Production Starts On CLASH OF THE TITANS 2!

Here we go! This time around, lessons have been learned. Warner Bros. have just started shooting CLASH OF THE TITANS 2 with returning stars Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson and Danny Huston. Additionally, the sequel will bring on Toby Kebbell, Bill Nighy, Rosemund Pike and Edgar Ramirez.

Where is Gemma Arterton you say? Good question. She is not in the release from Warner's as a cast member.

The movie will be a 3D conversion again, but this time all eyes are on the ball. No excuses. If they get it right we should be in for a treat!

Here is the official press release with storyline (emphasis is mine):
BURBANK, CA, March 21, 2011 — Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic action adventure sequel to “Clash of the Titans,” being directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Battle: Los Angeles”). Returning to star in the film are Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) as Perseus, and Academy Award® nominees Ralph Fiennes (“The English Patient,” the “Harry Potter” films) as Hades and Liam Neeson (“Schindler’s List,” “Unknown”) as Zeus.

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus—the demigod son of Zeus—is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius.

Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld.

Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth.

Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Jonathan Liebesman directs the film from a screenplay by Dan Mazeau & David Leslie Johnson and Steven Knight, story Greg Berlanti & David Leslie Johnson & Dan Mazeau, based on the 2010 hit “Clash of the Titans” and the 1981 film of the same name, written by the late Beverley Cross.

The film is produced by Basil Iwanyk (“The Town”), who also produced the previous “Clash of the Titans,” and Polly Cohen Johnsen (“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore”). The executive producers are Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, William Fay, Callum McDougall, Kevin De La Noy and Louis Leterrier.

Joining Worthington, Fiennes and Neeson in the international cast are Danny Huston (“Robin Hood”), reprising his role as Poseidon, god of the sea; Edgar Ramírez (“The Bourne Ultimatum,” TV miniseries “Carlos”) as the traitorous god of war, Ares; Bill Nighy (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1″) as Hephaestus, whose twisted, lame figure belies his Olympian origins; Toby Kebbell (“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”) as Agenor, imprisoned thief and son of Poseidon who joins Perseus on his journey to Tartarus; and Rosamund Pike (“Barney’s Version”) as Andromeda, the princess whose life Perseus once saved, and who now, as a queen, follows Perseus into battle.

The behind-the-scenes team bringing this mythical epic to life includes director of photography Ben Davis (“The Rite,” “Kick Ass”); production designer Charles Wood (“The Italian Job,” “The A-Team”); Academy Award®-winning editor Martin Walsh (“Chicago,” “V for Vendetta”); and costume designer Jany Temime (the “Harry Potter” films). “Clash of the Titans 2″ also reunites several talents from the previous film, including Oscar®-nominated visual effects supervisor Nick Davis (“The Dark Knight,”); Oscar®-nominated prosthetics supervisor Conor O’Sullivan (“The Dark Knight,” “Saving Private Ryan”); and Academy Award®-winning special effects and animatronics supervisor Neil Corbould (“Gladiator”). Also on board are Oscar®-nominated makeup designer Paul Engelen (“Frankenstein,” “Robin Hood”) and hair designer Kevin Alexander (“Robin Hood,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”).

“Clash of the Titans 2″ will be filming in studios outside London and will later shoot on location in Surrey, South Wales and in the Spanish Canary Islands on the island of Tenerife. The film is currently scheduled for release in March 2012.

A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Thunder Road Film, “Clash of the Titans 2″ is being co-produced by Furia de Titanes II, A.I.E. and COTT Productions and will be distributed in 3D and 2D worldwide by Warner Bros. Entertainment Companies.

Judging by the caliber of the professionals involved, CLASH OF THE TITANS 2 looks like it will be a massive tentpole release for Warners. More when I get it.

INCEPTION Being Converted To 3D For Disc!! And CLASH OF THE TITANS 2 Details...

I thought this wouldn't happen after hearing Wally Pfister carry on (and on and on) about 3D, but here it is at last!

