Fox Officially Announces Fantastic Four Reboot
20th Century Fox has confirmed that it will reboot its Fantastic Four franchise. Rumors of a potential reboot first hit back in March.
Akiva Goldsman (I Am Legend, Hancock, Jonah Hex) has been hired to produce and Michael Green, the executive producer of TV’s “Heroes” and writer of “Green Lantern,” will pen the script for the new “Fantastic Four.”
The 2005 “Fantastic Four” and 2007 sequel “Rise of the Silver Surfer” were directed by Tim Story and starred Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Ioan Gruffudd. Since the deals for the reboot are just getting made, it is unclear if any of them will return and Fox was unwilling to comment on the development.
Rising Sun Denies Leaking “Wolverine” Online
An Australian visual effects company has denied leaking an unfinished workprint of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” one month before its release.
The superhero prequel was downloaded an estimated 100,000 times from file-sharing networks before it was detected and removed. It is not scheduled for release until May 1 in the US.
The company’s name “Rising Sun Pictures” appears in a caption dated March 2 a few minutes into the high-quality leaked copy of the 20th Century Fox superhero movie.
Rising Sun Pictures chairman and co-founder Tony Clark said in a statement posted on the company’s Web site Thursday:
“As we worked on individual sequences within the film, neither Rising Sun Pictures or its staff members have ever been in possession of a full-length version, so it would have been impossible for the movie to have been leaked from here”
According to Rising Sun Pictures’ Web site, the visual effects company had been tasked with producing “a number of key effects sequences” in “Wolverine.” Rising Sun Pictures is also working on the upcoming “Terminator Salvation” film and had previously created effects for “Watchmen,” ”Australia,” ”Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and “Get Smart.”
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” Workprint Leaks Online – Update!
We’ve alredy posted that “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” somehow leaked onto the web. This will obviously cost 20th Century Fox millions of dollars in ticket sales, according to BBC News. The superhero prequel was downloaded an estimated 100,000 times from file-sharing websites before it was detected and removed.
In a statement, 20th Century Fox said:
“Last night, a stolen, incomplete and early version of ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ was posted illegally on websites. It was without many effects and had missing scenes and temporary sound and music. We immediately contacted the appropriate legal authorities and had it removed. We forensically mark our content so we can identify sources that make it available or download it.
The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law – the courts have handed down significant criminal sentences for such acts and the last person who committed such a crime is still in jail.
The FBI and the MPAA also are actively investigating this crime. We are encouraged by the support of fansites condemning piracy and this illegal posting and pointing out that such theft undermines the enormous efforts of the filmmakers and actors, and above all, hurts the fans of the film.”
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” will open in U.S. theaters on May 1, 2009.
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” Workprint Leaks Online
According to HitFix, workprint of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” has allegedly leaked online.
The movie won’t hit theaters until May 1st, 2009 and bad news for 20th Century Fox, people can now watch the workprint on several kinds of websites out there.
The bootleg is purportedly a DVD quality video of the Fox blockbuster without a timecode or studio watermark, but with several visual effects shots unfinished.
The only missing elements to the pirated copy seems to be scenes from director Gavin Hood’s recent reshoots of the film, which, according to actor Hugh Jackman, was the result of scheduling conflicts with the cast/crew, and not problems with the movie itself.
At the moment, Fox Legal is no doubt sending their legal troops throughout the web trying to pull the movie down, but at this point, gentlemen, good luck.
Warner Brothers and Fox Settle The Watchmen Suit
The copyright dispute between Warner Bros and Fox that was threatening the release of “Watchmen” has been resolved on Friday morning and request that the case be dismissed.
The Hollywood Reporter:
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the deal is said to involve a sizable cash payment to Fox and a percentage of the film’s boxoffice grosses; Fox will not be a co-distributor on the film, nor will it co-own the “Watchmen” property, but it will share in revenue derived from it. The studios released a joint statement last night.
“Warner Bros. acknowledges that Fox acted in good faith in bringing its claims, which were asserted prior to the start of principal photography,” the statement read. “Fox acknowledges that Warner Bros. acted in good faith defending against those claims.”
“The matter is fully and finally settled,” Fox’s attorney Louis A. Karasik said after Judge Gary Feess said he had read a lot about the settlement in the newspapers but noted “there is noting in my docket.”
