Movie News: VANGUARD signs Kung Fu Panda co-director John Stevenson to long-term deal

http://www.metallife.com/news/display_news.php?id=1947

John Cusack cast as Edgar Allen Poe in "The Raven"

John Cusack posted to Twitter today:

"officiali- will play edgar allen poe in fall-a-film called the raven, send any poe- gold - my way as i begin this journey into the abyss."

The film, "The Raven" is directed by James McTeigue and tells a fictional tale of the last five days of Poe's life as he joins a detective in the hunt for his fiance's kidnapper. The serial killer is committing murders inspired by Poe's work.

The movie begins filming on Oct 25 in Budapest.

This sounds like it could be a good film, especially if they do the serial killer properly. As long as the serial killer is "worthy" of mimicking Poe's stories, the movie should be good.

Human Centipede causes controversy

Tim Masters of the BBC reported that the film "The Human Centipede" is causing quite a stir. The movie is about a twisted doctor that captures people and performs hideous experiments on them. In this movie, he creates a triple conjoined "centipede" out of three unlucky victims. The film plays on the horrors carried out in Nazi Germany during WWII and uses that emotion to its advantage to upset the viewer.

The imagery is enough to make some people ill, while others have found it quite funny. Tim Maters reported that the Japanese fans laughed during the screening. Perhaps that is because they are used to monster movies.

Tim Masters went on with an interview Tom Six, the writer and director of "The Human Centipede". Read the interview here.

Darkchylde movie test footage available

Darkchylde is Randy Queen's tale of a good hearted teen cursed to become the creatures from her many recurring nightmares. Creatures that destroy all she holds dear. Richard Taylor is Executive Producer as well as special effects producer and Weta Workshop has participated in a test shoot for Darkchylde.



Check out the trailer on Newsarama

Jack Sparrow checks in with Comic Con crowd

During the Walt Disney Studios Panel, a surprise greeting from Jack Sparrow from the set of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, was shown.

Here are the details of the in production movie:

U.S. Release Date: May 20, 2011

Cast:

Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Sam Claflin

Director:

Rob Marshall

Producer:

Jerry Bruckheimer

Executive Producers:

Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Barry Waldman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, John DeLuca

Writers:

Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, �Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides� captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise�this time in Disney Digital 3D�. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed tale of truth, betrayal, youth and demise. When Jack crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz), he�s not sure if it�s love�or if she�s a ruthless con artist who�s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne�s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn�t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa, and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack�s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid. In theaters Memorial Day weekend, 2011.

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) forces him aboard the Queen Anne�s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

Guillermo del Toro to make HAUNTED MANSION movie

SAN DIEGO, Calif. � July 22, 2010 � Guillermo del Toro surprised the 6,500 fans gathered today at Comic-Con with the announcement that he is currently developing a new film for The Walt Disney Studios based on the classic Disney theme park attraction, The Haunted Mansion.

�Dark imagery is an integral part of the Walt Disney legacy. After all, Disney himself was the father of some really chilling moments and characters - think Chernabog from Fantasia or Maleficent as the Dragon or the Evil Queen in Snow White,� said del Toro. �I couldn't be more excited to be a part of my own adaptation of the original theme park attraction Walt envisioned and that remains- for me- the most desirable piece of real estate in the whole world!"

�Millions of people from around the world visit The Haunted Mansion each year, but no one has ever had a tour guide like Guillermo del Toro,� said Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. �Guillermo is one of the most gifted and innovative filmmakers working today and he is going to take audiences on a visually-thrilling journey like they�ve never experienced before.�



Since August 1969, foolish mortals have dared to trespass on the macabre grounds of Disney�s Haunted Mansion. A hallowed landmark in Disneyland�s New Orleans square, it�s the dwelling place of 999 happy haunts dying to meet new visitors each day. The plantation-style of the mansion�s facade is a sweet deception for visitors. Inside, ghostly doom buggies line the hallways. Since its construction, the mysteries of the mansion have transcended the attraction with stories surfacing about horrifying encounters with the supernatural. Versions of the daunting edifice have been built at other Disney theme parks in Orlando, Tokyo and Paris.



Editor's Note: Perhaps, this time, we will get a proper Haunted Mansion since it sounds like Mr del Toro will not be making this into a silly comedy.

INCEPTION opens July 16

Using technology that allows people to enter the dreams of others to "steal" or "plant" information, these espionage experts/thieves can literally modify reality. However, information, even in a dream, is very powerful, sometimes too powerful.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page.

"Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming."
- Written by Warner Bros. Pictures

http://inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com/

Jonah Hex - coming to theaters June 18

� 2010 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) is a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort, a stoic, battle-hardened gunslinger who can track down anyone...and anything. Having survived death, Jonah's violent history is steeped in myth and legend, and has left him with one foot in the natural world and one on the "other side." A man fated to wander alone, his sole human connection is with Lilah (Megan Fox), whose life in a brothel has left her with scars of her own.

Jonah's past is about to catch up with him when the U.S. military makes him an offer he can't refuse: in exchange for freedom from the warrants on his head, he must track down and stop the sinister terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich), the man who killed Hex's family and mutilated his face with a branding iron. Turnbull, who is gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell, is also Jonah's oldest enemy and will stop at nothing until Jonah is dead.

Based on the legendary character from the comic book series from DC Comics, "Jonah Hex" is an epic action adventure about one man's personal quest for redemption against the canvas of the battle between good and evil.

The film stars Academy Award� nominee Josh Brolin ("Milk," "No Country For Old Men"), two-time Academy Award� nominee John Malkovich ("In the Line of Fire," "Places in the Heart"), Megan Fox ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"), Michael Fassbender ("Inglourious Basterds"), Will Arnett ("Blades of Glory") and Academy Award� nominee Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road.").

Warner Bros. Pictures presents in association with Legendary Pictures a Mad Chance/Weed Road Production, "Jonah Hex." Jimmy Hayward directed the film, marking his live-action directorial debut. The screenplay is by Neveldine & Taylor from a story by William Farmer and Neveldine & Taylor, based on comic books written by John Albano, illustrated by Tony DeZuniga and published by DC Comics. The film is produced by Academy Award� winner Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind") and Andrew Lazar ("Get Smart"). Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, William Fay, Matt LeBlanc, John Goldstone and Ravi Mehta served as executive producers, with Richard Middleton, Miri Yoon and Margot Lulick co-producing.

Shutter Island - In Theaters Now

Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this thriller is about 2 US Marshalls investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Sorority Row - out 09/11/09

A group of sorority sisters try to cover up the death of their house-sister after a prank gone wrong, only to be stalked by a serial killer.

Whiteout - coming 09/11/09

Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Shawn Doyle, Nicolas Wright
Director: Dominic Sena
Writer: Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber
Studio: Warner Brothers

Plot:
U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko tracks a killer in Antarctica, as the sun is about to set for six months.

Legion - coming Jan 22, 2010

In the supernatural action thriller Legion, an out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in Mankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity's only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner and the Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany). Legion also stars Dennis Quaid, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Kate Walsh, Adrianne Palicki, Charles S. Dutton and Willa Holland and is directed by Scott Stewart.