Thompson on Hollywood

Immersed in Movies: Tripping Out on the Cartoon Reality of 'Men in Black 3'

Features

The "Men in Black" franchise has always been a live-action "Looney Tunes" cartoon, a wacky mix of old school and new school. The "Alienbusters" premise is totally unique and practically imitation-proof, as director Barry Sonnenfeld reminds us...

By Bill Desowitz
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May 24, 2012 3:49 PM
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Robert Rodriguez Talks 'Sin City 2,' 'Machete 2' At Cannes 2012

Festivals

Robert Rodriguez was on the roof of the Cannes JW Marriott the other day talking about the two sequels next on his plate: 'Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For' and 'Machete Kills,' which he’ll shoot first, starting in the next few weeks.

By Matt Mueller
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May 23, 2012 2:03 PM
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IN THE WORKS: 'Red 2' Reunites Old Gang, Adds Catherine Zeta-Jones to the Mix

News

Lionsgate label Summit Entertainment has added Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung-Hun Lee ("G.I. Joe: Retaliation") to the cast of the inevitable sequel to action-comedy "Red." Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, and Helen Mirren will return for "Red 2."

By Maggie Lange
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May 11, 2012 11:04 AM
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Immersed in Movies: Aardman's Peter Lord Talks 'Pirates'

Features

Stop-motion is back again this year with three animated releases: Aardman's "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (opening tomorrow), Laika's "ParaNorman" (Aug. 17), and Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" (October 5). And what I've seen of all three, the bar has been significantly raised technologically to keep up with CG...

By Bill Desowitz
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April 26, 2012 2:28 PM
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Why Lionsgate Picked 'Water for Elephants' Director Francis Lawrence for 'Hunger Games'

News

If Lionsgate goes with Francis Lawrence to replace Gary Ross for 'Hunger Games' sequel "Catching Fire," it's because he was the best they could get. The reason why Ross left "The Hunger Games" is that any director wants to know going into a movie that they will come out ahead. That was impossible, he figured, due to a combinaton of factors...

By Anne Thompson
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April 19, 2012 9:46 PM
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Behind the Lionsgate/Ross Breakup on the "The Hunger Games" Sequel

News

It's deja vu all over again. The director that established the first installment of a franchise is moving on. On April 6, The Playlist scooped the news that Gary Ross would leave "The Hunger Games" trilogy, and would not direct the "Catching Fire" sequel.

By Anne Thompson
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April 11, 2012 1:44 PM
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'Angels of Death' Next Up for UK's 'The Woman in Black' Series

News

Daniel Radcliffe's "The Woman in Black" will continue with "The Woman in Black: Angels of Death," which Hammer Films, Alliance Films and Cross Creek Pictures say is not a sequel but the next installment in a series. The first installment went on to be the highest-grossing British horror film in the past twenty years. "Angels of Death" picks up forty years later with author Susan Hill's original story; Jon Croker is developing the screenplay. Hammer Films calls the project "a wonderful new tale every bit as atmospheric and terrifying as its predecessor 'The Woman in Black.'” While "Angels" is a continuation (see synopsis below), Radcliffe and director James Watkins are not currently attached to the project.

By Sophia Savage
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April 3, 2012 5:34 PM
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By The Beard of Zeus! Will Ferrell Tells Conan 'Anchorman 2' is Greenlit at Paramount (Video)

News

Rejoice, "Anchorman 2" is coming. Paramount is partnering with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions and Judd Apatow for a sequel to the beloved 2004 original (DreamWorks; $89 million worldwide). The 2004 comedy is arguably the most quoted film of the last decade.

By Sophia Savage
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March 29, 2012 1:44 PM
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'Waiting to Exhale' Moves Ahead Sans Whitney Houston: 'In Her Honor'

News

The "Waiting to Exhale" sequel is going forward, despite Whitney Houston's sudden death. "I don’t think she would want it to [perish]," said Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler (who just renewed her deal). Soldiering on with the project is "almost in her honor," she adds.

By Sophia Savage
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February 14, 2012 4:27 PM
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Trailer Watch: Jeremy Renner Takes Over in Tony Gilroy's 'The Bourne Legacy'

Video

I'm looking forward to "The Bourne Legacy" more than most studio sequels that have lost their signature director and star, as the "Bourne" series has. Why? Because even without Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon, this one still has DNA from screenwriter Tony Gilroy, who wrote the first three and now is running the show as writer-director. He's the smart cookie behind "Michael Clayton" and "Duplicity."