Ted Gets a Sequel in 2015

After gaining a huge following with the smash hit comedy Ted about a foul-mouthed teddy bear that comes to life, Universal Pictures has decided the film deserves a sequel.

Universal broke the news last summer when they saw the commercial success of Ted, but the sequel finally received an official release date for April 3, 2015. Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane are both back on board for the sequel, but it's unclear right now if Mila Kunis will return as well. From what I've heard in some of her interviews, it sounds like she wants to return, but it would depend on her schedule once filming begins for Ted 2.

Both Wahlberg and MacFarlane will begin production on the sequel once they are finished with their respective films: Transformers 4 (Wahlberg) and A Million Ways to Die in the West (MacFarlane). Transformers 4 is set to be released June 27, 2014, while A Million Ways to Die in the West will be released a month earlier on May 30, 2014. There hasn't been any further news yet on the plot of Ted 2, or on other casting choices for the film.

It would be kind of funny if Ted 2 were released at the same time as the planned sequel to Magic Mike, seeing as how the originals of each went up against each other at the box office back in 2012. Doing so would most likely mean a second time where the gender roles are switched: the guys would go see a film about a teddy bear, and girls would go see a stripper movie. We'll see if that happens as more news comes out about both sequels.

Ted 2 will make its way into theaters on April 3, 2015.

UPDATE: Ted 2 has been pushed back until the Summer of 2015, and Amanda Seyfried has officially been cast as the main female lead instead of Mila Kunis. It's unclear whether Mila Kunis will still be in the sequel (just with a minor role), or if she will show up at all. The new release date is June 26, 2015.

Source: First Showing

Marvel Confirms Rumors of Bradley Cooper and Elizabeth Olsen in talks to join the Marvel Universe

Two more roles for both Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers 2 have been potentially taken by Bradley Cooper and Elizabeth Olsen, respectively. Bradley Cooper was approached by Marvel to play Rocket Raccoon, a talking racoon who is a part of a team of intergalactic beings called the Guardians of the Galaxy. Guardians is turning out to be an intriguing film to say the least, and is sparking my interest with each piece of news that comes out about the upcoming film. I had never even heard of Guardians of the Galaxy (kind of surprising considering I'm a pretty big Marvel Comics fan) until the film was first announced. If Bradley Cooper gets the part of Rocket Raccoon then the five main parts have been fulfilled with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Dave Bautista playing the live action characters; Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper will play the CGI characters Groot (a sentient being in the form of a tree) and Rocket Raccoon, respectively. These five characters will be joined by Benicio Del Toro, Djimon Hounsou, Glen Close, John C. Reilly, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, and Karen Gillan in supporting roles.

Elizabeth Olsen, on the other hand, is currently discussing with Joss Whedon possibly taking the part of The Scarlet Witch in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. The fact that Scarlet Witch is going to be used in Avengers 2 alongside Quicksilver is interesting since technically both characters are the property of Fox and should be a part of the X-Men series. Marvel Studios and Fox apparently made a deal to use both characters in Avengers 2 and X-Men because they are often a vital part of the Avengers in the comics. This decision should yield some awesome results once Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch make it onto the big screen. I can't wait for Avengers 2, as well as Guardians of the Galaxy.



Guardians of the Galaxy arrives in theaters August 1, 2014. The Avengers: Age of Ultron will arrive May 1, 2015.

Source: Screen Rant

The top Marvel and DC Comics characters that deserve a big screen debut

I know quite a few people are getting weary of seeing superheroes being brought onto the big screen with so many that have been happening lately, but something tells me the superhero trend is not going to go away anytime soon, especially since DC Comics is apparently trying to set up their answer to the popularity of The Avengers with The Justice League. Marvel also has announced they have projects lined up for several years until 2021. If the trend is going to continue then both Marvel and DC Comics need to look hard at their respective rosters and start bringing some more A-list and even some B and C-list characters to the table who may not initially be as popular, but if done right could easily be smash hits at the box office as well as expand each of their universes. I've compiled a list of both Marvel and DC characters I'm sure could do well at the box office:

Marvel

1. Black Panther - Hailing from the fictional country of Wakanda, a man named T'Challa tries to rule his country while keeping it safe from outside danger. In the comics T'Challa/Black Panther frequently teams up with the Avengers on different missions. Black Panther is a cool character because all he cares about is his country and its people and keeping them safe. He constantly puts the needs of them ahead of himself. He is at first wary of the motives of the Avengers as well as the Fantastic Four, but eventually counts them among his close allies and friends. As of now there is a couple unnamed projects Marvel has slated for Phase 2 that will lead up to The Avengers: Age of Ultron, so we could see Black Panther before then. If Black Panther happens, I would like to see one of the following actors in the role: Idris Elba, Ving Rhames, Wesley Snipes, or Michael Dorn.

2. Iron Fist - Most notably known for teaming up with Luke Cage as Heroes for Hire, Daniel Rand is a man who is the son of a wealthy businessman that discovers an ancient mystical city called K'un L'un. Daniel's father and mother died when he was young trying to find the city, and so he is taken cared for by the ruler of K'un L'un, Yu-Ti. Yu-Ti charges master Lei Kung to teach the young Daniel Rand the martial arts. Once Rand reaches the appropriate age, he undergoes a challenge to fight and defeat a dragon who guards its heart that has been separated from its body. After defeating the dragon Rand places his hands on the heart and inherits the power of the Iron Fist. Iron Fist would definitely be different for Marvel's film franchises. So far Marvel hasn't done anything close to a straight-up martial arts movie that I am aware of, so I think it would be good for Marvel to try something different. I would like to see Scott Adkins, Mark Dacascos, or Ray Park as Iron Fist.

3. Ghost Rider reboot - Yeah, I know, after the travesties that were Ghost Rider and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance not many people are looking for another film in the franchise. Still, I firmly believe that it deserves a proper reboot. This time around it needs to be a hard-R horror flick and not a cheesy PG13 that tries to be scary. The story of Ghost Rider is some pretty freaky stuff. I mean, the guy sells his soul to the devil and is tasked with battling rogue demons for crying out loud. The Ghost Rider hiimself takes on a ghostly image of a flaming skeleton who rides a motorcycle. The first Ghost Rider film had quite a bit of the darkness something like this needed, but it lacked in a good script and sometimes had wooden acting. I'm not even going to get into how bad the second film sucked. Whoever plays Ghost Rider needs to be a tormented soul who is trying to overcome his dark nature. Nicholas Cage couldn't do that very well. He almost seemed bored with the two films.

