Sci-Fi Movies Sunday: Captain America 2, Thor 2, Dark Shadows, Terminator 5, Prometheus, The Hobbit + more

This week’s Sci-Fi Movies includes updates on Fantastic Voyage, Frankenstein, Prometheus and the next Terminator, the first look at the cast of Dark Shadows, release date news for the Captain America sequel and possible director news for Thor 2. All that plus Star Wars blu-ray sales data and much more, including the latest images and video previews.

GENRE MOVIE NEWS

Chris Evans says Captain America sequel may not see release until 2014

"Captain America: The First Avenger" star Chris Evans told The Playlist | indieWIRE that he believes Marvel will wait until 2014 to release a sequel. Evans also confirmed he’s signed for three films but doesn’t think his character will appear in any other non-Captain America films save ‘The Avengers’:

"Confirming that he’s signed for three "Captain America" entries and three "Avengers" films, Evans told us, "They may wait until 2014 until they release the next Cap. Marvel has a lot of balls in the air, they aren’t going to cannibalize their films." And it could be very expensive for Marvel if Cap shows up in a non-Cap movie. "Out of those six films, if I pop up in one of those [other films], it counts as part of the deal. So if they needed me in a third Cap, and I say, ‘[frick] you, give me $30 million,’ well…they want to avoid that."

Although Evans doesn’t make mention of any potential date for the sequel, last month Disney — who distributes Marvel films — set release dates for two Untitled Marvel Projects: May 16, 2014 and June 27, 2014. Speculation at the time hinted towards at least one of those dates being set aside for a sequel to ‘Captain America’. Evans’ recent comments certainly point towards that direction. Read the rest of The Playlist’s interview with Evans here.

Marvel reportedly considering Patty Jenkins for Thor 2 director

With "Thor" director Kenneth Branagh not returning for the planned sequel, Marvel Studios has been searching for a replacement and according to Deadline, the studio "is getting close" to making a pick and it could be "Monster" director Patty Jenkins. Jenkins also directed the pilot for the AMC original series "The Killing". "Thor 2" is scheduled to hit theaters on July 26, 2013 with "Thor" co-writer Don Payne writing the script.

First Official Look: The cast of Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows

When images from the set of Tim Burton’s "Dark Shadows" adaptation were leaked online last week there was some concern over the look of Johnny Depp’s character Barnabas Collins. The first official photo of the film’s cast is out to reassure fans of the original series:

The cast: Johnny Depp (Barnabas Collins), Helena Bonham Carter (Dr. Julia Hoffman), Chloë Moretz (Carolyn Stoddard), Gulliver McGrath (David Collins), Bella Heathcote (Victoria Winters), Ray Shirley (Mrs. Johnson), Jackie Earle Haley (Willie Loomis), Jonny Lee Miller (Roger Collins) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard).

EW’s article on the photo also contains an interview with "Dark Shadows" screenwriter and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" author Seth Grahame-Smith and producer Richard D. Zanuck. Here’s an excerpt discussing the character Barnabas Collins:

“He’s been alive this whole time and very hungry, with no idea what’s going on outside,” says screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith.

"Two-hundred years later, he’s suddenly walking into the town he saw being built and seeing girls in skirts, cars for the first time. It’s a man-out-of-time, supernatural horror story, but I put ‘horror’ in quotes," says producer Richard D. Zanuck.

Read the rest of the interview at EW.  "Dark Shadows" is scheduled to hit theaters on May 11, 2012.

Justin Lin forced to drop out of Terminator project due to scheduling conflicts

Terminator rights holder Megan Ellison and star Arnold Schwarzenegger want to move faster on the first of two "Terminator" films in production; by the fourth quarter of 2012. That faster schedule, however, has forced Justin Lin to drop out as director of the project due to him already being committed to direct a sixth “Fast and Furious” film during that time table. Deadline further notes, however, that Lin could return to the project if Ellison and Schwarzenegger decide against quickening the production schedule:

Lin has been working closely with Schwarzenegger and Ellison to figure a way to end the James Cameron-hatched battle between humans and the cyborgs of Skynet. It would require some effort for Ellison to get the film underway by late next year. She hasn’t got a script and I don’t think she’s even hired a screenwriter yet. She also hasn’t set a studio partner, even though several are interested.

