Set in the aftermath of an apocalyptic robot uprising, Steven Spielberg’s next film, ROBOPOCALYPSE – a Drew Goddard-scripted adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson’s epic novel – is such a big deal that it will be co-financed by both DreamWorks and Fox.

According to Deadline, this isn’t the first time Fox and DreamWorks have tried to get together. HARVEY, back in 2009, similarly had both studios and Spielberg attached, but the project dried up when Spielberg withdrew due to, among other things, difficulties with finding an actor to play Elwood P. Dowd, James Stewart’s character back in 1950.

Hopefully this time around everything will work out and all involved can surmount any speed bumps along the way to the ROBOPOCALYPSE.

TOP 10 GENRE FILMS

2010 has a lot to offer film fans, and we here at Famous Monsters are eager to point out to you, the reader, some of the genre titles we’re most excited about in the coming year. There are loads more films that we are anxious to see, but here’s our top ten Must-Watch Genre Films of 2010:

1. Inception

Release Date: July 16, 2010

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine

Writers: Christopher Nolan

What the hell is this movie about? You know, I have no clue – and I’m absolutely okay with that.

I can’t remember the last time I walked into a movie having no idea what it was really about. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure plenty of Inception will be spoiled by July, but so far I’m in love with the fact that Nolan’s managed to keep so much of this flick a secret. We’re six months away and we don’t even know the basic plot! According to the newest trailer, Paris folds in half, people look serious and beverages break the laws of physics. Oh, and a train finds a quicker route through mid-town.

Color me perplexed and very, very jazzed.

2. Iron Man 2

Release Date: May 7, 2010

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwenyth Paltrow, Mickey Roarke, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson

Writers: Justin Theroux

Who needs to be sold on this one?

While Iron Man had its weaknesses (mainly a limp climax and an incongruously hammy villain), everything that needed to be good was, in fact, great. Everything usually lacking in blockbuster action films -  complex characters, witty writing and charming performances – was cannily presented under confident direction.

So what can we expect from Iron Man 2? Judging from the trailers, looks like more of the same. And I couldn’t be happier.

With a decidedly more threatening villain (in the form of Mickey Roarke’s vengeful Ivan Vanko, aka Whiplash), higher stakes in the form of added characters (Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, Sam Rockwell’s slippery arms dealer Justin Hammer) and the promise of War Machine (with Don Cheadle stepping in for a departed Terrence Howard) as well as more Nick Fury (a returning Samuel L. Jackson), IM2 looks as bright and shiny as its metal hero.

3. Shutter Island

Release Date: February 19, 2010

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max Von Sydow, Jackie Earle-Haley

Writers: Leata Kalogridis, from the novel by Dennis Lehane

Martin Scorsese directing Leonardo DiCaprio has become a welcome treat every few years, but to have Scorsese direct a mystery thriller from writer Denis Lehane (whose Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone have already been adapted into excellent films) is an enticing proposition.

A ’50′s-era thriller which finds DiCaprio’s U.S. Marshall lost amid mad-goings-on in an offshore insane asylum, Shutter Island pays stylistic tribute to the genre thrillers that so influenced Scorsese throughout his career (everything from the works of producer Val Lewton, to Orson Welles’ adaptation of Kafka’s The Trial).

Nothing is quite as splendiferous like Scorsese in his element, and Shutter Island – with its paranoid protagonist trapped in a plot as claustrophobic and labyrinthine as the nut house itself – certainly looks like prime territory for him.

Too cool.

4. The Wolfman

Release Date: February 12, 2010

Director: Joe Johnston

Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving

Writers: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self

Make no mistake, this is one troubled film. But by “troubled,” I by no means infer “doomed.” A director jumping ship prior to shooting, reshoots, two pushed release dates, four editors and multiple, variant test-screenings are not traditionally good signs, but who can argue with the trailers?

In look and tone it feels as though we’re getting a film that may live up to the legend of the original. I’m also comforted by the dedication and respect to the source material so far demonstrated by all concerned (Del Toro’s favorite film is original 1941 The Wolf Man, and this project was a labor of love). Any chance to see Rick Baker tackle the daddy of all werewolves is a must (even if there are unconfirmed reports he’s unhappy with how much CGI has been used to augment his creature).

I’m curious in the extreme, but cautious as well.

