Sci-Fi Movies Wednesday: Battlestar Galactica, Clash of the Titans, Ghost Rider 2, Kick-Ass, Spider-Man 4 + more November 11, 2009
by Rosario T. Calabria , Filed under: Sci-Fi , trackback
Inside this week’s Sci-Fi Movies you’ll find the first official trailers for both Mathew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass and Louis Leterrier Clash of the Titans, Spider-Man 4 villain news, updates on David Goyer’s Ghost Rider sequel and Bryan Singer’s Battlestar Galactica movie and more, including the latest box office numbers, casting bites, images and videos.
GENRE MOVIE NEWS
Spider-Man 4 Villain Revealed: Black Cat
Sam Raimi and Sony have reportedly begun the process of casting the villains and supporting characters for "Spider-Man 4" and Mania is reporting that Rachel McAdams ("Sherlock Holmes") is the top contender for the role of Felicia Hardy/The Black Cat. Another actress reportedly in the running is Romola Garai ("Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights"), who told The Observer that she had a video audition for a part in the film [via SlashFilm]:
"This phrase swam into focus as I moved up the escalator at Oxford Circus tube on Tuesday morning on my way to put myself ‘on tape’ for a part in Spider-Man 4. This is the acting equivalent of the London Marathon in that it’s important to try your best as long as you understand that you aren’t going to win."
Shortly after Mania’s report, the website Hey You Guys confirmed that the character is in the movie and also revealed some story details (noting that there will be some changes to the character’s origin):
"Apparently she is the daughter of the new editor of The Daily Bugle, a man who is also referred to as ‘a viper’ (more on this in a second). She falls in love with Peter Parker, and uncovers his true identity. Her father then dies, and Hardy becomes a threat to Peter Parker (presumably as The Black Cat)."
Preproduction Reportedly Underway on Bryan Singer’s Battlestar Galactica Movie
It looks like there may be some positive movement on Bryan Singer’s proposed "Battlestar Galactica" movie. Examiner.com reports that Singer has begun preproduction on the film and is working with Glen Larson, the producer behind the original 1970’s "Battlestar Galatica" series [via SCI FI Wire]:
Now that pre-production has started, any rumors that Singer’s next project was going to be “X” related (as in X-Men) has been put to rest, along with any shot he had of helming another Superman flick. There’s been no word if Moore will be involved in the re-reboot, yet given the rumored “rocky” relationship between Larson and Moore, it seems unlikely.
Larson holds the film rights to the property. Examiner.com added that they believe Universal Pictures may be targeting a summer 2012 release date for the film.
David Goyer Talks Ghost Rider 2 And Magneto
Contrary to initial speculation, David Goyer says "Ghost Rider 2", which will be based on a screenplay he wroter several years ago, won’t be a reboot [MTV]:
"It’s not exactly a reboot," said Goyer. "I hate to say it’s more realistic, because he’s got a flaming skull for a head, but it’s a bit more stripped down and darker. It’s definitely changing tone. What ‘Casino Royale’ was to the Bond movies, hopefully this will be to ‘Ghost Rider.’"
According to Goyer, the sequel is being prepped to begin filming next year with Nicolas Cage still attached to the lead role of Johnny Blaze:
"This story picks up eight years after the first film," said Goyer. "You don’t have to have seen the first film. It doesn’t contradict anything that happened in the first film, but we’re pretending that our audience hasn’t seen the first film. It’s as if you took that same character where things ended in the first film and then picked it up eight years later—he’s just in a much darker, existential place."
Meanwhile, in a separate interview with MTV, Goyer commented on the status of "X-Men Origins: Magneto", echoing producer Lauren Shuler Donner’s recent comments in which she cast doubt on the future of the project:
"I tend to agree with her," he said of Donner’s previously stated position. "[Fox is] still trying to figure out what they want to do, whether or not they’ll do a different ‘X-Men’ movie next or another ‘Wolverine’ movie next. If they want to make ‘Magneto,’ that’s awesome. In the meantime, I’m just going to move on with my other projects."