4. Daredevil reboot - Again I can hear people groaning at the thought of another crappy reboot of a failed attempt at bringing a popular character to the big screen, but just like Ghost Rider I think Daredevil deserves a reboot. There's one thing that I've heard people argue that I agree with: I don't think it was Ben Affleck's fault on the stupidity of the film. I don't know if the project was rushed or what the heck happened, but I think with careful planning (and a heck of a lot better script) a reboot could be just what the franchise needs to be revitalized. The property of Daredevil has just recently transferred back to Marvel, and Marvel's had arguably a lot more success with their characters than Fox or Sony has. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any plans in the works by Marvel to reboot the franchise.

5. Deadpool - Deadpool is one of those characters that comic book fans have been waiting for a long time to see. Everyone I know was excited to see the character show up on X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but were disappointed when Deadpool was completely changed during the third act of the film. Ryan Reynolds, who played Deadpool in X-Men Origins, has constantly expressed interest in an updated standalone film for the character, but Fox doesn't seem interested in making a hard-R rated comic book film. If they are worried that a rated-R film would not be received very well, they need to look at the success of the Punisher and Blade franchises. Both of those franchises were rated R and were received pretty well overall. Out of all the adaptations I would like to see, Deadpool is very near the top of that list.

6. Moon Knight - This is another project that would be completely different from the current things Marvel is working on. Marc Spector, a.k.a. Moon Knight, is a former C.I.A. agent who turns to mercenary work after being fed up with the agency after several incidents involving close friends and relatives. During his years as a mercenary he is attacked and left for dead, but miraculously is revived. He believes his resurrection is in part due to the Egyptian god of the moon Khonshu's intervention. As a result he vows to fight crime as a servant of the moon god. Over time he becomes mentally unhinged and develops multiple personalities. If the film adaptation is to be done right, Moon Knight would have to be rated R as well since the material is extremely dark and violent.

7. She-Hulk - She-Hulk (Jen Walters) is the cousin of the original Hulk, Bruce Banner. She receives her powers from Bruce after undergoing a blood transfusion from being shot by the thugs of a crime boss.  The difference between Jen and her cousin is that she is able to keep her natural intellect when in the Hulk form, and she becomes stronger in her Hulk form whenever she exercises instead of gaining strength the angrier she gets. Like her cousin, She-Hulk has been a part of The Avengers off and on for various reasons. I would love to see Angie Harmon in the role of Jen Walters/She-Hulk. I like her as a tough cop on Rizzoli & Isles, I think she could do well in the part.

DC Comics

1. Wonder Woman - This project has seen several incarnations try to come to life over the years, but nothing good has efficiently succeeded. Still, I think it's worth it to try do it again, especially if DC wants to do a Justice League film within the near future. For a film adaptation of Wonder Woman I would choose: Lynn Collins, Jaimie Alexander, Morena Baccarin, or maybe even Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

2. The Flash - Flash received a tv series back in the 1990's, but the famous wisecracking speedster deserves a modern film debut, especially if DC wants him for the Justice League. There have been talks that a Flash movie was in the works, and it looks like it will come out in 2016 - right before the planned Justice League film.

3. Batman Beyond - I realize there is already going to be a new Batman for the Man of Steel sequel (Ben Affleck will step into the role) and for The Justice League, but once The Justice League is finished I think DC should look forward to having Bruce Wayne pass the Batman mantle to a younger protege. For Batman Beyond I would still have Ben Affleck (if he does well as Bruce Wayne/Batman...and that is a BIG "if") portray Bruce Wayne as he takes in a younger protege named Terry McGinnis and trains him to be Batman. For Terry McGinnis I would get: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lucas Till, or Shawn Ashmore.

In a head-to-head competion between Marvel and DC, I would predict Marvel to come out on top, as their characters tend to be more popular and most of the time seem to be easier to bring to life on film. Not to mention the fact that DC Comics seems to not plan out their films very well, they only go where the money is. Their only recent successes to date that I can think of was the Man of Steel reboot (despite not being that great story-wise) and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.

What do you think about these potential ideas for future projects? Any I haven't thought of that you would like to see on the big screen? Or who would you get to portray each of these characters, for that matter?

Update: Looks like Wonder Woman is going to happen on the big screen as the character has been confirmed to join Batman and Superman in the Man of Steel sequel, along with Cyborg (as Victor Stone, his alter ego before he became Cyborg). Flash is getting his own TV show as a spinoff of Arrow. There are rumors floating around that Black Panther is happening in Phase 3 (or possibly Phase 4) of Marvel's movie universe, but nothing is confirmed just yet.

Fast and Furious 7 potentially adds more star power

It looks like Kurt Russell is attempting a big screen comeback as he has just been confirmed to be in negotiations with Universal Studios to join the Fast and Furious franchise.

Russell has not had a major role in a feature film since 2007 when he joined Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof as Stuntman Mike. The part that Kurt Russell is in negotiations for was originally offered to Denzel Washington. If Kurt Russell signs on, he will join the returning characters from the previous installments, along with the recent additions of Tony Jaa and Jason Statham. Director James Wan will take over the reins from Justin Lin for the seventh film in the franchise.

There has not been any plot details released yet, other than it will be set back in Los Angeles again. James Wan has also announced he wants the atmosphere of the new installment to mirror that of a 1970's gritty revenge thriller. With the addition of Kurt Russell it sure looks like that could be accomplished. My only concern is wondering if the franchise is getting a bit crowded with characters. Don't get me wrong, I love the addition of Statham, Jaa, and Russell but if James Wan has anyone else he wants to add to the film I hope he is eventually planning on an eighth (and possibly more) Fast and Furious.

Then again, I had the same thought with Fast Five and Fast 6, and both of those turned out excellent (Fast Five is still the best in the franchise in my opinion, with Fast 6 coming in at a VERY close second). I trust James Wan knows what he's doing with the direction of the franchise and am anxiously looking forward to the release of Fast and Furious 7.

Fast and Furious 7 will make its way into theaters April 10, 2015.

