3D Shorts: FINAL DESTINATION Gets New Name; 50 YEARS Gets Distribution; HUMPTY DUMPTY Gets New Poster

Hey Jim here. Got some quick 3D news for you...

- FINAL DESTINATION: DEATH TRIP 3D is no longer. It has been renamed to THE FINAL DESTINATION - nothing too drastic, but better if you ask me. Almost sounds like a reboot attempt from scratch rather than as part of a franchise. (Source: Box Office Mojo)

Ok. Name change. Not sure about the timing, but I didn't really like the first one anyway...

- AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS has picked up distribution while at the Cannes Film Festival through Universal Music Group. Apparently the deal was consumated after a presentation of the movie which also included about 15 minutes of 3D. Moreover, it is not just for North American theatrical distribution but also DVD, TV, Non-theatrical and global soundtrack rights. (Source: Animation Magazine)

Love it when a plan comes together. Looks like UMG fell in love the project - can't wait to see it.

- Sony and Regal Cinemas have shaken hands on a 4K digital projector rollout to ~5,000 screens over the next 3 to 5 years. Of special note is that they have a grand total of ~6,700 screens right now, so digital will be making up about 75% of all their screens. This comes right on the heels of another massive 4K projector deal with AMC (4,700 screens) - making Sony 4K the industry leader right out of no where. That is if you can ever say that about Sony. 4K is the real deal guys. Congrats on the deals. And bring on 3D! :-)

Well if you had any doubt about Sony's entry in digital and 3D, you can drop them now. That is a rather resounding industry endorsement don't you think? I have seen the tech first hand (albeit a smallish screen) and it does look amazing.

- HUMPTY DUMPTY has revealed his box office teeth early - a new poster has the human/alien creature pulling a Jack Nicholson from behind a hole in a door. The movie is about an alien that wreaks havoc on humans after his mother is "abused by two rednecks in the Deep South". I think it has a great deal of potential... (Source: MySpace via ShockTilYouDrop)

Kinda disturbing character don't you think? And if the Executive Producer (Mark Ordesky) has anything to do with it, the FX are gonna be WILD.

Director David R. Ellis: Horror HUMPTY DUMPTY Going SciFi 3D

Jim here. According to Variety, David R. Ellis has been selected to direct HUMPTY DUMPTY, a science fiction horror movie based on the premise of an alien that wreaks havoc on humans after his mother was "abused by two rednecks in the Deep South".

Mark Ordesky (Exec Prod - LOTRs) is producing through his own Amber Entertainment company.

Look for shooting to commence in September.

Personally I think that this project holds a lot of promise if it is done correctly. I mean major box office bite. Why? Because it gives a fresh perspective on a common theme - the alien on earth thing has been done to death. But introduce some potential sympathy for the vigilante alien and BINGO :-) You have a PREDATOR meets ORCA. And of course any SciFi done in 3D in the right way is going to be spectacular. This has franchise written all over it too.

Ellis has an impressive background in stuntwork so I will expect to see many old school, non-CGI tricks up his sleeve for this action pic. And of course he is helming the 3D slasher FINAL DESTINATION: DEATH TRIP 3D due in theaters this August - I have heard plenty of good things about it too.

Ellis has a connection with Vince Pace too through FINAL DESTINATION so potentially he would be using the Pace / Cameron Fusion 3D rigs for HUMPTY DUMPTY. That would be awesome.

Ordesky brings a lot to the table with the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy under his belt, but keep in mind he was executive producer on those. This is a much more hands on dealio.

There does not seem to be any cracks in this project yet. We shall see who they land for talent and I will be following those developments closely. If you have any knowledge on HUMPTY DUMPTY let me know! (...and don't quote the nursery rhyme!) :-)