Because no one asked for it, Andrew Lloyd Webber decided that his insanely successful Broadway production The Phantom of the Opera needed a sequel. The title he is working with is Phantom: Love Never Dies. His hopes are that a sequel to the movie based on his stage musical will in turn inspire stage productions based on a movie.

IESB.net gives us:

The sequel will be set a decade or so after the first installment, during which time the Phantom has relocated from the Paris Opéra of Gaston Leroux’s original novel to Coney Island in Brooklyn, then still a hugely popular beach-side amusement resort for New Yorkers. “It was the place,” said Lloyd Webber. “Even Freud went because it was so extraordinary … people who were freaks and oddities were drawn towards it because it was a place where they could be themselves.”

The Phantom will be reunited with Christine, the “Swedish soprano.”

And who does Webber have in mind to take the Phantom role? He says, “We are pretty clear who our Phantom is going to be - I can’t say who,” he said.

Let me first say that I have seen the stage production of Phantom three times. I fancy myself a bit of a fan.

And despite my personal grudges against Joel Joel Schumacher for what he did to Batman and hero movies in general, I have to admit that I fell in love with the film adaptation. That movie captivated me and allowed me to experience the music again. It also introduced me to Emmy Rossum. She is truly an angel of music.

Two names being tossed about to star in the sequel are Hugh Jackman or Gerard Butler. Butler played (and sang) as the Phantom in the 2004 film, so naturally I would hope he would reprise his role.

I hope they get Rossum to return as well to reprise Christine. Rumour had it last summer that Katherine Jenkins would be getting the part but back then Webber wanted John Barrowman to be the Phantom.

Looks like Disney has put up a teaser for Jerry Bruckheimer’s latest effort for the House of Mouse. Go watch. We will wait here.
(and no, its not the Gatchaman anime - just a warning)

ComingSoon says:

Opening July 24, 2009, G-Force is about the latest evolution of a covert government program to train animals to work in espionage. Armed with the latest high-tech spy equipment, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws. Tapped for the G-Force are guinea pigs Darwin (voice of Sam Rockwell), the squad leader determined to succeed at all costs; Blaster (voice of Tracy Morgan), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and a love for all things extreme; and Juarez (voice of Penelope Cruz) a sexy martial arts pro

Now the fact that they refer to a guinea pig as “sexy” makes me a little uncomfortable.

This looks like the kind of kids film that parents will drag their children to purely for the kids. They will quietly roll their eyes and repeat to themselves just how important it is to do this FOR their children.

I wish there were more films that could be enjoyable for both adults and children instead of targeting just the kids and making us grownups suffer.

My kids were giggling like bandits through the whole teaser. I wasn’t.

You can watch the Trailer here

Looks like the money crunch is hitting everyone. Even Hollywood.

Latino Review says:

Disney took advantage of the seasonal news lull last week to quietly slip out news that it has decided to withdraw from producing The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the next in the Chronicles of Narnia series of films based on the children’s books by C S Lewis.

Blaming “budgetary considerations” for its decision, the studio said it would not renew an option to co-finance the $200m (£137m) movie because the worsening economic climate has forced it to become more selective about the number of films it produces.

I had thought that Prince Caspian did well enough, but maybe not so great to throw money at another one. Especially with the green turning a lighter tone lately.

The article even says that Harry Potter is not immune to the slashing of movies. Apparently with JK Rowling not driving the rabid fanbase in anticipation of the next book, the studios are worried that profits will slim.

I think it would be a shame for ongoing series with existing source material to draw from to be cut short. I hope Harry Potter gets its full run.

And to think that they would be hesitant to make sequels in fear of losing money and instead we are letting them pour money into Meet the Spartans. Know why? Because they make money.

ITS YOUR FAULT!! You people who go see dumb spoof movies are killing the movie economy!!

Watch Responsibly.