Source: Screen Rant

The Raid: Redemption American Remake in the Process

Last April a little Indonesian film called The Raid: Redemption took theaters by storm and received glowing reviews from critics and fans alike. Directed by Welsh director/writer Gareth Evans, the story depicted a group of 20 police officers attempting a raid on an apartment building where a dangerous crime lord is hiding. Filled with non-stop action, it seemed The Raid: Redemption was everything that action fans wanted in an action film. Now it seems like Sony Pictures wants to capitalize on that success by creating an Americanized version of The Raid: Redemption.

I can see both good and potentially bad news surrounding this remake. The good news: the original director (Gareth Evans) is attached to the project as an executive producer. Hopefully his involvement means the high octane action and the martial arts fights will still have the same level of intensity and be just as impressive. Now for the unfortunate potential bad news: the writers of the awful Battleship and the not completely awful (but not even close to perfect either) RED 2 are currently rewriting the script. I'll give Jon and Erich Hoeber some credit as they did write the hilarious original RED and its decent sequel, but it's hard not to forget Battleship. Rumors are that the original structure is still in place, but Jon and Erich Hoeber are revising some of the dialogue, as well as adding in some "Americanized" revisions, whatever the heck that means.

Even though an American remake is happening, plans are currently in place to do a sequel to the popular action flick. The Raid: Berendal began shooting earlier this year. Gareth Evans promised the sequel would be bigger and better than the original. From a few set pictures that have been released it looks like Evans is making good on that promise.

As of right now there is no theatrical release date for either the American remake of The Raid: Redemption or of The Raid: Berendal.

Source: Screen Rant

Game of Thrones director officially offered job to helm Terminator 5

It looks like Terminator 5 now has its director as Variety recently reported that Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World) is in talks with Skydance Productions, Paramount Pictures, and Annapurna Pictures for the project.

Several well-known directors were in the running for Terminator 5, but each of the studios were apparently impressed enough with Taylor's work on Game of Thrones and Thor: The Dark World that they offered him the job. If he signs on production will begin early 2014 to get it ready for a 2015 release.

In recent interviews Arnold Schwarzenegger revealed he would return in a currently unknown role. I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up as a Terminator again, but it would be cool to see him in a different role. There has also not been any plot details released about the next installment of the franchise, other than it will be the first of a standalone trilogy. The trilogy will begin on June 26, 2015.

I only have one question - is this reboot really necessary?!? I mean, I love the original Terminator trilogy, and so I will most likely still go see each of the new installments as they come out, but I can't help but think this series just needs to be left alone. It is bad enough they tried to do a prequel a few years ago that failed miserably. Why does there need to be a whole new trilogy? Not to mention that I am kind of beginning to think Schwarzenegger just needs to retire. I like him as an actor, but I'm not sure how much longer he can keep doing these types of movies. I guess we'll see in 2015 whether this new direction for the franchise was a good idea or not.

Terminator 5 will be in theaters June 26, 2015.


Source: Variety

Will Smith may be returning for Independence Day 2 after all

After shooting down rumors that Will Smith would reprise his role as fighter pilot Steven Hiller ever since Independence Day 2 was first announced, Roland Emmerich finally admitted that he has an upcoming meeting with Smith scheduled to discuss the possibility of his return.

If Will Smith agrees to return, he will be joining his fellow original cast members Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, and Judd Hirsch (oddly enough, there's a rumor that Brent Spiner might make an appearance as well). In an interview during his promotional tour for White House Down Emmerich revealed he was not planning on having a main starring role for Will Smith, but he was open for a smaller appearance due to his being a major A-list star now.

In the past Will Smith has tried to stay away from sequels and/or prequels except for a select few such as Bad Boys 2 and the two Men in Black sequels. Lately he has also turned to more of the lower budget fare with upcoming projects such as heist flick Focus and a fantasy film based on a book titled A Winter's Tale. Personally, I hope he returns for Independence Day 2 even if it is a minor role; he was one of the many things I loved about the original Independence Day. I honestly don't think it will be the same without him. Hopefully soon we will get the official news that he has signed on to the sequel.

Independence Day 2 is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 3, 2015, but there is a possibility it will be pushed back until 2016.


Source: Screen Rant

Tommy Lee Jones heads to the Wild West with The Cowboys remake

Fresh off of his latest directorial endeavor titled The Homesman, Tommy Lee Jones is setting his gaze on his next project: a remake of the John Wayne classic The Cowboys.

Jones will direct as well as write the screenplay of The Cowboys. Donald De Line is set to help produce the film, and Warner Bros. has also been reported to sign on to help with the film's production. Tommy Lee Jones is no stranger to the Wild West, having both directed and starred in a myriad of westerns: The Homesman, Lonesome Dove, The Missing, The Good Old Boys and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.

I had my concerns at first about remaking a John Wayne classic, especially since it is one of my favorite westerns; but after thinking about it I think it is in good hands with Tommy Lee Jones at the helm. I had the same concerns when the Coen Brothers remade True Grit with Jeff Bridges, but that ended up being really well done (though I admittedly still prefer the original more). It will be interesting to see if Jones will step into the role previously filled by John Wayne, or if he will get someone else. I kind of would like to see Tommy step into the role himself. If not, the only other people I can think of at the moment that would be good are Josh Brolin and Jeff Bridges. I guess we will see as more information is released for the reboot.

As of right now there is no release date or any other news regarding The Cowboys.

Roland Emmerich is planning to reboot Stargate

Back in 1994, Roland Emmerich directed a sci-fi flick titled Stargate that at the time did well: $71 million dollars in the US, and ultimately $196.5 million worldwide. However, instead of a big screen sequel to Stargate, it received several popular television spin-offs: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe.

For several years after there were rumors a movie sequel was on the way. Those rumors have now been realized as Roland Emmerich released information in an interview that his original plan to make a Stargate trilogy was still moving forward. Instead of doing a sequel to the original Stargate movie, Roland and screenwriter/producer Dean Devlin are now rebooting the franchise and creating a trilogy out of the new movie.

Since Roland Emmerich is currently focusing his attention to the Independence Day sequel, a Stargate reboot would most likely not happen for several more years. Independence Day 2 is currently slated to be released in the summer of 2015, but will most likely be pushed back until 2016 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the original Independence Day, so we will have to wait at least two more years before we know for certain the fate of the rebooted Stargate franchise.