Kick-Ass Trailer Released + New Posters and Website Launched
Lionsgate has kicked off its marketing for director Mathew Vaughn’s adaptation of the Mark Millar comic "Kick-Ass". The studio has launched an official website (www.iamkick-ass.com), a set of posters, and the first movie trailer. A set of character posters is shown above (with another poster below) and you can watch the trailer embedded below. "Kick-Ass" is scheduled to hit theaters on April 16, 2010.
Additional poster [MySpace]
Trailer #1
NEW IMAGES
A Nightmare on Elm Street
First look at the new Freddy Krueger toys [more via Dread Central]
Alice in Wonderland
New posters [The Disloyal Subjects of the Mad Hatter]
Dark Days: 30 Days of Night
Kiele Sanchez as Stella Oleson [AICN]
Despicable Me
Production stills [ComingSoon.net]
The Host 2
Concept art [twitch]
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
U.S. poster [SlashFilm]
Jennifer’s Body
DVD cover art [VideoETA via Bloody Disgusting]
Piranha 3D
Production stills [more at Dread Central]
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Spencer Locke and Wentworth Miller on the set [Shock Till You Drop]
Logo art [Shock Till You Drop]
Scream 4
Teaser art [Shock Till You Drop]
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
First official images [Fanboyz.net via MovieWeb]
Tekken
Tekken sales art [ComingSoon.net]
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Christian Serratos PETA Ad [PETA--click to watch a video]
The Wolfman
New posters [AICN and Cinematical]
CASTING BITES
- Belgian actress Cecile de France has been cast opposite Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood’s supernatural drama "Hereafter". [Variety]
- Dolph Lundgren revealed that he has talked with the producers of "Conan" about the possibility of playing a role in the film, but said "it’s too early" yet and that he wouldn’t expect to know more until "probably next year". [MTV]
- Jake Gyllenhaal is in negotiations to star in the sci-fi thriller "Source Code" from director Duncan Jones ("Moon"). The film "centers on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown commuter and is forced to live and relive a harrowing train bombing until he can determine who is responsible for it." [Variety]
- Zach Galifianakis has entered negotiations to voice the Humpty Dumpty character in the "Shrek" spinoff "Puss in Boots" (November 11, 2011). [THR]
- Ashley Greene ("Twilight") is in talks to star in the Dark Castle thriller "The Apparition". The film, inspired by true events, "centers on a young couple haunted by a supernatural presence unleashed during a college experiment". [Variety]
NEW VIDEOS
Avatar
TV spot #3
Japanese trailer
Clash of the Titans
Trailer #1
Despicable Me
Trailer #2
Iron Man 2
Interview with Sam Rockwell discussing his character (Justin Hammer)
Planet 51
Clips [io9]
Click the above image to watch 10 clips
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Interviews with stars Alex Meraz, Bronson Pelletier, Chaske Spencer and Kiowa Gordon
Featurette: "The Volturi"
MOVIE BITES
- Previously on TrekMovie: Roland Emmerich confirms "2012" TV series called "2013"
- Previously on TrekMovie: JJ Abrams is in talks for "Micronauts" movie
- Previously on TrekMovie: Abrams & Lindelof Not Working On Dark Tower Adaptation
- "Jennifer’s Body" hits DVD and Blu-ray on December 29, 2009. [20th Century Fox]
- The teaser trailer for the game-to-film "Tekken" was previewed at the American Film Market in LA last week. You can read some impressions of the trailer at IGN.
- Music industry veteran Michael Cohl has joined the musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" as a producer. The project has also finally cast its lead, with Reeve Carney on board as Peter Parker. The musical is expected to open in 2010 at Broadway’s Hilton Theater. [Variety]
- Richard Kelly has no intentions to watch the upcoming straight-to-video film "S. Darko": "No. I kind of… it’s not… I didn’t have anything to do with it and I just.. kind of want the movie to exist in my heart the way I made it and I just I won’t… I don’t have any plans to see it." [io9]
- Universal Pictures has hired "Tron Legacy" writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz to pen the screenplay for the board game-to-screen adaptation "Ouija". [THR's Heat Vision Blog]
- Milla Jovovich recently opened a Twitter account and has been posting updates from the set of "Resident Evil: Afterlife". Read her tweets at www.twitter.com/MillaJovovich.
