Elizabeth Olsen, Brit Marling, Josh Radnor and more return to Sundance in out of competition premieres

December 5, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in General News 1 Comment

The most high profile of Sundance showings have been unveiled, with the Utah film festival releasing the names of the films that will be premiering out of competition next January. Unlike the competition line-up which consisted mostly of feature debuts and little-known directors and actors waiting for their big break, the out of competition is all A-list. This year’s line-up features such acclaimed directors as Spike Lee, Stephen Frears and Julie Delpy, as well as a homecoming of sorts to festival veterans like Elizabeth Olsen (who will again be represented in two films this year after breaking out in “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and “Silent House” last year), Brit Marling and Josh Radnor, who all return to the festival that made stars out of them in recent years.

Some early standouts after a quick skim of the new list include “Bachelorette”, a seemingly Hangover/Bridesmaids-type pre-wedding comedy starring Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan as old friends and James Marsden and Adam Scott as the guys in their lives; “Celeste and Jesse Forever”, a comedy about what happens after a couple breaks up but decide to remain friends, with Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones as the couple and Ari Graynor, Chris Messina, Elijah Wood and Emma Roberts their circle of friends; “Lay the Favorite” with Rebecca Hall, “Shadow Dancer” with Andrea Riseborough, and the aforementioned films with Olsen, Radnor and Marling: “Red Lights”, “Liberal Arts” and “Arbitrage.”

The full list of out of competition feature films and documentaries are below.

Amanda Seyfried, Aaron Paul, Olivia Thirlby, Joel Edgerton, many more headed for Sundance

November 30, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in General News 6 Comments

It’s that time of year again. The 2012 Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its competition line-up for next January’s festivities and as always, plenty of young up and comers will be represented in films that could propel them to another level in their career. Just ask Ryan Gosling, Ellen Page, Carey Mulligan and Jennifer Lawrence how Sundance has changed their lives.

Of course, it will be impossible to predict who will eventually become the next Mulligan or Lawrence or this year’s trifecta of Elizabeth Olsen/Felicity Jones/Brit Marling. Only the indefinable festival “buzz” can solidify that come January. At this very early stage, we can only earmark and be on the look out for the films that star some names already familiar to us, like “For Ellen” starring Paul Dano and Jena Malone, “The First Time” with Britt Robertson, “Smashed” starring Aaron Paul, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Octavia Spencer, just to name a few. There’s also the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, an early standout hailing from Australia in the form of “Wish You Were Here” starring Joel Edgerton and Teresa Palmer.

Be sure to check back for frequent updates on the festival from now through January, one notable being the announcement of who will be part of this year’s 7 Fresh Faces to watch. Looks like last year’s list missed the mark outside of Felicity Jones, will this year’s fare better? The first set of films announced are listed below.

New release dates: “Silent House”, “Warm Bodies”, “Now You See Me”

October 25, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in General News 1 Comment

Some tiny morsels of news today regarding a few of our highly anticipated upcoming projects: Release dates! First up, horror remake “Silent House”, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and stars hot breakout star Elizabeth Olsen, has been set for a March 9, 2012 release. Surely filmmakers are hoping that date will be coming on the heels of a good night for Olsen at the Oscars, where she is favored to be nominated for a Best Actress statue for her truly revelatory turn in another Sundance debut, “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” In “Silent House”, Olsen will be menaced in a very different way, by ghosts! A remake of the Uruguayan horror “La casa muda,” the film was shot in one long extremely long take, with the camera often positioned within an inch of Olsen’s frightened face.

Over at Summit Entertainment, zombie love story “Warm Bodies” starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and Dave Franco has been skedded for August 10, 2012. In Jonathan Levine’s follow-up to “50/50″, Hoult plays a zombie living in a post-apocalyptic world who begins to feel human again after eating the brains of one of his victims, Perry (Franco). Perry floods Hoult’s “R” with memories and feelings to the point where R begins an unlikely friendship with Palmer’s Julie, the human girlfriend Perry left behind.

Summit has also set a date for Louis Leterrier’s magician heist thriller “Now You See Me”, which also stars Franco, along with Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Melanie Laurent and Mark Ruffalo. The actioner, which follows a group of world class magicians who pull off bank robberies during their performances, and the FBI team hot on their trails, will be released on January 13, 2013.

