More Sex and the City movies? Believe it
Just as the Sex and the City movie is surging to the top of the box office charts — beating out week two of Indiana Jones — Michael Patrick King is cashing in on the success. DreamWorks has offered the writer/director/producer of Sex and the City a first-look deal for future film project. And one of those future films could be sequel to the new Sex and the City movie. This may seem unimaginable, but — come on — this is Hollywood. If this film does boffo box office, which seems likely based on a $26 million Friday, why wouldn’t Warner Bros. and New Line cash in with another episode from the lives of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte?
According to King, he wasn’t thinking of launching the ladies into a film series, especially since they had such a good run on HBO and are still doing well on cable. “I wrote that movie with a beginning, middle and end because I didn’t want to leave the audience unfulfilled. The actresses are great, and if the gods smile and people are still interested, why not?”
That must be music to the ears of Warner Brothers and New Line executives. By tonight, Sex and the City’s box office should be at $75 million in the U.S. alone. It’s well on the way to making back its cost and will be a legitimate hit.
Dreamworks wants the gods to smile on whatever King can cook up for them motion picture-wise. In this era where it’s getting harder and harder to appeal to female movie-goers, where romantic comedies have been getting Judd Apatow-ed so that the guy is the driving force in the story, not the gal, King may be just what women need.
Stacey Snider, CEO of Dreamworks thinks so. “King writes for audiences that are hungry for real characters and human stories.”
And if that doesn’t sound like women’s pictures to you, listen to King. “I want to write bigger stories about love and what it all means.”
Back to the Future Sequel Rumors Squashed
Not that anyone was expecting the answer to change, but Back to the Future co-writer and producer Bob Gale has again put sequel/remake rumors to rest.
“Let me answer one question before anyone asks it, which is, ‘Is there ever be a Back To The Future Part IV…No,” Gale told the crowd of the 5th Annual Celebration Exotic Car Festival. “We’ve all seen sometimes where they make one too many sequels and you say, ‘Maybe they shouldn’t have done that.’ I’m not going to name any names of movies, but you know what they are!”
As a huge fan of the Back to the Future franchise, I respect the stance everyone involved with the films are taking in terms of sequels. The series works remarkably well as a trilogy, and having a fourth film could only feel like a tacked on post it note. That said, I’m eager for a new generation to discover the Back to the Future films. I’ve noticed that less and less of the new generation has even heard of Back to the future, never-mind watched the trilogy. And with the closure of Back to the Future - The Ride at Universal Studios, I don’t expect that to change anytime soon.
It would be great if they could find a way to remake the movies for a new generation without it feeling like a sub par copy of the originals. But that’s probably not possible. Maybe a theatrical re-release might be another option. With digital cinema expanding in the numbers that it has been (primarily due to the popularity of 3D), I’m surprised that studios aren’t doing more big screen re-releases, as the costs would be minimal. Or perhaps they could give Back to the Future the post production 3D treatment that has been discussed for the Star Wars films. That might be the best way to reach the new generation.
source: BTTF.com
MGM Planning New RoboCop Movie
AICN pointed out a press release today from MGM that lists a new RoboCop movie alongside upcoming franchise films already in development like Quantum of Solace, The Thomas Crown Affair 2 (with RoboCop director Paul Verhoeven on board) and everyone’s favorite future films, The Pink Panther 2 and 3. Here’s the excerpt…
MGM is planning an exciting fall and winter release schedule. In partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM will bring new installments of two of its tentpole franchises — the new James Bond movie QUANTUM OF SOLACE and Steve Martin in PINK PANTHER 2. MGM will also release United Artists’ international thriller VALKYRIE, starring Tom Cruise on October 3. With the appointment of Parent, MGM will enter its new phase of evolution by focusing on its major movie franchises highlighted by JAMES BOND and PINK PANTHER sequels, THE HOBBIT, THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR 2, THE OUTER LIMITS, ROBOCOP, DEATH WISH and FAME, among others.
A redo of Fame was just announced, so besides The Outer Limits, these are all go’s at this point. Strange that we haven’t heard much as of late sans a few whispers here and there about a remake of RoboCop. It still seems like a safe bet that MGM would revamp and remake the first film, rather than pick up where 1993’s pretty bleh RoboCop 3 left off. In fact, this is a tent pole franchise and character that have almost dropped off the pop culture radar, with only a sweded trailer of the original 1987 classic bloodbath in Be Kind Rewind coming to mind.
I’m not against the idea of rebooting the character in films so long as MGM doesn’t “teenify” the still shocking violence, sick humor and sharp satire of the original. And hopefully Peter Weller, who played the pork of the future in the first two flicks, gets offered a role in the film as well.
Taylor Kitsch Cast as Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Signs Three Picture Deal
If you’re asking who Taylor Kitsch is and why he’s got dibbs on playing Gambit, one of the most anticipated and liked X-Men ever, check out the following YouTube interview to get a nice idea of his mannerisms and his voice. My knee-jerk reaction was disappointment, but he seems like he could be a good fit, no? For a relative unknown? Others will know Kitsch from his role as Tim Riggins on the TV show Friday Night Lights and the one guy out there will cry “he was in Renny Harlin’s The Covenant and he was totes awesome.”
According to SHH, Kitsch will make his first appearance as the ragin’ Cajun mutant in Gavin Hood’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the actor signed a three-picture deal, apparently to star as the character in future films. Known for his knack of channeling kinetic energy into playing cards that glow pink like Pop Rocks and are thrown at many a foe, Gambit also brandishes a bō staff like TMNT’s Donatello, has flamboyant style, and a shady attitude carried over from his years as a thief. Some comic fans passionately appeal that he’s a one-note D-bag who tries too hard to awe the guys and gals like David Blaine.
Yesterday, we laid out a smorgasbord of casting news for Wolverine, including news via AICN that Ryan Reynolds will play Deadpool in the film, as well as an expected appearance of lardy villain The Blob. It’s beginning to feel like Wolverine is throwing a block party and purposely didn’t tell his fellow X’ers. And we’re starting to see why Hugh Jackman is so happy-go-lucky about the project’s potential for mega-success.