Jon Favreau
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BirthDate BirthPlace |
10/18/1966
Queens, NY |
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Q&A With 'Iron Man 2' Star Garry Shandling!
September 28, 2010 8:33am ESTWhen Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures and director Jon Favreau began casting Iron Man 2, many names popped up that made a lot of sense to me. Scarlett Johansson was an obvious choice to play the seductive secret agent Black Widow, while Mickey Rourke's hiring as the tech-savvy super villian Whiplash was inspired. But I was puzzled when I heard that legendary laugh-meister Garry Shandling would be joining the production. Where were Favreau & co. going to fit him into the Marvel Universe? As time went on I learned that Shandling would lend his skills to a character named Senator Stern and as soon as the teaser trailer for the film hit, I found that Shandling was born to portray a no-nonsense politician who has a courtroom clash with playboy protagonist Tony Stark. The comedic sparks were flying on the set that day and now, with Iron Man 2 on Blu-ray and DVD, you can relive the hilarity of that soon to be classic scene anytime you want! We sat down for an exclusive talk with Mr. Shandling to talk about the current state of comedy and his work on Iron Man 2. Read on for the complete interview and be sure to get your hands on Iron Man 2 today! Q: What do you think about the current state of American comedy? Garry Shandling: You know it’s funny, coincidentally, I bumped into David Mamet at a function last night - I’ve never met him – and he came up to me and he said “Gary, David Mamet” and I said “Oh my gosh, I always had you confused with Neil Simon.” Which I think is hopefully a good opener for David Mamet. He couldn’t help but smile and I think that phrase is very specific: “He couldn’t help but smile.” And he had told me that he had done a couple of videos for Funny or Die, and I said to him “I have to check it out, because those fellas are friends of mine, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, over there at that production company that Will has, and I’m about three months behind. I check in about every three months, which I have to change, but I love the idea that certainly online we can, on that site, do quick, short things. We discussed several things that I’ll eventually get to doing on that site. We’re going to shoot a kind of retro, very dirty version of the 20,000 Dollar Pyramid. Which I can’t do for you now, but I’ve done it before with my buddy Alan (inaudible) and we want to shoot that and put that on there. Both Adam and Chris play basketball here so we talk about some of that stuff in between games occasionally, so I love that particular website. The state of television, seems to be, that in fact what I was thinking when I was describing the Larry Sanders Show to HBO in ’92, I had a vision of the show that is basically what it is, you know it’s exactly what it is, strangely enough. I realized that I could not use any other shows that were on TV even as examples for – in segments even, I couldn’t even use pieces of other shows as an example – so, that show must have been different because I’m working backwards, you see. I remember when I described that show to them, I could not describe it other than directly, what my vision was and I know that they couldn’t quite visualize it yet. But Michael Fuchs had given me a 13 show commitment so, I was lucky because they trusted me because they know I’m tougher on myself than they would be, as a critic, I’m tougher on myself. And they knew the first series, and that thing was also different, so we were really constructing basically, my audience is Stephen Hawking. You know, a man who writes the scientific explanation of how something can come out of nothing, is exactly what The Larry Sanders Show is and how we worked, so there was something coming out of nothing because there was no precursor to it exactly other than I was influenced by The King of Comedy where Scorsese has a cut backstage to a talk show that I think Jerry Lewis played a character that hosted and it was very cinematic. And I remembered that as a way of delineating what happened in front of the curtain and what happened behind the curtain, and so I think then the naturalness of the acting and the decision not to use, of course, a laugh track and then the strong reality of it and the organic quality that’s not forced at that period of time was only appropriate for cable television. The networks, you know might have – you can look up ’92 and see what’s on, it’s quite different than Larry Sanders and quite different than what’s on now. We’ve seen the slow disappearance of the regular old school sitcom and I wasn’t interested in doing a sitcom. So, I think some of the shows, there are certain similarities and tone on the broadcast networks that didn’t exist before Larry Sanders and I think that probably it showed people what could be done and it probably had some influence. I’ve been told by others that it’s been an influence on them, Ricky Gervais being one, and then others and that’s an interesting circumstance and yet here we are, speaking in this moment. It’s also, by the way if I may, it’s also the way Jon Favreau works and when I was shooting Iron Man 2, the same time I was making this box set – or helping out with the box set, I didn’t have as much a hand in this that I’ve had in some of the others – and he also believes in this organic kind of spontaneous acting and that’s why he called me and I think the DVD of