Hugh Jackman gives updates on “Les Miserables”; Emma Watson won’t be Cosette

September 23, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting, General News 1 Comment

Those hoping to hear Hermione sing will have to wait a little longer. London’s The Daily Mail confirms that recent reports of Emma Watson being cast as Cosette in Tom Hooper’s big screen adaptation of “Les Miserables” are, in fact, incorrect. She will not be in the film. The only confirmed cast members thus far are Hugh Jackman as noble ex-con Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as his arch nemesis, Inspector Javert. Hooper has also offered roles to Anne Hathaway (as Cosette’s mother Fantine) and Helena Bonham Carter (as greedy but hilarious innkeeper’s wife Mrs Thenardier), but they are not officially on board yet.

The Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye goes on to report that Hooper will be looking for 17 and 18 year old actors – not people in their 20s – to play the student revolutionaries, which includes Marius, Cosette’s love interest; Eponine, a streetwise friend of Marius’ who’s in unrequited love with him and sings “On My Own”, the most famous song of the show; and Enjolras, the leader of the revolutionary army. Unfortunately for us, this apparently means our dream cast has little chance of actually coming together.

Filming is set to begin in March with rehearsals starting in January and February for the main cast. Jackman spoke to Bamigboye about the music aspect of mounting a big screen musical: “There’s the option of recording live or lip-synching and I’ve been down the lip-synching route with the video of ‘Oklahoma!’” Jackman says.

“I think singing live might work better with this, but Tom won’t make a decision just yet.”

Possible “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” viral site launched with new b-roll and set photos

September 6, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in General News, Videos 1 Comment

While checking the referral stats here on U&C, I ran across a curious site called Mouth-Taped-Shut.com, which at first glimpse seemed like a Tumblr fan-run website for the upcoming David Fincher adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (our referral: a reblog of our article on “Dragon Tattoo” star Rooney Mara’s possible collaboration with Terrance Malick).

Our first clue that this was not just an ordinary collection of info on the movie from around the web: this never-before-seen photo of Moa Garpendal and Mathilda von Essen, who play practically identical cousins Harriet and Anita Vanger in flashback scenes. But what pushed it over the edge was the following video, shot in crystal clear clarity (and at quite close range) of Fincher watching Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist on a monitor and after calling cut, asks the actor to “lift the left side of the bible a teeny bit!” Gotta love Fincher!

Color us intrigued! What do you think?

“The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Hunger Games” sequels get release dates

August 8, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in General News 2 Comments

No, you haven’t missed “The Amazing Spider-Man” or “The Hunger Games” in theaters already. Despite the fact that both movies do not open until 2012, their parent studios – Sony and Lionsgate, respectively – are apparently so confident in their new franchises that both movies are already getting sequels.

“The Hunger Games”, opening on March 23, 2012, tells the story of 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in post-apocalyptic America and who volunteers herself for the Hunger Games, a nationally televised battle to the death featuring 24 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18. Will Katniss emerge victorious? Well… she is the main character in a trilogy of books, after all. The first sequel, “Catching Fire”, has been set for release on November 23, 2013. Lawrence and most of her co-stars are set to return, but Gary Ross, currently directing them in “Games” in North Carolina, has not been finalized.

Andrew Garfield will swing into action in origin tale “The Amazing Spider-Man” on July 3, 2012 and then continue the saga of Peter Parker in the sequel, now set for release on May 4, 2014. Director Marc Webb has not been confirmed to return, and while co-star Emma Stone, who plays Peter’s first love Gwen Stacey, is surely contractually obligated to return for sequels, her appearances may hinge on how closely the films follows comics lore. Dare we say it? Let the hunt for Mary Jane Watson begin!

TIFF announces lineup; gives us first looks at “Hick”, “Ten Year” “Albert Nobbs” and more

July 26, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in General News, Images, Lists 1 Comment

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Awards Season 2012! As the summer blockbuster season begins to draw to a close, a different breed of films are getting ready to roll out across the fall festival circuit. Today Canada kicks off the race for Oscar by revealing its selections for the Toronto International Film Festival, where many an award winner has bowed, including last year’s Best Picture winner, “The King’s Speech.”

This year, Toronto will play host to world premieres of early awards favorites and star studded ensembles alike as Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill starrer “Moneyball”, Jonathan Levine’s cancer dramedy “50/50″ starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen, star studded ensemble comedy “Butter” with Olivia Wilde, Ashley Greene and Hugh Jackman and Alexander Payne’s “The Descendents” starring George Clooney.

North American premieres – which seemingly indicates the following films might make their worldwide premiere at Italy’s Venice Film Festival a month earlier – include David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method” with Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightley, Clooney directed/Ryan Gosling starred “The Ides of March” and “W.E.” starring Abbie Cornish and directed by Madonna.

