Mob of Angry Pixar Creatives Replaces Bob Peterson on ‘The Good Dinosaur’

Earlier this week, a rumor began floating around that Bob Peterson, director of Up, would no longer be directing Pixar’s latest (and thankfully, non-sequel) feature, The Good Dinosaur. Well, it turns out the rumors are true – Peterson is off the project. Pixar’s president, Ed Catmull, offered a few words of explanation on the sudden change:

“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.”

That description of Peterson as so “deep in [his] film” that “a different perspective” was needed almost makes him sound a little unhinged. Like he chased the rabbit too far down the Good Dinosaur hole and had spent the last several months locked in a supply closet, constructing a crude time machine to get a more accurate representation of what dinosaurs really looked like. But apparently Peterson still has some degree of sanity, as this move isn’t a firing – Peterson will still remain with the studio.

And until The Good Dinosaur can find itself a new director, the combined forces of John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Mark Andrews, and Peter Sohn will be tasked with continuing the film. Sohn was already co-director on the film, and the remaining three were responsible for all three Toy Story films and Brave. So either The Good Dinosaur will be the greatest Pixar film to date, or a colossal, jumbled mess.

The film takes place in a world where that fateful asteroid never struck the Earth and dinosaurs remained the dominant species, and will follow Arlo (Lucas Neff), an Apatosaurus who embarks on an adventure with a young human boy named Spot. John Lithgow, Frances McDormand, Neil Patrick Harris, Judy Greer, and Bill Hader will play the rest of Arlo’s dinosaur family.

The Good Dinosaur will be in theaters May 30, 2014. [Los Angeles Times]

Diana Agron, Robert De Niro, and Michelle Pfeiffer – The Family

Those three new character posters of The Family (aka Malvita, the upcoming action comedy movie directed by French Filmmaker Luc Besson, come from France:

(Click on a poster to enlarge.)

THE FAMILY

Some call it organized crime. Others call it family.Plot:
“A mafia boss and his family are relocated to a sleepy town in France under the witness protection program after snitching on the mob. Despite the best efforts of CIA Agent Stansfield (Tommy Lee Jones) to keep them in line, Giovanni Manzoni (Robert De Niro), his wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and their children, Belle (Dianna Agron) and Warren (John D’Leo) cannot help but revert to old habits and blow their cover by handling their problems the “family” way, enabling their former mafia cronies to track them down.”

From left to right you may recognize Diana Agron, Robert De Niro, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

In theaters: September 13, 2013.

“Beneath The Harvest Sky” Trailer — Indie Drama starring Game of Thrones’ Aidan Gillen, TIFF Entry

source:   beneaththeharvestsky.com, tiff.net

added: Wed, Aug 28th '13

If you think Maine is all about clam chowder, maple syrup and their jagged coastline -- well, think again? In this trailer for the new indie drama "Beneath The Harvest Sky," The Pine Tree State gets painted in a completely different light, exposing the seedy underbelly of a dying industrial northern town that's facing a rising drug problem.

Here, Irish actor Aidan Gillen (better known as Littlefinger on HBO's Game of Thrones) puts on his best New England accent, playing a two-bit crook who offers his potato-farming son to join his growing drug-dealing business. A tempting proposition since his son (played by up-and-comer Emory Cohen) spends most of his free time griping about his questionable future to his equally unhappy best friend (Great Gatsby's Callan McAuliffe). However, accepting such an offer will undoubtedly change the lives of everyone involved.

