Made in America Trailer Starring Jay-Z

Showtime has acquired director Ron Howard's concert documentary Made in America that gives fans an all-access glimpse into the life of rapper Jay-Z. The network has released the first trailer, and announced that the documentary will debut Friday, October 11 at 9 PM ET, following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month. Take a look at the first footage, then read the official press release for more details on this documentary.
Last year, Grammy Award-winning music icon Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter united the biggest names in music (with a few notable locals) to perform at a star-studded, multi-genre, two-day Budweiser Made in America festival in Philadelphia. He then approached Oscar-winning filmmakers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard of Imagine Entertainment to join forces and produce a film chronicling the inspirational event. The result is the highly anticipated documentary Made in America, world premiering on television exclusively on Showtime on Friday, October 11th at 9:00 pm ET/PT. Headlined, envisioned and curated by Jay-Z, directed by Howard, and produced by award-winning producers RadicalMedia and Participant Media, the film features performances and interviews with a diverse roster of chart-topping musicians, including Gary Clark Jr., D'Angelo, Dirty Projectors, The Hives, Janelle Monae, Odd Future, Rita Ora, Passion Pit, Pearl Jam, Run-D.M.C., Santigold, Jill Scott, Mike Snow and Kanye West. It will debut at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival Saturday, September 7th.

Here's what Showtime president David Nevins had to say about the documentary in a statement.

"As soon as we saw this film we knew it was a perfect fit for Showtime. Ron Howard and Jay-Z have crafted an inspirational portrayal of American resilience, drive and creativity, interwoven with an incredible showcase of musical talent. We are proud to bring Made in America to Showtime where it joins our impressive roster of provocative and compelling documentaries helmed by award-winning filmmakers."

Made in America is a one-of-a-kind, all-access backstage pass to the festival of the same name and to the "making it in America" success stories of the chart-topping artists fans, vendors, stage hands and neighbors whose lives were impacted by the event. From Reverend Run sharing the unlikely genesis of Run-D.M.C.'s Billboard chart-busting hit "Walk this Way," to a single mother banking on the concert to boost her struggling food truck business, Made in America is a celebration of the unifying power of music and the relentless pursuit of the American dream.

Imagine Entertainment and Jay-Z present in association with Participant Media, A Brian Grazer, Marcy Media and RadicalMedia Production of A Ron Howard Film. Executive Producers are Jay-Z, Paul Chibe, Diane Weyermann, Jeff Skoll, Erica Huggins, Jon Kamen, and Sidney Beaumont. Produced by Brian Grazer, Steve Stoute, Justin Wilkes, Jonathan Silberberg. Produced and Directed by Ron Howard. Cinematographer is Salvatore Totino. The editor is Joshua L. Pearson. Sound is by Dan Flosdorf. The deal was negotiated by CAA on behalf of the production.

Made in America will be released October 11th, 2013 and stars Jay-Z. The film is directed by Ron Howard.

Producer Avi Arad Talks Mass Effect, Uncharted and Metal Gear Solid Movies

 

Metal Gear Solid is years away from hitting the big screenIn the 2000s, producer Avi Arad was the go-to guru when it came to finding out new information about Marvel and its upcoming movies. That post has been slipped to Kevin Feige. But Avi isn't out of the genre game yet. He's now become the man with the plan when it comes to video game adaptations for the big screen, and he has the latest news on the most anticipated releases.

He recently spoke with Kotaku about what are possibly the three most anticipated video game-to-movie projects currently in the pipeline, including Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the last of which is closest to being a sure thing at the box office.

These three movies have been in development for a very long time, with occasional updates hitting the internet at least once a year since their inception. Accrording to Avi, that's not going to change anytime soon. He explains why.

"Converting games to film hasn't been done yet successfully, though Resident Evil did very well, it was actually a great series...I think that film studios are bankers and filmmakers are risk takers and somewhere in between we meet on the battlefield. And the moment one video game movie goes through the roof, it's the same thing that I've been through with comic books."

Avi seems to believe, in his heart of hearts, that Uncharted: Drake's Fortune will be the franchise that makes the breakthrough and changes everything. He sees it as something that will definitely launch a franchise, and hopes that it will be remembered the same way Sam Raimi's Spider-Man is, doing for video game movies what it did for the comic book genre.

