I'm looking forward to seeing Summit Entertainment's THE LEGEND OF HERCULES as it is a 3D production and from the looks of the clips it emulates GLADIATOR to a fair degree in the arena - which I love. Imagine seeing GLADIATOR in 3D? Yeah, me too. This should look amazing!
You many be aware that there are two variations of HERCULES coming up - this one is director Renny Harlan's starring Kellan Lutz.
Here is the storyline for the movie: Lutz stars as Hercules, the mythical Greek hero, demigod and son of Zeus. Betrayed by his King and sold into slavery, Hercules must use his formidable strength to fight for his freedom and return to his true love, Hebe, the Princess of Crete (played by Gaia Weiss).
**UPDATE: Well someone messed up at Summit, or they've got to get their act together, but just days after announcing very publicly that HERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS will open on February 4, 2014 - they change it to January 10, 2014. So let it be. The first of two Hercules movies is dropping on February 7, 2014January 10, 2014 as Summit has announced its intentions with the property. This is the Kellan Lutz movie, not the Dwayne Johnson starrer.
I don't have too much to say about the production yet as I wasn't all that thrilled with the first trailer and I haven't seen any 3D yet - hopefully that feeling goes away with the next trailer. Click here for all of our Hercules coverage. Here's the press release: Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF) company, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Millennium Films’ action-adventureHERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS starring Kellan Lutz (THE TWILIGHT SAGA, the upcoming THE EXPENDABLES 3) and directed by Renny Harlin (DIE HARD 2, CLIFFHANGER). Summit will release the film in 3D and 2D nationwide on February 7, 2014. The deal was announced today by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, and Avi Lerner, Chairman of Millennium Films. Lutz stars as Hercules, the mythical Greek hero, demigod and son of Zeus. Betrayed by his King and sold into slavery, Hercules must use his formidable strength to fight for his freedom and return to his true love, Hebe, the Princess of Crete (played by Gaia Weiss). The supporting cast includes Scott Adkins (THE EXPENDABLES 2), Liam McIntyre (“Spartacus”), Liam Garrigan (“Strike Back”), Johnathon Schaech (“Ray Donovan,” “The Client List”), Roxanne McKee (“Game Of Thrones”) and Rade Serbedzija (“Red Widow”). Screenplay is by Daniel Gliat. Producers are Danny Lerner, Les Weldon, Boaz Davidson and Renny Harlin. Executive Producers are Avi Lerner, Trevor Short and John Thompson. “We look forward to working with Millennium to bring this larger-than-life hero to theaters and action fans in the new year,” said Friedman and Wachsberger. “We are also very proud to work on a project starring Kellan, with whom we have grown very close throughout the release of all five TWILIGHT SAGA films as well as the production of THE EXPENDABLES 3 scheduled for release next year.” “We’re thrilled to be expanding our relationship with the very talented team at Lionsgate and Summit, who had such extraordinary success with Kellan in THE TWILIGHT SAGA franchise and with whom we have a great partnership on THE EXPENDABLES franchise,” Lerner said. “And I’m very pleased that ours will be the first movie in the 21st century to reintroduce modern audiences to this classic, timeless story.” The deal was negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate and Summit by Jason Constantine, Lionsgate’s President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Eda Kowan, Lionsgate’s SVP of Acquisitions, and Wendy Jaffe, Lionsgate’s EVP of Business & Legal Affairs for Acquisitions & Co-Productions, and on behalf of Millennium by Avi Lerner and Mark Gill.
HERCULES: THE LEGEND BEGINS opens on February 7, 2014January 10, 2014 in 3D.
Right off the top I will tell you that we do not know for sure whether Constantin Film's POMPEII is in stereoscopic 3D or not, but I would certainly wager that it is given that Paul W.S Anderson has attached himself to direct it. Anderson of course brought us RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE as well as the upcoming THE THREE MUSKETEERS in 3D (same team of companies in fact).
Summit Entertainment has jumped on board for US distribution. Summit International will peddle the property at Cannes.
