Random News of the Week (October 6 - October 12, 2008)

Bill Murray talked a bit more about GHOSTBUSTERS III this week and mentioned why 2 was such a disaster. "We did a sequel, and it was sort of rather unsatisfying for me, because the first one to me was the goods," Murray said. "It was the real thing. And the sequel, you know, was ... it was a few years later. There was an idea pitched. And it was like, well, they got us all together in a room. We just laughed for a couple of hours. And then they said, 'What if we did another one? Here's an idea.'" Murray added, "So they had this idea, but it didn't turn out to be the idea when I arrived on the set. They'd written a whole different movie than the one [initially discussed]. And the special-effects guys got it and got their hands on it. And it was just not the same movie. There were a few great scenes in it, but it wasn't the same movie. So there's never been an interest in a third Ghostbusters because the second one was kind of disappointing ... for me, anyway."

ABC is going full force with its “V” remake of the popular lizard alien TV min-series. The new series will also open with a massive invasion of Earth. The script focuses on a Homeland Security Agent and her family dealing with the crisis.

Cronenberg’s (EASTERN PROMISES, THE FLY) next film will most likely be MATERESE CIRCLE which is an adaptation of the book by Robert Ludlum (the guy who wrote the Bourne series). In the 1979 book, two rival intelligence agents -- one American, one Soviet -- find themselves working together to ferret out and vanquish members of a mysterious group of criminals called the Matarese that has infiltrated the highest levels of the world's governments. Denzel Washington is attached as the American agent.

In HOBBIT news, Del Toro is immersing himself in World War I documentaries and books because 'The Hobbit' "is a book born out of Tolkien's generation's experience with World War I and the disappointment of being in that field and seeing all those values kind of collapse." He's also being very careful about the design of Smaug the Dragon - "The design, I'm pretty sure that will be the last design we will sign off on, and the first design we have attempted. It is certainly a matter of turning every stone before figuring out what he looks like, because what he looks like will tell you what he is." He freely admits that there will be different sensibilities involved in "The Hobbit" than in the 'Rings' trilogy and the 'Wargs' creatures in the novel, based on the demonic wolf in Nordic mythology, will be the "slender, archetypical wolf" rather than a hyena-shaped creature as previously described.

The official sequel to DRACULA called “THE UN-DEAD” is still on track to start shooting next year. It is the first film to be endorsed by the Bram Stoker family since 1930.

In regards to an AVATAR sequel, producers say, "If it does well, yes, absolutely, in terms of an arena a whole new world". About the budget, he says, “As always with Jim [Cameron] everything is misreported, everything is exaggerated, because he is larger than life and so everything surrounding him tends to be larger than life. While it's obviously an expensive movie, it's not an unprecedented expensive movie and it's not even the most expensive movie we've made at the company and certainly not close to the most expensive movie that's been made in the business recently."

Word came that if and when a GREEN LANTERN film is ready to go, the studio wants Ryan Gosling to play the character.

George Lucas is out pushing another INDIANA JONES 5. He is already working on story ideas for a 5th. Harrison Ford said, “It's crazy but great. George is in think mode right now...It's automatic, really, we did well with the last one and with that having done well and been a positive experience, it's not surprising that some people want to do it again.” Lucas knows how to bring in Box Office even if critics despise his latest works. INDIANA JONES 4 took in over $780 million.

Kevin Spacey is confirmed to come back in the next SUPERMAN film as Lex Luthor again. The new film doesn’t have the green light yet though. Supposedly, it is all contingent on the success of BATMAN 3 if and when that happens. Brandon Routh is still the pick for the title character. They are looking to 2011 for a reboot.

Because Gore Verbinski is working on the BIOSHOCK film, Disney is forced to move forward with a different director for PIRATES 4. They want Tim Burton.

M Night talked even more about an UNBREAKABLE II this week. "I want to write it right now, but I want to write it for the right reasons. I want a story to pop into my head that is organic and expressive of who I am. You know, these are all kind of journals of where I am emotionally, so it's kind of hard. I'm kind of trying to go back to the journal that existed in 1999 for me. But I know me: As soon as I give up on it is when the idea will come to me.”

A GET SMART sequel is on the fast track after the first made so much money.

And the WORST!!! News of the week. Travis Wright (EAGLE EYE) is working on a sequel to: wait for it… wait for it… BLADE RUNNER. He is already working on pre-visualization and a script. What an absolute JOKE!