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January 12, 2000

Source: Coming Attractions

This is the real deal, folks! That is actually actor Tobey Maguire under one of the coolest comic book hero outfits to hit the big screen in years. Kudos to Sam Raimi for sticking with tradition, kudos to all of the people who actually designed this cool thing and big, big kudos to those cool dudes over at Corona's Coming Attractions, who were able to get this EXCLUSIVE picture posted to their site. Read all about the details of this outfit and much more here

< Click pic to see it bigger and better at Corona's !! >
    

January 12, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

First the JURASSIC PARK 3 pic, then the SPIDER-MAN pic, and now the news that CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON director Ang Lee is set to helm the upcoming INCREDIBLE HULK movie?! Wow...what a week! According to the Hollywood Reporter, it was David Hayter's (X-MEN) script which finally convinced the director to join yet another comic-book-in-waiting movie. Lee's version will be set in Berkeley, California and will have the Hulk being pursued by the military, who don't understand the big green bastard, while evil forces threaten him along the way. No one has yet been cast as The Hulk.   
    

January 12, 2000

Source: Page Six

The Matrix sequels seem to be going from bad (see below) to worse, as yet another possible candidate to star in the films, has dropped out (and Jada Pinkett is still in there...doh!). CROUCHING TIGER's own Michelle Yeoh has apparently turned down a role in the sequels in order to produce and star in THE TOUCH, an action-adventure flick that will film in China. "I'm not going to do 'The Matrix,'" she said. "I'm a great fan of the Waschowski brothers but some things are more important. I just started my own production company and the filming of it conflicted with my movie. I believe it is time to do other things, stories coming from Asia. At the end of the day you have to do what's really important to you."
    

January 12, 2000

Source: Dark Horizons

The website for the long-rumored Morgan Freeman/David Fincher collaboration, RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA, has opened, despite a tentative release date of 2003. The site has a bunch of conceptual art pics as well as some cursory information about the film (the involvement of Fincher and Freeman is confirmed, but in what capacity?). The site also reveals that this film will follow in the vein of Sony's FINAL FANTASY and be completely CG animated.

Click here to check out the official website
    

January 12, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Jon Voight has signed on to play legendary sportscaster Howard Cossel in Michael Mann's biopic, ALI. Voight had been in discussions for some time to join the cast (Coming Attractions has a report on the 12th of December
stating Voight was close to being cast) and was officially announced on Thursday. Voight joins an impressive cast of actors already aboard which include, Will Smith as Muhammed Ali, Mario Van Peebles as Malcolm X, Mykelti
Williamson as Don King and Jamie Foxx as Drew "Bundini" Brown. This film, once close to death due to budget concerns, seems to be doing quite nicely for itself lately.
    

January 12, 2000

Source: Variety

Crusty old comedian Alan King has signed on to play a villainous Las Vegas casino owner in the sequel to the kung-fu buddy flick, RUSH HOUR. King will join Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in the sequel, which will once again be directed by Brett Ratner (THE FAMILY MAN). The story has Tucker's character traveling to Chan's homeland of Hong Kong with 100% chance of hilarity. King, although a comedian, is no stranger to playing a villain. He was
decidedly creepy as the Quitters Inc. chairman in CAT'S EYE. Actor Don Cheadle also has a small "cameo" in the movie. Director Brett Ratner directed Cheadle in THE FAMILY MAN. RUSH HOUR 2 will hit theaters near you on August 3rd. 2001. 
    

January 11, 2000

Source: CHUD

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your complaining!  Courtesy of CHUD (who always seems to get the advance copies of magazines) via Entertainment Weekly, we bring you a look at what Peter Parker will look like when all dolled up in his best Spidey gear.  The webbing looks as if it is raised slightly off the costume and the eyes are not of the Todd McFarlane variety.  Well, at least it's not black leather.

January 11, 2000

Source: Spider-Man Hype

No one was quite sure if Flash Thompson and Robbie Robertson would make it into the upcoming SPIDER-MAN movie with conflicting reports coming out all week. Well, now we know. Flash will be played by relative newcomer Joe Manganiello and will act as the role of bully to Peter Parker. No word yet on Robertson, but it is believed his character will be in there somewhere. Here's a pic of Manganiello below. Looks like a good choice...

January 11, 2000

Source: Aint it Cool News

Adding to the woes suffered by the MATRIX production team was the news that Keanu Reeves suffered a broken ankle during a training session on Monday. This coupled with the recent news that Carrie-Anne Moss also injured her
ankle, the possible departure of stunt-coordinator Woo-Ping Yuen, the definite departure of Jet Li, and the impending strike could put sizable delays on the production of the two films, MATRIX 2 & 3, which are being shot back to back.
  

January 11, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Bubble-gum pop songstress Britney Spears has finally decided on a project worthy of being her first foray into feature film acting. The buxom teen starlet has signed to star in a film for director Tamra Davis (BILLY MADISON) that will be produced by her record label, Jive Records. The story revolves around three young girls (the straight-A student, the cheerleader, and the burnout) who travel to Los Angeles and are convinced to enter a singing competition. Britney will play the "virtuous" straight-A student character (duh). JoBlo has also learned that Spears will appear topless in the still untitled picture, and will enter into a sexual relationship with another teenage female character. Oh wait, I imagined that last part. Sorry...a man can dream, can't he?!
  