MySpace offers up an exclusive video with Director Zack Snyder geeking it out while explaining why Watchmen is such a different type of superhero film.

I find it interesting that the media buzz machine is still alive and while in regards to this project. It is a small reminder that WB isn’t giving up (even if they have to give up a pile of money to Fox)

Seeing this little bit isn’t news to the uberfans and comic geeks like me. We get why the Watchmen is a great story. But I like that they share this glimpse into who and what the Watchmen are and what this story will be about.

Every time they show a scene from the movie I get a chill. Ripped right off the pages. Exactly.

Damn I hope this gets resolved soon!

No doubt using technology unbiased and undeniably gathering inalienable facts about …. people…. er.. Fandango determined the most anticipated films of 2009.

Deadline Hollywood offers:

According to Men:
1. Star Trek 23%
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 17%
3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 14%
4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine 9%
5. Terminator Salvation 7%
6. Watchmen 7%
7. Angels & Demons 5%
8. Public Enemies 3%
9. G.I. Joe 3%
10. New Moon 3%

According to Women:
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 25%
2. New Moon 15%
3. Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen 11%
4. Angels & Demons 9%
5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine 7%
6. Star Trek 6%
7. Public Enemies 5%
8. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian 4%
9. The Lovely Bones 3%
10. Where the Wild Things Are 2%

I am very surprised to see Transformers so predominate on the list for the ladies. I mean I understand wanting to see Wolverine - two words: Hugh Jackman. But Transformers is every little boy’s toy come to life. I would have thought that target demographic to be…. well me.

For me the list is mostly accurate, though Angels and Demons and New Moon wouldnt even be on it and I would rank Watchmen just under Wolverine with a clear lead over Terminator.

So while all you guys were dragged to see Sex and the City on the logic that you dragged her to Transformers, it looks like they might have lost that ammunition!

Now she owes you a Star Trek.

Empire Magazine and USAToday offered up articles with some information about the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Without getting to spoilery IESB.net offers:

Transformers Live Action Movie Blog had a breakdown of the info shared in the article -

* Bay and LaBeouf confirm the Fallen is a separate character.
* Egyptian hieroglyphics …turn out to be depictions of Transformers who visited Earth.
* Bay claims Megatron is not coming back and the tank is just a new toy.
* Around 40 robots.
* Budget is $200 million.
* Ramon Rodriguez is the one holding on for dear life to a pole while cars are flung (Empire TF2 Image).
* Devastator appears at the pyramid, he’s probably 50 feet tall because that’s the height of the camera crane they used on location.

The biggest news is the lack of Megatron. I hope he is just trying to throw us off the scent and we see a rebuilt tanky Megatron in this film.

They rebuilt Jazz for fuck sakes. Why not Megatron??

And I am all for having more bots, but 40? I hope that most of them make up background shots to establish that there are a bunch of them all over the earth and they gather together to fight the Fallen.

I like that they are going with a lesser known story to tie in the live action versions of the characters, but no Megatron? Seriously?

Hollywood is all about double talk and lies until its on paper, so to hear one celebrity speaking out against another is hardly news. But when two Oscar/Globe contenders are out there, and one of them makes some pretty bold statments about the other’s character its going to hit the fan.

So when we hear that Mickey Rourke is apparently talking down about Sean Penn’s performance in Milk, we start to wonder why.

But wait! Is he?

Hollywood Elsewhere says:

Daily Beast contributor Gerald Posner reported today that yesterday (12.28) “a Los Angeles entertainment honcho shared a text message with [him] that Mickey Rourke had sent him about Sean Penn: ‘Look seans an old friend of mine [but] i didnt buy his performance at all — thought he did an average pretend acting like he was gay besides hes one of the most homophobic people i kno’”

Perhaps someone thought that this sort of smear campaign would work like a presidential election. Instead of focusing on how good you are, fling mud at the opposition.