From THR:Set in late summer 79 A.D., Pompeii revolves around the slave of a shipping tycoon who dreams of the day he can buy his freedom and marry his master's daughter. What the slave doesn't know is that she's already been promised to a corrupt Roman senator, while he's been sold to another owner.Just when things can't get any worse, Mt. Vesuvius erupts with the power of 40 nuclear bombs. But the slave is trapped on a ship headed for Naples, separated from his love and best friend, a gladiator who is trapped in the city's coliseum. As fire and ash destroy the only world he's ever known, the slave is determined to get back and rescue them.
The Lee Batchler / Janet Scott Batchler scripted movie is said to start shooting in spring 2012.
I like this turn of events actually. THE THREE MUSKETEERS looks like solid entertainment and gloriously shot. If Anderson can capture the feeling of living back in 79 A.D. and throw in massive volcano / lava special effects, we could have great experience in the theater.
**SAMEDAY UPDATE: Summit just released a brand spankin' new trailer for DRIVE ANGRY too - check it out below! :-)
Check out this new poster for Nicholas Cage's DRIVE ANGRY!STYD got the exclusive on this one and it is certainly packs a punch. Love that Summit Entertainment is VERY clear that this film is a native 3D project and not converted. Audiences are actually now somewhat informed in that not all conversions are alike. Unfortunately, not all native 3D productions are alike either - BUT this is a Patrick Lussier movie. All is well.
Click on the image to enlarge. Hi-Res image is here.
DRIVE ANGRY stars Nicolas Cage, William Fichtner, Amber Heard, David Morse, Billy Burke and Tom Atkins.
STORYLINE: Nicolas Cage is Milton, a hardened felon who has broken out of hell for one last chance at redemption. Intent on stopping a vicious cult who murdered his daughter, he has three days to stop them before they sacrifice her baby beneath a full moon.
He's joined by Piper (Amber Heard) – a young, sexy waitress who liberates her ex-boyfriend's cherry-red muscle car in order to help Milton. Now, the two of them are hot on the trail of the deadly leader of the cult, Jonah King (Billy Burke), who believes it is his destiny to use the baby to unleash hell on earth.
But the bloodthirsty cult is the least of Milton's problems. The police are after him too. And worse, an enigmatic killer known only as "The Accountant" – who has been sent by the Devil to retrieve Milton and deliver him back to hell. With wicked cunning and hypnotic savagery, the Accountant will relentlessly pursue Milton at high speed across the country until his mission is accomplished.
Fueled by high octane and pure rage, Milton must use his anger to go beyond all human limits to avenge his daughter's murder, before his last chance at redemption is revoked.
So are you psyched for DRIVE ANGRY or what? I know I am. I think this movie will deliver on its promises and I know that it is great hands with Lussier. All hell is about to break loose! :-)
Remember that story about THE THREE MUSKETEERS coming to 3D screens with a more contemporary feel? Well I have new developments to share with you on the project...
Director Paul W.S. Anderson has been busy casting! Logan Lerman is in deep talks to play D'Artagnan, a young man who joins the King's guard after leaving his home.
Already cast are: Ray Stevenson (THE BOOK OF ELI), Luke Evans (CLASH OF THE TITANS) and Matthew Macfadyen (ROBIN HOOD) playing Porthos, Athos and Aramis respectively. Christoph Waltz (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS) will play villain Cardinal Richelieu and Mads Mikkelsen (CASINO ROYALE) is set for Rochefort. Anderson's wife, Milla Jovovich is cast as Milady de Winter who is a former love of Athos and is described as being a 17th century Bond girl.
Apparently an offer is out to Orlando Bloom to play the Duke of Buckingham.
Anderson and Andrew Davies wrote the script. Summit is the distributor.
THE THREE MUSKETEERS is looking to begin lensing in September of this year. Not sure what to make of the project yet with that 'contemporary feel' label on it, but it must be good or they would not be able to negotiate such talent. The budget must be sky high for this with Bloom and company under consideration. More when I get it!
