The Hitlist Movies Blog

'The King's Speech' is Going to B-B-Br-Br-Broadway

First, it won the Oscars. Now, the Tonys!

By William Goss Aug 9, 2011 9:47PM

You are familiar with the EGOT, yes? It's when an actor tries to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony over the course of their career. Whoopi Goldberg did it. "30 Rock's" Tracy Jordan did it. And now, feasibly, David Seidler could pull it off yet.

Seidler took home last year's Original Screenplay Academy Award for "The King's Speech," having converted his intended stage play into fodder for a film. Fittingly enough, the Best Picture-winning tale of King George VI's battle against his stutter is now headed to Broadway come next year, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Unsurprisingly, none of the original cast are expected to reprise their roles, leaving Seidler alone to pursue a Tony, before moving onto "The King's Speech: The TV Series" for the Emmy and a Grammy for the already-anticipated revival, "The King's Speech: The Musical," complete with the show-stopping number "[CENSORED], [CENSORED], [CENSORED], [CENSORED] and [CENSORED]!"

London Riots Take Toll on Film Distributors

Sony warehouse fire affects indie films and record labels alike

By William Goss Aug 9, 2011 6:00PM

The recent riots sparked by the shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan continue to take a toll on London, costing some their lives and others their businesses. Among those directly affected by the unrest are British film distributors, some of which saw either much or all of their stock in DVDs destroyed when a Sony warehouse went up in flames.

According to the Guardian, the BFI, "the leading body for film in the UK," lost more than 120,000 retail units as a result of the arson. Many independent record labels similarly saw their CD stock destroyed, which will likely result in financial setbacks for these companies. Tom Abell, managing director of Peccadillo Pictures, was quoted as saying, "Our business is very much based on the amount of DVDs we can sell, so there's no point in releasing films if there's no DVDs to back it up. We just have to tighten our belts."

If that's not personal enough, as IFC pointed out, documentary filmmaker Gary Hustwit ("Helvetica," "Objectified") tweeted about 20,000 copies of his work being destroyed by the blaze. As hard as the entire situation is for all involved, this particular problem illustrates well how just one reckless action among many will come to have widespread effects for several people across multiple industries.

'The Lincoln Lawyer' May Come to the Small Screen

ABC is developing a series out of the Matthew McConaughey vehicle

By William Goss Aug 9, 2011 3:50PM

When some friends and I caught up with "The Lincoln Lawyer" last March, we generally seemed to enjoy it as a relatively old-fashioned, meat-and-potatoes legal thriller. Scott Weinberg in particular compared it to a pretty good pilot for a would-be TV series. Well, the brains at ABC and Lionsgate seem to feel the same way, as Variety reports that the studio and network are collaborating on bringing author Michael Connelly's character to the small screen.

Although the trade says that Mickey Haller is the subject of five novels, I can only count four ("Lawyer," "The Brass Verdict," "The Reversal," "The Fifth Witness"). At any rate, it does already give the show-runners something to work with over the course of multiple episodes and, potentially, seasons. I doubt that star Matthew McConaughey would tie himself down to a television series; if anything, I can't help but picture someone like Cole Hauser as his replacement.

But that's all TBD of course, given that the pilot hasn't even been scripted, let alone shot or picked up. $58 million at the box office suggests there's an audience, though. Do you agree? Would you tune in to the weekly exploits of the Lincoln Lawyer, even if it's not McConaughey?

New Photos from 'The Hunger Games' Released

Fail to be satisfying or revelatory

By Corwin Neuse Aug 9, 2011 3:16PM

Lionsgate has released two new stills from "The Hunger Games" on the film's official Facebook page. One, seen above, shows an appropriately bruised, bloodied, and bedraggled Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) reclining nonchalantly on the floor of the arena. Is that hatred in his eyes? Or grim determination?

Unfortunately, any speculation as to what scene the still is from would be utterly pointless, as there are simply too many to choose from. That said, the shot gives us hope that Mr. Hutcherson's performance—not to mention his undeniably strong chin, which shines through layers of caked-on grime, sweat, and splattered viscera—will completely allay the lingering doubts of those hardcore fans who initially questioned his casting.

Check out the new still of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen after the break.