that is coming out as well and I’m sure it’s gonna be evident from the outtakes in that and the documentary and backstage look at how that movie was done, you’ll see the willingness to create in the moment that Jon brings. And then Downey just loves to improvise, and to look and to reinvent constantly. Those are the people I love working with. Q: In the main court room scene that you were in on Iron Man 2, he (Downey) was bringing the laughs and you were really playing the character more straight. What was it like sharing the set with him there? GS: Well, it was fantastic, I had been in Hawaii for three weeks prior to starting that movie, in fact Jon had called me in Hawaii to offer me this role, and when I got back from Hawaii I went in and sat with Robert and Jon to see where our sensibilities lie so that we could see how it worked, and we really hit it off. And I am so challenged by Robert and sparked by Robert that, again, on the DVD, there are so many different takes. Some in which I’m which I’m funny and some in which I’m straight and there’s so much other material because we just would go on and on and around and around. I think that that Senator if not played straight, is not going to communicate effectively what that scene is about. And so, my first very strong intention was to be honest and true to the scene and the character, but you know there’s still a twist in that guy that isn’t exactly of the norm. And that’s what Jon sensed. He called me up and he said, “What are you doing there in Hawaii?” and I said, “Just hanging out,” and he said, “I don’t think this is the time to withdraw,” and he said, “Come on man, I think we can really do something no one expects in this thing and then we can look to make it a little longer because it’s just been on my mind,” and he said, “I want to be there to support you to go to some place that no one expects including us.” And that’s what got me into it, because he was talking about the work itself and the style of work. Q: Will you be reprising the role in future movies (The Avengers, Iron Man 3)? GS: They have not spoken to me about reprising that character, which I would do in a second. I mean I really rarely have a good time working because I need to be around the quality of people that was in and around this movie and the Marvel people were fantastic but they have not yet mentioned anything about doing more, but I think I heard conceivably I could get free parking. You know, I feel, I could impress somebody with free parking to the next Marvel project. One of my pitches for the end – it was a joke – was, I said I’d like to say “I’m Iron Man” as he did in the first one and I said to Robert that you should say, “No I’m Iron Man,” and then they would have an argument with him about who really is Iron Man. When Jon called me and he said, “I'm doing Iron Man 2 and there’s a part for you,” I said, “What kind of suit do I get to wear?” and he goes, “A regular suit.” And I said, “I mean no, what kind of weapons will be on it?” We hadn’t gotten to the senator part yet, so I said, “What kind of weapons will be on it?” and he said, “No, it’s a suit and tie, you play a senator.” Yeah, it’s a three piece, there’s a vest, a tie, a jacket, pants and a belt.” So I said, “So I get no weapons?” I brought a gun, I had a gun in my pocket the whole time. Q: Maybe we can get some sort of arm piece or a helmet or something. GS: From your mouth to God’s ears. Q: GQ called you the comedian’s comedian’s comedian, what does that mean? And how do you feel about being the comedian’s comedian’s comedian? GS: I think what they mean by the comedian’s comedian’s comedian is I am the comedian’s comedian unless they watch too long and then they change their mind. Then I’m just a comedian. So I’m the comedian’s comedian slash comedian again. I end up as a comedian, I think that’s what they mean. They’re giving me a compliment and then taking it right away. Q: Who are the three entertainers that you follow or most look forward to seeing new stuff from? GS: Oh well, look. For the sake of this conversation and the fact that we have just discussed it, I have two projects coming out on DVD in two months which I find hilarious if I may say somewhat facetiously, what about a high point in my career that I have two DVDs coming out. But, here you go it feels like I’m selling DVDs today, so while we’re on that I think the Scott Pilgrim DVD comes out the first week of October, it comes out as well in this time period. And I have nothing to do with that except, I’m a big fan of Michael Cera and I would recommend also picking that one up. Probably I would go in this order: Iron Man 2, Scott Pilgrim, and then God forbid anyone has any money left, Larry Sanders: The Complete Series. Q: If you think that any comedian could be elected to be Commander in Chief, who do you think that would be? GS: Well, I mean Al Franken’s already got a head start. I think we need a Native American in as Chief of Staff, if Rahm Emanuel leaves, we’ve got to get a Native American into the administration and it seems natural that that should be Chief of Staff. I think it’s an insult to the Native Americans that it’s not a Native American – it’s the Chief of Staff. So there’s the discussion of Rahm Emanuel. Q: I was always hoping for Dana Carvey so that way we can get his own opinions and more imitations of George Bush as well. GS: Well, Dana Carvey would be great and Jimmy Fallon does some great impressions and he would be great. And I wouldn’t leave out Sarah Silverman just as a nice big change, that would be big, big change.
