Category: News

Early forecasts had predicted Jurassic World, the fourth installment of the hit franchise, would do well, but no could have predicted the record breaking opening it received.

Jurassic World has not only dethroned Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 for the best opening weekend in history ($511M) but has also become the fastest film to surpass the $500 million mark (3 days).

No-one could have predicted the films phenomenal success but given the history of the franchise, it was always destined for greatness – it just needed the right elements.

One major factor in the film’s success, that cannot be ignored, is the raw star power of its leading man Chris Pratt – the actor is easily one of Hollywood’s biggest stars at the moment, capable of bringing in large returns for studios.

But the other contributing factor is the fresh new approach in the continuing story. Anyone who’s watched the previous films has always wondered what it would be like if the park actually opened – and Jurassic World gives us a glimpse at just that.

The dino-blockbuster is on course to easily break the billion dollar mark and could very well do it in record time, if it’s opening weekend is anything to go by. The current record belongs to another of this years box office phenomenons Fast and Furious 7, which hit the milestone in just 17 days.

The all female Ghostbusters remake is moving along nicely it appears, with stars Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy set to take on a new employee in the form of Avenger Chris Hemsworth.

The Aussie, who puts most of us men to shame with his looks, is set to join the new crew of Ghostbusters as their receptionist – originally portrayed by actress Annie Potts.

Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, who is directing the remake, tweeted a picture of Hemsworth along with the caption “Our receptionist” – something that will surely please all the female fans out there.

The future of the franchise has been a turbulent one over the years, with several scripts and variations of a sequel being stuck in pre-production – firstly due to original star Bill Murray’s refusal to commit to the project, then again after the sad passing of Ghostbusters co-creator Harold Ramis.

Though the plot for the upcoming reboot remains tight-lipped, the film, starring Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon is slated for release on July 22, 2016.

Uh oh! – It seems the recently released Tomorrowland is set to follow in the dreaded footsteps of The Lone Ranger and John Carter in becoming yet another massive flop for Disney.

Though it’s run at the box office is yet to conclude, reports are flooding in that the film is set to lose Disney between $120 million and $150 million in revenue – a colossal amount of money considering the film has only taken $80 million, despite costing the studio giant almost $200 million to produce with a further $150 million to market.

It’s certainly only a small drop in the ocean for Disney, who own the likes of Marvel, LucasFilm and Pixar – still it’s publicity the studio could surely do without, and one that could have disastrous repercussions for star George Clooney, who just returned to the blockbuster market after the horrific flop of Batman & Robin back in 1997.

As with any big-budget blockbuster, there is always going to be a hint of risk involved, especially unknown story concepts – for example, this years other flops Seventh Son and Jupitor Ascendingboth lost considerable amounts of money, despite boasting A-list casts and world-class special effects.

George Clooney will next be seen in Money Monster, alongside Julia Roberts, and Hail, Caesar!starring Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson and Ralph Fiennes.

News has recently come in regarding a re-awakening of the horror franchise Jeepers Creepers, almost 13 years after the second installment just managed to break even at the box office.

Legendary ‘Godfather’ of film, Francis Ford Coppola, recently confirmed a third project is in the early stages of pre-production, with original writer/director Victor Salva attached to complete his trilogy, when production begins early next year in Vancouver.

Jeepers Creepers first made it’s debut on the horror scene back in 2001, with Dodgeball star Justin Long starring in the low-budget horror that centred around an ancient demonic monster that stalked unsuspecting drivers in a remote part of the US. Every 23rd spring the creature known as ‘The Creeper’ would hunt for body parts to replenish its own body, but could only hunt to 23 days.

As one of the more inventive horror premises, the first installment is a seen by many as a horror classic, though sadly the sequel did little to build upon this great story, bombing with critics and audiences when released back in 2003.

Hopefully the third installment in the franchise, due out potentially in 2017, can breath some new life into a story that’s barely scratched the surface.

He’s building himself somewhat of a reputation when it comes to choosing his film roles – if it’s bizarrely intriguing, Jake Gyllenhaal is interested in making it come to life.

Nightcrawler, Southpaw, Everest… all films that have pushed this soon-to-be Academy Award-winning actor to his limits, and in the process spawned some truly inspirational and unforgettable performances that make him one of the most versatile and in-demand actors on the planet.

Now it seems Hollywood’s finest are lining up for a part in his next project, Nocturnal Animals (2016), a time-hoping adaptation of Tony Wright’s best-selling novel ‘Tony and Susan’.

Tom Ford, who is writing and directing the drama, is currently in talks with Isla Fischer to join the already stellar-cast including Arnie Hammer, Amy Adams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michael Shannon and Kim Basinger.