- The upcoming "Red Dawn" remake will feature a storyline involving the Chinese invading the United States (not the Russians as was the case in the 1984 original). [MTV]
- Christopher Lee received knighthood from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. The 87-year-old actor has appeared in more than 250 films over his 61-year career, including "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Star Wars" ‘Episode 2′ and ‘Episode 3′. [USA Today]
- Len Wiseman has been tapped by 20th Century Fox to direct an untitled apocalyptic thriller about a group of people who survive the end of the world and the mystery surrounding how they got to that position. [THR]
- The long-in-development big screen adaptation of the DC Comics project "Sgt. Rock" is moving forward…and going into the future. Warner Bros. has tapped Francis Lawrence to direct and Chad St. John to write the script. The project has been in development for nearly 20 years, but producer Joel Silver and the studio are now looking to try to take it away from its WWII roots and bring it into the future. [THR's Heat Vision Blog]
- "The Wolfman" director Joe Johnston on the possibility of a fourth "Jurassic Park" film: "There is a great story for the fourth one that I would be interested in getting involved with and it’s nothing like the first three," Johnston told the site, "It sort of takes the franchise off in a completely different direction, which is the only way I would want to get involved." [AICN]
- Warner Home Video has announced a February 9, 2010 release date for "Halo Legends" on DVD and Blu-ray. "Halo Legends" is a seven-story anthology — told across eight episodes — exploring the origin and historical events of the Halo universe and its characters. [Warner Home Video]
- Danny Elfman has been replaced by Paul Haslinger as the composer of Joe Johnston’s "The Wolfman". [Cinemusic via The Playlist]
- Hideo Nakata ("The Ring") has been tapped to direct the supernatural thriller "Voice From the Stone". [THR]
- Peter Jackson’s "The Lovely Bones" has received a PG-13 rating by the MPAA "for mature thematic material involving disturbing content and images, and some languages." [THR]
- David Goyer says that since the formation of DC Entertainment, movement on "Supermax" has slowed: "Right now, there’s not much to report," said Goyer. "Warner Brothers is moving very slowly in terms of what they’re intending to do with their DC Projects. They just recently brought on [DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson] and once they’ve figured that out, they’re going to get back to us on that one." [MTV]
- With a production budget of $230 million and marketing costs expected to exceed $150 million, James Cameron’s "Avatar" could well exceed $500 million in costs for Fox after all is said and done. [NY Times]
- "Shazam" won’t be as dark as "The Dark Knight", but screenwriter Bill Birch expects the film to have some edge: "The way the story is shaking out, [co-writer Geoff Johns] and I see this not as "dark" as Dark Knight but definitely as cool. It’ll probably end up with a PG-13 rating.". Birch added that he and Johns are "starting fresh", and also commented on some of the rumored casting. [Cinefools via Cinema Blend]
- Are you wondering if "The Fourth Kind" is real or fake? Well, here’s your answer: It’s… [highlight to view] "I can assure you it is totally fake. The interviews were shot in High Def on a soundstage with actors and then made to look like bad home video. The college logos and video break-up was added by a visual effects team, said a source who worked on the film. [io9]
- Robert Pattinson ("Twilight") wants Gus Van Saint to direct "Breaking Dawn": "It’s all about teenage love and obsessions," Rob explained. "I think Gus Van Sant would be great." [MTV]
- The Steven Spielberg/Will Smith "Old Boy" remake is dead. According to a report, Mandate and DreamWorks didn’t see eye-to-eye on the project and DreamWorks decided to walk away. [Latino Review]
- "The Hobbit" director Guillermo Del Toro confirmed that he’ll be making a cameo appearance in the film as a small monster: "I had a hand on the design of the creature and I will personally sculpt the appliances that will be applied on my face and hands…I will have a line or two and die quickly." [TheOneRing.net]
- Plot details for "Area 51" — director Oren Peli’s follow-up to "Paranormal Activity" — have been revealed. Check out impressions of Peli’s 43-page script/outline at LatinoReview.
