Thompson on Hollywood

Spielberg's Tintin Opens in Europe First; Director Talks Robopocalypse, Lincoln

With the Tintin comics much more well-known in Europe than stateside, the plan was always to open the Peter Jackson/Steven Spielberg collaboration The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn overseas first, in late October, followed by a December holiday-friendly release in North America. (Trailer below.)

By Anne Thompson
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September 29, 2011 5:38 AM
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Kalliope's Van Gogh Biopic Seeks Director

The rich, dramatic story of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh--who has his own museum in Amsterdam-- hasn't been brought to life (in English, anyway) in a feature film since Robert Altman's underappreciated Vincent and Theo (1990), starring Tim Roth. Vincente Minnelli's 1956 Lust for Life memorably starred Kirk Douglas as Van Gogh; Anthony Quinn won the supporting actor Oscar as Paul Gauguin. Australian Paul Cox also directed a 1987 documentary on the painter, featuring John Hurt reading his letters (clip below).

By Sophia Savage
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September 27, 2011 6:34 AM
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Yes, Really: Universal Remaking a Non-remake of Scarface; Vulture on Unoriginality in Hollywood

Say it ain't so, but Universal is gearing up for a new version of Scarface. Writers are at work trying to find a way to make this story relevant again. Back in 1983, Brian De Palma and Oliver Stone's version starring Al Pacino was initially met with skepticism, as it was a remake of the 1932 film produced by Howard Hughes and directed by Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson. But the remake became a classic in its own right.

By Sophia Savage
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September 22, 2011 4:28 AM
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That's a Wrap! Lee Daniels' The Paperboy with McConaughey, Efron, Kidman, Cusack

Director Lee Daniels has wrapped his follow-up to Precious, 60s erotic thriller The Paperboy. Shot around New Orleans, Lousiana, with Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray and Scott Glenn, the film is based on Pete Dexter's novel and subsequent screen adaptation. Set in Florida, the synopsis is below. Release dates are pending as Toronto-generated pre-sales continue. As Daniels heads into post-production, he praises his cast for bringing "these offbeat characters to life. Everyone has knocked it out of the ballpark with their performances."

By Sophia Savage
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September 20, 2011 5:40 AM
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Emmerich's Happy Birthday, Mr. President; Spielberg's Lincoln Not "Political Fodder"

Roland Emmerich, whose Shakespeare-subverting drama Anonymous will hit theaters October 28, is planning another trip down history lane, but this time not as far back and not any time soon. The director is planning to make Happy Birthday Mr. President - "The title will tell you everything" - but says digital technology is not yet where it needs to be for him to make it the way he wants, i.e. with digitally manipulated and aged actors. Does this mean Marilyn Monroe will actually be the one singing the famous song to John F. Kennedy on his birthday? We'll have to wait and see; "I think we have to wait another five years," says Emmerich. For now, we can watch the real deal (1962 video) below, or enjoy Michelle Williams channeling Monroe. The Anonymous trailer is below. [MTV]

By Sophia Savage
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September 20, 2011 5:15 AM
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Denzel for Secret in Their Eyes Remake, Kevin Costner Out of Upcoming Tarantino, Source Code to TV

Kevin Costner was forced to back out of Quentin Taratino's Django Unchained due to scheduling conflicts and will no longer play Ace Woody, a "sadistic asshole who trains slaves to fight" in Tarantino's coming film. Meanwhile, as expected, Samuel L. Jackson has been confirmed to join the cast as a head house slave. The movie will star Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave who escapes from his vicious owner, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and joins forces with a German bounty hunter, played by Christoph Waltz. The film will begin production this November and has a planned release date of December 25, 2012.

By Maggie Lange
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September 16, 2011 4:05 AM
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In the Works: Kelly Reilly On Board Washington's Flight; Farmiga, Arkin & MacLaine; Nolte & Waits

Denzel Washington has a leading lady for Robert Zemeckis' Flight. It's Kelly Reilly, who we suggested to play Daisy Buchanan before Carey Mulligan snagged the role in Baz Luhrmann's 3-D The Great Gatsby. You'll recognize the British Reilly from Sherlock Holmes (the first and upcoming sequel, as Jude Law's lady love) and Pride & Prejudice (Caroline Bingley). She deserves to be showcased, and this should be a meaty role. Here are Flight plot details.

By Sophia Savage
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September 12, 2011 6:55 AM
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Washington to Star in Zemeckis's Flight for Paramount

Denzel Washington will topline director Robert Zemeckis's return to live action filmmaking, Flight, for Paramount and producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald under Zemeckis, Steve Starkey and Jack Rapke's ImageMovers banner. It's the first pairing for the star and the director. The movie is set to begin shooting this October in Atlanta, GA.

By Anne Thompson
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September 9, 2011 10:28 AM
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Paramount Produces Jason Reitman's Labor Day with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin

Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush will co-produce Jason Reitman's next, Labor Day, co-starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. Writer-director Reitman was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe for Best Adapted Screenplay for 2010's Up in the Air.

By Maggie Lange
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September 9, 2011 9:51 AM
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Working Title Assembles Joe Wright's Anna Karenina and Tom Hooper's Les Miz

Joe Wright has firmed up his cast, led by Keira Knightley, Jude Law, and Aaron Johnson, for his epic film of Tolstoy's classic Anna Karenina. This will be Joe Wright's third film for Working Title, Focus Features and UPI, following other successful Knightley-starrers, 2005's Pride & Prejudice and 2007's Oscar-nominated Atonement. Knightley has received mixed reviews for her performance in David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method. Wright also shot The Soloist for Working Title and Hanna for Focus.