Interestingly enough, I am not even sure that Mickey Rourke is the one saying these things. So while there seems to be some bubbling in the water, we don’t know who its coming from or to what end. Is someone trying to shittalk Penn, using Rourke (his rival to the award) to do it? Or are they trying to make Rourke look like an ass?

The conflict comes in that Gerald Posner is respected among his peers for his investigative reporting, however throws this line out with the credibility of a tabloid rag. His only sources are “an LA entertainment Honcho” and rumours of a passing statement said backstage on Letterman. I like that Jeff at Hollywood Elsewhere notes this pair of vague unconfirmable sources suddenly turned into “several” when his sources were challenged.

I have heard celebrities comment about others. A couple of years ago When John mentioned Milo Ventimiglia in front of Johnathan Frakes, Frakes admitted he was a fan. That happened. John and I both standing there face to face with Frakes. Can I confirm it? Nope. Happened in passing. So its not a valid source.

Its not like this was said in an interview. There is no proof any of this was said at all. Someone unidentified allegedly showed a text message allegedly from Rourke But someone somewhere is trying to start something here. I bring it up to address the validity of the statements. Some sites are all ready to hang Rourke by these statements that no one can confirm were even said by him.

So is Rourke talking trash? If he is, who do you think it hurts more?

Without assuming Rourke or Penn as the winner, if it is a tight race to the finish, would something like this sway judges? I think it should still be about the performance. So what does anyone have to gain inventing this. It would be a different topic altogether if Rourke was on Letterman, on the air saying he didnt think Penn was his competition, or shouldn’t even be considered. But he didn’t.

Holy Tapdancing Jesus! I have been annoyed at disurptive movie patrons before but NEVER would I think of taking it this far. A man in South Philly was so annoyed by an annoying kid at a theater, that he SHOT his father for not shutting the whippersnapper up.

ScreenRant reports:

It’s been reported that 29-year old James Joseph Cialella Jr, who went to a screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on Christmas Day, pulled out a gun and shot another man in the arm because he and his family (yes, that’s right, his family was there) for being too noisy. The incident took place at the UA Riverview Stadium 17 theater in South Philadelphia.

Cialella became annoyed when the family, which was sitting near the front, wouldn’t stop talking. He told them to be quiet, but because of this apparently the young son decided to be a smart ass and became even noisier, making comments and the like. Cialella then threw popcorn at the young boy in an attempt to get him to stop annoying him. But since that failed he decided that next logical step must be to pull out his gun (a Kel-Tec .380 handgun to be precise) and shot the father in the arm.

We have all wanted to stand up and address those annoying people who think it is there job to offer commentary during a film. Tell them off. Throw popcorn.

The theater staff is usually quite willing to ask someone to leave if they are disrupting the movie (kicking out one paying jackass is better than refunding a theater full of annoyed patrons when you do nothing) so I have to question the mental stability of a man who is willing to escalate things to this extreme. Shushing, Commenting, Popcorn… GUN. Seems he skipped a few logical steps in this conflict.

I quote the noble Reverend Book when I say that there is a Special Hell reserved for Child Molesters and People who Talk During the Movie.

I would be just as annoyed with the parent who LET their kid carry on like this. If my kid was the one disrupting everone, he would get put in his place in a hurry. But the shooter’s logic at least extended that far as to blame the father for not being a parent.

But for all you jackasses out there who think its funny to comment at the screen. You are not. And next time you will think twice about speaking up wondering if there is some unstable psychopath watching the movie with you just waiting to shoot you for your antics.

The latest TV Spot for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is online via ShockTillYouDrop.com

I have to say that Underworld has given us the sexiest and hottest Vampires and Werewolves ever. It is just impossible for Kate Beckensale to look bad, and we now get a second movie with her tasty visage slinked into a tight leather suit, kicking ass and shooting them up. Now in the third Rhona Mitra takes on the sexy death dealer role.

The eyecandy overload of this series is not its only selling factor, and it looks like they stay true to that with this trailer. Lots of action and a good story to boot.