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Screen Daily names Douglas Booth, Alexandra Roach and more UK Stars of Tomorrow

July 11, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Features, General News, Lists 5 Comments

William and Kate have met and mingled with BAFTA’s inaugural class of British actors to watch for, but there’s plenty more talent where they came from. Screen Daily released recently their annual list of UK Stars of Tomorrow, names less known than the ones BAFTA chose, but who have shown incredible promise for a bright future in acting both in the UK and internationally. And Screen Daily’s got a good track record, having discovered in recent years the likes of Carey Mulligan, Dominic Cooper, Rebecca Hall and Aaron Johnson.

“As usual, our UK Stars Of Tomorrow comprise a dazzling, diverse group of talented young actors and filmmakers who will go on to do great things,” said Mike Goodridge, editor of Screen International. “As our Stars from years past have proved, golden futures here and in Hollywood await those who make it. In the year of The King’s Speech, when British cinema is at a high premium, we are excited to present the next generation of faces and names who will represent the nation on the world’s cinema screens.”

So who will be following in the footsteps of Stars of Tomorrow from years past like Gemma Arterton, James McAvoy, Andrew Garfield and Emily Blunt?

Chris Hemsworth to return as “Thor” in July 2013 without director Kenneth Branagh

June 30, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting, General News Leave a comment

In a bit of expected news, Marvel has officially greenlit a sequel to “Thor”, the May superhero release that garnered over $400 million for Disney/Marvel worldwide. Deadline reports Chris Hemsworth will return to wield the hammer in the titular role of the Norse God turned Avenger, but director Kenneth Branagh is out. Branagh will most likely stay on in a producing capacity but the job of director is now available and sure to be hotly contested.

An official release date has already been set for July 26, 2013, opening three months after the May 6, 2013 release of “Iron Man 3″, which will see Robert Downey Jr return as Thor’s cocky, snarky teammate. Downey and Hemsworth are currently in New Mexico filming Joss Whedon’s all-star team up “The Avengers”, which is set for a May 12, 2012 release. Further setting up for that highly anticipated event is Chris Evans headlining “Captain America: The First Avenger”, releasing on July 22th. Presumably, if his solo film does well, he will get his own sequel too, and Marvel has not ruled out spinning off solo movies for Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk (though the tepid reception of the previous two attempts to bring The Hulk to the big screen should give them pause) and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, who first made a cameo in “Thor”.

In any case, Hemsworth appears to be well tied up for the foreseeable future, committed to filming the titular role in “Snow White and the Huntsman” for Universal after “The Avengers” and recently signing on for black ops thriller “Shadow Runner” for Sony Pictures.

“Twilight” author’s “The Host” starring Saoirse Ronan gets March 29, 2013 release date

June 27, 2011 | Posted by Linda Ge in General News Leave a comment

Fans of the “Twilight” saga won’t have to mourn too hard after “Breaking Dawn: Part 2″ wraps up the series in November 2012, as the big screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s next novel is following right on its heels. Open Road Films announced via press release today that Meyer’s alien actioner “The Host”, helmed by Andrew Niccol and starring young Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, will hit theaters on March 29, 2013.

Niccol has long been attached to the project, writing the screenplay, signing on, dropping out and signing back on as director, while Ronan’s attachment was announced in May. The story centers around a post-apocalyptic world in which aliens called Souls have body-snatched and are occupying the majority of the human population. Ronan plays Melanie Stryder, whose body is taken over by a Soul named Wanderer. However, Melanie’s strong will to survive have the two consciousnesses fighting for domination and eventually becoming allies as they set out to find Jared, the man Melanie loves, and their small colony of human resistance.

Shooting is scheduled for February 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico.

Los Angeles, CA, June 27, 2011 – Open Road Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to “The Host,” the big screen adaptation of Twilight series author Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novel. As previously announced, “The Host” will be directed by Andrew Niccol (“Gattaca”), who also wrote the screenplay, and will star Saoirse Ronan (“Hanna,” “The Lovely Bones,” “Atonement”). Open Road Films has set a March 29, 2013 release date (Easter weekend) for “The Host.”

“The Host” producers are Nick Wechsler, Chockstone Pictures’ Paula Mae Schwartz and Steve Schwartz, and Stephenie Meyer. Marc Butan, Jim Siebel, and Bill Johnson of Inferno Entertainment, which is handling international sales, are executive producers. Claudia Bluemhuber of Silver Reel, which is providing mezzanine financing, is also an executive producer. Roger Schwartz and Lizzy Bradford are co-producers.

Principal photography is scheduled to being in February 2012 in Louisiana and New Mexico, in anticipation of the wide release on March 29, 2013.

“The Host” is a riveting story about the survival of love and the human spirit in a time of war.

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