DAVID DUNN

Well, isn’t this something else.

Details have emerged recently over DC’s big plans as far as an expanded universe. It looks like DC hasn’t been looking from Batman V.S. Superman: Dawn of Justice up until the Justice League movie: they’ve been looking well and beyond past that.

Multiple outlets have reported that DC has released not only it’s planned release schedule for it’s upcoming lineup of projects up until 2020: they’ve also revealed new cast members alongside anticipated release dates. The full schedule from now to 2020 is as follows:

• Batman V.S. Superman: Dawn of Justice
Directed by Zack Snyder. Starring Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck. Releases March 2016.

• Suicide Squad
Directd by David Ayer (End Of Watch, Fury). Releases August 2016.

• Wonder Woman
Starring Gal Gadot. Releases June 2017.

• Justice League: Part One
Directed by Zack Snyder. Starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Amy Adams. Releases November 2017.

• The Flash
Starring Ezra Miller. Releases March 2018.

• Aquaman 
Starring Jason Momoa. Releases July 2018.

• Shazam
Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Releases April 2019.

• Justice League: Part Two
Directed by Zack Snyder. Releases June 2019.

• Cyborg
Starring Ray Fisher. Releases April 2020.

• Green Lantern
Releases June 2020. Details TBA.

There’s a few interesting things to notice about this piece of news. First of all, Justice League is divided into two parts, which is an idea I’ve never heard about until just now. Wonder Woman is getting her own movie too, and it will be released before the Justice League rather than after, and they’re also rebooting Green Lantern. Excellent.

Few questions I know people will have that I will try to answer. First of all, who is the Suicide Squad, and how do they tie in to the DC universe? The Suicide Squad is a villain-turned-antihero team who handles black ops missions for the government in return for a deduction in their prison sentences. A few members who have been speculated to be a part of the team is Harkness, Blockbuster and Deadshot, many of which are Batman villains. Filmmaker David Ayer is directing, and he’s responsible for the 2012 action thriller End of Watch and 2014’s Fury. This is a definite project fit for the filmmaker.

Another question people might be wondering: who on Earth is Ezra Miller, the guy who is currently assumed to playing the Flash? Miller has been most known in a string of highly successful independent films, among which is the 2011 film We Need To Talk About Kevin starring Tilda Swinton and 2012’s The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, also starring Emma Watson and Logan Lerman. While he definitely has talent and a well-versed acting range, I can’t say I was expecting it, and I can’t explain what on Earth convinced DC saw in him to cast him in the role. Not that he’s a bad choice, but he’s so left field he kind of came out of nowhere (which might be a good thing, because The Flash kind of comes out of nowhere too).

Nevermind that though. Is it wise for DC to be pushing out a plan this fleshed out, this early? DC has announced plans on movies to be made before. Years ago, before Man of Steel was even released, they released an outline for the universe they wanted to make, including a Lobo movie to be released  before they hopped into the Justice League. Before that, they included plans of a Green Lantern trilogy before the movie was even released. Both plans expired shortly after both films were released. How do we know DC is going to follow through this time? Not only that, how do we know they’ll be able to keep up quality work for more than 9 films in six years? Aren’t they worried the public will get superhero fatigue at that point?

Questions, questions, questions, all to be answered in the next few years. For now, rejoice as we face an onslaught of superhero movies like we’ve never seen before. Or mourn.

– David Dunn

SOURCE: SlashFilm, Cinemablend

The Boston Marathon bombings was an American tragedy that struck everyone in 2013. And yet despite how recent it happened, Hollywood is already working on a movie, Variety reports.

According to the article by film reporter Justin Kroll, actor Casey Affleck is the first cast member to be officially attached to the project, and one of the film’s producers alongside writer John Ridley (12 Years A Slave), and producer Dorothy Aufiero (The Fighter). The screenplay was written by The Fighter scribes Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy, and is adapted from the book “Boston Strong” by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge.

“Affleck’s attachment should help in jump-starting the project as the producers get it ready to take out to studios in the next week,” Kroll writes. “Tamasy and Johnson were still undecided on whether to make it a movie or TV series when they optioned the rights to the book in July 2013. EOne Television came last April on to develop it as a miniseries, but those plans fell apart earlier this summer.”