I look forward to this.

Looks like the hopes for an Arrested Development movie have hit a stump. Ironic since the name of the show roughly translates into Stopped Progress.

And all fingers seem to be pointing at George Michael, played by Michael Cera.

Cinematical Says:

Fancast reports that ONE person is holding out. That’s right — eight have signed on to reprise their roles, but one hasn’t jumped on-board yet. During a recent interview, creator Mitch Hurwitz was asked about the rumors that Will Arnett and Michael Cera hadn’t signed on yet. He said: “I don’t want to talk about who is holding out right now because we might still work that out and I don’t want to pressure anyone through the press. Although I will say that Will Arnet is gung-ho, so there’s a big clue!”

Now I believe that ANY actor can be replaced in a role for a movie.

However, in this case I wonder if Cera doesn’t sign on, will it close the book for this project? Is it too important to have the whole cast? Unlike in a movie, you have two or three installments to like someone in a role. Maybe only one. So in the next glorified episode if someone else plays the character its an adjustment, but if done well you adapt.

But Cera has played George Michael for 53 Episodes. That makes the replacement that much more difficult.

For the sake of the fans, I hope they don’t have to replace him. Or worse, they can the project over one actor.

We get our first look at Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and surprise surprise. No Transformers.

ComingSoon says:

Empire has debuted these first three photos from Michael Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as well as a new cover featuring Optimus Prime, while USA Today has published two articles on the filming that took place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico that stood in for much of a battle that will take place in Cairo, Egypt in the movie.

The cover of the issue this article features in has a look at Optimus Prime, but he looks exactly the same as he did in the first movie though little battle worn so I imagine this will take place later in the film. But aside from that our first look is Shia and Megan Fox and some splodey military stuff.

GIVE ME SOME ROBOTS DAMMIT!!

You can see the rest of the images over at ComingSoon

Jim Carrey’s latest film Yes Man is already in theaters, and I think this is a nice step back to the Jim Carrey that we loved.

In Yes Man, Carrey plays a man who is always negative until he attends a seminar where they encourage you to say YES more instead of saying No. This leads his character to take chances and do things he wouldn’t before, transforming his life.

Coming Soon delivers this clip:

I really like this kind of film for Carrey. Its time he got off his high priced horse and delivered more of his comedy gold. The approach is simple too. In an interview I saw with Carrey talking about this film he says with this time of year bringing about thoughts of Resolutions and changes everyone thinks about making changes to stop doing something. Stop eating junk food, stop being a gossip, stop smuggling drugs. He thinks of this as looking at changing your life to START something.

I like that idea.

And knowing that about this film makes me want to see it now.

The Japanese version of the Streetfighter: Legend of Chun-li trailer is online.

When I heard Kruek was going to play Chun-Li, I figured the look was right and shes a decent enough actress to play the part. And this trailer doesn’t look too bad (even if I dont understand most of what they are saying). The only complaint I have is that in a movie called the Legend of Chun-Li, we might actually see… I dont know… MORE CHUN-LI????

I actually have a lot of hope for this movie. It looks like a great approach to the Streetfighter movies. There is just FAR too many characters in this franchise to do a movie with all of them in it. Perhaps a series of movies that tells the individual story of some of the more popular characters, then involve some of the minor characters who have storyline that relates to that character.

And frankly ANYTHING would be better than the last attempt at live action Streetfighter.

The energy was almost tangible in the early ComicCon bootleg videos we saw of the Tron teaser Trailer. When people saw those light cycles you could hear the crowd buzz, but the real eruption happened when we saw Jeff Bridges grace the screen looking so badass in his jammies. Damn that was good. Now it looks like Bridges will have someone to share old Tron stories with the new younger cast - Bruce Boxleitner is back too!

