Sequel-Buzz.com

'I Am Legend 2' Is A Go

2012-02-21T22:53:00.001-05:00

I Am Legend, 2007

The follow-up to 2007's I Am Legend is finally beginning to gain momentum. Check below for the skinny...

Arash Amel has been hired to write a screenplay for I Am Legend 2 for Warner Bros. Will Smith is on board to produce through his Overbrook Entertainment shingle, with the potential once again to star. Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote and produced I Am Legend, also will return as a producer. The 2007 horror thriller starred Smith as the last surviving human in a New York cityscape overrun by monsters that survived the plague that killed most of humanity. Co-written by Mark Protosevich and directed by Francis Lawrence, it grossed $585 million worldwide. It is unclear how the storyline will be developed in the new project since Smith's character, Robert Neville, perished at the end of the first film. The CAA-repped Amel has the action thriller The Expatriate in production, and his screenplay Grace of Monaco is in development. Smith produced Fox's recent release This Means War, and he stars in the Sony sequel Men in Black III, which hits theaters in May.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

TV: NBC Orders 13 'Hannibal' Episodes

2012-02-16T13:14:00.002-05:00

Red Dragon, 2002

NBC has officially picked up a 13 episode order for Brad Fuller's Hannibal TV series. To my great pleasure, the series will revolve around the first novel, Red Dragon (my personal favorite), and deal with Dr. Hannibal Lecter and FBI agent Will Graham. Graham's character was most recently portrayed by Edward Norton and originally played by CSI's William Peterson. It is yet to be determined who will don the face mask as Hannibal.

The logline...

One-hour contemporary thriller series featuring the classic characters from Thomas Harris’ novel Red Dragon – FBI agent Will Graham and his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter – who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Jonathan Liebesman To Direct 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'

2012-02-15T12:58:00.000-05:00

It appears that Jonathan Liebesman (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) will be directing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot for Platinum Dunes. I expect this to be very Transformers-esque -- and that's not a good thing. I want more than just a flashy fireworks display for my beloved Turtles.

"Battle: Los Angeles" helmer Jonathan Liebesman is in negotiations to direct Paramount's live-action reboot of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form would produce for Platinum Dunes. Plot details are being kept under wraps except that it would be a new reimaging of the famous comic and cartoon series. Josh Applbaum and Andre Nemec penned the script. Liebesman's next film "Wrath of the Titans" bows March 30.

Source: Variety

'Cabin Fever: Patient Zero' Director, Art Revealed

2012-02-15T12:48:00.003-05:00

Although two sequels are in the works for the Cabin Fever franchise (Patient Zero and Outbreak), some early poster artwork for Patient Zero, which is actually a prequel, has been released as well as the reveal of who will helm the direct-to-video sequel.

It appears that comic book artist Karre Andrews will be directing the project.

Source: Shock Till You Drop

Bill Murray Could Be Recast In 'Ghostbusters 3'

2012-02-14T12:54:00.001-05:00

Dan Aykroyd is coming to terms with the possibility of recasting Bill Murray in Ghostbusters 3 if Murray can't come to an agreement on the film.

The absurdly charming one-time Ghostbuster and Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd was in the Empire office today for a webchat, and as well as shaking the hand of everyone in the building (including a bewildered delivery man) and being an all-round hero, he also answered a few questions.
As you might have guessed, a couple were about the much-talked-about Ghostbusters 3, and here are some interesting tidbits about just that.
[Talking about the reclusive Rick Moranis] "If we can get the script to Ghostbusters 3 right, then it would definitely have Moranis as a major component. None of us would want to do the movie without having him as a participant."
Even more intriguingly, Aykroyd hinted that Bill Murray may not return as Peter Venkman, and that the character could be played by a different actor, a la Jack Ryan.
[Talking about Ghostbusters 3 generally] "The script must be perfect. We cannot release a film that is any less than that. We have more work to do."
Vague, granted, but there you go. As for the internet rumour that Murray recently shredded a Ghostbusters 3 script and sent it back with a note that said, "No-one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts", Aykroyd denied it with vigour.
"Bill Murray is not capable of such behaviour. This is simply something that would not be in his nature. We have a deep, private personal relationship that transcends business. We communicate frequently and his position on the involvement in Ghostbusters 3 has been made clear and I respect that. But Bill has too much positive estimation of my writing skills to shred the work."
So that's that - if Bill Murray has a shredder, he's reserving use of it for bank statements and the like.

