Scott's Movie Blog

Scott's Movie Blog is now CINECITE

2011-08-07T06:26:00.000+01:00

Scott's Movie Blog has now become CINECITE

I’m very thankful for all your support with this blog over the past 10 months with just over 35,000 hits in time.

The time has come to take my love of all things film related to higher heights.

I now have 2 guest writers working with me and we have big plans for cinecite, you can follow us on twitter @cine_cite and facebook and off course you can view the website

www.cinecite.co.uk

I look forward to seeing you there soon!

Scott

Pegg to star in new killer comedy

2011-07-27T15:45:00.000+01:00

Simon Pegg is to star in new Brit flick A Fantastic Fear Of Everything, about a crime writer who becomes obsessed with murder.

The Star Trek star will play Jack, a children's author turned crime novelist whose detailed research into the lives of Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck, with an irrational fear of being murdered.

The comedy is written and directed by former Kula Shaker frontman Crispian Mills, marking his feature film debut.

Crispian, 38, tweeted this week: "My amazing missus gave birth to our second baby boy two weeks ago!

"That same week I also finally started filming the movie- now titled A Fantastic Fear Of Everything. Mad times but very exciting."

The former rocker - son of Hayley Mills and director Roy Boulting - will co-direct with Chris Hopewell, whose previous work includes the music videos for Radiohead's There There and The Killers' Smile Like You Mean It.

A Fantastic Fear Of Everything is currently shooting on location in London and Shepperton Studios and also stars Two Pints Of Lager's Sheridan Smith, The Darjeeling Limited's Amara Karan and Hellraiser's Clare Higgins.

Johansson set to film in Glasgow

2011-07-27T15:39:00.000+01:00

Scarlett Johansson is to swap the sunny climes of California for a Scottish winter.

The Tinseltown beauty is set to shoot sci-fi adventure Under The Skin with British director Jonathan Glazer around Glasgow and other Scottish locations in October, reported CineEuropa.

In the film, based on Michel Faber's eponymous novel and adapted by Walter Campbell, Scarlett plays an alien on earth - disguised as a sultry bombshell - who uses her sexuality to kill humans.

Glen Basner, CEO of FilmNation, who is handling international sales of the film, said: "We're so very excited to be working on this arrestingly original movie. How could we pass up the chance to work with a visionary director like Jonathan, especially when combined with the intriguing notion of Scarlett Johansson as a ruthless alien seductress?"

Jonathan, who previously directed Sexy Beast with Ray Winstone and Ben Kingsley, is currently casting other roles in Under The Skin in Scotland.

Olivia Wilde on Going Nude

2011-07-25T07:53:00.000+01:00

The actress says she didn't even know she had revealed her backside in one of the movies until people started asking her about it.

Olivia Wilde bares a little more than just her soul in not one but two upcoming movies The actress reveals her backside in the Cowboys & Aliens, opposite Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, and in The Change-Up, which stars Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman.

“There’s a little nudity in this one," Wilde told Access Hollywoodof Cowboys, adding, “I feel like if I feel really safe and if I feel like the story calls for it, then I’m not so shy.”

But in Change-Up, Wilde said she didn't even realize her rear end was being shown until people who had seen the movie started asking her about it.

“With The Change-Up I didn’t really realize that’s what was happening, as if I didn’t really know where the camera was," she said. "So then people saw the movie and they’re like, ‘You know your butt’s in the movie?’ and I was like, ‘What?’ I had no idea! But you know, I think when you agree to do a movie, like that you have to go 100 percent for it.”

Cowboys & Aliens, a genre-defying mashup of a Western and space-invasion movie directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), opens Friday. The movie had its premiere at Comic-Con on Saturday night.

Change-Up, a body-switching comedy from David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers), opens Aug. 5.

Wilde also has appeared in the TV series House and last year's Tron: Legacy.

Linda Christian dies, aged 87

2011-07-25T07:38:00.000+01:00

The first ever 'Bond Girl' Linda Christian has died at the age of 87.

The AP confirms that Christian passed away on Friday in Palm Desert, California, following a battle with colon cancer.