An interview with Jonathan Liebesman by my good friend Steve at Collider has uncovered that Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION is being converted to 3D for disc!

Here is the excerpt of note:
Are you filming (CLASH OF THE TITANS 2) in 3D?
From the start, Clash 2 has been conceived as a 3D picture. The sets, the way I’m going to shoot the choreography of the shots, because what we’re gonna instead of say 4 shots we’re gonna do 1, I’m even gonna shoot it in a 1.8:1 aspect ratio. Sam Worthington put me in touch with Jim Cameron, we spoke a lot about aspect ratios and 3D. He said something that really stuck with me which was, 2D scope is 2.3:1. That feels scope in 2D, for 3D he felt like 1.8:1. And we have a lot of big creatures so I want that vertical space so I don’t have to cut so I’m also gonna shoot in 1.8:1. I did a bunch of test with different digital cameras…and the one thing that was very difficult for me was, I felt for a Greek epic I wanted to shoot on film to get that texture that I was looking for with that motion blur. The clincher for me was Warner Bros. showed me how far conversion had come. They showed me Chris Nolan Inception converting for the DVD, they showed me Harry Potter being converted. So now what we’re doing is, I wanna shoot film, we’re gonna have what are called stereographers on set who are guys who are sitting there advising you. It’s a completely different situation to Clash 1…Look I would always prefer to shoot native, I just feel like film is the way to go with a Greek epic. Especially the way I wanna shoot it, which is more old school.

Be sure to read or watch the rest of the great interview where Liebesman talks about the upcoming CLASH OF THE TITANS 2 3D conversion that he will be shooting WITH 3D IN MIND, an on set stereographer and in 1.8:1 ratio (perfect for S3D).

Says Liebesman: "For me, taking Greek mythology and all that fantasy and putting it in a real world that’s epic, like Gladiator, like a big Ridley Scott movie, and taking all that fantasy and putting it in, grounding it, making it feel real, that’s the movie that I wanted to see when I walked into Clash 1 and that’s the movie that Clash 2 is gonna be. That’s what I was looking for, I was looking to come in and have a real, intense, visceral kick-ass experience with spectacle but grounded, with great actors, and that’s what the second one will be."

Can't wait to see these!!

Confirmed: WRATH OF THE TITANS Will Be Shot In Native 3D *AND* With RED Epic Cameras!

We have known since the end of August that the CLASH OF THE TITANS sequel will be shot in native 3D and now we know that Jonathan Liebesman will use RED Epic cameras for the production!

Sam Worthington was quoted as saying: "Shot in 3D. Do put that in and make them f–king aware."

Many know I am a big fan of the RED cameras (Red One, Epic, Scarlet) as well as the Cameron/Pace FUSION cameras. I will be keeping everyone up to speed on what cameras are being used as they happen.

WRATH OF THE TITANS is due in theaters March 30, 2012 with shooting to start shortly. The original CLASH OF THE TITANS made $500m on a budget of $125m.

Sequel To CLASH entitled: WRATH OF THE TITANS! Neeson Says It Will Start Shooting In March And It Will Kick @ss!!

One of my favorite actors is Liam Neeson. Of course he is headlining (as Zeus) the sequel to CLASH OF THE TITANS which we now know is called WRATH OF THE TITANS.

Neeson said (via Belfast Telegraph): "I've only read half of the script and there is still some work being done - they're on script 10 - but I think it's going to be some kick-a** stuff and a very human story to it. We will start next March. I'm very much looking forward to it. It's a whole revamping, you know."

Neeson doesn't know if WRATH will be shot in native 3D or not. I would wager not as I believe there is an existing agreement in place between the studio and the conversion company for multiple 2D to 3D projects. HOWEVER, that being said I would quickly follow that by saying LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNED. In other words, no ridiculous timelines for completion.

Thanks for the heads up Adam!

Jonathan Liebesman Signs On For CLASH OF THE TITANS 2 And Will Shoot In Native 3D!!