Source: Empire

Michael Keaton Meets About 'Beetlejuice 2'

2012-02-14T12:49:00.001-05:00

So it's pretty much official now: Michael Keaton wants very much to reprise his infamous Beetlejuice role.

Shock asked him for the latest on the project and to see how close the sequel was to becoming a reality. "It's a reality in the sense that I met with Michael Keaton last week," Grahame-Smith told us. "We talked for a couple of hours and talked about big picture stuff. It's a priority for Warner Bros. It's a priority for Tim. Right now, I am writing an animated movie for Tim based on an idea of mine. Then I adapt Unholy Night [based on the upcoming book]. The third I am hoping is Beetlejuice in terms of writing schedule."

And what was Keaton's excitement level like?

"Huge," the writer added, "he's been wanting to do it for 20 years and he'll talk to anybody about it who will listen. I really told him, I have a huge reverence for Tim and a huge reverence for that film in general. I don't think we should do it if we shit on the legacy. He agrees. So, right now, it remains to be seen, I have a couple of story ideas, but we're very early out."

Source: Shock Till You Drop

Writers Onboard 'Home Alone 5'

2012-02-11T12:11:00.001-05:00

Here’s some sad, yet interesting news – it appears that the powers that be will movie forward with a new Home Alone flick, just not the one we were expecting or hoping for…

So much for those rumours placing Macaulay Culkin back in the McAllister household (in a sequel to the original “Home Alone” that would’ve had the filthy rich former child star play father to a mischievous youngster like the one he played in Chris Columbus’s original; still, never know, it could happen. Did anyone think a fourth “American Pie” would happen, with the original cast, after all those direct-to-video spin-off movies!?). The next “Home Alone” won’t be a big screen venture with any original players (and likely no Wet Bandit).
“Home Alone 5″, like the previous installment in the kid-vs.-crooks film series, is being produced for television. But unlike that awful fourth installment , ABC Family have gone out of their way to place the project in the hands of some talented folks – if only because even studio execs dislike hate mail.
Veteran producer Dennis Stuart Murphy, whose credits include the Kazui’s “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” flick, “Powder” and “Friday the 13th Part 2″, is behind the project, and he’s capable of doing solid stuff, but it’s TV scribes Aaron Ginsburg and Wade Mcintyre of “The Finder” and “The Good Guys” being on writing duties (Assumingly, the duo’s relationship with Fox got them the job on “Home Alone”) that really solidifies confidence in the project.
The duo have a knack for writing interesting, very funny and witty characters so hopefully they can bring some life back into the John Hughes created movie series.
The project is in active development as we speak, with Ginsburg and Mcintyre writing the sequel script concurrently with their duties on “Bones” spin-off “The Finder”.
Director and Cast beseeched shortly.
The script for “Home Alone” is said to fix on not one boy, but two this time, who take on art thieves in their lavish family home. In an interesting twist, the siblings believe they’re protecting their house against evil spirits or ghosts.
The film will air on ABC Family – who actually do some pretty decent stuff, including “Greek” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” – over the 2012 silly season.
That first “Home Alone”, released to mucho successo in 1990, was an absolutely lovely movie. I remember going to catch it at the cinema on a Sunday afternoon – - and only because there wasn’t much else on that weekend. I was truly taken back by just how funny, warm and infectious that film was, and of course the performances of the cast (Culkin, of course, but also Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Stern, Joe Pesci and a scene-stealing John Candy; Oh, and not to forget the wonderful Roberts Blossom as the old man Kevin befriends) were stupendous. They don’t even make movies like “Home Alone” anymore – family films that are devoid of special effects and animatronics. Sad thing. Maybe Ginsburg and Mcintyre can light the fires on the “Home Alone” franchise again with this TV sequel, ultimately pathing the way for the series’ ultimate big screen return.

Now, Hey, I’m gonna give you to the count of ten, to get your ugly, yella, no-good keister off my property, before I pump your guts full of lead! 1, 2, 10!

Source: Moviehole

Zak Penn To Write 'The Karate Kid 2'

2012-02-08T12:20:00.001-05:00

Looks as if plans for a sequel to The Karate Kid remake are under full-swing now -- seeing as a writer has been tapped to pen the script. Welcome aboard, Zak Penn.

Columbia Pictures has tapped "The Incredible Hulk" scribe Zak Penn to rewrite its untitled sequel to 2010's surprise hit "The Karate Kid." Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris were hired to write a sequel just weeks after director Harald Zwart's "Karate Kid" reboot took in $55.6 million domestically over its opening weekend. China-set pic went on to gross $359 million worldwide. While plot details remain under wraps, original stars Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are expected to reprise their roles, though no deals are currently in place. Overbrook Entertainment principals Will Smith, James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and Jada Pinkett Smith will produce with Jerry Weintraub, while Sony exec DeVon Franklin will oversee the project for the studio.

