‘Black Hole’ Sucked Back to Big Screen
December 2, 2009 by ShempyCat
Filed under News, Uncategorized
Disney is set to return to THE BLACK HOLE by remaking the 1979 film with the directing and producing team currently working on TRON: LEGACY, Joseph Kosinski and Sean Bailey, respectively. The script is being written by Travis Beacham.
The original BLACK HOLE was Disney’s first PG film and it’s most expensive at $26 million. In the film the crew USS Palomino finds the USS Cygnus where a scientist and his robot Maximilian plan to enter the black hole by which they are stationed. The film featured Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster and the voice of Slim Pickens. The plot of the remake is being kept quiet, but word is robot Maximilian will return.
THE BLACK HOLE was on the dark side of Disney’s films and big on the special effects. It was a movie of my childhood and has left quite a mark with it’s tone and style. It was the two smaller robots Bob (Slim Pickens) and V.I.N.CENT who gave it it’s fun touch, while Maximilian was the scary one.
I went to a midnight screening of THE BLACK HOLE a few years back and won a BLACK HOLE lunch box and a year after that got it signed by actor Maximilian Schell which is one of my favorite movie scores. I will be keeping a careful eye on the remake and only hope it can capture what Disney did right and add on some more.
DreamWorks Digs XOMBIE Pitch
DreamWorks is looking to acquire “Xombie,” based on James Farr’s online animated series and the Devil’s Due comic book about Dirge, a Zombie cop who’s keeping a young girl, Zoe, safe from evil zombies.
The “Xombie” pitch was made by writer Will Beall who is also a Homicide Detective with the LAPD. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are likely to produce the project.
“Xombie” premiered in 2003 online and the comic book series came out in 2007. I actually found “Xombie” when it first came out and became an instant fan. It could fit in rather well with the surge of Zombie stories that are coming out these days. The details of the pitch plots are being kept under wraps.
Danny Huston in Robin Hood
According to the Hollywood Reporter, actor Danny Huston has been cast in Ridley Scott’s upcoming film Robin Hood which is being made in England. Huston is filling the role of King Richard, the Lionheart while Russell Crowe has already been cast as Robin Hood himself.
What do you think of a new take on Robin Hood? More men in tights?
Fright Night Remake Starts Up
The 1985 horror film directed by Tom Holland is on the remake track thanks to DreamWorks who’s diving into more horror fare lately. There are currently no writers attached but they are planning to keep the horror-comedy elements of the film and “modernize” the effects.
In Fright Night, Charlie Brewster (Peter Ragsdale) believes his new neighbor (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire. Brewster gets the help of his friends and TV personality Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall) to help him out with the creature of the night.
Having recently seen Fright Night (on the big screen too) I am not excited about this remake, no one can replace McDowall or Sarandon but I know how the studios will try. And saying they want to “modernize” the effects is just CGI talk which will probably fake the blood splatter too.
By the Power of “Grayskull”
A writer has been attached to the latest He-Man adaptation to be titled “GRAYSKULL”. Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures have hired up and coming writer Evan Daugherty and it will be directed by John Stevenson (”Kung Fu Panda”).
The Hollywood Reporter describes Warner Bros. take on this latest adaptation:
A gritty fantasy and reimagines Adam as a soldier who sets off to find his destiny, happening upon the magical world of Eternia. There, Skeletor has raised a technological army and is bent on eradicating magic.
Now it sounds like this is going to be a big budget action spin through the world of Eternia for Mattel’s “Masters of the Universe” line. Prince Adam, a.k.a. He-Man better be shouting the line; “By the power of Grayskull — I have the power.” The last film adaptation featured Dolph Lundgren in the role of “He-Man”. Do you think they will stay more true to the He-Man storyline this time out?
Jim Carrey Loves Beaver
Jim Carrey is one of the funniest men on Earth when he makes the right choice in roles. The last five or so years he has wanted to prove himself as a serious actor and has pretty much sucked but he seems to be back on the right track with the Three Stooges movie, A Christmas Carol, and I Love You Philips Morris. He is now looking at Beaver for his next role and it seems like it would be absolutely perfect for him. Read more
Paul Bettany To Play Priest
Don’t let the headline fool you, Paul won’t be molesting any kids in this movie. What he will be doing is hunting vampires in a Western setting. I guess that’s almost as good. Any time my two favorite genres of film can be combined, especially with an actor as good as Paul Bettany, I get excited. Horror Westerns seem to becoming a little more common lately and that could lead to great things.