On Social Justice, Summer Moviegoing and what may be the Summer's Best Cast

By James Rocchi Aug 9, 2011 1:20PM

In "The Help," Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard play Skeeter and Hilly, 1960s women of the deep South, each with very different perspectives on the social climate of the era -- while Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, playing domestic servants Abileen and Minny, endure and strive while trying to build a future out of the challenges of the past. We spoke with Stone, Howard, Spencer and Davis in Las Vegas in March at Cinema Con (alongside Katey Rich of Cinemablend.com) about heat, social justice and the challenges of releasing a classic drama in a summer full of superheroes. Directed by Tate Taylor from Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel, "The Help" is getting -- and earning -- raves from critics and audiences alike.

Having been on the set, and having been sitting in that air-conditioned tent in the back yard and watching you all melt sitting outside, you feel so much of that watching the movie. You see the footage from that, and you feel the Mississippi setting and the greenery. Does that excite you guys, that all the sweat you put into Mississippi is going to make it onto the screen?

Emma Stone: Literally. There's so much sweat in the movie. We went out the other night -- everyone's sweating.

Bryce Dallas Howard: Crotch sweat.

Viola Davis: Underarm.

How was crotch sweat made in the movie? I don't want to get too graphic.

Howard: (Laughing) Organically.

A lot of (Cinema Con) seems a bit more gladiatorial, a bit more of people rustling their 3D glasses before clips from 'Thor' or 'Green Lantern.'. Does it feel a little bit weird to show up at Cinema Con going 'Please, enjoy our classy literary adaptation with social themes?' Did that feel like a disconnect?

All: No.

Viola Davis: No, it makes us feel special.

Octavia Spencer: And pretty women.

That's one possibility, according to director Rupert Wyatt

By Corwin Neuse Aug 9, 2011 11:16AM

With "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" opening to $54 million, ecstatic reviews, and wild speculation about its Oscar-winning potential, a sequel would appear to be all but inevitable. Serendipitously, Brendon Connelly of Bleeding Cool recently spoke to director Rupert Wyatt about his plans for a sequel. The most intriguing? Apparently a sort of "'Full Metal Jacket' with apes."

The proposed film would pick up some eight years after the events of "Rise," and would recount the experiences of the "next generation of apes" as they entered a war with the surviving remnants of humanity. Also mentioned was the possibility of apes taking up residence in recently vacated cities, and learning more about human culture and history from the artifacts they find. Sounds potentially haunting, if not entirely action-packed.

Excited by Wyatt's Kubrickian ambitions? Or would you rather see an "Apocalypse Now" with apes? Or, how about a "Casualties of War" with apes? What direction would you like to see the sequel go in? As always, let us know in the comments.

Set Visit, Part Two: 'Battleship' Beauties

Rihanna and Brooklyn Decker spice things up on the set of the masculine 'Battleship'

By Dave McCoy Aug 9, 2011 10:29AM

'Battleship' Set Visit, Part 1: Berg, Kitsch and Skarsgård

Let's answer one question right away: Yes, Rihanna can rock naval fatigues and still look sexy enough to make your head explode.

We're sitting on the U.S.S. Missouri, docked in the middle of Pearl Harbor, just when you think it can't get any more beautiful, in walks Brooklyn Decker and then, a bit later on, Rihanna. Let's discuss the pop star first and specifically the outfit she is wearing as she rolls up to the press table.

This is not the Rihanna we are used to seeing: The provocative spreads in Maxim or the sexy stuff she wears while performing on stage. No, she's in navy fatigues, covered head-to-toe, complete with a baseball cap. This is Rihanna's first movie role and what has she chosen? A military badass.

"She doesn't like boys. She doesn't like girls either," Rihanna explains. "She's just about her weapons and her work."

And how does the uniform fit?

"It's really cool, it's easy," she says. "You don't have to think about what you want to put on, or how cute you look."

'300' star will apear in adaptation of Noah Boyd's novel

By Corwin Neuse Aug 9, 2011 10:11AM

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Millenium Films has tapped Gerard Butler to headline "The Bricklayer," an adaptation of the Noah Boyd novel Publisher's Weekly described as "a routine thriller."

Butler will portray Steve Vail, a "maverick FBI agent" who left the bureau to become a bricklayer in Chicago. Still uncast is the key role of Kate Bannon, the deputy assistant director who enlists Vail's help when a criminal gang, the Rubaco Pentad, targets the FBI in an extortion scheme worth millions of dollars. Expect implausible escapes from Rube Goldberg-ian death traps, explosive sexual tension between the two leads, and a plot twist or two.

Butler will next be seen in "Machine Gun Preacher"—the new film from "Finding Neverland" and "Quantum of Solace" director Marc Forster—which comes out September 23.