- With last week’s official release of the trailer for Disney’s "Prince of Persia", set reports are now starting to come online. Check out two at ComingSoon.net and SlashFilm, plus on-set interviews with stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton at Slashfilm.
- Although performing slightly below expectations, Robert Zemeckis’ "A Christmas Carol" grossed a respectable $30.1 million from 3,683 theaters (an impressive 74% of its business came from 3D theaters). "The Men Who Stare at Goats" opened in third place with $12.7M just edging out "The Fourth Kind" which opened with a fourth place $12.2 million. "The Box" rounded out the weekends new releases with disappointing sixth place $7.6 million. "Paranormal Activity", meanwhile, had its largest weekend drop (-49.5%), yet still managed a solid $8.3 million for fifth place bringing its total domestic cume to $97.1 million through seven weeks. [BOM]
Follow Russ on his blog: Your Entertainment Now and on Twitter: Twitter.com/YourEntNow.
Loading ...
Comments»
A lot of good stuff
Glad to hear that the original BSG is coming back, even thought RDM BSG Was one of my favorite TV series of all time. I liked that it had a ongoing storyline,, not episodic. That is what kept me coming back.
How will they manage to do print advertising for the Kick Ass movie without using asterisks or other symbols to mask what to some people is a significant obscenity?
Wow – Clash looks AWESOME!!! Harry Hamlin must be spinning in his grave…
OOPS – Sorry Harry… Loved LA Law, tho’….
Sorry, Bryan, but the penultimate version of BSG has already gone off the air.
I can honestly say that I do not care to see anymore BSG. Although I once thought that there must be more, seeing “The Plan” helped me realized that the story was told completely in the 4 seasons we have already enjoyed
SPOILER
(even if Starbuck disappears!).
Sgt. Rock not in WWII. What’s the freaking point?! Hey, let’s take Spiderman out of New York, Batman out of Gotham (yes, I know he made a side trip to Hong Kong in the last movie), or how about Star Trek set in the Star Wars universe?! Good idea, guys! Keep ‘em coming!
I wouldn’t be interested in the new Battlestar Galactica movie if RDM hadn’t revitalized the franchise. That being said, I’m cautiously optimistic about it especially if Bryan Singer’s attached.
And Christian Serratos … hot!
Christian Serratos. I believe I have glimpsed Heaven.
I love the original Clash of the Titans, but the new one looks brutal. Brutal and SHINY.
I like.
For all those Robert Picardo fans out there….I was advised that his long awaited movie SENSORED that he filmed in Sacramento California last year will finally be released on Nov. 17th at WAL-MART stores. The original plan was for this to be released on the big screen but that plan was changed to go straight to DVD. YES it comes out the same day as Star Trek….Not sure if it will be Standard DVD or Blue-Ray….
Thought you would like to know…….
Are there really people who thought “Fourth Kind” was real?
I weep for the species.
“The Steven Spielberg/Will Smith “Old Boy” remake is dead. According to a report, Mandate and DreamWorks didn’t see eye-to-eye on the project and DreamWorks decided to walk away. [Latino Review] ”
Good! Now Mr. Spielberg can get to work on his proposed remake of the classic ‘When Worlds Collide!’
Get to it!
#5 “Sorry, Bryan, but the penultimate version of BSG has already gone off the air.”
Penultimate actually means “next to last”, so you are actually correct in the above statement, even if it isn’t how you meant it.
Regarding piranna 3-D! I saw dreyffus’s pic , I almost fainted….He is wearing the same clothes that wore in “Jaws” (he could have helped “Jaws 2″ be more successful.) Nice that he will take more roles like this..I used to think he was stuck up.. I will see it for him…oh and the bikini chicks too!!!
Singer put Superman to sleep & i suspect he will do the same with the Larsens BSG, which is fair enough.
after all, this project is a vechile for Larsens vanity.
btw, that Sarah Conner advert is a pain in the ass
damned invasive & hard to close
Urm……. Freddy Kruger toys??!? Toys of a kiddy molester??!? Some thing not QUITE right there….. Yet another example of shamless persual of the $
Disturbing, and somewhat sick!