The article also reveals that Schwarzenegger has brought James Cameron into at least one or two brainstorming meetings — although the Terminator / Terminator 2 director has no involvement in the latest project.

Batman producer says franchise will continue after Nolan’s trilogy

Christopher Nolan has long maintained that "The Dark Knight Rises" will be his final film in the franchise, but that doesn’t mean the character won’t see the big screen again. Producer and rights holder Michael E. Uslan recently spoke to MovieWeb and revealed that the extensive and on-going comic series will ensure the character will be around for a long time:

"The only thing I would direct your attention to is the new comic books. The comic books have kept this character vital, and intriguing, for seventy-two years. We are all still going back every Wednesday to see what’s new. I think the character is that vital and that sustaining. He is going to be around for a long time to come."

"The Dark Knight Rises" is scheduled to hit conventional and IMAX theaters on July 20, 2012. Check out the latest set images and videos below.

Anne Hatheaway in Catwoman costume with Christian Bale (Batman) [more at JustJared]

Set videos [YouTube more via CBM, (2)]

Evangeline Lilly talks about her new character in The Hobbit

Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character called Tauriel in Peter Jackson’s "The Hobbit", and the actress says that while she understands the concern of some fans about the addition, she also feels it was needed "to round out the story as an adaptation [SFX]:

I am very concerned to this day that people will watch the film and I’ll be the black mark on the film. I know how adamant the purists are and I’m one of them! That said, upon reading The Hobbit again, as an adult, I can see why additional characters were needed to round out the story as an adaptation – especially female characters! The Hobbit didn’t include female characters at all and was a very linear story, a book for children, really. What Peter, Fran (Walsh) and Philippa (Boyens) have done is all in perfect keeping with Tolkien’s world, while adding a third dimension to an otherwise very two-dimensional story.”

Read the rest of SFX’s interview with Lilly here. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is scheduled to hit theaters on December 14, 2012. "The Hobbit: There and Back Again" follows on December 13, 2013. Both films will be released in 3D.

Sigourney Weaver talks Prometheous + New synopsis released

"Alien" star Sigourney Weaver isn’t involved in Ridley Scott’s "Prometheus", but the actress offered some hints about what she’s heard about the project, specifically what role the space jockey may play [Hollywood Outbreak via Blastr]:

… I haven’t read the script, but what I think is interesting is the alien, when you first find it in the first movie with what we call the space jockey, you know, the kind of strange creature with the elephant face. Anyway, the eggs were in its ship. So where did they come from? So it’s kind of following that storyline with … another great ensemble. I actually talked to Ridley about this very idea, and I’m delighted he’s doing it … I feel it’s in good hands. It’s a wonderful franchise and if they can invigorate the creature, it could have another life.

In other news, the official Facebook page for the movie has released this new synopsis:

Ridley Scott, director of "Alien" and "Blade Runner," returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Meanwhile, star Patrick Wilson had nothing but praise for the film’s script, written by Star Trek’s Damon Lindelof and Jon Spaihts:

"I was blown away by [the script] and I don’t use that sort of phrase a lot, but I was blown away by it, so excited that I wanted to read it again. I just kept re-reading it, even though I knew what was coming. And put it this way, I’ve never done this, I’ve never finished the shooting on a movie, and then on the ride home read the script again. I had no reason to read it, it was not work-oriented, I just really loved it, it’s so cool."

"Prometheus" is scheduled to hit theaters on June 8, 2012.

Shawn Levy still attached to Frankenstein and Fantastic Voyage

Director Shawn Levy confirmed that he’s still attached to helm both Frankenstein (adapted from Max Landis’ screenplay based on the 1818 Mary Shelley novel) and the "Fantastic Voyage" remake. Levy described "Frankstein" as "a radical retelling of that Frankenstein legend." For the 3D James Cameron-produced "Fantastic Voyage", Levy revealed he’s been working with Cameron on the project for the last seven months, adding: "We’ve got a script and a world design that we love. It’ll be an underwater, 3D action sci-fi extravaganza". Shawn Levy’s latest film "Real Steel" is scheduled to hit conventional and IMAX theaters on October 7, 2011. Check out a sneak peek clip from the film below.

