Yes! Finally Here: First Trailer For Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY !!

PERFECT. I can't imagine a better first look at this production! I'm floored. Simply perfection.

The GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY trailer aired during Jimmy Kimmel and as soon as it appeared here on their YouTube channel I must have watched it 5 times. Anyway - what are you waiting for? Pan down and get the trailer!

Here's the movie's storyline:
From Marvel, the studio that brought you the global blockbuster franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes a new team--the Guardians of the Galaxy. An action-packed, epic space adventure, Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits--Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon; Groot, a tree-like humanoid; the deadly and enigmatic Gamora; and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand--with the galaxy's fate in the balance.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, which first appeared in comic books in MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #18 (Jan. 1969), stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, with John C. Reilly, Glenn Close as Nova Prime Rael and Benicio del Toro as The Collector.

James Gunn is the director of the film with Kevin Feige producing, and Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Alan Fine and Stan Lee serve as executive producers. The story is by Nicole Perlman and James Gunn, with screenplay by James Gunn. 

Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY releases in U.S. theaters on August 1, 2014.

Marvel Update: Bradley Cooper and Elizabeth Olsen Being Cast?

Hmmm. Interesting rumors flying about regarding two upcoming movie projects for Marvel, namely GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.

Seems Bradley Cooper has been extended an offer to lend his voice to the would-be centerpiece of the movie, Rocket Raccoon. Yes, he's an all CG character but that adds credibility to the rumor as the only way Cooper would be able to fit in GOTG would be through voice only. The man is BUSY.

GUARDIANS is already in production in London and also stars Dave Bautista (Drax the Destroyer), Chris Pratt (Peter Quill / Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Benicio Del Toro (The Collector), Djimon Hounsou (Korath), John C. Reilly (Rhomman Dey), Glenn Close (Dey's superior), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Lee Pace (Ronan the Accuser), Peter Serafinowicz and Karen Gillan (Nebula). Vin Diesel (Groot) has not been confirmed yet.

Also hitting the rumor mill today is Elizabeth Olsen being tapped for Scarlet Witch in the sure to be mammoth production, THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.

Apparently Olsen is closer to signing than Cooper who may have just only received the offer. Both are strong actors and obviously would add tremendous value to the productions.

More details when and if these rumors become fact. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is slated for release on August 1, 2014 and THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON bows on May 1, 2015.


Source: THR

PARADISE LOST Indeed. Canned By Legendary!

Sad news today: Legendary Pictures has canned the Alex Proyas directed adaptation of the John Milton poem of good vs. evil, PARADISE LOST.

As recently as a couple of weeks ago, Bradley Cooper (who would have played Lucifer) was saying that all is well and that production will move ahead in June.

Certainly the talent and creative crew was in place for this epic movie to get made - so just what happened? Rather, what didn't happen: The visual effects requirements for this film were just too out of reach to be considered for a self imposed $120m budget. This despite Legendary already spending low 8 figures to get the project to the 11th hour.

This has to be a tough pill to swallow for Legendary. And it certainly is for fans of Proyas and Cooper. I was really looking forward to this movie getting made - how they were going to get this done was as interesting as the final product. Like James Cameron films. Cameron has often had to wait for technology to catch up.

There is always a chance that this beast gets picked up at a later date, perhaps when said VFX technology is in place. Here's hoping.

Source: Deadline

Bradley Cooper: PARADISE LOST To Start Production In June?

Well finally some good news coming out of the PARADISE LOST news stream!

Bradley Cooper, who has been attached to director Alex Proyas' performance capture project for some time now (to play Lucifer himself), was quoted recently about the movie and he said it was delayed and not killed.

Says Cooper: "We’re going to hopefully start in June. Everything’s going great. I mean, nothing’s done until we’re up and shooting."

Here's the movie's storyline:
Lucifer and Michael, God's greatest archangels, share the bond of extraordinary friendship until God produces his greatest creation: Man. Unable to remain subservient to God if it means bowing down to humanity, Lucifer begins his dark descent and is cast out — only to plot his revenge.

If Proyas and Cooper get the greenlight from Warner Bros. to shoot this summer, look for a 2014 release for PARADISE LOST.

I get a sneaking suspicion that Cooper may have flexed his nearly acquired Hollywood influence to get this movie finally made. He has been an avid supporter for some time now and perhaps he made the deal for THE HANGOVER 3 with consideration given to this production. Just a hunch.

Source: The Playlist

PARADISE LOST Finds Its Archangel Michael: Benjamin Walker

Apparently Benjamin Walker (Pictured on far left) (ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER) is in negotiations to play the archangel Michael in Alex Proyas' PARADISE LOST. The classic story of good vs. evil will pit Walker against Bradley Cooper's Lucifer.

Says Proyas: "I've sometimes thought that only an insane person would want to make this movie, because it's visually audacious and has to live up to a classic poem that is so beloved. I don't think the visuals could have been done justice until now, which is the great fun of being a film director in this modern age of visual effects. Despite all those possibilities, the characters are what's most important. His deal isn't closed yet, but I think there's a wonderful duality about Ben's persona, this combination of great strength and perfect innocence that works so well for Michael. And Bradley is the most charming guy you'll ever meet, with this extraordinary charisma. Lucifer was the brightest and smartest of the archangels, and even as he descended into evil and evolved into Satan, he's not just some black-and-white villain. Bradley brings extraordinary depth to that journey."

Shooting starts in Sydney this January. Look for PARADISE LOST in theaters in Q4 of 2013.

Source: Deadline

Rumor: Bradley Cooper Is THE FLASH?!?

**UPDATE: Oct 15, 2010 - No dice. Cooper denies his involvement: "I've never heard anything about it ever in my life. It's funny".

Word on the street (via Moviehole) has Bradley Cooper up for the coveted role of DC Comics' THE FLASH. Personally I see this as a great fit. He has a quirky persona that fits and he is always in excellent physical shape.

If you will remember, Cooper was up for GREEN LANTERN and lost out to Ryan Reynolds and Warner Bros dearly wants to keep Cooper within their ranks.

Deadline reports that the script for THE FLASH (written by Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green with Greg Berlanti) will be handed into Warner Bros sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

This is definitely one of the great hopes of DC Comics / Warner Bros future franchises! Can't wait to see this property developed as soon as possible. More details when I get it!