News and updates 6...much news from comic-con 2009...

July 26, 9:00 PMMinneapolis Movies ExaminerDarrell Moen

Previous Next

1 comment Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Minneapolis Movies Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The teaser poster from Tron Legacy, 26 years in the making, was revealed at Comic-Con 2009.  www.thehdroom.com image; www.wikipedia.org image.

Buckle up, movie maniacs.  Comic-Con 2009 provided a wealth of info.

1)  Marvel's Kevin Feige, pres. of production, revealed the line-up for the Avengers movie:  Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Nick Fury.  Each of these superheroes will have had his own solo movie by the time of release so everyone will be familiar with them.  Kenneth Branagh has confirmed that "Thor" will begin shooting in Jan. 2010.  Casting announcements are expected next month but rumor has it that Natalie Portman is in.  Just a rumor but fingers crossed.

2)  "Foundation".  Roland Emmerich confirmed via "ComingSoon" that he will be directing an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation Trilogy".  They've hired Robert Rodat (Saving Private Ryan; The Patriot) to write the screenplay.  There will be 3 films:  "Foundation", "Foundation and Empire" and "Second Foundation".  No word on how soon work will begin following his work on "2012".  Asimov's "Foundation" is an epic saga spanning hundreds of years.  Humanity finds itself scattered throughout the galaxy under the oppressive rule of the Galactic Empire.  Part 1 is the story of a group of scientists known as the Psychohistorians who are bound to the task of preserving knowledge as the colonies around them steadily regress.  Please visit Half Price Books to refresh your memory of these incredible volumes before the films come out..  It's worth it.

3)  "Tron Legacy".  Jeff Bridges is back to carry on the story of Flynn, the video game whizkid who beat the Master Controller in Part 1.  There will be no further discussion of the plot until the film is in theatre late in 2010.  From Disney, it will be in 3-D and IMAX 3-D, directed by first-timer Joseph Kosinski with screenplay by Adam Horowitz (Lost), Richard Jeffries (Blood Tide; Living Hell), Edward Kitsis (Lost) and Stephan Lisberger (director of Tron).  The cast includes Bridges (King Kong--first remake; Starman; Blown Away; Thunderbolt and Lightfoot); Bruce Boxleitner (Tron; Kuffs); Olivia Wilde (Girl Next Door; Year One; Turistas; The O.C.); Garrett Hedlund from Roseau, MN (Friday Night Lights; Troy); John Hurt (Alien; Spaceballs; Contact; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and Beau Garrett (Turistas; Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer).  The teaser poster is shown above, the teaser trailer is now available on www.firstshowing.net.  Check it out.  It's awesome.

4)  "Pirates 4".  Also from Disney, they want to begin shooting early next year, hopeful of a summer release in 2011.  According to Oren Aviv, Disney's head of production, this could be the start of another trilogy but scaled back to spend more time exploring the characters.  No director named, no casting info but how could it not be Depp, Knightley and Bloom?  Who would care about Captain Jack if anyone else tried his outlandish, over-the-top portrayal?

5)  The next Batman film.  Gary Oldman, Commissioner Gordon, says Batman's next adventure will shoot next year but studio reps remain silent.  Oldman, who should know if anyone does, sounded confident at Comic-Con but he was the only one talking about it.  It's already too well known that Heath Ledger's death threw a huge monkey wrench into the machine.  Recasting someone to follow Ledger's deeply disturbing 'Joker' is a monumental challenge.  There are men who can achieve that level of off-the-wall craziness but getting one to try means putting his rep on the line.  Failure there means failure elsewhere.  Stay tuned.

6)  "Hot Tub Time Machine"  Feb. 2010, with John Cusack, Rob Cordry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke.  Very funny trailer now available on www.firstshowing.net.

7)  Megan Fox watch.  DC Comics "Jonah Hex" has this 'fox' starring opposite Josh Brolin and John Malkovich come June of 2010.  New poster now visible on www.shocktillyoudrop.com.

8)  "Toy Story 3" will now include Michael Keaton (Batman; Batman Returns; Mr. Mom).  Woody and his toybox friends will be dumped at a daycare center after Andy leaves for college.  Hopefully out early in 2011.  "Toy Story 2" will be re-released in 3-D in Feb. of 2010.

9)  According to www.comingsoon.net, there will be a "Jurassic  Park 4" but there are still no details such as a director, cast or story-line.  Stay tuned.

10)  "A Nightmare on Elm St." from New Line (WB), April 30, 2010.

11)  "Spiderman 4"--still a rumour.  Columbia Pictures (Sony) wants to start shooting next year for release in 2011 but--no confirmation from Raimi, McGuire or Dunst.  As stated last time, Marvel has been paid for the rights but no one wants to go on record yet.

Please remember that release dates and shooting schedules change like Minnesota weather but life is no fun if everything is written in stone.  Seeya soon.