The actress was best known for starring in the 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale, as primary love interest Valerie Mathis opposite Barry Nelson as James 'Jimmy' Bond.

Christian's performance paved the way for future Bond girls like Ursula Andress, Denise Richards and Halle Berry.

She will also be remembered for starring in 1944 Danny Kaye musical Up In Arms and in the 1948 film Tarzan and the Mermaids.

Christian is survived by her daughters Romina and Taryn Power, as well as eight grandchildren.

Hilary Swank's 'exciting character'

2011-07-22T07:31:00.002+01:00

Hilary Swank is set to swap harrowing dramas for action with the lead role in Shrapnel.

The Oscar-winning actress is to star as a former military officer, who leads a revolt on Venus in the year 2250, in the big-screen adaptation of the graphic novel, which she will also produce.

Hilary - who scooped Academy Awards for her performances in Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby - has been looking for some time for a "strong action" film, according to Variety.

"Shrapnel and specifically the character of Sam offer me the opportunity to dive into an exciting character with many layers and depth that are rarely found in this genre," the actress said.

A director is still being sought for the movie, which Toby Wagstaff is penning.

Radical president Barry Levine boasted about Hilary's involvement, saying: "Hilary came to Radical excited to find a project with a strong female protagonist that could show off her abilities to do action films. With Hilary being an actor's actor, Shrapnel will give a whole new definition to that type of role."

It's a change of role for the star, who tends to play real-life characters such as aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (Amelia), single mum-turned-lawyer Betty Anne Waters (Conviction) and transsexual Brandon Teena (Boys Don't Cry).

Last seen in horror flick The Resident, her next big-screen outing is in Garry Marshall's ensemble comedy New Year's Eve, alongside Robert De Niro and Jon Bon Jovi.

Weaver wants more Alien adventures

2011-07-21T02:30:00.002+01:00

Sigourney Weaver reckons there is one more story to be eked out of the Alien saga.

But the Hollywood star, who is still recognised for her action woman role as Ripley in Ridley Scott's films, claims she is too old to reprise the role.

"I would have liked to do one last story where we go back to the planet, where Ripley's history is resolved. But I do feel like her story is unfinished," the 61-year-old told Moviefone.

"I doubt it just because the way the industry is... Once you're 60, you're not going to be starring in an action movie. I think it's too bad that that's the case. I could definitely kick that alien's a** again. [Ripley]'s a smart hero, it's the way she thinks."

Far from hanging up her action hat, Sigourney next stars in action thriller Abduction alongside Twilight hunk Taylor Lautner and Jason Isaacs - and revealed she isn't too worried about never revisiting the Alien territory again.

"I love the way the story has evolved, that every few years there's another voyage into that universe with another wonderful young director. And certainly I'm blessed with lots of different wonderful jobs, so I'm not sitting at home ruminating about all of that," she continued.

"If I was really caught up in it, I would find a logical story and try to get them behind it, but she may just be left circling earth."

Bonham Carter on for Lone Ranger?

2011-07-20T20:21:00.002+01:00

Helena Bonham Carter is reportedly in talks to join The Lone Ranger.

The Harry Potter star is said to be interested in playing a brothel madam who keeps both gentlemen and scoundrels in line in the Disney action adventure, which Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer are already saddling up for, said Heat Vision blog.

True Grit actor Barry Pepper and country singer-turned-actor Dwight Yoakam are also negotiating to get on board Gore Verbinski's upcoming blockbuster.

Barry is tipped to act as a military officer, while Dwight, who is currently shooting Billy Bob Thornton's Jayne Mansfield's Car, is expected to be cast as menacing gang leader Butch Cavendish.

Inspired by the 1940s TV series, the movie, to be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, sees Tonto - played by Johnny - take a much more prominent role in the story of a Texas Ranger (Armie) who dons the masked identity known as the Lone Ranger.

Tom Wilkinson is also already galloping into the film as a railroad tycoon, with British actress Ruth Wilson in discussions to play Rebecca Reid.

A mid-October start date in Texas and New Mexico is being planned.

Helena, who has reprised her role as Death Eater Bellatrix LeStrange in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 2, is currently filming Dark Shadows with Johnny and her long-time partner Tim Burton.

