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‘Wolverine’ To Hit Theaters In 2009

Posted by David Onda Categories: 20th Century Fox, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Casting, Filmmaking, Rumors, Upcoming Releases, Short FilmCrunch,

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in X-Men Fanboys everywhere are squealing with glee as Twentieth Century Fox announces that they have set a date for the eagerly awaited and horribly titled X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The film will hit theaters on May 1, 2009 and, of course, star Hugh Jackman as Marvel’s short-tempered, adamantium-clawed mutant. In addition to release date excitement, Variety reports that Liev Schreiber is in talks to play a younger version of William Stryker, Wolverine’s nemesis who was played by Brian Cox in X2.

What excites me? Rumors that the film (to be directed by Tsotsi’s Gavin Hood), which will be partially filmed in New Orleans, will include the previously left out X-man, Gambit. If I had a dollar for every playing card I lost/ruined by imitating the cartoon version of the Cajun mutant, I’d be freakin’ rich.

A few other new mutants (as well as returning ones) are expected to make appearances. Fox is also trying to get the origin story of X-Men villain Magneto off the ground and into theaters.

Gallery: ‘Wolverine’ To Hit Theaters In 2009

Cruise’s ‘Valkyrie’ Suffers (Another) Setback

Posted by David Onda Categories: MGM, Drama, Period, Political, Thrillers, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases, Short FilmCrunch,

Tom Cruise in Valkyrie Tom Cruise’s World War II thriller Valkyrie has suffered yet another in a long line of setbacks while filming in Germany. Apparently, a batch of nighttime footage shot a couple weeks ago has been deemed unusable after the negatives were developed in the wrong chemicals. Adding insult to injury, the footage was shot at the German Defense Ministry which had resisted granting Cruise (who executive produces) permission to shoot in the first place. The Ministry houses the spot where Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (played by Cruise) and his conspirators plotted to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The footage will need to be re-shot, and the Ministry has already granted re-entry.

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Gallery: Cruise’s ‘Valkyrie’ Suffers (Another) Setback

Marvel’s ‘Thor’ Script Gets Thumbs Up

Posted by David Onda Categories: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Filmmaking, Scripts, Upcoming Releases, Short FilmCrunch,

Mighty Thor Comic book fans rejoice! The long-dreamt-of big-screen debut of Marvel’s Thor has just gotten one step closer to becoming a reality. As reported by The Guardian, director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) and screenwriter Mark Protosevich have just finished the script for the mighty hammer-wielder’s movie this past week. In ever better news, Vaughn says Marvel has already approved it. They did, however, have one tiny issue:

“My phone has just rung. Marvel loves the script. The only problem is that it has been costed at $300m and they ask how I am going to reduce it by $150m. I think I prefer being asked what it’s like working with De Niro.”

One hurdle cleared – another $150 million hurdle to go.

Gallery: Marvel’s ‘Thor’ Script Gets Thumbs Up

FilmCrunch 064: Blades of Glory Review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: DreamWorks, Comedy, Sports, DVD Reviews, Short FilmCrunch, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts,

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep take a look at Blades of Glory in this episode of FilmCrunch.

When the macho, swaggering Chazz Michael Michaels takes to the rink, he is the rock star of the arena, leaving a trail of thrashed ice and shrieking female fans in his wake. The only competitor who can match Michaels’ scores is the driven former child prodigy, Jimmy MacElroy. Spotted as a youth executing triple lutzes on the frozen pond of an orphanage, MacElroy was whisked away to days of endless training, and now stands as the picture of poise, the personification of the highest ideals of the men’s sport. Michaels and MacElroy have met in finals rounds before, but their latest head-to-head at the World Championships—when they tie for first—is more than either one can bear, and their longstanding rivalry erupts into a no-holds-barred fight. The ensuing brawl not only sets fire to the World Championship’s helpless mascot, but lands both athletes in hot water: Chazz and Jimmy are called before the sport’s governing board, stripped of their gold medals and banned from the sport for life. Now, three-and-a-half years later, both men are still trying to find their way in a world without competitive skating. To skate again, all Chazz and Jimmy have to do is set aside their long festering hatred of one another and join forces—as the first male/male figure skating pair to compete in the history of the sport.