The Playlist

MGM Give Up Search For Originality; Find 'Where’s Waldo?'

By Sam Price
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November 8, 2011 12:20 PM
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0 Comments

News

Following on the heels of the news that a fresh version of “Popeye” will obliterate any lasting memory of the comparatively dignified Robert Altman film, not to mention the brain-searing whorl of “The Smurfs,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and the fact that the pillaging of similar cartoon properties continues undimmed, it’s perhaps unsurprising that MGM are seeking out everyone’s favorite bobble-hatted crowd-dweller Waldo (he of "Where's Waldo?") to get in on the action. Variety are reporting that this series of narrative-free picture books are set to be adapted into a live-action feature film, following on from several failed attempts to bring the defiantly non-agoraphobic ‘hero’ to the big screen since the 1990s.

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MGM & Sony Get In The Ring For Eminem & Antoine Fuqua's Boxing Drama 'Southpaw'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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October 20, 2011 7:01 AM
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1 Comment

The past year has seen the boxing movie get a little bit of a resurgence. Of course, there was David O. Russell's "The Fighter," which jumped late into the Oscar race last year and went on to nab statutes for Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, and for the past two weeks, Hugh Jackman's robot boxing flick "Real Steel" has stayed stead on top of the box office. Now, fresh-out-of-bankruptcy MGM are looking to get going on a project that does not have a hobbit or James Bond in it, picking up the rights to "Southpaw," which will have Sony distributing the film.

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Joss Whedon's Long-Delayed 'Cabin In The Woods' Finally Glimpses Light, Hits Theaters April 13, 2012

By Oliver Lyttelton
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July 21, 2011 2:04 AM
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When MGM went bankrupt, it was a major headache for some of the film industry's biggest figures and properties. "The Hobbit" was delayed for a year, causing Guillermo Del Toro to leave the production, and Peter Jackson to take over, while Sam Mendes also had to significantly delay his entry into the James Bond series, the longest running franchise around. But there are two films that were most adversely affected by the situation, the last two productions at the studio: "Red Dawn," the remake of the fondly-remembered Commie-bashing classic, and "The Cabin in the Woods," a post-modern horror flick written and produced by geek deity Joss Whedon, and directed by "Cloverfield" scribe Drew Goddard.

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Villains In 'Red Dawn' Remake To Be Changed To North Koreans Instead Of Chinese So MGM Can Sell It

By Kevin Jagernauth
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March 16, 2011 4:20 AM
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9 Comments

North Koreans are the new Chinese, who were the new Russians it would seem. "Red Dawn," a remake of the 1980s film about a bunch of kids who keep those pesky Soviets from taking over America was remade by Dan Bradley (a stunt coordinator making his directorial debut) with the Chinese now serving as the updated baddies. But according to the LA Times, it appears that the film is undergoing a post-production makeover that will now digitally swap out Chinese flags and whatnot and substitute with North Korean ephemera. Additionally, dialogue in the film will be altered to match the story changes as well, which will not totally erase the Chinese but give the North Koreans a bigger role as the dudes who stomp on the stars and stripes. So why all the changes? MGM has been showing the film to potential buyers and without a chance to crack the Chinese market, potential customers are passing on the film.

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MGM Moving Ahead With 'Robocop' Reboot, 'Mr. Mom' Remake, Another 'Poltergeist' & More

By Kevin Jagernauth
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February 18, 2011 9:40 AM
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5 Comments

'The Idolmaker' To Also Get A Makeover; 'Hercules' Project In The WorksUpdate: Cinema Blend reports that their sources at MGM say none of these films are in the work, at that only "The Hobbit," "James Bond 23" and "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" are on the current slate.

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Sony Close To Bringing 'Bond 23' Back Into The Fold; MGM Get A Piece Of 'Dragon Tattoo' In Return

By Oliver Lyttelton
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February 8, 2011 1:56 AM
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1 Comment

Freida Pinto Bond Girl Rumors Persist We were as pleasantly surprised as anyone when 2006's "Casino Royale" turned out to not only be a thoroughly successful reboot of the James Bond franchise for the modern era, but also the best Bond movie since the Connery era. By the same token, we were as disappointed as anyone when quickie follow-up "Quantum of Solace" proved to be as bad as the worst Brosnan entries, let down by a writer's strike-afflicted script and poor direction from Marc Forster.

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Javier Bardem Offered Role In 'James Bond 23'

By Kevin Jagernauth
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January 30, 2011 10:09 AM
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1 Comment

Geez, more news on Sunday than there was all day Friday. Good thing we're by the computer this afternoon. Deadline reports that Javier Bardem has been offered a starring role opposite Daniel Craig in the forthcoming and still untitled and under wraps "James Bond 23." No word yet on what the part will be but generally speaking, the second male lead in most of the Bond films have been villains.

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Box Office '10: Win, Lose Or Draw

By Gabe Toro
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January 28, 2011 12:36 AM
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1 Comment

Despite rising 3D surcharges, studios posted major box office and attendance drops in 2010, suggesting moviegoers were not entirely intrigued by the year’s product. Some distributors executed a winning game plan with success, while others floundered, making a series of unwise decisions that probably got a number of respectable people fired.

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Elijah Wood To Return For 'The Hobbit'?

By Kevin Jagernauth
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January 6, 2011 11:13 AM
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8 Comments

Oh Yeah, Warner Bros. Is Going To Pay For & Distribute 'The Hobbit' Everywhere TooIn not so shocking news, MGM has a bit of cash crunch, thus the idea of them distributing or even somehow paying for "The Hobbit" was kind of hilarious.

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Updated: 'James Bond 23': Nothing To See Here

By Kevin Jagernauth
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January 5, 2011 4:49 AM
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2 Comments

Update: Here's what happened. Variety tried to be bloggers and failed and dug up a Total Film interview from January 2010 that they mistook for 2011. We were dumb enough to follow suit -- though so did half the Internet. Nothing to see here, please move on.

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