Aniston revels in raunchiest role

2011-07-20T20:19:00.002+01:00

Jennifer Aniston showed off a dominatrix-style look as she promoted her raunchiest movie to date.

The actress - best known for her years as girl-next-door Rachel in TV hit Friends - dazzled in a leather-look black mini-dress and studded, strappy stilettos.

The 42-year-old was in London ahead of the premiere of her new film Horrible Bosses in which she plays a woman with a voracious sexual appetite.

In the film she appears at one stage dressed in just lingerie to play a dentist who sexually harasses her assistant, portrayed by Charlie Day.

And she said she had no second thoughts about playing such a naughty role.

"That was the fun of it, how far it went," she said. "I really went for it the whole entire movie. It's very vulgar and very rude but that's what's fantastic about being able to do something like that because it's so outrageous, it's limitless. So you just get to have complete abandon and no worry if you're being inappropriate at all."

Speaking at a press conference at the Dorchester Hotel, she added: "I have never come across anyone like her so it was pretty much just going into my own dark imagination and seeing what I could come up with."

Jennifer - who co-stars with Kevin Spacey in the film - showed off a recent tattoo on her foot as she donned her heels. She had the name of her late pet dog Norman on the instep of her right foot.

The actress, who will appear at the film's premiere at the BFI Southbank this evening, said her fitness regime meant she had no worries about stripping for the role.

"I think if you keep in good health and good shape then those scenes don't terrify you so much," she said.

John Lasseter on Toy Story 4 rumours

2011-07-20T08:33:00.000+01:00

After Tom Hanks' suggestion that they're already "working on it", Pixar head John Lasseter has been grilled by the normally reserved hosts of the BBC's Breakfast show about a fourth instalment of Toy Story.

"We haven't announced anything, so I can't really talk about it" was his official-ish response after agreeing that he found Hanks' gaffe "interesting".

The shuffling, raised eyebrows and awkward humming are certain to get rumour-mongers thinking that an official announcement could be imminent.

Is it too hard to imagine the perfect Pixar trio becoming a quartet without destroying a little of the magic?

Although, with some critics suggesting that the 'Hawaiian Vacation' short preceding Cars 2 is outdoing the main attraction at the theatres, it may be required.

Will Brave and Monsters University get Pixar back to the heights we know they can scale?

Even if they do, Toy Story could just be too valuable a property to be put away in the attic...

Source: BBC

BFI Dishes Out First Transition Funding

2011-07-19T18:54:00.000+01:00

The British Film Institute’s Transition Fund is dishing out just under £900,000 across 37 British events and projects in its inaugural cash drop.

Cash recipients in this round of funding include the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the British Independent Film Awards and the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival.

The £2 million Transition fund for audience development, was set up by the BFI to support the industry in the wake of swinging cuts to the U.K. film landscape announced by the government last year.

The first round of projects to be funded “all demonstrated that their funding for core activities has been significantly reduced or withdrawn for the financial year 2011-12”, according to the BFI.

The BIFAs received £52,718 while the EIFF grabbed £17,000 through a fast-track assessment process last month. Watershed Bristol, a media center in England, secured £67,500, the second highest single award to date after the £77,452 snaffled by organizers of the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival.

The next round of projects to be awarded transition funding will be revealed by the BFI before the end of July.

The Transition Fund, which derived from previously unallocated money, was established to assist U.K. film bodies feeling the pain of a 50 percent reduction in grant-in-aid funding suffered by the UKFC shortly before it was merged with the BFI, an Arts Council England funding reduction and local councils tightening their arts spending.