Sneak peek clip [ComingSoon.net]

Kick-Ass still planned as trilogy, says creator Mark Millar

"Kick-Ass" creator Mark Millar remains confident that a sequel to the 2010 comic-book adaptation — directed by Matthew Vaughn and written by Jane Goldman — will eventually get made [Hero Complex | LA Times]:

"Hopefully, we can use the same actors if and when we do a sequel, but getting Matthew [Vaughn] to direct or Jane [Goldman] to write a movie at this budget would be very difficult because they’re superstars now and they have projects of their own. I’d imagine, if this happens any time soon, that Matthew will produce and possibly co-write, like George Lucas did with “The Empire Strikes Back,” and hire a new director. But there’s a window because the actors are all supposed to be in high school and if this came out after 2013, for example, that window would have closed. I obviously know more than I can say, but I think people will be pretty happy with the conversations we’ve been having."

Millar also re-iterated his desire for the "Kick-Ass" story to conclude as a trilogy:

"…"Kick-Ass" is a trilogy of books and there’s going to be two volumes of Hit-Girl too. And then that’s it. The whole, very complete, story has been in my head since the beginning. "Kick-Ass 2" ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and this all gets resolved in "Kick-Ass 3." I’ve known the last page of "Kick-Ass 3" since I wrote Page 1 of the first series…you have to stick to your guns and let a story have a natural length. You can’t get greedy. Just because something sells doesn’t mean you should milk it to death. "Kick-Ass 3" will absolutely be the last book and it’s a good ending."

Read the rest of Hero Complex | LA Times’s interview with Millar here.

Star Wars Blu-ray a record-breaking success; Over 1M sold and more than $84M in sales

Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox have announced that the 9-disc Blu-ray release of "Star Wars: The Complete Saga" sold a record breaking — bestselling catalog release on Blu-ray Disc — 1 million units and more than $84M worldwide. The release sold 515,000 units in North America in North America alone. From the press release:

"Once again our fan’s enthusiasm to celebrateStars Wars continues to amaze us," said Kayleen Walters, Senior Director, Marketing, Lucasfilm. "Our goal was to deliver a premium product that they could enjoy with their family and friends and we are thrilled that they are enjoying it as much as we hoped they would."

"Star Wars is a franchise with universal stories that resonates as much today as it did 30 years ago," said Mary Daily, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Vincent Marcais, Senior Vice President of International Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. "With the Blu-ray, audiences can go deeper into the mythology than ever before and reconnect with everything they love about the Saga in the best possible quality."

Episodes I-III and IV-VI are also available as separate Blu-ray trilogy collections.

Official: Sony rereleasing Ghostbusters in theaters this October + Sigourney Weaver updates Ghostbusters 3

Sony has made official what was reported on last week; the studio will be rereleasing "Ghostbusters" into movie theaters for three Thursday’s this October. From the press release:

Get ready for mass hysteria! This October, Sony Pictures Repertory celebrates the original movie Ghostbusters, its franchise, and its fans by bringing the quintessential modern classic back to theatres for a special limited engagement of one showtime one night a week. Starting on Thursday, October 13, 2011 and continuing every following Thursday in October 2011, fans together will be able to see their favorite paranormal psychologists back on the big screen as they save the world from ghosts, ghouls, and Mr. Stay Puft.

Fans can follow "Ghostbusters" on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ghostbusters) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/StayPuft4Eva) or visit www.ghostbusters.com for the first information about the release. Meanwhile, Sigourney Weaver offered up a brief update on the status of "Ghostbusters 3":

"I have yet to read the script," she said, "I’ve had a couple of calls and I know they’re rewriting and all I said was that I hope my son, Oscar, has grown up to be a Ghostbuster and Ivan Reitman said yes. Beyond that, I have no idea. I hope it comes together, but we already did two wonderful films and, if we have to let this one go, that’s fine."

