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Filmmaker says he's 'living in Pandora'
By DonKaye_ParallelUniverse Mar 18, 2013 4:02PM
James Cameron is hard at work on the scripts for "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3," but don't expect to see cameras rolling until next year at least.
At least that's the sense we get from comments Cameron made to Play Goes Strong (via Slashfilm), which asked the director for a status update on the sequels to his 2009 3D sci-fi blockbuster.
Although Cameron said at one point he hoped to have the scripts for the next two "Avatar" installments done by now, that doesn't appear to be the case:
"I'm working on 'Avatar 2′ and 'Avatar 3.' I was talking the other day with Peter Jackson and said, 'You had it easy dude. You had the books when you did the second and third "Lord of the Rings." I have to create my own books in my head and extract a script from it. I'm deep into it and I'm living in Pandora right now. There is that start up torque where you feel it's coming to you. Then you build up momentum. That's when it gets fun. The characters talk and it's writing itself. I'm almost there right now. It's building fast."
It's hard to tell from that where exactly he is in the writing process, but it doesn't sound like he's anywhere near done -- more like he's getting into a storytelling groove. Does he feel any pressure in writing the follow-ups to the biggest movie of all time? Cameron again:
"Pressure, no. It's a little daunting because sequels are always tricky. You have to be surprising and stay ahead of audience anticipation. At the same time, you have to massage their feet with things that they know and love about the first film. I've walked that line in the past, so I'm not too worried about it. At the same time, I definitely have to deliver the goods."
At least he's delivering the goods on his timeline, and whether you were a fan of "Avatar" or not, it's safe to say that the sequels won't be a rush job.
Are you anxious to see what Cameron comes up with for the next two "Avatar" movies? Or was one trip to Pandora enough for you?
Photocalls, red carpet interviews and an epic beach soiree
By Myriam Gabriel-Pollock 9 hours ago
The stars of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" were at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival participating in Lionsgate Studios' promotional juggernaut for the film, which opens November 22.Bing: More about 'Catching Fire' | More about Cannes Film Festival
Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Sam Claflin and director Francis Lawrence—who didn't let the rain get them down—were all smiles at the official photo call.
Later that evening they were at the red carpet event, looking sharply coordinated in their black and white attire.
Listen to Lawrence and Claflin give some insight on "Catching Fire," and see the Majestic Barrière hotel looking fiery: The big "Catching Fire" event was the exclusive beach party, with white rose-themed invitations and Capitol-inspired looks on some of the guests. My invite must have gotten lost in the mail.
Lawrence and Hemsworth almost became the girl and the boy on fire when a plate of candles perched on an 8-foot tall column fell on the two co-stars as they sat on a sofa in the party's VIP section. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the two actors were able to laugh about the incident.This video features Francis Lawrence assuring fans on his adaptation of "Catching Fire," plus plenty of behind-the-scenes prep scenes for the beach bash.
Nice Cannes showing, Lionsgate!
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'Kevin Keller' issue 10 to be released in August
By Parallel Universe on MSN 10 hours ago
The August issue of "Archie" features its only openly gay character Kevin Keller kissing his boyfriend, Devon in Pop Tate's diner and one Riverdale mom disapproves.
She "gets very offended and kind of pitches a bit of a fit," Dan Parent, who writes and draws the issue, "Kevin Keller" No. 10, tells the Associated Press.
"Kevin is kind of used to that, but Veronica records the whole thing and of course uploads it to the Riverdale equivalent of YouTube and that starts a bit of a debate," said Parent.
Parent wrote the storyline after One Million Moms and the American Family Association asked Toys R Us to not display a comic showing Keller getting married. The toy store chain didn't and the issue no. 16 went on to sell out.
Issue no. 10 is supposed to be what Parent calls a "playful poke" at the protest.
What do you think of Dan Parent's response to the "Archie" comic-book protests? Tell us on our MSN Movies Facebook page and on Twitter.
Plus: 'Star Wars: Rebels' animated series coming next fall
By DonKaye_ParallelUniverse 11 hours ago
There are a couple of new "Star Wars" news items out there today, so let's start with the less official one: a rumored casting choice for "Star Wars Episode VII."
Latino Review has reported that "The Tudors" star Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is allegedly in talks to join the cast of "Star Wars Episode VII." There's no word on what part he would be playing, just that he is possibly joining the franchise and previously worked with director J.J. Abrams on "Mission: Impossible III."
