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May 4, 2001

In this day and age, with the Internet, scoops, news reporters and tabloids as rampant as they are, could a bigtime Hollywood director actually shoot a movie, incognito, without anybody knowing about it before it comes out? Well, here comes one of the biggest RUMORS of the year, as Harry from AICN, is reporting that Quentin Tarantino, the writer/director extraordinaire, the man who takes part in many a wet dream of the teen indie film scene, has reportedly shot and completed a movie based on Elmore Leonard's "Forty Lashes" novel, a western, and is expected to release it in Cannes, France, in the next couple of months. When he shot it, who is in it and how all of this transpired is all "up in the air" at this point, but even more importantly, the whole "story" is COMPLETELY based in rumor at this point, so don't take any of it seriously until we start to hear more about it. Either way, a pretty cool l'il rumor, no? Imagine it it's true?!? Read more debates about the issue over at Harry's site here.

The story "revolves around two inmates, one black and one Indian, of Yuma Prison in Arizona who strike a deal through a rep for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be released. They must first track down five of the state's most dangerous prisoners who escaped during a transfer."

Discuss this nutty rumor here
  

May 4, 2001

By now, I'm sure you've seen the ads for BMW Films and John Frankenheimer's film AMBUSH all over TV and magazines. Well, now we're excited to report that the trailer for the second film in THE HIRE series is now available for download.  CHOSEN, directed by Ang Lee, has our Driver (Clive Owen) waiting at a New York shipyard for a boat carrying an eight-year-old Tibetan boy.  He soon finds out that he's not the only one waiting...The film premieres May 10th.

Check out the "Chosen" trailer here
  

May 4, 2001

Dimension Films sent along word that James Woods has been tapped to replace the ailing Marlon Brando in this summer's SCARY MOVIE 2. Brando was to be paid $2 million for his cameo (which I'm sure Woods won't get) but a recurring illness forced him to drop out. Woods will reportedly be taking over the role of a priest performing an exorcism in the opening scene.
 

May 4, 2001

Danny Boyle (TRAINSPOTTING, THE BEACH) has signed to direct the film 28 DAYS LATER, a sequel to last year's Sandra Bullock film, 28 DAYS. The new version will star Tiffany Brisette from the TV series SMALL WONDER, as a former child star who has become a glue-sniffing maniac and is ordered to attend rehab after she arrives at her sister's funeral in a PCP-induced rage and tears off her clothes while screaming the lyrics to Taco's "Puttin' on the Ritz."  Of course, I'm just teasing you, but that's a movie I was would pay to see. Boyle's film actually has nothing to do with the Bullock film and is actually a sci-fi film set in post-apocalyptic London.  The lower-budget film ($15 mil) centers around survivors of a viral holocaust that wipes out the rest of the world's population.  The film is being prepped for UK release later this year.
 

May 4, 2001

Producer and recent lifetime Academy Award winner Dino De Laurentiis has bought the rights to a series of Italian novels chronicling the life of Alexander the Great, which are to be adapted for a feature film. USUAL SUSPECTS writer, Christopher McQuarrie, is developing a different film, ALEXANDER THE GREAT for Warner Bros with Jude Law in talks to star.  Considering the latter film is already well into development, it will most likely beat the former to theaters.  You can read a review of McQuarrie's script here.
  

May 4, 2001

Writer and director Andrew Niccol (GATTACA) will direct the upcoming DreamWorks film, TERMINAL, the first time he will direct a film he has not also written. This one sounds awfully bizarre, so once again I'll let the Reporter explain:

"'TERMINAL' centers on a Balkan immigrant visiting the United States who is forced to make the airport international transit lounge his permanent home after he learns that the borders of his war-torn country have been blurred, voiding his passport and leaving him without a country. Making friends among the airport employees, the man meets and falls in love with a Latin flight attendant, which prompts his bold escape a year later."

