HOT WHEELS Is Revving Up Once Again At Warner Bros.
And to think it was just three years ago that Legendary was grooming Justin Lin to helm a Hot Wheels movie thirteen years after its development started at Columbia Pictures and then Warner Bros.
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SUPERGIRL Feature Film Officially In Development At WB
Deadline‘s Mike Fleming Jr. confirmed on Monday that an adaptation of Supergirl is in the works at Warner Bros. News comes in the way of a new era at the studio with respect to its DC properties in the wake of its struggles after Justice League failed to impress at the box office in 2017.
Joaquin Phoenix Is Officially Playing The Joker In A Standalone Film To Begin Shooting In NYC This Fall
Joaquin Phoenix, (You Were Never Really Here) is officially tapped to star as the Joker in The Hangover helmer Todd Philips’ new take on the DC Comics villain. Borys Kit’s Heat Vision blog confirmed news at The Hollywood Reporter with word that a September production start in New York City has been given a go from Warner Bros. Pictures.
Vertigo/DC Comic Adaptation THE KITCHEN Now In Production
Vertigo/DC
Today in news for folks ever roused by living in The Big Apple, principal photography is officially underway as of Friday in New York City’s famed Manhattan subsect, Hell’s Kitchen, for New Line Cinema’s gritty drama, The Kitchen. Oscar nominated Straight Outta Compton scribe Andrea Berloff is directing from her own script based on the Vertigo/DC Entertainment comic book series from creators Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle, and with a September 20, 2019 date stamped from Warner Bros. Pictures.
Starring Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip) and Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), The Kitchen centers on three 1978 Hell’s Kitchen housewives whose mobster husbands are sent to prison by the FBI. Left with little but a sharp ax to grind, the ladies take the Irish mafia’s matters into their own hands—proving unexpectedly adept at everything from running the rackets to taking out the competition…literally.
Also starring are Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), James Badge Dale (Only the Brave), Brian d’Arcy James (Spotlight), Margo Martindale (The Americans TV series), Oscar winner Common along with fellow Marshall actor Jeremy Bobb, Bill Camp (TV series The Night Of), Alicia Coppola (Showtime series Shameless), John Sharian (True Story) and Myk Watford (Earth to Echo).
Multiple Oscar nominee Michael De Luca (Captain Phillips, Moneyball and The Social Network) and Marcus Viscidi (Rampage) are producing with Maryse Alberti (Creed) serving as director of photography, and with Shane Valentino (Straight Outta Compton) as production designer. Also on board are Oscar-nominated editor Christopher Tellefsen (Moneyball, A Quiet Place) and costume designer Sarah Edwards (upcoming Ocean’s 8, Showtime series Billions).
WB Sets Christmas Day 2020 For SHERLOCK HOLMES 3
It was in 2014 that actor Robert Downey Jr. confirmed that the long-awaited threequel induction of the Sherlock Holmes film series was in development at Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has since taken on a revolving door of screenwriters since then and now things appear to be back on track for the time being with the studio planning a Christmas Day 2020 release.
With confirmation pending, the aformentioned Marvel MCU star is expected to be rejoined by Spy and upcoming Captain Marvel co-star Jude Law for the new film. King Arthur director Guy Ritchie helmed both the 2009 and 2011 films which saw both our eccentric supersleuth and his trusty companion, Dr. Watson initially foil a notorious attempt to expand the British Empire – a harrowing mission that preceded the sequel pitting our hero detective against criminal mastermind, Professor Moriarty.
Narcos series co-creator Chris Brancato is penning the screenplay this time with a director still in search with Susan Downey, Joel Silver and Lionel Wigram still on board to shepherd the film to its completion.
WWII Adventure Comic, BLACKHAWK, Opens The Door For Spielberg’s Premiere DC Adaptation At Warner Bros.
In the world of comics, Blackhawk is a wartime adventure series focusing on the titular Blackhawk, who commanded a squadron of ace pilots also known as the Blackhawks or the Blackhawk Squadron. The squadron would battle the Axis powers, as well as more fantastic super-villains and war machines, such as the memorable shark planes, which could operate in water as well as in the air. While the team debuted in 1941 in the heart of comics’ Golden Age, they’ve also been adapted to the modern era as a part of The New 52 and have spawned a well-known DC heroine, Lady Blackhawk, who joined the series in the late 1950s.
THE NEW GODS: Ava DuVernay To Adapt Jack Kirby’s DC Superhero Saga For Warner Bros.
Dominic Patten and Mike Fleming Jr. are reporting from Deadline as of Thursday that Ava DuVernay is onto directing yet another big scale event film following her milestone effort with A Wrinkle In Time. Thus, following Selma helmer’s own interest in superheroes via Twitter last year, comic book adaptation, The New Gods, will be the project forthcoming from the pages of DC under Warner Bros. Pictures, as inspired by Jack Kirby’s 1971 creation of the same name.
The New Gods was the Genesis of the uber-villain Darkseid. Also called “Fourth World,” the Kirby creation debuted in a trilogy of related comics written and drawn by Kirby that were published in the very early 1970s: New Gods, Forever People and Mister Miracle. The New Gods came into existence after the world of the gods of classic mythology were destroyed during Ragnarok. The deities inhabit two planets: one is New Genesis, a lush paradise, and the other Apokolips, which sounds like Dante’s version of hell. War ensues.
The studio is reportedly moving fast with a screenwriter for the film which now marks as DuVernay’s second movie budgeted over $100 since becoming the first African American female director to helm such a big scale project in A Wrinkle In Time, adapting Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel for Walt Disney Pictures.
The production, which also stands next to Patty Jenkins’s success seen in last year’s Wonder Woman with a sequel in tow, marks the latest move for the studio in its new approach to DC films since Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Toby Emmerich installed New Line Production EVP Walter Hamada to run point on future adaptations back in January.