"I think Uncharted will be very successful. It's a father and son game. There are things about it that are interesting. I think the world of antiquities theft, there are many countries in the world that realised they're being robbed and they're trying to recoup these important pieces. Now, the script has a lot of character [and] I think that has a shot at being the first one [to succeed]."

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune has come the closest to going before cameras. At one point, David O. Russell, known for his Oscar movies like Silver Linings Playbook and The Fighter, was going to direct a version of the screenplay that had Mark Wahlberg, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci attached. Fans were quite vocal about the casting, rallying hard against it. The project quickly evaporated.

While Uncharted: Drake's Fortune might actually see a theater screen sometime by 2016, the other two movies are still very far away. It's doubtful we'll see either Mass Effect or Metal Gear Solid before the end of this current decade. Of course, Avi Arad is a little more generous with the timeline.

"It's getting there, it's been a lot of work; some movies take five, six years before they're ready."

Avi Arad ended the interview by hinting that a Naruto movie may be on the way sometime in the distant future. Please don't hold your breath.

To read the full interview:

Mass Effect comes to theaters in 2016.

Metal Gear Solid is in development .

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune comes to theaters in 2016.

GIVEAWAY: Win Big Prizes from One Direction: This Is Us

Fans are given an all-access pass to the international pop sensation One Direction in this weekend's 3D documentary One Direction: This Is Us, directed by Morgan Spurlock. Follow the lives of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson as they go on tour, interact with their fans, and visit their hometowns. We have a contest lined up where fans can win a movie poster, t-shirt and glasses from this cinematic event that will close out the summer with a bang. Take a look at how you can win below.

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

to visit the official website and learn more about this 3D documentary.

An intimate all-access look at life on the road for the global music phenomenon. Weaved with stunning live concert footage, this inspiring feature film tells the remarkable story of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis' meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London's famed O2 Arena. Hear it from the boys themselves and see through their own eyes what it's really like to be One Direction.

One Direction: This Is Us was released August 30th, 2013 and stars Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Jon Shone, Dan Richards, Sandy Beales. The film is directed by Morgan Spurlock.

Dwayne Johnson Shows His Battle Scars in a New Hercules Set Photo

Dwayne Johnson has not been shy about sending out behind-the-scenes photos from the Hercules set since production started in June. Today's image showcases the four-hour make-up process he has to undergo every day before shooting. As we can see in the photo, this mythological character has numerous scars from his battles with human and animal enemies alike. Take a look at some of the makeup effects magic happening on the set of director Brett Ratner's epic action-adventure, in theaters July 25, 2014.

Blade slashes, claw & animal teeth gashes. Daily 4hr make up process. #DontTouchMyPec#HERCULESMoviepic.twitter.com/ISRI9lhHac

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) August 30, 2013

"Blade slashes, claw & animal teeth gashes. Daily 4hr make up process. #DontTouchMyPec #HERCULESMovie pic.twitter.com/ISRI9lhHac"

Hercules comes to theaters July 25th, 2014 and stars Dwayne Johnson, Aksel Hennie, Rufus Sewell, Ian McShane, Antje Traue, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan, John Hurt. The film is directed by Brett Ratner.

Dark Places Begins Production in Louisiana

 

Dark Places begins production in Shreveport, LouisianaDark Places, the film adaptation of Gillian Flynn's best-selling novel starring Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman, Prometheus, Monster), Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy, X-Men: First Class, Jack the Giant Slayer), Chloe Moretz (upcoming Carrie, Hugo, Kick-Ass), Emmy Award nominated actress Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, Drive), Corey Stoll (Midnight in Paris, House of Cards), and Tye Sheridan (upcoming Joe, Mud, The Tree of Life), commenced principal photography this week on location in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Dark Places is written and directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner (Sarah's Key), and is co-financed by Exclusive Media and Cuatro Plus Films. Exclusive Media is producing with Stéphane Marsil of Hugo Films, Charlize Theron's Denver and Delilah Productions partners Beth Kono and A.J. Dix; and Mandalay's Cathy Schulman and Matthew Rhodes. Exclusive Media's Matt Jackson will produce, with the company's Guy East, Nigel Sinclair, Tobin Armbrust and Alexis Brunner Executive Producing. Peter Safran will also serve as an Executive Producer.

Dark Places tells the story of Libby Day (Theron), a woman who, at the age of 7, survives the massacre of her family and testifies against her brother as the murderer. Twenty-five years later, a group obsessed with solving notorious crimes confronts her with questions about the horrific event. Told in a series of flashbacks from the points of view of Libby's mother, Patty, and her brother, Ben, Libby is forced to revisit that fateful day and begins to question what exactly she saw - or didn't see - the night of the tragedy.