Fox sued Warners in February of 2008, claiming copyright infringement based on agreements the studio had with producer Larry Gordon. Feess ruled on Dec. 24 that Gordon did not secure the proper rights to Watchmen from Fox before shopping the project and eventually setting it up with Warners. Feess’ decision prompted settlement talks to heat up because Warners faced the prospect of an injunction stopping its March 6 release of the $130 million comic book adaptation.
“Watchmen” hits theaters on March 6th, 2009.
For “Watchmen” trailers, clips, photos, posters and more movie info, go to the “Watchmen” movie Page.
New “Dragonball” Poster and Trailer Screenshots
Poster featuring Emmy Rossum as Bulma and screenhots from a possible “Dragonball” teaser trailer has made their way online thanks to Nerdorama.
[IMAGES REMOVED AS DEMANDED BY 20th CENTURY FOX LEGAL GROUP]
The images cut out from the trailer showcase Justin Chatwin as Goku in action as well as in training with his master Roshi. Two of them also revealed for the first time the evil villain Lord Piccolo as portrayed by James Marsters.
“Dragonball” is adapted from the manga created by Akira Toriyama; the work was also turned into a Japanese anime series that played all over the world. It tells the story of an alien sent to destroy Earth, who has a change of heart and decides to join the humans in their fight against various aliens and bad guys. Continue Reading…
“Max Payne” International Trailer
Yahoo! Movies UK has just posted the full international trailer for 20th Century Fox’s “Max Payne” starring Mark Wahlberg, Chris O’Donnell, Beau Bridges, Ludacris, Mila Kunis, Donal Logue, Amaury Nolasco and directed by John Moore.
“Max Payne” tells the story of a maverick cop determined to track down those responsible for the brutal murder of his family and partner. Hell-bent on revenge, his obsessive investigation takes him on a nightmare journey into a dark underworld. As the mystery deepens, Max (Wahlberg) is forced to battle enemies beyond the natural world and face an unthinkable betrayal.
Click here to watch this brand new video
The film is scheduled to hit theaters on October 17, 2008.
Warner Bros’ “Watchmen” in Serious Legal Trouble
Watchmen - movie photo
A judge has denied a Warner Bros motion to dismiss 20th Century Fox’s lawsuit over Warners’ right to make a film based on the graphic novel “Watchmen.”
The ruling is a huge victory for Fox, which may end up as being a profit participant in the film. Fox retained the rights to the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, which the studio originally purchased in 1991. When producer David Gordon picked up the option on the project out of turnaround in 1994, the judge ruled, he never excersised that option for Fox’s remaining interest in the film, therefore, Fox’s rights to the film should still be intact.
Project, which has been in development for two decades, finally began lensing in September with Zack Snyder at the helm. Warners was set to release the film, which stars Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley, on March 6th in the same slot in which “300” opened. Continue Reading…
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” Comic Con Footage
At San Diego Comic Con, 20th Century Fox tried to act like it was a big surprise, but they did the right thing and brought in Hugh Jackman who jumps on stage and begins to introduce footage from “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
The footage starts with Jackman and Liev Schreiber in a military jail being recruited by Danny Huston’s Stryker. Then lots of Jackman being turned into the Wolverine and getting pissed off and going after Stryker’s men and ultimately Shreiber’s Sabertooth. Other characters shown including Gambit, The Blob, Wraith, and Deadpool. It’s hard to get a read on how good the movie will be with the fast edits, but it has lots of action, fights, cool stunts, and all those other things you expect from an X-Men movie not directed by Brett Ratner.
Directed by Gavin Hood from a David Benioff, the action-thriller co-stars Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, William, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Daniel Henney and Lynn Collins. Continue Reading…
Great “The Day the Earth Stood Still” COMIC-CON 2008 Posters
20th Century Fox is coming to Comic-Con armed with two new posters for “The Day the Earth Stood Still“, one that’s similar to the banner from Cinema Expo and another showing a shot of Gort.
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” is 20th Century Fox’s contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Keanu Reeves portrays Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor’s appearance, a woman (Jennifer Connelly) and her young stepson get caught up in his mission – and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described “friend to the Earth.” Continue Reading…