The Abrams connection lends some plausibility to this, but there are two big reasons why we would proceed with caution. First, if screenwriter Michael Arndt is still working on the script, we highly doubt it's gone out to any actors or casting agents at all, From what we can tell, not even Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford have seen a page of it yet, and all three of them are more or less confirmed to be in the picture.
Second, Rhys-Meyers just landed the title role in the new NBC series "Dracula," which premieres next season. While he wouldn't be the first actor to juggle several production schedules at once, he might want to see his new TV series works out before committing to one or more films in a huge franchise that will start filming right around the time he'd be working on Season 2 of "Dracula" (early 2014).
We'd never dismiss a story like this, but we're filing it solidly in the "rumor" category for now and will wait for further confirmation.
On the other hand, Disney and LucasFilm have officially announced that a new animated series called "Star Wars Rebels" will premiere on the Disney Channel/Disney XD. According to The Wrap, the new show will take place in the 20 years between the live-action films "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" and "Episode IV: A New Hope," during which the Empire expanded and consolidated its grip on the galaxy even as the beginnings of a rebellion began to stir.
Although the popular "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" was scrapped soon after the Disney/LucasFilm merger, it was only a matter of time before a new animated chapter of the "Star Wars" mythology was launched. A behind-the-scenes production featurette was posted online today and appears below.
Director Bryan Singer tweets photo of star in blue paint
By DonKaye_ParallelUniverse 11 hours ago
Jennifer Lawrence has returned to the role of blue-skinned, shape-shifting mutant Mystique in "X-Men: Days of Future Past," and now we have our first glimpse of the Oscar winner in her cerulean body paint and scales.
Before winning her Oscar for "Silver Linings Playbook" and launching her own monster franchise with "The Hunger Games," Jennifer Lawrence appeared in 2011's "X-Men: First Class" as a younger version of the malevolent mutant played by Rebecca Romijn in three earlier "X-Men" movies.
Now she's back in blue for the new "X-Men" epic and our first look at her in the full get-up comes courtesy of director Bryan Singer, who tweeted the image of his star today.
Lawrence reunites with "First Class" stars Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult in a story that spans the past and future, bringing veterans of previous "X-Men" films like Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Shawn Ashmore and Ellen Page into the mix as well. And, oh yeah, Peter Dinklage from "Game of Thrones" is reportedly playing the villain.
Last year it was 'Hunger Games' nail polish, so this is a step up
By Myriam Gabriel-Pollock Fri 12:00 PM
Lionsgate surprised us today with the announcement of a new partnership between "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and Covergirl, the cosmetics giant:Bing: More about 'Catching Fire' | More about Covergirl
No word yet on when this makeup line will be in stores. I would imagine the display case would be very "Catching Fire."Today, Covergirl announced its first-ever major movie sponsorship of Lionsgate’s highly anticipated "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire", scheduled for release in North American theaters on November 22, 2013. Covergirl will launch a first-of-its-kind creative advertising campaign inspired by the film, featuring new products from the brand’s upcoming Capitol Collection from "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," to be announced at a later date.
"With 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' partnership, we wanted to redefine cosmetics’ relationship to film with a fantasy-meets-reality beauty experience," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, VP and General Manager, Global P&G Cosmetics. "The film inspired Covergirl campaign coming out this fall truly will bring beauty transformation to life in an aspirational, dramatic fashion. All of us at Covergirl were captivated by Suzanne Collins' novels and the first film, so we’re thrilled to collaborate with Lionsgate on such a bold beauty partnership with the release of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.'"
"We are excited to announce Covergirl as the exclusive makeup partner for 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'," said Paula Kupfer, Lionsgate's Vice President of Promotions and Consumer Products. "The exquisite beauty and style in the world of the Capitol is a focal point of this film. Partnering with an innovative brand like Covergirl to create an additional layer of beauty storytelling and inspiration for the fans is new territory that we're delighted to explore."
Covergirl's partnership with "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is the latest expression of the brand's passion and commitment to continue to break barriers in beauty.
Lionsgate and Covergirl will be celebrating the movie partnership at a Cannes Film Festival Gala on Saturday, May 18th.
Thoughts on this? Comment below.