Rounding out the cast alongside Theron, Hoult, Moretz, Hendricks, Stoll and Tye Sheridan are supporting cast members Sterling Jerins (World War Z, The Conjuring) who will play Young Libby and Shannon Kook (The Conjuring).

The novel Dark Places was published in 2009 and was listed on The New York Times Best Seller List for more than 25 weeks. The book was also shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award and won the Dark Scribe Magazine Black Quill Award for Dark Genre Novel of the Year. Gillian Flynn is one of today's leading suspense writers with her current novel, Gone Girl, spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the hardcover fiction best-seller list of The New York Times. Gone Girl has sold more than two million copies in print and digital formats.

Dark Places comes to theaters in 2014 and stars Charlize Theron, Chloe Moretz, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, Corey Stoll, Tye Sheridan, Sterling Jerins, Shannon Kook-Chun. The film is directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner.

J.J. Abrams Brings Westworld TV Series to HBO

 

J.J. Abrams plans a TV adaptation of WestworldHBO has given a pilot production commitment to a new series based on the 1973 sci-fi movie Westworld. J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot is producing alongside Warner Bros. Television, Jerry Weintraub and Person of Interest creator Jonathan Nolan.

The original movie, which was written and directed by Michael Crichton, starred Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin and James Brolin, centering on an amusement park in the future where humans can live out their fantasies with the help of androids. When a malfunction occurs, the robots start hunting down the humans. No details were given regarding how the story may be updated.

Jonathan Nolan is co-writing the pilot script with Burn Notice writer Lisa Joy, who will both executive produce the pilot alongside J.J. Abrams, Jerry Weintraub, Bryan Burk and Kathy Lingg.

If it goes to series, the project will be Bad Robot's first cable TV show, after network hits such as Fringe, Person of Interest and Revolution. The film previously spawned the theatrical sequel Futureworld in 1976 and the short-lived TV series Beyond Westworld in 1980.

Westworld was released November 21st, 1973 and stars Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Norman Bartold, Alan Oppenheimer, Victoria Shaw, Dick Van Patten, Linda Gaye Scott. The film is directed by Michael Crichton.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Quarter Quell Victors Banner

Last week, we showed you the first segment of the Victors Banner from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire that featured Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). Lionsgate has released the full banner today, which showcases the District 12 winners alongside fellow combatants Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Mags (Lynn Cohen), Johanna Mason (Jena Malone), Enobaria (Meta Golding), Brutus (Bruno Gunn), Wiress (Amanda Plummer), Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) and Cashmere (Stephanie Leigh Schlund). Take a look at the banner below, and for a bigger version.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire comes to theaters November 22nd, 2013 and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Alan Ritchson, Woody Harrelson. The film is directed by Francis Lawrence.

Second Kill Your Darlings Trailer

The first trailer for director John Krokidas' Kill Your Darlings, which debuted earlier this month, only featured 30 seconds of footage. Thankfully, we now have the full trailer and the first clip, taking us deeper into this true story. Daniel Radcliffe (Allen Ginsberg), Ben Foster (William S. Burroughs), Jack Huston (Jack Kerouac) and Dane DeHaan (Lucien Carr) lead an all-star cast in this drama based on a 1944 murder that brought the Beat Generation's greatest writers together. The film makes its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival next month, before debuting in theaters October 18.

Kill Your Darlings comes to theaters October 18th, 2013 and stars Elizabeth Olsen, Daniel Radcliffe, Michael C. Hall, Ben Foster, Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Cross, Kyra Sedgwick, Dane DeHaan.

Dracula Release Date Moves to Fall 2014

Universal moves Dracula into a Fall 2014 release dateUniversal Pictures has moved its horror remake Dracula from an August 8, 2014 release to October 3, 2014. It will now go up against Fox's The Book of Life in its new date. If it would have stayed in the August 8 slot, it would have gone up against Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Hundred-Foot Journey.

Luke Evans stars as Dracula in this reboot that takes elements from Bram Stoker's novel and blends it with the true story of Vlad the Impaler. Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper and Samantha Barks co-star. Production is currently under way in Belgrade, Serbia, and we reported yesterday that Legendary Pictures may co-finance the project under their new five-year deal with Universal.