January 11, 2000

Source: Variety

The American Film Institute has released their list of the top ten films released in the year 2000. The annual awards were created last month to "honor excellence in the moving image." You will notice that CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON is not on this list. This is because it is a foreign-language film and therefore ineligible. Here is the list in alphabetical order:

 ALMOST FAMOUS
 BEFORE NIGHT FALLS
 BEST IN SHOW
 ERIN BROCKOVICH
 GLADIATOR
 HIGH FIDELITY
 REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
 TRAFFIC
 WONDER BOYS
 YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
 

January 10, 2000

Source: Joey Baloney

Woo-hoo, a pretty cool exclusive! At least, I think so. The three pics below are the first real "good" photos that I've seen from these two upcoming movies. You can't really see much in these smaller versions, but click on 'em, and you'll get a better eyeful. The first is from JURASSIC PARK 3, which Spielberg is NOT directing! (Joe Johnston is at the helm this time around) The picture has Tea Leoni, William H. Macy, Sam Neill and Derek Jeter in it, all of whom obviously have parts in the movie. Laura Dern also returns. The film is slated for a July 18, 2001 release.

Jurassic Park 3

< Click pic to see bigger version >

The two other photos comes from THE BOURNE IDENTITY. Now while the title might not say much to you, the director's name surely will: Doug Liman. That's right, the same dude who did SWINGERS and GO, two awesome little movies! This one stars Matt Damon (as Matt Damon...doh!) and the girl from RUN LOLA RUN, Franka Potente. Cool plot line also: A man washes ashore, bullet-riddled and without memory, then races to elude assassins and recover from amnesia. Chris Cooper and Julia Stiles also co-star. Tentative Fall 2001 release.

The Bourne Identity

< Click pic to see bigger version >

The Bourne Identity

< Click pic to see bigger version >

All pictures are © of Universal Pictures

January 10, 2000

Source: ArnoldFan

Producer Mike Richardson is talking up the possible ALIENS VS. PREDATOR movie. Richardson said that now would be a great time to make this movie because "there's not really anything happening with either, so here's something that could create a terrific new franchise." The movie, based on the Dark Horse comic book, has been in development hell for some time now and has seen no significant moves towards a greenlight. With producers saying that there is still a possibility the movie can be made, there is still some hope for fans.
           

January 10, 2000

Source: Coming Attractions

There were internet rumors swirling earlier this week that Tom Cruise and his production partner Paula Wagner were close to signing Ang Lee (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) to direct the next and final installment in the
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE series. These rumors mostly seemed like the usual internet rumor bull$h!t (Lee has said he does not enjoy making mainstream movies and he has committed to making a musical next), but there now is an
article that may lend a little bit of credence to these rumors. An article in SFX Magazine says that the Cruise / Wagner production team is considering Lee as a possible candidate, but no formal talks with any director have
begun. As a side note, one of the possible scripts being thrown around involves the destruction of the seven wonders of the world. Interesting...
              

January 10, 2000

Source: Dark Horizons

Arnold Schwarzenegger's next flick, COLLATERAL DAMAGE, has been pushed back from its original release date of August 17th, 2001 to an undisclosed date in the summer of 2002. There was no reason given for the delay, but speculation is that Arnold was pushing for an earlier release date and the movie could not be finished in time. In order to accommodate the schedule that Arnie requested, the film may have been pushed back until next year to premiere in May or June. Or it could just really suck and Warner Bros is getting really nervous.
             

January 10, 2000

Source: Fetal Films

Meg Ryan has signed on to play opposite Sean Penn in director Jessie Nelson's (CORRINA, CORRINA) SAM I AM.  The movie centers around a mentally challenged man (Penn), who must fight for the custody of his daughter, after the state declares him unfit to be a parent. Ryan will play the role of his attorney, who takes the case pro bono, and learns her own lesson about what it means to be a parent. Filming on this project begins on January 15th.
           

January 10, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Haley Joel Osment has signed on to provide his voice to a new Disney live-action feature entitled THE COUNTRY BEARS. The bears mentioned in the title will be performed by actors inside radio-controlled bear costumes that have been created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The bears will interact with not-suited actors and the bears' voices will be dubbed by other actors, such as Osment. The film is loosely based on the Disney World attraction, The Country Band Jamboree. Production is set to begin on February 12th.
            

January 9, 2000

Source: Movie-Page

We've been hearing about this movie for quite some time now, but here's the first official look at the one-sheet poster for 3,000 MILES TO GRACELAND. This film stars Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, Christian Slater, Courteney Cox, Howie Long, John Lovitz, David Arquette, Thomas Haden Church, Kevin Polak and Bokeem Woodbine. It's about a gang of ex-cons who rob a casino during an Elvis convention. A poor man's OCEAN'S 11 perhaps? Either way, the film does sound like fun. Tentative release date for the movie is February 23, 2001. Oh and by the way, I forgot to mention this yesterday but...Happy Birthday, King! We miss ya, dude!