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Olivia Wilde To ‘Change Up’ On Screen
September 15, 2010 4:25pm ESTOlivia Wilde will be gracing our collective cinaplex screens for the next while. And as warm blooded persons with a pulse, we should all be thankful. Now news is coming in that she is set to star opposite Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds in The Change Up. This is only the next step for Wilde who has a wild list of upcoming films. She has The Next Three Days opposite Russell Crowe and Butter a Hugh Jackman/Jennifer Garner comedy (not the Paula Dean biopic which I am writing). She’ll also be appearing in this December’s surefire blockbuster Tron: Legacy. Not too mention the Jon Favreau (Iron Man and Iron Man 2) Cowboys and Aliens, with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford (no word on which is the cowboy and which is the alien). The Change Up should only help Wilde build her career after these films. The film’s writers penned a little blockbuster called The Hangover. And the director, David Dobkin, made Wedding Crashers which gave to us the comedic powers of Isla Fisher and Rachel McAdams. Dobkin obviously knows how to handle smart and funny women, so Wilde is in good hands. And if she isn’t in good hands, I hereby officially volunteer to be said hands. I have very tender hands, I exfoliate and moisturize and the calluses from typing show I can work hard and take care of her. Source: Deadline
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Man of Steel: Jon Hamm to be the Next Superman?
September 14, 2010 5:07am ESTIt's a bird, it's a plane, it's...Don Draper as Superman? That's what the ThinkMcFlyThink blog says is the latest rumor making the rounds for the upcoming take on the Man of Steel. Christopher Nolan is producing a script by David Goyer which Jonathan Nolan may direct. Fans have campaigned for Jon Hamm to play a superhero before (and he certainly has the jaw to play Clark Kent's alter-ego), but this is still rumor for the moment. TMT also points out that Hamm is 39 and thus older than the folks who are regularly looked at for these franchises. Then again, Robert Downey Jr. is in his 40s. In February, MTV spoke with Hamm about taking on a potential superhero role and he had this to say: "I don't know. It's a tricky road to go down with some of those heroes, because they're not flawed. Superman is Superman -- he's invincible, so where's the drama?" Then again, later in the interview he spoke of Nolan as one of the reasons recent superhero movies are working: "When you get a Chris Nolan or a Jon Favreau who really have a take on it, you're able to make something better than just the average popcorn movie. Ideally, that will be the evolution of those things...There's a reason comic books sell hundreds of millions of copies every year -- because they're interesting stories." Still, says TMT, "Before anyone starts nerdgasming, keep in mind no deal is in place and there's no indication Hamm and/or his representation has met with WB, Legendary or the Nolan crew. He's one of several names being thrown around the Burbank offices to headline the new Superman franchise. But it gives you an idea of what direction they're looking at." Click here for the full story
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The Summer Sci-Fi Movie Awards
August 31, 2010 5:52am ESTWelcome to the first-ever batch of MindFood Sci-Fi Movie Awards, where I assign completely arbitrary awards (henceforth known as MindFoodies) in categories I’ve just made up to signify how I’ll always remember a film. Now that the summer movie season is over, it’s a perfect time to look back and hand out some newly minted, yet still largely irreverent, MindFoodies to all the theatrical sci-fi(ish) films that came out between May and September. Best Reminder That Mickey Rourke Is Insane - Iron Man 2 Iron Man 2 could have easily stood to lose 20 minutes of non-action, but even with its flabby midsection intact, I still wound up having more fun with it than I did the first film (yes, I know I’m in the minority here). Jon Favreau’s superb augmenting of practical effects with CGI is, once again, top notch; Downey Jr. is just as roguishly charming as he was the first time out; Sam Rockwell is hilariously scummy; and Scarlett Johansson kicks a surprising amount of ass in it. But for me the truly memorable addition was none other than Mickey Rourke. That accent, those tattoos, his dreadlocks, the freakin’ cockatoo -- the man lives in a different world than the rest of us, and I love that we’re seeing that personality bleed from off camera to on (he took it to an even more “WTF is he doing?” level in The Expendables). Best CGI Animated Film You’ve Never Heard Of - Metropia There’s a reason most people likely haven’t heard of Metropia: It’s a Swedish-made animated film about a dystopic future with questionable methods of mind control that only opened in NY and LA. The story gets a little strange, but the animation is unique and it's got a pretty cool roster of voice actors (Juliette Lewis, Alexander and Stellan Skarsgard, Udo Kier, Vincent Gallo) to help bring it to life. It’s not for everyone, but if that cast piqued your interest any, it’s certainly worth checking out. Most Adequately Entertaining Blockbuster That Failed - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Prince of Persia could have been great. With a more spectacle-savvy director behind it, this