In related news, Universal has also set a September 12, 2014 release date for Search Party, which stars Krysten Ritter and Alison Brie. The Hangover writer Scot Armstrong makes his directorial debut with the comedy, which follows two friends who decide to reunite their buddy with the woman he was originally set to marry. No other movies are slated for release on September 12, 2014 at this time.

Dracula comes to theaters October 3rd, 2014 and stars Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper, Samantha Barks, Art Parkinson.

Search Party comes to theaters September 12th, 2014 and stars Krysten Ritter, Alison Brie, Shannon Woodward, T.J. Miller, Adam Pally, Lance Reddick, Jason Mantzoukas, Rosa Salazar. The film is directed by Scot Armstrong.

FilmDistrict Announces the Ultimate Insidious Experience Double Feature Event

 

FilmDistrict sets up a one-night-only Insidious double feature on September 12In anticipation of James Wan's (The Conjuring) new horror thriller Insidious Chapter 2, FilmDistrict announced today that participating theaters nationwide will host The Ultimate Insidious Experience - a one-night-only theatrical event giving fans the opportunity to catch the original Insidious playing back-to-back with early access to Insidious Chapter 2.

Here's what FilmDistrict distribution president Jim Orr had to say about the big event.

"Insidious Chapter 2 picks up exactly where the original left off - making a double feature all the more gratifying. As we open the next chapter, this gives Insidious fans the chance to take the edge-of-their-seat thrill ride to the next level."

The Ultimate Insidious Experience starts Thursday, September 12 in select theaters nationwide. Fans will have the option to buy a ticket for the double feature and see both back-to-back or buy a single ticket to the sequel granting them early access to Insidious Chapter 2 on Thursday, September 12. Check your local theater listings for participating theaters near you. Tickets can be purchased online or at your local theater. For a list of participating theaters, please visit InsidiousCh2.com

A haunted family struggles to uncover a terrifying secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world in Insidious Chapter 2, the latest nerve-twisting horror thriller from director James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw, Dead Silence and Insidious) and screenwriter Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious). Produced by Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Insidious) and Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity, Insidious), the sequel reteams the cast of the first film, including Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy, Watchmen, Little Children), Rose Byrne (X-Men: First Class, Bridesmaids, 28 Days Later), Barbara Hershey (Black Swan, The Portrait of a Lady), Lin Shaye (There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber) and Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3).

FilmDistrict and Blumhouse Productions' Insidious Chapter 2 stars Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy, Watchmen, Little Children), Rose Byrne (X-Men: First Class, Bridesmaids, 28 Days Later), Barbara Hershey (Black Swan, The Portrait of a Lady), Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3), Andrew Astor (The Hangover), Lin Shaye (There's Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber), Leigh Whannell (Saw) and Angus Sampson (Mad Max: Fury Road).

Insidious Chapter 2 comes to theaters September 13th, 2013 and stars Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson, Barbara Hershey, Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Michael Beach, Ty Simpkins, Danielle Bisutti. The film is directed by James Wan.

Insidious was released April 1st, 2011 and stars Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Andrew Astor, Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Barbara Hershey. The film is directed by James Wan.

First Look at Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford in The Expendables 3

We've already showed you photos from The Expendables 3 set featuring Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Randy Couture and Terry Crews, but we have yet to see the biggest addition to the cast, Harrison Ford, until today. Arnold Schwarzenegger posted the following photo to his Twitter and Instagram accounts, featuring the action icon standing alongside Harrison Ford and director Patrick Hughes on the set, to commemorate Arnold's first day of production. Stay tuned for more photos as shooting continues in Bulgaria.

It was a fantastic first day of filming on Expendables 3. Great to work with Harrison and our… http://t.co/Ouc8m07iXg

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) August 30, 2013

"It was a fantastic first day of filming on Expendables 3. Great to work with Harrison and our... http://instagram.com/p/dpXeI3Dcbc/"

The Expendables 3 comes to theaters August 15th, 2014 and stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, Milla Jovovich, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kellan Lutz, Ronda Rousey. The film is directed by Patrick Hughes.

Joon-ho Bong Talks Editing the American Version of Snowpiercer

 

Joon-ho Bong discusses the American version of SnowpiercerEarlier this month, a report surfaced that Harvey Weinstein had demanded director Joon-ho Bong cut at least 20 minutes out of his upcoming film Snowpiercer, so that the film can be more accessible to American audiences.

The filmmaker recently addressed the edits at a press conference, where he downplayed the significance of these cuts.

"I came here after editing for the American version. I've never produced a new version for overseas premieres, and this is the first time I'm making a new version. Weinstein is actually being pretty soft toward editing, probably because it's noticed how critics have praised the film and know how angry movie fans get over new edits. They even asked me which parts I want to include in the film."

Regardless of how long the American cut is, The Weinstein Company still hasn't issued a release date for this thriller, which is set aboard a perpetual motion train carrying the last survivors of a global ice age that decimated the planet.

The film opened earlier this month in Korea, and it debuts today in Denmark, with premieres in France, Greece and Russia to follow later this year.

Snowpiercer comes to theaters in 2013 and stars John Hurt, Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, Alison Pill, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Bremner. The film is directed by Joon-ho Bong.

Pixar Confirms Director Bob Peterson Has Been Removed from The Good Dinosaur

 

Pixar confirms that Bob Peterson is out as director of The Good DinosaurPixar president Ed Catmull confirmed a report from earlier this week that director Bob Peterson has been removed from The Good Dinosaur. The studio is still planning on hitting the May 30, 2014 release date that is already in place. Here's what the studio president had to say in a brief statement. "All directors get really deep in their films. Sometimes you just need a different perspective to get the idea out. Sometimes directors ... are so deeply embedded in their ideas it actually takes someone else to finish it up. I would go so far as to argue that a lot of live-action films would be better off with that same process."

The report from three days ago revealed that the studio removed the first-time director due to issues they were having with the story. Until a replacement director can be found, a number of Pixar filmmakers are overseeing certain aspects of the project, including John Lasseter (Toy Story), Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), Mark Andrews (Brave) and The Good Dinosaur co-director Peter Sohn. It should be noted that, at Pixar, a co-director plays a deputy role to the director.

The directorial ousting is nothing new at Pixar, since this is the fourth time it has happened in the past eight movies. Brad Bird replaced Jan Pinkava on Ratatouille, John Lasseter replaced Brad Lewis on Cars 2, and Mark Andrews replaced Brenda Chapman on Brave. This also comes at a time when the animation marketplace is growing rapidly, with Pixar trying to build off its early success. There will be 11 animated movies debuting in wide release this year, as opposed to just six movies a decade ago.

The Good Dinosaur is set in a world where the dinosaurs never went extinct, following a dinosaur who befriends a young teenage boy. The studio announced the project's voice cast earlier this month, headlined by Lucas Neff, John Leguizamo, Frances McDormand, Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris and Judy Greer.

Bob Peterson, who provided the voice for Roz in Monsters Inc. and Dug and Alpha in Up, is still employed at Pixar and he also has another directing project in development at the studio.

The Good Dinosaur comes to theaters May 30th, 2014 and stars Lucas Neff, John Leguizamo, Frances McDormand, Bill Hader, Neil Patrick Harris, Judy Greer. The film is directed by Peter Sohn.

James Spader Is the Voice of Ultron in The Avengers: Age of Ultron!

 

James Spader will face off against Earth's Mightiest Heroes as the villain in Marvel's The Avengers: Age of Ultron the sequel to 2012's record-breaking Marvel's The Avengers. The Emmy Award-winning actor will play Ultron in the Avengers' much anticipated return to the big screen from writer/director Joss Whedon. The film comes to theaters on May 1, 2015.

Spader earned three Emmy Awards for his role as Alan Shore on Boston Legal and The Practice, and will return to television this fall in NBC's highly anticipated series The Blacklist. Most recently Spader was seen in the critically-acclaimed film Lincoln directed by Steven Spielberg and has previously worked with a long list of accomplished film directors including David Cronenberg, Curtis Hanson, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, Tim Robbins, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone. David Mamet also directed Spader in the Broadway play Race.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron will bring the Marvel Universe's biggest heroes together again to face one of their biggest villains, with Marvel's The Avengers director Joss Whedon returning to write and direct the sequel. Marvel's The Avengers was released in 2012 and went on to earn $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the third-largest grossing movie of all time.

Spader is represented by ICM Partners and his lawyer Melanie Cook at Ziffren Brittenham.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron comes to theaters May 1st, 2015 and stars Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Mark Ruffalo. The film is directed by Joss Whedon.

Batman Vs. Superman Will Shoot in Michigan Early Next Year

Batman vs. Superman to shoot in Michigan early next yearThe Michigan Film Office announced today that the next DC Entertainment Super Hero movie from Warner Bros. Pictures has been approved for a film incentive from the state. The film, from director Zack Snyder, brings together the two greatest Super Heroes of all time - Superman and Batman - for the first time on the big screen. Production on the new film is expected to begin in metro Detroit and throughout Michigan sometime in the first quarter of 2014. Snyder is co-writing the story with David S. Goyer, who is writing the screenplay. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder are producing the film, which will star Henry CavillHenry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.
Here's what Margaret O'Riley, director of the Michigan Film Office, had to say about the production.
"This project will further strengthen the reputation of Michigan and metro Detroit as a premier film destination. We look forward to the spotlight shining on our incredibly talented workforce and the businesses that support our film industry here in Michigan."Director Zack Snyder also released a statement about shooting in Michigan.
"Detroit is a great example of a quintessential American city, and I know it will make the perfect backdrop for our movie. Detroit and the entire state of Michigan have been fantastic collaborators, and we are looking forward to working together on this film."The as-yet-untitled feature film was awarded an incentive of $35 million on $131 million of projected in-state expenditures. The production is expected to hire 406 Michigan workers, with a full time equivalent of 426 jobs, plus an additional 6,000 man/days of extra work. The production anticipates using approximately 500 local Michigan vendors during the course of production and spending $5.1 million on local hotels, as well as an additional $3.5 million in out-of-town cast and crew per diem payments that will be spent in the local economy but which fall outside of the incentive program.
The incentive funding for the project will be allocated out of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. However, any funding remaining from the budget at the end of the current fiscal year will be directed to offset the full incentive amount for this project.
Man of Steel 2 comes to theaters July 17th, 2015 and stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Ben Affleck, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane. The film is directed by Zack Snyder.

‘Child of God’ Teaser: James Franco Brings Us Hill People and Necrophilia

When James Franco announced that he wanted to write and direct an adaptation of William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying,” most of us scoffed at the idea and said that it was a story that would never make for a good movie. Franco being Franco, he went ahead and did the job anyway, and now he’s got a completed As I Lay Dying film that debuted at Cannes and is scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the US at the end of September. Point for James Franco.
Never one to take a break from giving himself challenges, Franco then moved on to adapting another challenging work from another titan of the literary game, Cormac McCarthy’s “Child of God.” If you’re familiar with The Road, which John Hillcoat adapted from another McCarthy work, or even No Country For Old Men, which was the Coen brothers’ take on one of his stories, then you know McCarthy is an author who can go pretty dark and get pretty bleak with his material.
Well, if you want to understand the challenge that Franco undertook by making Child of God,  take all that darkness and bleakness in things like The Road and No Country, and then multiply it by about a hundred, because this is probably the most disturbing story featuring the most difficult to relate to character McCarthy has ever written. It’s hard to imagine anyone being able to make this one into a movie anyone would want to watch, but now Deadline has brought us a teaser trailer for what Franco was able to do with the material, so settle in and get your first taste of the weirdness he has in store for us.
Is that exciting or what? Okay, so the trailer is mostly just Scott Haze looking crazy as the main character, Lester Ballard, and it doesn’t give us much of an idea of what the film is going to be about, but he sure does a great job of looking crazy. And just look at these descriptions from Amazon talking about the original McCarthy book. Not only is it described as being a “taut, chilling novel” where, “Lester Ballard—a violent, dispossessed man falsely accused of rape—haunts the hill country of East Tennessee when he is released from jail,” but it’s also said that, “‘Child of God’ must be the most sympathetic portrayal of necrophilia in all of literature. The hero, Lester Ballard, is expelled from his human family and ends up living in underground caves, which he peoples with his trophies: giant stuffed animals won in carnival shooting galleries and the decomposing corpses of his victims.” Necrophilia!
Child of God doesn’t exactly sound like a pleasant evening out at the moving pictures, but regardless it’s all set to debut at Venice and then play TIFF, so if people aren’t too disgusted by what they see there, then perhaps a deal will get put in place to bring it to theaters or VOD services sometime after. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. This one also has Tim Blake Nelson in it, after all. Tim Blake Nelson and necrophilia.

‘Divergent’ Featurette Explains What the Hell Is Going on in Teaser Trailer

If you are not of the YA set and have never heard of Neil Burger‘s Divergent
before the teaser trailer surfaced several days ago, fear not, because the cast and creators of the film are here to explain you a thing.

This isn’t The Hunger Games
. Oh no, this isn’t The Host. Or Twilight. Or Harry Potter. And don’t you dare compare it to Mortal Instruments: City of Bones: Bonetropolis: Thunderbone. Divergent is based on a YA novel by Veronica Roth, set in the wondrous dystopian future Chicago (they don’t all have to be mystical lands), where society is now divided into five factions based on your personality.
But then there’s Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley), who is categorized as “divergent” – meaning she can’t be put in one of your societal boxes, man. And that makes her a threat. Check out the featurette for yourself:
Why splitting humans into five factions based on personality traits helps society function is still largely unexplained (they mention years of war, but not what led them to this conclusion), but it’s a fascinating concept that the actors interviewed – like Maggie Q and Kate Winslet – are clearly excited about. Is it too much to ask though, that we have a YA novel-turned-movie about a kickass girl that doesn’t involve her risking it all for love, too?
Divergent
is in theaters March 21st, 2014.

‘Alexander’ Adds Jennifer Coolidge and Megan Mullally to Its ‘Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad’ Cast

Disney, seemingly undeterred by the length of its title, has began production on its adaptation of “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” And alongside this announcement comes one about the cast- specifically, that Jennifer Coolidge and Megan Mullally will be joining the cast alongside Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner as Alexander’s parents, and newcomer Ed Oxenbould as Alexander himself.
Coolidge and Mullally aren’t exact known for their family-friendly fare. Even with her Guest-work, Coolidge’s most enduring role is the sex-hungry Stifler’s Mom in American Pie
, while Mullally is remembered most for her turn as the shrill-voiced Karen Walker on Will and Grace. If I had to guess (and I don’t have to, but I will anyway), these two might show up in Alexander for a slightly more adult wink-and-nod toward the grownups in the audience.
And the film’s synopsis hints at how Alexander
, which like most children’s books can be read in the span of a few minutes, will be stretched into a full-length feature. This comes from the back end of the synopsis: “[Alexander] soon learns that he’s not alone when his brother, sister, mom and dad all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn’t had one.”
So it looks like we’ll be seeing a family adventure where said family experiences a comically unbelievable string of bad luck. A set photo from Coming Soon seems to confirm that theory, as the family car has either just unexpectedly exploded or all five cast members happen to have a crippling fear of car doors.

And in the coming months before its October 10, 2014 release, it’ll be curious to see how Disney advertises a film when half the space of each poster (and half the time of every TV spot) is devoted solely to that behemoth of a title. [ The Hollywood Reporter]

Tomorrowland Movie

Director Brad Bird (who helmed The Incredibles and Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol) is working on Tomorrowland, an upcoming science-fiction movie starring Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy, and Thomas Robinson. Here’s the film title logo:

And an official plot synopsis has been revealed:

Plot:
“Bound by a shared destiny, a bright, optimistic teen (Britt Robertson as Casey Newton, the film’s heroine) bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor (George Clooney as Frank Walker) jaded by disillusionment embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory as ‘Tomorrowland’.”

The release date of Tomorrowland is set to December 12, 2014.

Prisoners Clip

A first clip of Prisoners, the upcoming drama thriller movie directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Paul Dano:

Prisoners – Where did you put those girls?Plot:
“A Boston man (Hugh Jackman) kidnaps the person (Paul Dano) he suspects is behind the disappearance of his young daughter and her best friend.
When do you cross the line between seeking justice and becoming a vigilante?”

Hard to tell from that clip if the suspect is really guilty… I mean he looks so lost, or maybe he’s just acting? LoL! Anyway, let’s hope the girls will get saved at the end!

The film will open in theaters on September 20, 2013.

Clip of Runner Runner starring Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake

Batman, er, I mean Ben Affleck is showing off his big boat to Robin, doh, I mean Justin Timberlake, in this new clip of Runner Runner, the upcoming dram thriller movie directed by Brad Furman (who helmed The Lincoln Lawyer):

Runner, Runner – The house always wins, which is why we don’t have to cheat people.Plot:
“When a poor college student (Justin Timberlake) who cracks an online poker game goes bust, he arranges a face-to-face with the man he thinks cheated him, a sly offshore entrepreneur (Ben Affleck).”

Who are you rooting for: Ben Affleck or Justin Timberlake?

In theaters: October 4, 2013.

Divergent Movie Trailer

The full movie trailer of Divergent, the upcoming romantic action science-fiction movie directed by Neil Burger (who helmed Limitless), is now available online, you may watch it below:

DIVERGENT

What makes you different makes you dangerous!Plot:
“Divergent is a gripping action-adventure thriller movie set in a futuristic world where society has been divided into five factions. As each person approaches adulthood, he or she must choose a faction and commit to it for the rest of their life. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) chooses Dauntless—the daring risk-takers who pursue bravery above all else. During the Dauntless initiation, Tris completes death-defying stunts and faces her inmost fears in spectacular simulations. When she discovers she is a Divergent, someone who will never be able to fit into just one faction, she is warned that she must conceal this secret or risk her life. As Tris uncovers a looming war which threatens her family and the life of the mysterious Dauntless leader whom she has come to love, Tris must face her greatest test yet—deciding whether revealing she is a Divergent will save her world—or destroy it.”

The cast includes Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn, Ray Stevenson, Mekhi Phifer, Maggie Q, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, Zoë Kravitz, Ansel Elgort, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Ben Lamb, Christian Madsen and Amy Newbold. The film is based on the best-selling novel of the same name written by Veronica Roth.

Do you like this trailer of Divergent? Is the film faithful to its source material? Share your thoughts below!

Release date: March 21, 2014.

Clip of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2

We’ve got our hands on a first preview clip of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2, the upcoming adventure comedy animated movie directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn for Sony Pictures Animation:

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 Movie Trailer

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 – I’m not a barista, I’m a policeman!Plot:
“Flint Lockwood now works at The Live Corp Company for his idol Chester V. But he’s forced to leave his post when he learns that his most infamous machine is still operational and is churning out menacing food-animal hybrids.”

There’s also a new TV spot:

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 – Discovery

Flint and his gang are back for a new delicious and epic adventure on that crazy island!

Release date: September 27, 2013.

Trailer and Poster of Dallas Buyers Club starring Matthew McConaughey

Actor Matthew McConaughey got the lead role in Dallas Buyers Club, an upcoming drama movie directed by Canadian Filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée. Here’s the first official trailer:

DALLAS BUYERS CLUBPlot:
“The story of real-life Texas electrician Ron Woodroof, an ordinary man who found himself in a life-or-death battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies. In 1986, Ron was blindsided by being diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. With the U.S. still internally divided over how to combat the virus and restricting medications, Ron grabbed hold of non-toxic alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. Seeking to avoid government sanctions against selling non-approved medicines and supplements, he established a ‘buyers club’, which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies.”

Matthew McConaughey is delivering a great performance, isn’t he?

The film poster:

(Click on the poster to enlarge.)

Besides Matthew McConaughey, the film is also starring Jared Leto, and Jennifer Garner.

The release date of Dallas Buyers Club is set to November 1, 2013.

3 Clips of Riddick – Riddick vs Alien!

Three awesome clips of Riddick, the upcoming action science-fiction movie sequel written and directed by David Twohy and starring Vibn Diesel, Katee Sackhoff, and Karl Urban, have shown up online, you definitely want to check out the first one (there’s some alien monster that looks like coming straight from the Alien movie franchise):

Riddick 3 Movie

Riddick – Riddick is ambushed.
Riddick (Vin Diesel) is attacked by a seriously nasty alien.
Riddick – What if I killed all of you first?
Riddick – ExecutionPlot:
“Left for dead on a sun-scorched planet, Riddick (Vin Diesel) finds himself up against an alien race of predators. Activating an emergency beacon alerts two ships: one carrying a new breed of mercenary, the other captained by a man from Riddick’s past.”

That scene with the nasty alien is damn awesome! Am glad Riddick managed to save his dog: it shows he’s a great warrior with a big heart!

The film will open in theaters on September 6, 2013.

Thor 2 The Dark World – Thor and Loki

Those two new character posters of Thor 2 The Dark World feature Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and his forever-scheming evil brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston):

Thor 2 Movie Trailer

(Click on a poster to enlarge.)

Plot:
“When Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is targeted by the denizens of the dark world of Svartalfheim, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) sets out on a quest to protect her at all costs.”

Thor is a nice chap, but I totally prefer Loki. Thor is a rather uni-dimensional (simple?) character… In contrast Loki is a complex persona. What about you: who are you rooting for?

Thor 2 The Dark World will strike theaters on November 8, 2013.