/Film says:

Bruce Boxleitner has signed on to return in TRON 2.0, according to ComingSoon. Boxleitner played Alan Bradley, aka TRON, in the original 1982 Disney film Tron, and will reprise his role in the sequel. Previously announced, Jeff Bridges will reprise the role of Kevin Flynn

It also looks like the return of the original Tron actor has also quietly ushered an end to the Tr2n and TRZ rubbish as well. The article notes that IMDB and the industry trades are universally calling this project Tron 2.0.

I like that they are bringing back the actors from the first movie. I would like to see how the tech world has grown, and to parallel that we will get to see it through the eyes of some key elements of the original cast.

Brilliant.

Not long ago we were talking about Stephen Chow stepping down from the director’s chair on Green Hornet over some vague “creative differences” Of course the immediate disclosure on these differences bred an onslaught of speculation, so Chow is now clarifying. He is not directing Seth Rogen’s film because he is leaving him for Jack Black.

Coming Soon says:

Chow, whose credits include Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, said over the weekend that he wants to free up time to work with Jack Black on a comedy about a superhero.

“If I direct ‘The Green Hornet,’ the superhero comedy will have to be delayed for two years,” Chow said. “The timing might not be right for a superhero comedy in two years. And I want to make a movie based on an original idea.”

I worry that his directing availability would also lend to his acting availability as well. I know that the acting wouldnt take as much time in prep and review as the director faces, but honestly, if he can’t direct because he wants to work on something else, then how is he going to have time to co-star in the film too?

So now the clarification is launching more speculation that he would quit as Kato as well.

I know you Trekbashers out there got a little giddy when you saw the title, but the title is more literal than suggestive foreshadowing. Looks like the new Star Trek film is about to wrap final post production and call it a done project this week.

/Film quotes Abrams:

“We’re just making final tweaks to the movie — we should be totally locked next week. Then we’re going to flash-freeze it so it’s totally fresh for you in May. I can’t wait for you to see the movie. The cast is awesome. The action and effects pushed the stunt team and ILM beyond their limits. I’m so grateful to this cast and crew — and to all of you for your interest and patience. We’ll continue to update this page with new info and exclusives, so check back when you think of it. In the meantime, have a happy, healthy, fun holiday! From the last days of the sound mix, JJ”

It sounds like Abrams has a hell of a lot of confidence and is very proud of the job he has done with this film.

His positive hopes for the film and excitement makes me want to see it even more!

You haters can just seal it up in some dollarstore knockoff ziplocks, you can’t take my Christmas/Trek buzz away now!

RowThree describes it:

The comedy, which premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival earlier this year, tells the true story of a Ian Hamilton and his group of friends who reignited Scottish national pride in the 50s with a trip to England to steal back the Stone of Scone. The film, which features an excellent cast of up and comers including Charlie Cox (who was excellent as Tristan in last year’s Stardust), Kate Mara, Billy Boyd and Robert Carlyle is a whole lot of fun

The movie does look to have a lot of charm. I think I will try and catch it when it comes around these parts.

The film openned already in the UK but will be getting a Canadian release February 20th, 2009. No word as to whether this will be released in the US.

When I heard they were adapting the old 70s TV show, Land of the Lost to a big screen feature I had a little moment of buttery warm nostalgia. My mother and I used to watch the original show in my wee youth, and though all I remember about it was some green webbed handed alien dudes with a faux-hawk and big bug dome eyes, and some cave with a stone platform and a chess board/lite-bright on it. Oh and the dinosaurs. That’s why I loved it. There were dinos. Shuddap. I was 3.

Anyways, the series saw a TV remake in 1991 which I managed to not even notice. And now its being made into a movie.

And we get our first peek at the teaser poster:

Will Ferrell seems to be an awkward button for me recently. Any movie with him in it automatically wants me to toss it in the bargain bin at Walmart and pass it by. Don’t get me wrong, I love a LOT of Will Ferrell’s movies. But I find his humour, though very amusing and enjoyable for the most part, is wearing thin on me and like eating too many Reece Peanut Butter Cups. I love Reece Cups. But after 17 of them, I am sure I am done with it. Does that mean I hate the cups? No, it just means I don’t want any more of them right now.