Bold escape from where?  I thought he was living in an airport? Niccol has SIMONE, with Al Pacino and Catherine Keener, coming out later this year.
 

May 4, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Garth from Dark Horizons visited the set of SCOOBY-DOO and came back with this report
• Ted Tally's script for the remake of RED DRAGON is finished and was turned in to studio heads.  Read more here
• EVOLUTION has a new poster, trailer and a even a cartoon series in the works.  Follow the links to find out more. Thanks to the EVOLUTION fansite for the heads up.
• Maybe JoBlo shouldn't have played that April Fool's joke on Tom Cruise...He's touchy!
• This has nothing really to do with movies, but on a personal note, I'm extremely disappointed to know that we'll never see Elisabeth from SURVIVOR naked. :(

May 3, 2001

Two different reports popped up on the same day regarding the often dreamed about GOONIES 2 project. First, on AICN, there was a report from a scooper who saw Richard Donner at a SUPERMAN DVD signing appearance. He asked the director what he thought about a GOONIES sequel and Donner said he read the script and that the project "was shaping up well."  The scooper also mentions that Donner explained that there would be a new group of kids in the sequel, which leads us to our next story.  Coming Soon received news that the original cast will be back, but on a search for their children(?!) in the Rocky Mountains.  These reports seem to back each other up, but it could be a carefully constructed rumor by an internet prankster.  We'll continue to keep our ears to the ground to see what we hear coming.
 

May 3, 2001

Rumors had been flying all week that rapper Busta Rhymes and Tyra Banks were signed on to star in the eighth installment of the HALLOWEEN films. On Wednesday, Variety confirmed the rumors adding Sean Patrick Thomas (SAVE THE LAST DANCE) to the cast. They also noted that the film will be budgeted at a meager $15 million.  The film, as we reported earlier, will be directed by veteran HALLOWEEN director Rick Rosenthal.  For a bit of an idea of the project as it stands now, you can read Arrow's review of the script here. Thanks to 'Chandler Bing' for the heads up.
 

May 3, 2001

Hey, look who's back! It's Alicia Silverstone, the girl from CLUELESS! And she brought Woody Harrelson back with her!  It's unfortunate we haven't heard from either of these two since BLAST FROM THE PAST and PLAY IT TO THE BONE respectively.  Their careers seemed to have cooled but now they're ready for their close-up Mr. DeMille! in the upcoming independent, heist comedy, (ooh, that's an original genre!) SCORCHED.  They join Rachael Leigh Cook, who's trying to lay low after JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, in the film for director Gavin Grazer.  In all fairness, the plot actually sounds humorous and goes as so (as quoted from the Reporter):

"...the film is about three bank employees -- two of whom are played by Harrelson and Silverstone -- in a small desert town. Separately, each makes plans to individually rob the bank during the same weekend, unaware of one another's plans to do the same."

Hijinks most definitely ensue and this (despite my sarcastic facade) sounds like it could actually be interesting.
  

May 3, 2001

I will try to get through this paragraph without a butt joke.  Big-assed (damn!) Jennifer Lopez has signed on to Columbia's action flick TICK-TOCK. Lopez will star as an FBI agent with a big ole booty that must follow an amnesiac through Los Angeles trying to disarm explosives that he may or may not have set. TICK was originally to be directed by Danny Boyle (who hasn't made a decent film since TRAINSPOTTING) but he dropped out leaving the studio to search for someone to guide this ship.
 

May 3, 2001

Heath Ledger is in negotiations to take over the starring role of MONSTER'S BALL from Wes Bentley who dropped out for unknown reasons.  He joins Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry and Mos Def (I once knew a guy named Les Blind...) in this drama about father and son prison workers (Thornton, Ledger) who clash when the father falls in love with the wife (Berry) of a death row inmate (Def).  The film will begin filming later this month in Louisiana.  Please accept my apologies for that terrible "Les Blind" joke.
 