Interesting. Now we’re already re-booting reboots. But should a BSG movie go back to the original series continuity, is it a reverse-reboot, then? Or do two ‘re’s cancel each other out like negations, re-reboot = original?
18
i dunno, but out of respect for the fantastic work that Ron Moore did. I certainly wont be watching Larsens
Christian Serratos has finally helped me — a non-tweenette — see the appeal of ‘Twilight.’
Someone PLEASE stop Nicholas Cage, America’s greatest overactor, from making any more movies.
Hmmm. Do the Freddy Kruger toys come with a lifetime pass to a therapist for my kid?
Singer and Larson will have a very tough time engaging my interest. The Moore version of BSG is definitive for me and, hell, I grew up watching TOS in it’s first run; owned toys, models and even a replica Viper pilot jacket sized for a seven year old! I guess I’m happy for the folks who couldn’t stand the RSM version; they have a shot at getting something closer to the original, but based on what I’ve seen of Singer’s ideas when he was developing it as a TV series, I doubt they are going to get what they want this time either. Only time will tell whether it will be frakkin’ good or a pile of felgercarb. To quote the Pythia (and hollywood executives) : This has all happened before and it will all happen again…
#17 THANK YOU! This is an absolute abomination. The charactor’s story is this: A nun was locked in a mental institution and rapped over an entire weekend repeatedly. Freddy was the result of those rapes. Now, someone thinks we should have TOYS of this charactor. It is time for people to stand up and say NO to this kind of perversion.
The nun was rapped?
The poor nun – I hate rap music.
(Sorry. Couldn’t resist!!)
23 – Glad you didn’t resist. Thanks for a laugh to start the day.
Avatar looking more encouraging.
Clash looking decent! Huh…
#19 – Umm, ever hear of a 1978 TV series created by Glen Larsen called “Battlestar Galactica”?
If it wasn’t for that there wouldn’t have been a Moore version!
Will the 1979 galactica come to blu-ray? I think it deserves it!!!
That Cheshire Cat is the creepiest thing I’ve seen this week by far. *shudder*
Thank God he’s being voiced by Stephen Fry (aka the most comforting voice on the planet)!
Im realy looking forward to the Classic Bsg on Film. I hope they stay true to the orignal.
I have no idear who that lass Christian Serratos is, but I’m glad she’s bare… I mean I’m glad she’s there!
Awwwww, who be I kiddin?! I’m glad both ways. How comes I never find me such things when I walk in tha’ woods? – (usually I just run inta’ MacGyver and a commando unit shootin’ at some Egyptos.)
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…
THE BLACK CAT!!??
For those bitching about Kruger toys, they’ve had them out for years. This is not new and they will not be marketed to little kids. This is an adult-type toy for collectors, etc. Jeesh. Use some common sense, folks. Unfortunately, that is something I find sadly lacking in our current society. Where it a genetic or physical trait, I’d say someone was tampering with humanity to rid it of its common sense in order to make them all sheep. But, and this is the truly sad thing, they are doing it to themselves.
Perhaps there’s a story there, a social message that could be woven into the new Trek film. Hey, Bob, if you’re watching. That is something you can write about.
Oh, wait! No, never mind. I’m a writer and filmmaker…I’d rather use it myself.
Never mind.
I am so stoked for The Wolfman….it looks so freakin good, I hope it doesn’t suck.
re BSG
While I question the mass appeal of a new movie version of BSG, I am always wondering why so many feel the need to trash something for no reason than some blind loyalty to something else. Just because you’re a fan of the Ron Moore series, doesn’t mean you can’t have another version.
Look at Marvel’s ultimate line of comics. One line represents the original characters, and the other line represents an update. Both lines run concurretnly and can be good or bad on their own merits.
While Bryan Singer has left me flat in his recent offerings, I’m still excited about the prospect of seeing the original Galactica on the big screen.
Doug L.
Doug, the problem is, that Larson and Singer both are working towards a version of BSG which is also disconnected from the original. You still won’t be getting the original Galactica on the big screen.
