Posts Tagged ‘20th Century-Fox’
Posted by dominie in Films, News on December 2nd, 2008
In the months past, 20th Century Fox has been apparently prepping a new Planet of the Apes film reports CHUD who spoke with writer-director Scott Frank to clear up the confusion that’s been circling the project. The new film is actually a prequel to the previous films that would tell the story of Caesar, the chimpanzee who led the apes in rebellion and ultimately conquered humanity. Here are the highlights from their interview. You can click on the link above for the full update and in-depth details.
Currently titled Caesar, the film is NOT a remake of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. His film will not feature talking monkeys, and it will not end with chimpanzees running wild in the streets, taking over the world. It will be the opening chapter in a saga that could span the thousand years between today and a world where apes rule.
Caesar involves a hard science fiction based storyline. The science that creates a hyper-intelligent chimpanzee is based on current real world research. Frank will take this one step further with plans that will galvanize sympathy for Caesar with hopes to the point where his ill actions in the final act may be dismissible. The new story also looks to be continuing the Apes tradition of tackling social issues.
Frank is currently doing lots of research into the state of effects today to create a photoreal chimpanzee so that he can avoid having men running in monkey suits. He is completely backed by the Fox and both seem to be on the same page, but the objective is to figure out how to bring Caesar to life on screen. Thus, Frank reveals it will be hard to say if the film is really going ahead until at least February.
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on September 12th, 2008
With only three short months to go before The Day the Earth Stood Still will be released in its just-announced IMAX presentation in conjunction with its conventional theaters release (on December 12th to be exact), 20th Century Fox has summoned the DTESS team back for what was reportedly speculated as reshoots on IESB. Fox has since been in touch with IESB to clarify on the progress of the film. “They are not reshoots. They are simply special effects pick up shots that were always a part of the production schedule,” confirmed a Fox representative.
Reshoots for films have been growing increasingly common in the production process. With the film’s recent IMAX announcement, DTESS may very well have needed to boost up the special f/x shots (though I remain unconvinced in the legitimacy of Twilight’s cause for reshoots). Regardless of the cause, “pick up” shots for the film are currently underway in Downey Studios. Sources have revealed that the additional shots will last a week minimum, and are going to be “somewhat extensive.” Stars Keeanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly are reportedly back on set to redo some scenes as well.
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, News on September 3rd, 2008
According to author Ted Dekker’s official website, Robby Henson’s House the movie will appear in limited theaters beginning November 14th. Lionsgate Entertainment and Roadside Attractions acquired the title from 20th Century Fox, retaining full control over its release. Early test screenings have proved positive and the movie makers are currently cutting a deal with Christian music company, Tooth and Nail Records. Rumors are the movie is to feature largely Christian rock and possibly even Christian metal songs.
From X-Men producer Ralph Winter and authors Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, House takes place in rural Alabama, where a group of seven people, two couples along with the house’s three owners, find themselves locked inside a home by a homicidical maniac named The Tin Man. The Tin Man claims to have killed God and needs to punish the prisoners for their sins. He threatens to kill everyone inside the house unless they produce one dead body amongst themselves by dawn.
House will be released in 450 theaters in 49 cities across the country. A list of participating cities is below and theater announcements to come as we hear more. You can also check out the trailer at Fangoria. (more…)
Posted by bob in Films, News on August 24th, 2008
Death Race debuted this weekend, scoring an estimated $12,293,000 despite hostile reviews. The Universal film underperformed, much like Star Wars: The Clone Wars which saw a 61.3% dropoff after its debut. Clearly, people are done with the wars.
Fox’s Mirrors also had a big drop off, 56.3%, for a weekend gross of $4,875,000 and two week total of $20,075,000.
Other genre films had so-so weekends including The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, beginning to wrap up its run already with $4,069,000, bringing it to a total of $93,812,000. After four weeks and not cracking $100 million shows the franchise may be running out of steam after all.
Showing growing strength, though, is Transsiberian, which continues to play on only a few screens but the per screen average of $4,157 remains impressive. After six weeks in an extremely limited run, it has brought in $530,000.
Posted by bob in Films, News on August 18th, 2008
For those who want to believe even more, word is spreading that 20th-Century Fox may not be done yet with Mulder and Scully. Bloody-Disgusting is quoting an unnamed source who reports:
“I understand - there was room for improvement … and there still might be. I work for Screaming Death Monkey and Spotnitz - the TERRIFIC Frank Spotnitz - told us this week that the team have already spoken about the next X-Files film. It’s likely the next release will go direct to DVD - but they’re working on the assumption they’ll have a similar budget.”
Posted by bob in Films, News on August 18th, 2008
The Dark Knight surpassed Star Wars twice this weekend. First, it firmly grabbed second place on the All Time Box Office charts with a total now estimated at $471,493,000. It’s weekend take of $16,790,000 also surpassed the debut of the CGI-animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars which managed a so-so $15,505,000. The film received mixed reviews and little in the way of anticipatory buzz so its performance over the next week or two will be telling.