A full list of projects awarded cash by the Transition Fund follows:

AV Festival – £20,000

BIFAs/British Independent Film Awards – £ 52,718

Birmingham International Film Society – £8,000

Borderlines Film Festival – £11,025

British Federation of Film Societies – £46,350

Canterbury Anifest – £2,790

Chichester International Film Festival – £3,500

Cornerhouse Manchester – £18,000

Edinburgh International Film Festival – £19,620

Encounters Bristol International Film Festival – £50,000

Fashion in Film – £17,559

FilmClub – £141,000

Flicks in the Sticks – £6,210

Glasgow Film Theatre – £7,182

ICA, London – £23,100

Kendal Mountain Festival – £19,350

Leeds Film – £35,000

Light House, Wolverhampton – £12,124

London Metropolitan Archives – £19,000

London Short Film Festival – £1,800

Assembly Rooms Ludlow – £4,100

mac Birmingham – £8,700

National Media Museum – £38,700

ONEDOTZERO – £15,890

PBQ – £20,000

Phoenix Square, Leicester – £ 9,000

Portland Green Cultural Projects – £14,361

Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast – £20,000

The Sensoria Festival – £9,980

Sheffield International Documentary Festival – £ 77,452

Showroom Cinema, Sheffield – £ 9,900

Southend-on-Sea Film Festival – £20,000

Strode Theatre, Somerset – £ 17,227

Tricycle Theatre, London – £10,134

Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle – £ 22,275

Watershed, Bristol – £67,500

YourLocalCinema.com – £9,000

Alyson Hannigan Fans will love American Reunion

2011-07-19T18:09:00.000+01:00

Alyson Hannigan has promised that fans won't be disappointed with the upcoming sequel to the American Pie films.

Hannigan, who reprises her role as Michelle Flaherty in American Reunion, said that she and co-stars Jason Biggs, Tara Reid and John Cho felt at ease with one another immediately, even though it has been nearly ten years since they last worked together.

"It's been hilarious. It really did feel like a reunion," Hannigan told Parade. "The great thing about that cast is we all had such great chemistry."

She continued: "Even though you sort of lose touch, the moment you get back together it's as if no time has passed whatsoever. Everybody's having a blast. I really think it's going to be as funny as the first one."

Hannigan also disclosed that American Reunion will focus on her character Michelle and husband Jim (Biggs)'s attempt to reignite the romance in their marriage while also juggling parenting responsibilities.

"They're just navigating the waters of being parents and trying to not put their relationship on the back burner. They're going to the reunion to try to get some of that back, but of course hijinks ensue," she added. "There's going to be hilarious situations that will not disappoint the fans."

Fellow American Reunion star Chris Klein previously disclosed that Jennifer Coolidge will be reprising her role as Stiffler's sex-crazed mother for the movie.

American Reunion, which will also star

Harry Potter opens to colossal £23 million

2011-07-19T18:06:00.000+01:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has opened to a record-breaking £23 million first weekend at the UK box office.

The JK Rowling fantasy series finale's £23.7 million debut haul has almost matched the cumulative gross for second-place film Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which has earned £23.9 million since its release on June 29.

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has beaten previous records held for three-day weekend takings, the biggest Friday and Saturday results and greatest single-day figures. All four records came from the movie's predecessor, Deathly Hallows: Part 1, which took £18.3m in its first weekend last year.

Elsewhere, Bridesmaids and Kung Fu Panda 2 fall a place from last week, while The Guard and The Tree of Life hold their spots at numbers five and six.

Zindagi Na Milege Dobara is a new entry at seven and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides re-enters the chart at ten.

The UK box office top ten in full:

1. (-) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - £23,753,171
2. (1) Transformers: Dark of the Moon - £1,990,508
3. (2) Bridesmaids - £1,576,780
4. (3) Kung Fu Panda 2 - £779,183
5. (5) The Guard - £368,148
6. (6) The Tree of Life - £267,866
7. (-) Zindagi Na Milege Dobara - £254,329
8. (4) Bad Teacher - £203,911
9. (7) The Hangover Part II - £101,839
10. (11) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - £59,931

Joe Johnston wants Boba Fett movie

2011-07-19T07:30:00.002+01:00

Joe Johnston has revealed that he would like to make a Star Wars movie spinoff based on the character Boba Fett.

Bounty hunter Boba Fett became a cult favourite of Star Wars fans after his first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, before his death in Return of the Jedi.

Johnston was a designer and visual effects art director of the first three Star Wars films and also designed Fett's famous outfit.

The Captain America: The First Avenger director told Screenrant that he has asked George Lucas about a possible spinoff, and that he would like to direct.

