occur, we suffer a long, unknown period of time without 007. On a positive note, Daniel Craig finally gets to eat some carbs.
By Daniel Hubschman, Hollywood.com
AICN
James Cameron Will Direct Black Eyed Peas 3D Tour Movie Tuesday 6th July 2010
James Cameron is quite the big boy with the big guns. He's trying to solve the oil spill, expanding 3D entertainment to unthinkable heights, and probably is doing a bunch of other stuff that's even more complicated. However, one of Cameron's upcoming projects is much less of a secret. Black Eyed Peas member Will.I.Am let it slip the Avatar director will create a 3D movie about the group's tour.
Will.I.Am told Vibe magazine, 'We have the biggest director, because we are the biggest group on the planet. People will be able to see us in the theatre with the 3-D glasses and everything... We've toured from America and Europe, to the Middle East, South America, Asia and Africa. It's not like we go, 'Yo, we are international, you know what I'm saying? London and Paris!' Nah, that's just two cities. We want to go across the planet.'
So surprise! Despite Cameron's preference to depict CRAZY things, like a bunch of Piranhas causing our demise and generating widespread disgust towards water travel, he’s still not opposed to filming normal things - like humans wearing clothes and emitting words from the correct orifice.
By Hannah Lawrence
Hollywood.com