Source: Screen Rant

Joel Edgerton in talks to take lead role in Shantaram

Back in 2004 Warner Bros. acquired the rights to Gregory David Roberts' globe-trotting novel/memoir titled Shantaram and originally had Johnny Depp set to be in the lead role. Peter Weir was also attached to helm the project. Unfortunately the film had some bad luck hit as Peter Weir left the director's chair and then soon after the Writer's Strike occured. As a result Shantaram was left in limbo until recently when Johnny Depp himself called for the project to finally see the light of day. This time, however, Depp recommended Joel Edgerton to take Depp's place in the lead role for Shantaram.

For those that have never heard of Shantaram (like me), the book follows the exploits of a man named Lin Ford (a fictional character modeled after the author) as he finds himself in jail serving a 20 year sentence after commiting a string of armed robberies to fuel his heroin habit. Ford eventually escapes, fleeing the country and finding his way to Mumbai. In what was supposed to be a short stop before he made his way into Germany, Ford ends up getting involved with the locals in Mumbai before landing back in jail. Once released after that sentence Ford finds his way into working in the black market, crossing paths with freedom fighters in Afghanistan.

I had never heard of Shantaram before I heard the recent news about the adaptation, but the description of the story has greatly sparked my interest. The news that Joel Edgerton is in talks to take the lead is sparking my interest even more. So far I have loved just about every film I have seen him in. I really think he can do well with this one.

Shantaram will be produced by Johnny Depp's production company Infinitum Nihil, along with Warner Bros. Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Insider, Munich, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has penned the script. Since Peter Weir left Shantaram, the project does not have a director attached. Hopefully a director will be found soon. Shantaram sounds like a really good story. I would hate to see it go back into limbo.


Source: Cinema Blend

Snow White and the Huntsman writer will pen G.I. Joe 3

Despite some critically scathing reviews of G.I. Joe: Retaliation (and of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra before that), Paramount felt the success of the G.I. Joe sequel was enough to warrant a third film in the franchise. Paramount already had Jon M. Chu locked in to return as director for the third installment, but before yesterday the film did not have a writer attached. Now it seems that Paramount has tapped Evan Daugherty, who previously did the box office hit Snow White and the Huntsman, to write the script for G.I. Joe 3. Evan has already done some writing for a few other upcoming adaptations: He co-wrote the script for the young adult adaptation of Divergent, and was called in to do some revisions on the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles adaptation. Paramount was apparently impressed with his work on these films, so they brought him in for G.I. Joe 3.

I am probably going to be in the minority here, but I actually liked Snow White and the Huntsman. I also really liked both G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, so I am kind of excited to see what Evan Daugherty can do with G.I. Joe 3. I hope he adds in some more characters that have not had the chance to be on the big screen yet, or even bring back some of the original cast from the first movie. I'm not too familiar with most of the characters in G.I. Joe, so I don't know if I can make any good suggestions for new people who could make an appearance in the next film. I can only say I want most of the original team to come back. Either way, I'm still excited for what's next for the franchise.

G.I. Joe 3 currently does not have a release date, but since it finally has a writer and director hopefully that news will come shortly.

Sources: Screen Rant and Hollywood Reporter

Djimon Hounsou joins Fast and Furious 7

An already impressive star-studded cast for Fast and Furious 7 has just been expanded as Djimon Hounsou is reported to be joining the adrenaline laced racing/heist franchise. There is no word yet on whether he will be aligned with Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew, or if he will be one of the antagonists siding with Jason Statham. Djimon already has several projects slated to make their way into theaters in 2014 - Seventh Son, Vatican Tapes, and will appear alongside Vin Diesel in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. He is also apparently voicing a character for the sequel to How to Train Your Dragon.

On top of this exciting bit of casting news, Vin Diesel revealed that Kurt Russell (who was previously reported to also join Fast and Furious 7) will not only have a role in the seventh film of the franchise, but will also be appearing in a planned Fast and Furious 8. It is still unclear what his role is in the franchise as well, though there has been some speculation that he could be playing either a law enforcement agent, a crimeboss, or some shadowy figure from either Toretto's or Brian O'Connor's (Paul Walker) past. I can't wait to see how both Kurt Russell and Djimon Hounsou are going to fit in the franchise. I am a huge fan of both actors.

I figured there was going to be an eighth film or possibly more in the Fast and Furious franchise when I heard there was going to be a seventh one. The franchise is too popular and seems to have finally found its formula for success to bow out now. Not only that, but there were too many cast additions to Fast and Furious 7 that it felt like it was getting to be a bit crowded. If the franchise can stick with what works and also continue to inject some originality into each of the installments then I would love to see it live on. Though I will say that I hope the franchise does go out on a high note and doesn't turn into a series that seems to just constantly pump out films for money (I'm looking at you Step Up series).

Anyways, we still have awhile before Fast and Furious 7 comes out, so it is too early to tell whether continuing on with the franchise is a good move or not. I'm willing to bet that it is a good move. The Fast and Furious franchise is one of my favorites, so I seriously hope I am right.

Fast and Furious 7 will race its way into theaters April 10, 2015.

Source: Screen Rant

Jack Black is in Negotiations to Join Goosebumps adaptation

If you are a '90's kid like me, then I am going to assume you most likely grew up reading R.L. Stine's famous kid-friendly scary story series titled Goosebumps.

Beginning in 1992, each book in the series played out like an episode of Scooby-Doo: one or more central tween characters would have to figure out a mystery surrounding something that seems scary, like an old-fashioned ghost story, but more often than not ended up being more on the comical side of the spectrum. Personally, I never really was a big fan of the series (actually, to be honest I have never been a big fan of scary stories in general, even if in the end it turned out a bit comical), but Goosebumps was pretty popular when I was a kid. It even spawned a TV series that ran from 1995-1998.

Fast foward roughly about twenty years later (I am feeling pretty old just thinking about that), and Sony Pictures is looking to revamp the book series on the big screen for a new generation of kids.

An attempt was made back in 1998 by Tim Burton to produce a Goosebumps feature film, but for some reason the project never happened. This time around Rob Letterman (Shark Tale, Gulliver's Travels) will be in the director's chair, and Jack Black is in negotiations to star in the upcoming adaptation.

Rumors are that Black's character is going to be “a Stine-like author whose scary characters literally leap off the page, forcing him to hide from his own creepy creations.” It sounds like that is keeping in line with the creepy-but-slightly-comical atmosphere of the original books, which is a good sign. I also think Jack Black is a good match for a project like this. Unlike the first attempt by Tim Burton, it looks like this latest film adaptation is going to actually happen.

