Random News of the Week (June 23 - June 29, 2008)

Couple of interesting updates came out on WATCHMEN from Zack Snyder this week. He claims he’s fighting hard to keep as much as possible in the final film. The studio is apparently concerned with some of the edgier elements of the story. A 2-3 minute clip of footage will be shown at Comic-Con this year. The film is still on track for its March release date with a running time of 150 to 180 minutes but the DVD (including the Black Freighter storyline) is over 210 minutes.

TRANSFORMERS 2 spoilers are out this week. No way of knowing if they are true or the supposed mis-information that Michael Bay said he would be putting it out. Supposedly, Sam (Shia’s character) finds a piece of the all-spark that has not yet been destroyed. When he touches it, he starts acting weird. While in a science class at school, he picks up his textbook and reads it in 5 seconds. Then stands up in class and lectures the professor on why Einstein was wrong and shows some complex physics on the chalk board.

The official title for the GI JOE movie is out and it looks like they are hoping for many sequels. Its been confirmed as GI JOE: RISE OF COBRA.

Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.I.Am says that his role in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is that of a black Texan named John Wraith who has the ability to teleport.

Mike White (SCHOOL OF ROCK, THEM, NACHO LIBRE) confirmed that he finished the script for SCHOOL OF ROCK 2.

Since the SAG strike is looking like a real possibility, that would mean there is a chance that no actor’s will show up to this year’s Comic-Con. That makes me feel better if it happens because I have to miss this year.

The film adaptation of the video game AMERICAN MCGEE’S ALICE is still in the works but suffered somewhat of a setback. The script is still not ready for primetime and the studio is now shopping the project to other interested studios. Sarah Michelle Gellar is no longer attached as the main character.

SPIDERMAN 4 has set a release date for May 2011. This, despite the fact that James Vanderbilt has not finished the script yet. This will mean that the film will be up against the HARRY POTTER DEATHLY HALLOWS II and CAPTAIN AMERICA.

Roman Polanski’s next film will be THE GHOST. It stars Pierce Brosnan, Tilda Swinton, and Nick Cage. The story revolves around an ex-Britsh Prime Minister who hires a writer to write his memoirs after the first writer dies of mysterious circumstances. As the new writer begins to dig deeper, he realizes the first writer may have been murdered for uncovering too much scandal.

The next BOURNE movie is eyeing a summer 2010 release. The story will not relate to the 4th Bourne book THE BOURNE LEGACY nor will it follow its storyline.

Director Louis Leterrier (INCREDIBLE HULK) has been signed to direct the remake of THE CLASH OF THE TITANS.

LucasArts is experiencing massive layoffs which is jeopardizing even the newest game THE FORCE UNLEASHED. Now it is looking more and more real that the company will cut all internal development and outsource this part of their business going forward.

Early details are out on Roland Emerich’s $200 millon budget, mega end of the world film 2012. The cause of the Earth’s apocalypse seems to be severe storms on the surface of the sun have a grave effect on the planet. Disasters seen in the film include earthquakes, tsunamis, dust clouds and Yellowstone's supervolcano erupting. According to one reviewer of the script: “This is an almost completely by-the-numbers disaster movie, featuring all the requisite dubious science, silly and implausible set-pieces, narrative clichés, broad, one-dimensional characters, and heavy handed attempts at emotion and morals that one would expect from the genre...there is really no aspect of this film that we haven't already seen in dozens of other action, sci-fi, and disaster blockbusters. It is so steeped in predictability, ridiculousness, and cliché that it borders on self-parody."

Blizzard Entertainment FINALLY confirmed DIABLO III this week. The game will take place 2 decades after DIABLO II. Two new character classes will be introduced including the barbarian and the witchdoctor. Of course, it will be done “when it’s done”.

In DARK KNIGHT news, according to director Chris Nolan, there is very little overall CG in this film. It shot more like a crime drama and practical effects were used wherever possible.

Robert Rodriguez is looking to do a remake of RED SONJA with Rose McGowan as Sonja.