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Deadline is now reporting that there may be yet ANOTHER conversion in the works for CLASH OF THE TITANS 2. (**crickets**) Not a native 3D shoot.(**louder crickets**)

Jonathan Liebesman (BATTLE: LOS ANGELES) has signed on to direct Warner Bros' CLASH OF THE TITANS 2 and will shoot the movie in native 3D, hopefully addressing the terrible 3D conversion that TITANS received earlier this year.

The first movie has made $492 million worldwide ($125 million budget) and has justifiably earned the right for a sequel despite negative word of mouth due to poor 3D.

Warner Bros. is bringing on Greg Berlanti (GREEN LANTERN), Dan Mazeau (THE FLASH) and David Leslie Johnson (RED RIDING HOOD) to write. Sam Worthington is expected to return as Perseus.

It will be a pleasure to see the franchise done right (hopefully) and garner the attention it deserves. I enjoyed the first movie in 2D. The 3D was outrageously BAD. Let's see what happens!

Update From Sam Worthington On The CLASH OF THE TITANS Sequel And AVATAR 2!!

Sam Worthington is always great for a quote isn't he?

I remember asking him point blank at ShoWest earlier this year about the 3D conversion of CLASH OF THE TITANS vs. the native 3D of AVATAR but he deftly tap danced around it. But now Steve over at Collider had the chance to hear Sam discuss TITANS and its rather nasty conversion at length recently.

Here is what Worthington had to say about CLASH 2:
"I think we start shooting early next year and it will be 3D this time. Shot in 3D. Do put that in and make them f–king aware."

When asked about what sort of influence he has over the CLASH sequel he said:
"Well, I do that a lot anyway, trying to put a stamp on it. Whether it’s the right idea or not, it’s up to them in the end. When I read Clash 2, they came to me the other day. I said, “I kinda dig where it’s going, but can we make the character more of this? Can we make it more of that? Can I get to play a lot more and get involved and have a lot more f–king fun than just being a young man who has to stand there and look pretty?” I’m sick of doing that, so it’s kind of a case of, “How do we make Perseus a lot more fun?” So we’re sort of shaping it down that track. And Warner Bros. has been nice enough to give us a bit on input."

And SPECIFICALLY about the CLASH OF THE TITANS 3D conversion:
"The movies always change. It suddenly became a rolling, runaway train in some parts. In regards to the conversion, I’m a Jim Cameron boy, so people know my opinions."

Worthington had some interesting things to say about AVATAR's sequel as well, including his assertion that James Cameron hasn't written it yet:
"Avatar 2 will be whenever Jim decides to write it. I think he’s in Thailand at the moment or trying to save the gulf. But I’m sure he’s going to put pen to paper soon."

Can you talk about the additional eight minutes that will be in the theatrical release?
Worthington: "I wish we added eight hours. I think the first cut I saw was about six hours long."

Do you know what’s in the additional eight minutes?
Worthington: "No, I don’t. He hasn’t told us. There’s a couple of extra hunting scenes. There’s a much-speculated and blogged sex scene everyone keeps f–king harping on about. To be honest, I think everyone’s going to be disappointed that’s it’s not blue porn. ...there’s a lot of other character parts. Giovanni [Ribisi] stuff and Stephen Lang stuff. So it’s up to Jim. I know Jim would only release it if it enhanced the story by putting it back in."

Is there more stuff on Earth?
Worthington: Yeah there is. We shot all that. When we first saw all that, it didn’t [work]. You just want to get to the planet. It’s kind of a slow burn. Jim always wanted it to be a slow burn start so that you would adjust to your eyes and adjust the world, but it because too much of slow burn. It was like, “hurry the f–k up, man.”

Love his down to Earth responses! I knew he was hating the conversion of TITANS - it is just good to hear it from him even if it is in a round about way. I am looking forward to TITANS 2 now!! And AVATAR 2? We will have some VERY juicy tidbits for you quite shortly :-) Inquiring minds want to know...