The good news for the adaptation is that Letterman is purposefully creating this for a new, younger generation of kids to enjoy. As previously mentioned, Letterman is sticking with the atmosphere of the books as well. I feel like the adaptation is in good hands with Rob Letterman at the helm. Neal H. Moritz and Deborah Forte are producing the film, and Darren Lemke (Shrek Forever After, Turbo) is writing the script. As of this moment there is no release date set for Goosebumps.

Source: Screen Rant

The Bible miniseries gets big screen treatment

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, the producers behind the popular History Channel miniseries The Bible, have come to an agreement with 20th Century Fox to distribute a feature film titled Son of God based on the series. However, the film will not portray the entire Bible as the miniseries did. The film will show only the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado, who portrayed Jesus Christ in the miniseries, is set to return as the adult Jesus in Son of God.

There are a few details still being worked on before the agreement can be completely fulfilled, but one detail that has been revealed is Son of God is essentially a reboot of Jesus' story from the miniseries. The only difference is there will be scenes added that were originally cut from the miniseries before it aired on the History Channel. Due to the popularity of the miniseries, 20th Century Fox is betting on the film to be equally as popular among a faith-based audience, as well as potentially draw in a wider audience. The Bible miniseries drew in an average of 15 million plus viewers each week and is now being distributed overseas.

Burnett and Downey are also working on a followup series to be aired on NBC titled AD: Beyond the Bible. No word yet on when that series is set to be aired.

As a Christian, I am excited to see the miniseries get the big screen treatment. Shows like The Bible miniseries and films such as Son of God are potentially able to reach audiences not typically drawn to faith-based films. The TV miniseries garnered a bit of controversy as it took creative license in a direction that some have argued strayed too far from the original text.  Personally, I still think it ended up being accurate enough that it did not take away from the core message of the Biblical text. As long as the creative license does not negate the theology found in the Bible, then I am ok with certain creative changes.

Since the news just came out about Son of God, there is no official release date for the film. However, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are hoping to have the film make its way into theaters next year.



Source: Variety

Disney's Into the Woods reveals its full cast

It seems like Disney is returning to its classic roots of taking well-loved fairy tales and turning them into wonderful musicals by bringing the stage musical Into the Woods onto the big screen. Disney has tapped Rob Marshall (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Chicago) to helm the project, with the screenplay written by James Lapine who is one of the writers of the original musical. Disney stated that filming began last week in England with the entire cast.

Up until now there was not much else known about the adaptation, but the full cast list for Into the Woods has now been released: Meryl Streep will play a witch searching for a cure for an aging spell cast on her. Johnny Depp will play a Wolf stalking Little Red Riding Hood. Broadway star Lilla Crawford will portray Little Red Riding Hood. Jake Gyllenhaal was originally supposed to take the role of the Prince that sweeps Rapunzel off her feet, but Billy Magnussen has now taken his place. Makenzie Mauzy will be the beautiful Rapunzel. Emily Blunt will play the Baker's Wife searching for a cure for infertility, and Doctor Who's James Corden will play her husband The Baker. Daniel Huttlestone will be Jack, and Tracey Ullman will be Jack's Mother.

As if that wasn't enough, Chris Pine will be the handsome Prince who is searching for Anna Kendrick as Cinderella. Tammy Blanchard and Lucy Punch will be Cinderella's evil stepsisters. Joanna Riding will play Cinderella's late mother.

The supporting roles will be taken by Simon Russell Beale as the Baker's father. Annette Crosbie fulfills a role as Red Riding Hood's grandmother. Last but not least, Frances de la Tour will be playing the role of an unnamed giant.

Wow, that is quite a long list of characters. While I am a lover of musicals, I am slightly skeptical after seeing the latest big screen adaptation of Les Miserables. I was one of the few of my friends and family that was actually not impressed with the adaptation. It was not horrible, but for me it did not have the same impact as the original Broadway play did. I never saw the Broadway version of Into the Woods, so that might be an advantage for me. It does sound like a great concept, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it can successfully make the transition from the stage to the silver screen. I am confident that Disney can accomplish this as they have quite a bit of experience with musicals in their past. A lot of the actors and actresses attached to the project also have experience either on stage, or just in general have some musical talent, so that is a huge advantage Into the Woods has going for it. Not to mention that Rob Marshall is best known for another musical called Chicago. I guess we shall see next year if the film can live up to its Broadway predecessor.

Into the Woods will make its way into theaters December 25, 2014.

Source: Screen Rant

Lucas Black will return for Fast and Furious 7, 8 and 9

In a move that is not all that surprising given the popularity of the franchise, Universal Pictures announced that Lucas Black from Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift is returning for not one...not two...but THREE more Fast and Furious films. Yeah, you read that right. There is going to be three more Fast and Furious films on the way. As a fan of the franchise, I am personally extremely excited about this news.

Back in 2006 during the credits of Tokyo Drift, there was a scene that showed Lucas Black's character Sean Boswell gearing up for a race when all of a sudden Vin Diesel drives up next to him in a brief cameo. Since then fans have been anxiously waiting to see how Tokyo Drift fit into the timeline of the Fast and Furious franchise, as one of the characters who shows up alive and well in Fast and Furious 4, 5 & 6 dies in Tokyo Drift.

Black will be joining the original Fast and Furious gang headed by Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker), along with the additions of Tony Jaa, Kurt Russell, and Djimon Hounsou. James Wan is taking over the franchise from Justin Lin as director.

All I am hoping for is that the series continue with whatever it is that seems to have worked in revitalizing the franchise in the last three installments, and that it also has the senses to go out while on top instead of just milking it for no reason. I am highly confident that James Wan can help with this direction. I am equally excited about the cast additions of Russell, Jaa, and Hounsou.

Fast and Furious 7 will arrive in theaters July 11, 2014. No word yet on when Fast and Furious 8 will arrive, but it will most likely be in 2015.


UPDATE: Since Paul Walker's death due to a car accident, the release date for Fast and Furious 7 has been pushed back to April 10, 2015. Once Fast 7 is released, it is unclear what the future of the franchise will be.

Source: Screen Rant 

Leonardo DiCaprio Sets His Sights on Woodrow Wilson Biopic

Leonardo Dicaprio has apparently not let the bad reviews of his previous Clint Eastwood helmed political drama J. Edgar get the best of him, as he is now set to produce and star in a film based on the life of former President Woodrow Wilson.