Source: Variety

Stunning New 'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer

2012-02-07T11:25:00.001-05:00

The new trailer for Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man has been released. And, wow, am I totally blown away. It's looking much better than I anticipated. Can't wait.

MGM Acquires New 'RoboCop' Scribe

2012-02-02T12:27:00.000-05:00

The hunt has ended for the search for a new screenwriter for MGM's RoboCop redux.

MGM has hired Gran Torino screenwriter Nick Schenk to work on the screenplay for RoboCop. Jose Padilha is attached to direct the action sci-fi reboot.
The CAA-repped Schenk had been working with Padilha, who co-wrote and directed Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, on the action thriller Tri-Border. The writer also has the original drama The Judge set up at Warner Bros. with Team Downey producing.
MGM has been developing a new take on the RoboCop franchise, which launched with the 1987 film directed by Paul Verhoeven, for years. The studio is hoping for a summer start, but no one has yet been cast in the title role.

Source: THR

'The Crow' Remake Lawsuit Settled

2012-01-23T23:09:00.001-05:00

The on-and-off-again remake for the 1994 movie The Crow, starring Brandon Lee, has been plagued with issues by the studios involved. Apparently all has been settled and the movie will seemingly go on.

“The lawsuit between Relativity Media and The Weinstein Company concerning THE CROW has been amicably settled out of court, and the parties will continue to work on the film together as planned. In addition, Relativity Media has dismissed all of its claims against The Weinstein Company for any wrongdoing regarding the release and distribution of NINE, and The Weinstein Company has dismissed all of its claims against Relativity Media.”

At one point Bradley Cooper was set to play the title role, but some time has passed since those days and it's unclear at this time where the project is headed.

'Psycho' Gets A TV Prequel Series

2012-01-14T12:07:00.000-05:00

Much like the 1987 TV movie Bates Motel, A&E is resurrecting the idea for their network. Here's the latest...

A&E is continuing its push into scripted programming, developing series projects based on the famed hotel featured in Psycho and a Danish format about serial killers.
The network Friday announced it is in early development on Bates Motel, a potential series from Universal Television for A&E that would serve as a prequel to the Alfred Hitchcock 1960 classic Psycho.
The series would offer an understanding into how Norman Bates' psyche developed and would tell the back story of the film's killer, learning of how his mother, Norma, and her lover damaged him, transforming him into serial-killing motel owner. Anthony Perkins played Norman in the film.
Anthony Cipriano penned the script.
The project is not the first time a Psycho spinoff effort has been attempted. NBC aired a 90-minute TV movie titled Bates Motel in 1987.

Thanks to The Hollywood Reporter for the scoop.

'Re5ident Evil: Retribution' Plot Synopsis Revealed

2012-01-10T12:48:00.000-05:00

The full plot synopsis for Re5ident Evil: Retribution has been revealed, as well as a slight title change (adding a '5' in place of the 's' [I'm sure it'll look better capitalized]).

The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

So what'd you think?

'The Evil Dead' Remake Has Its Lead

2012-01-05T23:39:00.001-05:00

The new lead character has been found for The Evil Dead remake. The original franchise's lead was Bruce Campbell who's character name was Ash, a girl's name. So, naturally, this time around, the lead will be a girl. Please welcome...Lily Collins.

Ghost House and Mandate Pictures are going BIG with their casting for their forthcoming remake of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, which begins lensing this March in New Zealand.

Bloody Disgusting has learned exclusively that Lily Collins (The Blind Side, Priest, Mirror Mirror) is in final negotiations to play "Mia" in FilmDistrict's reboot aiming for release on April 12, 2013.

*Update* Mia is the LEAD, and is the female version of Ashley J. Williams (Ash), once donned by Bruce Campbell in the original trilogy. To reveal more would ruin the movie.

In this version, the story centers on five friends (David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia) holed up at a remote cabin where they discover a Book of the Dead with a demonic force unleashed possessing each until only one is left to fight for survival. As we also exclusively reported, there is a drug subplot.

As previously explained, David is a mechanic and is engaged to Natalie. Mia is the friend who is heading to the cabin to detox; Olivia is her best friend/nurse. Eric, presumably, is the kid who unleashes the demons.

