Who Will Be The Next Spider-Man: Patrick Fugit, Michael Angarano?
In the past few weeks we’ve heard mumblings that Sony had renewed their option to make Spider-Man movies, and internet rumors of preliminary plans to shoot Spider-Man 4 and Spider-Man 5, back-to-back.
Now comes word via LatinoReview that Patrick Fugit is the top name in the running to replace Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. Now of course, no contracts have been signed, and the films have not even been officially greenlit (at least from a public perspective), so in other words - nothing is final. You probably recognize Fugit from his breakout performance in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, or some of his indie work which has included Saved, Spun, and Wristcutters.
And if Fugit doesn’t work out, Michael Angarano is also said to be on the list of candidates. Angarano was most recently seen in Forbidden Kingdom, 
was in the superhero film Sky High, and even tried out for the now defunct Justice League movie. And while I’m not against the idea of going younger for the role, I just don’t see Angarano as Peter Parker.
I’m kinda surprised Shia LaBeouf’s name isn’t being mentioned. Some of you might also be wondering: if you’re going to go older, why not just go with Jake Gyllenhaal? Unfortunately Jake will be tied up for the foreseeable future with the big screen adaptation of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.
Jake Gyllenhaal Up For Lead in Prince of Persia: Sands of Time? Orlando Bloom is Not.
“Keep deleting my comments about laser cats Slashfilm. Keep deleting ‘em.”
Can I just say that I could not stomach the marketing for another movie, let alone a trilogy’s worth, where Orlando Bloom massages a meticulously groomed goatee while having a sword fight? Gracias. Thankfully, Latino Review reports via numerous anonymous sources that an offer has gone out to Jake Gyllenhaal for the lead in Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer’s summer 2009 golden egg Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. Their tip arrives as yesterday’s rumor that Bloom had signed a $40 million deal to star in the franchise was dismissed by Slashfilm’s brothers from another Film School Rejects.
The entire Bloom rumor seemed so out of whack that we held out reporting it, especially since it pegged Jerry Bruckheimer to direct instead of produce. Director Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) has been attached for quite a while, and it seems nothing has changed.
Gyllenhaal’s peers all have franchises in the can or on the way, and while he’s not the obvious choice for the adventure video game adaptation (who remems playing it on Turbo Duo?), he definitely adds legitimacy like Depp did for POTC. Latino Review goes on to parlay Hollywood jogging encounters with Mr. Gyllenhaal and points out that he currently has a bum ankle from basketball. Point being: Can Jake’s lil’ ankle heal in time?!?! Hahah. More on this as it develops…
New Production Art: Prince of Persia, Toy Story 3, American Dog, Wall-E, Enchanted and National Treasure 2
Thanks to the recent Disney Investor Relations release, we have new logo and production art for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Toy Story 3, Wall-E, and Ratatouille. Check it out below. As always, left click for a higher res version.
Based on the hit video game series, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time follows an adventurous prince who teams up with a rival princess to stop an angry ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that could destroy the world. Jerry Bruckheimer Films is producing, and Charlie Clausen stars as Prince.
.
.
.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets stars filming next week. The movie will hit theaters December 21st 2007.
Toy Story 3 is due out in 2009. Lee Unkrich (co-director of Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, and Finding Nemo) will step up to helm the third film in the series.
Chris Williams is now directing the 2008 release American Dog, after Lilo & Stitch helmer Chris Sanders left the project. The charmingly twisted story of a canine TV star who finds himself stranded in the most forsaken hundred miles of the Nevada with an oversize bunny and a testy cat. John Travolta, Thomas Haden Church, Woody Harrelson, and Bernie Mac will provide voices.
You can read an indepth synopsis for the first act of WALL-E at this link. Andrew Stanton’s (Finding Nemo) new film follows a lonely robot who cleans the toxic abandoned planet Earth. You can also see a new picture of WALL-E below.
.
Kevin Lima’s (Tarzan) half animated / live-action crossover Enchanted, hits theaters on November 21st 2007. In an animated fairy tale world, a young girl meets and falls in love with the handsome prince of her dreams. News of this romance upsets the prince’s mother, the evil queen, who uses her black magic to send the girl hurtling out of the animated world into the one place in the universe where there is no true love: modern day Manhattan. The now-real girl has to survive in New York City and find her way home again to her true love. Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon star.
.
Jake Gyllenhaal To Be a Prince of Persia?
Over the last few days there has been talk of Orlando Bloom apparently landing the lead role in The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. He had apparently been offered a whopping $40 million for three films and it made some sense as he work on the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, who is now working on the Persia movie. People spoke to their people, who spoke to their people, and Disney confirmed that the rumour was not true at all. Everyone then did a celebratory dance, knowing that Orlando Bloom had not got his mits on another cool franchise.
Then within hours of one rumour being debunked, another popped up. It came from LatinoReview who claim that Jake Gyllenhaal has been offered the role. They also comment on Gyllenhaal’s recent ankle injury which may affect filming expected to start in June, should he get the role.
If Jerry Bruckheimer and Co have indeed offered the role to Jake Gyllenhaal, then I would be happy with the casting. It is obvious that if you are going to start a brand new franchise you are going to make sure your lead is A) Well known, B) Liked and C) A-List. Hiring an unknown that actually looks the part is what the fans may want, but it is Disney who will be putting up the $150 million to make the thing.
I’d be happy with Gyllenhaal, what are your thoughts?