The film will be based on a book about the historically controversial 28th U.S. president written by A. Scott Berg. At this stage in the game there is little information about the upcoming biopic. The only things that are known for certain are that DiCaprio will both star in and produce the biopic and Warner Bros. is currently in negotiations to attain the rights to the book. It might be awhile before a director is named, as well as who will co-star alongside DiCaprio.

Leonardo DiCaprio is no stranger to historical films, especially controversial ones. So far he has played F.B.I. founder J. Edgar Hoover (J. Edgar), legendary director/aviator Howard Hughes (Aviator), teenage con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. (Catch Me If You Can), and writer/literature professor Tobias Wolff (This Boy's Life). J. Edgar might have been a box office failure, however the others were pretty successful. Personally, I think it would be interesting to see DiCaprio portray Woodrow Wilson. I think he can do well with the role.

It will also be pretty interesting to see the direction in which the film goes. Whether or not the 28th President will be portrayed as an all-out hero, a hero with some major flaws, or more of a bad guy remains to be seen. If the film can do a little bit of both like Steven Spielberg accomplished with Lincoln, then the film should be a box office hit in my opinion. Especially since Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to star.

Unfortunately we have to wait awhile longer until a director is named to the project and there are some more casting additions. Hopefully that information will be released within the next year or so.


Source: Screen Rant

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair is finally in the works

After waiting three long years for news about the fate of The Chronicles of Narnia franchise, the C.S. Lewis Company announced it has finally arrived at an agreement with The Mark Gordon Company to work together on a fourth Chronicles of Narnia film. Both parties were very excited to continue the popular fantasy series.

In a statement regarding the new partnership, Mark Gordon said: "Like many readers, both young and old, I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis's beautiful and allegorical world of Narnia. These fantasy stories inspire real-world passion among millions of devoted fans around the world. As we prepare to bring the next book to life, we are humbled and excited to contribute to the outstanding legacy of Narnia."

Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis's stepson, also expressed excitement for the new partnership: "I have a great deal of respect for Mark Gordon's work and am confident that together we can bring the beauty and magical delight that Narnia engenders in the hearts of those who read the books to the screen in The Silver Chair. I am very much looking forward to diving once more into Narnia, this time with Mark Gordon and his team." Gordon and Gresham will be joined by Vincent Sieber, the L.A. based Director for the C.S. Lewis Company, as producers for The Silver Chair. Each of them will also work with The Mark Gordon Company on writing the script for the film.

The first film in the franchise, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe had a considerate amount of success when it arrived in theaters. However, the next two films in the franchise did not do as well, and so the series hung in limbo until today.

I am really excited that The Chronicles of Narnia is finally continuing on after so many years. I absolutely loved the books. I read the entire series straight through in the timespan of about 2 weeks, something I hardly ever do anymore. I will probably be in the minority of popular opinion (not a huge surprise there because I usually am), but I loved all three of the film adaptations of the series so far. Sure, they were not perfect but then again what movie ever is? I am just happy that someone is giving The Chronicles of Narnia another chance to come to life on the big screen. I do wish the next one to come out would have been The Magician's Nephew, but at the same time I'm glad that they chose The Silver Chair as next in line. I hope that Mark Gordon, Douglas Gresham, and Vincent Sieber will give a satisfying and marvelous adventure back into Narnia just like the last three have been. I also kind of hope that Liam Neeson returns as Aslan, and the original actors who played the four Pevensie children return as well. I felt that each of them were perfect in their respective roles in the last three films.

We still have to wait awhile until The Silver Chair arrives in theaters since the announcement was just made today, so there is no director or actors/actresses currently attached. Unless they can get the ball rolling quickly, my best guess is probably sometime in 2016.


Source: Coming Soon

Mass Effect Adaptation May Take Longer Than Expected

Fans of the popular Mass Effect game franchise who are looking foward to the upcoming film adaptation will unfortunately be kept waiting for a little bit longer, according to producer Avi Arad.

Ever since the announcement was made about the adaptation, development has been stalled time after time with various problems. In the beginning it seemed Legendary Pictures (the company behind the adaptation) could not decide on whether the film should be a direct adaptation, or if it was going to be an entirely different story. After some debate it seems they have finally agreed to take the story directly from the video game series.

Unfortunately, that decision presents some more problems concerning the film adaptation. The Mass Effect game trilogy is a vast universe which connects the fate of a multitude of alien races with the fate of humanity. It also has a pretty unique concept where the player makes choices throughout the game(s) that affects the outcome, so there is no clear-cut story that someone could just copy from game to film. To take the story straight from the video game and try to boil it down to a film that could be anywhere from roughly 90 minutes (give or take a few) to well over two hours is a huge undertaking. It is not impossible by any means, but it is pretty difficult.

Screenwriter Mark Protosevich admitted as much when he revealed that he was being replaced as the writer for the Mass Effect film: "I wrote a couple of drafts and then they brought on a new writer...When I was on it I was definitely adapting the first game. That story, it was very much the first game. And that was the approach." He goes on to say that he will most likely not try to adapt any more video games from this point on: "It was the first game adaptation I did and it will probably be the only one. They're hard. I will freely admit it was hard. Because - especially with 'Mass Effect' - there's just so much material. Narratively, with the game, you're talking about nine, ten hours of narrative you're jamming into two hours...I hope they pull it off. I'd love to see a 'Mass Effect' movie. I think I did some good work, but even I'll admit I didn't pull it off."

Since Protosevich is off the project, relatively unknown screenwriter Morgan Davis Foehl will take his place. Hopefully the change in screenwriters will jumpstart the process back up to finally bring Mass Effect to the big screen. Who knows, maybe since Protosevich was unable to directly adapt the games Foehl, along with Legendary Pictures, will try to come up with an entirely new narrative for the film regarding some other aspects of the games that might have been touched upon in the games but could very easily be expanded in a feature length film. To be honest though, I have a feeling that we will not see any more news regarding the Mass Effect film for at the very least another year or two.

Source: Screen Rant

John Grisham's The Racketeer is Headed to the Big Screen

From the early 1990's up until 2004, author John Grisham seemed to have just about every book he had ever written adapted for the big screen. However, since the release of Christmas with the Kranks starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis there has not been any more adaptations brought to life on film. There have been multiple attempts to adapt other Grisham novels, but so far none have successfully made it to the big screen.