I couldn’t care less about Affleck’s casting. He’s a fine young actor, collaborating with his older brother Ben on many projects, including Good Will Hunting and Gone Baby Gone, and also featured in the Steven Soderbergh Ocean’s heist trilogy. I don’t know what role they’re going to cast him in or if he is the lead or not. It doesn’t matter to me. He’s a good actor and he will handle well whatever he is given.

I’m more frustrated that a movie is even happening in the first place. Is there no respect for the dead? Movies based on real-life tragedies will do one of two things to the stories they are adapting: honor it, or exploit it. Movies like Schindler’s List, Glory, and United 93 honored and stayed true to the stories they were adapting, whereas movies like Pearl Harbor, W., and Remember Me used it as a selling point. That’s not to say that Boston Strong will be one or the other, but when the event occurred less than two years ago, I’m not instantly feeling like the filmmakers are giving it the space it deserves. I felt the same way toward Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, and that was a victory for the states rather than a tragedy.

What do you guys think? Should there be a movie based on the Boston Marathon bombings so soon, or should they give it room to breathe? Comment below, let me know.

-David Dunn

SOURCE: Variety, TIME

Joseph Gordon Levitt will be Edward Snowden.

Reports from Variety announced that the Don Jon actor, who recently starred in the less-than pleasurable Robert Rodriguez film Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, has recently been in talks to portray Edward Snowden in Oliver Stone’s upcoming biopic The Snowden Files, heavily based off of the book “Time Of The Octopus” by Snowden’s lawyer Anatoly Kucherena.

For those who are unaware of the story of Edward Snowden, Snowden is a former U.S. intelligence analyst who released more classified documents than any other whistleblower in the history of the U.S. Since declared a terrorist and an enemy of the United States, Snowden now currently resides in Russia, away from the U.S.’s jurisdiction.

I have nothing to say about this. Absolutely nothing. I know too little about Snowden’s story to be able to give an opinion on it, so I will abstain my comments for now until I either read the book or watch the movie.

I will say I am excited for this casting decision. And that is all.

What do you think? Do you think JGL is the perfect choice for Edward Snowden? Comment below, let me know.

-David Dunn

SOURCE: Variety, Empire

Part of me wanted to get really flashy with this new bit of exciting news, but I’m just going to drop this picture here and accurately describe what we are all feeling.

Coming in February 2016.

-David Dunn

SOURCE: Everywhere on the internet

Okay, this makes the King Kong prequel just a little bit better.

It looks like Avengers star Tom Hiddleston is scheduled to take the lead role for Skull Island, a prequel to the King Kong series taking place years before he met Ann Darrow. Not only that, but filmmaker Jordan Vogt-Roberts, most known for the indie project The Kings of Summer, has been announced as the director to helm the project. Little details have been given about the project, and we’re probably not going to get much more information until production begins in 2015.

I was never really keen on this project, because I got my King Kong movie in 2005 through Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. However, I am interested in this project, especially since it involves Loki himself and Vogt-Roberts, who is also slated to director the movie adaptation of Konami’s popular video game series Metal Gear Solid. It is also important to note that Max Borenstein, one of the screenwriter’s behind Gareth Edward’s 2014 remake of Godzilla, is scheduled to write the script. While I didn’t care much for the movie entirely, I don’t blame the writers for that, and for the most part, this looks like a solid team put together for Skull Island.

What do you guys think? I know you all like Hiddleston because he’s JUST PERFECT OMG. But what about the production overall? Are you excited for a King Kong prequel, or are you satisfied with Peter Jackson’s iteration?

Comment below and let me know.

-David Dunn

SOURCE: TotalFilm, ComingSoon.net

Shazam!

Sorry, I had to do that. Couldn’t resist.

Much speculation has been made in the past months over what DC Comics role Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was going to accept for the upcoming expanded film universe. First, it was speculated that he was going to portray Shazam, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, for the upcoming movie. Then, it was rumored that he was going to portray his arch-enemy Black Adam instead. Now, it has officially been confirmed: Johnson will be portraying Black Adam in the upcoming Shazam film set for release sometime in 2016.

“We Love Dwayne and have had nothing but success with him over the years,” said Toby Emmerich, President and COO of New Line Picures. “When I look at Dwayne both off screen and on screen, he is such a larger than life character and it just made perfect sense to me that we put him in a DC comic movie.”