Larson has been so totally spanked by Moore’s version, it’s a shame he doesn’t realize that.
Of course, there’s more than enough room to tell another story of another vessel in the same universe. No reason that another Battlestar couldn’t have made it out.
I think KICK-ASS is going to kick ASS!
@ 34. Doug
I wasn’t trashing it – I merely said that they would have a tough time getting me interested. As Daoud and I both pointed out, this won’t even have the attraction of nostalgia; it’s merely Singer’s reimagining instead of Moore’s. I do allow for the fact that as info becomes available I might become interested, but I seriously doubt it. It strikes me that based on what I have read, Larson is extremely bitter about the success of RDM’s version and is pushing this into production now, of all times, strictly because of that. But he’s had to sell his soul to Count Iblis to do it, via a big studio deal that let’s Singer take his swipe at it. I’ve seen some of the pre-production work that he did when he was looking to go to series and trust me, it ain’t Lorne Greene and space casinos. Based on his work with Superman I’ll probably, but not definitely, take a pass on this one.
#34 well said. It would be nice to have as many of the original cast as possible. Admiral Starbuck ( Richard Hatch). I plan in seeing it on the big screen, unless sites like RT give it a poor review and the clips, write ups point it to being a really poor movie.
I can watch another BSG, after all RDM BSG is finished, so why not give it a chance. I hope they just do it right, good script and as far as the FX goes, that’s not a big deal and could be done well for a lot less money than it would of been 10-20 years ago. To write the movie off already, when the movie is in the stage it’s in (Pre Production) is pretty close minded. If u watch the original BSG, most of the good episodes were written by Glen Larson.
Oh no, not a BSG movie based on that campy Larson crap! Let BSG rest with RDM’s interpretation!
Correction, I meant Admiral Apollo ( Richard Hatch)
the 5 minute clip by Richard Hatch- BSG The second coming wasn’t to bad. If u haven’t seen it in a while or have never seen it, check it out on YouTube. Just by watching that, it shows that another well done BSG is possible.
Black Cat in Spider-Man IV?
An odd (and possibly risky) choice. Wasn’t expecting that, I assumed the Lizard was finally going to get his day on the big screen.
I dodn’t know if Rachel McAdams will be up to the whole Summer Blockbuster experience, but I’m sure going to happy to see ehr in that leather costume of Cats…
@ 39. The Realist – November 12, 2009
“Oh no, not a BSG movie based on that campy Larson crap! Let BSG rest with RDM’s interpretation!”
Oh, I don’t know, Realist
(Or should I say “Oh, I don’t know, The Realist” ?)
If it really WAS a faithful continuation of that campy Larson crap I might be able to get into the spirit of the thing, if only for the resultant drinking games and the warm fuzzy glow of nostalgia. As mentioned earlier, I did actually own (and still do) a Viper pilot jacket as a kid. What worries me is that it’s Brian Singer’s interpretation of that campy Larson crap! ;-)
I wonder if ass kickin hot sauce brand can sue over the comic and movie haahah
Re: David Goyer on Ghost Rider 2 “… it’s a bit more stripped down and darker.”
OK. It is officially time to organize a massive invasion of the offices of Hollywood, Producers, Directors, Writers and Studio Executives, for the purpose of taking their dictionaries and stripping out the words “darker” and “edgier”. How many efforts at making something “darker and edgier” can we take before we end up with a movie consisting of a two hour closeup of a black knife-blade on a black background?!
Ah, my joke about censorship was indeed censored!
Something you might be interested in…
a new BBC show (mini-series?) called ‘Paradox’
a warning message sent from the future?.. but if the investigators act on the warning, it will create a temporal paradox…and no one knows what effect that might have.
In tone it is more like Spooks (M.I.5) and from trailer appears firmly set in regular reality. Gritty grown up inteligent science fiction?
I hope the new BSG film is fun (somewhat likely, it seems to be a reaction to the success of the new Star Trek), unlike that overhyped, nonsensical pile of miserable garbage that was Moore’s BSG.
#41
It’s apparently going to be both Black Cat and Lizard in Spider-Man 4.