Written and directed by former-documentarians Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, "Beneath The Harvest Sky" will be premiering at next month's Toronto International Film Festival. 

synopsis:
The story of Casper (Emory Cohen) and Dominic (Callan McAuliffe): two best friends that are fiercely loyal to one another, as they come of age in a small farming town in Maine. During harvest break, Casper is drawn into smuggling drugs across the Canadian border with his outlaw father, Clayton (Aidan Gillen). Meanwhile, Dominic works his final potato harvest, hoping to earn the money he needs to buy a car and take them away towards a better future. But with Casper's life unraveling before their eyes, their friendship and loyalty are put to the test as they are forced to mature and make very adult decisions that will forever alter the course of their lives.

directed by   Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly

starring   Aidan Gillen, Emory Cohen, Callan McAuliffe

release date   TIFF 2013

“Divergent” Teaser Trailer — Based on Veronica Roth’s Popular YA Book, starring Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet

source:   mtv.com, youtube.com

added: Sun, Aug 25th '13

So here it is, the first official trailer for "Divergent," the big-screen adaptation of author Veronica Roth's popular YA book, which is the first installment of her bestselling trilogy. The teaser trailer, which initially premiered during Sunday's night broadcast of MTV's VMAs, offers the very first look at Shailene Woodley (currently starring in the arthouse hit "The Spectacular Now") as Beatrice 'Tris' Prior, a determined teenage girl who must pass an arduous initiation in order to join the "brave" faction (known as 'Dauntless') of futuristic Chicago.

Boasting a star-studded cast that includes Oscar-winner Kate Winslet, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Zoe Kravitz, and Ashley Judd, this Hunger Game-esque, dystopian thriller was directed by Neil Burger (Limitless, The Illusionist) and adapted by screenwriters Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsman) and Vanessa Taylor (HBO's Game of Thrones, Hope Springs). "Divergent" opens nationwide next year on March 21st.

synopsis:
Set in a futuristic dystopia where society is divided into five factions that each represent a different virtue, teenagers have to decide if they want to stay in their faction or switch to another - for the rest of their lives. Tris Prior makes a choice that surprises everyone. Then Tris and her fellow faction-members have to live through a highly competitive initiation process to live out the choice they have made. They must undergo extreme physical and intense psychological tests, that transform them all. But Tris has a secret that she is Divergent, which means she doesn't fit into any one group. If anyone knew, it would mean a certain death. As she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, this secret might help her save the people she loves ... or it might destroy her.

directed by   Neil Burger

starring   Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Jai Courtney, Zoe Kravitz, Ray Stevenson, Ashley Judd

release date   March 21, 2014

“The Outlaw Michael Howe” Trailer — Australian Period Drama about Legendary Bushranger, starring Damon Herriman

Aussie folk outlaw Michael Howe is the subject of a new historical outback drama, aptly titled "The Outlaw Michael Howe." Rising actor Damon Herriman (The Lone Ranger, TV's Justified) portrays the legendary bushranger who, according to the film's trailer, joined a small Australian gang of runaway convicts in 1815, where he railed against the British settlers and their cruel practices and became the "most wanted man in the British Empire."

Aussie actor Brendan Cowell (of Showtime's The Borgias fame) makes his directorial debut from a script he adapted from a 1818 memoir. The film, supposedly, was commissioned by Australia's version of the ABC network and is expected to be broadcast on Australian television sometime later in the year or early next. Meanwhile, a limited theatrical run has been set up for the film in Australia, starting in September.

synopsis:
1814. Van Diemen's Land, the notorious British penal colony, has dissolved into chaos. Outlaws roaming the wilderness have pushed the colonial government to breaking point. Driven by a deep sense of loyalty and an unquenchable hatred towards those he once served, English convict Michael Howe and a young aboriginal girl turn a desperate band of convicts, deserters and bushmen into a fearsome guerrilla army and lead them in open rebellion against the brutal, corrupt establishment. As the British hunt the outlaws, Howe remains an elusive prize. In desperation, the Governor makes the capture of Howe's pregnant girl his priority. An epic story of love and betrayal, The Outlaw Michael Howe chronicles the astonishing true story of the man who pushed Australia to the brink of civil war.

directed by   Brendan Cowell

starring   Damon Herriman, Kevin MacIsaac, Mirrah Foulkes, Matt Day, Pip Miller, Charlie Garber

release date   2013

Last Vegas – It’s going to be legendary!

Just a new poster of Last Vegas, the upcoming comedy movie directed by Jon Turteltaub that kind of feel like a Hangover movie with senior actors:

(Click on the poster to enlarge.)