could have easily taken the crown as the best video-game movie ever made (not that it would be hard considering the genre’s historical track record). That’s not what ended up happening, however. It’s not terrible, mind you, and Jake Gyllenhaal is better than expected, but it’s all still strictly...adequate. Best Film That Most People Hated in 2010 That They Would Have Loved in 1985 - Splice I’m a big fan of Splice. I think it’s a daring, refreshing creature feature that goes into darkly comic and twisted territory. I also think that by combining so many different elements into one film, director Vincenczo Natali actively alienated most of his audience. Unfortunately, we now live in a time where people don’t appreciate edgy, atypical films if they catch them off guard, and I think that’s what held Splice back from being a hit. If it had been made in the ‘80s, however, when genre fans weren’t so stuck-up, it’d be a sci-fi staple. Film I Saw the Least Of - Jonah Hex And by “Saw the Least Of” I mean “Completely Avoided Because I Don’t Hate Myself (That Much).” Biggest Piece of Sh*t of the Year - The Last Airbender Sure, the year isn’t over, but I’m calling it now. If someone makes a movie worse than the cinematic hate crime that is The Last Airbender, I will quit the human race. Best First 45 Minutes - Predators I liked Predators, but if it had ended after the first 45 or so minutes, I would have loved the hell out of it. The opening feels like the sequel that should have been, but after a certain character shows up, the whole thing gets a bit lethargic and never quite reawakens. Film I Wanted to See But Didn’t - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Technically, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice could have shared Jonah Hex’s prestigious MindFoodie since I didn’t see it, but unlike Jonah Hex, I did actually want to. Between Bad Lieutenant and Kick-Ass, Nicolas Cage has been on a winning streak of late, so I was certainly curious to see what kind of weirdness he brought to a modern-day sorcerer. Unfortunately, life conspired against me and I just never got around to it. Best Sci-Fi Film of the Summer - Inception I know, I know -- what a shocker. So much has been said about Inception at this point that I’m not going to say anything new about Christopher Nolan’s film in just a few sentences, but I do want to reiterate that this was hands-down the most awe-inspiring film of the summer. I’m not sure I’ll rewatch it nearly as often as I have Nolan’s other films, but I do think it deserves all the praise (and very little of the derision) of which it’s already been on the receiving end. Best Film I Grew to Love On Second Viewing - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World The first time I saw Edgar Wright’s much-ballyhooed Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, I merely liked it. I could see why critics all over the place were going ape for it; I just wasn’t in love. However, when I took my wife to see it, I was smitten. I’m not sure it will make my Best of the Year list, as many others have been quick to proclaim, but it’s got a ridiculously infectious and energetic spirit to it, and that’s something I just cannot say about any other film of the summer.
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'Lost's' Damon Lindelof May Rewrite 'Alien' Prequel
July 29, 2010 8:18am ESTIn a convoluted plot worthy of the show he helped write and produce, Lost's Damon Lindelof has been assigned to rewrite 20th Century Fox's Alien prequel… or not. Deadline reports that Lindelof originally met with director Ridley Scott to discuss the possibility of his rewriting the script for Scott's Alien prequel, which the studio wants him to direct. But when the two sat down, their chat evolved into a heated brainstorming session, and ended with Scott offering Lindelof the chance to write a stand-alone science fiction actioner based on their conversation. When he turns it in, the studio may well decide to develop Lindelof's story into its own movie - though they may discard it and ask him to return to his rewrite of Jon Spaiht's original script. It's also possible Lindelof's draft could mean an entirely new direction for the Alien prequel project - if Scott likes what he sees. Lindelof just finished working on the Jon Favreau-directed Cowboys and Aliens, which is currently in production in New Mexico with Daniel Craig, and is currently hard at work writing and producing the Star Trek sequel with fellow writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who were also onboard for Cowboys and Aliens. Despite all that work, Lindelof reportedly leapt at the opportunity to get involved with Scott, his 1979 Alien having been such a seminal influence on the writer at the tender age of six. Rebooting the Alien franchise has been a high priority for Fox in this seeming Golden Age of remakes and sequels. However, Ridley Scott hadn't considered actually directing an Alien prequel until he read Spaihts' script, after which he decided to take on the project himself. That makes it all the more interesting that Scott is now so taken with Lindelof, such that he is debating having him rewrite the movie altogether. At the very least, that makes me somewhat optimistic: I don't know what went on during that brainstorming session, but it must have been pretty good for Scott to consider changing the entire course of the Alien franchise. Source: Deadline