20th-Century Fox, which has had a miserable summer, finally got some good news when Mirrors opened with $11,125,000, exceeding studio estimates by 10%. (more…)
Posted by bob in Films, News on August 12th, 2008
One of the great films FM covered when it first opened in 1963 was Ray Harryhausen’s Jason and the Argonauts. Although remade in the past, nothing quite captured the charm of the original. That has not stopped Zak Penn (The Incredible Hulk) from writing a new big screen version of the same Greek story. This one is dubbed The Argonauts for 20th-Century Fox. DreamWorks is said to also be developing their own interpretation of the story although their film would feature treasure hunters from today transported back to the time of Jason. This comes the same time that War of the Gods and the remake of Clash of the Titans are also moving into production. And let’s not forget competing Hercules films as mentioned last week.
Feel free to blame 300’s smash success for this flurry of tales from Greece.
For those not in the know, the Argonauts are the Greek sailors who sought the fable golden fleece in the years preceding the Trojan War. Following their leader Jason, their ship was known as the Argo.
Posted by bob in Films, News on August 10th, 2008
The Dark Knight continues to rule the box office as it takes the number one position for the fourth weekend in a row, the first time any 2008 release has achieved this. Its estimated haul of $26,030,000 pushes its domestic take to $441,541,000, faster than any movie in history.
In its second weekend Universal’s The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor dropped -60.2%, taking in just $16,113,000. With a total of $70,671,000, it chugs along although there has to be some concern that bad word of mouth, poor reviews and steep drop off may mean the franchise is running out of steam despite director Rob Cohen already talking a fourth film. (more…)
Posted by bob in Films, News on August 9th, 2008
Our inbox was filled with some exciting news for completists and those upgrading their DVD collections to Blu-Ray. Check out the current plans:
THE ORIGINAL INFAMOUS SCREAM QUEEN AND
A NOTORIOUS HAUNTED HOUSE REEP MAYHEM IN HIGH-DEF
CARRIE & THE AMITYVILLE HORROR
LOS ANGELES, CA – Just in time for a Halloween fright night, MGM Home Entertainment unleashes two bone-chilling horror classics on Blu-ray Disc (BD) October 7.
Based on Stephen King’s first published novel and directed by Brian DePalma (The Black Dahlia), CARRIE (1976) is a pulse-pounding thriller starring Sissy Spacek (In the Bedroom) and Piper Laurie (Twin Peaks) in their Oscar-nominated performances. Carrie White (Spacek) is a teenage outcast, who upon learning she has telekinesis, seeks revenge on her high-school classmates and wreaks havoc during prom. CARRIE BD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S./$49.98 Canada.
Revisit one of the most infamous haunted house stories of all time with the horrifying BD release of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) starring James Brolin (Catch Me If You Can), Margot Kidder (Superman) and Oscar winner* Rod Steiger (In The Heat Of The Night). From the best-selling novel by Jay Anson, Brolin and Kidder play George and Kathy Lutz, a couple who discover that their new Long Island dream home is possessed by demonic spirits. As walls begin to drip blood and satanic forces threaten to destroy them, the Lutz family must try to escape with their lives before it is too late. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR BD will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 U.S./$49.98 Canada.
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) BD will be presented on 25GB disc in widescreen (1.85:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 Dolby Surround Audio plus English, Spanish and French subtitles.
CARRIE (1976) BD will be presented will be presented on 25GB disc in in widescreen (1.85:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio plus English, Spanish and French subtitles.
There is nothing wrong with your television set.
Do not attempt to adjust the picture.
We are controlling transmission.
THE OUTER LIMITS
THE ORIGINAL SERIES COMPLETE BOX SET
LOS ANGELES, CA – MGM Home Entertainment controls all that you see and hear when The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set DVD invades homes on October 21, 2008. Hailed as “the best program of its type to ever run on network TV” by acclaimed author Stephen King, this sci-fi fantasy original series ignited the imagination of viewers with the help of such distinguished guest star appearances by Academy Award Winner Robert Duvall (Tender Mercies), Adam West (“Batman”), Eddie Albert (“Green Acres”) and Star Trek alumni William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and James Doohan. The 1960s debut of the macabre series broke new ground by blurring the line between fact and fiction with dark introspective storylines. Fans became hooked as the series continued to challenge the human mind by making the unbelievable seem like a terrifying reality. As television’s longest running science-fiction anthology, “The Outer Limits” has garnered several awards, including four Cable Ace Awards, two Gemini Awards and two Saturn Awards. Featuring seven-discs, The Outer Limits Original Series Complete Box Set contains the complete classic series, including all 49 episodes for a suggested retail price of $59.98. (more…)
Posted by bob in News on August 6th, 2008
Video Watchdog is reporting that the pre-United States censor cut of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho was aired on the German television station RTL. A German site compares the broadcast with the most recent Universal Home Entertainment DVD version.
The Tooth Fairy, starring Dwayne Johnson (Get Smart), has been given a June 19, 2009 date from 20th Century Fox. It’s a family-fantasy that now opens a week after Eddie Murphy’s fantasy-comedy Nowhereland.
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Possession moves from January 9 to January 23, 2009.
In the months past, 20th Century Fox has been apparently prepping a new Planet of the Apes film reports CHUD who spoke with writer-director Scott Frank to clear up the confusion that’s been circling the project. The new film is actually a prequel to the previous films that would tell the story of Caesar, the chimpanzee who led the apes in rebellion and ultimately conquered humanity. Here are the highlights from their interview. You can click on the link above for the full update and in-depth details.