Jim here. The trailer for STEP Up 3D is out on the Interwebs now and just as I was expecting, the dance moves are ridiculous. As in awesome. Makes me think that not one of these dancers could string together an entire scene in one take - it would take far too much energy and be fraught with errors. The magic of Hollywood editing!
Who cares? I don't! Looks like solid entertainment, except for maybe the 'romantic' scenes which look a little, shall we say, hokey.
STEP UP 3D is due in theaters August 6, 2010.
Check out the dance scene near the end with the neon clothes - looks like embedded marketing by Disney for TRON: LEGACY! LOL. But hey, that's impossible. Wait. Disney is distributing this thing... :-)
Jim here. Got an update for you on Nicholas Cage's DRIVE ANGRY 3D thriller that Patrick Lussier is helming. BloodyDisgusting says that apparently William Fichtner (ARMAGEDDON) and Amber Heard (ZOMBIELAND) are in talks to join the production with Cage.
Shooting starts in March (Shreveport, LA) and Summit has slotted a February 11, 2011 release.
DRIVE ANGRY is about a man (Cage) driven by rage who is chasing the people who killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby. The vendetta/rescue spins out of control as the chase gets bloodier by the mile, leaving bodies strewn along the highway.
This movie intrigues me. Cage is capable of awesome movies - and bad. Here is hoping for the best as one of the better character actors (Fichtner) in Hollywood may be joining the project.
Jim here. Summit Entertainment's FLY ME TO THE MOON has been moved up to August 15th for their release date in the US and Canada.
July 16, 1969. NASA's space program was in full swing. A moon landing was about to become a reality. Astronauts, Neil Armstrong, "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins headed up the historic mission.
That's what you do know... What you don't know is that FLY ME TO THE MOON is the story of how three ordinary flies, NAT, I.Q. and SCOOTER managed to sneak aboard the Apollo 11 and forever changed the course of history! Not to mention, gain heroic confidence, overcome a few death-defying challenges and just maybe put an end to the notion that "dreamers get swatted."
Hey great! The sooner the better. I think the trailer looked pretty good in front of JOURNEY 3D and whats with space missions always changing their launch dates anyway? :-) The trailer is below:
Jeffrey Katzenberg is going to be giving the audience at ShoWest 2008 an advance sneak peak of 2009's "Monster vs. Aliens" during his Opening Day Welcome Remarks. It will be presented with RealD 3D technology. Katzenberg will begin his speech at 9:15am, Tuesday, March 11th 2008.
Summit Entertainment is also giving attendees a sneak 3D preview of this year's "Fly Me To The Moon" on a first come - first served basis at the Jubilee Theater, Bally's Hotel. There will be two presentations - one at 11am and another at 11:45am on Wednesday, March 12th. The movie will be in wide 3D release on August 22nd. Dolby 3D will be used for these screenings.
New Line Cinema & Walden Media are giving ShoWest patrons an FULL advance screening of "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D". There will be two screenings - one at 3:45pm (Jubilee Theater, Bally's Hotel) and the second at 4:15pm (Le Theatre Des Arts, Paris Hotel), both on Wednesday, March 12th. The movie is pegged for a July 11th wide release in 3D theaters. RealD 3D technology will be used for the presentations. Expect an appearance by Brendan Frasier there as he is also picking up the "Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film" award at 6:30pm later that day.
**UPDATE:Varietyhas posted a correction that "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" will NOT be in stereographic 3D. Needless to say I will be watching them much closer now before I post them as being gospel. Now I have to change half a dozen things on the blog, along with being very disappointed. As part of a group exclusive footage presentation of several Warner properties including "The Dark Knight", "Get Smart" and "Speed Racer", Warner Bros. Pictures is presenting a sneak peak at "Star Wars: The Clone Wars"which is a 3D movie slated for an August 15th wide release. The screenings will both happen at 2:45pm at Le Theatre Des Arts, Paris Hotel and the Jubilee Theater, Bally's Hotel on Thursday, March 13th.
ShoWest is at Bally's and Paris in Las Vegas from March 10th to 13th.
Umm, damn. Wish I was going! What a lineup... Can't wait for the reviews!!