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Daniel Craig Joins 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'
July 26, 2010 11:38am ESTIt’s Blomkvist, Mikael Blomkvist. James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, has officially signed on to star in David Fincher’s adaptation of Swedish thriller The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Craig has been heavily rumored for the lead role in the probable blockbuster for some time, but he officially sealed the deal with Sony Pictures today. Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is the first in Stieg Larsson’s bestselling series of mystery novels, which follow framed journalist Mikael Blomkvist and troubled computer hacker Lisbeth Salander as they investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young heiress. Salander’s role is still up for grabs, and it seems like every young actress in Hollywood is vying for the part. Craig, at least, can rest easy knowing that he has a part in one franchise not likely to fall apart, even if the 23rd Bond film never makes it off the ground. Source: Deadline Previously: Though MGM and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli must be less than pleased that production on Bond 23 has been delayed, star Daniel Craig is loving the free time - because he's picking up work like he's the last leading man in the business. After starring in Jon Favreau's Cowboys and Aliens, the British actor may work with David Fincher on the highly anticipated English language version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the first film in a planned trilogy based on Stieg Larsson's worlwide, best-selling literary franchise. The Wrap reports that Craig is nearing a deal to play the journalist who is looking for the missing woman. Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Kristen Stewart have expressed interest in taking on the coveted starring role in the mystery flick that revolves around the long-unsolved disappearance of an heiress. Columbia Pictures, who will produce and distribute the film, claims not to have offered the role to anyone just yet, but given Craig's relationship with the studio that co-distributes the Bond film, it makes perfect sense that they'd want to keep him on the lot while the MGM mess is worked out. Having not read the books, but hearing about their quality second hand, it sounds like this could be a very interesting project given the talent that's eyeing it. Craig is a tremendous performer, Fincher a master storyteller and with a capable female lead, I smell a hit.
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Comic-Con and Superhero Burnout
July 20, 2010 8:58am ESTComic-Con and Superhero Burnout I love Comic-Con. Perhaps that is because I’ve never actually been to Comic-Con. In my mind it is this glorious Geek Mecca where no matter how much of a fanboy you are about a particular comic, film, TV show, game or whatever else you’re into that the rest of the world has yet to catch onto, you can always look to your left and to your right and see someone who is even more passionate about it than you are. Basically, I envision it as some kind of geek orgy where nothing is taboo. The reality is probably a lot less cheerful. Oh, I’ve no doubt that you’ll always be able to find someone who's even more into the long-forgotten CGI Starship Troopers TV show than you are. I also have no doubt that people are incredibly friendly and that no weird intellectual property fetish can be too taboo. However, I also imagine that after day one, standing around in absurdly long lines so you can be shuffled into an overcrowded conference hall probably begins to grind down the enjoyment of being surrounded by people who are just like you. Plus, there has been a growing concern over the years that the San Diego con has become far too commercial, since all the major movie studios have turned it into their promotional springboard. Since I don’t have to deal with any of those inconveniences, I’m free to get excited about Comic-Con — and the inevitable breaking news that comes with it — each year. This year, however, I’m a little less excited for some reason. I was going through the list of all the panel presentations that will be there and I really couldn’t find a handful of things that made me wish this had finally been the year I had bitten the bullet and made the geek pilgrimage to San Diego. I was trying to figure out precisely why that was the case when it dawned on me ... I’m kind of getting burned out on Superhero movies. Obviously, since this is a convention that was started around comic books, panels about comic-based films are going to be the centerpiece. But I just have incredibly low interest in Captain America, The Green Lantern, The Green Hornet and Thor. I was moderately curious about the last three given their filmmakers — Martin Campbell, Michel Gondry and Kenneth Branagh, respectively — but everything that we’ve seen from those films so far has done little to entice me. Particularly Thor, which seems to slip a peg or two down my interest ladder every time Marvel releases a new image. I’m sure once it’s all seen in motion Thor won’t look so much like a BBC drama with weird costume design, but that’s exactly what it looks like now. And The Green Hornet has the unfortunate fate of arriving at my Seth Rogen saturation point, so I’m even less excited about him starring in a superhero action-comedy. Though the casting of