Fox 2000 is hoping to change that fact by adapting John Grisham's bestselling legal thriller The Racketeer. Recently released just last year, The Racketeer tells the story of a former lawyer named Malcolm Bannister who is unfairly imprisoned after being caught up in a scandal. While he is in jail a federal judge named Raymond Fawcett is murdered, along with his secretary, at a remote lakeside cabin. Bannister knows the individual responsible, as well as the motive behind the murders. However, he is unwilling to share that information unless he can make a deal.

I have not read the entire novel, but I did begin to read it a few months ago. From the few chapters I did read, it is a gripping thriller that is well worth your time, especially if you are a John Grisham fan like me. I am thrilled to see it being adapted for the big screen. I am a pretty big Grisham fan, I have read most of his books. There is still a couple I have not had the chance to read yet. I hope this latest film adaptation of The Racketeer will begin a new era of good adaptations of John Grisham's work.

Fox 2000 has not named a director for the project yet. Safe House director Daniel Espinosa was initially slated to direct, but he left the project after some negotiations with the studio fell through. As of this moment the only person attached is Frank Baldwin. Hopefully there will be more (good) news soon about the project, and that this will pave the way for more Grisham adaptations.


Source: Cinema Blend

Universal Possibly Wants to Create a New Horror Cinematic Universe

Audiences have already witnessed the success of Marvel to bring together each of their properties by not only releasing individual movies, but TV shows (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and a team-up film (The Avengers) as well. That success has evidently rubbed off on other studios as Lucasfilm is releasing a new main Star Wars trilogy as well as spin-offs, and Universal Studios is rumored to be planning a "Monster Mash" of sorts with a horror universe filled with their classic horror characters.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the writer/producer duo behind The Amazing Spiderman series, are currently producing reboots for both Van Helsing and The Mummy. In an interview with IGN they were asked about the upcoming reboots in regards to what could be expected. Roberto Orci responded by saying: "There's an interesting thing that could happen at Universal where they have this amazing library of their old monsters and these kinds of heroes, and the idea of trying to create a universe [with] Van Helsing, and we're also producing The Mummy for them. We're kind of imagining updating these kinds of things. You don't want to just make remakes when you're doing a thing, unless it's worthy of being a remake, but when you have an idea for something that could actually be made different and yet be true to what it was. We just had a notion of how to make it modern and have a slightly different tone. It's not going to be just a remake."

From that statement, it sure seems like the plan is to create a full monster universe with their whole catalog of classic monsters. While overall I am not a huge horror/monster movie fan, I would actually be kind of interested to see if this concept would actually work. I enjoyed the Mummy series, and despite it not being a big success, I also kind of liked Van Helsing. I would love to see both back on the big screen. Personally, I would love to see a return to classic horror, in the same vein as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or Bram Stoker's Dracula. To me that era seems best suited for most, if not all, of Universal's list of monsters. Still, it might also be interesting to see what else Orci and Kurtzman can come up with to update these monsters and connect each of them within the same universe.

If a shared monster universe is what Universal is planning with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci in the producer's chairs, then it will most likely begin with the reboots of The Mummy and Van Helsing. Unless of course Kurtzman and Orci end up being producers for 2015's Dracula Untold, in which case Dracula's origin story will jumpstart the process.

Source: IGN and Screen Rant

28 Weeks Later Director approached to helm Pet Sematary remake

It seems that author Stephen King is still the go-to guy when it comes to horror adaptations as Juan Carlo Fresnadillo (who directed 28 Weeks Later) has apparently been approached to helm a Pet Sematary remake.

The original Pet Sematary, which is itself an adaptation of Stephen King's book by the same name, told the story about a family who lived near a cemetary where pets would come back from the dead once buried there due to the place being an old Indian burial ground.

When news of the Pet Sematary remake first broke out, veteran horror director Alexandre Aja was first eyed to helm the project. Since then Alexandre has left the project for unknown reasons, and Juan Carlo Fresnadillo has taken his place. Matt Greenberg and David Kajganich are set to write the screenplay for the adaptation/remake.

I am not all that familiar with Fresnadillo or Aja's work, so I cannot tell whether or not it is a good move to have Fresnadillo at the helm instead of Alexandre. From the things I have heard, Fresnadillo tends to be more gory than scary, whereas Alexandre is the opposite. If that is the case, then for a film like this I would prefer Alexandre at the helm. There have been too many "horror" films lately that focus more on the blood and gore rather than being truly frightening. While I am not really a fan of horror overall, I would like to see a return to actual horror rather than more of the blood and gore kind of flicks. Pet Sematary sounds like it could be a good, truly scary film if done right.

All of that said, it still depends on whether Pet Sematary can resolve its development issues and finally get the ball rolling on project. Until then, there are a couple more Stephen King adaptations in the works to keep fans occupied - The Stand (with Scott Cooper directing) and Ron Howard's The Dark Tower adaptation. There is also a possibility that somewhere down the line we will see an adaptation of the sequel to The Shining titled Doctor Sleep.

Source: Screen Rant

It's A Wonderful Life sequel is in the works

In a surprising bit of news, the 1946 James Stewart classic It's a Wonderful Life officially has a sequel in the works. Tentatively titled It's a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story, the sequel will follow George Bailey's daughter (played by Karolyn Grimes) Zuzu as she returns to Earth as an angel to help George Bailey's grandson (also named George Bailey) see how the world would be better if he had never been born. The sequel's screenplay will be written by Bob Farnsworth and Martha Bolton of Hummingbird Productions. It's a Wonderful Life 2 will be produced by Star Partners and Hummingbird Productions.

The process has already begun with the search for a director and talent for the sequel to fast track it for a 2015 holiday release. The producers hope to begin shooting in Louisiana by next year on a modest $25-$35 million budget. Jimmy Hawkins, Carol Coombs, along with Karolyn Grimes are all in discussions to reprise their roles as the original George Bailey's children.

Karolyn Grimes expressed a little bit of excitement at the prospect of a sequel in a statement about the script: "The new film will retain the feeling of the original, and it simply must be shared. I've probably read close to 20 scripts over the years suggesting a sequel to 'It's a Wonderful Life', but none of them were any good. The script by Bob Farnsworth and Martha Bolton was wonderful, and I wanted to be involved with his version of the film immediately."