May 3, 2001

Source: Dr. Drew

You've all been well-behaved (except for you. Yes, you! The one reading this right now) so I'll let you have some dessert. Dr. Drew has baked up a fresh batch of his soft, moist, and tasty homemade scoops.  Don't read them too fast or you'll choke.  And don't go swimming 30 minutes after reading the scoops.  And have I completely lost my mind?

"Driven" DVD with exclusive footage
After having the chance to check out an advance screening of DRIVEN last week, I went through the press kit which featured some pretty extensive production notes. I think DVD freaks will be interested to know that they mentioned that director Renny Harlin chose to shoot extensive additional driving shots for many of the racing scenes featured in the movie, knowing that they weren’t going to make the final cut. Why? To take full advantage of the multi-angle option offered by the DVD medium. The upcoming disc, which I’m estimating should be a late 2001/ early 2002 release, will be the first to DVD to feature footage shot exclusively for a home release. The notes went on to describe that viewers will be able to check out countless shots from the grandstand, the pits and views from other drivers, among others during the races. Given the countless combinations of angles, the possibilities could be very cool.

New DVD release dates announced
A couple of DVDs were announced this week including WAYNE'S WORLD 1 and 2 which are both slated for July 10th (a commentary track from the director and cast interviews have been confirmed), THE GIFT for July 17th (no word yet on a making of documentary on shooting Katie Holmes’ rack). Criterion has also announced several new titles, including SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS, WITHNAIL AND I, THE LADY EVE and HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING, all slated for a July 10th. SWEET NOVEMBER and the slasher VALENTINE are both set for a July 24th release date. Disney animation fans will be stoked to learn that the time honored classic, DUMBO, will get an October 23rd release under the Gold Collection label.
  

May 3, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• More shots from ABOUT A BOY are online here. Thanks to 'Gary'
• A script review of the possible Bruckheimer film RED WORLD is online here
• Take a look at a report of a test trailer (probably for internal use only) for SPIDER-MAN with screenshots and all
• Was Daredevil spotted in the background of a JAY AND SILENT BOB picture? Possibly, check here for more info

May 2, 2001

Variety reported today about two, high-profile films regarding female action heroes.  First up we have the inevitable CHARLIE'S ANGELS 2, which producer Leonard Goldberg says should begin shooting in spring of 2002.  All three Angels will be back (Drew Barrymore will again co-produce) and so will director McG and writer John August (GO). It is assumed that Bill Murray will not reprise his role as Bosley considering the tension on the set of the first ANGELS.  Secondly, we have the long delayed WONDER WOMAN, which Goldberg says he and producer Joel Silver (THE MATRIX) are developing as a "priority project" for Warner Bros. Todd Alcott (ANTZ) is writing the script and Sandra Bullock is still in talks to star.  "Sandy's interested...it all depends on the script and director, of course" says Goldberg.
  

May 2, 2001

Seeing that headline makes me want to hear the Dre/Snoop version of The Muppets' "Together Again". That probably won't happen but... rappers Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg will team up for the Lions Gate film THE WASH for director DJ Poop, I mean, Pooh. The pair will also executive produce the film and collaborate on the film's soundtrack.  WASH sounds like a hip-hop ODD COUPLE, with Dre and Snoop as "mismatched roommates" and employees of a local car wash.  The film is being tentatively set for release in winter of 2001.
  

May 2, 2001

Kevin Smith, via his official site, announced that his film, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, is being pushed back two weeks to August 24th. He says the main reasoning behind the move is the competition they would face on the original date of August 10th. He says, "'RH2' [RUSH HOUR 2] opens August 3rd, and it's going to be huge...add to that the fact that 'AP2' [AMERICAN PIE 2] opens the 10th, along with 'OSMOSIS JONES'." Seems like a smart move if you ask me, as the film will avoid this confusion and get a release date competing only with films like GHOSTS OF MARS and SOUL SURVIVORS.
  

