Diesel Hits Back
Instead of a hit videogame revolving around one of his movies (The Chronicles of Riddick), Vin Diesel is now bringing a videogame star to life. The actor will play the role of Agent 47 from the “Hitman” gaming series about an international assassin who works for a mysterious organization dubbed the Agency. Shades of XXX? Bourne Identity? James Bond? Oh well, at least its got a hardass like Diesel in it. He can at least sell the hell out of it. Producer Adrian Askarieh told Variety, “Hitman is a project that by the virtue of its DNA can and will reach far beyond its already substantial core audience. We obviously are delighted to have Vin Diesel on board, too. He and Agent 47 are a match made in heaven.” Hitman also represents Fox’s second deal for a vidgame franchise this month. The studio is closing in on the rights to Microsoft’s megahit Halo as well, along with Universal. That deal–based on a script by 28 Days Later scribe Alex Garland–caused a stir when Garland’s agents at Creative Artists Agency sent it out via a messenger clad in a “Halo”-esque green costume. Variety reports the deal also came bearing some pretty stiff terms, including a two-hour bidding period and demands for a $10 million advance against 15 percent of the gross. The studios balked at the conditions, and the current deal is said to be much less than those initial demands. The “Halo” sci-fi game franchise tells the story of Master Chief, a super warrior bred for combat. As humanity’s last defense against an invading alien race known as the Covenant, Master Chief has almost single-handedly saved the world. Don’t they all.
Holmes looks to be a no-show in Batman sequel
Batman Begins stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman have apparently signed on to star in a second Batman movie. But love interest Katie Holmes, as district attorney Rachel Dawes, didn’t make the cut, according to World Entertainment News Network. A source told Pagesix.com, “Everyone is in agreement that the movie’s strength is with Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Warner is happy that people are now focusing on who’ll be playing the Joker rather than Katie and Tom,” alluding to the fact that Holmes‘ very public romance with Tom Cruise may have hurt her chances to be in the sequel. Baloney. All of Batman’s love interests fall by the waistside after one movie. There was Kim Basinger in the first Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns, Nicole Kidman in Batman Forever and was it Elle Macpherson in Batman & Robin? I can’t even remember. Come on, its all about the solitary Batguy and the dastardly villains he has to battle. The girls are only secondary.
Allen sets up shop for another London shoot
No one ever thought he’d give up his beloved New York, but apparently Oscar-winning filmmaker Woody Allen has a new favorite city: London. After making his last film, Match Point, in the British capital, Allen is gearing up to direct yet another unnamed comedy there. Woody will star in it as well, along with Australian actor Hugh Jackman and the lovely Scarlett Johansson, who also starred in Match Point. Jackson told WENN, “The film is a comedy melodrama that is contemporary and takes place in London. Johansson plays a visiting American student who has a love affair with a British aristocrat. I play a low-grade American entertainer, which is perfect for me because that’s what I am.” Also included in the cast is veteran British actor and Deadwood star Ian McShane. Can’t wait.
Gellar falls down the rabbit hole
If the studios aren’t remaking old TV shows or movies, it’s videogames. Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to star in an adaptation of the videogame Alice for Universal Pictures. Based on a twisted take of the Lewis Carroll classic, the fractured fairy tale picks up after Alice returns home from her harmless trip through Wonderland. But when she gets back, she finds her home has been destroyed and her family killed. Yikes. That certainly isn’t your usual “a very merry un-birthday” Disney fare, is it? As the sole survivor of the disaster, she returns to the now dark and threatening Wonderland where she must confront her fears before returning to her normal life. Oh man, I see all kinds of special effects for this one.
Meryl Streep heads to the White House
The Oscar-winning actress is set to become America’s first female president in the upcoming movie The First Man. Must be a theme. I believe Geena Davis is playing the president in a new TV series, Commander in Chief as well. In First Man, Streep will play a woman married to a media mogul (Robert De Niro) who embarks on a successful campaign for presidency. While her husband is happy to put his career on hold to run her presidential campaign, he suddenly sees a huge role reversal once his wife takes office. You think? Personally, I don’t even know why a woman would ever really want to run for president. It’s a thankless job.
Owen, Blanchett in Elizabeth sequel
Clive Owen is set to play legendary adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh in a big-budget sequel to the 1998 Oscar winner Elizabeth. Owen will star alongside Cate Blanchett, who will once again grace the throne as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The movie is expected to be a sensational take on the chemistry between the so-called Virgin Queen’s and Raleigh–suggesting the redhead monarch was madly in love with the gallant courtier. But experts are concerned studio execs are attempting to rewrite history, as there is no proof the pair were ever intimate. Jane Dunn, who wrote the acclaimed biography Elizabeth and Mary, told WENN, “I fear that they will try and sex things up. There is no evidence that she slept with any man.” Well, of course they are going to sex things up. Duh. It’s the Oscar-winning Cate Blanchett and Oscar-nominated Clive Owen, for heaven’s sakes. Together. In a movie.
Until next week…