I personally am very excited for this bit of news. This news has been circling around of months with fans wondering which character Johnson was set to portray. While I think he would have done well portraying the character of Shazam, I think Black Adam is a much better choice for him. It’s a darker, more brooding and menacing role Johnson isn’t normally used to playing, and perhaps it will help him break out of the family-friendly roles he’s been more or less trapped in for a few years now.

“Young Billy Batson finds himself gifted with the power of the wizard Shazam to fight against the forces of evil. With the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and speed of Mercury, he is the holder of the power of the hero Shazam.” – Description courtesy of iMDB

What do you guys think? Is Johnson right for the role, or would you have preferred him for the lead instead? Either way, sound off below to let me know what you think.

-David Dunn

SOURCE: Entertainment Weekly, Variety

The critically-acclaimed Disney animated film Frozen is getting a follow-up, but it won’t be in a feature-length film.

Details emerged Tuesday that Walt Disney is working on a short film titled Frozen Fever, which will be a continuation/spin-off to the Oscar-winning movie that won best animated feature and best original song. Sources announced through an ABC television special called “The Story of Frozen: Making an Animated Classic” that the film would reunite directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck with song writers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who will come up with new music material for the film exclusively.

Question is, what could it possibly be about? According sources, the short film takes place during Anna’s birthday, and things become much more of a ruckus once Elsa’s powers come into the play.

“Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but Elsa’s icy powers may put more than just the party at risk,” said an article on Cinemablend.

I’ll be honest, I don’t know if this is the right move for Disney or not. Frozen was one of the most highly revered films of the year, breaking box office records and winning audiences hearts worldwide. The film grossed over 1 billion dollars worldwide, the soundtrack reached number one on the Billboard 200, and it inspired an entire culture that sold out merchandise and costumes like it was Halloween for Disneyland. A growing franchise that big should not treat it’s follow-up with a short animated special like Toy Story or Cars does, or like Dreamworks does with about every single one of their properties.

Granted, Toy Story and Cars have reason to produce short animated specials because their franchise has grown with the production of at least one sequel. I may be playing the devil’s advocate here, but I think mainstream audiences are going to want more of Anna and Elsa than just 10 or 20 minutes of musical magic.

What do you guys think? Do you want more of the snow-covered sisters than a short film, or do you think Disney is smart by playing it safe for now? I’ll admit that I didn’t give Frozen the most popular review when it came out in theaters, but I do point out opportunities when I see them.

Either way, comment below and let me know. And don’t eat the yellow snow.

-David Dunn

SOURCES: Cinemablend, Empire

Trust me; these are the not the nice guys you want to mess with.

Casting has recently been announced for Shane Black’s 1970’s neo-noir thriller Nice Guys: Ryan Gosling is set to star in the film as private Holland March, a troubled, headstrong detective who clashed in with hired muscle Jackson Healy, scheduled to be portrayed by Crowe.

“Ever since we did ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, I’ve been eager to work with Shane again, and with this film we made it happen,” said producer Joel Silver in a statement by Variety. “It’s a terrific script written in Shane’s great cinematic voice. With Russell and Ryan on board, I know we’re in for another wild ride.”

Man, does Shane Black have a lot on his plate. I knew from reporting earlier this summer that Black was scheduled to write and direct the Predators sequel, but man, does he have a lot more to do than just that. He’s also slated to helm the adaptation for Doc Savage and The Destroyer by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir. No official dates have been set for these films, but keep in mind that he is currently scheduled to write and direct all four of these movies, starting with Nice Guys to be released sometime in 2016.

He has to give something up. He has to produce one of these and throw the director’s duty to someone else. There’s no way he can see all of this through. Even the most skilled directors have difficulty producing multiple projects at once, like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson did. Granted, they did release War Horse, The Adventures of Tintin, and The Hobbit series consecutively, but keep in mind they were working on production for all of those films cumulatively back, to back, to back.

I don’t care how talented Shane Black is as a writer and as a director. There’s no way he can pull of four films in a four year period. Even he would get exhausted.

What do you guys think? Are you thinking Black is loading himself on a little thick here? I’m fine with the casting choices, as both of them always deliver a good mix of solid work, but the acting doesn’t matter if the material isn’t handled well. And with how much Black has stocked on his shoulders, I’m a little concerned that he might crumble.

Comment below, let me know.