LAST VEGAS

It’s going to be legendary!Plot:
“Three sixty-something friends (Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline) take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal (Michael Douglas).”

That ugly bow tie doesn’t suit Robert De Niro…

Here’s the trailer of Last Vegas if you haven’t seen it yet:

LAST VEGAS

Do men ever wise up for real?

In theaters: November 1, 2013.

Abandoned Mine

Release Date USA: August 15, 2013
Release Date: August 15, 2013

Genre:  Action movies (116) Adventure movies (61) Horror movies (62) Thriller movies (139) MPAA Rating: PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned

Country:  USA Movies (418)
Runtime: 96 min
Director: Jeff Chamberlain
Music: Russ Howard III
Screenplay: Jeff Chamberlain
Cast: Alexa Vega, Saige Thompson, Reiley McClendon, Charan Prabhakar, Adam Hendershott, Valerie C. Walker

The Wolf of Wall Street

Voting begins after release

Release Date USA: November 15, 2013
Release Date: November 14, 2013

Genre:  Crime movies (41) Drama movies (238)
Country:  USA Movies (418)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Music: Howard Shore
Screenplay: Terence Winter
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler, Jean Dujardin, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Favreau, Justin Wheelon, Aya Cash, Michael Nathanson, Ethan Suplee, Katarina Cas, Joanna Lumley, J.C. MacKenzie, Ashlie Atkinson, Cristin Milioti, Dan Bittner

Thor: The Dark World

Voting begins after release

Release Date USA: November 8, 2013
Release Date: October 30, 2013

Genre:  Fantasy movies (30) Adventure movies (61) Action movies (116)
Country:  USA Movies (418)
Director: Alan Taylor
Music: Brian Tyler
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Stevenson, Jaimie Alexander, Tadanobu Asano, Zachary Levi, Christopher Eccleston, Rene Russo, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Stan Lee

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Poster

Aug 29, 2013 by Brian Gallagher

Ben Stiller takes a stroll through the sky in this first poster for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, giving a new meaning to the phrase "head in the clouds". The movie follows the daydreaming nature of a photo manager who constantly escapes to his own fantasy world. Sean Penn, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott and Shirley MacLaine co-star in an adaptation of James Thurber's classic novel, in theaters Christmas Day.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty comes to theaters December 25th, 2013 and stars Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Shirley MacLaine, Kathryn Hahn, Patton Oswalt, Terence Bernie Hines. The film is directed by Ben Stiller.

Rachel Hurd-Wood and Alex Pettyfer Reportedly Test for Star Wars: Episode VII

 

Rachel Hurd-Wood has auditioned to play Princess Leia's daughter in Star Wars: Episode VIIWe've heard plenty of rumors about Star Wars franchise veterans returning for Star Wars: Episode VII, such as Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor and, of course, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Today, a new report reveals that Alex Pettyfer is meeting with LucasFilm for an unknown role, and that Rachel Hurd-Wood has auditioned for the role of Princess Leia's (and presumably Han Solo's) daughter.

The story comes from Latino Review, whose source close to the project says that Rachel Hurd-Wood was the first actress to audition for the role. No offer have been made yet, with other actors still coming in for the highly coveted part.

There is speculation that Alex Pettyfer may be going in for Luke Skywalker's son, a role which Ryan Gosling reportedly turned down. There is also talk that a major casting announcement, which doesn't involve any of the aforementioned actors, is coming in the very near future from LucasFilm.

J.J. Abrams is directing from a screenplay by Michael Arndt, which is reportedly set 30 years after the events portrayed in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. We reported yesterday that production is starting in January 2014 at Pinewood Studios in London.

Alex Pettyfer most recently starred in Magic Mike and Lee Daniels' the Butler. Rachel Hurd-Wood is best known for playing Wendy Darling in 2003's Peter Pan. She most recently starred in Tomorrow, When the War Began and Solomon Kane.

Star Wars: Episode VII comes to theaters in 2015 and stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams.