The Inside Scoop - Page 2

The highly anticipated tongue-in-cheek splatter film "Cabin in the Woods" by writer/director Drew Goddard has now been postponed.  It looks like it has been torpedoed from the 2010 release schedule.  All because of one thing: 3D.  They want to do the project now in 3D.

We now interrupt this Inside Scoop to bring you a very important INSIDE RANT from Cal: ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?  Come ON!  I don't know about you but I am sick to death of the 3D thing.  I understand completely that the studios need more of a hook to keep people coming to theaters.  But NOW you have a case where you are delaying a pic that many of us are really excited about only to 3D it up.  Honestly, does 3D really add that much to the story, the impact?  Is it so important that we now have to wait for good stories to come out?

Here's an idea.  How about we put away the 3D glasses for a while and concentrate on YOUNG TALENTED WRITERS!  Wait, what was that sound?  Did you hear that?  That was the sound of Hollywood laughing at me.  Well, that's off my chest.  What do you all think?

C

Source: Moviehole.net

NBC has cancelled the sophomore season of the cop drama "Southland", which starred former "O.C." star Ben McKenzie.   The series was about L.A. beat cops, chronicling the underbelly of crime and police work in Los Angeles.

Apparently it's an issue of lack of timeslots.  The show is critically acclaimed but they have to choose either that, or the news mag "Dateline", which draws in roughly 8 million and they're figuring that "Southland" wouldn't be able to do much better.  

However, porducer John Wells ensured that they will be shopping the show to other networks.  "I'm disappointed that NBC no longer has the time periods available to support the kind of critically acclaimed series that was for so many years a hallmark of their success," Wells said in a prepared statement. "We remain extremely proud of 'Southland' and are actively looking for another home for the series."

Take it to FX!  Then you can show viewers some skin and throw in some profanity as well.  "Shield" is gone, bring on "Southland"!

Source:  Variety 

Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci, writers of this summer's hits "Tranformers 2" and "Star Trek", have been brought on to bring the classic series "Hawaii Five-O" back to CBS as a reboot.  Kurtzman, Orci and Peter Lenkov, an exec producer on CBS’ “CSI: NY,” will develop the new spin on the vintage cop drama. Lenkov will write the pilot script under Kurtzman and Orci’s supervision, and Lenkov will serve as showrunner should the project be picked up to series.

The original series had Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett, head of the hardboiled Hawaiian State Police, which handled the toughest criminal cases and investigated organized crime on the island.

Kurtzman and Orci developed J.J. Abrams "Fringe", and also worked with him on "Alias"... so they aren't new to TV by any means. 

The original show was shot on location in Hawaii.  It's my personal vacation haunt as well and you can bet that big stars will be clamoring to take on the lead role.  It'd be like a long vacation in paradise.  And they get to say, "Book 'em Danno". 

Source:  Variety

Yes, I previously reported on this and yes, I'm not sure a "Venom" spin-off is anything special.  How can you have Venom without Spider-Man?  Anyway, the original writer seemed to have a lackluster repsonse when asked about the project, saying that it is in the studio's hands and we'll see what they do.  Well, looks like that detection of something in between the lines was right because Sony is obviously not happy with the current "Venom" draft and has brought in Gary Ross to do a major rewrite.  Ross is currently working on the "Spider-Man 4" script, which Sam Raimi will shoot in 2010. 

Topher Grace originated the role as Ed Brock/Venom in "Spider-Man 3" but is not likely to return.

Once again, chalk this up as the Marvel character movie that I have no interest in at all. 

Source:  Variety 

Okay, there's a good chance this may only get Direct-To-DVD, considering Snipes' current career status, but he's back, and hopefully paying his taxes (Snipes was arrested and charged with tax evasion a couple years back).  Wesley Snipes will reteam with his "King of New York" helmer Abel Ferrera for "Game of Death".  Snipes will star as a politician's bodyguard who must fend off five of the world's top assassins. Zoe Bell and Robert Davi co-star.

Personally, I like Snipes.  He's a fine actor and for whatever reason just seemed to make bad choices (or wasn't getting offers) once the 90s were over.  He should be one of the top leading men, but it just didn't turn out that way.  Long live "White Men Can't Jump", "New Jack City", and "Blade". 

Source:  Variety

I'm still in shock a bit over the announcement that Adrien Brody is going to be the lead, but I may be warming up to it.  If he bulks up and plays it badass, MAYBE.  Anyway, you can imagine my heart skipping a beat when I heard that Topher Grace ("Spider-Man 3", "That 70s Show") was joining the cast as well.  WTF????  But hearing who he will be playing makes perfect sense. 

Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Danny Trejo, Walton Goggins, Alice Braga, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali and Louiz Ozawa are set as the main cast of Fox's reboot of the "Predator". 

Brody will be playing a skilled tracker and manhunter.  Grace will be an innocent and harmless looking guy who is really a dangerous serial killer.  Trejo is a badass warrior with two Uzi's strapped to him.  Braga will be a tough female killer.  Ali plays a solider who doesn't fear death.  Goggins will be the unstable one.  Taktarov is an ex Russian spec ops agent. 

The story of "Predators" follows a group of elite warrior-types who are being hunted by members of a race of merciless alien trackers.

All I have to say is... no CGI, no CGI, no CGI! 

Ah Ghostbusters.  A classic and in my wife's top 5 favorite movie of all time.  So you can imagine what joy and rapture is floating around my house right now. It has been confirmed that original director Ivan Reitman will return to direct "Ghostbusters 3".

Harold Ramis, a.k.a. Dr. Egon Spengler, was going to direct if Reitman wasn't interested.  Not to take anything away from Ramis, who is brilliant by himself, but I'm breathing a sigh of relief that Ivan wants to do this.  You see in this house, you don't mess with Ghostbusters.  I mean things literally stop and freeze in time if my wife sees that it's on TV.  Moreover, if there is going to be a third installment of this beloved story, I'm glad the original director is on board.

The tidbits on the story is sparse but it does look like we will be seeing some new recruits in the Ghostbusting lineup that the old boys will have to train.  Let's just hope they don't cross the streams.  :)

C

Source: Moviehole.net

Marlon Wayans is getting the nod to play comedic great Richard Pryor.  This is somewhat surprising news as it was supposed to go to Eddie Murphy.  Before I continue, if you have never rented "Eddie Murphy-Delirious" go get it.  Go on.  I'll wait.  You're back? Good.  You now know how amazing Murphy is at impersonating Pryor.  His mannerisms and voice is dead on.  So it's really a bummer that he is wanting too much money for the studio to keep him on the project.

Adam Sandler will also be starring as Pryor's first manager Sandy Gallin.  Sandler will be a co-producer on the pic from Columbia as well.  Wayans who has a great deal of dramatic chops should bring a lot to the party.  Here is to not being disappointed.

C

Source: Moviehole.net

Okay, I'm still in a little bit of shock my brothers and sisters.  I still think I'm in some bad and very dark nightmare.  So I've reported on Robert Rodriguez's upcoming "Predators", which is a reboot/sequel to the "Predator" franchise which began with the classic sci-fi original starring none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. 

The second film had Danny Glover being chased down by predators.  Glover obvioulsy known for his tough guy roles in the "Lethal Weapon" franchise. 

And now, NOW, they've enlisted... drum role... ADRIEN BRODY!  Yes, Adrien Brody as the franchise's next, um, tough guy.  Can we all just say a collective "Nooooooooooo!"

Okay, okay.  Brody is a fine actor.  He won an Oscar for "The Pianist".  There's some acting chop merit there.  But this is the PREDATOR FRANCHISE!!  You don't hire Adrien Brody!  You hire Eric Bana.  You hire Sam Worthington (Okay, I know, he's already been in Terminator).  But not Adrien Brody.  I don't care if he can pull off a tough guy act... it's still Adrien Brody.   

Brody has signed on for future installments after he and his reps lobbied hard for the role.  

I'll give the guy a chance but man, talk about lowered expectations!  Maybe that's a good thing though.  

Source:  Variety 

Jon Cassar, former Co-Exec producer and helmer of "24", has been attached to direct "Motorcade", about a disgraced Secret Service agent who happens to be in the wrong place at the right time when the U.S. president is kidnapped in New York.  Ryan Reynolds is considering the lead role.

Reynolds is already signed for "Green Lantern", which will be directed by Martin Campbell. 

"Motorcade" has been a hot script and Tom Cruise was considering it when "Live Free and Die Hard" helmer Len Wiseman was attached. 

I love Reynolds.  I think he's the star of tomorrow.  He can handle the action stuff, comedy, and drama all at the same time on high levels.