May 2, 2001

Avi Arad spoke about the sequel to X-MEN and spoke a little about the film's plot.  He indicated that, as suspected, Jean Grey will be developed (possibly hinting towards the Dark Phoenix storyline) and that Magneto would "definitely" be back.  Of course the question of new characters came up and all he would say was that they wanted Beast in the first film so he would be a frontrunner for the second.  Bryan Singer and David Hayter continue to work on the script based on Hayter's treatment and are aiming to have the film in theaters by November, 2002.
  

May 2, 2001

Now that Lions Gate Entertainment has snatched up "O" for US distribution, the film is starting to come alive again.  We just received word from the studio themselves with news that the film will finally have its long-awaited premiere on May 26th in Seattle. The film had been delayed due to the recent rash of school shootings and concerns over the violent scenes. You can see some pictures from the Othello update, featuring its stars Julia "Furious" Stiles, Josh Hartnett and "Messy" Mehki Pfieffer over at AICN here.
 

May 2, 2001

Fresh off yesterday's announcement that Bruce Willis was prepping HOSTAGE for MGM, we get word that the very same studio has hired Doug Richardson (BAD BOYS, MONEY TRAIN) to adapt his novel TRUE BELIEVERS for the screen as another vehicle to star Mr. Willis.  It's a complicated plot, so I'll let the folks from Variety explain:

"TRUE BELIEVERS" is a thriller about a senator who has his eye on the White House; his wife, who is eyeing motherhood; and a prisoner on death row who wants to be the messiah. This psychotic has a league of 'true believers' who will do his bidding -- and in this case, he wants them to kidnap and artificially inseminate the senator's wife, so that a 'messiah' can live on after his death."

Very interesting stuff we've got going on here.  As with HOSTAGE, Willis will also produce the film.
  

May 2, 2001

Source: Joey Baloney

• Tom Hanks way too much time on his hands.  If you don't believe me, read this
• The producers of FINAL FANTASY are talking about the film's photorealistic animation and you can read all about it here
• A new shot from LORD OF THE RINGS is online that you can check out here

May 1, 2001

Hot diggity dog!!  Got some mail today from JoBlo, who's deep inside the site's top-secret headquarters, and attached were two pics.  I curiously opened them up and what did I see?  With the exception of the one shot that appeared in Entertainment Weekly's Summer Movie Preview, I saw the first two publicity shots from AMERICAN PIE 2!  The first picture features Jim (Jason Biggs) in bed with a young girl in his dorm room just as his parents (and hers!) decide to make a surprise visit. The second picture (could be spoiler material if you're a purist) shows what Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) is doing these days. Looks like she made it back to band camp...  You can check 'em out below! AMERICAN PIE 2 is scheduled to open on August 10th.

< Click on the pic to see bigger version >
  

May 1, 2001

Monica Bellucci, who most recently starred in the foreign film MALENA, has landed in a role in MATRIX 2 and possibly the third installment in the trilogy.  She told In Style magazine that she is preparing for the role but did not give any details to the character she would be playing. UPDATE:  I just received word that Ms. Bellucci will be playing an extremely attractive woman in the movie!  Don't believe me?  Check out these shots...

May 1, 2001

MGM will pay author Robert Crais "high six figures" to adapt his novel HOSTAGE as a vehicle to star Bruce Willis, which he will also produce.  The film sounds a little like CLIFFHANGER if you ask me, with a hostage negotiator (Willis) who got some people killed on the job and now must rebound from the guilt to negotiate his own family's release when they are abducted by members of the Mob.  The film's got some potential but there's also potential to muck it up royally.  Hopefully, they'll take their time with this and turn it into a taut psychological thriller instead of a generic Bruce Willis action flick (which, don't get me wrong, isn't necessarily a bad thing...).
  