Christoph Waltz as the villain is going a long way to counter that non-interest. But even if I thought all the promo materials we’ve been shown so far actually looked amazing, I still can’t get past the decision to convert each of these films to 3D in post-production (The Green Lantern might be a native 3D production, I’m not positive, but the other three are definitely going to be conversions). I know Michele Gondry has sworn up and down that he shot Green Hornet with enough depth of field to properly allow for a post-production conversion, but I still just do not trust that cheaper, afterthought route. I’m just not that interested in the super budget, high-profile superhero movies any more. I’m much more excited to learn about the smaller comic-based movies like, for example, The Goon, which is a CGI-animated feature produced by David Fincher about two guys (voiced by Paul Giamatti and Clancy Brown) who fight undead crime. Or how about Sam Raimi’s newly-announced futuristic western Earp: Saints for Sinners, which places a Wyatt Earp-type law figure at the center of Las Vegas, one of the few American cities that survived the apocalypse. I know next to nothing about Jon Favreau’s Cowboys and Aliens adaptation, so I can’t wait to hear about what he’s been up to now that he’s moved on from Iron Man. Hell, I’m more excited to see the (probably) straight-to-video 30 Days of Night: Dark Days than I am to see what Chris Evans looks like wearing Captain America’s suit. I have little doubt that once all the trailers for this new crop of superhero movies start hitting, I’ll find myself warming to all the blockbuster spectacle they promise, but I’m just not there yet. I think we had a nice wave of superhero movies that were each unique in their own right; I would have loved to have seen them be their own little ka-tet of films, and not the forefathers of a new generation of (post-production) 3D superhero movies.
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Spencer Picks A Side In 'Cowboys And Aliens'
July 02, 2010 5:30am ESTCowboys And Aliens has picked up another buckaroo. Abigail Spencer, of Mad Men and Hawthorne, has signed on for a role in Jon Favreau’s retro sci-fi film. Abigail Spencer adds on to Aliens’ already jam-packed cast: the film stars Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, with Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde and Paul Dano in supporting roles. Spencer will play Alice, a hooker (probably of the "a heart of gold" variety) who is Craig's character's love interest. Usually I would give you a brief story synopsis at this point in the review, but it seems kind of unnecessary in this case. It’s about cowboys and aliens, that’s about it. Well, there are probably some Native Americans too. Cowboys And Aliens is written by Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, and Lost’sDamon Lindelof, with Ron Howard, Brian Glazer, and king of all things alien Steven Spielberg, producing. In total, there’s a ton of talent of heavy-duty talent at work at this project, and hopefully they’ll be able to rustle up a good film for next summer. Source: ComingSoon
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Bridges relied on Downey, Jr. on Iron Man set
June 18, 2010 5:00am ESTThe Oscar winner, who played Tony Stark's business partner-turned-arch-rival Obadiah Stane in the 2008 film, only signed up because he was a huge fan of Downey Jr. and the movie's director Jon Favreau. And Bridges soon realised when filming began he had a good team on his side - admitting the pair often had to help him when he got lost during a scene. He tells Total Film magazine, "We would show up sometimes and we had this big scene to shoot and we wouldn't know what we were going to say. We were lucky to have Favreau and Downey. Both of them are master improvisers. It came off great."
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Daniel Craig May Join 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'
June 04, 2010 4:53am ESTThough MGM and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli must be less than pleased that production on Bond 23 has been delayed, star Daniel Craig is loving the free time - because he's picking up work like he's the last leading man in the business. After starring in Jon Favreau's Cowboys and Aliens, the British actor may work with David Fincher on the highly anticipated English language version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the first film in a planned trilogy based on Stieg Larsson's worlwide, best-selling literary franchise. The Wrap reports that Craig is nearing a deal to play the journalist who is looking for the missing woman. Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Kristen Stewart have expressed interest in taking on the coveted starring role in the mystery flick that revolves around the long-unsolved disappearance of an heiress. Columbia Pictures, who will produce and distribute the film, claims not to have offered the role to anyone just yet, but given Craig's relationship with the studio that co-distributes the Bond film, it makes perfect sense that they'd want to keep him on the lot while the MGM mess is worked out. Having not read the books, but hearing about their quality second hand, it sounds like this could be a very interesting project given the talent that's eyeing it. Craig is a tremendous performer, Fincher a master storyteller and with a capable female lead, I smell a hit.