5. Kick Ass

Release Date: April 16, 2010

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Cast: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Lyndsy Fonseca

Writers: Jane Goldman, based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar

This one’s as big a “no brainer” as they get. Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) adapts Mark Millar’s (Wanted) gritty, hilariously subversive comic book sensation with style and wit (if we can gauge anything from the, ahem, kick-ass trailers). With great word of mouth from early screenings (including raves from Butt-Numb-A-Thon), and a secret weapon in the form of Chloe Moretz as the foul-mouthed, deadly Hit Girl, and anticipation on this one is riding high.

6. Daybreakers

Release Date: January 8, 2010

Director: Peter and Michael Spierig

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Willem Defoe, Sam Neill

Writer(s): Peter and Michael Spierig

Released by: Lionsgate

Words cannot express how sick I am of vampires. Really. The words have yet to be articulated, written down and canonized in any language, from Catalan to Farci. I don’t care if it’s good (True Blood), bad (The Vampire Diaries) or unspeakable (sorry Twi-Hards), I just don’t have the energy to care anymore.

Enter Daybreakers, with what could be a ridiculous premise (a vampire-run future society must deal with an extinction of the human blood supply), though seemingly classily told (initial word is quite positive) and artfully shot (those trailers look nice). Couple that with an intriguing cast (I’ll watch Sam Neill eat a McRib sandwich. Seriously. Test me.) and a cool marketing campaign (love those striking, eighties-esque posters) and I’m interested, which is an incredible accomplishment, considering the general vampire malaise.

7. Tron Legacy

Release Date: December 17, 2010

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Cast: Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett, John Hurt, Daft Punk

Writers: Richard Jefferies, Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis

Is 28 years too long to wait for a sequel? If it’s Tron, I guess not. Legacy finds the son (Gerrett Hudland) of Bridges’ computer hacker Flynn drawn into the program his father created, a program which has apparently evolved into a much larger and more dangerous place. The original film was a groundbreaking exercise in early CGI, and has garnered a healthy cult fan base based off of the stunning look of the film (not to mention the obvious draw for the tech-geek audience), and in that sense Legacy – with decades of digital advancement between the original and now – has a lot to live up to. Judging from the early teaser trailer and test footage screened at Comic-Con, Kosinski might do the original justice yet.

This movie has Bruce Boxleitner in it. What more do you need?

8. Predators

Release Date: July 9, 2010

Director: Nimrod Antal

Cast: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Danny Trejo, Laurence Fishburne, Alice Brage, Walton Goggins,

Writers: Robert Rodriguez, Alex Litvak, Michael Finch

Based on a treatment Rodriguez penned for Fox some years back, the film is intended to wipe the slate clean on the beloved franchise, giving audiences the Predator sequel we should have had from the beginning.

Danny Glovers and Requiems aside, director Antal (Vacancy, Armored) has assembled a hell of a fine cast for this picture, which – it is rumored – will take us to the Predator home world.

Title and style inspired by James Cameron’s Aliens, we cannot help but be excited for what Rodriguez and company have in store for us.

9. Toy Story 3

Release Date: June 18, 2010

Director: Lee Unkrich

Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, Jodi Benson, Blake Clark, Timothy Dalton, John Morris, Laurie Metcalf, Bonnie Hunt, Jeff Garlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Kristen Schaal

Writers: Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich

I’m tempted to be a little anxious about the prospect of a Toy Story 3…

Both previous Toy Story films were masterful: beautifully designed, emotionally charged, classic family filmmaking. 3 has been gestating for years and now, here at the precipice, I feel like I should be nervous – I mean, what “Part III” has ever lived up to expectations? (Return of the King doesn’t count…)

But, this is Pixar. And, therefore, I have nothing but faith.

With Andy going off to college (the trailer makes it seem like Andy’s been playing with these toys all the way up through high school; is he… okay…?), the toys are left wide open for donation to a local day care center, leaving the toys no choice but to plan a Great Escape-style, well, escape.

Sounds great, and the aforementioned trailer is plenty funny. Pixar’s 10 for 10, and expectations aside, I’d wager Toy Story 3 delivers.

10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 1

Release Date: November 19, 2010

Director: David Yates

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Writers: Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling

I have admit, I’m not the biggest Harry Potter devotee – not out of any dislike, but purely from being out of the loop. Call me a Muggle, I guess. I mean, I’ve enjoyed my brief flirtations with Rowling’s books, each of which became more confident, complex and complete with each volume, but my exposure to the Potter universe has been largely through the films. Last years Half-Blood Prince delivered a lot of fury, drama and some crushing blows to young Harry Potter, and while I thought David Yates’ direction perfectly fit the world of the books and his understanding of their coming of age themes dead on, the film felt somewhat rushed.

With any book as lengthy as the late-series Potter’s tended to be, a film adaptation will no doubt leave a lot behind, all while it struggles to cram in as much as it can. One can see the difficulties the filmmaker’s face each time out. So the two-film approach to Deathly Hollows (a book of nearly 800 pages!) makes sense. It will be intriguing to see if the added total length will give the story the breathing room it needs as the story draws to its emotional close.

One thing is for sure, and that’s that the three main players mature (in performance, not just in physicality – I see you looking at Watson like that…) with each picture, and that they feel primed to deliver for the climax of the series. Millions of fans are primed right along with them.

Honorary Mention:

Note – the only reason this title is not included in the Top 10 is because it is yet to be confirmed as a 2010 release. That, and we like to cheat.

Tree of Life

Release Date: 2010 (tentative)

Director: Terence Malick

Cast: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain

Writers: Terence Malick

2 films in five years is, for Terrence Malick, a break-neck speed.  For the man who usually spends a decade or so between films this is a pleasant surprise to those of us who are big fans of the man’s work.  There may be no more a polarizing director than Malick.  To all who see his movies they’re labeled as either ‘brilliant’ or ‘boring’ (I fall into the former).  Some call his movies ‘slow, others ‘deliberately paced’.  But most can agree that no one captures images quite as beautifully or as well-composed as Terrence Malick.

While details are scarce on the film, it seems to be a departure from the normal Malick fare in that there may be some fantasy elements involved.  The story surrounds a man’s (Brad Pitt) journey through life as he makes mistakes and tries to find redemption.  As normal as that may seem, people from the FX team have discussed prehistoric landscapes that have been designed for the film.  Additionally, the tree (a massive, real-life, oak that was transplanted to a field in Texas for the shoot) is said to have magical properties of its own.

While his style is definitely not intended for a wide audience, those of us that are fans will have this one right at the top of our lists.  The man has made some of the most brilliant films and each new one is a very welcome addition to our future DVD and Blu-Ray libraries.

Full announcement:

“Is another studio specialty shingle about to shutter?

Rumors spread through the weekend that 20th Century Fox is set to discontinue Fox Atomic, the production label that was started by Peter Rice in 2007 to generate comedy and genre films.

According to sources, label head Debbie Liebling is considering an offer to return as an executive at 20th Century Fox, where she would continue to develop comedies and genre pics for co-presidents Alex Young and Emma Watts. There is no word on what will become of the rest of the executive staff.

Fox would not confirm the move, and speculation is that the division is a casualty of not enough hits, but most importantly, that the division’s chief benefactor, Rice, was elevated to run Fox Broadcasting for Rupert Murdoch.

Fox Atomic was formed in January 2007 around Liebling, who as a Fox exec developed a flair for comedy on such Fox hits as “Borat” and “Dodgeball.” Before that, she served as a producer on the “South Park” series and the 1999 feature film.

The label has had its name on such genre efforts as “28 Weeks Later,” “The Hills Have Eyes II,” and “Turistas,” and comedies like “The Rocker,” “The Comebacks,” “Miss March,” and “12 Rounds.”

The comedies have mostly missed, and Fox Atomic’s free-standing marketing operation was shuttered in January 2008, with 20th and Searchlight taking over the sales efforts on Atomic product.

Atomic was hoping to make its biggest mark later this year, with two potentially commercial films that include the July 10 opener “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” which was directed by Chris Columbus and stars Hayden Panettiere; and “Jennifer’s Body,” the Diablo Cody-scripted Karyn Kusama-directed horror film that stars Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. That film will be released Sept. 18.

Liebling has several other high profile projects percolating, movies that presumably will move over the 20th. They include “28 Months Later,” a continuation of the zombie franchise launched by director Danny Boyle, and “Accidentes,” which Liebling bought as a pitch for a potential star vehicle for Sacha Baron Cohen to play an ambulance chasing lawyer who becomes a working class folk hero. Peter Baynham, who shared an Oscar nomination for scripting “Borat” with Baron Cohen, will write the screenplay, and Baron Cohen is overseeing the comedy as producer.”

In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, “Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar – as the fierce fighting machine who possesses amazing healing powers, retractable claws and a primal fury. Leading up to the events of X-Men, X-Men Origins: Wolverine tells the story of Wolverine’s epically violent and romantic past, his complex relationship with Victor Creed, and the ominous Weapon X program. Along the way, Wolverine encounters many mutants, both familiar and new, including surprise appearances by several legends of the X-Men universe whose appearances in the film series have long been anticipated” (/Film).

