“The Spirit” Website Revamped + HD Quality Trailer

Lionsgate has announced that the official website for Frank Miller’s “The Spirit” has been revamped. In anticipation of Comic Con San Diego, the site has been updated to include information about the exciting schedule of events and activities at Comic Con for “The Spirit” - including the panel, talent appearances, and exclusive content! Read the rest of this entry

“The Spirit” Feature Trailer (leaked)

A theatrical trailer for Frank Miller’s “The Spirit” has made its way onto the Internet a bit early.

The movie, based on the classic comic by Will Eisner, stars Gabriel Macht as a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. Samuel L. Jackson stars as the Octopush, his arch-enemy on a mission to wipe out Spirit’s beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. And Mendes is just one of several lovelies in the cast. Sarah Paulson, Scarlett Johansson, Paz Vega, Jamie King, and Stana Katic all star as ladies that either want to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader. Read the rest of this entry

Scarlett Johansson’s “The Spirit” Poster

Lionsgate has released a second character poster, second week in a row, featuring a leading lady with an edgy theme to it in support of Frank Miller’s upcoming comic book adaptation Will Eisner’s “The Spirit“. Last week, it was Eva Mendes on a poster asking “Do I look like a Good Girl?” on her face. This week, it’s Scarlett Johansson with “On your knees then..”

The upcoming adaptation stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons and Louis Lombardi. Frank Miller is taking a page out of his visual style of “300“ and “Sin City” in directing this adaptation, based on a screenplay he penned.

Adapted from the legendary comic book series created by Will Eisner, “The Spirit” is a classic action-adventure-romance written for the screen and directed by genre-twister Frank Miller. It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as the Spirit (Gabriel Macht) to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His arch-enemy, the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) has a different mission: he’s going to wipe out Spirit’s beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City’s rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront… all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. Surrounding him at every turn are Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson), the whip-smart girl-next-door; Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson), a punk secretary and frigid vixen; Plaster of Paris (Paz Vega), a murderous French nightclub dancer; Lorelei (Jaime King), a phantom siren; and Morgenstern (Stana Katic), a sexy young cop. Then of course, there’s Sand Saref (Eva Mendes), the jewel thief with dangerous curves. She’s the love of his life turned bad. Will he save her or will she kill him? In the vein of “Batman Begins” and “Sin City,” “The Spirit” takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride with a hero who is born, murdered and born again.

“The Spirit” is scheduled to hit theaters on Christmas (December 25th) 2008.

Frank Miller’s New ‘The Spirit’ Blog

Frank Miller has posted his 9th official blog on the production of the upcoming adaptation of Will Eisner’s “The Spirit” via an exclusive first look at SHH. The upcoming comic film, shot in the same visual style as Frank Miller’s Sin City and 300, stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons and Louis Lombardi. Miller penned the screenplay and directed for Lionsgate.

In this latest blog, Miller addresses fan concerns for the upcoming adaptation.

“The Spirit” revolves around a slain rookie cop who returns from the dead to fight crime and track a cold-blooded killer.

“The Spirit” will hit theaters Dec 25, 2008.

Emma Watson To Star In ‘Napoleon and Betsy’

Emma Watson has lined up her first big movie role outside the Harry Potter series. She’s taking over the role previously inhabited by Scarlett Johansson in Napoleon and Betsy.Watson will play Betsy Balcombe, a spunky young noblewoman who falls for famed military midget Napoleon while confined to the small British Isle of St Helena, where the latter is exiled. Johansson reportedly stepped down from the part because it was written as too young for her, although she’ll still produce the film, which starts shooting in the autumn.

Sounds like a good move for Watson and it’s rather an impressive stamp of approval that she’s in a position to take roles offered to someone of Johansson’s level. A good performance in this could set her off to a good start once the Harry Potters are all done.

Shia LaBeouf In Pool Of Blood…’New York, I Love You’

Shia LaBeouf lies motionless in a pool of blood - but don’t worry, he’s just filming his latest movie.

The Transformers star was snapped on the set of new flick New York, I Love You.

The film focuses on various love stories - all set in the Big Apple - and sees 12 filmmakers direct a short segment each.

Although the central theme studies the universal idea of love, it doesn’t look like Shia’s story has a happy ending.

Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman will lend their talents to the other side of the camera - and switch acting for directing.

And if you can’t wait to see Shia in action, catch him in the fourth Indy installment Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull from May 22.

Shia LaBeouf and Julie Christie Join ‘Love’

Shia LaBeouf, Julie Christie and John Hurt are starring in the late Anthony Minghella-scripted segment of “New York, I Love You,” an anthology of 12 short films set in each of the city’s five boroughs.

“Love” is being helmed by a coterie of directors, including Natalie Portman, who is making her writing and directing debut.

Those cast in the anthology film include Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, Chris Cooper, Anton Yelchin, Drea de Matteo, Ethan Hawke and Kevin Bacon.

Among those directing are such notables as Allen Hughes, Brett Ratner and Scarlett Johansson. Johansson’s entry follows the journey of a lonely man and his vision of the city.

The movie follows on the heels of the similarly formatted “Paris, je t’aime,” which dealt with love encounters in the City of Lights.

The next city to get the anthology treatment, under what is being called the “Cities of Love” franchise, is Shanghai, followed by a location in South America and then Africa.

LaBeouf and Christie’s segment, written by the late Minghella and directed by Shekhar Kapur, who stepped in after the director died, centers on a woman who checks into a hotel that is in between worlds. There, she meets a young man and the two discover not only a mysterious connection but develop an understanding as to their situation. The short is described as being similar to Minghella’s breakout film, “Truly Madly Deeply.” Production is under way on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Read the rest of this entry