Disney developing Avatar theme park attractions

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide has closed a deal to create themed attractions at Disney parks based on James Cameron’s 2009 film "Avatar". Construction is expected to begin by 2013 on the first attraction which will be built at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It’ll be inside the Animal Kingdom park, which Disney chose because "with its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the Avatar stories, which share the same philosophy.” James Cameron and producer Jon Landau will be creative consultants and partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and developments of the attractions. More details at THR.

PREVIEW Videos & Images

Batman: Year One

Sneak peek clip [YouTube]

The Chronicles of Riddick 3

Concept art [Vin Diesel | Facebook]

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

4-minute trailer [YouTube]

Immortals

TV spot [YouTube]

Paranormal Activity 3

Poster [IMP Awards]

The Thing

Red band trailer [IGN]

MOVIE BITES

• Warner Brothers has announced that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2" will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 11, 2011.[Warner Brothers]
• Zack Snyder’s "Man of Steel" will begin shooting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada this Monday (September 26). Filming will run through January 21, 2012. [Vancouver Sun]
• Nicolas Winding Refn says one of the conditions for remaking "Logan’s Run" was to start over from scratch, and he says he’s gone back to studying the original novel  for inspiration. [indieWIRE | The Playlist]
• Paramount Pictures has announced that filming for "World War Z" has moved to the London Borough of Southwark. Starring Brad Pitt and directed by Marc Forster, "World War Z" is scheduled to hit theaters on December 21, 2012. [ComingSoon.net]
• Jose Padihila describes how his "Robocop" remake will differ from Paul Verhoeven’s original: "I will not repeat what Verhoeven has done so clearly and strongly. Instead I try to make a film that will address topics that Verhoeven untreated. If you are a man changes into a robot, how do you do that? What is the difference between humans and robots developed? What is free will? What does it mean to lose your free will? Those are the issues that I think.". [Film1 via /Film]
• …Padilha also revealed that filming will begin January, February or March of next year (with Detroit remaining as the setting) and that he wants Michael Fassbender for the title role. [via Bleeding Cool]
• Details about the project remain scarce, but a writer has reportedly been found for Ridley Scott’s new "Blade Runner" project. Scott Burns ("Contagion", "The Bourne Ultimatum") is the top choice of Scott, producers at Alcon Entertainment and at Warner Brothers studio. [Twitch]

CASTING BITES

• Robert Knepper has joined the cast of Robert Schwentke’s adaptation of the Dark Horse comic "R.I.P.D." Knepper will play one of the spirits — or "deado" as they’re referred to in the movie — who refuse to leave the world. [Heat Vision | THR]
• Michelle Rodriguez will reprise her role as "Rain Ocampo" in Paul W.S. Anderson’s "Resident Evil: Retribution 3D". In related news, Shawn Roberts will return to play Albert Wesker. [Bloody Disgusting, (2)]
• After being turned down by Emma Stone and Natalie Portman, Blake Lively ("Green Lantern") has reportedly been offered the lead role in the film version of Seth Grahame-Smith’s "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". Lively has reportedly already met with director Craig Gillespie. [Twitch]
• Sigourney Weaver has confirmed that she will [SPOILERS–highlight to view] be returning for "Avatar 2": "Don’t worry, I will be back." [ComingSoon.net]
• Seth Rogen has provided an update on the cast for his survival horror comedy "Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse". The current cast includes Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson and James Franco. They’ll all be playing themselves. [Movies Blog | MTV]
• Casey Affleck is in negotiations to play the angel Gabriel in Legendary Pictures’ "Paradise Lost". Alex Proyas is directing the project, which is an adaptation of John Milton’s 17th century poem. Bradley Cooper and Ben Walker star as Lucifer and Michael, while Djimon Hounsou is playing the angel of death, Abdiel. [Variety]
• Karl Urban (Star Trek’s Bones) will be reprising his role as Vaako in "Riddick", the third film in the "Chronicles of Riddick" franchise. [MovieWeb]

Follow Russ on his blog: Your Entertainment Now and on Twitter: Twitter.com/YourEntNow.