He said: "I'm trying to get George to make a feature based on Boba Fett. I would like to direct it. It would be a lot of fun."

Johnston, who directed Jurassic Park III, added that he has hopes of a fourth movie in the dinosaur franchise.

"We are in discussions. The most important thing I can tell you is that it starts a new trilogy that goes in a different direction. It starts with the history of the first trilogy but spins off in a completely different direction that's very exciting and different from anything we've seen. That's all I can tell you."

The director recently said that he would be interested in making a sequel to Captain America.

Potter works magic at box office

2011-07-18T21:17:00.000+01:00

Harry Potter has worked its magic on the box office, with the last film in the series smashing records in its opening weekend.

Since opening on Friday, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, took £23 million in the UK and Ireland.

It eclipsed the previous Â£18 million record held by the last Potter film, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 1, released last year.

The film, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, took 168 million dollars (£104 million) in the US and Canada from Friday to Sunday, beating the record previously held by 2008's Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight.

So far, it has taken an estimated 476 million dollars (£296 million) globally.

Josh Berger, president and managing director of Warner Bros Entertainment UK and Ireland, said: "After a decade of Harry Potter films, the final film is truly a cultural phenomenon.

"We are thrilled with this astounding response and we would like to thank all Harry Potter fans across the UK and Ireland.

"These incredible results are a testament to the incredible achievement of the filmmakers, cast, and, of course, JK. Rowling, and will ensure the film series a place in history for years to come."

Directed by David Yates, the film's cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon and John Hurt.

Stars turn out for new Craig film

2011-07-18T21:15:00.000+01:00

Mark Strong, John Hannah and Lacey Turner stepped out for a new film narrated by Daniel Craig.

Other celebrity guests at the London premiere of BBC Earth's new One Life nature documentary film included Nina Wadia, a heavily pregnant Kate Silverton and model Alice Dellal.

"An amazing film to see with children, this film has taught them more than I ever could about the struggle of life," said Green Lantern star Mark.

Spartacus actor John added: "The film is a true triumph, I could not take my eyes from the screen throughout.

"It really puts our struggles as humans into perspective but also shows that in terms of day-to-day life, animals aren't so different to us."

Former EastEnders actress Lacey had only compliments too. She said: "The humour throughout the film was amazing, something which you just don't find in many nature documentaries. Daniel Craig's narration was sublime."

One Life, which is out in cinemas on July 29, documents the journey all living things take from the moment they are born to the delivery of the next generation.

Daniel has said: "For the filmmakers who spend their entire lives recording beautiful images of planet earth's dwindling wildlife, I have only a sense of awe and a deep rooted respect.

"I am incredibly fortunate to have been given the chance to play a very small part in that

Emma Watson to star in 'Beauty and the Beast'

2011-07-18T21:05:00.001+01:00

Emma Watson has signed on to star in Beauty and the Beast.

Producer Denise Di Novi confirmed that the Harry Potter actress will headline a Guillermo del Toro-produced adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Coming Soon reports.

For the moment, del Toro is working on his monster film Pacific Rim, which stars Charlie Day, Charlie Hunman and Idris Elba. It is set to open in theaters on July 12, 2013.

Meanwhile, Watson recently finished shooting The Perks of Being a Wallflower alongside Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev and Role Models actor Paul Rudd.

There is no word on when production on this version of Beauty and the Beast will begin.

Rupert Grint's gruelling film role

2011-07-17T12:11:00.000+01:00

Rupert Grint has revealed that he was kept on his toes during a film shoot in severe weather.

In his first role since Harry Potter, the British star headed to Norway and Sweden to film Second World War movie Comrade, which is directed by Norwegian filmmaker Petter Naess.

"It was filmed in April, in winter, it was freezing, and we were just on a mountain in this really remote part of Norway. It was quite extreme," he recalled.

Despite the tough conditions, Rupert - better known for playing Harry's best friend Ron Weasley in the wizarding saga - found it exhilarating.

"It was good fun as well, it was something completely different, but I really enjoyed it," he continued.
"I play a British, Scouse RAF gunner. It's a great story, because it's a true story. David Cross from The Reader plays one of the Nazi pilots who have to live together to survive in this harsh climate."