-David Dunn

SOURCE: Empire, Cinemablend

UPDATE 8/14: Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, revealed in a statement Thursday that besides his issues of anxiety and depression that he was also struggling with early stages of parkinson’s disease, of which he was not yet ready to share publicly. She claimed that his suicide was not influenced by drugs or alcohol, saying that “Robin’s sobriety was intact.”

8/13: It is now confirmed that the cause of Williams’ death was suicide, with the confirmed police report stating that it was death by asphyxiation due to hanging himself by his belt. Wounds on his wrists were also found, with a pocket knife being found close to his body. His body was discovered by his personal assistant Monday morning.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Actor and comedian Robin Williams was found dead in his home Monday morning by apparent suicide. He was 63.

“At approximately 11:55 a.m., Marin County Communications received a 911 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, California,” a Marin County Sheriff’s Department spokesman said to Daily Mail.

According to his publicist, Williams has been battling severe depression as of late.

“This is a tragic and sudden loss,” the representative said. “The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”

Susan Schneider, the actor’s wife, released the following statement to New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff.

“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one if its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings,” she said. “I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope that the focus will not be on Robin’s death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

Officials are currently investigating the circumstances of his death. Details soon to follow.

-David Dunn

SOURCE: New York Times, Daily Mail, Consumer News and Business Channel

UPDATE 7/1: The project has since been reported as a sequel, not a reboot, to the Predator movie franchise.

Now this is one ugly mother Hubbard.

News emerged today about the Arnold Schwarzeneggar horror-action classic Predator, a story about a group of assasins who travel into the forest and get a picked off one by one by a strange creature known as “The Predator”. Since the debut of the 1987 film, Predator has been adapted into many other spinoffs and sequels, including the Alien V.S. Predator franchise and the Robert Rodriguez-produced Predators.

Now, the sequels are officially no more: Predator is getting remade into a new film featuring a new cast and crew.

Details regarding the production of the film are still developing, as the announcement of the project was just released earlier today. Only two concrete names were announced so far regarding the film’s production: Fred Dekker, writer and director of the widely-panned Robocop 3 and Shane Black, writer-director most known for Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Iron Man 3. Both writers are set to pen the script while Black is slated to direct the remake.

Few things I want to say on this. First of all, I like Shane Black a lot. His films always have a way of having clever, witty dialogue and very human, relatable characters. Even if he wasn’t known for the films he directed, he still wrote many 1980’s-90’s classics, including Lethal Weapon and The Long Kiss Goodnight. Little known fact: he’s also starred in a small part and contributed to the screenplay for the original Predator movie. I’ll clue you in on his role: he doesn’t last very long.

From face value, this is very exciting news, especially regarding his recent $1 billion success with Iron Man 3. But let’s take a step back for a second. First of all, he’s co-writing the script with Dekker, whose best work was writing for the 2001 science-fiction television series “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Everything else he’s made has been either critically panned or mostly forgotten. Example: how many here have seen (or heard) about The Monster Squad or Night Of The Creeps?

Not to mention the other pressing issue of this being a remake and not a sequel to the third film in the series Predators. What influenced this decision? Technical problems aside, Predators was a solid sequel, a series continuation that was much more spiritually faithful to the 1987 film than its dreaded Predator 2 was.

Which leaves me one question: Why on Earth would they want to remake Predator? What purpose does that serve, when you have so much potential material to pull from after the cliffhanger ending you got from Predators?

It just doesn’t make any sense. I make it no secret at how much I hate remakes, especially with how much Hollywood pushes them out every year or so. I just have two basic rules with remakes: 1) Only remake it if the original fizzed flat, and 2) Don’t do them. Neither one ever happens with these remakes, and as each year presses on, I continue to become frustrated by seeing Hollywood remake classic after classic with no new spin or perspective to make it different from the original. They just do it to consume more money and that’s that. I mean, come on: how on earth are you going to be able to replace Arnold Schwarzeneggar?

For that reason alone, I’m not keen on the project. Not because of Shane Black and not because of Predators. Because its a remake (NOT a sequel), and it chose to be the bigger of two evils.

What do you guys think? Are you excited that the scaly, vicious Predator is returning to theaters, or are you wishing someone else would hop on board as the director? I know quite a few of you disliked Iron Man 3, so many of you might be even less enthusiastic about this movie than I am.

Either way, comment below and let me know. And avoid the alien’s crosshairs while you’re at it.

-David Dunn

Source: The Verge, ComingSoon.net