While that does seem reassuring that the sequel should stay true to the feel of the original, I still cannot help but wonder if a sequel is even necessary to such a classic film as It's a Wonderful Life. I might have been ok with a remake (though even that would have felt unnecessary), but a full-blown sequel almost 70 years after the fact just does not quite have the same appeal. I am also worried that the project is being rushed a little too much to make it for a 2015 release. If a sequel is going to happen I would rather they take their time to do it well. I would be ok with waiting until 2016 or 2017 for the sequel.

Still, as a huge fan of the original I will most likely see the sequel regardless of my reservations about the film. I just hope Karolyn Grimes' remarks about the script are true and that it really does stay true to the original. I am going to be pretty disappointed if it does not happen.



It's a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story is set to be released during the 2015 holiday season.

UPDATE: As it turns out, the sequel will most likely not happen anytime soon due to Bob Farnsworth and Martha Bolton not actually owning the rights to the story. It's A Wonderful Life was in the public domain for years, but Paramount Pictures now owns the rights and so no one can create any project that is in any way related to It's A Wonderful Life.

Source: Screen Rant

It's Official: Apocalypse will finally be coming to the big screen in 2016 for X-Men: Apocalypse

This has been an exciting week for superhero/comic book films. From the news of a third solo Wolverine film being in development, to the announcement that Fast and the Furious actress Gal Gadot was officially cast as Wonder Woman in the Man of Steel sequel (as well as in the planned Justice League film), it seemed that news could not get any better. Well, this week just got a whole lot better as X-Men director Bryan Singer officially announced that he would finally be bringing the X-Men villain Apocalypse to the big screen in his followup to X-Men: Days of Future Past. The film will be titled X-Men: Apocalypse.

For those that are not sure who Apocalypse is, he is an ancient Egyptian who is believed to be the first mutant. He gained control of advanced alien technology which granted him vast powers, including the ability to heal from mortal wounds, the ability to withstand virtually any disease, as well as immortality. Apocalypse is most notably known to be featured in storylines that include time travel. Due to that little tidbit of information, the possibility of the time-travelling mutant Cable being teased or most likely fully introduced in Days of Future Past just increased.

On top of the news Apocalypse would be the villain for X-Men: Apocalypse, Singer gave assurances that the X-Men timeline's continuity problems would be fixed and most, if not all, questions would be answered in X-Men: Days of Future Past. He also expressed interest to expand on the X-Men universe by bringing in more mutants and stories to tell.

I, for one, am excited about this news. I have been an X-Men fan from the beginning (minus X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and I would love to see more characters finally have their big screen debut in an X-Men feature film. To be honest though, I'm still waiting on a Deadpool film. There have been rumors that Deadpool is still in the works, but I have not heard if that project has finally received the green light or not. It will also be interesting to see if Fox begins to do the same thing as Marvel by releasing two X-Men films per year. Regardless, we still have to wait until Days of Future Past makes it into theaters before we know for sure what the direction of the X-Men franchise will be.

X-Men: Days of Future Past will make its way into theaters May 23, 2014.

Source: Screen Rant

David Magee has been tapped to write the script for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair

A few months ago, back in October, it was officially announced that the Chronicles of Narnia series would continue with the development of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair. Since that time, fans have been anxiously awaiting news of who would direct the project, as well as who would be cast. While we still do not know who the director will be, we now know that screenwriter David Magee will help develop the script. This is exciting news for the fourth installment, as David Magee is previously the writer for the critically acclaimed Life of Pi.

Based off the popular book of the same name, The Silver Chair features the return of Eustace Scrubb (who we last saw in Voyage of the Dawn Treader) in an epic adventure telling of his descent into a place called Underland. According to the official C.S. Lewis website, the book is described as: "Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, a noble band of friends is sent to rescue a prince held captive. But their mission to Underland brings them face-to-face with an evil more beautiful and more deadly than they ever expected."

This news that David Magee is writing the script personally makes me very excited. I absolutely loved Life of Pi, so I am confident David Magee can bring the same level of writing to the Narnia franchise and help breathe new life into it. If Will Poulter (who originally played Eustace Scrubb in Voyage of the Dawn Treader) returns to play Eustace again I will be even more excited. I felt he did a fantastic job of bringing the character onto the big screen. I also hope that the film adaptation stays close to the book and does not try to change anything major in regards to the story itself or ultimately the spirit of the book. So far the last three adaptations have done well, so if The Silver Chair is the same way I will be happy.

As of right now there is not a release date announced for the next installment, but since they now have a writer I wonder if that will come soon, as well as the announcement of a director attached.



Source: Coming Soon

Hugh Jackman is up for the role of Blackbeard in Pan

Despite Captain Hook being Peter Pan's eternal enemy in just about every variation of the classic story, director Joe Wright decided to change things up a bit by introducing the pirate Blackbeard as the main antagonist in the upcoming film Pan.

Wright originally approached Javier Bardem to portray the character based on the real life pirate, but negotiations fell apart. Since then, Wright has turned to Hugh Jackman to fill the role of Blackbeard. Apparently Captain Hook is still going to be a part of Pan, he will just start out as a good guy before switching over to the dark si...uh, I mean before becoming a villain. There have been rumors floating around that Ryan Gosling is being considered the role of Captain Hook. I can definitely see Gosling as a good-guy-turned-bad.

In this updated version of the tale of the boy who does not want to grow up, we will see Peter as a young orphan make his way to Neverland and saves the Natives from the evil clutches of Blackbeard and his men. It sounds like the same classic story, only with Blackbeard instead of Captain Hook. The thing that has me interested is the casting choice of Hugh Jackman to play Blackbeard. To my knowledge, he has not had a villainous role yet. It would be interesting to see him branch out by doing such a role, let alone play a pirate. Jackman has done well with almost every role in which he has been casted, especially his latest as a concerned father looking for answers surrounding his daughter's disappearance in Prisoners. I have no doubt he can pull off being a pirate. If Jackman decides not to sign on for Blackbeard, I am honestly hoping for someone like Michael Fassbender to fill the role. Fassbender has proven several times he can easily pull off the dastardly villianous roles well.

Other than Peter Pan, Blackbeard, and Captain Hook, Tiger Lily is the only other character who has been confirmed to be apart of Pan. So far there has not been an official announcement of who would take the titular role, or that of Tiger Lily. The studio is rumored to be looking for a woman in her early 20's for Tiger Lily and will most likely do an open cast call for Peter Pan.

Pan is set to fly into theaters June 26, 2015.

Source: Screen Rant