The 22-year-old was drawn to the war element in Comrade

"It's a part of history I'm really interested. It's not really a story so much about the violence of war, it's just a story of survival really and these two groups of enemies coming together and forming this friendship," he said.

And he plans to keep switching between bigger Hollywood films and smaller indie movies, such as Cherrybomb and Wild Target. "My future is a bit blurry at the moment. I definitely want to keep acting and finding different roles," he added.

Saoirse Ronan 'I'd love to work with Tarantino

2011-07-17T12:06:00.000+01:00

Saoirse Ronan has spoken of her desire to appear in a Quentin Tarantino film.

The Hanna star predicted that the iconic director would be "fantastic fun" to work with and shared her hope of breaking into his established "ensemble" of actors.

"I haven't worked with him, but I'd love to," she revealed to Virgin Media. "I've talked to people who have, and they all say he's made and that it's fantastic fun.

"Because he tends to work with the same actors every now and again, they can read each other. There's always such an ensemble feeling in his films, too. In Kill Bill, for example, of course Uma Thurman is the star but it really feels like a group effort."

Ronan further confessed that her appreciation of Tarantino extended beyond the Pulp Fiction helmer's filmography to his "amazing" physical features.

"He's often in his own films, which I think is great," she gushed. "He's so different-looking with that amazing face."

Ronan has been tipped to star in an adaptation of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer's novel The Host.

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 breaks first-day records

2011-07-17T12:04:00.000+01:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has broken the all-time record for the biggest box-office gross in one day of opening.

The final instalment of the wizarding franchise collected $92m (£57m) in the US upon its release on Friday, beating previous record-holder The Twilight Saga: New Moon's tally of $72m (£44m) in 2009.

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 raked in an additional $75m (£46m) internationally, to bring its global total close to $250m (£154m). This amount included a first-day opening of almost $15m (£9m) in the UK, the biggest single-day takings ever seen in the country.

The latest Harry Potter also set a new record for midnight screenings, as the $43m (£26m) it collected easily surpassed the $30m (£18m) achieved by late-night shows of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse last year.

"What an incredible beginning for the movie that ends it all," Warner domestic distribution president Dan Fellman commented to Variety.

"Everyone at Warner Bros joins me in congratulating the many people behind the Harry Potter films. We know this is just the start of what promises to be an astounding weekend and a magical summer."

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 took more money in 24 hours than four of the previous seven Harry Potter pictures did over their entire opening weekends, The AP adds. The film's success has been attributed to the increased cost of tickets to 3D showings.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is also tipped to surpass The Dark Knight's opening weekend record of $158m (£97m) domestically.

Noam Murro to Direct 300' Spin-Off

2011-07-16T07:26:00.000+01:00

Warner Bros. has zeroed in on Noam Murro to direct its 300 spin-off, 300: Battle of Artemisia (formerly known as Xerses).

The Israel-born director, who helmed the 2008 film Smart People, was vying for the gig with Jaum Collet-Serra, the director of this year’s Liam Neeson thriller Unknown. But Warners, which liked both directors, in Solomon-like wisdom divided up gigs for the filmmakers, yesterday handing Collet-Serra the adaptation of Akira. An official offer to Murro is expected to be made early next week.

Artemisia is based on Frank Miller’s upcoming graphic novel that takes Xerxes, the Persian leader who is an antagonist in 300, and turns him into more of a pivotal figure. He's a man in search of godhood after the death of his father, battling an Athenian warlord named Themistocles. The story takes place over the course of several years, but the focal point is the battle of Artemisium, which occured in 480 BC.

Zack Snyder, who directed 300, wrote the script with his 300 partner Kurt Johnstad.

The aim is to shoot Artemisia in the same stylized vein as Snyder did with 300.

Artemisia would be a change of pace for CAA and Management 360-repped Murro, whose Smart People was an indie drama that starred Dennis Quaid as a widower dealing with his adopted brother (Thomas Hayden Church), his overachieving daughter (Ellen Page) and possible new love in the form of Sarah Jessica Parker.

The movie caught Hollywood's eye and got Murro lined up to direct the in-development Die Hard 5 movie.