The premise of the film follows a “story inside a story,” in which the first part follows a woman named Susan who receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband, a man whom she left 20 years earlier, asking for her opinion. The second element follows the actual manuscript, called “Nocturnal Animals,” which revolves around a man whose family vacation turns violent and deadly. It also continues to follow the story of Susan, who finds herself recalling her first marriage and confronting some dark truths about herself.

Nocturnal Animals is slated for release in 2016.

There’s been a great deal of talk over recent weeks regarding the future of the world’s most famous secret agent after current James Bond star Daniel Craig hinted at an exit from the 007 role – and it seems the ever-growing list of suitors for the role has just got even bigger.

The Wolverine star Hugh Jackman has recently thrown his name in the ring alongside fellow actors including Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill, Idris Elba and fellow mutant alumni Michael Fassbender, who himself seems to be touted as an outside favourite for the role, should Daniel Craig end his tenure after the release of Spectre.

Many might see Jackman’s chances of taking over one of Britain’s most iconic characters as minuscule – but then they probably didn’t know of the actors previous history with the role. Back before Daniel Craig became the first fair-haired actor to portray the super-spy, Hugh Jackman was offered the part, but subsequently had to turn it down due to a scheduling conflict with X-Men 2, a role that would go on to be just as iconic.

“At the time, I was just about to do X-Men 2, and I was like, ‘Ah, I don’t think it’s the right time,’ “

10 years on though and Jackman seems ready to tackle the world of espionage, should he be given the chance again. Though it may prove to be too late for the Aussie actor as executives over at MGM and Eon Production, the company behind the 007 film franchise, seem to be favouring The Dark Knight Rises star Tom Hardy, whilst recent social media trends seem to show public support for Luther star Idris Elba.

However, with Daniel Craig still on the fence regarding his Bond career, it’s still anyone’s game. Check out some of the names being considered and have your say on who you think should be the next James Bond.

 

It’s a major story-arch in the X-Men universe, the relationship between Professor X and Wolverine, so it’s good to know that we’ll finally be able to see this explored in more detail in the upcoming Wolverine 3 – especially as this marks Hugh Jackman’s last portrayal of the iconic character.

Reports suggest that the second sequel in the stand-alone saga will focus on the ‘Old Man Logan’ storyline that featured prominently in the comics. For those of you who are unsure what the premise entails, the Old Man Logan storyline unfolds in a dystopian future taken over by super-villains. Logan himself has long since retired the Wolverine persona in favor of a simpler life with his wife and kids. But he’s desperate for money, so when a blind Hawkeye approaches him for help delivering a package, Logan reluctantly agrees.

Considering Professor X only has a minuet part in the original storyline, news that Patrick Stewart will feature as a prominent main character in the film adaptation leads me to believe that we’re likely going to see a certain re-imagining of the story, that will hopefully reveal more history behind the Wolverine/Professor X relationship.

Another major rewrite of the storyline will center around the character of Hawkeye – the expert bowman, currently played by the Oscar-nominated Jeremy Renner, who’s known as a core member of the Avengers. It’s not currently known if the character will make an appearance in the film, due solely in part to the bitter rivalry between studio giants Marvel (who own the character of Hawkeye) and Twentieth Century Fox (who own the rights to X-Men) – but it’s likely that Patrick Stewart’s involvement is a substitute for Hawkeye’s character.

Wolverine 3 is slated for release on March 3, 2017 – but if that’s too long to wait, you can catch both Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in X-Men: Apocalypse next year.

Tom Cruise has recently given a glimmer of hope for all those Top Gun fans around the world by announcing the sequel is still currently going ahead but so long as certain requirements are met first.

Cruise, who can currently be seen on the big screen in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), spoke to several sources during the film’s London premiere about reprising his famous 1980s character Maverick, for a modern-day sequel.

“It would be fun. I would like to get back into those jets…”

Despite his excitement at stepping into the characters shoes again, Cruise was very adamant about how the film would be shot, especially regarding the use of CGI, a go-to medium for most Hollywood blockbusters these days.

“…it would have to be practical. I don’t want any CGI jets. I want to shoot it like how we shot the first one.”

Considering the actors incredible track record of performing real-life stunts in his movies instead of CGI or body doubles, many of which can be seen in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, it’s understandable that Cruise would want the sequel to be as authentic as possible, especially considering the original used real Jets and action-sequences.

A sequel to the 1986 ‘manflick’, which also starred Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards and Kelly McGillis, has been in the works for quite some time, with original director Tony Scott scheduled to meet with Cruise back in August 2012, though he sadly passed away the day before the meeting was due to take place.

However, Cruise confirmed the project is still scheduled to go ahead, with X-Men: First Class (2011) and Thor (2011) writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz attached to pen the script, which some sources say will be based around the modern-day concept of drone warfare and the untimly demise of the Top Gun academy – the old school dogfighting school that brings together the best fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy.