In a surprise ruling, a federal judge in Los Angeles said he intended to grant 20th Century Fox’s claim that it owns a copyright interest in the “Watchmen,” a movie shot by Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures and set for release in March.

The decision was disclosed in a five-page written order issued on Wednesday. Gary A. Feess, a judge in the United States District Court for Central California, said he would provide a more detailed order soon.

Fox has been seeking to prevent Warner from releasing the film. The superhero adventure, based on the “Watchmen” graphic novel, is being directed by Zack Snyder (who also directed “300”) and has shaped up as one of most eagerly anticipated releases for next year.

A Warner spokesman, Scott Rowe, declined to comment on the ruling and the studio’s plans.

At an earlier hearing, the judge said he believed that issues in the case could be settled only at a trial, which was scheduled for late January. On Wednesday, however, Judge Feess said he had reconsidered and concluded that Fox should prevail on crucial issues.

“Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the ‘Watchmen’ motion picture,” the ruling said.

Fox acquired rights to the “Watchmen” graphic novel in the late 1980s for the producer Lawrence Gordon, but eventually dropped its own plan to make a movie from its story, about the underside of life for superbeings.

Mr. Gordon later pursued the project with Universal Pictures, and then with Paramount Pictures, before shooting it with Warner and Legendary under an arrangement that allows Paramount to distribute the film abroad.

In ruling on Wednesday, Judge Feess advised both Fox and Warner to look toward a settlement or an appeal.

“The parties may wish to turn their efforts from preparing for trial to negotiating a resolution of this dispute or positioning the case for review,” he said.

Regardless of how we may feel, the ruling has been made and something is going down. Fox has every right to pursue what is legally theirs. With the scheduled March 6th release date fast approaching, will Fox and Warner Bros. be able to reach a settlement? And at what cost to WB? Or perhaps “appeals” will comprise the larger part of my vocabulary in the upcoming months. Stay tuned.

Titled, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the film has been in pre-production with key players from Prince Caspian—Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, and Anna Popplewell—already locked in to return. Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough) would direct the screenplay by Steven Knight.  Principle photography set for Spring 2009 and a release scheduled for May 2010, however Disney still opted out, citing “budgetary and logistical reasons” for their move.

The previous two films cost a combined estimated $380 million. The first film, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, was budgeted at $180 million and grossed $745 million worldwide while the second film, Prince Caspian, notably underperformed at $419 million worldwide. Disney and Walden Media declined to comment further.

Surprisingly however, Walden Media is still headstrong in making The Voyage even without Disney.  Walden is shopping The Voyage around and currently the trade speculates that 20th Century Fox, who has worked with Walden before, may step in as the new partner. Even still, the outlook is grave as these children fantasy features are becoming more risky and costly ventures.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of he Dawn Treader is the fifth of seven books by C.S. Lewis. In the story, Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Apparently one of the first people to question the remaking of The Day The Earth Stood Still is the new Klaatu himself, Keanu Reeves. And just one week shy of Day’s opening day, Reeves talks to the LA Times about the remaking the classic. “I’m not a big remake guy so the question was, ‘Why?’ …Scott [Derrickson, director of the remake] had a why,” Reeves says. “He had a real respect, not a reverence, but a real appreciation for the original. He thought that story of the alien coming to Earth with a warning, a perspective outside of what humans can see, was a worthwhile tale, and he’s right.”

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.

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.

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.

New York City, NY
Los Angeles
Chicago
San Francisco
Washington DC
Atlanta
Dallas
Ft. Worth
Denver
Detroit
Houston
Minneapolis
St. Paul, MN
San Diego
Seattle
Tacoma
St. Louis
Austin
Baltimore
Cleveland
Kansas City
Knoxville
Miami
W. Palm Beach
Orlando
Phoenix
Portland
Sacramento
San Antonio
Albuquerque
Charlotte
Cincinnati
Grand Rapids, MI
Jacksonville, FL
Las Vegas, NV
Lexington, KY
Louisville, KY
Nashville, TN
Oklahoma City, OK
Omaha, NE
Pensacola, FL
Tampa, FL
Tulsa, OK
Birmingham, AL
Colorado Springs, CO
Fresno, CA
Ft. Wayne, IN
Greenville/Spartanburg, SC
Raleigh, NC