John Carpenter Directing “The Ward”
The psychological thriller, “The Ward” is going to be directed by John Carpenter and feature actress Amber Heard (”Pineapple Express”) .
According to the Hollywood Reporter, coming from Echo Lake Entertainment, “The Ward” was written by Michael and Shawn Rasmussen and follows a young woman who’s being terroized by a ghost while in an institution. The film is to begin shooting in May.
” ‘The Ward’ is the kind of script that I’ve been looking for: a complex, visceral story, full of suspense and scares,” Carpenter said.
It’s been a while since Carpenter has been behind the camera and being the Carpenter fan I am, I will be keeping an eye on this film and post more news here as it comes on out.
Mickey Rourke up for ‘Iron Man 2′
Looks like Mickey Rourke may be making an appearance as a villian in the upcoming sequel to ‘Iron Man’. The world famous playboy, superhero will be back in action, and you can bet he’s got a lot to live up to after the awesomeness of the first film. Read on for some details.
‘Cartagena’ For Owen
Seems that Clive Owen is looking into new prospects. The film star taking on another thriller, and this time it’s for Columbia. Read on for the synopsis.
Arrested Development Movie
A big screen adaptation for the television show “Arrested Development” is ramping up. Recently various cast members had been offering hints in various interviews but now Mitch Hurwitz and Ron Howard work to close the deal with Fox Searchlight and Imagine.
‘Robotech’ Takes Flight With New Writers
Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville, Spiderman 2) are writing the script for Warner Bros. adaptation of the anime “Robotech”. Tobey Maquire is still attached to produce this live action film.
“Battle: Los Angeles” With Aaron Eckhart
Aaron Eckhart is gearing up for the sci-fi action flick “Battle: Los Angeles” to be directed by Jonathan Liebesman for Columbia with Neal Moritz producing.
Jesus To Protect London From Shaft!
Jim Caviezel (The Passion Of The Christ, Unknown) and Sam (Motherf**kin) Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Die Hard With A Vengeance) have signed on for a spy thriller set to take place in London. Read more for the details.
Warner Bros. to have on screen pick-a-nick?
Well, sort of. Warner Bros. is going to bring Yogi Bear to the big screen, in yet another CGI/live action cross breed. With the extreme success of ‘Scooby Doo’ and ‘Alivn and the Chipmunks’, it seemed only a matter of time before this classic cartoon went down this road. But exactly how and when will we see Yogi and Boo-Boo on the big screen? Read on for more.
Film Deals
It’s an old picture…so sue me.
OK, so I’ve been scanning the trades, looking for tidbits to keep all the cinephiles happy in entertainment land. Glancing over a laundry list of news, for today, it appears that everything I’m coming across is about films being picked up at festivals, and who’s got what and where it’s going to be. So, instead of making a single post for each film, which is ridiculous, I’m going to try and give the abridged version for all of the films that I’ve found, so you, my favorite readers, don’t have to go scouring the internet for more information. Read on…
Legally Copy DVDs???
It seems that things are in a constant state of flux in the entertainment industry. One has to look no further than the music industry to see how volatile the situation really is. But, what about home entertainment. Sure, we’ve all copied music via cassette’s off the radio, then we moved on to burning CDs, but what about the film industry. There are already several rippers out there that allow users to rip and burn copyrighted films, and save themselves the hardship of having to pay good money for duds of films. We’ve all been there. Now, a company wants to change all that and make it viable to rip your personal DVDs without triggering the powers that be to put you in jail. Want to know more?…
Screen Gems, Austin Chick Thrill it up
Screen Gems and the indie writer/director/producer Austin Chick(XX/XY, August) are teaming up for an upcoming untitled thriller. Gems has signed up to be the label attached to the film. Screen Gems released the ‘Prom-Night’ remake earlier this year, experienced some success with the film (trash if you ask me) and has decided to open up to other kinds of films in leu of their hit. Read on for more info on the upcoming thriller.
Astin, Weston and Foster are ‘Demoted’
A trio of actors: Sean Astin, Celia Weston and Sara Foster have been added to star alone-side Michael Vartan and David Cross in the upcoming indie comedy flick, ‘Demoted’. Sounds good to me. I love David Cross, the mad makes everything in he’s in better than it should have been, and I’ll be damned if he wasn’t great as the never-nude in ‘Arrested Development’. Sean Astin, while no gigantic star has always been a solid performer, and carries his characters well. Anyway, read on to see what ‘Demoted’ is all about.
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