New Line's SHAZAM! Is Underway In Toronto
Also starring is Jack Dylan Grazer as Billy’s best friend and ultimate superhero enthusiast, Freddy, part of the foster family that includes Mary, played by Grace Fulton, Darla, played by Faithe Herman, Eugene, played by Ian Chen and Pedro, played by Jovan Armand. Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans play foster parents Victor and Rosa Vasquez, with Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard.
INFERNAL AFFAIRS Is Getting An Indian Remake From WB, Azure
Azure and Warner Bros. India are currently forging a line-up of titles for local production, including a number of remakes and the latest on the roster is one of Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s 2002 crime thriller, Infernal Affairs. The film was the first of a trilogy offset with a role reversal tale centered on two men from both sides of the law working as moles infiltrating the triads and the Hong Kong police.
Martin Scorsese adapted the tale for 2006 crime drama, The Departed starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Vera Farmiga and Mark Wahlberg and eventually earned an Oscar for Best Picture Oscar among its accolades. WB TV was attached to that film’s advancement as a series for Amazon a little over a year ago with Jason Richman developing a script and while there’s been nary a word since, that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
However, an Indian remake wouldn’t lose its appeal with audiences given the right cast and a look that will undoubtedly amplify things under the right director. They’re still searching for one which also begs asking who would among those reading this like to see headlining the film. Any takers? Comment below! (Deadline)
WB Pictures Brings Taika Watiti To The Negotiating Table For AKIRA
Created by Otomo Katsuhiro who shephered the 1988 feature film from Toho, the story centers on two members of a biker gang, childhood friends Kaneda and Tetsuo, living in post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo who find themselves embroiled in government corruption and secrecy when a military experiment turns Tetsuo into a psionic madman. Akira is long considered a staple of Japanese science fiction, cyberpunk and action entertainment culture, in addition to adding to much of Otomo’s acclaim as one of the most prolific innovators in the world of film and entertainment.
Warner Bros., 1821 Pictures Developing Original Action Thriller, BOMBSHELL
The hype-train for female centric action titles isn’t pulling over anytime soon. For this, we turn over to Warner Bros. in their continued partnership with 1821 Pictures for the development of new action thriller, Bombshell.
Cameras Have Begun Rolling For The New GODZILLA Movie; Official Synopsis Goes Live
The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.
MEG Begins Principal Photography With Jason Statham And Li Bingbing, Sets 2018 Initial China Release
He’s fought gangsters, criminals, time traveling serial killers, drug traffickers and terrorists. Now, action star Jason Statham’s latest challenge is yet to come, and in the form of a one long-forgotten shark of legend in the new action adventure, Meg, with production underway and China first up for grabs with the film’s premiere release.
The details are in the following announcement from Warner Bros and Gravity Pictures along with the first official set photo with Statham next to actress Li Bingbing. Peep it.
(L-r) JASON STATHAM is Jonas Taylor and LI BINGBING is Suyin in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Gravity Pictures’ action adventure “MEG,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Daniel Smith
BURBANK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Principal photography is underway in New Zealand on the science fiction action thriller “Meg,” being directed by Jon Turteltaub (the “National Treasure” movies, “Last Vegas”). The film stars Jason Statham (“Spy,” “Furious 7,” “The Expendables” films). Award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing (“Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Forbidden Kingdom,” “The Message”) has been set to star opposite Statham.
A deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Winston Chao), against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing), to save the crew—and the ocean itself—from this unstoppable threat: a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon. What no one could have imagined is that, years before, Taylor had encountered this same terrifying creature. Now, teamed with Suyin, he must confront his fears and risk his own life to save everyone trapped below…bringing him face to face once more with the greatest and largest predator of all time.
Rounding out the international main cast of “Meg” are New Zealander Cliff Curtis (“The Dark Horse,” “Risen,” TV’s “Fear the Walking Dead”), Rainn Wilson (TV’s “The Office,” “Super”), Ruby Rose (“xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” TV’s “Orange is the New Black”), Winston Chao (“Skiptrace,” “Kabali”), Page Kennedy (TV’s “Rush Hour”), Jessica McNamee (“The Vow,” TV’s “Sirens”), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (“The BFG,” TV’s “The Missing”), Robert Taylor (“Focus,” TV’s “Longmire”), Sophia Shuya Cai (“Somewhere Only We Know”), and Masi Oka (TV’s “Hawaii Five-0,” “Heroes”).
Turteltaub is directing the film from a screenplay by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, based on the New York Times best-selling book by Steve Alten. Lorenzo di Bonaventura (the “Transformers” films), Belle Avery (“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”) and Colin Wilson (“Suicide Squad,” “Avatar”) are producing the film, with Wayne Wei Jiang, Randy Greenberg, Barrie M. Osborne and Gerald R. Molen serving as executive producers.
Turteltaub’s behind-the-scenes team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Tom Stern (“Changeling,” “Sully,” “American Sniper,” “The Hunger Games”), Oscar-winning production designer Grant Major (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “X-Men- Apocalypse”), editor Steven Kemper (“Salt,” “Mission: Impossible II,” “Face/Off”) and costume designer Amanda Neale (“Truth,” “Pete’s Dragon,” “What We Do in the Shadows”).
In addition to New Zealand, filming on “Meg” is also being accomplished on location in China.
“Meg” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Gravity Pictures. It is production of di Bonaventura Pictures, Apelles Entertainment, Maeday Productions, Inc., and Flagship Entertainment, in association with Beijing Digital Impression (BDI) Film, Inc.
“Meg” will be distributed in China by Gravity Pictures during Chinese New Year 2018, and throughout the rest of the world by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Entertainment Company, slated for release on March 2, 2018.
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