He’s not had an easy ride over the last couple of years for obvious reasons – but regardless of what you may think of his views, he’s one hell of an actor and director, and Hollywood’s been missing his talent both in front and behind the camera over the last decade.

Now though it seems he’s ready to take up the directors helm again for his next project, World War 2 drama Hacksaw Ridge – the hard-hitting film is based on the story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector (someone who refuses to perform military service and bear arms) who was the first to receive the posthumous Medal of Honour for his services as a medic during the WWII.

The main bulk of the project will focus on the battle of Okinawa in 1945, a point in the war where the US was fiercely engaged in all out war with the Japanese in the Pacific – and one where Doss single-handily saved the lives of 75 injured men while under constant bombardment of enemy fire.

Andrew Garfield, who recently stepped down as web-slinging hero Spider-Man, will play the role of Doss, with Sam Worthington (Avatar) and Vince Vaughn (True Detective) also attached to star in the biopic.

Mel Gibson, who famously won two Academy Awards for his timeless classic Braveheart (1998), is no stranger to the war genre and will certainly bring this incredible heroes story to life.

Hacksaw Ridge is slated for release sometime in 2017.

Let’s face it, Space Jam was a fundamental movie in our childhood development – well at least if you grew up in the 90’s that is.

A sequel to the Warner Bros. classic has been floating around the movie studio for the best part for two decades, ever since Michael Jordan teamed up with Bugs Bunny and now it appears the project is moving ever closer to actual reality.

News broke a couple of weeks ago regarding current NBA superstar Lebron James signing a yet undisclosed contract with Warner Bros. that is likely in connection with the studios ‘indevelopment’ sequel – though neither parties have confirmed the details of the agreement.

James, who recently signed for his hometown team in Cleveland, is seen by many as the Michael Jordan of his era having won mostly every accolade in Basketball, including numerous MVP’s and even an Olympic gold medal for the USA – so perhaps he’s the suitable choice for a sequel, especially considering James recently made his screen debut in the current box office hit Trainwreck (2015). Many have been more than vocal since rumours first broke of a follow up to Space Jam in regards to whether the studio should even be entertaining the idea of a sequel.

Space Jam 2 is currently in listed as in development, though no release date has been set and the project is yet to confirm its director and leading star – so who knows, Coby Bryant may still be in with a chance.

Looks like Chris Pratt can rest assured that no matter what happens in his career, studios will always be willing to pay him the big bucks now that his mega-blockbuster Jurassic World is officially the third highest grossing film of all time.

The fourth instalment in the ‘monster’ franchise overtook Marvel’s 2012 all-star superhero flick Avengers: Assemble with $1.522 billion in box office revenue, just overshadowing Avengers impressive hall of $1.520 billion.

This will certainly be a massive boost for Universal as they try to regain some share of the market from the likes of Marvel and Warner Bros. who’ve been swamping the market with superhero franchises – though with a sequel penned for 2018, the Orlando based studio may need to rediscover some other old classics of its to compete on a regular basis.

Many will ask exactly how long Jurassic World will be able to maintain its new global position – with Star Wars: Episode VII due for release this Christmas and certain to break records, the dino-heroes may very well see their position slip from the top three, which is currently occupied by Mr James Cameron and his seemingly unbeatable hits Avatar (1st) and Titanic (2nd) which both broke the $2 billion dollar mark.

None-the-less, Universal can certainly hold their heads high and enjoy the moment that is richly deserved – check out the review of Jurassic World here »

Below is the complete top 10 list, provided by boxofficemojo.com, of all time box office takings, with 2015 all ready proving to be a record breaking year in box office history:

1. Avatar (2009) – $2.788 Billion
2. Titanic (1997) – $2.186 Billion
3. Jurassic World (2015) – $1.524 Billion
4. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) – $1.519 Billion
5. Furious 7 (2015) – $1.511 Billion
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – $1.393 Billion
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011) – $1.341 Billion
8. Frozen (2013) – $1.274 Billion
9. Iron Man 3 (2013) – $1.215 Billion
10. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) – $1.123 Billion

Having recently showcased at this year’s Comic Con is San Diego, director Bryan Singer has released the first images from the set of X-Men: Apocalypse, giving us our first glimpse of Oscar Isaac’s Apocalypse character.

The exclusive images include the likes of Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence, who’s future as fan-favourite Mystique is still unknown, having previously hinted about leaving the franchise after the third installment.

The plot of the film is still under lock and key, with very little being given away at the sold-out Q&A event a couple of weeks ago – but we do know that it will feature previous trilogy characters in their youth, including the likes of Storm, Jean Grey and Cyclops who will be portrayed by a new generation of X-Men alumni including Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner.

Check out the images below and be sure to catch X-Men: Apocalypse when it hits cinemas worldwide from 19 May, 2016.