After a recent overdose, Mia struggles with her new-found sobriety. She begins acting insane, so it comes as no surprise that nobody believes her crazy claims of coyote dogs and trees attacking her!

Fede Alvarez directs the redo of Sam Raimi's cult classic 1981 The Evil Dead from his own screenplay co-written with Rodo Sayagues. Revisions were done by Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody.

Thanks to Bloody-Disgusting for the scoop.

'Paranormal Activity 4' Officially Confirmed

2012-01-04T00:34:00.001-05:00

So it's officially official, Paranormal Activity 4 has been confirmed...

This morning Paramount Pictures sent out a press release announcing that they earned $5.17 billion at the box office worldwide. Hiding within the story was a brief paragraph confirming that a fourth Paranormal Activityis well on the way (obviously).

We had previewed this title, among several others, in our Paramount Pictures 2012 horror movie preview.

The Paranormal Activity franchise has pulled in approximately $577 worldwide at the box office alone making it a near billion dollar franchise when you include home video. PA 3 took in a whopping $200 million worldwide, making a fourth film an obvious conclusion.

Thanks to Bloody-Disgusting for the scoop.

Second 'Dark Knight Rises' Trailer Hits The Net

2011-12-21T10:23:00.001-05:00

The second trailer for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises has been released. This truly does seem to indicate that this will be the epic conclusion we were all hoping for...

'Amazing Spider-Man' Is A Reboot, Not A Remake Says Webb

2011-12-17T11:40:00.001-05:00

This isn't exactly anything "new" to anyone who has payed any attention to the development of Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man, but take this as confirmation: Webb's movie is not a remake of Raimi's...just a reboot of the series with a new origin story.

"I don't have a problem saying that word," says director Marc Webb. "It's not a remake, we're not making Sam's movie again. It's a different universe and a different story with different characters. There are certain mythological obligations people have in any story, but it's so radically different in terms of tone and what Peter Parker experiences that I'm very comfortable with the movie occupying a different space."

"I wanted to start from a place where it felt like, if you walked into the theatre, that it was the same universe you lived in," says the director. "Which is difficult when you have a giant lizard running down the street..."

"He's the literal embodiment of the theme of the movie, which is we all have a missing piece," says Webb. "He has no arm. Peter has no parents, and he fills that void with Spider-Man. Curt is not as strong as Spider-Man on the inside, but he wants to get back his arm and fill that void, and essentially he becomes a big bully."

Enough tell, Webb decides. It's time for some show, and so he asks Bell to cue up some scenes from his early, very rough, very unfinished cut. "The movie starts off pretty small and gradually merges into something that's more fantastic and vibrant and filled with scope," he says, and by way of illustration, runs three scenes in which we see Spider-Man swing. The first is entirely practical, with Garfield - in Parker duds - swinging around inside a disused warehouse, with the giant wired rig to which the whooping actor is attached yet to be deleted via CGI.

The second, from a little later in the film, is the only sequence Empire sees that is even somewhat redolent of Raimi-vision, as Spider-Man swings giddily along a bridge in pursuit of something, even running briefly on the side of a passing truck.

The third one, though, shows that Webb hasn't abandoned CG. Far from it. The sequence - which is from the third act so we'll be sure to tread carefully - features Spider-Man in pursuit of The Lizard (here seen just once, in very rough animatic form, from a distance as he scales a building), while being pursued himself by cops. Following an excellently staged fight with the cops, and an emotionally charged confrontation with, erm, A Major Character, the sequence follows a wounded Spider-Man as he tries desperately to swing across New York in order to save the day.

One thing's for sure - Twilight it ain't. "I haven't seen a Twilight movie, so i don't know how to comment on that," says Webb. "People may assume because it's me doing Spider-Man, it's more intimate. And it is, but one of the reasons I wanted to do it was to [frick]ing blow shit up, swing through the air and kick some ass."

Webb's Amazing Spider-Man will plant Peter firmly in his teenage years. He doesn't have a job (the Daily Bugle is mentioned, but won't be seen until the inevitable sequel), he likes to skateboard, he has uncontrollable hair, he's a kid searching for the truth about his parent's disappearance.

Thanks to Empire Magazine via Comic Book Movie for the news.

'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Trailer Has Premiered

2011-12-15T00:24:00.001-05:00

The official trailer for G.I. Joe: Retaliation has been released. Wasn't a big fan of the first movie, so I'll probably wait until this is out on home video before I give it a go...

'Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance' Gets A New Poster

2011-12-15T00:10:00.001-05:00

A new poster for the sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance has been released via Columbia Pictures. Check out the new artwork below. Doesn't really show us anything "new" like one would expect from a sequel poster.

'Men In Black 3' Trailer Debuts

2011-12-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

The first official trailer for Men in Black 3 has been released. Check it out below.

Gritty New 'Dark Knight Rises' Poster Is Here

2011-12-11T14:40:00.001-05:00

A new poster for The Dark Knight Rises has been released. This one, unlike the first Inception-esque poster, is a bit more gritty. Check it out below...

New 'Amazing Spider-Man' Poster Is Out

2011-12-10T10:50:00.001-05:00

The newest poster for The Amazing Spider-Man has been released. Check it out below...

'American Psycho' Slated To Be Remade

2011-12-09T14:43:00.001-05:00

Since when did movies that were released in 2000 start being remade? Well, here's one that I know of. One of my all-time personal favorites, American Psycho, has been slapped on the remake chopping block. Ugh...

Noble Jones, who cut his teeth directing commercials, videos for Taylor Swift and Mary J. Blige, and handling second unit for David Fincher on The Social Network, hopes to make his feature directing debut on an updated low budget remake of American Psycho. Jones, who was Grammy nominated for his documentary 10 Days Out: Blues From the Backroads, is a Fincher protege who pitched the project months ago to Lionsgate, which holds the remake rights. Jones turned in a script about a month ago, but the project has suddenly become buzzed about because it hit the tracking reports that have become the cornerstone of trade reporting. His take was to tap the Bret Easton Ellis novel and turn it into a down and dirty new version that imagines how yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman would fare in New York today, factoring in how the world has changed since the 2000 film that starred Christian Bale. Noble’s repped by WME and Anonymous Content.

Thanks to Deadline for the scoop.

'American Reunion' Poster Is A Stellar Throwback To Original

2011-12-08T23:50:00.001-05:00

The newest poster for American Reunion is, in my opinion, one of (if not the) best posters for any type of "reunion" or "...years later" movie. It is a stellar throwback to the original American Pie's poster/one sheet. Check out both of them below.

Robin Williams Talks Sequels

2011-12-07T11:36:00.001-05:00

Actor/Comedian Robin Williams recently spoke to Moviehole about a few sequels he has been attached to over the years, and let us know exactly where they stand. Specifically, he talks Mrs. Doubtfire 2, The Birdcage 2, and Good Morning Chicago. Oh, and a "final" word on Flubber 2...

Caught up with one of my favourites from the world of TV (“And look at that, it’s a Ronald Reagan pen, it’s got no point”) and film (“I just want to begin by saying to Roosevelt E. Roosevelt, what it is, what it shall be, what it was. The weather out there today is hot and shitty with continued hot and shitty in the afternoon. Tomorrow a chance of continued crappy with a pissy weather front coming down from the north. Basically, it’s hotter than a snake’s ass in a wagon rut.”) this afternoon, Mr Robin Williams, for a chat (that’ll run here in full in a few days) and got some updates on some of those long-gestating sequels that the Oscar Wining actor and perilously talented comedian has been attached to over the years, to see what’s still on and what’s off.
Mrs Doubtfire 2
Even with Williams’s Jumanji co-star and talented actress Bonnie Hunt on scripting duties, it just didn’t come together.
Williams : “They could never write it. They kept trying and it doesn’t work.. because at the end of the first one they reveal who [Mrs Doubtfire] is. So it ends up being her for five minutes and then she transitions into some old Russian woman. They so far can’t crack it.”
Good Morning Chicago
Nobody’s ever been quite sure whether this one, a supposed sequel to Good Morning Vietnam (1987), was a real project or somewhat of an urban legend.
Williams : “That was actually real. They were trying to write it. It was based around the democratic convention in Chicago. Part of it worked, Part of it didn’t work because it’d be him dealing with the politics of revolt in Chicago at the time… but anyway, they did do [the script] but it didn’t all work. It was also a matter of trying to find someone to back it. It was almost there. It was a great idea! thanks for reminding me! Wow.”
The Birdcage 2
Unlike Good Morning Chicago and Mrs Doubtfire 2, Williams is more inclined to believe something could be cooking with a Birdcage sequel.
Williams : “They’re trying to figure out which [story] to write for that. We will see what happens”.
There’s also, despite the rumours, no “Flubber” sequel in the works nor has Williams been approached to lend his lungs to a third “Happy Feet” yet.

Thanks to Moviehole for the story.