So I want to like this. I want my mom to like this. I want it to live up to nostalgia, but I see Will Ferrell front and center I have to go out of my way to remind myself of how many movies he was in that I really liked him in hoping that I convince myself that its ok.

It was a silly children’s series, so maybe they are going to keep it silly and light? Would that be so bad? Here’s hoping.

Poster too small? Cinematical Enbiggens.

Judge Dredd will soon be rolling his street justice back onto the big screen. 2000AD has confirmed that the movie is getting another shot and will start production next year.

Cinematical offers:

Judge Dredd began life in the second issue of the magazine anthology 2000 AD. In a time when Judges are running a huge megapolis, Judge Dredd was empowered to enforce the law, sentence offenders, and carry out the punishment. The premise sounded ideal for adaptation, but the 1995 movie version, directed by Danny Cannon, was tired and generic; Schneider was especially annoying. It lacked any zip or zest; fans noted that Dredd never removed his helmet in the strip and, more importantly, complained that the dry humor was missing and the mythology was left out. Stallone himself feels that the film was “a real missed opportunity,” and told Uncut magazine that “great potential” was wasted. “We shouldn’t have tried to make it Hamlet; it’s more Hamlet and Eggs.”

Oh that Stallone has some sharp wit (don’t believe me? Rent Oscar)

I for one would be all for a remake of Judge Dredd. With all the treatments of intentional comic book adaptations lately, I think we are well due for some of the hidden gems of the comic book world to come forth and redeem themselves. I really thought Judge Dredd had the potential to rock some stylized action back in 95 like Demolition Man and still come out as a great adaptation of the comic strip, but there was little to nothing about it that I could find enjoyable.

Judge Dredd was a great concept that might need some tweaking before hitting the screen (the costumes obviously were painful eyesores and didnt take well to real people) but the idea of a Policing force that would meet out justice on the spot addresses the growing concern that Justice as we know it fails. Criminals seem to have more rights than law abiding citizens these days and a portrayal of how flawed a society of a policing force that would catch, judge and pass sentence on a criminal on the spot just shows you how the pendulum can swing the other way.

I say let Stallone have at it. Restore some of the dry wit, and shoot Rob Schneider. No, he doesn’t have to be in the movie. Just shoot him on principal.

The New Fast and Furious chapter is soon upon us, and the new poster is out. I can’t get over the awesome that is this poster!

I liked the first movie, 2despised the 2second, and liked the third - Tokyo Drift - a little more than I would like to admit (mostly the eyecandy I have to say) but the cameo of Vin Diesel at the end was a perfect touch and sparked the idea of the follicular challenged Dungeons and Dragons player returning to the franchise.

MTVMoviesBlog gives the official description.

When a crime brings them back to L.A., fugitive ex-con Dom Toretto (Diesel) reignites his feud with agent Brian O’Conner (Walker). But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmaneuver him. And from convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, two men will find the best way to get revenge: push the limits of what’s possible behind the wheel.

Sounds like a decent enough storyline. And bringing back the original cast will give us the sequel we SHOULD have seen. Dropping the “The” from the title seems to be the only thing setting it apart from the other chapters which says to me that they only want it associated by the one that sounds closer to the new title.

The poster says so much. Bottom line is that the movie is about the cars. Front and center, CAR! Awesome shiny! Then the very subtle but no less present cast members in reflection. We don’t need dramatic floating heads thrusting out to remind us who is in this movie. Its the original cast. Right down to the hottest ugly girl I know, Michelle Rodriguez.

Even the subtitle rocks for me. New Model, Original Parts.

Damn that gives me chills.

This movie better rock to deserve a poster as well communicative and finely designed as this one.