Controversial Uncharted Casting, New Scott, PT Anderson, Lee, Waititi Projects, Cage Playing Cage, More
Warner Bros’ DC Comics adaptation Joker has broken all box office records for an R-Rated release, passing $1billion at the global box office to make it one of the most lucrative films in history. The film, directed and co-written by The Hangover director Todd Phillips and starring Gladiator, The Master and You Were Never Really Here actor Joaquin Phoenix, was made for a relatively small $65million.
Mark Wahlberg is in final talks to co-star with Tom Holland in Uncharted, Sony’s upcoming adaptation of their famed video game franchise. If the deal is completed, Wahlberg will play the mentor figure of Tom Holland’s lead protagonist Nathan Drake, Victory “Sully” Sullivan.
Variety – 13th Nov 2019
Nicolas Cage is in final talks to star as himself in a meta-drama titled The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent from screenwriter-director Tom Gormican (That Awkward Moment) and his writing partner Kevin Etten. The project will reportedly reference some of Cage’s biggest hits, including Face/Off, and will feature Cage as a version of himself desperate to land a role in the latest Quentin Tarantino movie while dealing with strains in his relationship to his teenage daughter. If the deal goes ahead, this film will mark the first studio project Cage has starred in since the 2nd Ghost Rider movie in 2011.
THR – 15th Nov 2019
Netflix are to make a sequel to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise in a one-time deal with IP owners Paramount that will see a 4th instalment head directly to the streaming service. Original star Eddie Murphy will return for the movie set to be directed by Belgian filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Gangsta – 2018) and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.
THR – 14th Nov 2019
One half of the Coen Brothers, Joel Coen, is set to adapt famous Shakespeare play “Macbeth”, and is reportedly looking to cast In Bruges and Harry Potter actor Brendan Gleeson as King Duncan. If a deal is made, Gleeson will join Denzel Washington, who is set to play the film’s titular character.
Collider – 12th Nov 2019
Jonah Hauer-King of ‘World on Fire’ fame has landed the role of Prince Eric in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. The British born actor joins Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay in the movie set to be directed by Chicago and Mary Poppins Returns director Rob Marshall,and lands the role following earlier reports that former One Direction member Harry Styles backed out of a proposed agreement.
Empire – 13th Nov 2019
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson this week revealed that the upcoming Shazam! universe DC Comics title Black Adam, in which he will star as the titular character, will be arriving in cinemas on 22nd Dec 2021.
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Details have emerged of the next directorial project for There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread director Paul Thomas Anderson, with The Hollywood Reporter reporting that the film will be set in a high school in the 1970s and centre around a successful child actor. The film, which will reportedly feature several narratives, is set to begin filming in 2020 with casting already underway for the yet-to-be-titled feature.
THR – 12th Nov 2019
BlackKklansman director Spike Lee will direct Legendary’s 1980s-set “hip-hop Romeo & Juliet” graphic novel adaptation Prince of Cats. The filmmaker will team with the original graphic novel’s writer and illustrator Ron Wimberly and screenwriter Selwyn Seyfu Hinds (‘The Twilight Zone’) to develop a screenplay.
THR – 13th Nov 2019
The Big Short and Vice director Adam McKay is setting up his latest movie, which is set to be a meteor disaster satire he described to Deadline as “dark satire in the school of Wag the Dog, Dr. Strangelove and Network” and will be about “two mid-level astronomers discover a meteorite will destroy earth in six months and must go on a media tour to warn mankind”.
Deadline – 8th Nov 2019
The Last Duel, a new film from director-producer Ridley Scott and screenwriters Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Nicole Holofcener, has been given a 25th Dec 2020 release date by Fox Searchlight and Disney, placing it in a peak awards season window. The film, which is set to star Damon, Affleck, Star Wars star Adam Driver and Jodie Comer, is a 14th century epic set in France.
Variety – 15th Nov 2019
Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit director Taika Waititi has completed the cast of his next project as newcomer Kaimana has been taken aboard to portray Jaiyah Saelua, the first nonbinary player to compete in a men’s FIFA World Cup qualifier. The film, titled Next Goal Wins and based upon the British documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, is an underdog story of the American Samoa football team trying to overcome their status of perennial losers. Michael Fassbender has already been cast as the team’s coach, while Elisabeth Moss is also set to co-star.
THR – 14th Nov 2019
Amazon Studios seem to be in the midst of a shake-up as their Head of Production and Operations John Lynch has left his position. Though details are currently sketchy as regards a reason why he has left the role, Lynch did reportedly tell employees on Friday that his tenure was over.
Variety – 15th Nov 2019
Amazon have signed a multi-year deal with Lionsgate to ensure the studio’s releases will be featured exclusively on Amazon Prime in the UK during the first streaming window. Recent titles Knives Out, Midway and Bombshell will be among the first releases to be included in the deal.
THR – 14th Nov 2019
And finally…
Czech filmmaker Vojtech Jasny, best known for winning the Cannes Best Director award in 1969 for his work on All My Good Countrymen, has passed away aged 93.
THR – 16th Nov 2019