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A spendy way to get people talking about the film seven months before its release
By Myriam Gabriel-Pollock Fri 11:48 AM
You cannot attend the 2013 Cannes Film Festival without seeing all the propaganda for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." Studios use many of the grand hotels' façades as backdrops or billboards to highlight their upcoming big ticket films, and Lionsgate is no different.Bing: More about 'Catching Fire' | More about Cannes Film Festival
The Majestic Barrière hotel's gorgeous building has been transformed, as you can see:
According to Deadline, Lionsgate is even throwing a beach blowout to promote "Catching Fire." Why is the studio spending so many Euros in Cannes?"Lionsgate co-chair Patrick Wachsberger whose wheelhouse is international also utilized Cannes to promote all the 'Twilight' movies when he ran Summit. Now that the two studios are merged, he says with candor that he's never done an event at this level." But because 'Hunger Games' is a "huge, huge, huge" franchise, this festival is "the perfect place" to start talking to distributors about positioning, he notes. Cannes events "are not cheap," he says. "And there is so much happening – like 10 parties the same night – so to do something that’s really out of the ordinary, you need the movie first and the talent and the event and the money," Wachsberger admits.""Catching Fire" is out in theaters Friday, November 22.
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Reception to pilot sealed series fate
By DonKaye_ParallelUniverse Fri 3:12 AM
There won't be a "Zombieland" series on Amazon. The online retailer and streaming service said no to further episodes following the end of the pilot's one-month trial period.
"Zombieland" was one of 14 original pilots that premiered via Amazon's Instant Video service on April 19th, with the company stating that public and viewer response to each one would determine which of the 14 would go on to become continuing series.
According to Deadline, the criteria used to determine which shows would get orders for more episodes were 1) how many people watched each pilot and whether they watched it from start to finish, 2) how many shared it on social media and 3) reactions from online and offline focus groups.
Well, with the shows given a month to make their case and win viewers over, Amazon has reportedly passed on "Zombieland." Frankly, the pilot was a dud, which is weird considering it was written by the same guys -- Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick - who penned the very funny hit movie on which the series was based.
Did you watch the "Zombieland" pilot on Amazon? Would you like to have seen it picked up as a series? Tell us at MSN TV on our Facebook page and on Twitter.
Follow Don Kaye on Twitter @donkaye.
CW president says new prequel series is still in the works
By DonKaye_ParallelUniverse Thu 3:27 PM
Although it did not make the fall schedule, a TV series based around the iconic DC Comics character Wonder Woman--a prequel--is still being developed by The CW.
According to Entertainment Weekly, CW president Mark Pedowitz replied, "Oh God, yes," when asked at today's fall schedule presentation if the series, titled "Amazon," was still a going concern for the network.
He added that Wonder Woman was "the trickiest of all the DC characters," elaborating further: "It is being redeveloped. We're waiting for the script to come in. We have not seen it yet. We are preparing to pilot it off-cycle should the script be what we want it to be. We do not want to produce something that doesn't work for that particular character."
Just how closely the project follows the comic book origins of the character is a matter of some debate. Warner Bros. TV -- the production company behind the proposed series -- sent out a casting call earlier this year naming the character as "Iris," and not Diana as in the comics. It described her as coming from a "secluded country where she was raised as a soldier in a brutal environment. Now a stranger in a strange modern big city, she's a fierce warrior with the innocent heart of a romantic -- and she will fight to the death to make the world safe."
If you ask us, that sounds pretty far removed from the Amazonian princess of Themyscira who flies an invisible airplane, has superhuman powers and pals around with Batman and Superman in the Justice League.
But in any case, who are we to argue? The CW has already had considerable success with reinventing Superman in "Smallville" and doing the same this past season for Green Arrow with the acclaimed "Arrow," so they may just be able to make Wonder Woman work on the small screen for the first time since the glory days of Lynda Carter back in the '70s. Producer David E. Kelley ("The Practice") created a "Wonder Woman" pilot starring Adrianne Palicki in 2011 for NBC, but it never got picked up amid rumors that it was virtually unwatchable.
The princess has had an equally tough time getting into movie theaters. Joss Whedon was hired by Warner Bros. to write and direct a "Wonder Woman" movie back in 2005 but it never got past an early script outline, while a "Justice League" movie starring Australian model Megan Gale in the role was abandoned during pre-production in 2008. Rumors continue to percolate that Diana will be part of a new "Justice League" movie that could arrive in 2015.
In the meantime, The CW has hired writer Aron Eli Coleite (TV's "Heroes," Marvel Comics' "Ultimate X-Men") to write a new "Amazon" script, so we'll see if this could be the version that gets the queen of all female superheroes right.
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