< Click pic to see bigger version >
         

January 9, 2000

Source: Movie Headlines

Colin Farrell, who last starred in TIGERLAND and is currently filming PHONE BOOTH, both with Joel Schumacher, is in serious talks to co-star with Tom Cruise in MINORITY REPORT. The film, to be directed by Steven Spielberg, has been in development for a few years now, but Spielberg finally committed to making it his next movie last year.  Farrell would play Cruise's brother in a role vacated by Matt Damon, who departed to film THE BOURNE IDENTITY.
               

January 9, 2000

Source: USA Today

We have before us today a picture that should be exciting; the first clear shot of Haley Joel Osment in Steven Spielberg's upcoming A.I. Unfortunately, the pic really leaves me with a bad case of the "so what's". Yeah, it's Haley in character, but the picture shows us nothing about the movie and really could be from any of his movies so far. But then again, here it is, your first look at Haley Joel Osment as David in A.I.

January 9, 2000

Source: E! Online

After watching countless cheesy Spider-Man renditions, both live-action and animated, for a good thirteen years of my childhood, I began to wonder if this day would ever arrive. But, alas, here were are on the 8th of January in the year 2001, where Sam Raimi and his cast, Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, and Kirsten Dunst, among others, set out to make the SPIDER-MAN movie, comic book fans can be proud of. Let us break a bottle of our finest champagne on the side of this valiant ship and wish it "Bon Voyage" as it sails off into the sunset to attempt to do what few others have done successfully. Good luck men and I will begin counting the days until May 3, 2002.
             

January 9, 2000

Source: Variety

James Gandolfini (THE SOPRANOS) and Mark Ruffalo (YOU CAN COUNT ON ME) are the latest additions to Rod Lurie's THE CASTLE. The film currently stars Robert Redford as a wrongly imprisoned five-star general who leads fellow inmates in a prison uprising. Gandolfini will play the prison warden, who once served under Redford.  Production on this film will begin in March and producers are shooting for a December, 2001 release.
                

January 8, 2000

Source: Aint it Cool News

AICN swears (but then again this is the same site that said "Yes, it's true... Christopher Walken has been confirmed for STAR WARS, and the announcement should be up on the official site within days...seen it with my own two eyes") that Mel Gibson is set to star in WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE...AND YOUNG, a film that has a really awful title. SOLDIERS revolves around a real bloody battle over in Asia somewhere and American soldiers fighting against seemingly insurmountable odds and blah, blah, blah...haven't I seen this before about a million times? The film is to be directed by Randall Wallace, whose previous credits include THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK and PEARL HARBOR (writer). I've got my pillow and blankey ready for this one. Hey Mel...Arnie, Sly and Robin need one more for their foursome to play in the "Washed Up Actors In Tired Old Roles" Golf Tournament! You available?

P.S: In case this item at AICN wasn't true, I take back everything I just said. I love you, Mel. Please don't hate me.  And if it is true...I still love you, Mel. I haven't given up hope just yet. Prove me wrong, buddy. Prove me wrong...
             

January 8, 2000

Source: Empire Online

The first official picture of Daniel Radcliffe all decked out in his Harry Potter getup has appeared online over at Empire Online. The picture shows young Daniel in his Gryffindor robe with Hedwig the Owl perched on his arm (who looks a lot different than the owl on the poster, but then again I know next to nothing about the POTTER books, so maybe I'm just a little f**ked in the head). Check it out below...

< Click pic to see bigger version >
           

January 8, 2000

Source: Variety

Thank God for small favors. It was sure to be the biggest stinker sequel of all time (move over Urban Legend 2), and thankfully cooler heads at MGM prevailed, flushing BASIC INSTINCT 2 down the toilet like so many dead goldfish.  The project was in trouble from the get-go, as "star" Sharon Stone demanded a paycheck the likes of Julia Roberts' and Meg Ryan's. The studio settled for $15 million (down from Stone's request of $20 million) but original director Paul Verhoeven (HOLLOW MAN) flat out refused to return to the project, citing his "previous difficulties" with Ms. Stone. David Cronenberg (CRASH) jumped on board to direct but in the end it was the difficulty casting a suitable male lead that led to the film's downfall. Sources have said that a sequel will in all probability eventually get made, but more than likely with a completely new creative lineup. When reached for comment, Stone said only, "I'll get you my pretty!" cackled, and flew away on her broom.
         

January 8, 2000

Source: Hollywood Reporter

In other sequel squashing news, Tim Allen's return to the SANTA CLAUSE in Disney's planned part 2, has been put on hold "because of script problems." Disney officials maintain that they and the cast and crew are still determined to make this movie, but more time was simply needed to get the script just right. Sounds like a pretty smart move to me. Maybe someone in Hollywood made a New Year's resolution to stop making crappy sequels to mediocre movies.