Random News of the Week (July 12 - July 20, 2008)

Darren Aronofsky (THE FOUNTAIN) is set to direct what was thought to be a remake of the classic ROBOCOP movie. But now we found out this week that it is actually a sequel. The plot involves the Robocop program being restarted 20 years after the events of the first Robocop movie. Hopefully, they will just ignore the 2 Robocop sequels and pick back up after the first film.

Work on a new TMNT film has the greenlight this week. It is expected for 2010 and will continue the story of the turtles in CG. There were some reports earlier this week that it would be live action (what a disaster) but have been retracted and now everyone is saying CG.

Michael Bay, who is producing the FRIDAY THE 13th remake, is claiming that the first 15 minutes of the new film will "rewrite the books." Right…

The SCHOOL OF ROCK sequel got the greenlight this week. Mike White (who wrote the first) has finished the script for the sequel. Jack Black will be back. It's going to be called SCHOOL OF ROCK 2: AMERICA ROCKS. The plot has Jack Black leading a group of students across the country on a field trip as they visit great sites in rock and roll history.

Want to know how TERMINATOR SALVATION is dealing with Arnold's terminator character? They've hired a look alike/sound alike to play him in the role. His name is Roland Kickinger and here's a pic:

IRON MAN 2 has a writer. Justin Theroux will pen the script. His latest script was the soon to be released comedy TROPIC THUNDER which also stars Robert Downey Jr.

DiCaprio is rumored to be in the runnings for a major role in Tarantino's INGLORIOUS BASTARDS alongside Brad Pitt. This one is on the fast track, FINALLY!

THE DARK KNIGHT officially broke the all-time opening weekend record today with $155.34 Million domestic. That beats the previous record held by SPIDER-MAN 3 at $151.1. And it is SUCH the superior film to SPIDER-MAN 3. THE DARK KNIGHT also scored the biggest opening night at over $18 million on Thursday night. I knew this one was one for the record books and it really does deserve all the accolades it is receiving.

I have to say publicly that I've been a big skeptic that WATCHMEN could ever be done as a film. Even with Zack Snyder in charge. But after seeing the trailer this week, I'm a believer. It won't be as good as the book but I hope this film does for comic book movies what WATCHMEN did for the comic book genre. Turns everything upside down and redefines it. From the trailer, I can believe this just might happen.