May 1, 2001

Coming Soon reported, by way of the Chicago Sun Times, that Julia Roberts will star in the film TRACKS, which will be directed by her buddy and CONSPIRACY THEORY co-star, Mel Gibson. The film plot sounds like corn flakes taste - bland.  Producer Todd Black (A KNIGHT'S TALE) spoke of the project and said, "Julia will play a woman who walks across the Outback...while a National Geographic photographer documents her journey." If this isn't a rumor (which I would tend to think it is), Julia wouldn't start work on this until she finished OCEAN'S ELEVEN and BUTTERFLY (aka PROJECT 3), which she has already committed to starring in.
                                              

May 1, 2001

Could PT Anderson be jerking the collective media around when it comes to his latest film's title and plot?  The closely guarded production (which stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson) has had some leaks regarding plot and title in the past weeks, but the webmaster of the director's fansite warns that you shouldn't believe everything you read.  He says that although the title was thought to be JUST DESSERTS, he claims, "don't bet on any title for the film that you've seen so far."  As for the plot, (which reportedly revolves around pudding coupons) he cautions that the curious are better off waiting until the film's release.  Does he know something we don't?  Could PT be throwing out false information to throw the media off-track?  I wouldn't be surprised....
 

May 1, 2001

Harry at AICN posted a link a while back that led to information regarding casting of extras in Bruce Campbell's next film BUBBA HO-TEP.  Those scenes were being filmed this past weekend and the extras have now become scoopers, sending in pics and set reports.  The scene being filmed was a Texas county fair where Elvis (Bruce) is impersonating an Elvis impersonator (the plot is a hard to explain, but you can read this summary and try to figure it out for yourself).  There are some shots of Bruce in full Elvis garb and if you click the link below it will take you directly to the story.

Click here to check out the pics and all
 

April 30, 2001

Marvel Films head honcho Avi Arad spoke out about two of his biggest films on the horizon (with the exception of course of SPIDER-MAN). Regarding X-MEN 2, he says that he hopes to have the film released in November of next year and writer David Hayter has already turned in his treatment for the film. He said that the characters for the next film are still to be decided, so don't believe the rumors you hear. In less encouraging news, he said he was pleased with the hiring of Peyton Reed to direct FANTASTIC FOUR because of his "great sense of comedy." Ex-squeeze me? He goes on to say that "The Fantastic Four is a dysfunctional family, a comedy." Considering that the FANTASTIC FOUR is one of my most cherished comic books franchises, I cannot believe that they are still going in this direction. I know that original director Raja Gosnell had plans to make a comedy, but I thought that was why they gave him the boot. This is just all wrong. If you want to read a great article on the subject, click here.
 

April 30, 2001

< Click on the above to see more pictures >
                                               

April 30, 2001

It came as news to me, but apparently "the muscles from Brussles" Jean-Claude Van Damme is still in show business. I haven't heard much from the old boy lately, but he has just signed a deal to star in the independent film THE MONK. It's a kung-fu film (good to see he's taking risks) about a guy who kicks, punches and headbutts other guys for approximately 90 minutes. If I'm being hard on J.C., it's just tough love. I really would love to see him make some halfway decent movies again.
                                              

April 30, 2001

April 30, 2001

Here's some news from the world of Kevin Smith. It looks like the planned full-length CLERKS: SELL OUT animated feature may be put on hold. Smith spoke on his official website and hinted that the failed television show may find a new home on MTV. This could put plans for a film on hold indefinitely as production begins on new episodes. In other Smith news, the premiere of the trailer for JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK is almost complete and should be available for download soon. Smith may also post deleted scenes from the film on J&SBSB's official site when it goes live.
                                        

April 30, 2001

The official site for OSMOSIS JONES has gone live, and includes screensavers, pictures and all kinds of goodies available for download. Check it out by following the link above. The film, starring Bill Murray and the voices of Chris Rock and Laurence Fishburne will be in theaters this summer. Thanks to "frantheman" for the head's up.
                                              

April 30, 2001

• Coming Attractions scored the final poster for FINAL FANTASY, that looks pretty sweet in my humble opinion. Check it out over here
• There's some set reports from MATRIX 2 online that you can check out here