Anna Paquin Talks True Blood

2011-07-16T07:23:00.000+01:00

While much is said of her role on the HBO hit, her very public coming out, and her Oscar win for The Piano at age 11, she says there are other moments in her life that she would focus on if she wrote a memoir -- like her time on-stage while attending Cambridge.

“No one saw any of that stuff, so it’s almost as if it never happened,” she says. “On stage you don't have anything to hide behind. I have never felt so naked."

Here are five other things Paquin said in a recent interview that stood out:

On the response to her coming out as bisexual:
Frankly, no one had ever asked me before. My sexuality is something I’m completely comfortable with and open about. There’s a lot of prejudice toward us, but the more people talk about it, the less of a big deal it will be. And that will be better for everyone. Who people choose to sleep with—or spend their lives with—shouldn’t matter, not that anyone particularly cares who I’m attracted to.

On her New Zealand modesty:
We don’t know how to take compliments, unless of course they’re about The Lord of the Rings—those we’ll happily accept.

On sex scenes with Moyer on True Blood:
Maybe it should be weird, simulating sex with your husband in front of people. But it's really not. When its a love scene with someone you actually love it's no 'Can I touch him here, can I touch him there' You know what your boundaries are, or aren't I suppose.

On her husband’s fans:
There is probably something wrong with me, but I find it amusing to watch these men and women fawn all over him. It's not like anyone is really trying to do anything inappropriate. They just want him to hug them... or bite them

On Sookie’s luck:
Sookie is always in distress, it wouldn't be True Blood if someone wasn't trying to kill her

Bad Santa trilogy is in the works

2011-07-16T07:18:00.000+01:00

A Bad Santa sequel is said to be in the works.

Producers on the original movie, in addition to its two studios Dimension Films and Miramax, have contracted various writers to begin working on a follow-up to the 2003 comedy, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The studios also allegedly hope that by hiring a number of different writers, they will be able to pick their favourite script or potentially develop two new films to complete a Bad Santa trilogy.

Bad Santa stars Billy Bob Thornton as a conman that poses as Santa Claus to rob a department store.

In March, it was reported that Thornton was in talks to reprise his role as Willie in a sequel to Bad Santa. The actor previously said that he would be interested in returning for the follow-up.

Sheridan Smith heading to Tower Block film

2011-07-15T12:50:00.000+01:00

Sheridan Smith is to start work on Tower Block within weeks.

Shooting on the gritty British drama, which is being directed by first time feature film-makers Ronnie Thompson and James Nunn, is set to kick off around east London from July 18.

Starring alongside the Legally Blonde star are Skins actor Jack O'Connell, History Boys' Russell Tovey, and Ralph Brown from Mean Machine, reported Screen Daily.

James Moran, whose previous screen credits include Doctor Who, Torchwood and horror-comedy Severance, wrote the script about the repercussions facing residents of tower block 31 after they witness the murder of a young teenager.

"It's a dark, gritty action thriller about a sniper attacking the residents of a tower block (hence the name)," wrote the screenwriter on his blog.

He added: "I'm so excited that it's getting made, with such a fantastic cast and an amazing directing duo, and I'm dying to see what madness and mayhem they achieve on screen. I can't wait to sit at the back of the cinema and watch the audiences when it's out, too - this one's going to be a nail biter, it's relentless."

Steven Spielberg to make Comic-Con debut with 'Tintin'

2011-07-14T18:19:00.000+01:00

Steven Spielberg will attend Comic-Con for the first time next week to promote his upcoming movie The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.

The Indiana Jones director will be at the San Diego event on July 22. He will appear in Hall H with exclusive content from the film, but it is unconfirmed whether producer Peter Jackson will join him.

Spielberg will also be handed the Inkpot Award at the convention, which is given to professionals in the pop culture field.

Comic-Con will feature a wide range of talks and displays from the world of film, television, gaming, comics and other pop culture elements next week.

Capcom released its schedule for the convention earlier this week, including footage from the latest Resident Evil game.

The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman recently said that he would love a panel for The Wire at Comic-Con.

Watch the new trailer for The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn below: