“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” Pushed Back to 2010!
Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer has decided to move the release of fantasy action feature “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” from June 19th, 2009 next summer to one year later on May 28th, 2010.
This means that instead of going up against “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” next summer, the adaptation of the best selling video game will instead be appearing in theaters a week after Shrek Goes Fourth and a week before Thor.
Officially, Disney said it wants to allow plenty of time for post-production considering that the tentpole will require extensive special effects to create its fantasy world and setpieces.
Decision to delay the release by a year caught some by surprise, although the calendar could continue to see major reshufflings because of the ongoing labor strife in Hollywood. Studios may want to allow for extra cushion in case of any production delays. Read the rest of this entry
Wackness Director Jonathan Levine Keeping Busy
Jonathan Levine, whose upcoming comedy-drama “The Wackness” features an infamous kiss between Ben Kingsley and Mary-Kate Olsen, has set up two new projects.
He will write and direct “Positive,” a romantic thriller set on Martha’s Vineyard. He’s also penning the screenplay for “Echelon Vendetta,” an espionage thriller based on David Stone’s novel; the project has been set up at Sony.
“Positive” centers on a twentysomething who takes a trip to visit his fiancee’s family off the coast of Massachusetts only to be seduced by her younger sister. The indie film is aiming for a mid-2009 start date.
“Vendetta” centers on a “cleaner,” a CIA operative in charge of keeping dirty laundry from being aired in public, who after the death of a friend begins to investigate the mysterious deaths of several agents.
Levine has concentrated on indie projects, but said he’d like to strike a balance between studio and indie gigs. “I want to have a lot of the creative freedom that comes from (indie films), but I also don’t want to be broke,” he joked.
“Wackness,” which Sony Pictures Classics opens this weekend, examines a teenager coming of age in New York circa 1994. It scored audience awards at the Sundance Film Festival in January, and at the recent Los Angeles Film Festival. [via Hollywood Reporter]
First Look: Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island”
The Boston Herald has a first look at Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s drama thriller “Shutter Island.” The photos are of Leonardo DiCaprio, showing him with the director and carrying a rifle.
Shutter Island is set in 1954 and follows DiCaprio’s character, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, as he searches for a female murderer who has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is believed to be hiding on the mysterious Shutter Island.
It is the fourth time DiCaprio and Scorsese have worked together. Their last project, The Departed, won four Oscars including Best Director for Scorsese.
“Shutter Island” also stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo and Michelle Williams. The movie began filming in March and is scheduled to hit theaters on October 2nd, 2009.
Meanwhile, it has been suggested DiCaprio could be the latest star to portray a comic book character on the big screen.
He is the favourite to play Captain America in “The First Avenger: Captain America” a project still in development stages.
“Transsiberian” Poster
A new poster for the upcoming “Transsiberian” movie has appeared online.
An American couple, Roy (Woody Harrelson) and Jessie (Emily Mortimer), decide to take the long way home from their recent sojourn in Asia on the legendary Trans-siberian Express train from Beijing to Moscow. On their way, they meet another couple from the West, Carlos (Eduardo Noriega) and Abby (Kate Mara), with whom they quickly form a familiar bond that often unites fellow travellers away from home. When Roy accidentally gets separated from the group at a stopover, Jessie begins to realize that their compatriots arena exactly who or what they seem to be. The real danger begins to surface as a deceitful Russian detective (Sir Ben Kingsley) and locals terrorize Jessie in this unforgettable journey.
The movie is directed by Brad Anderson, whose resume consists of a few unrecognizable flicks. He writes most of the films that he directs and this one is no different. “Transsiberian” is scheduled to hit theaters on August 1st, in limited release.
Watch the trailers after jump Read the rest of this entry
“The Wackness” Trailer #2 and Movie Photos
A brand new trailer for the upcoming Ben Kingsley film “The Wackness” has been released.
I
t’s the summer of 1994, and the streets of New York are pulsing with hip hop and wafting with the aroma of marijuana. The newly-inaugurated mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, is only beginning to implement his initiatives against crimes such as noisy portable radio, graffiti and public drunkenness.
“The Wackness” centers upon a troubled high school student named Luke Shapiro (Josh Peck)-a teenage marijuana dealer who forms a friendship with Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Ben Kingsley), a psychiatrist and kindred lost soul. When the doctor proposes Luke trade him marijuana for therapy sessions, the two begin to explore both New York City and their own depression.
“The Wackness” is written and directed by Jonathan Levine, who is also the man behind “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane.” His new movie has already appeared at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. You can catch it in theaters on July 3rd, in limited release.
Watch the trailer after jump Read the rest of this entry
Alfred Molina In “Prince Of Persia”
According to the trades, Alfred Molina will join Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley in Disney’s “Prince of Persia,” the Mike Newell-directed adaptation of the Ubisoft fantasy actioner. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing.
According to Variety, Molina will play Sheik Amar, who becomes a mentor to the prince.
Shooting is slated to begin in July in the U.K. and Morocco.
Based on the video game, which follows an adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world.
Eva Mendes, Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley Head to ‘Queen of the South’
Having just wrapped up the production of Frank Miller’s “The Spirit“, Eva Mendes, the co-star of Will Smith in dramedy “Hitch” has set her eyes on another feature film project. The 34-year-old Cuban-American actress is set to topline drama thriller for Warner Independent Pictures entitled “Queen of the South“.Taking the role of the main character, Mendes is going to portray a Mexican woman who becomes a Spanish drug lord to avenge the death of her boyfriend. For the movie, she will be teaming up with fellow actors, Josh Hartnett and Ben Kingsley, as well as with helmer Jonathan Jakubowicz.
“Queen of the South” is adapted from Arturo Perez Reverte’s best selling novel with the title of “La Reina del Sur”. Made using the script provided by Jakubowicz and Albert Torres, the film will be filmed in Mexico and Spain in September 2008.
