Another Dip in the Ocean?
Producer Jerry Weintraub is in the early stages of plotting a third chapter of the Ocean’s Eleven franchise with director Steven Soderbergh and his Section Eight partner George Clooney, Variety reports. There are no plot details at present but the full cast is expected to return for the third film, tentatively titled Ocean’s 13, which is set to start shooting later this year. Now, why on earth would they want to do that? I had a problem with even doing a second one. I mean, who was the 12th person anyway, Julia Roberts? And who’s going to be the 13th person, Catherine Zeta-Jones? And in what continent are they going to pull off the next heist? Africa? It just seems like the franchise’s originality may be wearing a little thin, even if George Clooney and Brad Pitt are onboard. But maybe they’ll prove me wrong.
Depp Could Sing for His Supper
Johnny Depp has been tapped to star in the film adaptation of the hit Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd. The story revolves around Benjamin Barker, a man unjustly imprisoned by a lecherous judge, who returns as barber Sweeney Todd and exacts grisly revenge. Previously, Jarhead director Sam Mendes has been swirling around the DreamWorks project, keen to direct and produce, with Russell Crowe linked to role of the Sweeney Todd. But British newspaper The Sun claims director Tim Burton is now looking to direct the film with his pal Depp. Hmmm, Crowe would certainly earn some major brownie points if he were able to pull it off, but ultimately, I think Depp would be a much better choice.
Darth Vader IS Bob Dylan
Hayden Christensen will be channeling Bob Dylan in the Edie Sedgwick biopic Factory Girl. The former Darth Vader will play Danny Quinn, a composite of ‘60s rockers Dylan and Mick Jagger who woos Sedgwick. Rather than use the real singer/songwriter, director George Hickenlooper and screenwriter Captain Mauzner decided to create the fictitious character because rumors of Dylan’s affair with Sedgwick were just too iffy. But, according to Entertainment Weekly, Christensen is determined to use Dylan as his inspiration anyway. “I’m gonna play Bob Dylan,” the actor told EW firmly. “And I’m so excited—I’m a big fan.” Sedgwick is being played by the lovely Sienna Miller, while Guy Pearce is set to become Andy Warhol. Also on EW’s radar… After getting rave reviews playing a jaded hit man in The Matador, Pierce Brosnan is staying on the “bad guy” band wagon. He’ll play a psychopath who kidnaps a couple from an upscale neighborhood in the thriller Butterfly on a Wheel, co-starring Maria Bello. Way to beat the James Bond rap, Pierce!
Berry, Willis are Perfect Together
I reported awhile ago that Bruce Willis and Halle Berry were going to star in a movie together, but now I have a few more plot details–and it still doesn’t sound too good. Perfect Stranger is set in the world of Internet intrigue, where Berry plays a woman who goes undercover both online and off to investigate a friend’s murder. Giovanni Ribisi and CSI star Gary Dourdan are also joining the cast of the psychological thriller. Ribisi will play Miles Haley, an IT wiz and hacker who helps Berry’s character track the killer online, while Dourdan portrays Cameron, Berry‘s on-again, off-again boyfriend. I’m just wondering how a killer can kill online–send a computer virus that somehow affects whoever touches the keyboard? I hope they’ll be able to explain themselves.
Travolta, Allen Are Going Hog Wild
John Travolta and Tim Allen are in negotiations to star in the Disney comedy Wild Hogs, playing middle-aged biker wannabes who hit the open road in search of adventure and find themselves face-to-face with the Hell’s Angels. As odd as this pairing sounds, I am somewhat intrigued with the idea of seeing Travolta and Allen in black leather. The film sounds hilarious, a sort of comical Easy Rider. And I’m glad Travolta is finally trying something different with his career, since he hasn’t been having much success lately. Working with Allen, who is definitely one of the more serviceable comedic actors working today, should help.
More on Wild Things…
I just love Maurice Sendak’s classic kid’s book Where the Wild Things Are–and now Warner Bros. feels the same way. The studio has acquired Wild Things out of turnaround from Universal, with Spike Jonze set to helm from a script he and novelist Dave Eggers penned, Variety reports. Apparently, turning the 338-word Wild Things–which tells the story of Max, who, after being sent to bed for being too wild, has grand adventures in a land where the wild things live–into a feature film has been a long process, with multiple helmers and writers weighing in. Universal and Sendak did not see eye-to-eye on the concept, but the current vision has the strong support of author Sendak, who told the New York Times in October, “I am in love with it. If Spike and Dave do not do this movie now, I would just as soon not see any version of it ever get made.” Details of the Jonze–Eggers version have been closely held, but the film is set to be a live-action feature which will likely require a sizable CGI budget. I can’t WAIT!
Nichols, Hanks Go to War
Mike Nichols is in discussions to direct Tom Hanksin Charlie Wilson’s War, a CIA drama based on a book by a former 60 Minutes producer. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Universal Pictures project centers on the CIA’s covert operation in Afghanistan to arm the Mujahideen during the 1980s. The covert ops were engineered by Charlie Wilson, a charismatic, wheeler-dealer, liberal Texas congressman who teamed with a rogue CIA operative. The two manipulated Congress, the CIA and a host of foreign governments in order to assist the Afghan rebels in their fight against the Soviets, many of who went on to become the Taliban’s enforcers and Osama bin Laden’s protectors. Yikes. Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing, adapted George Crile’s book for the big screen. Sounds like all the pieces are in place for a top-notch political thriller.
